Ukiah

Ukiah is a city in the North Coast of California. Just as picturesque as its coastal brethren, Ukiah is in a valley surrounded by beautiful rolling hills or small mountains. It's a good base for exploring Mendocino County, and hosts a variety of small unusual shops and restaurants. == Understand == The Ukiah area is historically a source of lumber and wine grapes. It is the Mendocino County seat, and is the working center of the county. == Get in == === By bus === Bus service is offered by Greyhound, Mendocino Transit Authority, and Lake Transit. == Get around == MTA routes 7, 9, and 20 provide bus service around Ukiah. Ukiah already has several miles of the future Great Redwood Trail. == See == 1 City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, 4951 Bodhi Way, ☏ +1 707 462-0939. The largest Buddhist temple in the Western Hemisphere with approximately 80 acres of developed land and over 400 acres of total space. Influenced by Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture. Built into the campus of the former Mendocino State Asylum for the Insane, after the closure of asylum during Reagan's deinstitutionalization campaign in the early 1970s. The Dharma Realm Buddhist Association bought the site in 1974, and has built their community there ever since. Hosts a vegan restaurant supplied by an on site organic farm, and schools from kindergarten to Dharma Realm Buddhist University. A must see. Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House, 431 Main Street, ☏ +1 707-467-2836. W-Sa 10AM-4:30PM Su noon-4:30PM. A museum built around the collection of early-20th-century painter Grace Hudson's portraits of native Californians, and the collections of her ethnologist husband, John W. Hudson. Contains rotating exhibitions focused on Native American issues. The Sun House, the former residence of the Hudsons, is also on the property, and is available to be toured with a docent. $7, free admission first Fridays, and for Native Americans and standing military personnel with ID. (updated Feb 2026) == Do == 1 Vichy Springs Resort, 2605 Vichy Springs Road, ☏ +1 707-462-9515, info@vichysprings.com. Hot springs. $35 per person for up to two hours; more for all day, overnight stays at the inn, or add-ons. == Buy == == Eat == Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op, 721 S State Street. (updated Jan 2026) 1 The Alley Grill, 1245 Airport Park Blvd, ☏ +1 707-462-2110. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Super Taco, 506 E Perkins St, ☏ +1 707-462-5979. (updated Jan 2026) 3 Stan's Maple Cafe, 295 S State St, ☏ +1 707-462-5221. (updated Jan 2026) == Drink == Wineries == Sleep == Mariposa Institute, 3801 Low Gap Rd, (707) 462-1016 1 Holiday Inn Express, 1270 Airport Park Blvd, ☏ +1 707-462-1514, toll-free: +1-888-894-9903. (updated Jan 2026) 2 Days Inn, 950 N State St, ☏ +1 707-462-7584. (updated Jan 2026) Fairfield Inn & Suites, 1140 Airport Park Blvd, ☏ +1 707-463-3600. SureStay Hotel by Best Western Ukiah, 1720 North State St, ☏ +1 707-462-5745. 3 Motel 6 (Downtown Ukiah), 1208 South State St, ☏ +1 707-468-5404. (updated Jan 2026) 4 Motel 6 (North Ukiah), 1340 N State St, ☏ +1 707-213-4925. (updated Jan 2026) 5 Hampton Inn, 1160 Airport Park Blvd, ☏ +1 707-462-6555. (updated Jan 2026) == Go next == To the south, Hopland is a small town of wineries and restaurants. To the west, Philo and Boonville are the centers of the Anderson Valley, a major wine region with many tasting rooms. Redwood Valley, located just north of Ukiah, is also home to several vineyards. To the north, the city of Willits is home to the "Skunk Train" which runs through the redwoods along the Noyo River between Willits and Fort Bragg. Willits also hosts "Roots of Motive Power, " a museum devoted to steam and diesel equipment used to log the north coast.