Between Sacramento & Mt. Shasta Is A California City With A Charming Downtown & Wildlife Refuge

The City of Willows in the Sacramento Valley in Northern California may not look like much from the side of the road, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by what its charming downtown has to offer. It feels more like a small town than a city, with only around 6,200 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Willows' roots go back to the hunter-gatherer days of the Wintun people, who made a home among the region's grasslands, oak woodlands, and rivers. In the middle of the 19th century, cattle drivers traveling between Sacramento and Redding would rest by a watering hole beneath the shade of a willow grove. The spot became known as "The Willows," and a town was born. These days, agriculture is its main industry, and rice, almonds, walnuts, and prunes grow in abundance on the fertile patchwork of surrounding farmland.

Head into town and you'll find a medley of historic buildings and locally-owned shops and cafés along tree-lined streets. Just out of town, take the time to explore the wetlands of Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and discover thousands of migratory, shore, and song birds. To the west, escape into the serene Mendocino National Forest, California's only national woodland without a major paved road. For something with a bit more pace, time your visit with an event at Thunderhill Raceway Park, one of the country's best motorsports venues. Willows sits off I-5, around 85 miles north of Sacramento — a California destination full of historic architecture and amazing food — and 136 miles south of Mt. Shasta, making it an ideal stopover for a Californian road trip.

Two fires destroyed much of the town in the 1880s, and it had to be rebuilt. It became the seat of Glenn County in 1891, and shortly after the attractive Glenn County Courthouse , County Jail, and Carnegie Library were built, which are still standing. Glenn County Courthouse is still in use and open to the public, but it's the beautiful exterior that's of most interest to visitors. If this type of architecture appeals, you'll want to pay a visit to Willows Museum, in the former library, which was constructed in 1911. Its temple-style Corinthian columns and pediment conceal exhibits on local history, agriculture, and pioneer life.

Just outside of town, Willows-Glenn County Airport is worth a visit, even if just for Nancy's Airport Café. While not an obvious choice of attraction, it's the fascinating history that holds the appeal. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the airport still contains its original 1928 beacon tower and was the base of the U.S.'s first air tanker squad used to fight forest fires. It doesn't have a museum, but it's worth stopping by just to witness an important part of aviation history while sampling a slice of homemade pie at the café. The Best Western Willows Inn is a convenient place to stay for the night and is nicely located if you fancy a trip to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge or Thunderhill before you get back on the road.

Covering more than 10,800 acres of wetland and grassland habitat, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, just south of the town, is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a visit to Willows. The site is open year-round. It's home to around 300 bird species and is known primarily for its migratory waterfowl. Summer highlights include the oriole while in December, the duck population peaks at 500,000 and there are up to 250,000 geese. The refuge is a particularly important wintering ground for rare tule greater white-fronted geese, too. The best way to explore it is on a 6-mile auto tour. Staying in your vehicle causes less disturbance to the birds, but there are Park-and-Stretch areas and observation decks along the route — you can borrow binoculars for the day. A Sacramento Day Pass costs $5.50.

Expect a change of pace and noise levels at Thunderhill Raceway Park, a 12-minute drive west of town. With a selection of tracks to choose from, cars, motorbikes, and go-karts arrive from all over the country to test the twists and turns or compete in one of the events held throughout the year. One of the most fun has to be 24 Hours of Lemons, a race that's open to pretty much anyone who can get a team and an appropriate vehicle together. Tickets cost $40. Otherwise, spectators can watch 25 Hours And 1 Minute — North America's longest race. 

For those staying a few days, check out Stony Gorge Reservoir, around 25 miles west of Willows, for a day of boating, fishing, or hiking along its 18-mile shoreline. Mendocino National Forest lies further afield. A true wilderness, it's ideal for hiking, camping, fishing, and OHV (off highway vehicle) recreation in a terrain covering nearly 1 million acres of forest, mountains, and rivers.