Step Back in Time
History buffs will enjoy brushing up on their knowledge at the Woodland Library built by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 or revisiting the 1950s at Reiff’s Antique Gas Station Automotive Museum. Don’t worry, we’ve got some great eats to fuel your sightseeing too.
So speaking of great eats, Father Paddy’s Irish Public House on Main Street in Woodland opens at 11am. Not only can you get some traditional favorites like fish & chips and bangers and mash, but their grilled cheese with bacon jam and signature kettle chips are favorites on the menu as well. And this place isn’t short on history either – it’s located in a 1903 bank building and houses a whiskey vault (in the original bank vault) stocked with close to 90 Irish, Scotch and American whiskeys.
Now that you have a full belly and maybe a pint or two or some whiskey in you, time to head over to Reiff’s Antique Gas Station Museum. Mark Reiff entire house is full of retro 1950s nostalgia, antiques and car culture. Exhibits include a general store, gas station & garage, antique tow truck, patio & garden, store, diner, theater and car/plane crash. Just contact Mark to schedule your tour! And before you head out of town, check out the Woodland Library built by Andrew Carnegie. It’s one of the oldest, last functioning Carnegie-funded libraries in California. Plus, Woodland itself is historic and has a great downtown…filled with historic houses from the 1860s to the 1940s. It has been called a “museum of housing styles” and it’s worth taking a walking tour to see all the detailed architectural styles.
If you’re digging historic downtowns, you’ll also want to venture down to Winters which has a Historic Downtown District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area includes the block of Main Street between Railroad Avenue and First Street. If your stomach is starting to grumble again, Carboni’s Market located inside Hotel Winters offers delicious gelato. Pop into the Winters Museum, also located in Downtown to learn about the rich history of the town.
Fancy yourself a little bit of a bicycling enthusiast? Then you’re definitely going to want to hit up the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in Davis. Recognizing all disciplines within the sport of cycling, including road, track, cyclocross, BMX, and mountain biking, the Hall of Fame features an extensive collection of historic artifacts spanning over 100 years. Changing displays highlight contemporary pros and the the prestigious Pierce Miller antique bicycle collection.
Last but certainly not least, if your thirsty for more history, wrap up your day at the Old Sugar Mill. Originally built in 1934 as an operating beet sugar refinery, the Old Sugar Mill now hosts fifteen unique wineries offering varietals from all over Northern California. Séka Hills is one of the proprietors and offers tastings of Capay Valley estate grown wines, estate extra virgin olive oils, honey and other specialty foods. Historical Fun Fact: the brand Séka Hills is named for the blue hills that overlook the tribal lands. The Tocha Dehe Wintun Nation are historical inhabitants of California’s Capay Valley.
Don’t forget all that time travel can be exhausting! Get a little R&R before back home and check in to one of Yolo County’s many hotel, B&Bs, and Inns in the area.