Downtown Woodland: Unexpected Treasure

Relaxing and Fun Times in Woodland

Woodland, Calif. – Pleasant surprises are always the best. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I grabbed my wife and headed off on a rather short drive to Woodland to catch an afternoon show at the Blue Note Brewing Company.

Caligator, a power trio of local musicians who rehearse regularly at Baker Island studio in Rocklin would be holding court for an outdoor show on a typically warm and sun-filled Northern California afternoon.

We arrived early to explore downtown Woodland, grab a bite and check out this growing community of about 56,000 residents in Yolo County before heading over to the show.

Woodland boasts a downtown with excellent walkability, many places to shop, eat or grab a cold one. We were impressed by the attention to local merchants and didn’t spot any of the usual chains that make so many downtowns predictable and boring.

Many of the local merchants take Sunday off, while the restaurants and bars remain the hub of activity. We did some window shopping while enjoying the quiet and old town charm that permeates the downtown area. A crowd and sidewalk dining area at Stack’d & Brew’d drew us in for lunch. We both enjoyed a tasty sandwich and cold drink while dining outside and watching the world go by.

Next, we headed over the Blue Note Brewing Co. which bills itself as an “artisan NANO-brewery” for some live music and a frosty oatmeal Stout for me. The casual and low-key atmosphere was a perfect fit for this Sunday afternoon where we ran into a few old friends and enjoyed a dose of Caligator’s original tunes and excellent covers including a soulful, yet blistering version of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing.

After spending an enjoyable afternoon in Woodland, we trekked it on back to Roseville.

Not sure what to expect at the start of this day, we were excited to have discovered the unexpected treasure called Downtown Woodland.

If you’re looking to for a fun place to spend a few hours within a short drive from South Placer County, Woodland is a great choice.

We look forward to going back for one of the many downtown events held in Woodland.