I had a good, quiet time in this small museum. You could easily do the museum and shop in 10mins,…read morebut if you love history and science, you can be there a whole hour or more watching the videos and starring at the sea glass. It's got an old business feel, and I appreciated it. You can tell the captain puts in a lot of effort to keep the shop original. The captain stayed after hours to allow me to take my time. Thank was sweet!

Cool shop, a nice display, and an alarmingly very grumpy old man. We bought one item and promptly…read moreheaded out. Worth a stop if you are a fan of sea glass, but not if you expect a friendly reception. Grumpy old man may do better hiring a person capable of being friendly.

Unfortunately, I wanted to share feedback from a recent visit to the NOYO Center for Marine Science…read moreduring our trip to FB. After seeing a post on Instagram, we were excited to visit and planned our afternoon around arriving at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday. Although the posted hours were 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., we found the Center closed with a sign indicating it would reopen at 3:10 p.m. We waited, ordering a smoothie at a nearby shop and returned shortly after reopening. Upon entering, I noticed the "No food or drinks" sign. Wanting to respect that policy, I asked the staff member at the front desk if there was a trash can where I could dispose of my smoothie cup. Rather than directing me to a nearby receptacle, she instructed me to use a public trash can outside and then began lecturing me about single-use plastics after noticing my disposable cup. The interaction was abrupt, unsolicited, and delivered in a tone that felt dismissive rather than welcoming. After locating a public trash can several storefronts away, I returned hoping to put the interaction behind us. While we were browsing the front area, the same staff member went outside to address a family near the entrance. From inside the Center, her tone and gestures appeared more like a reprimand than a courteous request, creating an atmosphere that felt unwelcoming. When I approached the desk to purchase admission, I mentioned that I work for a large land conservation organization that restores habitats, builds trails, protects open space, and supports sustainable agriculture. I told her, "We're on the same team." I shared that not because I expected different treatment, but because it underscored an important point: every visitor deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of their background or profession. Staff members are often the public face of an organization's mission, and the way they interact with visitors directly influences how that mission is perceived. This experience did not diminish our support for marine conservation or the important work your organization does. However, it did leave us with a negative impression of the Center and, unfortunately, reflected poorly on the organization as a whole. I hope this feedback is received in the constructive spirit in which it is intended, as I believe a welcoming visitor experience is essential to building lasting public support for your mission.

Great place to stop and learn and let the kids play. Perfect pit stop for shopping with kids. They…read moreget some energy out and have fun learning about the marine life. Free for kids and just an easy $5 for adults. It is small but very cool to see all the skeletons and all the information is great to learn. Definitely a place to make a stop.

This may be the most important museum in Fort Bragg. Truly an inspirational place! The window…read moredisplay caught my eye. The museum documents the life's work of the enigmatic Larry Spring who mixes science and fiction with his own broad strokes. There are events that happen here too. I've heard of puppet shows and concerts, fairs, and movie screenings. Could this be ground zero for the burgeoning art scene of Fort Bragg?

Ok so I admit that the "school" was closed when I happened upon it walking around Fort Bragg BUT…read morethe display and items described in the windows were just SO FASCINATING. I was a little disappointed that larry wasn't around (hey, it was NYE so I'm sure he was busy) but perusing the website elicited the fact that his various contraptions and the things I saw at his shop were in fact, for sale. And not very cheap either. I especially liked the fact that he had a declaration in one of his descriptions about how he doesn't have peer reviews of any of his new discoveries because that would be contradictory to a new discovery (how can anyone who has never seen it before [aka a "peer"] review something?). ok, the dude seems a little kooky but I like that he set up shop and that he had all the wherewithal to make all his declarations. It adds to the charm of Fort Bragg I'd say.

Phenomenal! The model railroad is so detailed and does a great job. Illustrating the logging…read moreindustry and how it operated. The volunteers/ workers are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and can answer any questions you have. If you visit, read the story about Boomer Jack. You won't be disappointed!

Amazing just to see all the trains and the history . So cool and fun I'm sure kids who love trains…read morewould want this whole set up

I have taken many Kelley House tours and have enjoyed all of them! from the historic district tour…read moreto the murder she wrote and most recently the haunted Mendocino tour! The guides are wonderfully informed, enthusiastic and entertaining! highly recommend for locals and visitors alike!

We did a two hour tour with Jane and loved every minute of it. Jane was a delight. She was full of…read moreinteresting facts but did not overwhelm us with it. Just the right amount. Very well spent $20. As for the Kelley house goes, what I did see was nice . Well kept. Do the tour with Jane . You will be glad you did .

Stopped here on a rainy day and we had a great time. Very informative and larger than we…read moreanticipated. It was a great experience and taught everyone the interesting history of Mendocino County.

Fun little museum about the old and recent history of Mendocino County. Surprisingly interesting…read morefor people of all ages.

i first visited the elephant thrift in 2023. my best friend and i were on a road trip on highway 1…read moreand were greeted with the most friendly, genuine, elderly man. he had much of a selection, and was eager to put a smile on our faces. i promised to revisit him, and i did, in september of this last year- 2025. he has always been so kind, and ive always been impressed with the selection and his stories of when he was in Africa and other countries. i think this is a place worth visiting if you want to spend your money, and have a valuable conversation with a kind, animal-loving, conservationist.

WEIRD VIBES! This is not a museum or a true thrift store. It's a funky little store front that…read morewe're pretty sure is also the elderly man's house who runs it. He was very kind. However, as soon as you walk inside, you're hit with a heavy odor of tobacco meets broccoli meets mildew? There's a heaviness to the air that gives you the sense of haunted house. Truly, did not like my time there. But if you're into oddities and are trying to do every single thing in town that you can, it's probably worth 5-10min of time to run in. Very strange.

Like most people I suspect, Jamie W. and I came upon this little house quite by accident since we…read morewere making our way to the headlands from the town center off the main thoroughfare. I was immediately struck by the bright teal color contrasting with the faded red of the steps (see my photo). We knew it wasn't your standard clapboard, "Murder She Wrote" cottage, and yet we were wondering how the owner violated the all-white, Cape Cod-style conformity of the rest of the homes. As it turns out, it's a Taoist temple built by the first Chinese settlers in the early 1850's. In fact, it's the oldest Taoist temple in the state. The temple is dedicated to the Chinese god of war, and the outside of the building has a sign that says from (right to left) "mo dai miu", translates to mean "Temple to the Military God". It's open on weekends but only between May and October. For the rest of the year, you have to turn into a lookie-loo like me and unapologetically peep through the windows. They don't mind....I think.

If You drove into town, you probably wouldn't even have known a temple like this existed because it…read moreis not on a Main Street and it is tiny!! I actually found this temple through yelp. My grandmother likes to visit temples and we were going to be in the area so I decided to take her here. I like going as well, gives me a sense of calming. There isn't much to see here. And there is only one lady who works here, who is absolutely the sweetest lady. She told us the history behind the temple and how her great grandfather had built it long ago. Her father entrusted her with the temple so now it is her duty to protect and look over it. You probably can't tell but she's actually part Chinese! FYI there are no restrooms there but a nice art center two blocks up offered their restroom :)

Good museum and art center with added California perspective…read more This museum is a hidden gem it would be a gem in any community. The selections are gems of the first waters. Unique and representative of local communities who have been here for hundreds of years. Please make N effort to visit when you are in the area. Metta john

I was greeted with a hostile attitude by the woman who staffed the reception area as though she…read moreresented my entrance. After asking about tours, I was abruptly told that there would be none that day as they had an "event" that evening docents were preparing for. I asked about opportunities the following day and she dismissed the question as one of insensitivity by responding " my volunteers are all over the age of 50 and not knocking down my door to volunteer after an event!" As one of the few attractions in Ukiah, it would benefit the organization to have more welcoming and informative personnel- when I came home later that day and looked up their website, I realized the "event" was their annual gala - which is all she had to tell me and I would have completely understood the "all hands on deck" commitment something like this requires. Bad form and bad protocol...this woman is not suited for a position of hospitality.