Discover Solano Summer 2023

BEACH HUT SERVES UP OHANA ATMOSPHERE

Solano Mobility Call Center is here to help

DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF

The Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Solano Mobility

Call Center provides personalized assistance and information about transportation options to get around Solano County and beyond. In addition to providing commuters and Solano County employers with information on a variety of transit services and incentive programs, the Call Center provides seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and students with a range of mobility options.

Below is a list and information on some of the many programs offered by Solano Mobility.

GETTING AROUND SOLANO COUNTY

• Clipper Card Sales

• Transit Information

• Travel Training

• Transit Trip Planning

OLDER ADULTS, VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program

• Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program

• Medical Trip Concierge Program

• Veterans Mobility Program

PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS, VETERANS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Eligibility Program determines eligibility for anyone unable to use

fixed-routes public transit service because of their disability. ADA-eligibility allows access to curb-to-curb paratransit service throughout Solano County, as well as participation in the Solano Intercity Taxi Program.

Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program

For ADA-certified individuals, this program offers the ability to purchase discounted fare for intercity taxi trips within Solano County using a prepaid debit card (PEX card). Eligible residents may purchase $100 of taxi funds for $40 ($20 if low income eligible).

Travel Training Program

Learn to ride public transit on your own or with friends with the Travel Training Program. This program provides one-on-one instruction and group training designed to teach people how to travel independently on fixed-route public transportation in their community. This free service teaches everything, from how to read a schedule, to how to pay for your travel.

Medical Trip Concierge Program

For seniors over 60 years old, the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program

COURTESY OF SOLANO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Learn how to take transit by going on a Travel Training trip.

provides 20 reduced cost trips per month to medical and other essential appointments around Solano County, utilizing Uber and Lyft through GoGo Grandparent. A participant must be a resident of Solano County, 60 years of age or older and/or ADA-eligible. Customers pay 40% of the ride; only 20% if they qualify as low income. Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) are available. Mobility Programs Expanded to Include Veterans

The Veterans Mobility program, started in April 2022, offers veterans of any age access to Veterans Affairs (VA) and medical facilities within Solano County, including Travis Air Force Base, as well as three specific locations in Contra Costa County, including the Martinez VA Clinic. This program also provides wheelchair accessible vehicles if required. Solano County veterans can access VA and medical facilities by participating in STA’s subsidized Medical Trip Concierge (GoGo) Service or the Solano County Intercity Taxi Card (ITX) Program.

OPTIONS FOR COMMUTERS

• BikeLink Locker Sales

• Carpools

• Clipper Card Sales

• Solano/Yolo BikeLinks Map

• Vanpool

COMMUTER BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYERS AND THEIR

EMPLOYEES

• Bucks for Bikes

• Commuter Benefits Program

• First-Last Mile Program

• Sustainable Transportation Emissions Program (STEP)

• Guaranteed Ride Home Program

COMMUTER AND EMPLOYER PROGRAMS

First/Last Mile Program offers Discounted Lyft Rides to Solano Transit Hubs

The First/Last Mile program assists Solano County residents and employees who have challenges connecting the first

or last portion of their commute between 12 Solano County transit hubs and their homes or places of employment. Program participants receive 80% off their Lyft connection, up to $25.

Get a Guaranteed Ride Home during an Emergency

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides an alternative option to get home in case of an emergency by allowing registered users to take a Lyft, Uber or taxi. The GRH program can be used six times in a year, no more than three times in a month, for up to $100 per trip. Participants must have used an alternative transportation mode to get to work on the day they use Guaranteed Ride Home.

STA expanded the Guaranteed Ride Home Program in September 2022 to assist Solano Express riders whose route is missed or canceled. The new program is called Guaranteed Ride (GR), and participants register for the program by joining Solano Mobility’s Commute Solano Network for the Solano Express line they ride

Solano Mobility Call Center help desk

at commuterinfo.net. Participants receive an Uber Voucher valid for four rides during the month. Rides must be within 100 miles and cost less than $100.

Start a Vanpool and Save with Subsidies

With the high cost of gas, it makes sense to share your commute with seven to

15 people who live and work near you. Forming a vanpool is a great way to share the cost of commuting. New, qualifying vanpools traveling to or from Solano County for work can receive from $200 to $600 in monthly subsidies. Twenty new vanpools have recently taken advantage of this program traveling from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo to Richmond, San Francisco, St. Helena and Treasure Island.

Take the Commute Challenge & Earn Rewards

Everyone who lives or works in Solano County can win. Sign up for free at commuterinfo.net. Log your alternative commutes (transit, rideshare, active transportation, telework) to earn free gift cards. Be sure to include your home and work ZIP codes.

For more information about the Solano Mobility Call Center or a specific program, visit www.solanomobility.org or call 800-535-6883. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. DS

COURTESY OF SOLANO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

Seniors over 60 can utilize the Medical Trip Concierge Services Program to reduces

SAVE MONEY AND TIME BY SHARING YOUR COMMUTE Start

a Vanpool & Save with Subsidies

SOLANO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

With the high cost of gas, it makes sense to share your commute with people who live and work near you, especially for commuters who work far from home. A vanpool can save you a significant amount of money by sharing the cost of commuting with 7- 15 passengers and a driver. It is a comfortable way to travel and provides lots of room for passengers. If you’d prefer not to drive, and you live in an area that’s not immediately accessible by mass transit, a vanpool is a great solution.

Some advantages of vanpooling include:

• Savings on commute costs

• A faster trip in carpool or express lanes

• Reduced costs on gas, car maintenance, and wear and tear on your vehicle

• Shared rides with neighbors, co-workers, friends, and new acquaintances

• Lowers stress from having to drive (in traffic) every day

• Save parking for others

• Limit your carbon emission

Vanpools generally work best and provide the greatest savings for groups that have commutes of at least 15 miles each way. New, qualifying vanpools traveling to or from Solano County for work can receive from $200 to $600 in monthly subsidies. The pricing for a van commuter depends on the number of riders and the distance you are traveling.

In partnership with Commute with Enterprise, Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Solano Mobility vanpooling program offers commuters traveling to and from Solano County an innovative, shared mobility option. Commute with Enterprise will also provide 24-hour roadside assistance, liability insurance, and scheduled maintenance. Twenty-three new vanpools have recently taken advantage of this program traveling from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Vacaville, and Vallejo to Alameda, Napa, Richmond, San Francisco, and Treasure Island. Currently, there are 60 total vanpools travelling to and from Solano County. DS

• Courteous staff available twenty-four seven.

• Over half a century of service with thousands of satisfied customers.

• Three year interest-free before need planning for all budgets. • Reception room for use at no additional cost.

Beach Hut serves Ohanaup atmosphere

GEERTS

Beach Hut Deli is far more than a place to chow down on delicious sandwiches. Rather, it’s a reprieve from the world you leave behind as soon as you step through the doors.

Luckily for Vacaville and Davis, Sierra Bennett is at the helm of both deli locations along with her brimming ambi tion to perpetuate those chill, island vibes in the restaurants’ atmosphere and customer service.

The very first Beach Hut Deli was opened back in 1981 in Granite Bay. Since then, the deli franchise has earned a reputation for its Hawaiian beach ambiance, its unique and delicious sandwiches served on frisbees and – of course – the beers on tap.

Bennett – a Roseville native – got her start eight years ago at the original Granite Bay location, and it was the ohana

AARON GEERTS/DAILY REPUBLIC

Sierra Bennett owns a pair of Beach Hut Deli locations, and is ready to spread the chill, island vibes that are its hallmarks.

AARON

atmosphere and work environment – and sensational sandwiches – that enraptured and inspired her to climb up the ranks and eventually become an owner.

“I’ve always had friends that worked at Beach Hut growing up, and I was 17 when I first started. I also loved Beach Hut because of how big the sandwiches

island vibe

Granite Bay for three years before I got my deli in Davis. I’ve owned that one for about a year-and-a-half and was nervous when I started because I was only 23 at the time.”

are! Any time I went to another sandwich place I was wanting more meat, so when I found Beach Hut, it was filling, a perfect sandwich and I just fell in love with it,” Bennett explained. “It’s more the vibes too. All the people I work with are family to me. Becoming an owner happened so fast, too. At first I was a shift lead, then I was a manager at

Whether she was nervous or not, Bennett has clearly been doing something right as she’s recently become the owner of the Vacaville Beach Hut Deli as well. Although the Vacaville location radiates those island vibes and serves up the top-tier sandwiches the Deli’s known for, Bennett maintains there’s a lot of hard work on the horizon to further incorporate her deli into the community.

“I love this Vacaville store, but it needs to get built up the same way that

The island vibe permeates Beach Hut, and it’s eclectic beer selection.

“I love this Vacaville store, but it needs to get built up the same way that we built Davis up. It’s going to take some elbow grease and love...”

ohana spirit

we built Davis up. It’s going to take some elbow grease and love. We’ve also been doing a lot of community outreach, donating and giving back to other local businesses. My goal for the Vacaville store is 90 trays in 90 days. Basically, everyday I’ve been calling up a local business and offering free party trays of sandwiches. And that’s what it’s about,” said Bennett. “Beach Hut is unique because of the genuine customer service. Like I said before, it’s like a family here and when a customer walks in, you can feel that ohana aspect. You just feel like you’re part of the crew, so we have a lot of regulars who just come in to drink some beers and hang out

with us. Any Beach Hut you go to you’ll get that vibe.”

For Bennett, her favorite part of being an owner is training her employees. With many being teenagers getting their first taste of the work world, Bennett thoroughly enjoys getting to know them on a personal basis, making a positive impact on them while instilling a steadfast work ethic they’ll carry with them the rest of their lives.

“My favorite sandwich here is definitely the Surfin’ Bird. That’s what we’re known for, the cream cheese, avocado, bacon and French roll. We make our bread fresh every day and all our ingredients are locally sourced too!” said Bennett. “And just so everyone

knows, we do discounts for military members, firefighters, police, teachers and students as well.”

With only two months of owning the Vacaville location, Bennett is ready as ever to continue serving up perfect sandwiches and make everyone happy who comes in.

To learn more about Beach Hut Deli, its catering services or anything else for that matter, one can visit their website

at beachhutdeli.com.

One can also visit the Davis Beach Hut Deli at 4515 Fermi Pl and reach it at 530756-1601.

The Vacaville Beach Hut Deli is at B 2091 Harbison Drive No. 2 and can be reached at 707-451-7644.

Visit both storefronts’ social media accounts by searching @beachhutdelivacaville and @beachhutdelidavis on Instagram and Facebook. DS

AARON GEERTS/DAILY REPUBLIC

Above: It’s all about the ohana spirit at Beach Hut Deli. Below: At Beach Hut, the tables are surfboards, so you can hang 10 while you watch the game.

you for voting Rancho Solano #1

Advantages of Senior Living

Growing older doesn’t mean closing the book on adventures. At Rockville Terrace, we offer ample amenities to ensure your loved one’s needs are always met. Our amenities include a luxury dining experience, extensive library room, theater room, daily activities, full-service salon and spa, and much more.

Services:

Rockville

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BENICIA Discover

Its status as a former state capital is part of California lore, but Benicia was also once destined to be called Francisca until Yerba Buena changed its name to San Francisco and the similarity spurred the town's founder to select another name.

Robert Semple had wanted in 1847 to name the town after Gen. Mariano Vallejo's wife, Francisca Maria Felipa Benicia Carrillo de Vallejo, and he still did. Semple just choose another of her many names.

The town's residential and business districts are on its west side with a vibrant waterfront as well as the Benicia State Recreation Area along Southhampton Bay.

Benicia is home to events that range from Arts Benicia and the Benicia Peddlers Fair to The Holy Ghost Parade and the July 3 Torchlight Parade.

Its industrial side includes the Port of Benicia and the town's largest employer, the Valero Oil Refinery, with its tanks, pipes and stacks that sprawl across a large area alongside Interstate 680.

The town could have been the center of California politics when the state in 1853 declared Benicia as its capital after deciding they were dissatisfied with Vallejo in that role. Lawmakers took over the Benicia City Hall, with its Doric columns and appearance of a Greek temple.

“So Benicia, the memorable 'city of the Straits,' 'the rival emporium of the Pacific wealth and commerce,' is to be vested with new dignities . . .” the Feb. 5, 1853, Daily Alta Californian reported.

The state Legislature met again in Benicia in 1854. It voted to make Benicia the permanent state capital. Then lawmakers quickly changed their minds when 100 people coming to the session couldn’t find lodgings and had to sleep in

Spend the day, see some sights

saloons. They moved the capital to Sacramento.

Another historical site is the Benicia Arsenal, built in 1849 as an ordnance supply depot. William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant spent time there prior to going on to Civil War fame. Sherman became an admirer of the town.

“That Benicia has the best natural site for a commercial city, I am satisfied, and had half the money and half the labor since bestowed upon San Francisco been expended at Benicia, we should have at this day a city of palaces along the Carquinez Strait,” he wrote in his memoirs.

The arsenal also stabled the U.S. Army's only Camel Corps that was disbanded in 1863. The Camel Barns, built in 1855, now house the Benicia Historical Museum. Union troops from the West gathered at the arsenal during the Civil War.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 125 truck convoys were loaded at the arsenal. A total of 250 Italian and 400 German prisoners of war once resided at the arsenal.

Benicia was almost economically shattered in the 1960s when the arsenal closed, removing its economic foundation, but re-creation of the arsenal land as a successful industrial park that now contains the Valero refinery helped save the town's economy.

The city is home to a thriving art community, many who live in the historic arsenal area, which dates back to 1849. The Clock Tower Fortress, also in the arsenal, built in 1859, is open for many community functions.

MORE INFORMATION:

Benicia Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 707-745-2120, www.beniciachamber.com

DOWNTOWN BENICIA

Downtown Benicia offers myriad festivals and events for all ages. The summer season offer plenty of seasonal activities, from a farmers market to wine- and food-tasting activities to various community celebrations and more.

MORE INFORMATION: 707-745-9791, www.beniciamainstreet.org.

BENICIA STATE RECREATION AREA

The shores of Southampton Bay are home to one of Solano County’s few state parks. People come to Benicia State Recreation Area to walk, run, cycle, birdwatch and fish. The state lists the Dillon’s Point marsh as an area in the park particularly favored by anglers. A few motorhome campsites are available, though no tent campsites. It has 2.5 miles of roads and paths. Benicia State Park is also home to the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden. The only other Solano County state park is Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, though the county does have state wildlife refuges.

LOCATION: Columbus Parkway exit from Interstate 780 in Benicia

MORE INFORMATION: 707-648-1911

www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=476

BENICIA CAPITOL STATE HISTORIC PARK

Benicia briefly served as California’s capital 150 years ago. Benicia Capitol State Historic Park commemorates the era of 1853 to 1854. The old capitol building remains and is open

Spend the day, see some sights

ART GALLERY

Benicia Calendar of Events

FARMERS MARKET: Benicia Main Street draws many people to its popular farmers market, now in its 31st year. The market offers fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, gourmet food, delicious hot foods, arts and crafts, live entertainment and face painting from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, through Aug. 31; 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 7 to Oct. 26.

to visitors. Vallejo was the state capital before Benicia, but Gen. Mariano Vallejo failed to provide the promised buildings and lawmakers moved it. Benicia has a Greek temple-style capitol building, but this too failed to convince state lawmakers to stay in Solano County. Sacramento became the capital in March 1854. The Benicia Capitol building over the years served as a fire station, police station and even a dance hall. The Benicia Capitol is the only pre-Sacramento capitol building that remains.

LOCATION: 115 W. G St., Benicia

MORE INFORMATION: 707-745-3385

www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=475

BENICIA MARINA

Located between the Sacramento River Delta and San Francisco Bay, the Benicia Marina is a jewel located on the north side of the Carquinez Strait, with spectacular views from every slip in the harbor. It offers guest berthing, power, water and a safe environment. It is also only a short walk away from downtown Benicia’s charming First Street and its shops as well as walking and bike trails. Guest boats must check in at the marina office for berth assignments. Call in advance for the availability of either transient or overnight

berthing.

LOCATION: 266 E. B St., Benicia

MORE INFORMATION: 707-745-2628, www.beniciamarina.net

BENICIA PLEIN AIR GALLERY

The Benicia Plein Air Gallery specializes in the work of local artists who capture the outdoor scenes in and around Benicia, the Carquinez Straits and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each month, the open-air gallery showcases the works of one of its many artists, with creations that range from classical landscapes to saturated pastels. The 5th Annual Paint Out event planned in August 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic and has not yet returned. The gallery responded by producing a brief video called “Painting en plein air in the time of Covid,” which may be viewed at the gallery’s website.

LOCATION: MORE INFORMATION: www.beniciapleinair.com

SEPAY GROVES OLIVE OIL IN BENICIA

Sepay Groves Olive Oil, the oldest olive oil store in Solano County, offers an expansive variety of award-winning extra virgin and

flavored olive oils and serves as an outlet store for the oldest operating olive oil producer in Suisun Valley, who arguably produces the best Tuscan extra virgin olive oil in Northern California. All oils and vinegars are bottled by hand in small batches to maintain their integrity, with the oils sold in their first year of life.

LOCATION: 364 First St., Benicia FOR APPOINTMENTS AND MORE INFORMATION: 707-434-8222, www.sepayoliveoil.com

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION:

Benicia’s Torchlight Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. July 3 along First Street and includes dancers, floats, clowns and entertainment. On July 4, fireworks start at approximately 9 p.m. at the foot of First Street. www.beniciamainstreet.org.

BENICIA HOLY GHOST FIESTA & PARADE: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 23, BDES Hall, 140 W. J St., Benicia. Parade, Mass, food, auction, dance, dinner. beniciaholyghost.org/ bdes-festa.

BENICIA WATERFRONT FESTIVAL: Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront locale with two days of live music, craft beer tastings, tasty foods, vendor village, and a children’s activity area from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 29-30 at the First Street Green, corner of First and East B streets.

www.beniciamainstreet.org.

TASTE OF FIRST STREET: Downtown brings a sampling of the cuisine you can find from Benicia’s favorite restaurants on First Street with two glasses of wine and souvenir glass included. Event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 23.

www.beniciamainstreet.org.

DIXON Discover

The city was going to be called Dicksonville after pioneer Thomas Dickson, who donated 10 acres of his property for a railroad depot, but a merchandise shipment in 1872 misspelled the name as Dixon.

Almost two years of trying to have the town formally named Dicksonville ended in 1874 when the county recorder filed the name Dixon on new maps. Dixon was a simpler name, he said.

The dairy cows that once gave Dixon the nickname The Dairy City are for the most part gone, though the Heritage Dairy is located a few miles from town. But Dixon is located amid the Dixon Ridge farming area of the Central Valley.

The town's agricultural heritage draws from some of Solano County’s most fertile soil where farmers grow everything from tomatoes to alfalfa, ranchers run cattle and sheep, and orchardists grow almonds and walnuts.

The annual May Fair, which began in the late 1800s and is the longest continually running agriculture fair in California, helps keep Dixon's farming heritage alive. Fall brings such attractions as the Cool Pumpkin Patch corn maze. The Dixon Fairgrounds hosts year-round events.

Solano County has a 548-acre area zoned for agricultural services next to Dixon. This area is to be home to processing plants and other businesses that help the farming economy.

Dixon has become more suburban in recent decades, with subdivisions swelling its population of commuters who travel to Davis and the Sacramento area to work.

The city was incorporated in 1878.

Dixon almost became home to a major horse-racing center, but residents voted that down on the grounds they liked their town the way it was. The city also courted the idea of trying to land a movie studio that would have been built on the south side of town and produce family films, but the studio never came about.

But agriculture still looms large. Just look at the city seal, which portrays an orchard and rows

of crops in the foreground and buildings in the distance.

Dixon was born in 1851 when pioneer Elija Silvey founded the town of Silveyville, which was located a few miles from present-day Dixon. He set up a hotel and saloon for mule teams traveling between San Francisco and the gold fields in the Sierra Nevada and put up a red lantern to make certain people could find it.

By 1865, Silveyville had about 150 residents and boasted a store, blacksmith shop and a post office, with Silvey serving as postmaster. But the Central Pacific railroad came through in 1868 several miles away and Silveyville died. A new town sprung up along the railroad tracks, with people moving many of the Silveyville buildings there on rollers.

In a twist of irony, one of the few buildings to survive from Silveyville was a church that was too large to be hauled over the railroad tracks. When a massive fire burned down much of Dixon, the church survived quite literally because it was on the wrong side of the tracks.

The Nov. 19, 1883, fire started in the kitchen of the Centennial Hotel, where the Moose Lodge is now located, and almost completely destroyed the town. Winds up to 60 mph spread the fire and the town’s saloons and six churches were destroyed within hours.

A city ordinance that followed set brick or tin as the building material of choice.

The city is a true Central Valley town amid a county that is considered part of the Bay Area, with more in common geographically with Sacramento than San Francisco. It has the flat expanses of land and hot summer temperatures of the valley.

And, of course, it has the vast expanses of farmland at its borders.

MORE INFORMATION: Dixon Chamber of Commerce 707-678-2650, www.dixonchamber.org

Spend the day, see some sights

SACRAMENTO VALLEY NATIONAL CEMETERY

The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is the seventh national cemetery built in California and the 124th in the nation. It opened to burials in 2006. It is located on Midway Road between Vacaville and Dixon. The cemetery should serve the needs of the area for the next 50 years. It opened with 14 acres for interment of local veterans and their loved ones, and has steadily expanded.

LOCATION: 5810 Midway Road, Dixon

MORE INFORMATION: 707-693-2460,

www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sacramento.asp

SACRAMENTO VALLEY NATIONAL CEMETERY

FAIRFIELD Discover

Apublic art event in 1995 asked "Where is Fairfield?" and a plane flew over the city with that question on a banner. At NorthBay Medical Center, babies were given T-shirts that posed the same question.

Halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento is the easy answer – although residents might note that description overlooks the rich history of Fairfield.

The city is the Solano County seat and home to Travis Air Force Base – along with attractions that include Jelly Belly, Solano Town Center mall and the Rancho Solano and Paradise Valley golf courses.

Fairfield began in 1856 when nearby Suisun City had waterfront shipping access crucial for pioneer-era communities. A treeless plain is how one writer described Fairfield.

But an offer to the county of land to build a government center was too good a deal for voters to pass up and in 1858 they approved moving the county seat from Benicia to Fairfield. The city's population doubled between the late 1850s and 1880. A century later, more than 44,000 people lived in the city – a number that

more than doubled by 2000.

Buildings constructed for government are among Fairfield's most impressive structures. Renovation of the 1911 county courthouse was recently completed while the modern six-story county Government Center dominates downtown.

By World War II, after decades of playing second fiddle to Suisun City, Fairfield was on its way to becoming the second largest city in Solano County. The U.S. Air Force decision in 1942 to build a major base installation on land east of Fairfield boosted the area economy. Travis Air Force Base was annexed to Fairfield in 1966.

The city now is targeting development on two fronts. The Fairfield-Vacaville train station for Amtrak and bus riders, located about a mile from Travis Air Force Base, is seen as a boon for residents and the economy and is the site of current development. A project to help the city's central business district to grow and match the downtown turnarounds that other Bay Area cities is in its formative stages. Recent projects to support the effort include ongoing work to

update Allan Witt Park on West Texas Street and a project completed in Spring 2022 to modernize and update the streetscape at the downtown’s entrance on the west end of West Texas Street at Interstate 80.

Fairfield at nearly 40 square miles is almost the physical size of San Francisco, if not a match in population or cable cars that climb halfway to the stars. Its location along Interstate 80, Interstate 680 and Highway 12 between the Bay Area and Central Valley makes it a regional crossroads.

The rich past of Fairfield may be rivaled only by its future. In 2003, as Fairfield celebrated its 100th anniversary as a city, officials buried a time capsule at City Hall, with an opening date of 2103.

MORE INFORMATION:

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce 707-425-4625, www.fairfieldsuisunchamber.com

Fairfield Conference and Visitors Bureau: 877-793-7386 www.visitfairfieldca.com.

Spend the day, see some sights

DOWNTOWN THEATRE

Playing host to hundreds of community events each year including concerts, festivals and seminars and performances, the Downtown Theatre is the cultural hub of the Fairfield area. Also home to an art gallery, new works are shown each month at the center. Admission to the gallery is free during hours of operation. The award-winning, 360-seat theater received an exterior facelift in August 2018 with the addition of a state-of-the-art lighted marquee. The theater and other facilities can be rented out to host your special event as well.

LOCATION: 1035 Texas St., Fairfield

MORE INFORMATION: 707-940-0700, www.downtowntheatre.com

JELLY BELLY VISITOR CENTER

From being a local secret to world-famous, the pint-sized jelly bean offers a variety of flavors and colors at the Jelly Belly Candy Co.Starting in the lobby filled with jelly bean art and eclectic decorations, guests can tour the factory daily. Tours leave every 10 to 15 minutes and last about 40 minutes. Free samples of Jelly Belly products are available. During the 40-minute walking tour, Jelly Belly guides will show guests a working factory where more than 150 different sweet treats are made. The factory, however, is not in operation during the weekends and on major holidays. Learn the secrets to how they create the legendary Jelly Belly jelly bean and discover why it takes more

than a week to make a single bean. Upcoming events include the 13th Annual Mascot Day on Aug. 3 and the 9th Annual Candy Palooza on Sept. 24-25.

LOCATION: One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield

MORE INFORMATION: 800-9-JELLYBEAN, www.jellybelly.com

SOLANO TOWN CENTER

Solano Town Center mall is one of Solano County’s major shopping and restaurant areas. The two-story mall has about 130 storefronts, ranging from department stores to recruiting offices to movie theaters. It is also a destination for various walking clubs that want to escape

JELLY BELLY CANDY COMPANY

*Scott Reynolds has received the honor of being selected for over 10 years as one of the Northern California Super Lawyers.

honor is bestowed to no more than the top 5% of all attorneys within California and to those who have demonstrated excellence in the practice of law.

Scott Reynolds† Attorney/Managing Partner California Super Lawyer*

Doug Spletter† Attorney/Partner

Sandra Sp ector Attorney Todd Lowell Attorney Alfonso L. Poiré Attorney/Partner

Spend the day, see some sights

the weather. Children can climb and explore the bright, colorful play area filled with animal characters, large puzzles and plenty of space to stretch their legs. Developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the mall has gone through various renovations through the years. The latest brought an $8.5 million, 33,000-square-foot dining court to the mall in April 2011. The mall was renovated end-to-end in 2006 at a cost of $20 million.

LOCATION: 1350 Travis Blvd., Fairfield

MORE INFORMATION: 707-425-1164, www.solanotowncenter.com

FAIRFIELD AQUATICS COMPLEX

Whether it’s exercise, a birthday party or swim lessons, the Fairfield Aquatics Complex offers a lane or slide for all occasions. The center features a natatorium with retractable roof, a zero-depth entry play area, a lazy river current for fun and a six-lane activity pool with a slide and diving board. The outside shallow play area for kids includes slides, climbing structures, waterdumping toys and water-spray toys adjacent to a grass area for families to lounge and enjoy the sunshine. There is also a picnic area for large groups to use for the

Fairfield Calendar of Events

FAIRFIELD CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, through Sept. 28. Webster and Texas streets. www.pcfma.org.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: The Fairfield celebration starts at 10 a.m. July 4 with an Independence Day parade, which winds through downtown Fairfield along Texas Street. www.fairfield.ca.gov.

day or rent the entire facility after hours for company parties, school field trips or special occasions. There is an indoor meeting room and party rooms for smaller groups to enjoy the facilities and catered to in a private setting. A concession stand provides hot and cold drinks and food.

LOCATION: Allan Witt Park, 1741 W. Texas St., Fairfield

MORE INFORMATION: 707-428-7428,  www.fairfield.ca.gov

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE AVIATION MUSEUM

The Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum holds an extensive collection of aircraft and artifacts detailing the history of Travis Air Force Base, airlift, space exploration and military air power. Founded in 1983, the center is surrounded by an impressive collection of restored historic military aircraft that includes the B-29 Superfortress, a Vietnam-era B-52 Stratofortress, an F-4C Phantom Fighter, a C-124 Globemaster II, a C-47 Skytrain and an F-86 Sabre fighter. Inside, there are exhibits containing artifacts, documents, aircraft models, uniforms, aircraft nose art and photos from the dawn of military air power in World War I to present-day military and

humanitarian operations around the world. Due to post-9/11 security concerns, aviation lovers will need a base visitor’s pass to see the Travis Heritage Center.

LOCATION: Travis Heritage Center, 400 Brennan Circle, Travis Air Force Base

MORE INFORMATION: 707-424-8180 www.travisafbaviationmuseum.org

SONOMA HARVEST OLIVE OIL & WINERY

Sonoma Harvest Olive Oil & Winery’s stylish tasting room offers complimentary tastings of almost all of the available Sonoma Harvest food products, including its gourmet olive oils, vinegars, mustards, honey, tapanades, jams, sauces and more. A wine tasting includes the full flight and features four varietals. The tasting room features a well-equipped kids’ club so the little ones can be entertained by puzzles, games, and movies while the adults sip some wine, sample yummy bites and shop among wine country merchandise. Sonoma Harvest’s tasting room is open from noon to 4 p.m. daily except Tuesday and Wednesday.

LOCATION: 770 Chadbourne Road in Fairfield

MORE INFORMATION: 707-389-4815, www.tastesonomaharvest.com

TOMATO & VINE FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 20, Downtown Fairfield. The community’s celebration of all things tomato, the event typically includes a VIP wine and food pairing on Day 1, a classic car show on Day 2, and a carnival

throughout. Details to be announced. www.fairfield.ca.gov.

9TH ANNUAL CANDY PALOOZA: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24, Jelly Belly Candy Company, 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. Event features candy sampling, arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, Jelly Belly’s Wine and Chocolate Experience, pony rides and more. Free parking. www.jellybelly.com

SONOMA HARVEST OLIVE OIL & WINERY

Fairfield Host Lions Presents....

18th Annual

Saturday, August 26, 2023

5:00 pm Social • 6:30 pm Dinner

An Evening of Fun and Fellowship for a great cause. Tickets include appetizers, barrel wine, full prime rib dinner, live music and live & silent auction.

McNaughton Park • 729 Great Jones Street, Downtown Fairfield

$125 Per Person

All proceeds benefiting Fairfield P.A.L.

Presenting Sponsor:

Rush Ranch - 3521 Grizzly Island Road • Suisun City, CA

• Outdoor concert by local cover band Locked-n-Loaded

• Proceeds go to non-pro t Solano Land Trust

• Ra e with fabulous prizes (including a guitar signed by Locked-n-Loaded)

• Food Trucks

• Local Vendors

• Community partner booths

• Beer & Wine Garden

SUISUN CITY Discover

Possibly the most mispronounced city in the county, Suisun City’s roots date back to the 1850s. Things have changed in those 170-years plus. Yet, there’s still plenty of history.

The city dates back to 1850 when Josiah Wing, a schooner captain, found an island in the Suisun Marsh and built a wharf and warehouse there. It soon became the major agriculture shipping point for the farms and orchards in the Suisun Valley and Green Valley areas.

A train depot was built. Suisun City was bustling with several hotels along Main Street.

Fairfield was the smaller of the two towns, but that changed with World War II and with construction of what’s now Travis Air Force Base and Interstate 80. After that, Suisun City’s growth tapered off.

The train station on Main Street opened in 1914. Historic homes line the old part of town. The Lawler House, home to an art gallery, is one of them. It was built in 1857 as a ranch house on the land now occupied by Dover Terrace South. It was moved to its present location by a truck and barge in 1979.

Suisun City has weathered some tough years. In the early 1980s, a survey of San Francisco Bay Area communities called the town the least attractive place to live in the area, which spurred then-Mayor Jim Spering to take on an ambitious redevelopment effort.

Waterfront properties were redeveloped and a crime-ridden neighborhood was razed and replaced with a Victorian-style development. Improvements continued with the construction of a senior center, community center and library.

Suisun City’s new face earned it accolades such as Sactown magazine’s description of it as “a sweet and delightfully surprising vacation spot.”

The city now includes the modern Kroc Center near the library. The old and the new merge in both locations as the Kroc Center has come to serve as a community center.

The downtown area hosts the city’s events such as an annual Waterfront Festival and Christmas

SUISUN CITY WATERFRONT

A bevy of festivals, Independence Day fireworks, shops, restaurants and cafés beckon local residents and visitors to the Suisun City waterfront. Fishermen, dog walkers and people just taking a stroll can be seen at the waterfront almost daily. Much of the activity is centered around the Harbor Plaza at Main and Solano streets, which has hosted concerts and plenty of community activities. The waterfront is often referred to as “a jewel.”

LOCATION: Main Street, Suisun City

MORE INFORMATION: www.suisunwaterfront.com

celebration. Downtown is also home to many popular restaurants. A state-of-the-art Blue Devils Bingo Center operates in the Marina Shopping Center.

An alliance of local and regional performing arts groups now offer performances at the Harbor Theatre on Main Street and the historic train depot wrapped up its facelift recently.

One of the city’s best-kept secrets may be the Suisun Wildlife Center, which is home to a variety of wildlife. Some residents will call it home forever. Others are there with hopes of being released back into their native habitat.

Those who have a paranormal bent can take part in a ghost walk, to potentially hear from any number of spirits that “haunt” the downtown area.

There’s Victoria, who reportedly died in 1923 when she was 7 and is often found at the Lawler House. Michael was reportedly murdered by drowning in 1924 after he got involved in rum-running operation that resulted in him losing some of the illicit booze and paying for that mistake with his life. The spirits of a series of prostitutes identified by paranormal experts as Iris, Hillary, Eleanor, Sweet Marie and Frances can be found at various spots along Main Street near the hotels and pool halls where they plied their trade in the decades before World War II.

MORE INFORMATION:

Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, 1111 Webster St., Fairfield 707-425-4625, www.fairfieldsuisunchamber.com

Suisun City Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District 707-631-5029, www.suisunwaterfront.com

SUISUN WILDLIFE CENTER

The Suisun Wildlife Center serves as a sanctuary for injured wildlife and a place where people can learn about the natural world of the Suisun Marsh. The center’s predecessor, the Wildlife Rescue and Release Services, began in 1977. The center relies heavily on volunteers who do presentations and guide field trips. It is also home to about a dozen nonreleasable raptors, raccoons, coyotes and other animals that help with the staff’s wildlife education program.

LOCATION: 1171 Kellogg St., Suisun City MORE INFORMATION: 707-429-4295, www.suisunwildlife.org

Suisun City Calendar of Events

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: Suisun City celebrates in the afternoon with a festival along the waterfront with live entertainment and vendors, and culminates with an evening fireworks show over the Suisun Marina. www.suisun.com/ suisun-city-to-host-4th-of-julycelebration

“a sweet and delightfully surprising vacation spot.”

SUISUN VALLEY Discover

Suisun Valley offers city dwellers a place to escape crowded streets and see the country, buy fresh produce and taste wines.

It is located just west of Fairfield. It has fertile soils with a Mediterranean climate good enough to grow grapes for fine wines, just as in the neighboring, world-famous Napa Valley.

The valley has its scenic attractions, framed as it is by oak-covered hills, with acres of vineyards, orchards and other farming areas. It has buildings such as the 1900, one-room Gomer School, complete with bell tower. It has small commercial areas such as Manka's Corner with restaurants and other businesses.

Wine is a big part of the valley. Suisun Valley in 1982 won federal recognition as the Suisun Valley Appellation, making the valley an American Viticultural Area. Grape varieties ranging from Sauvignon Blanc to Chardonnay to Gamay to Pinot Noir to Riesling are grown in the valley.

Several small wineries have tasting rooms. In addition, other wineries have grouped together to run a cooperative tasting room on Suisun Valley Road.

A big winery has come to Suisun Valley. The Wagner family, owner of Caymus Vineyards in Napa Valley, is building a winery at the very southern end of the Suisun Valley appellation capable of producing 5 million gallons of wine annually. It plans to bring grapes and wines from other locations to the Cordelia Road site for

bottling, as well as grow grapes there.

But Suisun Valley is more than grapes. People can go there to buy corn, strawberries, dried fruit and nuts and other produce from small, family run produce stands. They can buy olive oil made from olives grown and processed in the valley. Solano County wants to get the word out. It has designated Suisun Valley to become an agritourism area. Goals include creating several more small centers with businesses that cater to valley visitors.

MORE INFORMATION: www.suisunvalley.com

Spend the day, see some sights

AMERICAN ARMORY MUSEUM

The American Armory Museum strives to educate future generations about, and impress upon them, the sacrifice, bravery and enduring significance of the U.S. military. Numerous vehicles are on display, with some available for rides. Static displays are also set up to illustrate life in the field while in the armed forces. The museum features such military vehicles as the 1955 Larc amphibious cargo hauler, the M35A2 cargo truck, the 1944 M5A4 artillery tractor, the M936A1 wrecker and recovery truck, the FV433 Abbot self-propelled artillery vehicle, the HET 1070 heavy equipment transport, a Ford GWP jeep, the M561 Gama Goat amphibious vehicle and the Super Mack heavy-duty truck. Ask in advance about ride fees. Admission is free, although donations are accepted. Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment. Ride fees for vehicles are to be determined and are subject to change without notice.

LOCATION: 4144 Abernathy Road, rural Fairfield in Suisun Valley

MORE INFORMATION: 707-389-6846, www.americanarmorymuseum.org

Spend the day, see some sights

produces artisan olive oil from the Suisun Valley and Green Valley orchards. Using a modern continuous-system olive mill, it can process 1,700 pounds of olives per hour. Tours give folks the chance to stand at the final separator, the cucciolo, as the olives are milled. They can dip pieces of fresh bread in the golden-green oil and savor the rich taste. Certain times of the year, Il Fiorello opens the mill to the public and processes what people bring in. There are also tastings available, as well as various classes throughout the year.

LOCATED: 2625 Mankas Corner Road, rural Fairfield FOR APPOINTMENTS AND MORE INFORMATION: 707-864-1529, www.ilfiorello.com

GLASHOFF’S STUDIO

Home to an eclectic array of art and sculptures, Phil Glashoff’s farm in Suisun Valley also shows off the agricultural side, with a seasonal fruit stand and pumpkin patch. One of the area’s most prominent artists, Glashoff’s works can be toured by appointment. Those in the area can visit for produce in October. Much of the art is made up of salvaged rusty machinery, fire extinguishers, compressor covers, motorcycle tanks and other items that had been abandoned and scattered around the farm. The sculptures

have brought Glashoff attention from around the world. Those who appreciate art find there is goodwill and humor in each piece.

LOCATION: 2489 Rockville Road, Suisun Valley MORE INFORMATION: 707-427-8060,  glashoffgallery@aol.com

IL FIORELLO OLIVE OIL COMPANY

Named after the small white flowers of the olive trees, Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company offers tours of the mill that produces the oils from the locally grown fruit. The family owned company

MANKA’S CORNER

Manka’s Corner is a small commercial area amid the farmlands of Suisun Valley. Solano County is promoting Suisun Valley as an agricultural tourist draw and Manka’s Corner is a key part of the plan, given that it has restaurants and shops where valley visitors can stop. The area’s name comes from Christley Manka, a pioneer to Suisun Valley around 1850. He established a tavern at what is now Manka’s Corner.

LOCATION: Mankas Corner Road and Clayton Road MORE INFORMATION: www.suisunvalley.com

AMERICAN ARMORY MUSEUM

GLASHOFF’S STUDIO

RIO VISTA Discover Spend the day, see some sights

SANDY BEACH

Located on the Sacramento River near Rio Vista, the half-mile-long Sandy Beach is a great Solano County location to cool off during the spring, summer and fall and enjoy some time outdoors throughout the year. It’s open the entire year and has a 24-hour boat launch, campsites and areas to picnic that include tables, barbecue pits, volleyball courts and a horseshoe pit.

LOCATION: 2333 Beach Drive, Rio Vista MORE INFORMATION: 707-374-2097, www.solanocounty.com/depts/rm/ countypark/sandybeach.asp.

RIO VISION GALLERY

Rio Vision Gallery offers art of the Delta region by local artists. The gallery features monthly artist receptions.

Rio Vista Calendar of Events

SUMMER MARKET: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. second and fourth Sundays through August. Park Delta Bay, 922 W. Brannan Island Road, Isleton. Event includes arts and crafts, locally grown produce and fresh eggs, a children’s corner, barbecue, music and nonprofit displays. deltabay.org/foundation.

ROCKIN’ THE RIVER CONCERTS: The Rockin’ the River concert series is sponsored by the Starlight Stage and Rio Vista Art & Music Center and includes free shows throughout the summer along the Sacramento River. The Starlight Stage is fully self-contained and includes a state-of-the-art digital sound reinforcement system and digital lighting to fulfill most technical rider requirements. The stage boasts a performance area or 40 feet by 16 feet.

www.starlightstageshows.com

HOG AUGUST BITES: The downtown plays host to Hog August Bites from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 26. Highlights of the day’s event include the Chili Cookoff and the BBQ Ribs Cookoff, as well as live music, arts and crafts vendors, and a Car & Truck Show.

www.hogaugustbites.com

LOCATION: 116 Main St., Rio Vista MORE INFORMATION: 707-360-5244, www.riovisiongallery.com

FOSTER’S BIGHORN BAR

If you’re looking for big horns look no further than Foster’s Bighorn Bar in Rio Vista. Along with an extensive menu of barbecue, steak, seafood and bar, the restaurant boasts a private collection of more than 250 big-game hunting specimens from Africa and North America. The collection was put together by Bill Foster in the 1930s and ’40s. Several exotic and prized animals from his travels hang on the wall, including heads of an African elephant and giraffe. Foster, a native of Hayward, was involved in bootlegging. Running from the law, he moved his wildlife collection to Rio Vista,

where it has remained for nearly 100 years.

LOCATION: 143 Main St. Rio Vista MORE INFORMATION: 707-374-2511, www.fostersbighorn.com

RIO VISTA MUSEUM

Step back into history when you enter the Rio Vista Museum. Local mementos from years gone by range among a wide array of artifacts – from photos and newspaper headlines to vehicles, farm equipment to clothing, books to kitchen items. Opened in 1975, it is in a converted blacksmith shop. Friendly and knowledgeable docents are available to answer any questions.

LOCATION: 16 N. Front St., Rio Vista MORE INFORMATION: 707-374-5169, www.riovistamuseum.com

Thousands of anglers will descend on Solano County’s Delta community for the 75th Annual Bass Derby & Festival, scheduled Oct. 13-15. The Rio Vista Bass Festival is open to anyone who loves to fish. The Rio Vista Bass Festival offers everyone a chance to get in on the fun and offers a full midway with carnival rides, games, food, drinks and live entertainment. Derby and festival access and parking are free to the public. A community parade starts at noon Oct. 15. www.bassfestival.com.

VACAVILLE Discover

Vacaville is a people-oriented city and as such, takes immense pride in its community events which raise money for the town’s homeless shelter, and Merriment on Main. Sprinkled between these offerings are myriad events that draw the community together and attract others to the city to experience the city’s charm.

The city has a welcoming downtown with a host of small businesses with an active town square that hosts entertainment events on many weekends.

A thriving downtown and large, popular shopping areas make Vacaville a popular shopping destination.

The city has always prided itself on being a forward-looking town, as evidenced by its biotech industry, the arrival of Icon Aircraft, a large number of electric vehicle charging stations and its family oriented community.

Vacaville was founded in 1851 by pioneer William McDaniel, when he bought part of an 1843 Mexican land grant held by Manuel Cabeza Vaca with the promise that McDaniel would name the town Vacaville. The city was incorporated in 1892.

Vacaville’s most famous restaurant, the Nut Tree, opened in the 1920s as a produce stand located under a large oak next to the main road that linked Sacramento with the San Francisco Bay Area. While the Nut

Vacaville Calendar of Events

CREEKWALK CONCERT SERIES: 6:30 p.m. Fridays, through Aug. 5 at the CreekWalk Plaza, Andrews Park, 614 E Monte Vista Ave. Food, drinks, beer, and wine available for purchase from food trucks and food stands. Free admission for children 12 and younger. Remaining calendar: June 30, Vinyl Ride; July 4, Crossman; July 7, Hey Jude; July 15, Los Cochinitos; July 21, Neverland; July 28, Big Crush; Aug. 4, Time Bandits; Aug. 11, Take 2. www.ci.vacaville.ca.us/government/ parks-and-recreation/specialevents/creekwalk?locale=en.

Tree closed in 1996, its legacy continues in the Nut Tree shopping center, which opened in 2009.

Vacaville is not a city stuck in the past, but many residents are sweet on the old Nut Tree and what it represents. When a sign along Interstate 80 marking the former business was taken down in March 2015, devotees of the old Nut Tree were there to mourn and memorialize the moment of cement and glass that took two years to build – and a day to take down.

Population now puts the municipality at third in Solano County, behind Vallejo and Fairfield. Rather than look at numbers, Vacaville’s boosters say its benefits include a thriving downtown and a quality of life unmatched in Solano County. For the sizable population of commuters, Vacaville is equidistant from the Sacramento area and the San Francisco Bay Area, connected to both by Interstate 80.

The hills west of town shelter Vacaville, giving it warm summers with average highs in the upper 90s and mild winters with lows that can drop into the mid-30s.

MORE INFORMATION:

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce 707-448-6424, www.vacavillechamber.com

Visitors Bureau: Visit Vacaville 707-450-0500, www.visitvacaville.com

NUT TREE PLAZA

Nut Tree Plaza is a blend of the old and new, with a wide host of retail businesses sharing the land with a family oriented town plaza that features the restored Nut Tree train and a carousel. The plaza inherited the legacy of the original Nut Tree, founded in 1921, when the Power family set up a small fruit stand under a large oak tree beside the road that is now I-80. It grew into the most popular road stop between Sacramento and San Francisco, offering a restaurant, dried fruits, toys, children’s rides, aviation books, souvenirs, gemstones and a post office. The original Nut Tree closed in 1996, only to be reborn as the Nut Tree Plaza, which offers a mix of more than 40 restaurants and businesses and provides special events such as the Vacaville Jazz Festival.

LOCATION: East Monte Vista Avenue at Nut Tree Road MORE INFORMATION: www.nuttreeusa.com

VACAVILLE FARMERS MARKET: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, through Sept. 2. Creekwalk Plaza at Andrews Park. www.downtownvacaville.com.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: Vacaville celebrates the nation’s independence downtown at 6:30 p.m. July 4 with an old-fashioned evening of music and fireworks under the stars. The fireworks show starts at dusk. www.visitvacaville. com/blog/fourth-of-july-guide/.

VACAVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL: Sept. 15 at Town Square downtown at 6 p.m.; and Sept. 16 at the Nut Tree Plaza, 1661 E. Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville. On Sunday, Sept, 24 it heads to the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre for a grand finale, featuring the 23-piece AMO Orchestra with special guest stars. Free admission. www.VacaJazzSociety.org.

NUT TREE PLAZA

VACAVILLE MUSEUM

Spend the day, see some sights

VACAVILLE PREMIUM OUTLETS

DOWNTOWN VACAVILLE

VACAVILLE PREMIUM OUTLETS

It’s easy to spend an entire day shopping at the Vacaville Premium Outlets. With over 120 stores, it is one of the largest shopping destinations in the Sacramento/San Francisco Bay area. Reviews by shoppers laud its wide selection of stores that includes major names such as Calvin Klein, Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren. Reviewers’ only downside is the sheer size and its popularity, which can make finding weekend parking an adventure of its own. For those who want a break from all the bargain hunting, there is a good selection of sit-down restaurants such as The Olive Garden and fast food joints such as In-N-Out Burger within walking distance.

LOCATION: 321 Nut Tree Road, Vacaville

MORE INFORMATION: 707-447-5755;  www.premiumoutlets.com

Vacaville’s downtown is an active and entertaining neighborhood with activities that range from summertime farmers markets and town square concerts to major events such as Merriment on Main and the Art, Wine and Brew Festival. It is a historically well-preserved town center with more than two dozen restaurants, cafes and bars sharing the sidewalks with a healthy selection of small shops and businesses. The downtown’s business-supported activities include the very popular Fiesta Days festival, the mid-spring to mid-fall Certified Farmers Market, the Singer-Songwriter Competition, the community’s Fourth of July celebration, the Merriment on Main Christmas spectacular, the Creekwalk Concert series and a host of smaller music and food events.

LOCATION: Area surrounding Merchant and Main streets

MORE INFORMATION: 707-451-2100;  www.downtownvacaville.com

VACAVILLE MUSEUM

Since it was established in 1984, the Vacaville Museum has prided itself on preserving and educating the public about all of Solano County’s

cultural and historical heritage. The museum has produced more than 40 exhibits on the area’s history, from American Indian artifacts found in and around Vacaville to the region’s famous fruit industry. It does not offer any permanent exhibits and produces two temporary exhibits every year. It also hosts public events such as Sallie Fox Day, which teaches local schoolchildren about the life and times of California pioneer girl Sallie Fox.

LOCATION: 213 Buck Ave., Vacaville

MORE INFORMATION: 707-447-4513;  www.vacavillemuseum.org

VALLEJO

Spend the day, see some sights

MARE ISLAND MUSEUM

The former Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first permanent naval installation on the West Coast when founded in 1854. It built more than 500 ships in its 142-year service to the United States before closing in 1996. Today, much of Mare Island’s historical artifacts are carefully being preserved by the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation. It’s housed in Building 46, a 50,000-square-foot space built in 1855.

LOCATION: 8th Street and 1100 Railroad Ave., Vallejo

MORE INFORMATION: 707-644-4746 or 707-280-5742; www.

mareislandmuseum.org

SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM

Known years ago as Marine World/Africa USA for its ocean and continental wildlife, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is now known more for its rides. Take a topsy, turvy spin on the thriller coaster, Superman, or one of the many other thrill, family or children’s rides – to include this year’s new attraction, Sidewinder Safari. See cougars and dolphins, walruses and penguins, among other animals. Take in a wildlife show,

eat some food and take in an exhibit. The park also transforms during some holidays, adding special attractions for Halloween and Christmas and a Fourth of July celebration that includes fireworks. Season passes are available.

LOCATION: 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo (From Fairfield: Take Interstate 80 westbound. From Interstate 80, take the Discovery Kingdom exit)

MORE INFORMATION: 707-643-6722,  www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom

EMPRESS THEATRE

Vallejo’s Empress Theatre opened in February 1912, hosting a vaudeville act. It was re-opened in 2008 after nearly 20 years of non-use due to damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The one-room movie house has undergone complete renovation and seismic retrofit. Operated as a nonprofit, it now shows movies, hosts live performances and is rented for private events. Tours and sales of old movie posters also are offered.

LOCATION: 330 Virginia St., Vallejo

MORE INFORMATION: 707-552-2400,  www.empresstheatre.org

CHILDREN’S WONDERLAND PARK

Acres of pure childhood joy await at this Vallejo park, with castles, a giant teapot, fire truck and other play structures as well as Cinderella’s carriage and modern play structures. A fully fenced park with plenty of highimagination play areas, picnic facilities, open space, a craft area and an outdoor theater, Children’s Wonderland provides plenty of fun for the youngsters. Birthday party packages are available as well as multiple-visit passes.

LOCATION: 360 Glenn St., Vallejo

MORE INFORMATION: 707-980-8004,  www.gvrd.org/?page=Childrens_ Wonderland

VALLEJO NAVAL AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum is a required stop for fans of local history and the Navy. The museum, which is located in Vallejo’s historic old City Hall, features five galleries devoted to the history and cultures of Vallejo and the U.S. Navy at Mare Island. It also sponsors educational and cultural programs. It is a lot of history to cover, because Vallejo traces its roots to 1844 with the arrival of Gen. Mariano Vallejo, and Mare Island Naval Shipyard traces its own history to 1852, when Congress bought the island. While three of the galleries are devoted to permanent exhibits, the other

SIX FLAGS

EMPRESS THEATRE

Spend the day, see some sights

two offer a constantly changing menu of visiting exhibits pulled from other museums and private collections. One of its more unusual features is the working submarine periscope that can be found at the top of the museum’s grand staircase, where visitors can get a sub’s-eye view of surrounding Vallejo.

LOCATION: 734 Marin St., Vallejo

MORE INFORMATION: 707-643-0077,  www.vallejomuseum.org

SAN FRANCISCO BAY FERRY

Used by both commuters and tourists headed from Solano County to San Francisco, the San Francisco Bay Ferry, formerly the Vallejo Bay Ferry, offers another option to traveling to the interior Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Ferry leaves the Vallejo waterfront several times daily to bring travelers across San Pablo Bay to the San Francisco Ferry Building. Ferry commuters avoid the traffic and get stunning views of the region. The trip takes about an hour. Some ferries also stop at Pier 41. In addition to the daily

trips, the ferry offers special service to San Francisco Giants games. There is a fee to park.

LOCATION: 289 Mare Island Way

MORE INFORMATION: 877-643-3779,  www.sanfranciscobayferry.com

VALLEJO SYMPHONY

The Vallejo Symphony continues its run as one of the oldest in the state. The symphony, which performs at various venues, was formed when a group of community leaders determined that local musicians needed a showcase for their talents. At the same time, community members

could be enriched by attending live performances. On Feb. 21, 1931, a 60-piece orchestra, under the direction of Julius Weyand, made its debut in the auditorium of the city’s newly dedicated Veterans Memorial Building. For several years, the concerts took place at the Hogan High School auditorium. The symphony moved to the Empress Theatre for the 2017-18 season. The final performances of this, the symphony’s 89th season, happened June 18-19.

MORE INFORMATION: 707-643-4441, www.vallejosymphony.org

Vallejo Calendar of Events

VALLEJO FARMERS MARKET: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, year-round. Georgia and Marin streets. www.pcfma.org/ vallejo.

VALLEJO FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: The Vallejo Parade Association, a local nonprofit organization, presents the 168th Vallejo Fourth of July Parade with “Step Off” at 10 a.m. July 4. This year’s theme is “American Dreamin’.” The parade starts at Tennessee Street and Broadway and takes the traditional route west to Sonoma Boulevard, then south on Sonoma Street, then west again on Georgina Street, through the downtown to end on Georgia and Santa Clara streets. vallejojuly4.com.

VALLEJO SYMPHONY

SAN FRANCISCO BAY FERRY