Adventures

REGIONAL ADVENTURES

Downtown Woodland

SHOPPING THROUGH DOWNTOWN WOODLAND

TRAVELING THE TULEYOME TRAILS

Woodland has more than just a burgeoning culinary scene: with boutiques like Kulture, Avila Winters, Haven A Boutique, The Nest and My Sister’s Closet, Woodland has great shopping options to compliment Davis retail favorites like pinkadot, The Wardrobe, All Things Right & Relevant and Bohème Hip Used Clothing. Woodland and its long Main Street feature many small retailers and copious window-shopping opportunities.

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

FINDING THE FAIR FIELDS IN SOLANO

Solano County offers a wide array of attractions that range from the exciting, fastpaced action of a visit to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to a leisurely stroll or picnic in one of several regional parks. In addition to Six Flags and other major attractions like Jelly Belly and the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, it’s Solano’s natural beauty that has helped to put this region on the map.

Cities such as Vallejo, Benicia, Suisun City and Rio Vista have waterfronts, each with different features that reflect the history of the community.

County-run parks range from Lynch Canyon in the hills between Fairfield and Vallejo, to Lake Solano along Putah Creek near Winters to Sandy Beach along the Sacramento River near Rio Vista.

Grizzly Island Wildlife Area offers fishing, hunting and hiking opportunities. Rush Ranch Open Space features 2,070 acres of open space in hills and wetlands with hiking trails. Rockville Hills Park in Fairfield is a 633-acre park with hiking trails.

Lagoon Valley/Peña Adobe Park offers trails, picnic areas and Lagoon Valley lake for fishing, all near Interstate 80. Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is a 215-acre area along the southern shore of Mare Island offers hiking and includes Mare Island Hill with views of San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Strait, Mare Island Strait and Vallejo. Also includes the oldest naval cemetery in the Pacific and a former naval ammunition depot.

Tuleyome is an advocacy-oriented nonprofit conservation organization based in Woodland that hosts an impressive list of regional hikes in the Putah and Cache Creek watersheds at tuleyome.org/trails. Its name is pronounced too-lee-OME-ee and comes from a Lake Miwok word that means “deep home place.” If nature is your happy place then you will feel deeply at home on one of its one to 20 mile treks across Sacramento, Colusa, Napa, Glenn, Solano and Yolo Counties.

LAGOON VALLEY PARK

REGIONAL EVENTS

September

STROLL THROUGH HISTORY

Take a step back in time to experience the history of Woodland. Enjoy a street fair, tour of historical homes and buildings, exhibits, vintage vehicles, and people dressed in period costumes.

December

HOLIDAY TRACTOR PARADE

A holiday parade of tractors, covered from grill to trailer hitch in dazzling Christmas lights and unique decorations, rolls down Winters’ Main Street — an ode to the western Yolo County town’s agricultural roots.

February

ALMOND FESTIVAL

Started in 1915, the only event in Northern California held simultaneously in five towns — Madison, Esparto, Capay, Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey. A showcase of the riches you can find in the Capay Valley region.

August

YOLO COUNTY FAIR

One of the last remaining freeadmission fairs in California. Every August this five-day fair features music, a rodeo, destruction derby, rides, food and livestock in Woodland.

June

LAVENDER FESTIVAL

An annual celebration of all things lavender in Rumsey. You’ll find live music, wine tasting with local vineyards, food, lavender products and u-pick lavender, field tours and talks, and craft demonstrations.

May

DIXON MAY FAIR

Young agriculturalists showcase their livestock skills. Talented artists, photographers, crafters and bakers show off their talent to the community during the fourday event that features carnival rides, live entertainment and food.

TRANSPORTATION

BIKE TRAVEL

Davis earned the title of “America’s Best Bicycling City” because of its high volume of bicycle use, renowned system of bikeways and cyclistfriendly facilities, and supportive city and university programs.

There are more than 50 miles of bike lanes and bike paths within city limits. Bike paths along greenbelts, in city parks, on campus and along the UC Davis Arboretum make bicycling a pleasant, leisurely activity with beautiful scenery.

The 12-mile loop around Davis, marked with a green “Davis Bike Loop” logo, takes bicyclists on a scenic route along paths and quiet residential streets.

Not for hard-core cyclists, this is a slow and scenic route designed for casual riders, families and children. You’re just as likely to see in-line skaters and strollers as you are bicyclists.

Although the Loop was completed in 2007, plans for a Davis Bike Loop date back to the 1980s, when landscape architects Mark Francis, Steve Greco and Kerry Dawson developed the Davis Greenway Plan, an integrated system linking all open spaces in Davis into one seamless system of parks, streets, trails and natural areas.

For route maps and group rides to Clarksburg, Woodland, Capay Valley, Winters and beyond visit the Davis Bike Club at davisbikeclub.org.

Davis Train Depot

TRAIN TRAVEL

You can ride your bike everywhere in Davis, and the train can take you most anywhere else in the region.

Amtrak operates along the Capitol Corridor between San Jose and Roseville, making daily stops in Davis, eastbound and westbound.

BUS TRAVEL

Yolobus is the public transportation system for Yolo County. It provides service to Woodland, Davis, UC Davis, West Sacramento, downtown Sacramento, Winters, Esparto, the Cache Creek Casino Resort, the Capay Valley, Madison, Dunnigan and the Sacramento International Airport.

Unitrans is the public transit system serving the entire city of Davis and the UC campus, providing service six days a week.

Unitrans is run by UC Davis students and used by students, residents, and visitors (fare is $1). It is the only transit system in the United States to operate vintage British double-decker buses in daily service, though the majority of its fleet is modern and powered by clean burning compressed natural gas.

Unitrans

DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES

In 1968, the Associated Students of UC Davis formed Unitrans, UC Davis’ bus system, and purchased a vintage doubledecker bus from London to start a bus system. Over time, Unitrans added 10 more of the vintage buses. A handful still run today.

More than just a visual throwback, these buses operate like few others: a conductor rides at the back of each double-decker and, as a safety precaution, flags traffic by hand when transit-goers cross the street.

To catch a ride on one of the iconic buses during the academic year, you can usually take the Eline (downtown, F and J streets); or the F-line (Oak Avenue, Alvarado Avenue and Catalina Drive). For up-to-date schedules, visit the Unitrans Website: unitrans.ucdavis.edu

You may also spot one of two modern double-decker inspired by the vintage commuters — sleek $800K rides from Indiana bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis that launched in 2012 and feature air conditioning and proper wheelchair access.

The vintage buses carry 64 people, and the modern doubledecker can seat 81 people and stand 20 more.

GUIDE COMMUNITY LIFE

WHERE TO GO IN BETWEEN GIVING NEIGHBORS A HELPING HAND, GETTING ENGAGED IN LOCAL POLITICS, JOINING LOCAL BIKE GROUPS,

AND SUPPORTING YOUTH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL WELFARE

• For more than a century, the Davis Chamber of Commerce has been one of the most active organizations in the community by providing support to all city businesses. The Chamber coordinates dozens of community-based events, such as Make Davis Sparkle, and community-related services, including its financial scholarship support for graduating high school seniors. Become active in the Chamber by calling 530902-7699 or visit www.davischamber. com. • The Davis Senior Center, at 646 A St., keeps adults of all ages engaged with activities, excursions, fitness classes, art and other activities. The center also provides information about housing, transportation, health and other community resources. Call 530-757-5696 or visit https://cityofdavis.org/city-hall/ parks-and-community-services/ senior-services. • Toastmasters helps people practice public speaking skills. The Davis Town & Gown Toastmasters Club meets in person on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Visit http://3337. toastmastersclubs.org. On other Tuesdays, the group meets by Zoom; register at https://zoom.us/meeting/ register/tJApd-yrqj4jGdzsSuPJdmixlhRA7FA6HW8. • The Davis Flower Arrangers have been active for 64 years discovering the beauty, creativity and joy of flower arranging. Programs and workshops will be in person and through Zoom at the StoneGate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd., on the first Wednesdays of each month, September through April. To join, send a $50 check to Davis Flower Arrangers, c/o Jo Anne Boorkman, Treasurer, 2205 Butte Place, Davis, Ca 95616. Include a note with your name, address, email address and phone number. For information, contact Stephanie DeGraff-Hunt at sdegraffhunt@gmail.com. • The Davis Odd Fellows is part of an ancient fraternal order that focuses on community support, social activities and traditions. Davis Lodge No. 169 was founded April 12, 1870. The Lodge raises money for several scholarships and hosts various fundraising events as part of its charitable efforts. Events include Breakfast with Santa, A Taste of Davis, the Davis Chocolate Festival, Second Sunday Bingo, Thursday Live! music, the Classic Film Festival and the Zombie Bike Ride on Halloween. Meetings are at the Odd Fellows Hall, 415 Second St. in Davis. Visit http:// davislodge.org or call 530-758-4940. • The Valley Oak Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America educates and promotes interest in the creative forms of needle arts. Meetings begin at 10:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, in the library of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis at 27074 Patwin Road. Meetings have been suspended due to the pandemic. Visit https://www. facebook.com/egavalleyoak/ or contact Sue March at 530-662-2953. • Friends of the Davis Public Library funds reading programs and purchases books, furniture and equipment for the Stephens Branch Library to support the library’s role as the city’s cultural center. Volunteers help at the monthly book sales or at the Friends’ downtown bookstore, Logos Books. Visit http:// davislibraryfriends.org/ or email volunteers@davislibraryfriends.org. • Friends of Mondavi Center is a dedicated donor-based organization of arts-loving volunteers whose purpose is to assist the Mondavi Center’s presenting program with education, outreach, fundraising, and audience development. For information, visit www.mondaviarts.org/friends. • The Hattie Weber Museum, in Central Park at 445 C St., collects, preserves and displays the history and heritage of Davis. Volunteers do research and projects, prepare publications, answer visitor questions, give tours and help with preservation efforts. Hours are temporarily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit http://dcn. davis.ca.us/~hattieweber/, call 530-7585637, or email hattieweber@yahoo.com. • For Yolo County history buffs, there are the California Agriculture Museum (www.californiaagmuseum. org); Dixon Historical Society (www. dixonhistoricalsociety.org); Friends of the Yolo County Archives (www. friendsyca.org); Greater Capay Valley Historical Society (greatercapayvalley. org); Historical Society of Winters (www.historicalsocietyofwinters. org); Sac Valley Historical Railways (woodlandtraindepot.org); West Sacramento Historical Society (westsachistoricalsociety.org); Woodland Parlor 30 Native Sons of the Golden West (nsgw.org); Woodland Stroll Through History (strollthroughhistory.com); Yolo County Archives (yolocountylibrary. org/archives); Yolo County Fair Museum (sites.google.com/view/ yolocountyfairmuseum); and Yolo County Historical Society (www. ychs.org), and other groups that keep the county’s history alive. Loosely