Located amid farms and wetlands, Davis is typically lauded for its famous university, intellectual atmosphere and bike-friendly reputation — yet rarely as a fun vacation destination. Beyond dodging co-eds on beach cruisers, there are many fun ways to spend a day in this vibrant college town.
Most of the town’s cultural activity happens in Davis’s downtown, a tidy grid of leafy trees, perpetually crammed bike racks and small, picturesque houses-turned-storefronts. Anchoring the area is Central Park, a grassy lawn encircled by dirt footpaths snaking through flowerbeds, a playground and the sheltered space that hosts Davis’s celebrated farmers’ market.
The Davis farmers’ market is considered one of the best in the region. It has spurred a cookbook filled with recipes utilizing its seasonal produce and even nabbed a spot on USA TODAY’s 2015 list of best farmers’ markets. It has also inspired the Market Muddle cocktail at Our House restaurant, made with rotating seasonal produce from the market.
The town’s connection to the University of California, located just adjacent to the grid and conveniently off I-80, bulks up the calendar of local events. Many university happenings are open to the public. The Confucius Institute at UC Davis hosts tea talks and tastings, and the campus’s Mondavi Center is a major cultural resource for the region. Past acts have included indie band Metric, an evening with author Zadie Smith and a screening of E.T. with musical accompaniment by the San Francisco Symphony.
Among the university’s many offerings is the UC Davis Arboretum, located just across the street from the Mondavi Center. This 100-acre, 3.5-mile loop is a paved path on each side of a small stream where walkers, joggers and bikers can spot egrets, blue jays, hummingbirds and even red-shouldered hawks. The relentless hum of the freeway may be ever-present, but a stroll in the arboretum provides some natural respite.
When you’re ready to explore downtown, start at (my personal-favorite spot) Newsbeat, an old-school magazine shop that sells stationery and snacks in addition to an unbeatable selection of rare glossies — from quarterly fashion magazines to French Vogue to food zines to tattoo mags to the New York Review of Books in all its oversize glory. Plenty of other shops, like the Avid Reader (new books) and Logos Books (used and out-of-print finds), dot the downtown area.
Imbibing aficionados looking to sample local tastes should stop by the Putah Creek Winery tasting room, conveniently located right downtown (the winery is about two miles away). A flight of four wines runs $15, and the fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle. Plus, Putah Creek has unique wines, like the fruity and floral (but surprisingly not too sweet) Picardan. If you want to continue your vinous education, check out VINI Wine Bar down the block, where wine tasting goes self-serve with the shop’s 72 taps, which dispense two-ounce pours.
Beer drinkers can head off the grid to Sudwerk Brewery, located on an industrial strip near the freeway. Sudwerk’s décor is a blast from the past, with its long wood-paneled booths and low-hanging lights. The German-leaning beers are refreshing and creative, and the brewery’s 1989 inception makes it one of the oldest in the Sacramento region.
When it comes to other eats and drinks, many small businesses in Davis are outposts of popular Sacramento spots like Burgers and Brew, Hot Italian pizzeria, de Vere’s Irish Pub and Temple Coffee Roasters. All maintain a distinct Davis charm (Burgers and Brew is tucked inside a one-story yellow house, which gives it a neighborhood feel); however, the local favorites are Davis-bred establishments. Check out vegan- and vegetarian-friendly Delta of Venus, a café and coffeehouse popular with students. The hardwood-laden bungalow houses a comfy vibe, where breakfast scrambles rule in renditions like tofu and sun-dried tomatoes or blue cheese with artichoke hearts. Unfussy sandwiches and salads make it a great place to spend an afternoon people-watching or grabbing board games from the stacks in the corner.
For dinner, head to Kathmandu Kitchen, an unassuming and humbly decorated Nepali and Indian restaurant. Popular offerings include the Himalayan appetizer with naan bread, veggie pakoras, samosas and momos (Nepali dumplings), as well as the mango lassi, a yogurt drink that cools the palate after you indulge in Kathmandu’s spicy cuisine.
For a guilt-free sweet treat after dinner, go down the street to The Good Scoop, a recently opened organic ice cream parlor tucked inside a bright-yellow building. Rotating seasonal flavors (which come in a cup, cone or gluten-free brownie sandwich!) include geranium, lavender, spicy chocolate and an impossibly creamy salted caramel.
Spending a day strolling through Davis’s quiet streets and sampling the tastes of Yolo County is a great way to relax. The isolated feel of this valley locale will help you slow down and soak up those small-town vibes.
Are we missing your favorite Davis-area haunt? Add it in the comments below.
