City of Davis
* A local jewel is Grandpa’s Barn, at the corners of Road 98 and Road 31 (an extention of Covell, which has an exit off of Hwy 113). For just a few dollars you and your little one can spend the morning doing chores such as feeding the animals or brushing the horse. This is such a rich activity as the kids are having fun, learning about animals, taking turns with other kids, and feeling some pride in accomplishing real chores. (Local tip, you can get fresh eggs from the market at the entrance of the Barn) Check the website as this activity is seasonal, and is on hiatus for the year 2009.
* When you exit Grandpas Barn, head west for just a few miles to reach Impossible Acres. Here you can pick your own fruit and purchase it by weight. There are often a variety of things in season at a time, so you generally have a choice of things that the kids might enjoy. As with Grandpa’s Barn, check the website for seasonal hours.
* If you haven’t stuffed yourself with freshly picked fruit, take Covell (Road 31) back into town and turn into the shopping center on the left called the ”Marketplace” which has pig statues. A light lunch can be had at the ever popular Noah’s Bagels, or Dos Coyotes, and you can’t miss the frozen yogurt shop in between.
* Powered up with food, continue heading on Covell into town. To visit the Explorit Museum head down Covell for about a miles. Turn right on F Street (passing a terrific play area called Rainbow Park), turn left on 5th Street, right on L, and left on 2nd. The address is 2801, in a warehouse area of town. This is a hands on science museum that is geared for school aged kids, but there are some things that preschoolers will enjoy doing as well.
* The Raptor Center is a small, self-guided area where you get to see birds who are either being rehabilitated or who can no longer survive in the wild. The cages are outside and next to each cage is the bird’s name, history, and sometimes some additional facts. To get there from Explorit, take 2nd street east which will bring you to Interstate 80. Head west on 80 and take the UC Davis exit, which exits onto Old Davis Road. Take a left (away from campus) for about a mile and you will see a small sign on the right directing you to the Rapter Center (a long driveway on the left) Although there is parking at the beginning of the long driveway, continue down the dirt road since there is also lots of parking closer to the birds.
* A fun wind-down activity for our family has been to watch the skydivers at the Yolo County Airport. There is a place to park near the landing strip, and often you get a group of ten or more parachutists coming down each half hour. The place where you wait for the jumpers is pretty bare bones… a few large wooden spool-like structures offer some seating. The plane loads nearby, so sometimes you can glimpse the passengers boarding the plane, watch the plane take off, then fifteen minutes later glimpse tiny specs coming down and getting bigger and faster as the whiz toward the ground. The airport is a road off of Covell (which becomes Road 31 in the country) which is past Grandpa’s Barn. To get there from the Raptor Center, its easiest to go back on Old Davis Road to the freeway. Take 113 heading north (toward Woodland) and exit at County Road 29. Go back over the freeway and stay on Road 29 for six miles. Then turn left on Aviation Avenue.
*If you happen to plan your trip on a Wednesday, the Farmer’s Market would be the first choice for a family-friendly dinner. Plenty of local restaurants have food stands here, there is music everywhere you turn, two playground areas and a carousel, and often other vendors offer additional kid-friendly activities like the portable climbing wall sponsored by the Rocknasium, pony rides, and sometimes some bounce houses. The grass area is filled with folks just hanging out and enjoying a meal and music together. The park is located between B and C streets, and between 3rd and 5th. Though there is a parking lot that borders one side, it is often full with vendors who set up early. Street parking nearby is your best bet. From the airport take Road 29 back to the freeway (113 south), then take the Russell exit toward downtown. Russell is actually 5th street once you get into town, so try turning down C or nearby to find a close parking spot.
* Another nice spot to wind down and catch a meal is the Davis Commons, located at the corner of First Street and Richards Boulevard. This is a small area that includes a bookstore , some other stores and a few restaurants. There is a large grassy area for kids to run around on while parents sit at some of the outdoor tables. Bordering the bookstore is a garden area that contains several water features as well as beautiful plants. The train runs near this area (frequently) which is often a small thrill when the trains blow their horns. To get there from the airport take Road 26 back to the freeway. From 113 change to 80 and exit at Richards Boulevard (toward downtown). The second light is First Street, turn left here and then left at the next light, D St., to enter the parking lot.
