Davis
Known as a university town, Davis’ compact downtown gives it a very small town feel despite the population that surges from 62,000 to over 94,000 during the school year. It prides itself on being a bicyclist’s dream – both flat and very connected with greenbelts and bike paths. This is also the most family-friendly town that I can think of. The parks and playgrounds are for the most part clean and well-kept. The city and businesses offer kid camps throughout the summer and school breaks. And the town seems to come together for music and fun at the evening farmer market days as well as the Fourth of July, Picnic Day (a student sponsored event) and the Whole Earth Festival.
Full Day Trips
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...
Half Day Trips
UCD Campus, Davis
Campus Half Day Itinerary
* One of the main streets in Davis is known as both Russell (exit off of Hwy 113) and 5th Street. You can reach a parking structure from Howard Way, which is an artery off of Russell into campus. A permit will cost $6. Across the street from this parking structure is where you catch most bus lines, including the double decker buses. The ride is about a half hour, but still thrilling...
Mini Trips
Grandpa’s Barn, Davis
This large working barn offers from 9am – noon, a place where kids can help out feeding the animals. The owner is fabulous with kids, and the pace is leisurely to ensure everyone is having a good time. The cost is about $2 or you can get a season pass which is incredibly inexpensive. There is a small store where you can purchase fresh eggs or other seasonal items. The barn is closed in the winter.
To...
Raptor Center, Davis
Part of UC Davis, the Raptor Center houses raptors who have been hurt or who can no longer survive in the wild. Those that it can help are nursed to health and set free. Some have become permanent residents and make appearances to help educate the public. At the Center a brief history of the resident and its condition stands at each cage. Groups less than six can drop in M-F 9am – 4pm and Sat. 9am –...
Memorial Union, Davis
At the Memorial Union, which is a central spot on campus, is a bowling alley and video games area. (Stairs to reach it are near the bookstore.) The bowling area has sixteen lanes so is not often too crowded, especially during the day. They have available 6 lb. balls for kids and you can request lane bumpers to keep the balls from rolling in the gutter. Also available is a ramp on which the ball can be placed...
Explore the Campus, Davis
UC Davis is a great place to explore both on bike or by foot. Across the street from where you catch the double deckers is the Memorial Union. This is a cluster of activities for students: the bookstore, coffee shop, and bowling alley / video arcade, just to name a few. On the side of the MU nearest the bus station are a few tables and a fun set of huge chimes, but on the other side of the MU are lots of outdoor...
Ride a Double Decker Bus, Davis
In Davis there’s an opportunity to ride a double decker bus, which I’ve never seen a kid turn down. To get to the central station, park at the North Entry Parking structure located on Howard Way, just off of Russell Blvd. A parking permit may be purchased at the entry of the structure for $6.00, or you may park at the parking meters on the first level. The parking meters have a time limit of 2 hours...
Travel Blog
Whitewater Adventures – Water Confidence Required
Last year my husband and I won a two-day rafting trip along Cache Creek sponsored by Whitewater Adventures. It was too late in the season to sign up then, so this year we got to “cache in” on our prize.
I have been on a few guided white-water trips in the past. By that I mean the kind where there are six passengers in the boat and an experienced guide who is doing the steering. Everyone wears helmets...
A sneeze from bees
I recently took our boys on an egghead tour. You can learn about that trip on last Wednesday’s post. Before our trip, my youngest decided he wanted to take his small stuffed bee toys along. They were in hand at each stop we made. I hadn’t realized that he set one of his bees down in the nose of the egghead before I took a quick photo of it. After downloading the pictures, I noticed the egg, who...
Egghead Hunting
The training wheels came off today. Literally. Today my oldest rode his bike on his own for the first time. In celebration, we decided to pack the youngest into my bike carrier and head onto the university campus, which is not far away. The students are out for spring break, so we literally have these huge streets with no cars (almost) completely to ourselves. I printed a map of Robert Arneson’s Egghead...
Where to Wednesday: Bring on the Bugs
As part of a university town, we are fortunate to have a fantastic Entomology Department. Housed in their quarters on campus is the Bohart Museum of Entomology, the second largest collection of insects on the west coast. (Our guide also mentioned that it’s probably the seventh nationwide.) Walking in is much like walking into a lab on campus (in fact it is a lab). Along the tables, however, are encased...
Where to Wednesday: A Better Place to Bead
Continuing on my quest to find gifts that the kids can create, I decided to give beading a try. When I was young I remember having a tackle tray with beads in different compartments. I think I more collected them rather than actually used them for something artistic, much like all those sticker books, chicken rings, and collecters cards I coveted. Even as an adult, its hard not to get intoxicated by bowls...
Where to Wednesdays: Grandpa’s Barn
We are fortunate to have several fun pumkin patches locally. Though not the largest, I always enjoy going to Grandpa’s Barn first. Who can resist baby chicks, kittens, ducklings, and bunnies, all of which the children are able to pet (with adult supervision). Grandpa’s Barn is open every day of the week during October, from 9am to sundown. Also, you can get a pass to come by anytime for the inexpensive...
Tripping Locally – Farmers Market
As we are gearing up for our last summer trip, an upcoming birthday party, and the beginning of school, no day trips (or “special days” as they are called around here) have been in the works lately. Amy and the Q Family, who have been doing backyard camping, have inspired me to talk more about our local adventures.
I am lucky to live in a town that that is both small enough to be missed on most travel...
Local trips – Home Depot
On the first Saturday of each month, Home Depot offers a building workshop for kids. The projects are not complicated, as in some sanding, hammering of pegs, glueing, and attaching stickers. Usually they are centered around something going on within that month; Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Superbowl Sunday, etc. Our kids are still young and need one of us to help them with each step, but I can...
Going Batty
The Yolo Basin Foundation has a bat walk and talk series. On ten separate evenings between the end of May and beginning of September, they offer the Bat Walk and Talk. A slideshow presentation begins the evening. A bat specialist offers interesting information on the different species of bats as well as some bat myths and truisms. For example, did you know the bat is more closely related to a cow than it...
Whole Earth Festival
Peace, Love, and Tie Die. That is, in part, the essance of the Whole Earth Festival. Every year on Mother’s Day weekend the UC Davis quad area fills with artists and vendors of incredible calibre, vegetarian food of every kind, and music everywhere! This is an experience not to be missed.
Unless you arrive early, prepare to walk from any of the designated parking lots or street parking. Stop first at...
