Getting the Most out of Our Staycation
Dearest Polite Traveler,
With
a world-class university, active community parks, a proper town center replete
with unique boutiques and a variety of restaurants, why travel somewhere else
for vacation? We won't. Hubby and I will staycation in our little hamlet, better known as Davis, California—land
of many bikes.
It's
a little-known fact (visions of Cliff Clavin from Cheers just popped into my
head), that Davis is the first city to implement bike lanes and is also home to
the US Bicycling Hall of Fame. Not that bike lore has much to do with our
staycation, it's just one of the reasons I love our town.
If It's
Saturday, We Must Be In The Farmers Market
We
begin the first day of our stayca at
our world-famous Farmers
Market (Central Park, 4th and C Streets).
Well, it might not be world-famous, but it is ranked highly in multiple
media outlets.
This
morning, a lively Folk band is playing in the background and the summer's best produce
is displayed in the foreground. The
atmosphere is buoyant, and the food is enticing. Breakfast choices abound, but
we narrow in on a flaky bearclaw to share and grab some perfectly brewed java. While we munch, we select freshly picked
eggplant, pattypan squash, and the biggest heirloom tomatoes I've ever
seen. All will go on the barbecue
tonight for our first staycation alfresco dinner.
No
Matter Where You Go, There You Are
Brilliantly
crafted greenbelts dissect Davis. A
person can walk or ride a bike from one end of town to another without leaving a
trail for long. We live adjacent to the North
Davis greenbelt—a giant green loop. On
today's walk, the geese, herons, and egrets are quite active in the Julie
Partansky Pond. We miss the otter in the
smaller pond directly next door, but not the Swainson's hawks. An entire
family flies over our heads. We walk
for hours enjoying the parks, wild turkeys and end up exactly from where we began.
Picnic
in the Park
Every
Wednesday (4:30-8:30 pm) during the warmer months, many Davisites enjoy the
Farmers Market Picnic in the Park. Bands play, children enjoy a variety of
activities, and the food is bountiful. Fresh
produce and baked goods are available from the market, but there are many other
vendors as well.
We
pick up some fruit, fresh bread, cheese, and wine for our picnic and join the
masses in the park. Little ones dance while
parents socialize. It seems like we've
been transported into a previous, more innocent time.
Walk
Like a Tourist
Today
we decide to play tourist and walk the compact 32-block downtown center,
chock-full of shops, restaurants, and museums.
Panera Bread (609 E. 3rd Street) offers a genuinely nice discount for
using refillable mugs, so we fill up and pick up a bear claw to share as we
explore.
Covid
Note:
Currently, Panera—and most all businesses—are not allowing personal mugs. It is best to call each business before
visiting.
We
spend the morning discovering shops we've never even noticed before. Outsides a number of these, handcrafted
scarves, art supplies, and old VHS tapes dot the sidewalks enticing
shoppers. All are discounted today; I
can't resist the scarves.
Nevertheless,
tempting aromas divert our attention to Village Pizza & Grill (403 G Street)
for an early lunch. They offer a
variety of sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and soups. However, the pizzas grab our attention--$6.50
each. Although an average lunch, sitting
out on their wrap-around patio is worth the trip.
Let's
Get Jiggy With It
With
full bellies, we decide on a long walk along the UC Davis Arboretum, a 100-acre botanical garden.
We spot turtles, various species of birds, and wonderful examples of native
plants. And we are in for a treat! On alternate Fridays (12–1 pm), random
musicians gather to play folk music on the Wyatt Deck. We arrive a bit late for the entire party but
enjoyed every musical second.
Would
We Do It Again?
Overall,
our staycation in Davis, California was relaxing, rejuvenating, and
refreshing. We may just do it again next
year!
More
from The Polite Traveler
Hotel Room
Review of Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Davis
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