Lodi, CA

In 1859, a group of local families established a school. Soon after, the Central Pacific Railroad developed a new route through the area, and pioneer settlers in the area donated land to the railroad as an incentive to build a station. Soon, streets were laid out to accommodate the rising poupulation. Initially called Mokelumne after the nearby river, the name of the town later changed to Lodi. Many of the first settlers came from Lodi, Illinois, so they chose to use the same name as their hometown.

Lodi features a diverse range of cultural activities as it begins to define itself as a destination to experience food, wine and the arts. The Charlene Powers Lange Performing Arts Theatre houses itself at Hutchins Street Square, hosting concerts and theatre performances throughout the year. Art lovers can also find great pleasure in the fine art galleries, folk art displays, Arthops and mural tours

Stroll through downtown for the best variety of culinary delights — the selection of cuisine and dining experience varies from upscale chic restaurants and tapas, fun breweries to the delectable temptation of Asian bistro fare. Diners can experience local delights and farm-to-table restaurant philosophies in this agricultural town. Pietro's Italian Restaurant on Kettleman Lane has a beautiful outdoor patio where many of the restaurant's foods grow — making a large portion of the incredibly fresh meals straight from its own garden. Diners remark upon the friendly service, cozy seating and the perfect atmosphere inside and out. With consistently flavorful food, locals love any of the parmigianas — veal or eggplant — with portions large enough for leftovers. The garlic bread that accompanies meals here will leave you wanting more. Thai Spices Restaurant has found a place in the hearts of locals and tourists alike with its robust flavor profile and truly heavenly spices. With the ambiance suited for a good meal, the restaurant features beautiful artwork and well-spaced tables for the perfect quiet place to have a dinner conversation. The excellent service and flavors only add more to this list of dining perfection. For those seeking light fare, try the papaya salad or any of the soups — tom yum or coconut soup. Those coming in hungry can enjoy the succulent pork ribs, calamari and the garlic shrimp basil dish. For celebrating special occasions, Towne House Restaurant at Wine and Roses Hotel does the trick. A gourmet restaurant in Lodi with a diverse food and bar selection, this establishment's diners can expect lots of homemade extras, such as berry preserves and homemade tomatillo salsa to go along with the upscale fare. Arrive early and take a short walk through the beautiful grounds and admire the plants, flowers, open spaces and birdcages. Locals love the Kobe beef sliders with truffle fries, crab cakes and the seared salmon. If the weather permits, ask to be seated in the patio and dine while the stars twinkle. For nightlife, Lodi has the advantage of several bars sitting within short walking distance of each other. Starting at the top of downtown Lodi near Dancing Fox, partygoers can essentially bar-hop their way down the road to the bar with the best and only live music in town: Whiskey Barrel Saloon. Slow in the early evening with a laid-back, easy atmosphere, this establishment's ambiance changes dramatically to lively and jumping by the end of the night as everyone finds their way there.

Fairly compact and spanning only 12.2 square miles, the city operates a decent transit system with more than 10 bus routes covering the entire span of the city. Buses here feature regular routes and express buses also exist for those in need of speedier transportation. Dial-A-Ride provides people with disabilities transport. Given the city's small size and the availability of bike lanes, biking remains an option, though a large portion of the population still have their own vehicles.

A Greyhound station as well as an Amtrak train station can be found in Lodi for travel to farther distances. Taxis proved difficult to hail off the street, so call ahead to prearrange service. Uber serves the area, as well. Highways include the I-5 and State Routes 12 and 88. Free parking with no times limits at the city center makes finding a spot simple and convenient.

The Lodi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Departments lists 26 parks and wilderness areas it maintains for the public. Out of the 26 parks, four welcome dogs — Beckman, Vinewood, Lawrence and Lodi Lake all feature dedicated dog areas for your furry friends. Of all the parks, Peterson Park proffers the most comprehensive amenities, including a baseball field, basketball court, tennis court, picnic tables, soccer field, restrooms and an in-line hockey area.

The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department also hosts many fee-based services for the public, such as youth and adult activities, aquatics, art, music, dance and fitness, specialty classes, after-school programs and Lodi Lake programs. A large variety of annual events and activities populate the parks' schedules in this area, such as concert series, wine events, symphonies, grape festivals and many more. Every season marks the release of an activity guide that informs residents of upcoming events that can be downloaded online.

The cost of living in Lodi stands 7.6 percent higher than the Stockton/Modesto area. The average rent for a one-bedroom residence sits at $718. Using the local transit, a single ride on the bus costs $1.25, with monthly bus passes of $44 available to regulars. Expect to pay 12 percent lower for gas than the Stockton/Modesto average. A bottle of beer in a local bar sets you back about $6, while coffee and pizza average roughly $5 and $13 respectively.

Main Street remains the best shopping area in Lodi, particularly locally-owned, unique stores with wide selections of merchandise and one-of-a-kind items. However, a few national stores can be found spread around the city, such as Kohl’s, Kmart and Dollar Tree.

If your family enjoys games, comic books and collecting, The Launchpad on Lodi Avenue may be the place for you. The selection of comics and games can be called the best in the area — ranging from comics, trading card games, board games and table games as well as an organized and well-kept wall of sleeves and goodies. The store also has a large gaming space designed for miniature gaming, encouraging patrons to enjoy the games and comics purchased.

For those who want to do more shopping in a larger mall, hop in a car for 20 minutes via the I-5 freeway where Stockton awaits with larger regional malls such as Weberstown, Stonecreek Village and Sherwood Mall — all sitting beside each other on Pacific Avenue anchored by major retailers and more than 350 storefronts.

Raleys, Safeway and Rancho San Miguel serve the area as grocers. Between the months of March and October, regular farmers markets trade in Downtown Lodi on Thursdays.