Vacaville, CA

In 1851, William McDaniel, a U.S. Representative from Missouri, bought California land and decided to use an area of one square mile to create a township. He named the township Vacaville. Vacaville's rich history follows pioneers and fruitful agricultural production. At one point in its history, Vacaville won fame for its abundance of fresh fruit and nuts. The Nut Tree on I-80, which served hungry Californians traveling between Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay for around 75 years, is a testament to this.

Today, Vacaville is a growing community and is especially popular with families. The Vacaville Museum provides visitors with a real sense of the Solano County area and its beginnings. Located on Buck Avenue, the museum welcomes an admission donation of $3 for adults. The Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre on Ulatis Drive is another way to experience the area's culture, and hosts both nationally and internationally recognised acts.

From traditional meals to new and exciting culinary experiences, Vacaville’s wide range of restaurants offers something for everyone. With a mixture of casual dining, fine food and tastes ranging from mom’s lasagna to the new and exotic, Vacaville can satisfy both mind and body.

For breakfast or lunch, try Black Oak Restaurant on Orange Drive, where traditional food, both hot and cold, can get your day off to a good start. Large portions, warm staff and a casual and relaxed atmosphere, make Black Oak popular with locals, so you may want to get there in good time for breakfast. Try the waffles or French toast for breakfast or the patty melt for lunch. The restaurant also has its own gift shop.

Carefully preparing their meals with local and organic ingredients wherever possible, BackDoor Bistro on 829 Merchant Street provides customers with a warm welcoming, a variety of flavorful dishes and good service. Try the squash soup to start and add the seared Mary's duck breast with cherry demi gloce. Pair your choice of meal with one of the fine wines and be adventurous with the variety of fresh, tasty vegetables.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, head to local favorite Fenton’s Creamery, located on East Monte Vista Avenue. As well as providing visitors with freshly made sandwiches and burgers, the restaurant’s reputation is built on its fantastic choice of handmade ice cream and decadent sweet treats. From household favorites, cookie dough and chocolate chip, to seasonal eggnog, the seemingly never-ending list of desserts will have you so spoilt for choice that making a decision will be far from easy.

Italian restaurant, Fuso Ristorante, on Main Street, is another popular Vacaville dining destination. Friendly staff can offer their help when it comes time to choose from their extensive menu, and the restaurant’s varied options mean you will be sure to find something to your liking. Try the lasagna with sweet Italian sausage or the spaghetti with meatballs. Fuso is a great spot for a romantic dinner, and its evening music events also make it suitable for those seeking sophisticated entertainment.

Vacaville’s nightlife consists of a number of bars and clubs, including Blondie’s Bar and Grill and Below Ultra Lounge, both located in the same building on Main Street. Here, visitors can relax and dine before getting the party started. Blondie’s hosts parties every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night until 2 am, offering a mix of 80’s, rock and country while guest DJs play the Top 40 and dance music in the lounge below.

However, if you’re more of a fan of the cheap and casual, you may want to try dive bar TJ’s Tavern, also on Main Street, which offers its customers special deals on Thursday nights and themed nights.

I-80 runs through Vacaville, connecting motorists to Vallejo and San Pablo Bay in the southwest and Sacramento in the northeast.

In the Sacramento area, Uber's boundaries extend just south of Davis and therefore does not serve Vacaville. Vacaville's local bus service, the City Coach service, operates Monday through Saturday. Many routes begin and end at the Vacaville Transportation Center, located on Allison Drive.

The STA's SolanoExpress service connects passengers to Sacramento, Davis, San Fransisco and Winters, as well as El Cerrito del Norte BART, Walnut Creek BART, Pleasant Hill BART, Suisan Amtrak station and Vallejo Baylink Ferry Terminal. Route 30 takes you from Vacaville to Sacramento.

Cyclists in the area can use the Solano bike links map, which identifies multi-use pathways also suitable for pedestrians. Projects over the years have resulted in a number of pedestrian and cyclist friendly pathways in Solano County.

The 511 phone and web service can be very useful for traffic, transit, rideshare and cycling information. Use the free service 24/7 by calling 511 or visiting 511.org.

Vacaville’s many community and neighborhood parks have something for all outdoor adventurers. The sporty can enjoy a host of activities, including softball, track, baseball, soccer, Wiffle-ball, outdoor roller hockey, tennis, hiking, youth ball, major ball, softball, cycling, fitness circuits, jogging and more. If these activities appeal to you, try Al Patch, Keating, Centennial, Alamo Creek, or Southwood parks.

If you prefer to relax and picnic, most of the parks will be suitable. Popular favorites include Arlington, Nelson, Alamo Creek, Arbor Oaks, and Meadowlands parks.

If you’re looking for water-based activities, or simply enjoy the quiet beauty of ponds and lakes, try Lagoon Valley Park. Dog walkers will also be satisfied with the facilities here. The park charges an entrance fee of $3 per day for vehicles, but cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians do not need a permit.

Meanwhile, families best head to the playgrounds of Andrews, Nelson, Alamo School, Browns Valley, and Willows parks.

The 17.9 acre Andrews Park, where you can find the Downtown CreekWalk, is also the location of year-round special events, such as summer concerts. With a playground, historical kiosks, barbecues and electrical outlets, the park is well set up for family-fun and picnics.

The average rental rate in Vacaville is $1,091. While the cost of living is greater than the national average, it is lower compared to California’s average.

To get around Vacaville, the City Coach will charge adults between 19 and 64 years $1.50 for one trip, while a general public day pass costs $3.25. Children five and under ride free. The SolanoExpress can take you from Vacaville to Sacramento at a price of $5.75 for an adult’s single ticket.

The price of gas in Vacaville is around 6 percent higher than the national average. Having a beer at your local pub will cost you around $5.

Vacaville certainly doesn't lack shops, with a mix of stores from high-end boutiques to dependable chains. Various shopping centers lie scattered around the city, such as Nut Tree Village and Downtown. Vacaville Premium Outlets on Nut Tree Road features a huge collection of designer brands at affordable prices and decent deals usually available. The enormous range of shops covers fashion, children, luggage, accessories, home furnishing, speciality items and food.

If shopping at the mega center doesn't tire you, visit downtown Vacaville for more choices, including a range of charming boutiques and speciality stores. Strike up a tune and head over to The Tweed Hut Music Store, located just off Main Street. Part tiki hut and part musician's dream, this shop promises shoppers a whole lot of fun. Whether you want to try out the latest guitar by Fender or test out a professional drum kit, The Tweed Hut Music Store has everything you need to hit all the right notes at your next performance.

For the shinier things in life, try local jeweller Louie DeBartolo's DeBartolo & Co Fine Jewelers on Main Street. Bringing 30 years of experience to the table, this master jeweller carries large selection of diamond and gift jewellery for men, women and brides — all carefully arranged in sparkling splendor.

For something slightly different such as a strange antique or imported candle, The Gilded Iris on Merchant Street has you covered. This unique boutique provides shoppers with useful objects for the home and kitchen alongside weird and wonderful accessories and gadgets.

When it comes time for grocery shopping, Vacaville's stores include supermarkets, such as WinCo Foods on Davis Street and Nugget Markets on Browns Valley Parkway. For fresh seafood and meats, deli items made on the day and Asian products, try County Square Market on Peabody Drive. Alternatively, if your tastebuds seek Mexican flavor, the Mexico Meat Market on East Monte Vista Avenue combines a small grocery store with a taqueria that serves up authentic food.