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City in California, United States
Photo: Bev Sykes from Davis, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Davis is in Yolo County in the Sacramento Valley of California. Davis is best known for the university located there, the University of California Davis.
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An educational centre that rehabilitates injured and orphaned birds of prey found in the surrounding counties. Large displays are present at the facility that allow visitors to see many of the birds up close.
A 100-acre tract of land running along the banks of the Old North Channel of Putah Creek, on the UC Davis Campus. The arboretum is home to plant species that range from Mediterranean to South African and even includes somewhat smaller examples of California's North Coast Redwoods. It is the main source of horticultural information for inland California. The arboretum is a popular place for Davis students for walk, jog, bike, study, or just relax in the sun.
Can be found all over town. It is difficult to go anywhere or do anything without encountering sculptures, mosaics, paintings, or stenciled designs. An art enthusiast could be kept busy for days.
A nationally infamous example of civil engineering gone horribly wrong. Located in southeast Davis near the Post Office and the Sudwerk brewery, the Toad Tunnel was designed to assist the local population of toads cross an I-80 overpass. Arguably, it has caused more problems for the toads than it solved. If you have any friends pursuing degrees in town planning, ask them about Davis' Toad Tunnel.
Opened in Davis in 2010, the US Bicycling Hall of Fame is a privately-run organization dedicated to promoting cycling. The museum includes historic bicycles, memorabilia from famous cyclists, topical exhibits, and Hall of Fame inductee information.
On campus. A wide variety of performances can be seen year round, ranging from music to theatre to puppetry.
Open twice a week on Saturdays and Wednesdays, the Davis Farmers Market takes place in Central Park and offers fresh, locally grown foods. Much of the produce is grown organically. From March through September, the Wednesday evening Farmers Market becomes the Picnic in the Park, offering several restaurant stands, live music, and various other events geared towards a wide variety of ages.
If you want to experience the single largest student-run event in the United States, visit Davis in late April and revel in Picnic Day. The day consists of over 150 free events, most of which take part on campus, including dog races, food tastings, exotic animal shows, the notorious Battle of the Bands, and an exciting fashion show displaying unique student work. As one might expect, a good amount of drinking takes place throughout the day and by late afternoon there tends to be intoxicated people everywhere, but the mood of the event is very positive, and arrests are very few relative to the meeting than 50,000 attendees.
Whole Earth is an annual celebration of counterculture, art, politics, sustainability, and music, taking place over a three-day period on Mother's Day Weekend. Tens of thousands of hippies, punks, and miscellaneous weirdos descend on Davis for this event, taking place on the UC Davis quad.
A very popular and excellent cafe serving up delicious south-western style cuisine, with inventive specials like corn quesadillas and monstrous salads. Started here in Davis, it now has several locations in the Sacramento area. A second location in Davis at Oakshade Town Center, 2191 Cowell Blvd.
Mexican food and margaritas.
Popular Thai restaurant serving authentic dishes; order at the counter.
Indian restaurant serving south Indian specialties; comprehensive lunchtime buffet on weekdays and weekends.
Open all year round and is a source of fresh vegetables, pies and tamales.
By train
If you are flying into San Francisco, Amtrak is the best way to get to Davis. From SFO airport, take the BART subway to Richmond.
By plane
Although UC Davis has its own (small) airport, it is really only possible to reach Davis by plane through commercial airports.
By bus
Davis is not served by long-distance buses, but nearby Sacramento is a hub for Greyhound. There are daily buses from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Reno and even Vancouver, in Canada.
S. It's the preferred method of transportation for most students and locals due to the prevalence of bike paths and the relative flatness of the area. Downtown is also very pedestrian friendly.
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Sacramento · International · SMF
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