Part of our California guide.
Davis is a college town in the Sacramento Valley with a bike-friendly grid and a strong agricultural heritage. This guide covers seven specific angles on the city, from its outdoor markets to its local art scenes, drawn from our coverage.
Related travel guides: 30 Must Visit Places In Whittier, Mountain View Travel Guide, Colton Travel Guide, and Hayward Travel Guide.
12 Breathtaking Road Trips In Davis, California
Road trips through Davis take you past the UC Davis Arboretum and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, with stops at the city’s own vineyards and rolling hills. The routes include the Yolo County backroads and the Putah Creek corridor, where you can find secret trails in California that wind through oak woodlands. Each trip is less than 50 miles round trip from downtown, making them manageable day loops.
9 Unique Museums To Explore In Davis, California
Davis’s museums range from the Bohart Museum of Entomology, which holds over seven million insect specimens, to the Design Museum on the UC Davis campus. The California Raptor Center offers a close look at birds of prey, while the Hattie Weber Museum covers local history in a former fire station. Most museums are free or charge under $10, and many are within walking distance of the central campus.
35 Must Visit Places In Davis
Start at the UC Davis Arboretum, a two-mile loop of gardens along the Putah Creek channel. The Davis Farmers Market, open Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings, has been running since 1976 and features seasonal produce from Yolo County farms. The Explorit Science Center offers hands-on exhibits for children, with admission at $8 per person. Other must-visit spots include the Bike Barn for rentals, the Davis Food Co-op for local groceries, and the city’s 50 miles of bike lanes. All 35 places are within a 10-minute bike ride of downtown.
5 Romantic Getaways In Davis, California
For couples, the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame in downtown Davis is a starting point; it covers the history of cycling with exhibits on the sport’s pioneers. The UC Davis Arboretum provides quiet picnic spots under valley oaks, and the city’s farm-to-table restaurants, such as The Kitchen at 222, offer tasting menus that highlight local ingredients. Nearby, the Monticello Trail along Lake Berryessa is a 30-minute drive and offers sunset views. Each getaway is designed to be walkable or bikeable from a central hotel.
5 Outdoor Markets To Shop In Davis, California
The Davis Farmers Market is the anchor, with over 80 vendors selling produce, flowers, and artisan breads. The Downtown Davis Art Walk, held on the first Friday of each month, features local painters and ceramicists. The UC Davis Craft Center market sells student-made pottery and woodwork twice a semester. The Yolo County Certified Farmers Market at the county fairgrounds runs on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round. The Central Park Market, a smaller pop-up, operates on Tuesday afternoons from April through October.
9 Local Art Scenes To Immerse In Davis, California
The Pence Gallery on D Street hosts rotating exhibits of regional contemporary art, with free admission. The UC Davis Art Studio open studios happen every spring, where you can watch glassblowing and printmaking. The city’s murals include the “Davis Bike” mural at Third and G streets and the “Ag” mural at the train depot. The Davis Art Center offers classes and a gallery with works under $500. These nine scenes also include the gems secrets hidden in California in the form of small, member-run galleries in private homes that open for ArtAbout, a monthly self-guided tour.
5 Luxurious Resorts To Stay In Davis, California
The five resorts include the Hyatt Place UC Davis, which has a rooftop pool and is a five-minute walk from the Mondavi Center. The Aggie Inn, a boutique property, offers bike rentals and a complimentary breakfast with local eggs and fruit. The Best Western Palm Court provides suites with kitchenettes and is adjacent to the Davis Commons shopping area. The Hallmark Inn has a hot tub and an outdoor fireplace, and the Holiday Inn Express includes a business center and free parking. Rates for these properties range from $120 to $250 per night, depending on the season.
