THINGS TO DO IN CHICO

I wasn't born in Chico, and I haven't really been here long enough to call it My Hometown in the strict sense of that term. But like many before me, after living here for 10 years I would like to officially proclaim Chico as
My Adopted Home Town.

Check out these very special and unique things to do in Chico and you'll begin to see why I - and so many others - feel that way! I'm sure you'll find them to your liking . . . and a LOT of them are FREE!

THINGS TO DO IN CHICO: FOR THE KIDLETTES

Caper Acres

You'll find this fairy tale playground near the One Mile area in Bidwell Park (behind the baseball diamond).

Your young children will be delighted with the child-size scale of this playground, (adults must be accompanied by a child in order to enter) and by Humpty Dumpty sitting on the wall above the sandbox.

They'll giggle as they slide through the Swiss cheese holes and take a drink from a lion's mouth!

Other structures include a crooked house, a medieval fort, swings and slides . . . and the newest addition, the Nico Project, with its mosaic dragon that undulates through an ocean of blue play mat, and its shipwreck play structure!

Other things to do in Chico for you to do with your kidlettes:

• Katherine's Cottage (2201 Pillsbury Rd) - thousands of dolls from antique to modern, plus bears and other toys
• Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation (Durham, CA) - home to many exotic species and a Companion Animals program; open by appointment (530-345-1700)
• Funland (2465 Carmichael Dr) - roller skating, batting cages & miniature golf
• Shubert's (178 E. 7th St) - family owned & operated ice cream & candy shop since 1938

THINGS TO DO IN CHICO: FOR THE ARTS PATRON

Chico Art Center

You'll find them housed in Chico's historic railroad depot at W. 5th & Orange Streets.

In addition to fostering & promoting local artists in the visual arts, and offering exhibits and art classes, Chico Art Center sponsors the Open Studios Art Tour during its Artoberfest celebrations in October.

Visit the center, and be sure to stop in at Empire Coffee Car out front - its a refurbished 1947 Pullman railcar and it houses an ever-changing gallery as well as the Empire Tea & Coffee shop, which also has cookies and pastries - a nice respite from a busy day!

More from the Arts:

• Janet Turner Print Museum (Laxson Auditorium Mezzanine, 1st & Salem) - over 2,000 original prints from the internationally known printmaker
• Orient & Flume Art Glass (2161 Park Ave), and Satava Art Glass (819 Wall St) - these two internationally recognized glass artists have their studios in Chico

THINGS TO DO IN CHICO: FOR THE HISTORY BUFF

Historic Butte Creek Canyon

Take a drive along Honey Run Road (turn left off the Skyway), and you'll find yourself in a different world altogether. Pastoral and scenic, there's something new around every corner!

Besides the pastoral and scenic drive, the main attractions are the

Honey Run Covered Bridge (stop to explore and maybe have a picnic lunch!); and

Centerville (don't blink - you'll miss it!) with it's historic schoolhouse, cemetery, and beautifully appointed

Colman Museum (Indian artifacts, gold mining artifacts, Civil War relics, and the history and relics of Centerville's founding families).

More things to do in Chico for the history buff:

• The Stansbury House (307 W. 5th St) - former Victorian home to Dr. Oscar Stansbury & his wife, it's now a museum
• Bidwell Mansion (525 Esplanade) - former home of John & Annie Bidwell, founders of Chico
• Chico Museum (Salem & 2nd Streets) - the former Carnegie Library building hosts over 85 exhibits celebrating Chico's past - plus they now manage the Patrick Ranch; don't miss the Threshing Bee & Antique Equipment Show in June!

THINGS TO DO IN CHICO: FOR THE NATURE LOVER

Bidwell Park - Upper & Lower
(Starts at Pine & Valombrosa)

Bidwell Park, at 3,670 acres and nearly 11 miles in length (with Big Chico Creek running down the middle), is one of the largest municipals parks in the United States.

It's so big, in fact, that it's divided (by Manzanita Avenue) into Lower Park (the more "developed" section) and Upper Park (the "wilder" portion).

Lower Park has roads, trails, picnic areas, playing fields, playgrounds (see Caper Acres, above), the Chico Creek Nature Center, and Sycamore Pond at the One Mile Recreation Area (Sycamore Pond is a unique swimming hole created by Mother Nature, but improved upon by man, who cemented around and under Big Chico Creek - it's the largest in-creek swimming pool in the United States).

But Lower Park also is a get-away-to-nature spot with its opportunities for creekside play and its canopy of trees - stroll, hike, ride a bike or a horse, birdwatch, discover the salmon finding their way upsteam; you'll enjoy the feeling of getting away from it all, even though One Mile is just a few blocks from downtown Chico!

Upper Park - If you like your nature getaways a little more rugged, try Upper Park, to the east of Manzanita & Centennial or Manzanita & Chico Canyon Road (Upper Park Road).

(CC) Derek Curry

At first you'll see some developed areas (like Five Mile Recreation Area, Horseshoe Lake, & Wildwood Park - there's even a municipal golf course).

But soon you'll start to climb into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to leave civilization behind while you climb Monkey Face Rock or follow the beautiful canyon of Big Chico Creek.

Follow the Yahi Trail (pedestrians only, while the North Rim Trail is for pedestrians, bicyclists, & equestrians) alongside Big Chico Creek and you'll discover the less well-known (read "insider secret") attractions of the park: the series of swimming holes along the creek!

You'll come to Alligator Hole first, followed by Bear Hole (some say the spelling should be "Bare" Hole, for the obvious reason), the Diversion Dam (not a swimming hole, but a point of interest), Salmon Hole (usually less busy than Bear Hole), Devil's Kitchen, & Brown's Hole (highest up & the least busy of them all). On a hot summer's day it can be heavenly to take a dip into Big Chico Creek's cold, clear waters!

And, if you're real lucky while in Upper Park, you might get a peek at some of the area's indigineous wildlife - the park shelters mountain lions, several deer herds, raccoons, and even bear!

More things for nature lovers to do in Chico:

• Have a pleasant walk and do a little birdwatching at the USDA Genetic Resource and Conservation Center (2741 Cramer Ln) - the path is called the Comanche Trail and it meanders along Edgar Slough among exotic species planted long ago
• Go salmon, steelhead, or shad fishing along the Sacramento River, or float the river in an inner tube or a kayak - Try Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park (River Road) for starters, and enjoy the riverine habitat
• Take a drive up to Table Mountain (I like to go in from Cherokee Road & Highway 70) at any time of the year for the beautiful scenery, but especially in the Spring when the wildflowers are blooming outrageously!

MORE "TYPICALLY CHICO" THINGS TO DO IN CHICO

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

You've surely heard of Sierra Nevada beer! Well, Chico is lucky enough to claim Ken Grossman as one of its own - he started a little brewery back in 1979 using "dairy tanks, a soft-drink bottler, and equipment salvaged from defunct breweries" - today that little brewery is considered one of the best craft breweries in the United States.

The brewery is located at 1075 E. 20th St. Sierra Nevada Brewing is a gorgeous facility of brick, copper, and glass and contains the brewery, a taproom & restaurant, an event room, and a gift shop.

Guided tours are free and offered daily, or you can do a self-guided tour. Then stop in for lunch or dinner and try the beer sampler! You'll be glad you did!!

More "typically Chico" things to do in Chico:

• Catch the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Silver Dollar Speedway, including the Gold Cup Race of Champions
• Visit the Kiwanis Chico Community Observatory (near Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park) on a clear night to observe the evening skies
• Attend a Chico Outlaws Semi-pro baseball game at Nettleton Stadium

There's more, but that should get you off to a good start! You definitely won't be complaining that there's nothing to do while you're in Chico!!

Want more insider info about Chico, CA? Here you go:

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