A population of approximately 65,000, Davis is home to UC Davis, one of the campuses in the University of California system. Did you know that UC Davis originally started out as the barn for UC Berkeley? Did you also know that it is the largest campus in the system, boasting 7,309 acres? UC Davis is well-renowned for their medicine, veterinary medicine, agricultural science and engineering programs. Their School of Veterinary Medicine is the largest and ranks as #1 in the US! They also have an amazing medical center in Sacramento, which is the hospital for my family and I. They have been a major blessing during difficult times in terms of our health issues.
I almost transferred there from community college and got accepted (there was no way I would've been accepted out of high school with how horrible I did), but I ended up at CSU Sacramento for the graphic design program, and it all worked out due to my health issues and needing to take help take care of my dad while he got diagnosed with cancer. Cecilio obviously applied there (along with CSUS, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara) and ended up attending there, by going to the campus via bike or Unitrans (the Davis bus system), and graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science.
The city of Davis has SO much to offer as far as dining, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, entertainment, and nature preserves. And because the city caters to college students and families, there are so many fun things to do without breaking the bank! You don't need to drive to a big city to have a blast, Davis is a mini cosmopolitan town on its own. And you know what? Some of my most fun dates with Cecilio have been in the little town he grew up in, driving around and discovering all of the schools he went to, his favorite places to eat (and trying out new places), going to Picnic Day, walking around the arboretum and the campus (which is that big and beautiful to walk around in itself), and strolling the farmers markets. Here's some of my top suggestions for places to go to!
Brunch: Delta of Venus
Photo Courtesy of Delta of Venus
While there are many nifty, small cafes to have a decadent brunch, if I had to choose one for you to go to, this place would be it. Breakfast is served from 7:30 am–2 pm everyday, and they specialize in egg-based dishes such as omelets, scrambles, breakfast burritos, or just plain eggs with potatoes or bagels if that's your preference. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can substitute the eggs for tofu or order a mushroom scramble. There are also light options such as granola and yogurt or oatmeal. Each dish on the breakfast menu is no more than $10. To me, a breakfast or brunch meal is not complete without a cup of joe, so do order their house coffee, espresso, or lattes!
Taking in Mother Nature: UC Davis Arboretum
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Our first date at the Arboretum in 2009.
Burn those calories from Delta of Venus by walking around the glorious 100-acre arboretum located on campus. It is open to the public everyday, with no admission. Just step in and enjoy! Parking is free on weekends, but cost $9 on weekdays. However, on our first date, we parked at the Davis Commons, a shopping center, which provides easy and free access to the arboretum. It loops about 3.5 miles long for walkers, joggers and cyclists. The arboretum houses 22,000 trees and plants that adapt to the Mediterranean climate, and is located around the banks of Putah Creek. There are 17 gardens, and you can meet different critters such as squirrels, geese, ducks, swans, butterflies, egrets, frogs and rabbits. You feel like you were transported to a secluded forest. Don't forget to grab a blanket and some sandwiches for a frugal and laid back lunch!
Fun Times @ Memorial Union
Photo Courtesy of UC Davis Campus Recreation & Unions
Another on campus facility, the Memorial Union houses a bowling alley and an arcade/game area. Right now it's being renovated and will not open until Fall 2016, but this is the hangout spot for dates, birthday parties, or hanging out with friends. It is the only bowling alley in Davis, and costs between $1.75–$3/game and $1–$1.50 for shoe rental (the lower rates are for students). My first time here was with Cecilio and his best friend Carlos right after Christmas in 2008, 2 months before we started dating. We had a blast bowling and playing games at the arcade. We have also gone a 2nd time on a double date, and a 3rd with some of his friends from high school.
Dinner: Village Bakery
Photo Courtesy of Davis Wiki
Jonseing for a slice of pizza? Check out Village Bakery for a large, juicy slice, costing $2.25 for cheese, $2.50 for pepperoni, $2.75 for vegetarian and $3 for veggie/meat combo. They also offer different slices such as Greek, Hawaiian, Chicken and Eggplant.
Boba, Games and Fun: Teabo Cafe
One of our favorite places to get dessert is at Teabo Cafe, where they serve slushies, milk tea, and blizzards of different flavors. My favorite flavors are the non-fruity ones such as almond, hazelnut and vanilla. You can also add regular boba, different flavored jellies, and even chia seeds! The milk teas and slushies are $2.50 and the blizzards are $3.50. There are also finger foods available like popcorn chicken or garlic fries (my mouth is drooling as I am typing this). This is a super popular place for teenagers (Cecilio's 16 year old sister Sabina is a regular) and college students because of the affordability of the drinks, the fact that it's open until 2 am, and because it's a fun hang out spot where you can talk, play Jenga or other board games, and watch Korean music videos played on their TV.
Almost all of my sources and information came from Davis Wiki.
I hope this gives you ideas in your own hometown on where to go to have fun and save money! Also if you live or plan to visit NorCal, I highly recommend a pit stop to Davis and to check out these cool places!
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