If you’ve never toured a brewery, you’re missing an interesting and informative experience. And this brewery
#64 Happening Places
The main activity to be enjoyed at Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park is bank or boat fishing for salmon, steelhead and shad.
#65 Play, Put or Throw It
Bidwell Park Golf Course is known for having one of Northern California’s finest pro shops.
#66 Still Playing
The Senator, built in 1928, is home to murals of Syrian Running Deer and a mural of Chico’s Hooker Oak Tree.
#67 Airplanes to Anthropology
The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology offers exhibitions, lectures, and programming for children’s programming and K-12 outreach.
#68 For Kids’ Sake
If they’ve learned about the natural world at Chico Creek Nature Center, explored the wonders of Bidwell Park,
#69 Indulge in Sweet Delights
At Shubert’s, Chico’s oldest ice cream and candy store, they’ve been making these creations since 1938.
#70 Stroll or Sit in Pleasant Surroundings
Opened in 2005 along with the restoration and opening of the Diamond Hotel, Diamond Alley is entered through gorgeous mosaic-pillared arches at either 3rd or 4th Streets, and a walk here features many of the Chico Open Board creations.
One of our favorite places to be for lunch, Downtown City Plaza was designated as a park site in 1872. The area here now serves as stage for many events—including free music concerts on Friday evenings May through September.
To get a schedule of the concerts, check the downtown merchants’ windows, or ask at the Visitor & Information Center (Main & 5th St.).
A 2004-2005 centennial project of the Chico Rotary club, Chico Rotary Plaza is in front of the Boys & Girls Club. It features a neat sculpture, and be sure to check out the arty cubes!
Diamond Alley
From 3rd-4th Sts. between Broadway & Salem
Downtown City Plaza
4th & 5th Sts. at Main & Broadway
Chico Rotary Plaza
On Wall Street between 6th & 7th
#71 Birds & Bees, and the Flowers & Trees
Free nature walks with knowledgeable naturalists, classes, and environmental ed programs are all available here. Weekly day-camps are held June-August and over the holiday break in December for ages 5-11 years. Summer sessions include themes like Aquatic Adventure, Earth Island, Native’s Ways, and Jammin’ Salmon, while the winter session helps kids learn about hibernation, migration, and critters’ food storage, along with what happens to plants during winter.
If you want to go on the popular “Owl Prowl Night Walk,” you’ll need to pre-register since space is limited.
The nature museum includes a living display of wildlife and features other displays of nature. Pick up the “World of Trees” brochure and walk the trail to experience Portuguese Cypress, English & Cork Oak, among others. Entrance is off of East Eighth St. just beyond Cedar Grove. (Turn off of Highway 32 onto Fir Street, go straight through the stop sign, and Fir St. becomes Eighth St.).
Park maps are available here.
Chico Creek Nature Center
1968 East 8th St.
(530) 891-4671
Hours: Wed.-Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Adults $4, Children $2, Members & children under 3 Free
Visit Them
#72 A Diamond That’s No Longer in the Rough
Winner of the prestigious Golden Rose Award for 2001, owner David Halimi took his time to “get it right” in designing and restoring this building, which is a work of art—done by local artisans.
