Emma @ theweekendabroad.com on A Weekend in Chico, California and Beyond
Chico, California is certainly not a top travel destination in California, and admittedly not somewhere I had considered visiting before. However, Roger had a workshop at Chico State University this spring so we decided to make a weekend trip out of it! The college town, located an hour north of Sacramento, completely took me by surprise with its quaint downtown area and outdoorsy offerings. Hands down, the highlight of our stay was the few hours we spent at sprawling Bidwell Park. A trek to the surrounding towns proved very worthwhile as well with nearby Table Mountain providing one of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. Here is a look into our weekend in Chico (and beyond!).
Chico Trip Basics
- Accommodations: We stayed in two different hotels just outside of downtown Chico.
- Weather: The temperature could not have been better during our stay there. It was around 25C in April each day we were there.
- High level summary of what the town offers: Boutique shopping, bars, a very popular brewery, history lessons/historic sites, and hiking.
5 Things to Do in Chico
View from the top of Monkey Face Rock
1. Hike/stroll Bidwell Park – Little did we know, Chico is home to one of the country’s largest city parks separated into Upper and Lower parks. We only had enough time to do one hike at Upper Bidwell Park, but the few hours we spent there were very memorable and relaxing. We drove to Horseshoe Lake and took a very leisurely hike up to Monkey Face Rock and watched the sun go down. Unsurprisingly, there were many other hikers there taking the view in.
A cute boutique in Downtown Chico
2. Walk around Downtown Chico – While Roger was at his conference, I had about 8 hours to explore the town by myself. I started in a coffee shop for a few hours while I waited for shops to open. Once they did open their doors, what I found were very quaint shops and some solid clothing stores! I ended up buying a few things too.
The creek that runs through Chico State University
3. Walk around Chico State University – This was a really pleasant place for me to wander. A creek runs right through campus making it quite the green and peaceful college.
Delicious food and beer at Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant
4. Dine and drink at Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant – I’ve downed dozens of Sierra Nevada beers since moving to California, but it was really cool drinking it right at the source! The food was actually really tasty too. The restaurant and brewery is huge and I wish I could go back and sit at their expansive outdoor dining area.
Stagecoaches outside Bidwell Mansion
5. Check out Bidwell Mansion – I don’t think you can spend a day in Chico without seeing mention of John and Annie Bidwell, who were responsible for pioneering society in this area of California. Their mansion, right on the outskirts of downtown, is now a state historic park. We didn’t take a tour, but were able to read some history on the couple and view their last home and stagecoaches.
3 Things to Do Just Outside Chico
The unbelievable view at Table Mountain
1. Visit Table Mountain – Just about a half hour southeast of Chico lies this gorgeous mountain area, which actually seems relatively flat when you arrive. It’s so picturesque that there was a wedding taking place at the entrance and a pregnancy photoshoot not too far from there. The spring blooms were in full force when we visited and we happened upon the most wonderful view about a half hour in. It really felt like it was a scene out of a dream and just very unexpected.
Inside the Lake Oroville Visitor Center
2. Visit Lake Oroville – If you’re into history, the Lake Oroville Visitor Center is worth a visit for a rich history on the reservoir and dam. We ended up wading and sipping beers at one of its adjacent bodies of water, the Forebay, which was honestly a little underwhelming.
Paradise Lake, California
3. Visit Paradise Lake – Roger had been here before and highly recommended it, but unfortunately I was only able to snap this photo because it happened to be closed for 2 weeks!
More of Our Weekend in Chico (and Beyond):
Monkey Face Rock at Upper Bidwell Park
Horseshoe Lake at Upper Bidwell Park
Entrance to the hike up Monkey Face Rock
Strolling through Chico State University
A wall featuring Annie Bidwell in Downtown Chico
The historic Stansbury Home in Downtown Chico (where a local doctor lived)
Chico is actually home to the National Yo-Yo Museum!
Chico’s Bidwell Mansion
At the entrance of Table Mountain
A calming scene at Table Mountain
Springs blooms at Table Mountain
Questions or comments about Chico, California (and beyond)? Let me know in the comments below!
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