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UC Davis FAQ: Things to do in Davis

This post is part of a series we're doing called "UC Davis FAQ" that addresses some of the common search engine queries that lead UC Davis students to OneGate. Read more about it in UC Davis FAQ: Buying Textbooks.

I heard Davis is in the middle of nowhere. Is it true that students go cow tipping for fun? Is there anything to do in Davis?

Contrary to any rumors you may have heard, Davis is not a wasteland. If you’re used to living in a large urban area, it may take some adjusting; it’s common to run into people that you know around town when you’ve lived there for a year or two.

Cow Tipping is a Myth

First of all, cows are heavy. It’d be pretty tough to push one over, and it certainly would require more effort than tiptoeing up to a cow, poking it once and watching it fall over. Secondly, many UC Davis students study agriculture and animal studies and have an appreciation for animals and nature; they aren’t likely to torture a cow by rudely waking it up in the middle of the night and pushing it over.

Community and Healthy Living at the Davis Farmers Market

The Davis Farmers Market is a great place to get fresh produce, listen to local music, grab grub from local restaurants, pick up crafty items for gifts, people watch, and mingle with other Davisites. If you’re interested in really getting involved in Davis and not just sticking to the student population, the Farmers Market is the place to be. March through November, Wednesdays feature Picnic in the Park, when families come to grab dinner and listen to performances in the warm weather.

Art Galleries and Museums

You want culture? Davis has culture. There are tons of museums and galleries scattered around Davis and the UCD campus and many restaurants, coffee shops and other establishments around town display art on the walls. Check out the John C. Natsoulas Gallery on First and E, and the Pence Gallery on D Street; there are also art galleries on campus in the MU, Hart Hall and around UC Davis.

On the second Friday of each month The Artery coordinates ArtAbout (pdf), where galleries, museums, and other businesses open their doors to art lovers, offering information about art pieces and receptions with free food and drinks. Davis Life Magazine’s April 2009 issue featured a piece on ArtAbout with interviews with local artists and participants.

For museum visits, there’s the Explorit Science Center for kids and science lovers, and if you’re interested in Davis’ history visit the Hattie Weber Museum on C Street next to Central Park. Check out the Davis Raptor Center to get up close and personal with wildlife; UCD Professor Jonathan Eisen has photos of the Davis Raptor Center on his blog. And if you're thirsty for knowledge but want to get outside, wander through the Arboretum to learn about plants and the environment.

Films and Theaters

Even though it’s small, Davis has three theaters that show films in downtown: the two Regal Theatres show new movies with the occasional classic thrown in, while the Varsity Theater shows more independent and documentary-type movies and also has live performances. The Mondavi Center on campus is well known and visitors drive in from the Bay Area and surrounding area for performances (UC Davis students get a student discount!).

Nighttime Activities

Restaurants, bars, even a club with Salsa lessons: Davis has nightlife. There are dozens of restaurants in a variety of price ranges and environments, from sweats to upscale dining. We’ve listed some of them in the Food and Grub category on both OneGate for95616 and OneGate for UC Davis.

Restaurants are usually geared more towards food; if you’re looking for a bar-type atmosphere in the evening, check out Sofia’s Thai Kitchen, G Street Pub, Froggy’s, and The Grad. The Davis Graduate has themes every night of the week and offers dance lessons between nine and ten, depending on the day. The Grad also opens at 6 AM on Picnic Day.

Wine Tasting

Davis is home to not one but two wineries! Rominger West Winery has been making wine from grapes grown in Yolo County since 2004 and they pride themselves on sustainable business practices. They have wine tasting every day and fun events like vineyard tours; join the mailing list to hear what they’ve got coming up.

Putah Creek Winery sold grapes to Napa wineries from 2001 to 2004 and released their first wines in 2006. According to Davis Life Magazine, they’re having a reception on Saturday May 9, 2009 from 2 – 6 PM.

Tucos Wine Market and Cafe in downtown is a great place to discover a new wine. Owner Pru Mendez finds unique and high quality wines from around the world. Tastings are available in a variety of flights (four wines of a theme). Try a new wine, grab some tasty food, and enjoy the shady patio in the corner of downtown.

The Arboretum and Greenbelts

The Arboretum is a great place to have a picnic, read a book, go for a bike ride, walk a dog, practice your photography skills, toss around a Frisbee, strum a guitar, and watch ducks (more interesting and popular than you might think, especially in the spring).

Greenbelts wind in and out and all around Davis; get out the bike or rollar blades, grab the dog and kids, go for a walk and enjoy being outside.

Fun, Cheap and Free Events on Campus

Students don’t have a huge budget for entertainment; money tends to go towards important things like tuition, textbooks, and fixing up bikes after accidents. Luckily, there’s a group that’s looking out for the fun-starved students.

Campus Unions Programs organizes cheap and free events throughout the school year, including:

 ~ Open Mic Nights in Griffin Lounge the first Tuesday of every month;

 ~ Live music evenings in the Coffee House;

 ~ Video Game Tournaments in the Griffin Lounge on the second Tuesday of every month;

 ~ Free and cheap movies in Chem 194 (get there early, especially for recently released movies and sneak previews – there tends to be a long line)

 

There are many more activities and fun things to do in Davis. Davis Life Magazine highlights some of the them each month, and DavisWiki is a great place to find stuff to do around town. Life is what you make it: use your imagination!

Other UC Davis FAQ:
UC Davis FAQ: Biking
UC Davis FAQ: Buying Textbooks
UC Davis FAQ: Dorms and Residence Halls