Celebrating Quirkiness in Davis, Calif.

I was out getting ice cream with my friend on a Thursday night when we came across a guy on a double-decker bicycle. The wheels are normal sized but he somehow attached another bike frame on top of a bicycle so he was sitting high above the ground. I’ve never seen anything quite like that and was fascinated.

My friend said, “Hey, it’s Davis! Wait until you see the fire dancers.” Sure enough, we came across a group of young people twirling fire in the parking lot — just for the fun of it. Quirky is the norm in Davis, and that is a part of the charm of this college town.

Davis is a thriving, liberal college town in Yolo County, Northern California. It has grown from a farming community to a lively city that houses the University of California, Davis. There’s a mix of a large student population and “Yippies” (according to my friend, a cross between a yuppie and a hippie). The mix of youthful energy and post-hippie consciousness has made Davis into a city brimming with social activism, environmentally-friendly restaurants and stores, and seemingly more cyclists than drivers.

Where locals Shop & Eat

The Davis Farmers Market was voted one of America’s three favorite farmers markets and it’s not hard to see why. Open year round, this farmers market features farm-fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, honey, olive oil, arts and crafts, and delicious to-go meals. If you can tear your eyes away from all the beautiful food, you’ll notice that everyone shopping there is healthy-looking, attractive and happy. There’s a blue grass band playing in the corner and little kids dancing in front of the band. If you’re feeling peckish, you can pick up some tamales, Indian food or sandwiches.

The farmers market is also where you can get the latest in political activism from various groups manning tables. It wasn’t even anytime close to election season when I was there and there were already so many groups passing leaflets and encouraging people to sign petitions.

Where locals stroll & relax

Need a place to decompress? The UC Davis Arboretum  has 100 acres of gorgeous gardens that are open to the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  A taste of nature in the city, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the woods when you’re walking along the paths. There are various themed gardens from Australian to East Asian as well as guided tours, special music events and family activities.

If you’re lucky, you might bump into these adorable residents!