Things to do & places to visit in Davis, California, United States

Davis city in California, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 18:14.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Davis Greenbelt (55 reviews)
- Wonderful place
Hiking Trails

Offering lighted paved and non-paved paths. Joggers and bikers can go for miles. See more..
5.0 Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts (53 reviews)
- There is no bad seat at this venue, and it is a beautiful building also!
Theatre & Performances

I just saw the San Francisco Symphony perform with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting in his final year with SFS. Tickets were scarce, and I wanted to be able to see the faces of MTT and his troupe, so I sprang for top cost best available. It was my first visit to Mondavi Center, and I was very impressed. The venue is lovely, and the amenities are excellent. The seats are larger and more comfortable than Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and there is no bad seat that I could see. I am happy that I sprang for the high end seat I got, but I also now know that I don't need to do that in the future, any seat would be good. See more..
5.0 Great Bear Vineyards (44 reviews)
- Sunset Sips
Friday: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Great Bear Vineyards is a boutique winery offering premium wine tastings in beautiful surroundings on the edge of Davis, California. Open Friday noon-4pm & 5-8pm, Saturday noon-4pm, and Sunday noon-3pm for Wine Tasting. We also open by appointment for wine tasting, and small or large parties on all other dates (subject to availability) - please phone or email for more details. See more..
5.0 California Raptor Center (17 reviews)
- The owls were great
Spent 1-2 hours Science Museums

We stopped by the Raptor Center om the way to Sacramento and it was well worth the visit. The raptors are here because they were injured. If they cannot be safely released back into the wild, they remain in residence. We especially enjoyed seeing the owls. There were several types, including the smaller ones. Really cute! See more..
5.0 Central Park (9 reviews)
- A great evening walk if you get the chance.
Parks

We walked through the gardens after visiting the farmers market one evening and it was really nice to see what was blooming. See more..
5.0 Putah Creek Winery (6 reviews)
- Amazing time, amazing wine!
Spent < 1 hour Wineries & Vineyards
Our daughter took my husband and me to a very unprepossessing door in Davis. Inside, a stylish interior, welcoming and knowledgeable wine man - Devin - and lots of delicious wine. The 3 of us shared two tastings. Whites and reds, both. We bought the daughter several bottles, and had these shipped to us in Baltimore: Tannat, Viognier, Barbera and tAglianico, Cinsaut, Counoise. Sadly, one one of each this time, but we will order more! Thanks Devin for such an irressistable introduction to the wines of Putah Creek vineyard. We wished we'd taken a photo for you - but this way you'll see for yourself! (This was not a solo visit, but that would have been fun too) See more..
5.0 Dunloe Brewing (1 review)
- Awesome beer
Breweries
This place rules. A focused selection of extremely tasty beers and very nice atmosphere. The staff are super friendly and talkative. Has a really familiar feeling right from the get go. The price can't be beat. Drink a glass of Sunshine Highway and be thankful you found out about this amazing place. See more..
5.0 Mary L. Stephens Library (1 review)
- Wonderful Davis library
Libraries
A few years ago we raised our property taxes to pay for improvements in the Davis Library, and I now see that it was worth it! As well as an excellent book collection, there are all the amenities you can think of, such as extensive DVD and Books on Tapes collections, computers, meeting rooms for community uses, children's area, etc. Not to mention the lovely, open building, and the eternally patient and knowledgeable library staff. See more..
5.0 Veterans Memorial Theater (1 review)
- Exciting young theater company
Theaters
Davis Shakespeare Ensemble is a company of young actors and directors that are doing some of the best theater in the region. They typically do four productions/year, about half of which are Shakespeare, and the remainder are musicals and drama. In addition, the company does a summer program for kids, with performances in the nearby UC Davis Arboretum. The company is surprisingly good at musicals, considering that a few of the players are amateurs, but they are excellent, experienced amateurs. Most of the ensemble are fairly recent graduates of major theater programs, and all are headed towards a professional career. The artistic co-directors, for example, are graduates of Harvard and UC Davis theater programs. Both are extraordinarily creative leaders. The recent production of Mid Summer's Night Dream, for example, is the funniest example of this play I've ever seen, and that includes productions at leading theaters such as The Globe (London) and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This is a superb young company. Catch one of their performances if you can. See more..
4.5 UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden (407 reviews)
- Best Part of Davis
Gardens

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden spans the campus’s 5300-plus acres and includes the historic Arboretum – a 100-plus acre campus and regional amenity comprised of demonstration gardens and scientific collections as well as the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve – a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for teaching, research, wildlife and habitat protection. See more..
4.5 Davis Campus of the University of California (214 reviews)
- Equine Athletic Performance Lab
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Came in for an animal decontamination demonstration. A very nice campus, easy to get around. The Equine facility was like new and very clean. Compliments to the staff. A well run class for the day. Wish I had time to see more of the campus. See more..
4.5 Farmers Market (137 reviews)
- Best Farmers Market, period
Farmers Markets

Always full of great produce and even some meat and concessions that sell hot dogs, tacos, and other goodies, See more..
4.5 The Artery (63 reviews)
- Unique gifts and art!
Friday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Art Galleries

For years this artists' cooperative has been a lovely place to buy unique gifts and treasures. The shop is filled with jewelry, pottery, paintings, dishes, wearable art (shawls and t-shirts), and special items you can't find anywhere else. It is a Davis favorite shop and a fun place to visit during the Art About on the Second Friday of each month. See more..
4.5 Impossible Acres (18 reviews)
- Lots of fun and delicious fruit - but not organic
Farms

See more..
4.5 The Carolee Shields White Flower Garden (16 reviews)
- Find the Gazebo -East end of Arboretum!
Gardens

This moon garden's white flowers are best viewed by moonlight. See more..
4.5 Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven (15 reviews)
- No ice cream but lots of bees
Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums • Gardens

The Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven is a unique outdoor museum for the study and observation of bees and the plants that support them. We are open daily from dawn to dusk free of charge. Visitors will see over 200 plant species and varying numbers of bee species depending on the weather and time of year. Plants have detailed labels with information on water use and the bee resources provided. Additional information about bees and gardens and planning a bee garden is on our web site. See more..
4.5 Davis Municipal Golf Course (5 reviews)
- My favorite gold course!
Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Golf Courses
This is a wonderful, short 18 hole course. The greens are nicely maintained & early in the morning we complete our round in 3 hours! See more..
4.5 De Vere's Pub Davis (4 reviews)
- Great place!
Friday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 AM Bars & Clubs
A very nice pub. Great atmosphere, excellent fish and chips, and wonderful service. The best part is they have my favorite hefenweizen on tap! See more..
4.5 Design Museum of UC Davis (2 reviews)
- Great exhibits in the Design Museum
Speciality Museums
I worked in the Design Dept for many years and highly recommend taking a visit to the Design Museum. They have some great exhibits with a wide variety of mediums. Always worth a visit. See more..
4.0 Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art (22 reviews)
- Unique Museum on UC Davis Campus
Friday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Art Museums

This contemporary museum is a must-see when visiting Davis. The outside is architecturally stunning and reminiscent of the Getty Museum. The inside has galleries that accommodate a few different exhibitions at once, and there is a beautiful cohesive flow throughout.. The paintings are displayed thoughtfully with ample space for viewing. An enviable and impressive art space especially for a university! See more..
4.0 Wildhorse Golf Club (16 reviews)
- Had FUN on this course as a new golfer
Friday: 6:00 AM - 7:30 PM Golf Courses

A new and challenging course for golfers in Davis, California. See more..
4.0 US Bicycling Hall of Fame (13 reviews)
- Packed full of bike memorabilia
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

There is so much packed into this little museum. It's great for families because of all the old bikes. If you are a bike racing fan, it's a special place with historical bikes, clothing, medals, and videos. Compared to a lot of other museums and experiences out there, it's a great deal. See more..
4.0 Bohart Museum of Entomology (11 reviews)
- wonderful hour!
Friday: Science Museums

The R. M. Bohart Museum of Entomology is located on the University of California, Davis campus. The museum is dedicated to teaching, research and service. We have the seventh largest insect collection in North America, which is worldwide in coverage. The collection holdings total approximately seven million specimens, and focus on terrestrial and fresh water invertebrates. The museum is home of the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity of California’s deserts, mountains, coast and great central valley. See more..
4.0 Vini Wine Bar (10 reviews)
- So much fun!
Friday: 3:00 PM - 12:00 AM Wine Bars

VINI offers a unique opportunity to sample 72 wines from around the world via our state-of-the-art Enomatic wine serving system. Guests utilize a VINI Tasting Card to self-pour 2 ounce portions of wine. The selection of wines is constantly changing but average $3 - $3.50 per pour. All wines are available on a by-the-glass basis as well. A rotating selection of 6 craft beers are served in proper branded glassware. A small plates menu by Ame Mean Eats is available for nibbles. Although the decor is upscale, the atmosphere is very casual and Jazz music will always provide a background ambiance. It's a fun way to explore the world of wine. See more..
4.0 John Natsoulas Center for the Arts (10 reviews)
- Eclectic and Great Art
Friday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Monuments & Statues

The John Natsoulas Gallery is one of the premier galleries inside of Davis. We are one of the few galleries that are open to the community with a free lounge, wifi, and drinks. The largest art gallery in Davis consists of over four floors of art including a sculpture roof garden. It is dedicated to promoting art history, arts education, and the exhibition of regional talent and California artwork. It provides a place for cultural meetings, conferences, public activities, and a variety of visual, literary and musical events. We also host Poetry Night first and third Thursday of every month and Jazz Concerts first and last Friday of every month. See more..
4.0 Explorit Science Center (10 reviews)
- Great for Kids
Friday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Science Museums

Here at Explorit, we create excitement for science and nature through interactive exploration for all. Visit our Center in Davis for fun interactive experiences, animals, backyard habitats and more. We also provide off and onsite programs to schools in 18 Northern California counties. See more..
4.0 Hattie Weber Museum (6 reviews)
- Small -Town Museum
Speciality Museums

Fell into this museum as was visiting the Davis flea market. Lots of fun memorabilia. Very friendly volunteers. Learned a little about history of Davis. See more..
Gracepoint Davis Church (0 review)
Churches & Cathedrals
See more..
Stone Photography Gallery (0 review)
Friday: Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries

We create original, fine art photography that reflects classic sensibilities of beauty and craftsmanship with a contemporary interpretation. Our award-winning images are published and collected internationally. If you are in the area, we invite you to schedule a visit to our gallery. See more..
Davis Craft & Vintage Fair (0 review)
Spent < 1 hour Flea & Street Markets
We are a cooperative open market for crafters, artists, upcyclers and vintage sellers who come together to share talents and treasures once a month, all year long. There is live music and a free craft table to encourage creativity for the entire family. See more..