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THINGS
TO DO IN CALIFORNIA |
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Sacramento
River Delta Day Trip
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By Sophia Mitchell |
With hundreds of
miles of navigable waterways, the Sacramento River Delta, also
known as the California Delta, provides a plethora of outdoor
exploration opportunities, including boating, bird watching, camping
and more.
The Sacramento Delta is a great day trip for those living in the
Sacramento area and can also be a fun weekend adventure for those
in the San Francisco Bay Area. There are, literally, hundreds
of things that you can do at the Delta, so this article will provide
an overview of some of the biggest draws. We will be digging deeper
into these things in future articles.
The Delta is located in Northern California and got its name from
its triangle shape, with Sacramento, Stockton and Pittsburgh forming
the corners of the triangle.
Fishing – The Delta draws a large number of anglers. Species
that can be found in the Delta area include bluegill, several
types of bass and cat fish as well as shad. Salmon and sturgeon
Steelhead have a run through the Delta and tasty crawdads are
also a favorite. Seasonal fishing derbies are popular with big
prizes available for the winners. If you would like to fish but
do not have a boat, or you want local experts to guide you, there
are several fishing charter companies based out of Sacramento.
Camping – With over 50 campgrounds and RV parks in the Delta
area, having a nature-based weekend at the Delta is easy. There
is a mix of public and private camping areas, most with their
camping sites right along the waterway. Many private resorts having
boat launch facilities. Some parts also offer boat-in camping,
which can be a great way to get away from it all
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Sutter Slough Drawbridge |
State Recreation Areas
and Parks – California Department of Parks and Recreation
maintains a few recreation areas in the Delta. Brannan Island State
Recreation in Rio Vista is one of the public camping options. It
has a 10-lane boat launch, over 140 camp sites. There is also day
use options at Brannan Island, including wind surfing, picnicking,
shade structures, restrooms Franks Tract State Recreation Area is
located southeast of Brannan Island and is primarily used by anglers
and waterfowl hunters.
Bird Watching – The numerous waterways and various habitats
make the Delta a paradise for bird watching. The Delta is part of
the Great Pacific Flyway, which attracts birds that are migrating
from Alaska to Mexico. This provides for a great opportunity to
not only see resident birds of the area, but also migrating species.
Birding on your own is fun, but the Sacramento Audubon Society leads
half-day, full-day and overnight trips, which will puts you close
the birds with a birding expert.
River Cruise – There are several vendors that offer cruises
on the Sacramento River. If you want to get out on the water with
a guide and a fun atmosphere, this can be a great way to see the
river. Most cruises have a naturalist or guide on board who will
point out the sites, wildlife and historic importance of things
you pass. Dinner cruises are also available, if you want to make
an evening of it.
For a unique experience aboard an old paddle wheel boat, you may
want to head into Sacramento and visit the Delta King. Constructed
in Scotland in the 1920’s the Delta King used to carry passengers
from San Francisco into the Delta. The boat is now docked along
Sacramento’s Old Town waterfront and features a restaurant,
theater and lodging options.
Wine Tasting – You may not expect there to be a wine scene
in the Delta, but the little town of Clarksburg is home to a few
tasting rooms that make for a fun stop during your Delta visit.
Clarksburg is location about 15 miles south of Sacramento and is
home to Galeria do Vinho, Scribner Bend Vineyards and Bogle Vineyards.
All of these wineries offer free tastings |
Sacramento River Delta |
Sacramento
River Delta Road Trip |
| Driving Loop – If you want
to have a driving loop of the major historic areas in the Delta,
this route is a great way to see the sites. You will start in Rio
Vista and head north and make a large clock-wise loop. Areas to
visit on this route include:
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- Rio Vista – founded in 1858 and was a popular
stop over point for mariners and miners traveling between San
Francisco and Sacramento.
- Rio Vista Ferry – free takes you back and
forth to Ryer Island.
- J-Mac Ferry – free fairy that takes you
across Steamboat Slough.
- Grand Island Mansion – popular brunch spot
on the Delta, once the largest private home in the area. It is
four stories tall with over 50 rooms.
- Courtland – cute little town with museum
and historical society. A nice place to get out of the car and
go for a short stroll.
- Locke – this was an historic Chinese encampment
and contains some structures on the National Register of Historic
Places.
- Walnut Grove – established in 1851 and
home to many farming families. A good place to stop for gas and
a meal.
- Ryde – tiny town with popular art gallery
and a golf course
- Isleton – A tiny town that hosts the very
popular Crawdad Festival in June. Originally founded in 1974 to
provide supplied to gold miners heading up the river.
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So, there you go; a little taste
of the many offerings in the Sacramento Delta. We encourage you
to take a day trip to explore. You may be so charmed that you will
want to come back for a whole weekend getaway. |
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| Lake
Oroville Situated in the
Sierra Nevada foothills, just east of the city of Oroville. |
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