The definitive guide to activities, attractions, hidden gems, and unforgettable experiences in Davis — written by people who actually live here.

Updated March 2026  ·  By the MyDavis Team

Outdoor & Nature

Davis sits in a flat, sun-soaked valley where the outdoors aren’t just accessible — they’re the whole point. Here’s where to go.

UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden

The Arboretum is the crown jewel of outdoor Davis. This 100-acre public garden stretches along the banks of the old Putah Creek channel on the southern edge of the UC Davis campus, featuring over 31,000 trees and plants from California, Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean. The main loop trail is 3.5 miles, paved and mostly flat — perfect for walking, jogging, or a slow Sunday stroll. Established in 1936, the garden is free to visit and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Highlights along the path include the Carolee Shields White Flower Garden (designed in the style of Japanese and Indian moon-viewing gardens, where white flowers glow under moonlight), the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove (coast redwoods planted by UC Davis students in the 1930s), and the Native American Contemplative Garden, honoring the Patwin people who originally lived along Putah Creek.

Davis Greenbelts

One of the things that makes Davis feel different from other small cities is the greenbelt system — over 50 miles of off-street paths that weave through neighborhoods, parks, and open space. These aren’t sidewalks. They’re dedicated, tree-lined corridors connecting the entire city, built into the urban planning since the 1960s. You can bike or walk from one end of Davis to the other without ever touching a major road. The greenbelts connect to virtually every school, park, and neighborhood in town.

Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

If you want genuine wildness within city limits, this is it. The 640-acre Putah Creek Riparian Reserve runs along the southern edge of the UC Davis campus and features a rare stream and grassland ecosystem managed for wildlife protection. It’s a birder’s paradise — home to egrets, herons, red-tailed hawks, and dozens of migratory species. The trails are more rugged than the Arboretum and far less crowded.

Grasslands Park

This 320-acre park in South Davis contains some of the last remaining vernal pool habitat in the region — seasonal wetlands that support burrowing owls, Swainson’s hawks, and other rare species. Most of the park has been restored with native plant species. It’s a quieter, more contemplative experience than the Arboretum, and one of the best spots in Davis for watching sunsets over the valley.

Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven

Yes, that Häagen-Dazs. This half-acre bee garden on the UC Davis campus was created to promote pollinator conservation, and it’s become one of the most charming free attractions in town. Designed as a living demonstration of bee-friendly gardening, the haven features over 80 species of plants chosen specifically to attract and sustain honeybees, bumblebees, and native pollinators. It’s open to the public year-round and makes for a surprisingly calming 20-minute visit.

Central Park & the Farmers Market

The heart of civic life in Davis. Central Park sits at the corner of 3rd and B Street in downtown and serves as the home base for the legendary Davis Farmers Market every Saturday morning (and Wednesday evenings from mid-March through October). Beyond market days, the park features a large playground, picnic areas, shaded lawns, and a community pool. It’s where Davis relaxes.

Community Park & Slide Hill Park

Community Park in South Davis is the city’s largest developed park, with soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a disc golf course, a dog park, a skate park, and a community garden. Adjacent Slide Hill Park is famous locally for its long concrete slide built into a hillside — bring cardboard for extra speed. It’s been a Davis kid rite of passage for decades.

Arts & Culture

For a city of 67,000 people, Davis punches absurdly above its weight in the arts. Here’s the cultural map.

Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts is a world-class concert hall right on the UC Davis campus. The 1,801-seat Jackson Hall hosts everything from the San Francisco Symphony to global jazz artists to major touring acts. The smaller Vanderhoef Studio Theatre seats 250 for intimate performances. The architecture alone — a sweeping modern design by Boora Architects — is worth seeing from the outside. Throughout the academic year, the calendar is packed with performances spanning classical music, contemporary dance, theater, comedy, and world music.

Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art

Opened in 2016, this free-admission art museum on the UC Davis campus features rotating exhibitions of contemporary and modern art, with a special emphasis on artists connected to the Sacramento Valley region and the legacy of UC Davis’s celebrated art faculty (Wayne Thiebaud, Robert Arneson, and others from the legendary “UC Davis School”). The building itself — designed by SO-IL architects — features a striking “Grand Canopy” of perforated aluminum that filters Central Valley light into the galleries.

John Natsoulas Center for the Arts

The Natsoulas Gallery in downtown Davis is one of the most respected contemporary art galleries in the Sacramento region. Featuring revolving exhibitions of painting, sculpture, and mixed media, the gallery is known for championing California artists and hosting opening night receptions that are genuine community events. Owner John Natsoulas is a Davis institution himself.

Pence Gallery

A volunteer-run community art gallery housed in a charming craftsman-style home on D Street, the Pence has been showcasing local and regional artists since 1993. Shows rotate monthly, and the gallery hosts workshops, lectures, and community art events throughout the year. Free admission.

The Artery

A local artists’ cooperative in downtown Davis where working artists display and sell their creations. The Artery carries ceramics, jewelry, paintings, prints, fiber art, and more — all made by local makers. It’s the best place in Davis to find a one-of-a-kind gift or support the local creative community directly.

Varsity Theatre

This beloved downtown Davis movie theater has been a community fixture since 1950. The single-screen, independently operated theater shows a mix of first-run films, classic revivals, and special event screenings. The marquee on 2nd Street is one of the most iconic images of downtown Davis.

Bohart Museum of Entomology

Located on the UC Davis campus, the Bohart Museum houses one of the largest insect collections in North America — over eight million specimens. Open to the public for free on select days, the museum features live insect displays, arthropod-themed exhibits, and the chance to hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach. The gift shop sells insect-themed treasures, including real-insect jewelry and amber specimens.

California Raptor Center

A UC Davis facility that rehabilitates injured birds of prey and educates the public about raptor conservation. Resident birds include golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and peregrine falcons. The center offers guided tours and educational programs, and it’s one of the most memorable experiences in Davis for visitors of any age.

Design Museum at UC Davis

A small but excellent museum focused on design in all its forms — industrial design, architecture, graphic design, fashion. Rotating exhibitions explore how design shapes everyday life. Free admission.

Food & Drink

Davis is a farm-to-fork town by nature — the university literally started as a farm. The food scene here reflects that deep agricultural DNA.

Davis Farmers Market

In 2026, the Davis Farmers Market celebrates its 50th anniversary, and it remains one of the largest and most celebrated farmers markets in California. The Saturday market runs year-round in Central Park (8 AM–1 PM), with a Wednesday evening market from mid-March through October (4:30–7:30 PM). Expect dozens of vendors selling seasonal produce, much of it organic, along with fresh-baked bread, artisan cheeses, flowers, handmade goods, live music, and prepared foods from local chefs.

This isn’t a generic farmers market — it’s a full community event. Families spread blankets on the grass, kids run through the park, local musicians perform, and you’ll overhear conversations in a dozen languages. On any given Saturday, a significant chunk of Davis shows up.

Craft Breweries

Davis has a thriving craft beer scene, anchored by several outstanding local breweries. Sudwerk Brewing Co. has been brewing German-style lagers since 1989 and operates one of the most popular taprooms in town. Three Mile Brewing offers a rotating selection of creative small-batch beers in a laid-back tasting room. Dunloe Brewing focuses on Irish-inspired ales and session beers. Super Owl Brewing brings experimental and hop-forward styles. UC Davis literally offers a Master Brewers Program, so the beer knowledge runs deep here.

Great Bear Vineyards

A boutique winery right on the edge of Davis — no trip to wine country required. Great Bear offers premium tastings in a beautiful setting and is open Thursday through Sunday. It’s a hidden gem that most visitors don’t realize exists.

Davis Food Co-op

A member-owned cooperative grocery that’s been a Davis institution since 1972. The Co-op carries local, organic, and specialty foods that you won’t find at chain stores, with an excellent deli, bulk section, and beer/wine selection. Open to everyone (membership is optional). The Co-op is a bellwether for Davis culture — if you want to understand this town, spend 20 minutes wandering the aisles.

Downtown Davis Dining

Downtown Davis packs an impressive concentration of restaurants into a few walkable blocks. You’ll find everything from elevated farm-to-fork American (The Mustard Seed) to authentic Thai (Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, the first Thai restaurant in Davis), creative Japanese (Zen Toro, Mikuni), Burmese (Burma Eat), wood-fired pizza, upscale pub fare at De Vere’s Irish Pub, and the local institution Crepeville. For a college town of this size, the diversity and quality of dining is remarkable.

Biking Davis — The Bicycle Capital of America

Davis has more bikes than people, more bike lanes than almost any city in the country, and a cycling culture that goes back over 60 years. This is not an exaggeration.

Davis earned the title “Bicycle Capital of America” as far back as 1964. It was the first city in the United States to implement standardized bike lanes, and today the city maintains over 100 miles of bike paths and on-street bike lanes connecting every corner of town. In 2006, Davis became the first city in America to earn the Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of American Bicyclists — and has been working toward “Diamond” status ever since.

The flat topography makes biking effortless. Most Davis residents bike to work, to school, to the grocery store, and to the bars on a Friday night. Bike parking is everywhere — including multi-level bike parking structures at the university. Bike shops are as common as coffee shops.

US Bicycling Hall of Fame

Naturally, the Bicycle Capital of America is home to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame, a museum celebrating the history of American cycling. The collection includes memorabilia, vintage bicycles, and tributes to legendary American cyclists. Located at 303 3rd Street in downtown Davis.

Best Routes

The Davis Bike Loop is an informal 12-mile route that circles the entire city via greenbelts and bike paths, passing through farmland, parks, and neighborhoods. The Arboretum path is a popular shorter route (3.5 miles). For road cyclists, county roads heading west toward Winters wind through scenic agricultural land with very little traffic.

Annual Events & Festivals

Davis has a packed events calendar. These are the ones worth planning a trip around.

Picnic Day (April)

Picnic Day is the single biggest event in Davis — and the largest student-run event in the entire country. Held annually in the spring (April 18, 2026), this free open-campus celebration draws tens of thousands of visitors for a day of wholesome chaos. Highlights include the famous Doxie Derby (dachshund races), the chemistry magic show, Battle of the Bands, a massive parade, departmental open houses, and over 200 exhibits and activities spread across the UC Davis campus. Davis residents have been using Picnic Day as an excuse to day-drink since 1909.

Davis Farmers Market 50th Anniversary (2026)

The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Davis Farmers Market, and special celebrations are planned throughout the year. The market has been the heartbeat of Davis since 1976, and this milestone is being celebrated with community events, historical exhibits, and expanded market programming.

Whole Earth Festival (Spring)

This free, three-day festival on the UC Davis campus celebrates sustainability, art, music, and community. Running for over 50 years, the Whole Earth Festival features live performances, educational workshops, art installations, sustainable living demonstrations, and a vibrant vendor area. It’s the most Davis event imaginable — earnest, eclectic, and deeply community-oriented.

Davis Art Walk

Held several times a year, the Davis Art Walk opens galleries and creative spaces across downtown for an evening of free art viewing, live demonstrations, music, and refreshments. It’s a great way to experience the depth of Davis’s creative community.

Davis Holiday Celebrations

The downtown Davis tree lighting ceremony kicks off the holiday season, followed by the Davis Odd Fellows’ annual holiday events, downtown shopping nights, and various community celebrations throughout December.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Davis nightlife is college-town lively without being overwhelming. There’s something for every speed.

Downtown Davis offers a solid mix of bars, brewpubs, and lounges within a few walkable blocks. University of Beer is the go-to for craft beer enthusiasts, with an enormous rotating tap list and a low-key atmosphere. De Vere’s Irish Pub offers a more refined experience with an impressive whiskey selection. Woodstock’s Pizza is a Davis institution for late-night slices. The Varsity Theatre hosts special event screenings and live shows. For wine lovers, Vini Wine Bar offers curated tastings of regional wines in an intimate setting.

On any given night, you’ll find live music at venues around town — check Davis Downtown’s event calendar for up-to-date listings. During the academic year, the energy picks up significantly with UC Davis students flooding the downtown bars, especially on Thursday and Friday nights.

Things to Do in Davis With Kids

Davis is one of the most family-friendly cities in California. Here are the highlights for families.

The Explorit Science Center on G Street provides hands-on science activities for kids of all ages, with rotating exhibits and summer camps. The Bohart Museum of Entomology on the UC Davis campus offers live insect displays that fascinate kids (and terrify some adults). The California Raptor Center’s guided tours let kids see golden eagles, great horned owls, and peregrine falcons up close. Rocknasium is a beloved indoor climbing gym that offers youth classes and open climbing sessions. Central Park has an excellent playground, and the community pools at several Davis parks offer swimming lessons and open swim through the summer. Slide Hill Park’s concrete slide is the kind of simple, analog fun that kids remember forever.

Hidden Gems & Only-in-Davis

The stuff that doesn’t make it into the generic travel guides. This is what makes Davis, Davis.

The Egghead Sculptures

Scattered across the UC Davis campus, these seven large ceramic egg-shaped sculptures by artist Robert Arneson (and subsequent installations) have become some of the most photographed objects in Davis. Each “Egghead” sits in a different campus location, and finding all of them has become an unofficial campus scavenger hunt. They’re whimsical, weird, and very Davis.

The Toad Tunnel

In the 1990s, the city of Davis built small underpasses beneath a road to help toads safely cross without being hit by cars. The Toad Tunnel became an international media curiosity — some mocked it, others celebrated it as the most Davis thing imaginable. A tiny “toad hotel” was even installed near the entrance. The tunnels still exist along the overpass near the Post Office on Pole Line Road.

Village Homes

Built in the 1970s and 1980s, Village Homes is a groundbreaking eco-friendly residential development in West Davis that was decades ahead of its time. The neighborhood features solar-oriented homes, community gardens, edible landscaping (fruit and nut trees along every path), natural drainage systems, and car-free interior paths. Urban planners from around the world visit Village Homes as a case study in sustainable community design. You can walk or bike through it — the public paths are open to everyone.

The Davis Wish Tree

A community art installation in downtown Davis where residents and visitors tie their written wishes to the branches of a tree. It started as a temporary project and became a permanent fixture of Davis’s quirky public art landscape.

Solstice Art at UC Davis

On the summer solstice each year, shadows align with a 14,000-square-foot painting on the UC Davis campus to reveal a hidden message. It’s the kind of detail that makes you realize how much creative thought has been embedded into this town.

The Frog Mural & Public Art

Davis is full of murals, mosaics, sculptures, and public art installations, many of them hidden in unexpected places — on the sides of buildings, embedded in sidewalks, tucked into alleyways. A slow walk through downtown with your eyes open will reveal a dozen things you never noticed before.

Day Trips From Davis

Davis is perfectly positioned for Northern California exploration. Here’s what’s within easy reach.

Sacramento (15 minutes east) offers the state capitol, Old Sacramento waterfront, farm-to-fork restaurants, and major concert and sports venues. Winters (20 minutes west) is a charming small town with outstanding restaurants, a bakery, and access to Putah Creek Canyon. The Capay Valley (30 minutes northwest) offers olive oil farms, lavender fields, and Cache Creek Casino. Lake Berryessa (45 minutes west) provides boating, swimming, and camping in the summer. Napa Valley wine country is about an hour west. San Francisco is 75 minutes southwest. Lake Tahoe is roughly two hours northeast. In every direction from Davis, there’s a world-class destination within a short drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free things to do in Davis, California?

The best free activities include the UC Davis Arboretum (100 acres, open 24/7), over 50 miles of greenbelts for biking and walking, the Davis Farmers Market on Saturdays, the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, the Egghead sculptures on campus, the Shrem Museum of Art, Pence Gallery, and dozens of community events throughout the year. Davis is an unusually affordable city to enjoy — many of its best experiences cost nothing.

What is Davis, California known for?

Davis is best known as the Bicycle Capital of America (over 100 miles of bike lanes), the home of the University of California Davis, one of the top farmers markets in California (celebrating 50 years in 2026), a thriving farm-to-fork dining scene, and unique attractions like the Toad Tunnel and annual Picnic Day celebration. It’s a progressive, eco-conscious college town with a strong sense of community identity.

Is Davis, California worth visiting?

Yes — especially if you appreciate a walkable downtown, excellent food, outdoor activities, and authentic small-city culture. Davis is not a tourist trap and doesn’t pretend to be one. Its appeal is in its genuine community character: the farmers market, the bike culture, the quirky public art, and the kind of restaurants and shops that only exist because the people who run them love what they do. It’s an ideal day trip from Sacramento or a stop on a Northern California road trip.

What are the best things to do in Davis with kids?

Top family activities include the UC Davis Arboretum walks, Explorit Science Center, Bohart Museum of Entomology, California Raptor Center, Central Park playground, Rocknasium indoor climbing, community pools, the Farmers Market, and the legendary concrete slide at Slide Hill Park. Davis is consistently rated one of the best family-friendly cities in California.

When is Picnic Day at UC Davis?

Picnic Day 2026 is April 18th. It’s held annually in the spring, typically on the third Saturday of April. It’s the largest student-run event in the country, featuring the Doxie Derby, a parade, live music, over 200 exhibits, and free campus-wide activities.

What is the best time of year to visit Davis?

Spring (March–May) is arguably the best time. The weather is warm but not hot, the Arboretum is in full bloom, the Farmers Market is thriving, and major events like Picnic Day and the Whole Earth Festival are happening. Fall (September–November) is also excellent. Summers are hot (regularly above 100°F), and winters are cool and foggy — but both seasons have their own charm.