Things to Do in Vacaville: Lagoon Valley Park – Part 2

Full of natural beauty, Lagoon Valley Park’s greatest splendor lies not in the wonder of its gorgeous scenery, but in its exploration! There are far too many ways to spend a day in the area than we can list here, but we’ll name a couple of the key activities here should you find yourself looking for things to do on any given day.

We’ve already discussed the usual hiking & walking that most do around the lagoon in the first part of this series, but did you know that Lagoon Valley Park is home a Disc Golf course recognized by the PDGA? The course was established back in 2000, and you can spend hours flying the Frisbee with friends through 27 holes.

 

Speaking of flying, a group of RC (radio-controlled) enthusiasts called the Lagoon Valley Flyers meet every Sunday morning at 8am. The RC area is located at the south end of the park, and allows for plenty of runway and clear visibility to take off, fly, and land your electric-powered plane or helicopter.

So tell us… what’s your favorite thing to do at Lagoon Valley?

50 Summer Activities for Vacaville!

Here at Visit Vacaville, we’ve compiled a list of 50 things to do around our city during the summer months. How many activities can you check off before September?

1. Play a round of disc golf at Lagoon Valley Park
2. Camp out under the stars
3. Fly a kite at one of Vacaville’s many parks
4. Grab some Mr. Pickles (don’t forget to clip the coupon in every Vacaville Magazine)
5. Challenge friends to a karaoke sing-off
6. Save with a free Vacaville Premium Outlets coupon book, voucher available at Visit Vacaville (located in the Nut Tree)
7. Take a spin on the Nut Tree carousel
8. Watch the sunrise
9. Try your aim at Midway Paintball
10. Bowl a strike at Stars Recreation Center
11. Mingle with neighbors at a block party barbeque
12. Try a new local restaurant every week
13. See a show at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre
14. Take a scenic drive through the Vacaville hills
15. Head to Town Square every Wednesday for “Lunch Time Entertainment”
16. Win a prize at the Solano County Fair, August 1st-5th
17. Lose yourself in a good book
18. Keep it local at the Vacaville Farmers’ Market every Saturday
19. Step back in time at the Vacaville Museum
20. Make popsicles by freezing your favorite beverage in a cup with a popsicle stick
21. Stimulate your creative side with a visit to the Vacaville Art Gallery
22. Take a picture with one of the Nut Tree Nutcrackers
23. Play a game of Ultimate Frisbee
24. Fire up your taste buds with Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Blazin” wing sauce
25. Picnic at your favorite park
26. Cool off at Vacaville Ice Sports
27. Host a game night
28. See all the new releases at matinee prices until 6pm at Brenden Theatres
29. Make a wish on a shooting star
30. Beat the heat with a hand-crafted root beer or specialty brew from BJ’s Brewhouse
31. Shop the Premium Outlets Back-to-School Sale, August 2nd-6th
32. Do a tasting at a nearby winery
33. Start your weekend at the Creekwalk Concert every Friday
34. Get crafty
35. Embrace the heat at the 5th Annual Rib & Chili Cook Off in Town Square, August 4th
36. Take a stroll around the Historic Downtown neighborhoods
37. Play laser tag at Stars Recreation Center
38. Learn something new at the Vacaville Public Library
39. Take photos of local wildlife
40. Go for a hole-in-one at Green Tree Golf Club
41. Challenge yourself with a new exercise routine
42. Clear some clutter with a garage sale
43. Treat yourself to Fentons Creamery’s handcrafted ice cream
44. Get your game on at Centennial Park
45. Tend a garden and watch it grow
46. Hike or bike the Lagoon Valley trails
47. Visit Peña Adobe, the oldest building in Solano County
48. Get involved as a volunteer
49. Make a splash at Graham Aquatics Center
50. Unwind at the Art, Wine, & Brew Festival, August 31st-September 2nd

5 Best Historic Gems in Vacaville

Hello there! As you may or may not know, Vacaville has an exciting history that dates back to the mid 1800’s! The community of Vacaville has worked hard to keep what is left of our vast history intact so these artifacts and places can be enjoyed for generations to come. Here are a few you may or may not know about.

1. Pena Adobe – The Peña Adobe is the oldest building in Solano County. In 1843, Mexico granted ten leagues named El Rancho Los Putos to Manuel Cabeza de Vaca and Juan Felipe Peña. The original adobe was built on this property in 1842-1843. It was expanded around the year 1864 with a wood frame addition and remodeled around 1880 with a new shingled roof. Peña and his family are believed to have hauled, by oxen or mule teams, from Napa, the redwood that was hand hewn for the joists that support the thatched roof and make up the window and door lintels. The two feet thick adobe blocks were formed on site from our “famous” local clay soil, straw and water. Sometime around the 1880s, the adobe was modernized and enlarged by encasing the entire building in wood sheathing and frame extension.

2. Town Hall – Erected in 1907, Vacaville Town Hall has the distinction of being one of the first reinforced concrete structures in the West. At the time it served as the town Jail, Vacaville Fire Department and the Town Court. Today the Vacaville Heritage Council and Solano County Genealogy Society occupy the building.

3. 500 Main Street – This building was built for the Bank of Vacaville in 1920. Later it became the Bank of Italy, which then became the Bank of America. Today it is home of law offices and still has the original safe!

4. Uncle Burt’s Tree

EDIT: Uncle Burt’s Tree was removed January 9th 2012. We will miss you Uncle Burt’s Tree.

5. Buck Mansion – The William Henry Buck home across the street from the Vacaville Museum on the corner of Buck Avenue and Kentucky Street is a fine example of precision architecture in Vacaville. George Sharpe built the home in 1892 for only $5,000. The house still stands today due to a complete renovation in 2003. Photo taken by Twitter user and friend of the Vacaville CVB @desireedwn

Top 5 Places For Outdoor Activities

Vacaville is a place for great food, unlimited shopping, and rare historical landmarks. What you may not know about Vacaville is that it offers some amazing places for outdoor activities. From great parks for family BBQ-ing to local golf retreats, Vacaville has a little something for everyone. Here are a list of some you may want to check out before the weather sours!

1. Andrews Park

This park houses the well-known Downtown CreekWalk, but what you may not know is that it is also home to the Great Wonders Playground for kids, a trail with historical kiosks, 5 BBQ’s! It also contains numerous electrical outlets for playing music or working on your laptop in the peaceful outdoors!

2. Walter V. Graham Aquatics Center

Need to cool off or enjoy a great workout? This aquatics center features two 35-foot water slides, two low diving boards, one high dive, and 25-yard lap lanes! Celebrate special occasions with family and friends in the fenced , covered seating areas with tables, lawn and a BBQ pit! Aquatic lessons and adult lap hours are available too.

3. Green Tree Golf Club

This golf course features a 9-Hole Executive Course for all golfers, beginners or pros! It is a great course to improve your short game and can be played in as little as 90 minutes!

4. Arlington Park

This 18-acre park has everything you need for a fun day out with friends and family! A large group picnic area (12 tables!), fun playground, 4 backstops, 4 baseball fields, 2 football fields, plenty of restrooms and even a concession stand!

5. Lagoon Valley Park

This 470 acre park is big enough to do most outdoor activities you can dream up! 18-hole disc golf, horseshoe pits, bike and hiking trails, and even access to Lagoon Valley Lake! The lake is perfect for a day of fishing or non-motorized boating. Don’t forget your dogs too! This park features a 30,000 square foot fenced in dog park!