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

Top 5 Weekend Hotspots

After a long week of working, sometimes one has to release some steam! Well Vacaville has plenty to offer in the bar/restaurant scene. After carefully consulting with some local residents, I have compiled a short list of some fun places to eat and drink with friends and family. One thing is certain, Vacaville has a little something for everyone.

1. Stars Recreation Center – located off of Browns Valley Parkway, this is a great spot for everyone in the family! It offers bowling, games and live music but more importantly, it has a fantastic bar scene. Stars offers 15 “ice cold” beers on tap, 24 satellite TVs and a huge 13 ft HD screen. Like sports? They have pretty much every sports package on cable that you could ever want. For those who enjoy live music, they have multiple bands perform each month!

2. Posh Couture Cakes – Spearheaded by designer and owner Jenn Clarkin, Posh is the go to place for specialty cakes, champagne, and espresso. During the day they are a exquisite (drive-through!) designer cake boutique, but after dark Posh transforms into an elegant place to sip fine wine and microbrews. Posh After Dark is Sunday-Thursday 8pm-12pm! Visit http://www.poshcouturecakes.com for more details.

EDIT: Posh Couture Cakes is now closed indefinitely.

3. Wine Styles – Located in Town Square in downtown Vacaville, WineStyles is a wine store and wine bar that features local favorites such as Vitus wines, Sudwerk draft beer annd food from Los Reyes and Fuso Ristorante. This is a great place to get familiar with local wines and hear some great local music. Visit http://www.winestyles.net/vacaville for more details

4. Los Reyes – Located downtown, this place really has it all. Not only do they have delicious authentic Mexican cuisine, but their happy hour and full bar is superb. ¿Did I mention they serve over 50 types of tequilas?

5.  Hisui 2 Sushi & Grill – This Japanese Sushi & Grill restaurant has more sushi rolls than you will know what to do with, and a happy hour that is just as awesome. Enjoy a little sake from time to time? This place has got you covered (see below).

Top 5 Happy Hours in Vacaville

Happy Hour (n) – a cocktail hour or longer period at a bar, during which drinks are served at reduced prices or with free snacks. In the 1920s, “happy hour” was a casual Navy term for the scheduled period of entertainment on-ship (usually drinking was involved). During the prohibition era, civilians held “cocktail hours” at speakeasies before they would go out to dinner. This tradition of dining on inexpensive drinks and appetizers has evolved into a fun way for co-workers to blow off steam after work usually between the hours of 4-7pm.

In Vacaville, there are a ton of great happy hours. I picked 5 local hot spots at random that know the meaning of Happy Hour.

5. Los Reyes Restaurante Y Cantina – 21 Town Sq Pl Vacaville, CA 95688

Talk about an extensive happy hour menu, these guys at Los Reyes have got it figured out! With over 50 different tequilas and a dedication to fresh ingredients, this place is definitely worth checking out. HH times are Mon 3pm-Closing. Tues-Fri 3-6pm

Drinks:

• $1 off All Draft Beers
• $4 Margarita on the Rocks
• $3.50 Well Drinks
• $3 BV Century Cellars Wines

Appetizers (all are $4.99):

• Sautéed Mushrooms & Garlic Bread
• Grilled Shrimp with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
• Mejillones Costa Brava (Mussels)
• Onion Rings & Sweet Potato Fries
• BBQ Pork Sandwich
• Tri Tip Sandwich
• Vampiros
• Poppers
• Gringo Nachos
• 2 Soft Tacos
• Mucho Macho Bowl
• Nachos with Meat
• Sweet Heat Wings

4. Merchant & Main – 349 Merchant St Vacaville, CA 95688

Merchant & Main is a full service grill, bar and patio and they have been providing a superb dining experience since 1985. Merchant & Main offers the best in steaks, seafood and pastas, but their happy hour is really where it’s at. HH times are 3:30 to 6:30pm Mon-Thurs

Drinks:

3 dollars gets you:

• Any of their 12 draft beers
• Any well drink
• A glass of any of their house wines

Apptizers:

• Select appetizers are all 1/2 off

3.  Hisui 2 Sushi & Grill – 3001 Alamo Drive Vacaville, CA  95687

This Japanese Sushi & Grill restaurant has more sushi rolls than you will know what to do with, and a happy hour that is just as awesome. HH times are Mon-Fri 5-7pm, Sat-Sun 3-6pm

Drinks:

• $2 Pint Coors Light
• BL $4 House Wine
• $4 Long Islands, Mai Tais, Tokyo Teas
• $2.50 Sake Bombs

Appetizers:

• Half off ALL specialty rolls. Yes, you heard that right.

2. Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse – Located in the Vacaville Premium Outlets 1040 Helen Power Drive Vacaville, CA 95687

Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse located in the Vacaville Premium Outlets was first opened in December of 2000. The Vacaville restaurant has been given the “Best Steakhouse” award for three years running from the Vacaville Reporter.  They offer an open fireplace, full bar, an open patio, 4 flat screen televisions, and space for large parties! HH times are an incredible Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm & 9pm-Close AND Sunday all day.

Drinks:

• 1$ off all beers and wines
• $3 22 oz. Bud and Coors Light Drafts
• $4 house wine
• $5 house margaritas

Appetizers:

$1.99

• Buffalo Wings
• Onion Straws
• Loaded Cabin Fries
• Wood Roasted Salsa & Chips

$2.99

• Jackpot Nachos
• 1/4 Cheeseburger & Fries
• Joe’s Steak or BBQ Pork Sliders
• Railroad Camp Shrimp

1. BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery – 190 Nut Tree Pkwy, Vacaville (across the street from Ross)

BJ’s is known for their excellent brews, great food and a very cool atmosphere. One thing people should know is that they have a superb happy hour.

HH hours are Mon-Fri 3-7pm, and Sunday-Thurs 10pm-12.

Drinks:

• $1 off of well-drinks
• $1 off of BJ’s Pints

Appetizers:

• $2 off appetizers
• 1/2 off mini pizzas