Chico

One of California’s most distinctive small cities, Chico blends the energy of a contemporary college town and city with a long history. Not only is Chico a hub for the surrounding communities of Butte County, but it’s also a mecca for outdoor water fun at various locations in the city as well as such destinations as the Sacramento River, Feather River, and Butte Creek.

Things to Do in Chico

With a downtown of stately 19th-century buildings and a leafy canopy of thousands of street trees, the city remains rooted to its past. That’s especially true at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, where you can tour the grand, three-story Italianate home of city founder John Bidwell. (Ed. note: In December of 2024, the Bidwell Mansion was destroyed by fire. The visitor center and carriage house, however, are in good condition. The park is currently closed; there is not yet a date set for reopening.) Bidwell is responsible—along with his wife Annie, who donated nearly 2,200 acres of land to the city following her husband’s death—for Chico’s remarkable Bidwell Park. Now stretching for 11 miles from the heart of town (Lower Bidwell Park) into the foothills (Upper Bidwell Park), the park gives Chico a municipal park and recreational destination that cities many times its roughly 100,000 population would envy. The park (see map)  boasts six “urban swimming holes,” including the massive three-acre Sycamore Pool in the One Mile Recreation Area, hiking trails, and the Bidwell Park Golf Course.

A few miles from Lower Bidwell Park, the Museum of Northern California Art in the 1927 Veterans Memorial Hall showcases works by more than 96 regional artists collected by Chico’s Reed Applegate, a graphic designer and advertising executive. Of course, Chico, like many university towns, also has its non-traditional side and is home to the National Yo-Yo Museum, the world’s largest public collection of yo-yos, and the Little Red Hen vintage shop, where you’ll find mid-century modern and rustic furniture and decorative home goods.

Cal State University, Chico

Generations of Californians first discovered Chico on their college tours to Cal State University, Chico. With a campus adjacent to both downtown and Bidwell Park, Cal State Chico influences the life of the city and gives the community an unmistakable vibrancy and wealth of cultural attractions. The bell tower of Trinity Hall rises over this beautiful university, where Big Chico Creek meanders among the buildings and the Petersen Rose Garden, with 50 types of roses and 350 bushes, brightens the grounds. Take a stroll around campus on a self-guided walking tour and check out the outstanding concert series at Laxson Auditorium, the grand, 1931 venue that has hosted appearances by everyone from Nobel Prize laureates to such musicians as Yo-Yo Ma and Willie Nelson. You can also learn about world cultures and aspects of local history at the university’s Valerie L. Smith Museum of Anthropology.

Chico’s Craft Beer Scene and a Nearby Vineyard

As the birthplace of the pioneering Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico played—and continues to play—a big role in America’s craft beer revolution. With a storied reputation that is buttressed by other breweries such as NorCal, Secret Trail, and Mulberry Station, the craft beer tradition is strong enough to support plenty of establishments that specialize in local pours. To get a sense of the action, visit The Commons Social Emporium near downtown (which is owned by longtime locals and features more than 20 taps), the dog-friendly Lost Dutchman Taproom, and The Chico Taproom. If wine is more your thing, just 20 miles to the north you’ll find New Clairvaux Vineyard (Golden State Winery of the Year, 2023), where a community of Trappist-Cistercian monks and a fifth-generation winemaker produce a number of takes on rosé as well as wines made with more unusual varietals, including Trebbiano, Assyrtiko, and sparkling Bollicine. 

Where to Eat in Chico

Though its legacy for brewing excellence is perhaps the city’s best-known culinary contribution, Chico does not live by beer alone. You’ll also find terrific dining, including perfectly prepared steaks and seafood at 5th Street Steakhouse and the sushi at Aonami. Or start the day off right with such favorites as the apple walnut pancakes and banana Nutella French toast at downtown’s Café Coda). And the delectable blackberry lemon scones at the beloved Upper Crust Bakery & Café are irresistible. 

Just around the corner, on Broadway, B Street Pub starts off the day as a coffee shop/brunch spot, then serves lunch and dinner menus, and finally takes on the role of late-night music venue. Down the block is Live Life Juice Co., which specializes healthy cold-pressed concoctions as well as vegan soft-serve. And with its local-only food-sourcing policy and eclectic decor made from upcycled materials, Foodie Café has a loyal local following.

One of best things about Chico’s culinary scene is undoubtedly the number of cuisines from across the globe that are available. Taste jerk chicken, curried goat, and salted fish with ackee fruit at the Jamaican Sipho’s Restaurant & Café, broken rice with egg loaf at Vietnam Bistro, pulled-port steamed buns at Drunken Dumpling, and panang curry and savory lamb masala at Chada Thai.

Farmers’ Markets and Events in Chico

Many local restaurants count on the bounty of Chico’s surrounding farmland, which produces a cornucopia on vivid display at the city’s twice-weekly farmers’ markets. The markets run year-round, while the annual Taste of Chico in September is a great opportunity to discover the best of the city’s dining and craft beer scenes. Another major local event is the Chico Wildflower Century, during which you can burn off some of the calories you packed on while in town as you ride among almond orchards and hills blanketed by spring blooms traveling along routes that range from 12 to 125 miles.

Where to Stay in Chico

If you’re looking for a place to stay in the heart of downtown, the 1904 Hotel Diamond has a gorgeous lobby with brick walls and a graceful wooden stairway, as well as rooms that combine historic atmosphere and contemporary comforts.