Sacramento Delta Tour

Surrounded by bounteous farmland, Stockton is all about fresh, local foods. Its most famous crop is asparagus and in April you can watch cooking demonstrations and even taste asparagus ice cream (really!) at the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival. On Saturday mornings, browse the Downtown Farmers' Market where more than 80 vendors peddle an array of Chinese, Indian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Korean groceries—plus mountains of vegetables. Stop at The Fruit Bowl on Waterloo Road for a bucket of peaches, nectarines, or apricots. Then sit down for a slice of this farm stand’s fresh peach pie. And speaking of baked goods, the Genova Bakery, an Italian deli that has been filling the air with the aroma of traditional breads for a century, draws long lunch lines to its landmark yellow wood-framed building.

At the 471-acre Corteva Wetlands (the former Dow Wetlands Preserve) in Antioch, a 4.5-mile loop leads by wetlands where you can spot beavers and frolicking river otters. (Ed. note: The Corteva Wetlands preserve is temporarily closed.) Along the Pacific Flyway, it’s a prime spot to look for migrating birds (especially from the observation tower), as well as such threatened raptors as black-shouldered kites and northern harriers. For another outstanding natural area in Antioch, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve features a 65-mile trail network that explores the preserve’s diverse habitats and also offers seasonal tours of the historic Hazel-Atlas Mine.

Savor the cooling breezes off the Sacramento River as you explore Brannan Island State Recreation Area, a gateway to the labyrinthine waterways of the delta. It’s a haven for wildlife, from such water-loving mammals as beavers and river otters to 70 different species of birds. Keep an eye out for majestic sandhill cranes and herons, but if you’re more into fish than birds, the park has a pier along Seven Mile Slough, where you can try to hook bass and salmon.

Along a bend of the Sacramento River, little Isleton is one of the Delta’s most appealing towns. Stop into the Delta Farmers Market to stock upon locally grown seasonal produce at this popular market—the steamy Delta summer is the best time for juicy peaches and nectarines, as well as organic heirloom tomatoes. Take a stroll along historic Main Street, where you can browse the eclectic offerings at Turtle Island Art Treasures. And especially on a hot summer day in the Delta, nothing beats a cold brew at the Mei Wah Beer Room, where you’ll find 24 craft beers on tap—most of them from California breweries.

Dine along the water at The Point in Rio Vista, a favorite for the views and a hearty rib-eye steak and grilled salmon. Don’t forget to save room for the bread pudding.

Step back into the Delta’s rich past as you stroll the covered sidewalks in Locke, described by the National Park Service as “the largest, most complete rural, agricultural Chinese American community in the United States.” Built in 1915 by Chinese immigrants and now a national historic district, the town’s landmarks include the Dai Loy Museum, a former gambling house that displays gaming paraphernalia (open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only), and the Chinese Association Museum, a onetime social club. 

For a very different side of Delta history, the nearby Italian Renaissance–style Grand Island Mansion in Walnut Grove resembles an opulent European villa and has hosted American presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan.

Meander along River Road to Clarksburg in the heart of the Delta wine country. Reserve a spot on a wine & cheese tasting boat cruise for a leisurely excursion on the gentle waters of the Sacramento River. Or go to the source at Bogle Vineyards, a Clarksburg classic where the region’s first vines were planted in 1968. Make sure to taste the winery’s heritage Petite Sirah—the Delta’s original varietal.

Built as a beet-sugar refinery in 1934, the aptly named Old Sugar Mill offers a one-stop opportunity to peruse top Delta wines thanks to the 15 wineries pouring in this enormous brick structure. Don't miss those by Draconis by Matt Powell, a small winery producing outstanding (and hard-to-find) Zinfandels.