FAIRFIELD — Solano County has increasingly marketed itself as a tourist destination, though local residents can also take advantage of its many attractions.
It is home to such draws as Jelly Belly and the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield, both of which offer tours. It has a major amusement park in Vallejo’s Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
The county is also home to much natural beauty, from the sloughs of Suisun Marsh to a slice of the Sacramento-Joaquin Delta to the coastal foothills. Parks and open space areas offer chances to enjoy these places.
Museums offer looks at Solano County’s rich history. Train enthusiasts can enjoy the Western Railway Museum and plane enthusiasts the Travis Air Force Base Museum.
The county even has its own wine country, with Suisun Valley offering views and grape-growing conditions similar to those in the world-famous Napa Valley.
Here are some of the area’s leading attractions:
Museums
- Western Railway Museum: 5848 Highway 12, east of Suisun City. Rides on electric trains and electric train displays. Call 374-2978 or go to www.wrm.org for more information.
- Vacaville Museum: 213 Buck Ave., Vacaville. Call 447-4513 or go to www.vacavillemuseum.org for more information.
- Travis Air Force Base Museum: Travis Air Force Base. Call 424-5605 or go to www.travis.af.mil/units/travisairmuseum.asp for more information.
- Rio Vista Museum: 16 N. Front St., Rio Vista. Call 374-5169 or go to www.riovistamuseum.com/# for more information.
- Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum: 734 Marin St., Vallejo. Call 643-0077 or go to www.vallejomuseum.org for more information.
- Mare Island Historic Park Foundation: 1100 Railroad Ave., Vallejo. Call 557-1538 or visit www.mareislandhpf.org for more information.
- Benicia Capitol State Historic Park: 115 W. G St., Benicia. Tours of 1853-54 state capitol. Call 745-3385 or go to www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=475 for more information.
- Benicia Historical Museum at the historic Benicia Arsenal: 2060 Camel Road, Benicia. Call 745-5435 or go to www.beniciahistoricalmuseum.org/Default.htm for more information.
Amusement parks
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo. A 135-acre amusement park with rides, shows and animals. Call 634-6722 or go to www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx for more information.
Outdoor recreation
- Parks: Solano County parks range from Lynch Canyon in the hills between Fairfield and Vallejo to Lake Solano along Putah Creek near Winters to Sandy Beach along the Sacramento River near Rio Vista. Call 784-6765 or go to www.solanocounty.com/depts/rm/countypark/homepage.asp for more information.
- Grizzly Island Wildlife Area: 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun Marsh. Offers fishing, hunting and hiking opportunities. Call 425-3828 or go to www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/grizzlyisland for more information.
- Rush Ranch Open Space: Two miles south of Suisun City on Grizzly Island Road. About 2,070 acres of open space in hills and wetlands with hiking trails. Call Solano Land Trust at 432-0152 or go to www.rushranch.net for more information.
- Rockville Hills Park: 2149 Rockville Road. Fairfield owns this 633-acre park with hiking trails. Call 428-7614 or go to www.fairfield.ca.gov/gov/depts/pw/open_space/rockville_hills_regional_park/default.asp for more information.
- Lagoon Valley/Pena Adobe Park: On Pena Adobe Road near Interstate 80 in Vacaville. Offers trails, picnic areas and Lagoon Valley lake for fishing. Call 449-5654 or go to www.ci.vacaville.ca.us/index.aspx?page=128 for more information.
Wine tasting
- Suisun Valley offers a variety of wineries and produce stands. Go to www.suisunvalley.com for information.
Tours
- Jelly Belly: 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. Tours available of the famous candy factory. Call 399-2390 or go to www.jellybelly.com for more information.
- Anheuser-Busch: 3101 Busch Drive, Fairfield. Tours available of brewery. Call 429-2000 or go to www.budweisertours.com/z01/index.php/fairfield/overview for more information.
Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929, or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.
