As much as we love Davis, sometimes the best cure for burnout is a quick day trip and a new view. Luckily, UC Davis is surrounded by small towns. These hidden gems are close enough for a spontaneous drive but are different enough to feel like a real escape. If you’re tired of the usual Sacramento, San Francisco and Napa suggestions, these six underrated destinations are perfect for a fun, low-commitment getaway with friends, a situationship or just you and your iced coffee.
- Winters, CA
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Distance from Davis: 15 miles, 30 minutes
Known for: farm-to-fork food, tiny wineries along Highway 128, small-town charm
Must-try restaurant: Putah Creek Café
Cool activity: cruise along Highway 128 and pop into a family-run winery for a tasting or even just to walk the grounds and take pictures.
Anna Schultz / Her Campus Winters is that town you go to when you want cozy energy without committing to a whole wine-country day. The downtown is tiny but cute, and everything feels walkable and chill. Grab lunch at Putah Creek Café (wood-fired pizza + local vibes), then drive a few minutes out of town for rolling hills and vineyards. It’s perfect for a low-effort hangout with your girlfriends or a cute date that ends with golden-hour pictures.
Why I’d recommend it: it feels like a breath of fresh air after midterms or a long week; slow, scenic and low-pressure.
- Lodi, CA
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Distance from Davis: 50 miles, 1 hour
Known for: Zinfandel vineyards, a lively downtown and farmers’ markets
Must-try restaurant: Pietro’s Trattoria
Cool activity: stroll the Thursday night farmers market (seasonal) or wander downtown boutiques and murals
Alexandra R / Spoon Lodie gives wine-country vibes without Napa prices or crowds. You can walk around downtown, grab pasta at Pietro’s Trattoria and still feel like you did something “cute and cultured” with your day. If you’re 21+, there are tons of low-key tasting rooms; if not, the farmers’ market + cafe hopping still hits.
Why I’d recommend it: it’s easy, walkable and feels like a mini city break; great for groups where everyone wants to do something different but stay close.
- Locke, CA
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Distance from Davis: 40 miles, 45 minutes
Known for: historic Chinese-American river town on the Delta and old wooden boardwalks
Must-try restaurant: Al the Wops
Cool activity: walk the historic district and poke into antique shops and art studios
Breanna Coon / Her Campus Locke feels like stepping into another timeline in the best way. It’s tiny, quirky and super photogenic with creaky boardwalks and old storefronts. You can literally see most of the town in an afternoon, which makes it ideal if you’re low on energy but still want to feel like you went somewhere different.
Why I’d recommend it: it’s unique, artsy and gives “I discovered this random town” energy without the stress.
- Nevada City, CA
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Distance from Davis: 80 miles, 1 hour and 30 minutes
Known for: artsy Gold Rush town, indie shops and fairy-tale streets
Must-try restaurant: South Pine Café
Cool activity: window-shop Main Street and check out local art galleries
Nevada City is straight-up storybook vibes. The buildings are historic, the streets are lined with cute shops, and there’s always something artsy happening. Grab brunch at South Pine Café, stroll around and pretend you’re in a cozy indie film.
Why I’d recommend it: If you want a day that feels aesthetically pleasing and low-stress, this is the move; especially for a bestie date or a solo reset day.
- Rio Vista, CA
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Distance from Davis: 40 miles, 50 min
Known for: Delta waterfront views, slow small-town pace
Must-try restaurant: Foster’s Bighorn
Cool activity: walk along the riverfront promenade and watch boats go by
Rio Vista is for when you want to do… nothing (in an aesthetic way). Grab food, walk by the water, sit and talk and repeat. It’s super peaceful and gives ‘cozy date’ or ‘solo-journaling’ vibes. Bring a book, an iced matcha and your “I’m romanticizing my life” playlist.
Why I’d recommend it: perfect for a mental reset day when campus feels loud, and you need some quiet me-time.
- Grass Valley, CA
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Distance from Davis: 75 miles, 1 hour and 20 minutes
Known for: Gold Rush history, cute downtown and forest vibes
Must-try restaurant: Cirino’s at Main Street
Cool activity: wander Empire Mine State Historic Park for gardens and easy hiking trails
Grass Valley gives mountain-town main character energy. The downtown is super charming, and Empire Mine has huge gardens that are perfect for walking and taking pictures. It’s a great mix of “I did something productive” and “I ‘touched grass’ today.”
Why I’d recommend it: it feels like a little adventure without being too far; perfect if you want nature and a cute downtown vibe in one day.
My final thoughts
You don’t need a three-day weekend or a big travel budget to romanticize your life. All of these trips are less than 2 hours from Davis, so they’re easy to plan last-minute and are perfect for whatever you are in the mood for. Pick one, pack snacks, and go be the main character for a day.