4 minute read
LODI ATTRACTIONS
FOR OVER 60 YEARS, the Micke Grove Zoo has entertained and delighted all ages. The zoo and other attractions are located in a beautiful, oak-forested park owned and operated by San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation. But the park is just the start of fun options that add to a Lodi wine country vacation, including olive oil tasting, museums, and the performing arts.
Micke Grove Regional Park’s 132 acres includes the zoo, San Joaquin County Historical Museum, a Japanese Garden, Fun Town amusement rides, plus picnicking and outdoor recreation options. Many of the animals you’ll see at the zoo are part of national conservation programs designed to ensure the long-term survival of their species. Primates on display include Golden Lion Tamarins, Red Ru ed Lemures and Spider Monkeys. Watch a Snow Leopard or Bobcat stretch in the sun. The zoo also includes a large aviary.
The Historical Museum grounds stretch over 18 acres in the park, with exhibits that reveal the rich history of the region from the time of the Native American Miwok and Yokuts tribes through the development of modern agriculture. The Museum includes displays of historic buildings and bygone way-of-life, including frontier-era black smith and harness shops, and a gold camp.
Micke Grove Japanese Garden dates back to 1959, when Japanese American “Duke” Yoshimura convinced the former landscape architect of the Imperial Palace of Japan, Nagao Sakurai, to design the 3-acre garden. Huge koi fish swim through the garden’s ponds and under its beautiful arch bridges. A large pavilion is a popular backdrop for weddings.
Downtown Lodi’s many attractions include the World of Wonders Science Museum, featuring over 70 hands-on exhibits that stimulate discovery in young and old alike. Test your brainpower and marvel at wonders of science and technology.
World of Wonders Science Museum
Hutchins Street Square Performing Arts Theatre is a year round entertainment venue. The winter concert series includes touring and top regional performers and a classic children’s Nutcracker Ballet. In summer, take in Family Friday Movie Nights, or Music in the Park concerts, which include a Food Truck Frenzy!
Strolling in charming downtown Lodi between attractions, galleries and shops is entertaining in and of itself! Lovely arches span over wide sidewalks next to huge, shade trees. A wonderful series of 9 downtown murals were created by a group of 50 artists known as the Walldogs, who gathered from around the United States in 2006 to help commemorate Lodi’s 100th anniversary. Pick up a map for an entertaining walking tour of these large murals at the Downtown Lodi Visitors center, 25 N. School Street.
Did you know that A&W Root Beer got its start in Lodi? Founder Roy W. Allen opened his first roadside root beer stand here in 1919. Within a year, he had opened multiple stands around the Central Valley and was pioneering curbside service. He would eventually partner with Frank Wright to create one of the world’s first restaurant chains. The community has carried on Allen’s legacy—Lodi holds the world’s record for the largest root beer float!
If you want to taste more than wine and root beer, how about some delicious olive oil? Lodi is known for its excellent olive production. Stop by the modern tasting room of Calivines Winery and Olive Mill, just off Interstate 5 and Highway 12, to sample its variety of award-winning flavors.
Hutchinsons Street Square Performing Arts Theatre
