INDEX OF STORIES

» Welcome to Lodi
» City offers a world of charms, attractions
» When you think Lodi, think of wine
» For wine lovers, Lodi’s charms are many
» Wine tasting: Basic rules every beginner must know
» Lodi-area wineries
» Lodi’s gateways to adventure await
» Love to tour and eat? In Lodi, you can do both
» What to see, fly, do
» Lodi — a nice, clean place to stay
» A tourist’s eye view of Lodi
» Festivals, music events fill Lodi’s calendar
» Local museums offer something for everyone
» For the Lodi-bound tourist, there are some must-sees
» Lodi can satisfy everyone’s appetite
» Lodi: The place to breakout — outdoors that is
» Grab your clubs and come out swinging
» Looking high, low for that something very old

By News-Sentinel staff

Sip a glass of award-winning Zinfandel.

Watch a Sandhill crane take flight from a Delta marshland.

Enjoy a golden sunset over Lodi Lake.

For its visitors, Lodi offers a world of subtle charms and attractions. Lodians have long treasured the way of life here and they are eager to share it with those who visit.

	Lodi’s historic mission-style arch with its golden bear on top has become as much a symbol of the city as the tens of thousands of acres of wine grape vineyards which surround it. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

“Wine tasting is clearly our major attraction, but many people come here — or return here — because of the general ambiance,” said Nancy Wilkinson, executive director of the Lodi Conference and Visitors Bureau.

That ambiance includes many ingredients, Wilkinson said, such as the friendliness of Lodi’s people, its central location and such amenities as a quaint but bustling downtown. One of Lodi’s attractions is Hutchins Street Square, a former high school campus that has been transformed into an elegant complex including a theater, amphitheater, banquet and meeting rooms.

According to the 2000 census, Lodi’s population is 56,999. Growth here has been steady but not, as in some Northern California communities, overwhelming, due, in part, to a growth limit of 2 percent annually adopted by voters.

Above all, Lodians want to maintain the community’s quality of life, which has led some to dub the town “The Jewel of the Valley.”

Lodi is at heart a farming community. Many of the early farmers were of German stock who had moved here from the Dakotas. Through the years, an amazing array of crops has been cultivated in the rich soil around Lodi, from watermelons and wheat to olives and peaches. Some early farmers even experimented with peanuts.

From the beginning, though, the rich soil, abundance of sunshine and cooling Delta breezes seemed ideal for growing grapes.

Today, the wine grape is undisputed king of Lodi-area agriculture.

Lodi’s first winery was founded in 1900 and was called the Urgon Winery. In recent years, the growth of the wine industry has been nothing less than phenomenal, with the number of wineries blossoming from 10 to 37 in the last three years. Many of those wineries welcome wine tasters and offer a more personal and leisurely experience than some tasting rooms in the coastal areas of the state.

But Lodi is much more than wine. It boasts a relatively balanced economy that includes a General Mills plant where Wheaties and Cheerios are manufactured and in recent years has attracted a number of plastics manufacturers.

Lodi takes pride in its public buildings and parks, and Lodi Lake Park, fringed with open space and picnic areas, is a regional destination.

In the mid-90s, Lodi’s downtown area was rejuvenated in a joint public-private partnership that brought a new streetscape, landscaping and lighting to the heart of the city. Last year, one of the crowning touches of the downtown, the Lodi Stadium 12 cinema opened.

The community’s location makes it easy to launch day trips to the Delta, where the Sand Hill crane and many other birds may be seen. Also nearby is the Mother Lode, rich with gold rush history and beautiful scenery. Higher in the Sierra is Lake Tahoe, an international tourist destination but only about two hours from Lodi.

Getting around Lodi

Airports

Lodi is 30 minutes from the Stockton Metropolitan Airport and less than an hour from Sacramento International Airport. The major airports are all within two hours’ drive. Phone contacts: Sacramento International Airport, (916) 929-5411; Stockton Metropolitan Airport, (209) 468-4700; San Jose International Airport, (408) 501-7600; San Francisco International Airport, (650) 876-7834; Oakland International Airport, (510) 577-4000.

GrapeLine and Dial-A-Ride transit service

Operated by the city, the GrapeLine offers bus service throughout the community. GrapeLine buses also connect with regional transit systems, primarily the San Joaquin Regional Transit District, with links to Stockton, Manteca and Tracy. Dial-A-Ride offers door-to-door service, similar to a taxi. Pickups are made within 60 minutes of the call. 333-6806.

Amtrak

Lodi is served by Amtrak at the Lodi Station, 24 S. Sacramento St. The station is not staffed by Amtrak personnel, but a ticket sales machine is set for installation sometime in mid- to late-2002. Until then, reservations may be made on the Internet or by phone. Northbound stops are scheduled for 11:34 a.m. and 10:04 p.m., with southbound stops at 7:15 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. For more information and reservations, call Amtrak 24 hours a day at (800) USA-RAIL or visit the Amtrak Web site.

Taxi service

Taxi service in Lodi and environs is provided by City Cab at 327-2963.

Limousine service Several area firms provide limousine service and some specialize in providing transportation to airports in Sacramento, San Francisco and Oakland. Area services include Apple Limo, 478-2590; Central Valley Limousine, 369-1313; Destiny Limousine Service and Sales, 463-5466; Elite Sedan and Limousine, 367-0949; Getaway Shuttle by Carolyn, 339-8687; Lodi Limousine, 369-4546; Prestige Limousine, 478-9500; and Vintage Limousine Service, 333-2657.

Greyhound

Greyhound buses operate from the historic Lodi Station at 24 S. Sacramento St. in downtown Lodi. The phone number is 369-1164.