Contents
•
Bicycle Tours
• Business Traveler
• Downtown Lodi
• Downtown Lodi Dining
• Downtown Lodi Shopping
• Family Activities
• Farmers Market
• Galt Market
• Golf
• Hill House
• Hutchins Street Square
• Lodi Arch
• Lodi-area Events
• Lodi Facts
• Lodi Street Faire
• Museums
• Rae House
• Sacramento Street
• Sandhill Crane Festival
• Wineries
• Wines
• Younger Generation
Bike rides are a great way to tour the Lodi area
Every cyclist knows the scenery improves when
viewed at the pace of pedal power.
Many motorists miss Lodi’s charms.
The lay of the land is mostly flat, the scenery
dominated by vineyards, winds mostly moderate and a vast network of rural
roads are not overrun by cars. In short, Lodi is a cyclist haven.
Here is the lowdown from some locals who love to ride — some advanced, some intermediate, all in it for the release from the work-a-day world.
Woodbridge Road: 20 miles of flat out scenery
Charlie McElligott’s preferred direction
to ride from Lodi is out into the Delta an hour or an hour and half.
“That’s all the time I have usually,”
McElligott said.
After a day of riding the desk as an agricultural
lender, he likes to hop on the bike at his place in Woodbridge and head
straight west out Woodbridge Road.
He makes the 20-mile circuit in about an hour,
which is a pretty quick clip for most people. But it’s a great ride
even if you’re just taking your time.
“You go past the game preserve. It’s
spectacular in the fall,” McElligott said.
Waterfowl such as sandhill cranes, geese and a
myriad of duck species gather in the fall at the Woodbridge Ecological
Reserve.
Along the way, pheasant will sometimes flush from
blackberry thickets and occasionally a hawk or a falcon will adorn a fence
post.
McElligott’s interest is also held by the
different farming operations along the route: corn, tomatoes and even
rice are interspersed with dairies and vineyards.
The new Sutter Home winery is going up near Interstate
Highway 5 and a Southeast Asian family seems to be making a living on
its truck farm raising beans, corn and gourds of all sorts.
“The best part of it is you get a tailwind to send you back on home,” said the veteran long-distance rider.
An alternate route is to ride as far as I-5 then
head north towards Thornton.
A ride can be extended another 10 to 30 miles
if the cyclist wants to wander west on Peltier around on Blossom then
west to Walnut Grove and back east on Twin Cities Road to Galt.
Or the loop can be shortened by staying on Thornton
Road until intersecting Kyle and Ray Roads and heading back to Woodbridge.
The Lodi area is a refreshing change from his
days riding in the San Francisco Bay Area, McElligott said.
“Other than the lack of hills, the traffic patterns over here make this far more desirable. I’ve found the people over here respectful of the cyclists on the road. It’s a great place to ride.”
Woodbridge loops: stop and smell the coffee
A ride to the west on Woodbridge is also favored
by Jan and Mark Chandler, who don’t care for the long distances of
McElligott’s circuits.
“Moderation is the key here,” Jan said.
Her favorite one-hour ride starts in Lodi and
takes her and Mark west on Turner to Woodhaven, then to Woodbridge, west
out to Davis or DeVries, then back via Peltier, May and Acampo roads before
taking Lower Sacramento Road back to town.
It’s a 12-14 mile loop.
“It’s scenic, and if you go Davis; there’s
no big dogs,” Jan said laughing. “It’s kind of nice to
watch the vineyards change through the seasons and you smell what people
are cooking for breakfast. Be sure to stop for a cup of coffee at Cafe
Woodbridge.”
A ride of similar length going through the east
side starts by heading east on Turner Road, then south on Cluff and east
again on Victor Road.
A rider has several choices from there, but to
keep to a 14-mile loop you head north on Bruella, west on Orchard, south
on Dustin and west on Woodbridge back to Lower Sacramento Road.
“And stop for coffee.”
The foothills: a long tour through another era
Serious riders with more time on their hands will
head for the foothills.
Cycling buddies Ron Yacopetti, Jeff Pell and I
enjoy the workout we get with a steep climb up to Pardee Dam.
You can cut it as short as 30 miles; the truly
buff can make it a century.
From downtown Lodi, take Victor Road (Highway
12) east to Victor.
Take Bruella Road north to Peltier or Jahant then
east again to Highway 88.
Follow 88 northeast to Camanche Parkway North,
then Camanche Road north to Jackson Valley Road. From there, it’s
a mile east to the store.
You’ll be ready for a beer at the bar.
Those who want to take it easy and see the California
Foothills up close will transport the bikes to the Buena Vista Store and
cut out 63 miles of almost flat vineyards and pastures.
Up in the hills, the oaks and wildlife are right
next to you.
From the store, head south, then southeast on
Buena Vista Road and east on Stoney Creek Road.
This is the steepest climb in the ride, a one-mile
monster.
Near the top, turn south on Pardee Dam Road and
pretty soon you’re flying down the hill to the dam.
One of the most significant water storage projects
in the Sierra Foothills, this depression era reservoir is decorated with
cast lamp posts and WPAesque concrete work.
It supplies drinking water to all of Fremont,
Oakland and Berkeley. Continue to Paloma Road, then west to Camanche Parkway
South.
Follow it north across the Mokelumne River Bridge
and you’ll find yourself climbing on Buena Vista Road toward the
store.
Those going for a century ride will take Camanche
Parkway North back west to Lodi or you can take the scenic way back to
the store by following Camanche Parkway North until you come to Coal Mine
Road.
Hang on when you dive into this twisty descent.
Lodi: stay in town, slow down, relax
You’re ready to take it easy.
Put on a polo shirt and tennies and ride lazily
around Lodi.
Start on South Church Street at Hill House, the
Victorian-era mansion devoted to Lodi’s history.
Make your way west to Hutchins Street then south
to Armstrong Road and follow the signs to Micke Grove Park, 3.5 miles
from downtown.
This is a Mecca for local families: There’s the museum with its Locher tool collection and exhibits of the Valley’s agricultural heritage; the zoo is full of wildlife and kid life; the ancient valley oaks provide shade for a perfect picnic.