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Area Insider's Guide: Lodi, California

By Mary Campbell February 14, 2017

Whether you’re looking for a getaway with your special someone, or a trip for the whole family, Lodi will surprise you with its quaint small town feel with large town life! From sipping wine at any of our 80 boutique wineries, shopping downtown for antiques, taking a stroll or kayaking at Lodi Lake to visiting museums and zoos or catching a minor league baseball or hockey game, there’s a reason Lodi is known as a top Northern California destination. 

Best time of year to visit: From early May through the fall to enjoy the most activities we have to offer.

Get Outdoors: Enjoy the many outdoor adventures that Lodi offers. The Mokelumne River winds past Lodi and flows into one of Lodi’s top destinations, Lodi Lake, which gives you the opportunity to hike, bike, and enjoy different water sports. Bring your own paddle boards, canoe or kayak to launch, or rent one from the Headwaters Boat House. During the summer months, the beach area is open to beat the heat with a small splash pool for the kids as well. Bring a picnic lunch, or pick up sandwiches at Fiori’s Butcher Shoppe, a local favorite, and enjoy the scenery and natural beauty of the lake. 

Adventure awaits at Headwaters Boat House at Lodi Lake, which offers many options of boat and paddle board rentals for you to explore the Mokelumne River. Photo Credit: Headwaters Adventure Company

Go for a Ride: Lodi has become a great town for bike lovers. Bring your bikes and take a ride through our beautiful downtown and to the lake, or take a long ride up into the foothills along the winding rivers! Downtown Bicycles offers bike rentals for those who don’t want to haul their bikes along. You can pick up your free Bike Lodi guide while you’re there (also available online at VisitLodi.com). Lodi also has had the privilege of hosting many cycling events, including Cyclefest (in the summer months, which also features a kids’ race), and as a stop on the Amgen Tour of California.

Take a ride through the wine country or to Lodi Lake with a bike rental from Downtown Bicycles (located on School Street in Downtown). Photo Credit: Mary Campbell

Relax: Wine & Roses is your destination for relaxation, with the rustic luxury of a premium resort, an award-winning restaurant, a full service spa, and home to the Lodi Visitor’s Center (where you can start your wine tasting tour and pick up a Lodi Wine Map). 

Wine & Roses is right in the heart of Lodi Wine country, with a seven-acre estate of towering trees, flowers and herb gardens. 

The Spa at Wine & Roses is nestled right in the midst of the resort, with many spa options as well as a tranquility room with a fireplace to stay warm and enjoy a book, or relax in the spa courtyard with two hot tubs, waterfalls and a fire pit.


Book a massage at The Spa at Wine & Roses and then enjoy the tranquility of the spa courtyard with two hot tubs, waterfalls, and a fire pit. Photo Credit: Mary Campbell

Downtown: Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets of Downtown Lodi and enjoy the history and charm of our town. Catch a movie at Lodi 12 Cinema, shop for antiques, enjoy some coffee at School Grounds Coffee, grab a bite to eat with the family at Smack Pie Pizza, and paint some pottery at The Mud Mill. If you’re here with just your loved one or a friend, enjoy a pint and some great food at Lodi Beer Company, featuring an old world atmosphere. There are also numerous wine bars downtown to relax and listen to live music while enjoying a glass of local wine. The Farmers Market runs from May through August every Thursday night in downtown. Here you’ll find the locals and visitors strolling down the streets, enjoying live music and great food!


Enjoy a pint and a bite to eat at Lodi Beer Company in Downtown Lodi. Photo Credit: Nicolas Karavidas

Wine: Lodi produces more wine grapes than any other California appellation, so no wonder we have quickly become a premier wine town! Some of our wineries offer a full afternoon of wine-tasting and entertainment that’s acceptable for the whole family. Oak Farm Vineyards offers a spacious tasting room, with the option to sit at their exquisite outdoor patio and enjoy a picnic lunch while you taste their award-winning wines. You can walk the property, through the vines and enormous oak trees, and around the pond to see the ducks, or even make time for a little competition with a game of bocce ball. Other family friendly wineries include Michael David, Jessie’s Grove, Lange Twins and Durst Winery. Lodi also puts on many events throughout the year featuring our local wines, including Wine & Chocolate in February, ZinFest at Lodi Lake in May, and the School Street Wine Stroll in September. You can find more information about these and other wine events at www.visitlodi.com.


Lodi is one of Northern California’s top wine destinations, located just 35 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco. Photo Credit: Mary Hinkle


Spend your afternoon sipping wine at any of our 80+ wineries. Pick up a wine map at the Visitor’s Center in downtown or at Wine & Roses. Photo Credit: Mary Hinkle

Family Fun: Adventure awaits at Lodi’s many unique attractions for the family. For the toddler age, Ginger Bugs is a kid-centric play place with a coffee bar where you will find families engaging in open-ended play and discovery. Just across from Ginger Bugs is House of Coffees, a family friendly coffee shop where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or beer, and play any of the fun family games they provide! Children and families of all ages will enjoy Micke Grove Zoo, home to 130 different animal specimens, and specifically features a variety of monkeys. The zoo is located within Micke Grove Park, which is also home to the San Joaquin County Historical Museum, Japanese Garden and many play areas, including a splash pad on hot days and the Fun Town amusement park. The World of Wonders Science Museum is located in downtown and is the perfect spot for hands-on science experiments and exhibits that stimulate discovery for all ages! Depending on the time of year you are in town, you can enjoy watching the Stockton Ports minor league baseball team (Single A division for the Oakland A’s) and the Stockton Heat professional ice hockey team (American Hockey League, affiliated with the Calgary Flames), just a short 30-minute drive from Lodi. No matter what the ages of your children, this is a destination where you will find endless family fun!


Kids bouncing off the walls? Bring them to Ginger Bugs Lodi so they can jump into the giant ball pit and play around in this indoor play place! Photo Credit: Bre Mayer, Kamea J Art & Design

House of Coffees is a hidden treasure in Lodi, where you can enjoy coffee, wine and beer, and then sit and play a board game with your kids or just chat with the locals.

Micke Grove Zoo and Park is a great place to spend the day with your family! Get up close and personal with the animals by joining in one of their Zoo Tots classes with your kids. Photo Credit: Mary Campbell


Explore hands-on science-based exhibits and programs at the World of Wonders Science Museum. Photo Credit: Mary Campbell