Daycation to the Beautiful and Bountiful Capay Valley
Blue sky over Capay Valley, California. Photo via Flickr.
CAPAY VALLEY – A scenic region of Northern California that tourism has yet to discover, the Capay Valley offers beauty and bounty once plentiful in the yesteryear of the Golden State.
Your journey will include a tapestry of farms and orchards once you arrive on the 505 from Interstate 80. Nestled in the foothills of the Coastal Range in Northern Yolo County, Capay Valley is about an hour and a half from the East Bay and begins as you leave the small town of Esparto. The fertile soil of the Capay Valley, enriched by Cache Creek, allows this region to produce an outstanding cornucopia of products, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, wine, olive oil, jams, pies, beef, lamb and more.
Want a sample? Many are available at roadside markets like Manas Ranch. If you’d like to grab a bite to eat, one of our favorite stops is Road Trip Bar and Grill, a favorite of locals as well. (Make sure and ask for your free gift for first time visitors!)
Fog settles into Capay Valley. Photo: Judy Mena/Your Town Monthly
More than 60 organic farms call Capay Valley home. It is one of the highest concentrations in California with producers like Farm Fresh to You, Full Belly Farm, Riverdog and Séka Hills.
Has lady luck been calling your name? Cache Creek Casino Resort is what draws most visitors to the Capay Valley and is run by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, whose ancestors were the valley’s original inhabitants. The resort now features a 200-room hotel, spa, restaurants and an 18-hole golf course with spectacular views.
Séka Hills Olive Mill is a recent addition to the valley and is also run by the Wintun Nation. It is located just across the road from the casino resort. Séka Hills features a store, wine and olive oil tastings, tours and special events. In the Wintun’s native Patwin language, ‘Séka’ means ‘blue.’ The name honors the blue hills that overlook their valley homeland. Séka Hills is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
Capay Valley’s Cache Creek offers some of the closest whitewater rafting to the Bay Area. Photo via Cache Canyon River Trips.
If you’re looking for some summer fun that’s adventurous, head up the road to Cache Canyon River Trips, located in the Capay Valley town of Rumsey. Grab a partner or organize a group for one of the Bay Area’s closest whitewater rafting experiences. Suitable for most experience levels of rafters, enjoy one or two day trips on a self-guided tour down the scenic Cache Canyon.
