Introduction to Vacaville, California
Vacaville is a city located in Solano County, California, between Sacramento (33 miles to the northeast) and San Francisco (53 miles to the southwest). It is linked to both cities via Interstate Highway 80. The City was founded in 1852 by William McDaniel and was named after Juan Manuel Vaca, one of its earliest settlers. Incorporated in 1892, Vacaville has transformed itself over the years from a small agricultural community to a robust and progressive city which still retains a small town flavor due to the level of community involvement by its residents.
Rich in fertile farmland, the city was at one time a Pony Express stop and was home to many large farms and produce companies. Modern-day Vacaville is best known for its retail shopping, and also for its numerous community events throughout the year, including the annual Fiesta Days and Fourth of July celebrations, its 'Tribute to Seniors,' and free summer concerts at the downtown Creekwalk. Other nearby cities include Napa, Fairfield, Winters, Dixon and Suisun City.
Arts, Culture and Entertainment in the Vacaville Area
Vacaville's central location affords residents and visitors the opportunity to sample nearby beaches, Lake Tahoe and the Napa wine country. However, Vacaville itself offers a wide range of arts and entertainment options, including the Vacaville Performing Arts Theater, Lagoon Valley Park (fishing, hiking, and sailing), the Creekwalk (located downtown), the Vacaville Art Gallery, the Solano Arts Gallery, the Vacaville Museum and the Solano Community Symphony.
Attractions in San Francisco and/or Sacramento are less than an hour's drive away. Some of the more popular are:
- San Francisco area attractions:
- Chinatown.
- Alcatraz.
- Cable Car Museum.
- Golden Gate Bridge.
- Fisherman's Wharf.
- San Francisco Zoo.
- Ghirardelli Square.
- Ferry Building Marketplace.
- Sacramento attractions:
- California State Capitol.
- Sacramento Zoo.
- Sacramento Convention Center.
- Crocker Art Museum.
- Old Sacramento.
- Discovery Museum.
- California State Railroad Museum.
Sports fans have a choice too, as there are many professional teams located in both the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas. Among these are the following:
- Baseball:
- Major League Baseball (MLB): Oakland Athletics (American League).
- Major League Baseball (MLB): San Francisco Giants (National League).
- Minor League Baseball (MiLB): Sacramento River Cats (AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics).
- Minor League Baseball (MiLB): San Jose Giants (Single-A affiliate of the SF Giants).
- Football:
- National Football League (NFL): San Francisco 49'ers.
- National Football League (NFL): Oakland Raiders.
- Arena Football League (AFL): San Jose SaberCats.
- Basketball:
- Golden State Warriors (NBA).
- Sacramento Kings (NBA).
- Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA).
- Hockey:
- San Jose Sharks (NHL).
- Soccer:
- San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
- Sacramento Knights (World Indoor Soccer League).
- Lacrosse:
- San Francisco Dragons (MLL).
As an interesting side note, Vacaville was the former home of the Solano Steelheads of the now-defunct Western Baseball League.
