Chico Travel Information
Nestled almost equidistant between Sacramento and Redding, Chico
combines the history and culture of the big city with the recreational
opportunities of its rural surroundings. Pay your respects to Chico’s
founder, John Bidwell, by touring the mansion he built in 1865. This
Italianate structure quickly became the center of Chico’s social life
in the nineteenth century. Or swing by Stansbury Home for another
glimpse into days gone by. Chico’s art scene is out in the open with
nearly 40 murals splashed across its buildings. Ranging from historic
to whimsical, the murals represent Chico’s history and modern culture.
Although at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, visitors don’t need
to leave the city to find recreational opportunities. At over 3600
acres, Bidwell Park is one of the country’s largest municipal parks.
The Lower Park has ball fields, picnic areas, and the World of Trees
walk, along with summer productions of Shakespeare’s plays. For a
more rugged terrain, try mountain biking in the Upper Park. Roll out
some blankets and watch the stars at the Kiwanis Chico Community
Observatory or find yourself on the links at the Chico Bidwell Golf
Course. Chico is located in the Northern Sacramento Valley of
California approximately ninety miles north of Sacramento, in Butte
County, east of Interstate 5.
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