road trip: a little shoppy shop, a little noshy nosh

 

road trip: Drunken Dumpling

We walked over to Drunken Dumpling from our motel for dinner and it was so stinking good! SO GOOD! We split an order of bao, some noodles, and the most delicious green beans! We were too stuffed for dessert, but we will definitely hit them up again to try some next time we're in Chico. 

road trip: a bike ride in Bidwell Park

Lower Bidwell to be exact, but first, a quick run into Caper Acres before the kiddos arrive as it is an adult free zone if you are not accompanied by kiddos. I ran in to take a pic of the lion water fountain (can you say vintage L.A. Zoo?) but then found the most amazing Humpty Dumpty protected sandbox. Also, what a great name for a kiddo park, Caper Acres! I highly recommend this for those who have littles. The entire park is closed in with only one entrance and has a parking lot next ot it, plus the bike/walking/ roller skating trail runs right by it. 

See? Roller skating is totally allowed, but we did not see any skaters, just a lot of dog walkers and so many people on bikes! The bike trail travels a good distance and connects various neighborhoods throughout the town. It helps that the park is also just really cool, lots of trees, and a pool that is fed with very cold running creek water. The pool has a lifeguard on duty during the summer months when the town is SWELTERING HOT. 

We rode for about five miles but also stopped a couple times for water, snacks, and bird watching. There were whole communities of juncos, woodpeckers, and cedar waxwings. I think we spent more time bird watching than bike riding. Next up we have a lunch stop, or maybe a nap even, and maybe we will hit up a thrift shop or two.
 

road trip: good coffee in chico

Our first day in Chico had us up fairly early, luckily we found (ahem, I found) a nifty coffee stop in downtown. Stoble Coffee had that hipster coffee vibe that many California college towns have. Not a bad thing at all, but sometimes they do tend to look more alike than not. (Methinks it's the Scout Coffee Co influence, but I'm probably biased.) 

We ordered our eats, breakfast sandwich for me (yum!) and house made yogurt  for the fella. The yogurt was good, but he thought it was gamey, so maybe it was made with goat's milk? Either way, it was all right dandy and delicious, and we were ready to start our day! 

Downtown Chico is close to the college campus so it full of eateries and nifty shops. For now though, it's time to head out to Lower Bidwell park, to check out the creek fed pool and do a morning bike ride. 
 

road trip: tiny town leg stretch

 

flowers on the side of the road and fancy toast

We left before the sun was fully up to head out to Chico for a few days of exploration. Leg stretches are a good thing when you're on the road. Leg stretches with added wildflowers are even better. Lovely little fiddlenecks dressed in morning dew always make me smile. 

As always (how did I gt so lucky?) the fella waited patiently while I took far too many photos of wee yellow wildflowers, after which we did a tick check, because tall grass and deer. No ticks, phew! ! 

Our first stop was a mid- breakfast bite at Good Day Lucille in Modesto. I found its niftiness online and it did not disappoint. The staff was super sweet and friendly, and you could tell they had a crew that enjoyed each other and the locals. 

My breakfast toast may not look like much, but I kept thinking about it all week, it was THAT good! Locally made bread with mascarpone, homemade strawberry jam, and a granola sprinkle. SO GOOD!