Vallejo
Around Vallejo
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Metro area · California · 455k people
Vallejo
Locals say Solano County · “Vallejo: City of Opportunity”, “Fairfield: City of Champions”, “Vacaville: City of Trees”, “Benicia: City of H”
Where the river meets the bay, and the ferry hums home.
Strait BlueValley GreenGolden Sunset
Welcome to Solano County, where the Delta meets the Bay. Whether you're catching a ferry to the city or exploring our historic downtowns, you'll find a down-to-earth community with plenty of outdoor adventures. Come for the Jelly Belly factory, stay for the river sunsets.
Clubs for Vallejo
No clubs for Vallejo yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Vallejo. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Vallejo. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Amusement park with roller coasters and animal shows.
- Mare Island Historic Park Former naval shipyard with historic buildings and trails.
- Benicia Capitol State Historic Park Site of California's third state capitol.
- Jelly Belly Visitor Center Candy factory with free tours and tasting.
- Vallejo Ferry Terminal Gateway to San Francisco by water.
- Suisun Wildlife Center Wildlife rescue and nature trails.
- Outdoors Hiking at Rockville Trails Preserve
- Outdoors Kayaking or paddleboarding in the Delta
- With kids Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- With kids Jelly Belly Visitor Center
- Evenings Live music at the Empress Theatre
- Evenings Craft beer at local taprooms
- Locals love Ferry rides to San Francisco
- Locals love Delta marinas and boat launches
Through the year
- Solano County Fair summer Summer fair with carnival rides, livestock, and concerts.
- Dixon May Fair May Classic county fair with agriculture exhibits and rodeo.
- Benicia Peddlers Fair summer Annual street fair with crafts, food, and live music.
- Suisun City Harbor Festival summer Waterfront celebration with boat rides, food, and entertainment.
- Vallejo Waterfront Festival summer Downtown festival with music, vendors, and ferry views.
Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities with mild temperatures.
Talk like a local
- “The Delta”
- The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
- “The Island”
- Mare Island, the former naval base.
- “The Ferry”
- The Vallejo-San Francisco ferry.
Getaways
- Napa Valley Wine tasting and fine dining.
- San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, museums, and city life.
- Santa Rosa Russian River and Armstrong Redwoods.
- Sacramento State Capitol and Old Sacramento.
Local flavour
Rooting for San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Sharks, San Jose Earthquakes, Oakland Athletics
Eat and drink
- Jelly Belly jelly beans The Jelly Belly Candy Company is headquartered in Fairfield, and the factory tour is a local staple.
- Farm-to-table produce
- Local olive oil Produced from Solano County orchards.
Where people go
- Ferry terminals Vallejo's ferry connects residents to San Francisco, a daily ritual.
- Delta marinas The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta offers boating and fishing.
- Historic main streets Benicia and Vallejo have preserved downtowns with old architecture.
Heritage and traditions
Solano County is proud of its diverse working-class heritage, from the historic Mare Island Naval Shipyard to a vibrant Filipino American community, and its location at the gateway to the Delta and wine country.
This time of year in Vallejo
- Rio Vista Bass Derby October October fishing tournament and festival.
- Rio Vista Bass Derby October A fishing tournament and festival in October, celebrating the Delta's bass fishing.
Say it like a local: “down” — To agree or be willing.
Festivals
- Vacaville Fiesta Days May A May celebration with a parade, carnival, and community events, honoring the city's agricultural roots.
- Rio Vista Bass Derby October A fishing tournament and festival in October, celebrating the Delta's bass fishing.
- Vallejo Philippine Independence Day Parade June A June celebration of Filipino culture with a parade, food, and performances, reflecting the city's large Filipino community.
Landmarks with a story
- St. Peter's Chapel A historic chapel on Mare Island, built in 1901, one of the oldest continuously used chapels in the U.S. Navy.
- Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center A museum showcasing the history of Travis AFB and military aviation.
- Benicia Old State Capitol Already listed, but a key heritage site.
Food traditions
- Filipino potluck traditions Lumpia, pancit, and adobo are common at family gatherings and community events, reflecting the area's strong Filipino American heritage.
- Delta catfish fries Fresh-caught catfish from the Delta, often fried up at local gatherings and fish fries.
- Farm-to-table produce The county's agricultural areas supply fresh fruit and vegetables, celebrated at farmers markets and roadside stands.
Music and arts
- Hip-hop scene Vallejo has a notable hip-hop legacy, with E-40 and the hyphy movement influencing the Bay Area sound.
- Filipino folk arts and dance Traditional dances and crafts are kept alive in community groups and festivals.
- Benicia arts community Known for its galleries, studios, and an annual arts and music festival.
A little history
- 1854 Mare Island Naval Shipyard founded
- 1853 Benicia served as California's state capital
- 1942 Travis Air Force Base opened
- 1960s The Nut Tree became a famous roadside attraction
- 1945–1970 Vallejo's Filipino community grew significantly after World War II
Rivalries
- Vallejo vs. Benicia High school football rivalry.
- Fairfield vs. Vacaville High school basketball rivalry.
- Game day Bass fishing tournaments
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Boating on the Delta
- Outdoors Crabbing off the Carquinez Strait
- With kids Carousel at Nut Tree Plaza
- With kids Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Locals speak with a general California accent, influenced by Bay Area hip-hop and a mix of immigrant communities. Slang like 'hella' is common, and you might hear Filipino words like 'po' in respectful address within the Filipino community.
Only here
- Rio Vista is known as the 'Bass Capital of the West'.
- Vallejo has one of the largest Filipino American populations per capita in the U.S.
- Mare Island was the first U.S. Navy shipyard on the Pacific Coast.
- The Jelly Belly factory is in Fairfield, offering free samples.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Vallejo' as 'va-LAY-ho'.
- Expect foggy mornings near the water and hot summer afternoons inland.
- Use the Vallejo Ferry to get to San Francisco – it's a scenic commute.
- Try Filipino food – the area has some of the best lumpia outside the Philippines.
- Traffic on I-80 can be heavy during commutes; plan for extra time.
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Part of Bay Area
Nearby
Every areaNapaCaliforniaWhere every hill is a vineyard and every glass tells a story.San Francisco–OaklandCaliforniaFog-kissed hills, salt air, and a city that never stops dreaming.Santa RosaCaliforniaWhere the river winds through redwoods and vines.SacramentoCaliforniaWhere rivers meet and every meal is from the farm.StocktonCaliforniaWhere the Delta meets the valley's bounty.San JoseCaliforniaWhere innovation and sunshine are always in seasonClearlakeCaliforniaLife moves at the pace of the lake.ModestoCaliforniaHeart of the Central Valley, where the orchards meet the Sierra.
Vallejo, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.