davis, ca
 

Hi guys,
I moved to Ca last week, looking at places, I like davis, Ca a lot. I wanted your input on the areas to look for a place/townhome/home. I want something close to downtown/fitness center and easy access to Travis AFB.
Thanks.

So you decided against Vacaville?

Davis is great - but it is relatively a very expensive place to live due to the thousands of university students who double/triple up on apartments/town houses.

What is your housing budget?

As the above post mentioned, Davis is a very nice college-oriented town, but it does come with a price tag. My concern would be the "easy access to Travis AFB". If that's the case, somewhere like Vacaville may suit you better.

The OP has already already had a loooooong discussion about where he can live and be convenient to Travis, including almost all reasonable options.

Davis gets REAL hot in the summer.

not any hotter than Vacaville :)

Soooo true janisj!! This summer was mild however compared to most. Last summer was absolutely horrible.

Best wishes liketravel..I don't have anything to offer as I am not that familar with Davis. We have one Fodorite who lives in Davis but I believe she is not available during this period of time.

ain't that the truth - we practically didn't even have a "summer" this summer.

When I worked at UC Davis there were a number of people commuting to and from Fairfield, and they said the average time was at least 40 minutes, often more with traffic snarls on I-80. So I wouldn't count Davis as being especially convenient.

As for housing...it's very expensive, and apartments particularly command high prices because of student sharing. However, there are 2 complexes just off the intersection of I-80 and West Covell Boulevard that might work for you, given your budget--but most Davis apartments are leased in the spring for the following July, and I have no idea what availability would be.

Most housing in Davis is no more than 10 minutes from the down-town area. You might take a look at places in South Davis, which has relatively easy access to the freeway.

Fitness centers are mostly in east Davis.

How about Dixon?

It'll cut the distance somewhat between Davis and Vacaville?

Housing should be more affordable there as well.

from the OP's other threads, he is looking for a bit more "happening" place than Dixon.

Isn't Dixon where "The Milk Farm" restaurant used to be? Janis, how can you say that's not "a happenin' place"? :)

The milk farm was great! all that's left is the sign :(

Wow! Some people go WAYYY back - the Milk Farm! Wow! That's really an old timer's secret! :)

Whoa - Not THAT old! :D

janis: LOL!

Goes back about 30 years for me! Makes me an old timer! :)

That part of Claifornia has changed so much, it's almost unrecognizable.

why don't you join us tomorrow in SF, janis? We're going to a brand NEW restaurant there. Nothing Old about this restaurant.

liketravel: sorry for hijacking your thread for a moment. :)

really REALLY wish I could. Any other time I'd be down there - but this month is just too too complicated. And the story is so long, I'd just kvetch and whine and be a big bore . . . .

By the time we have our Sac GTG things'll be back on an even keel.

The Milk Farm sign is still there, however, and the Nut Tree has reopened in a new and different guise.

thanks to all of you. You pretty much summed it up for me there....and I like that hijacking:-)
I looked for places in Vacaville and it a nice area, but not as fun sounding as davis, plus it's a biking town and I love biking!!
I agree with some of you about the commute, but I was told that I will be travelling against traffic?? My hours are 7:30-4:30.
My budget is upto 1800/mo.

On our last trip to Fairfield, we told our GPS that we wanted to go to Travis first. It directed us off of I-80 at the Mason St exit, which took us immediately to Peabody...which runs smack into Air Base Parkway. We always jump off of I-5 to I-505, so going past Davis is part of the deal.

Hello liketravel..work hours of 7:30am to 4:30pm will put you in the middle of heavy commute traffic, believe me!

Taking Peabody Rd., from Vacaville to Fairfield to Travis AFB will probably be alright..lots of others people take Peabody also so keep that in mind. But at least you will be before and after the various school busses and parents driving their children to school at GoldenWest Middle School and Vanden HS.

&quot;<i>I was told that I will be travelling against traffic??</i>

Unfortunately - the stretch of I-80 between Fairfield and Sacramento really doesn't have much of an &quot;against traffic&quot; commute. It is pretty busy all the time.

This site has lots of rentals in Davis http://www.davisrent.com/

BTW - if one is considering Davis -- Sacramento is only 12 miles farther. Mid-town Sac is nothing but townhouses, apartments, great restaurants, clubs, pubs and funky shops.

Not that I am recommending Sacramento necessarily - but your $$ will go farther there than in Davis and there is even more to do. For me both would still be too far to drive every day.

A large percentage of Sacramentans work in the Bay Area. That means they are all driving west on I-80 in the morning and driving east on I-80 in the afternoon. The same as you. You will be in commute. How bad will vary. The mornings may not be as bad as the afternoons. The afternoons will suck. The stretch through Fairfield and Vacaville is the worst. It always is a major slowdown there - both directions. If you live in Vacaville or Fairfield, you miss that completely.

I still believe your best bet is to live in Fairfield or Vacaville and use the weekends to go have fun.

You will need to leave Davis by no later than 6:30 a.m. every morning - and that's not allowing for slow ups or accidents. You will not get back to Davis until probably 6 p.m. at the earliest (the traffic is worse in the afternoon). That doesn't really allow for a great nightlife on the weekdays. In the winter, it's dark before you ever get home - not really conducive for bike riding. So, you'll end up in your apartment Monday through Thursday nights anyway.

Live and work in the same area. Enjoy the weekday nightlife that is offered in that town. Then use your weekends to enjoy the expanded region. On Saturday, drive into SF and enjoy the city. On Sunday, put your bike on your car and drive up to the American River Parkway in Sacramento and spend the day bike riding.

&quot;<i> In the winter, it's dark before you ever get home.</i>&quot;

On top of that, you will frequently have morning and/or eveing fog. And we mean FOG!

That is such helpful information from all of you!!
Will put on my thinking caps...and will let you guys know how it worked out:-))

Oh the fog..the Tulle fog..yes that is not pleasant or easy to drive in. And one more thought liketravel, I-80 going east on Friday, anytime after lunch can be bumper to bumper due to so many people driving to Tahoe. I-80 can be like a parking lot. Most people I know, residents here in Vacaville and also way back to Benicia avoid I-80 going east anyway they can due to the traffic.

LoveItaly: Maybe if we keep beating on liketravel, he'll come around to our way of thinking :)

(BTW - you've got mail)

LOL janisj, only we here in our area really &quot;get it&quot;.

I haven't received the mail yet..but will keep an eye out for it, that is great!!

BTW, Toedtoes and I driving into SF Saturday for the Fodor's GTG encountered bumper to bumper traffic plus rain..no shock that. But driving home, no rain and janisj it was like I-80 was decades ago..hardly any traffic at all. It reminded me when I use to leave my house in Benicia and be parked at the Union Sq. Garage in 30 minutes flat. Those were the days my friend...

hmmm - could Kal have given me a bum address :?

I know what you mean - I used to drive to SF for <b>fun</b>! Even rode down on the back of a motorcycle from time to time C:) Now I try to avoid it whenever possible.

Hi janisj, I will write to you via Kal..and he can consequently forward my message on to you so that you will have my address. I will do it right now! He does have your email address I hope!

yep . . . .

Janisj, I did send a message to kal and asked him to forward it to you. TTYL!

Am I allowed to give my real estate agent in Davis's info to help you look/rent a home at no cost to you? I do not want to violate Fodor's rules.

Check out Folsom. It's in the foothills east of Sacramento. Housing prices seem to be pretty fair and there's lots of great shopping and activities.

Folsom is a nice town, but it is not a good idea to live there and work at Travis. Not only do you have to commute through the I-80 traffic west of Sacramento, you will have to travel through Sacramento commute traffic. That will add on an hour to your commute.

ok guys you did beat the hell out of me and my post :-)
I finally have rented a place in Vacavile!! Ya ya!! I like it!!
Haven't started work yet but am looking for salsa classes around here????
Thanks to you all.

Congratulations !

And living so close to work will give so much more time to explore the rest of northern California in your free time.

We can give you lots of suggestions after you get settled in.

Congratulations Liketravel!!

When you're ready for some good outings, let us know. In the meantime, learn the nooks and crannies of Vacaville.

Well welcome to Vacaville liketravel!!

If you want an inexpensive, funky but very clean Mexican food cafe go to El Patron, right across from the plaza on E Main St. The owner is Daniel, he is from Mexico, he has been here in the states about 16 years.

There is the winebar on the right side of the plaza, toward the back, past the Grain Bakery.

Saltato's, an Italian restaurant also on E Main has a marble counter overlooking the kitchen. A great place to sit and eat and watch the chefs if one wants to eat out and is on their own.

There are two great libraries, one downtown, right off of Main St. and the other one is located at the Culture Center on Ulatis.

The Chamber of Commerce is located downtown and you can pick up maps and lots of information from them.

I haven't heard about any Salsa Dance lesson's but you could Google to see if any are available in the area.

BTW, the Nuggets Market (East MonteVista and Browns Valley Road) has a very good and popular Deli. All varieties of food..and always fresh with wonderful service. Something you might enjoy when you don't want to cook or go out to eat.

The best dry cleaners, if you have a need for that service, is Willard's at the corner of Merchant and Mason.

Creekside Grill and Bar is at the corner of E Main where Davis comes into. It is normally hopping Friday and Saturday evenings in the downstairs lounge and also on the outside terrace although now that the cold weather has arrived probably not as much. Lot of young people go there and it seems to have Travis AFB people enjoying having drinks etc.

Again, welcome to Vacaville. I hope you enjoy your year here.

You are in good hands, the Vacaville area Fodorites are extremely gracious and helpful.

Hope to see you at the next northern California GTG (get together) of Fodorites!