FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA

Savoring The Unexpected

By Wendy van Diver Photos courtesy of Fairfield Conference & Visitors Bureau

IF YOU’RE LONGING FOR A PLACE with quiet country roads, open spaces, and friendly smiles, set your GPS for Fairfield, California. Located in the Suisun Valley, about 45 minutes from both San Francisco and Sacramento and just 15 miles from Napa Valley, Fairfield isn’t exactly hidden—but it most certainly is an uncomplicated, uncongested, and unspoiled gem.

TOURING AND TASTING
I first came across Fairfield a few years ago when I was doing research for a story on lesser-known wine regions near the Napa Valley. Gazing across the rolling vineyards from a lightly traveled country road, I muttered, “This must be what Napa was like in the 1960s.” My guide heard me and nodded heartily in agreement.

Rustic and unpretentious, Suisun Valley offers a total of ten wineries and tasting rooms. Happily, they are easy to find—just off I-80 in Fairfield—and easy to navigate, thanks to the clear directional signs. The wines are also easy to like. Offering exciting diversity (the vineyards are reportedly growing 23 different wine grape varieties), the region is best known for Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best yet, wines from the Suisun Valley tend to be at price points that are easier on the wallet than those you find in better known wine regions.

Fairfield is also home to plenty of family-owned farms that grow a bounty of produce. Farm stands are a common sight between April and November. During the remainder of the year, many farms have indoor shops offering the highest quality fruits and vegetables. Expect to find delicious olive oils, honeys, dried fruits, mixed nuts, homemade candies, and more.

WATERWAYS AND WILDLIFE
There are miles upon miles of hiking and biking trails that facilitate the exploration of the rolling grasslands, oak forests, and pristine marshes in Fairfield’s backyard. The Suisun Marsh, measuring 116,000 acres, is the largest contiguous estuarine (brackish water) marsh remaining in the western United States. More than 220 bird, 45 mammal, 16 reptilian and amphibian, and 40 fish species stop, rest, and feed here. It is a major stopover for birds migrating along The Pacific Flyway, which stretches 10,000 miles from southern South America to the Arctic. 

Visitors can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to explore the marsh. For those who prefer to stay on dry land, there are plenty of dirt roads for biking and hiking trails to follow. In the heart of the Suisun Marsh, The California Fish and Wildlife’s Grizzly Island Wildlife Area provides habitat for more than 200 species of birds and is home to a variety of threatened or endangered wildlife and plants.

JELLYBEANS AND JEEPS
Fairfield is family friendly. In fact, nearly everything—short of wine and beer tasting—is something you can do with the kids. The highlight attraction for many is the Jelly Belly Candy Company. The self-guided factory tour leads guests along an enclosed elevated walkway around the factory floor to watch the step-by-step process of making jellybeans. Video monitors placed along the route explain what is happening below. 

At the end of the 30- to 40-minute tour, there is an expansive shop with the full line of Jelly Belly candies for sale. There is also a special Chocolate Shoppe with a Fudge Bar where guests can sample a variety of fudge. 

The American Armory Museum features more than 60 vehicles on display, indoor and out. Many date back to World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. General George S. Patton’s 1943 Command Jeep is the fleet’s superstar. There are also several other rare tanks and vehicles. Visitors are invited to climb inside some of the larger vehicles for photos.

Plan Your Trip

Located in Solano County, Fairfield is the midpoint between Sacramento and San Francisco. It is a good idea to make advance reservations where possible and double-check your arrangements just prior to your trip.

GETTING THERE
Fly into Sacramento and rent a car for the 45-minute drive via I-80 W to Fairfield. San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Santa Rosa airports are also easily accessible.

WHERE TO STAY
There are several excellent chain hotel brands in the Fairfield area. The Hilton Garden Inn Fairfield has a complete hotel restaurant open daily for breakfast. 707.426.6900

MORE INFO
visitfairfieldca.com