'''Chico''' [http://www.chico.ca.us/] [http://www.chicochamber.com/] is in Butte County in California. It's best known for its State University which has a wild reputation.
Get in
By train
Chico is served by '''Amtrak''''s [http://www.amtrak.com] Coast Starlight. The times are very annoying — the southbound train arrives just before 4AM, and the northbound just before 2AM.
Get around
Ride a bike. One of the best bike friendly towns around, the locals and students prefer to ride than drive.
See
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. 25 Esplanade. 1 530 895-6144. ttp://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=460. u-F Noon-5PM, Sat Su 10AM-5PM. 8 and over: $4, 5-17: $2, 4 and under: Free. 9.7423. 121.8478. This 26-room mansion formerly owned by John and Annie Bidwell was the first in the state to have indoor plumbing. 50 minute tours of the mansion depart every hour.
Colman Museum. 3548 Centerville Road. 1 530 893-9667. ttp://www.colmanmuseum.com/. olmanmuseum@aol.com. a Su 1PM-4PM.
Honey Run Covered Bridge. ntersection of Honey Run Rd. and Centerville Rd.. ep-Apr 10AM-4:30PM; May-Aug 10AM-7PM. The only covered bridge in the United States to have three distinct rooflines.
Do
Bidwell Park. 968 East 8th Street. hico Creek Nature Center. 1 530 891-4671. nfo@bidwellpark.org . 1 530 891-0837. ttp://bidwellpark.org/. :30AM-one hour after sunset. America's seventh largest municipal park offers hiking, biking, swimming, and numerous other options for outdoor recreation. The lower section of the park begins near Highway 99 and extends north-east through the city and continues five miles into the foothills north of the city.
Buy
'''Bird in Hand''', 320 Broadway St, ''+1 530'' 893-0545. Selling a wide range of products, from Tommy Bahama to toys. Also has a Yo-yo museum.
Eat
Jedidiah's. 817 Main Street Chico, CA 95928. Best breakfast in Chico.
'''Pluto's''', 210 Main Street, ''+1 530'' 343-0165, Fax: ''+1 530'' 343-0184, [http://plutosfreshfood.com/locations/chico/]. Pluto's specializes in sandwiches and salads that are both healthy and unbelievably tasty. Anything with roasted turkey is particularly recommended.
'''Woodstock's Pizza''', 166 E 2nd St, ''+1 530'' 893-1500, Fax: ''+1 530'' 894-8156, [http://www.woodstockschico.com/]. Chico's best pizza. Really.
'''Aca Taco''', 133 Broadway Street, ''+1 530'' 894-0191. The best burrito in Northern California.
'''Windy's Chinese''', 1000 W Sacramento Ave # G, ''+1 530'' 343-1788.
'''Italian Cottage''', 2234 Esplanade. Awesome breakfast omelettes, especially the spicy Italian one with marinara sauce, melted cheese, sausage, and pepperoni.
'''Sultan's Bistro''', 300 Broadway St, ''+1 530'' 345-7455. The beef and lamb gyro plates make for one of the best dinners you'll never have.
'''Smokin' Mo's BBQ''', 131 Broadway St, ''+1 530'' 891-6677. They offer tri-tip, chicken, pork, and ribs. You have 4 different sauces to choose from and you can take as much sauce from each type as you want. Its an order at the counter place.
Drink
'''Joe's Bar''', 749 West 5th Street, ''+1 530'' 894-3612. Sawdust on the floor, music blaring, cheap drinks, a back patio, and a crowd that will be singing along after midnight.
'''Madison Bear Garden''', beer and burgers. Tasty burgers, local beer. Good late night menu, college atmosphere downstairs. Upstairs is a disco that borders on MTV spring breaks and Americans at their worst.
'''Sierra Nevada Brewery''', ''+1 530'' 893-3520. Take a tour, try some of the best microbrew in the country. Privately owned, the brewery offers an alehouse with excellent food and good beer for around $2.50 a glass. Try the beer sampler.
'''Butte Creek Brewing Co''' 945 W 2nd St, ''+1 530'' 894-7906. Microbrewery.
Sleep
'''Best Western Heritage Inn''', 25 Heritage Ln, ''+1 530'' 894-8600, Toll-free: +1-800-446-4291, Fax: ''+1 530'' 894-8600, [http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05444].
'''Courtyard Chico''', 2481 Carmichael Drive, ''+1 530'' 894-6699, Fax: ''+1 530'' 894-6696, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CICCY].
'''Holiday Inn''', 685 Manzanita Ct, ''+1 530'' 345-2491, [http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/cicca].
'''Hotel Diamond in Chico''', 220 West 4th Street, ''+1 530'' 893-3100, [http://www.hoteldiamondchico.com/]. The original Diamond Hotel opened for business on September 3, 1904 as the "only strictly first-class house in Chico, and the superior of any North of Sacramento." The reign of the Diamond was a relatively short 12 years, as a major fire in 1916 closed the doors. Between 1920's through 1990's, the building was occupied by Chico State University students as dormitory or a low cost hotel and eventually abandoned empty. The new Hotel Diamond opened its door in May, 2005.
Days Inn Chico. 40 Broadway. 30-343-3286. ttp://www.daysinncalifornia.com/html/days-inn-chico-cal.asp.
'''Motel 6''', 665 Manzanita Court, ''+1 530'' 345-5500, Fax: ''+1 530'' 894-2846, [http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=0108].
'''Residence Inn Chico''', 2485 Carmichael Drive, ''+1 530'' 894-5500, Fax: ''+1 530'' 894-5511, [http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/CICRI].
Get out
The Feather River Canyon is about 40 minutes South-West. It's a beautiful drive out to fantastic climbing, swimming, and hiking.