Leon & Verna's Wedding Reception

Travel, Accommodation and Dining Recommendations

Location and Driving Directions

Rio Vista is in the Sacramento Delta, roughly half way between San Francisco and Sacramento. It is about 100 miles from San Jose and 65 miles from San Francisco. It is on CA-12, which joins I-80 in Fairfield and I-5 near Lodi.

[Map , Driving Directions & Aerial View]

Weather Rio Vista is generally a few degrees warmer than the San Francisco Bay Area with fog in the winter months and a stiff, steady breeze most afternoons and evenings. [Weather Report]
Airports Commercial
  • Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK) and San Francisco (SFO) are all about an hour's drive from Rio Vista. The airports are listed in the order that we would select for convenience.

Civil

  • There is a civil aviation airport in Rio Vista (Baumann Field - 088), a few minutes from Trilogy. It has VOR, Unicom, pilot controlled lighting and maintenance facilities.
Taxis

The local cab companies can ferry you around at very reasonable rates:

  • Delta Cab Company (707) 374-3746 - Has cars and vans.
  • Rio Vista Limo (800) 617-0180 - Book ahead.
Accommodation

Accommodation in the area is fairly limited, but we can recommend a number of places. So, if you would prefer to stay locally overnight it would be wise to book early.

Isleton is about six miles away. Go left out of Trilogy, cross the bridge and turn left.

  • Delta Daze Inn. 20 Main St Isleton, CA 95641 (916) 777-7777
    A tastefully run Bed & Breakfast in the historic old town. Park at the back and use the back door. Run by Jack & Jill.
  • Hotel Del Rio & Casino. 209 2nd St Isleton, CA 95641 (916) 777-6033
    Right in the heart of downtown. A colorful Delta hotspot. Not for the faint hearted, or people who need their sleep. Music and dancing on Saturday nights. Inexpensive, but rough and ready rooms. Watch out for the parrot, he's more dangerous than the bikers.

Ryde is named after a town on the Isle of Wight, where Leon lived as a child. It is about 16 miles (25 minutes) away on rural roads.

  • Ryde Hotel. 14340 State Highway 160 Walnut Grove, CA 95690 (916) 776-1318
    A larger Bed & Breakfast style hotel with its own golf course next to a quiet waterway. More expensive than the Isleton hotels, but some rooms have whirlpool baths. Serves Sunday Brunch.

Fairfield is a half hour's drive away on CA-12, which intersects with CA-80 at Fairfield.

Rio Vista has a couple of motels. We haven't tried them, but they rarely appear in the local police reports....

  • Rio Sands Lodge. 205 State Highway 12 Rio Vista, CA 94571 (707) 374-6374
    Near the river, but very close to CA-12.
  • Vista Motel. 640 State Highway 12, Rio Vista, CA 94571, (707-374-6341).
    On CA-12.
Local Attractions

Rio Vista

  • You won't know what you've missed if you don't visit the the "Humphrey the Whale Monument" down by the river on Main Street, or the "Western Railway Museum", a few miles West on CA-12.
  • Trilogy is the home of the The Golf Club at Rio Vista. The course was designed by Ted Robinson.
  • Fosters Bighorn Bar & Restaurant on Main Street in Rio Vista is also a wild animal trophy and photograph museum. Foster was a bootlegger who went legal after the end of prohibition. He was a reformed big game hunter who became a preservationist. There are over 300 stuffed animals in this amazing collection. Eat your Veggies! Ever get that feeling that someone....

Napa (about 40 minutes drive West on CA-12, then I-80 West and CA-12 West).

  • We can highly very recommend Copia, the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts, in Napa. A half day is a good start.
Restaurants

Rio Vista

  • Fosters Bighorn Bar & Restaurant on Main Street in Rio Vista (see above). Simple, hearty fare.
  • The Point Waterfront Restaurant is right on the river. Go West on 2nd and look for the sign on the left. If you have left town you've gone too far. Full and bar menus, plus Sunday Brunch.

 

Suisun City (20 minutes West on CA-12.)

  • Dynasty Chinese Restaurant, close to Raley's at the intersection of CA-12 and Sunset Avenue. No web site yet, but voted "Best Chinese Restaurant In The County" and we can vouch for that.
  • Athenian Grill, near the marina. Turn left at Sunset Avenue. 750 Kellogg St Suisun City, CA 94585 (707) 425-0500

 

Napa (about 40 minutes drive West on CA-12, then I-80 West and CA-12 West)

  • Julia's Kitchen, the only restaurant allowed to use Julie Child's name, is a gourmet establishment in Copia . 707-265-5700 or www.opentable.com. Very highly recommended. Sit and enjoy. Then explore the gardens.

 


Copyright © 2006 Leon Guzenda