Delta Explorer - Spring 2008 - (Page 42) is 10 Things to do th Spring Go on an Eco-Tour Take a cruise aboard Delta EcoTours’ Tule Queen where t you will explore the enchanting and diverse environmen a 40’ Corinthian of the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta on Catamaran. Captain Tule himself (Je Hart) leads the y adventure capturing the rich natural and human histor - speci c topics include early Spanish and of the area pioneer history, e ect of the gold rush era, early settle l life, and current water ment, farming, plant and anima 45 issues. Call Delta Ecotours for reservations 916/775-45 website www.hartlandnursery.com or visit their Visit the Historic Town of Locke If you’ve never been to Locke (or it’s been a while) spring is a great time to visit. On the second Saturday of the month galleries and artist studios host show openings from noon until 4:00 p.m. Museums are open every weekend. Visit the new community park and memorial monument. Be sure to bring your camera Locke is a photographer’s dream ! Grab a bite afterward at legendary Al the Wop’s or Locke Garden Restaurant. Go Wine Tasting No need to go all the way to Napa! The Delta o ers some fantastic alternatives. Take a beautiful drive out to world-renowned Bogle Winery nestled along Elk Slough in Clarksburg. Drive a few miles north and you’ll come to Old Sugar Mill featuring not one, but 5 di erent wineries. Chat with winemakers, taste unique handcrafted wines and take in some art and music. Both Bogle and Old Sugar Mill are holding Port and Chocolate Weekends February 9th and 10th. Take a Guided Nature Walk The Cosumnes River Preserve Wildlife Area o ers guided nature walks the rst Saturday of the month. Winter and spring rains often push the Cosumnes River over its banks into neighboring marshes and grasslands providing habitat for thousands of birds, including the magni cent sandhill crane. Spring reveals a bevy of plants and animals emerging from their winter homes before the summer heat dries the land. For directions and more information call 916/684-2816 or vist their website at www.cosumnes.org Visit the Rio Vista Museum The Rio Vista Museum is continually updating and rotating its displays of period clothing, farm equipment, vintage newspapers, photos, dolls -and that’s only scratching the surface! From oor to ceiling there is not only a wealth of Rio Vista history, but 150 years of Delta history as well. The museum, housed in a former blacksmith’s shop, is beautifully maintained by dedicated volunteers. If you haven’t been in a while, it’s de nitely time to go back. Open weekends from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Lead by rangers and volunteer guides from the Delta Natural History Association, canoe tours to the Delta Meadows River Park take place on weekends in the spring and fall. Paddlers may have close encounters with lively otters, beavers and muskrats. After reviewing a few basic canoeing skills, guides take you out paddling for about three hours through the meandering sloughs. Give Brannan Island State Recreation Area a call to make reservations 916/777-7701 Go Canoeing The Jepson Prairie Reserve explodes into color during its spring display. Dry and dormant most of the year, the prairie is transformed by winter rains into a tapestry of stunning colors, and its vernal pools host a rich diversity of rare aquatic life. Altogether, over 400 species and 64 families of plants, including 15 rare and endangered plants are found on site. Docent walking tours begin every Saturday and Sunday normally March through Mother’s Day or you can go their website, print out a map and tour the docent triangle any day of the week. For more information, directions contact Solano Land Trust at 707/432-0150 ext. 203 www.solanolandtrust.com See the Wildflowers Watch the Kiteboarders A bit windy outside? Perfect! Pack a picnic lunch and head out to the end of south Sherman Island Road where you’ll get an amazing show. If it’s a windy weekend, expect to count a hundred or more kiters and windsurfers out playing amid the whitecaps. If you’re interesting in learning how to windsurf or kiteboard contact Delta Windsurf Co. at 916/777-2299 or stop by their shop on Sherman Island Road - camps and clinics o ered throughout the summer months. LORI MAK Learn to Sail ABE CINDY ELLIOTT A thousand miles of waterways and famous Delta breezes a great combination for sailing. If you have always wanted to learn how to sail, but don’t have access to a boat - give Club Rio Sailing on the Delta Loop a try. They o er all levels of sailing classes from the very beginning to advanced coastal cruising classes in the SF Bay. Should you nd that sailing is your “cup of tea”, no need to go right out and buy a boat, Club Rio Sailing also o ers membership sailboat usage! Call for more information and class schedule 916/966-1855. It’s a sherman’s paradise out there! Your best bet is to head straight for one of the local bait shops (like Hap’s or Rio Vista Bait in Rio Vista or the Bridgetender in Walnut Grove) and pick their knowledgeable brains for good advice on the type of bait and tackle needed, where to go and what’s biting! A number of marinas o er boat rentals, but locations for bank shing are plentiful as well. Go Fishing delta explorer / 42 http://www.hartlandnursery.com http://www.cosumnes.org http://www.solanolandtrust.org
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