It is summer again, the weather is beautiful, and it’s time to decide where to go in the Delta.
The Ryde Hotel & Event Center in Walnut Grove offers the timelessness of an Art Deco structure with the ambiance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and the history to match. Photo by Jah Mackey
By Jah Mackey
Published: August, 2010
Boating
The obvious choice for a great family outing is boating. As an avid boater for more than 20 years, I really enjoy all kinds: waterskiing, tubing, “lazy” fishing, and an unheralded Delta favorite, gunkholing. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, “gunkholing” refers to cruising in shallow or shoal water, meandering from place to place, and spending the nights in coves. The Delta has some of the best gunkholing around.
Some popular anchorages in the Delta include: The Meadows behind Locke, Mandeville Cut, Franks Track and Windmill Cove Marina Resort.
Restaurants
If you are a fan of great food in a laid-back atmosphere, the Delta has many places to get the best of both. Giusti’s of Walnut Grove is one of my favorite haunts. Directly accessible by water and by land, it is one of the best spots to visit if you are on a boat. The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri featured a segment about its food and its history.
If you are a meat-and-potatoes kind of person, then Al’s Place, better known as “Al the Wop’s” and located in Locke, is definitely the place for you. Al’s is known for some the best steaks and pasta in town. Al Adami purchased the building and restaurant in 1934 and ran the business until his death in 1961. Al was a showman who entertained his customers with his personality and antics like cutting off neckties, throwing money to the ceiling, and stirring the ladies’ drinks with his fingers. His personality survives in the establishment bearing his name.
Camping
I enjoy tent and RV camping, and the Delta has numerous RV parks and campgrounds that give campers the opportunity to explore, relax and sleep under the stars. I have really enjoyed camping at the Terminous Campground in Terminous off Highway 12. This small campground fills up quickly on holidays and long weekends, offering tent campsites, boat docking, hot showers and restrooms.
If tent camping is not your thing, then you might like Tower Park Marina Resort, which is right across Highway 12 from the Terminous Campground. Tower Park Resort is a full service KOA resort facility offering every imaginable convenience. From RV parking to personal cabins and guest docking, Tower Park caters to long- and short-term guests. They have a wonderful restaurant and bar and great convenience store onsite.
Golf
I’m not a real golfer; in fact, I’m a hacker to my heart. However, I love to walk around, drink beer and enjoy a leisurely game of golf every now and then.
The Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation length golf course located in the Freeport community of Sacramento. This short layout has three sets of tee boxes for a fun and challenging golfing experience. I really appreciate this course and its proximity to the water. If you boat in, use the short walk up the dock and across the street as a simple warm-up to a great game of golf.
Hotels
If you love to take leisure drives and find out-of-the-way places to stay along the way, I recommend the Ryde Hotel & Event Center in the Ryde community of Walnut Grove. The Ryde offers the timelessness of an Art Deco structure with the ambiance of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and the history to match.
Historically, the Ryde was the playground of many of Hollywood’s stars and starlets, and even had a secret water access that enabled clandestine arrivals and fast getaways in the 1920s and 1930s. Today, the Ryde is better known for its awesome Sunday brunch, its executive 9-hole golf course and its wedding accommodations.
If you have time to get away and you like exploring new places, the Delta is a great place to start. I have only mentioned a handful of the places to visit, but the Delta offers countless opportunities for adventure. Enjoy yourself and enjoy the Delta!
Jah Mackey, is President of Oceanus Marine Group (OMG), which provides outsourced marina management services to public and private marinas. Mackey is the current commodore of California’s first internet-based yacht club, OMG’s Delta Yacht Registry, and is an avid boater with over 20 years of boating experience on the San Francisco Bay and Delta Regions.
Vintage automobiles are common in the parking lot of Al’s Place in Locke. Photo by Jah Mackey
