Things To Do in Chico, California

Chico Things to Do

The city of Chico, California, just north of Sacramento, has a lot to do if you enjoy art, western architecture and nature. You can see everything from fantastic murals to wild snow geese all in one day.

Historic Buildings and Realistic Murals

Many of the buildings around Chico were built in the late 1800s and are well maintained and kept in their original condition. The Bidwell Mansion, once owned by the founders of the town, is now part of a state historic park. You can tour their home and the surrounding grounds located in the downtown area. Another well-preserved home is the Stansbury home, built in 1883, where you can see what life was like for a doctor like Oscar Stansbury during that time period. In addition to the buildings, Chico has many murals worth seeking out. Some of these were painted by 3-D artist John Pugh who can make things look so realistic that you have to get up close to see that it’s only paint. It is said that there are at least 40 murals located around the city.

Snow Geese and Nature Trails

The annual Snow Goose festival takes place in January at the Chico Masonic Family Center. There, you can go on guided nature hikes, view wildlife art and see other booths and exhibits. After visiting the festival, you can go out and see actual snow geese at places like Five Mile Recreational Area or Bidwell Park. Upper Bidwell park offers a variety of natural hiking terrain while lower Bidwell Park has more shaped ponds and easy walking paths, barbecues and picnic areas. The lower park also has a large area for events like Shakespeare in the park.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Chico, California.