Weekend get-a-way by bike, or by foot, in Stockton, CA!

Ready for an “in-city weekend adventure”? Dust off those bicycles, and let’s hit the trails right here in Stockton!

Photos, from top down: DeRosa University Center is heart of a UOP biking or walking adventure; depending upon the season, adventurers may see a UOP athletic team in practice or readying for a Big West match (UOP Women's Tennis Team); for explorers to downtown Stockton, tour the Promenade around the Deepwater Channel, home to the new Waterfront Marina and much more!

Center of our focus, the Calaveras Bike Trail and University of Pacific, right in middle of the trail. From home, you can bike (or walk) to the Calaveras Trail, or drive to UOP and park on campus to start your adventure. The Calaveras Trail runs (on the west) from Buckley Cove Park, at end of March Lane, all the way east to Cherokee (overall, about 9.3 miles, end-to-end).

The beautiful UOP campus is right in the center; a pedestrian/bike bridge carries you across the old river to the DeRosa University Center, open most weekends for drinks or lunch. From UOP to Buckley Cove, it is about 4.5 miles each way; to Cherokee going east, about 3.8 miles each way – scenic, quiet, and no traffic, good for newby riders or walkers!

From UOP, riders can also take a route south on Kensington and Baker to reach the downtown Stockton waterfront, the Stockton Ballpark, Stockton Arena and other downtown attractions. These are wide, shady boulevards, with light traffic, and this route shows off some of the city’s finest old residential architecture!

For a good map of these trails and other Stockton “safe routes for cyclists” go to: http://www.stocktongov.com/files/BikewaysExistingMap.pdf. The UOP campus also offers a number or easy biking/walking routes, away from traffic. Lot’s of attractions, and depending on time of year, you might see one of UOP’s athletic teams practicing, or, about to face Big West competition!

And, mark your calendars: the next ‘Second Saturday Family Bike Ride’, Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 AM, starting and finishing at DeRosa University Center at UOP. This event will cover about six miles, heading south on Kensington and Baker from UOP, then west on Rose to Victory Park and the Haggin Museum. Riders should bring a picnic lunch and bike lock; after a lunch discussion of family bike safety, riders will get a tour of the Haggin Museum, with free admission for youth. Before hopping on those bikes, check them for “working order”; helmets for both kids and adults are highly recommended.

Enjoy a scenic, energetic weekend right in Stockton! For more insight, contact Tim Viall of the SJ Bike Coalition, tviall@msn.com, or call 209.969.3875.  And, for more weekend get-a-ways, go to: www.LittlePlacesIKnow@blogspot.com.