San Joaquin Historical Society and Museum in Micke Grove Park, Lodi, CA

History comes alive in Micke Grove Park!  Nestled in the 258 acre county park just south of Lodi, California is the San Joaquin Historical Society and Museum. With eight large exhibit buildings packed with Native American, pioneer, Gold Rush and agricultural history, and four historic buildings including the Charles Weber Cottage dating to 1847 and the Calaveras School, 1866, it's one of the state's best historical museums.

A class of third graders, taking part in the summertime ‘Valley Days’, receive a day’s education just as it was offered in the 1880s (here they enjoy lunch on the grass)

This 1859 prairie schooner stands more than 8 1/2 feet tall, is made of New England hardwood and was loaded with 1600 pounds of household goods and food for the five-month trip across the United States to California

 

Blue farm wagon, built by Truscott and Sons of Stockton in 1910, it cost $250 and was used by the Brassesco family to haul fruits and veggies to markets in Stockton and Lodi

The museum has literally scores of vintage tractors, crawlers and Caterpillar tractors

Pacific Fruit Express refrigerated rail car: this car was built in 1957, an ice-cooled steel car which could haul 80,000 pounds of produce to markets in the East. Mechanically-cooled cars would not come into production until the 1960s

 

Huge dredge bucket towers over two kids: this huge dredge bucket was used on the San Joaquin Delta to dredge waterways and build the levies that held back the San Joaquin River And Delta

Here a docent works with a young visitor in helping her make a corn husk doll during the Festival of Trees

Within the large park you'll also find the stunning Japanese Gardens, the Fun Town Amusement Park and the Micke Grove Zoo, surrounded by lots of picnic areas placed amongst stately Valley Oaks. The park offers so many options in addition to the museum, you'll spend a long day, or return, time-and-again.

Inside the museum's ongoing exhibits are many examples of early pioneer and Gold Rush transportation. Included in the collection is an original prairie schooner, one of only several left in existence, dating to 1859, many farm wagons, buggies and all manner of early farm equipment. The museum is rich in old farm implements: plows, harvesters, tractors, Holt and Best crawlers, Caterpillar tractors, John Deere tractors and many more.

Wander through the museum's exhibit buildings and get a sense of life in the 1860s through the early 1900s, or picture life on the prairie crossing the US to California. Life on the farm is clearly depicted from more than one hundred years ago; the exhibits clearly paint a picture of life that was then a bit harsher than what we enjoy today!

A large contingent of historically-correct docents are available to give you tour tips and interpretive information. Of special interest for kids, coming on Fridays and Saturdays, March 7-24, is the Critter Corral, offering a petting corral with a variety of farm animals! On any given day, docents will help bring history to life for kids from 5 to 95!

Directions: the museum is located inside Micke Grove Park, at 11793 N. Micke Grove Rd., Lodi. From Interstate 5, go east on Eight Mile Road, then left on Micke Grove Road. Admission: Just $5 for adults, seniors (65+) and teens are $4 and kids (6-12), only $2. The park also has a vehicle admission fee. Winter museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM.

For more information, go to www.sanjoaquinhistory.org, or call (209) 953.3460. For additional Weekend Getaway ideas, go to http://LittlePlacesIKnow.blogspot.com. Take the family and make a fun day at Micke Grove Park and the museum!

Wine, beer, classic cars, good eats; it's Lodi, CA

Wine, beer, classic cars, good eats…it’s Lodi, CA, of course.

And, Fall is the perfect time to visit! It’s the wine grape harvest season, the Lodi Road Trip Passport is back for its second year (more, below) and the weather is at its finest! But, add beer, good food and classic cars and you have reason to visit for several days, or several different trips!

Food can include a number of great stops. For breakfast, chose the iconic Richmaid Restaurant on Cherokee, serving Lodians since 1938! For lunch, try Phillips Farms Café and Michael David Winery on Highway 12 just west of Lodi. Lodi Beer on School Street offers a varied selection of award-winning beers and always tasty food for lunch or dinner in a classic brew-pub setting.

If classic cars are your interest, check out the Vintage Reserve Garage on Cherokee, right across the street from Richmaid! This new “Gasoline Alley-style garage” (in beautifully remodeled space, formerly a Salvation Army location) shows off about 50 antique, classic or muscle cars from the 1920s to the 1970s; these stunning specimens like the 1939 Ford convertible pictured are timeless treasures.

The Lodi Road Trip Passport is back for its second year. This September 1-30 event features Lodi Appellation’s vintners with fun activities like cycling and vineyard tours, grape stomps and barrel tastings, live music, winemaker dinners and many more reasons to visit the 45+ participating wineries and a host of restaurants! Passports are currently on sale for $20; visit www.lodiroadtrip.com, or call the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center at 209.365.0621.

Also, download the Lodi Wine app for your smart phone, LoCA, which will feed you steady updates on all the glorious happenings throughout Lodi in the fall. See you at a wine tasting!  For more ideas for getaways in central California, see LittlePlacesIKnow@blogspot.com.

Classic 1939 Ford convertible is typical of 40+ cars at the Vintage Reserve Garage on Lodi's east side

Michael David Winery and Phillip's Farm Cafe are just west of Lodi on Hwy 12

Lodi wine appellations are gaining a world-wide following for quality and tasty wines