frugal sightseeing Archives

Explore Art by Native Americans, Gorman Museum, Davis

January 16, 2026Silvia

Contemporary art by Native Americans, First Nations, and Indigenous Peoples is the focus of the Gorman Museum in Davis, CA. This museum, located near the arboretum, is part of the UC Davis campus. Established in 1973, it has a large collection of earlier indigenous art – baskets, ceramics, and sculptures. The exhibitions now, however, present artists of contemporary Native American arts. Rick Bartow’s solo exhibit ends January 18th, 2026. Shelly Niro will be the next solo artist opening on January 28th, 2026.

I highly recommend the Indigenous Futurisms exhibit, where nine artists redefine their relationship with aliens and superheroes. The Star Wars theme is catchy and invites the viewer to reflect. My absolute favorite was Resistance by Andy Everson. Darth Vader wearing Native American symbols makes him stand out. Is it a ridicule of the powerful? Or a display of dark forces being rejected? The Indigenous Futurisms collection can be seen until September 2026.

The museum doesn’t allow taking pictures of the artwork. You can visit their website to browse their collection.

The Gorman Museum of Native American Art is located at 181 Old Davis Road, Davis. Opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11 am – 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 5 pm.

Parking is always challenging at the campus, but if you visit on the weekends, the parking lot 5a has free spots available. During the week, you can use the 7 metered spots in lot 5a, but they might fill up.

Babi Yar is the site of a mass killing by the German Schutzpolizei in WW II

Discern Beauty and Terror, Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain View

January 4, 2026Silvia

Beauty and Terror is the current exhibit in the Center for Performing Arts lobby in Mountain View. Robin L. Bernstein’s beautiful creations using strings pressed into wax reveal, on closer inspection, an ugly truth. 18 artworks telling us about the Holocaust and its many awful atrocities.

Every piece is accompanied by a fact sheet detailing an awful occurrence of genocide during World War II. One features the resistance of the White Rose, another denounces Germany’s handling of its Nazi past.

I think I would title Robin L. Bernstein’s exhibit Strings Attached. Such a fascinating medium- she uses wax and colorful strings for her artwork. Many of the strings are vintage and of European origin.

On her website, she says:

“Dwell on the past, lose an eye.

Forget the past, lose both.”

With Beauty and Terror, she reminds us that we are able to create beautiful things; nevertheless, humans are also capable of killing each other in the most horrendous ways. Being human, we should fight every day to be able to live in peace and not slaughter each other. Learn from our history and never forget.

The beauty of the artworks draws us in to look closer and discover underlying ugly truths. We are capable of both.

This free exhibit runs until January 25, 2026, and is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 12 pm to 3 pm. Ask to be let in at the ticket office.

Some of the information might be distressing for people since the descriptions are very graphic, dealing with genocide and horrific acts of violence.

The Years in Review – Untilsuburbia’s 10 Year Anniversary

December 27, 2025Silvia

In November 2015, a new blog was conceived: untilsuburbia.com.

The idea: What can you do in the Bay Area outside of San Francisco? It turns out a lot!

Here are a few numbers from the last 10 years:

Over the last 10 years, I posted

487 blog posts
9 collections about 50 things to do in Bay Area cities

With an average of 240 words, each blog post isn’t extensive, but it presents you with an appetizer version of what you will find.

A huge thank you to Sharon, who reads every blog and makes the best suggestions! Many thanks go to the people who join me on my exploration adventures – you know who you are! And last but not least, thank you for reading this blog. Please like and subscribe!

For 10 years, this has been my hobby. A way to keep me writing and committed to an (almost) weekly blog post. I haven’t gotten any compensation for it. In fact, the frugal sightseeing category is part of the concept. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. The most expensive experience was the oyster shucking at Tomales Bay, a birthday gift for my husband.

Over the years, I wrote about 90+ cities. In addition to the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, I recently added Yolo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey County.

My favorite find

My personal favorite find was Victor Arnautoff’s murals on the former Palo Alto health clinic. Arnautoff was a disciple of Diego Rivera. His depiction of medical procedures caused a traffic jam in the 1930s, mainly because of the topless woman in one mural.

I only posted twice about the same place. Both are special finds! The first is the Arizona Cactus Garden on the grounds of Stanford University. A fascinating, if not magical, place with a myriad of cactuses and succulents. The second place also has magical qualities. The redwood grove in Los Altos is a truly hidden gem. Not many people frequent this grove, and it is a quick, meditative, and calming place.

Do you have a favorite post?

Did you ever get inspired to explore after reading one of my posts? Let me know in the comments!

Admire Old Toys, Hayward Toy Museum

December 12, 2025Silvia

We came for the giants and found the toy museum, too! Last week, I reported on the Muffler Man and other giant statues at Bell Plastics in Hayward. To my surprise, this is also the place to see toy banks, banned toys, and Pez.

If you missed your chance to go to the Pez Museum in Burlingame, head over to Hayward to see this extensive collection! Bruce Kennedy, the avid collector who acquired the plastic statues for Bell Plastics, got his collection bug started as a kid with toy banks. First, it was glass banks. But it evolved into all things antique. Now there are molds for antique toy banks, all kinds of birth banks, and glass baby bottles. When he took over the Pez collection from his friend Gary Doss, he installed a colorful floor that reflected the dispenser’s uniqueness. You can still take a photo with the world’s largest Pez dispenser. Also, the collection of banned toys is on display, with my favorite: the Atomic Energy Lab. This museum also holds some collector’s items like the first comic book (Famous Funnies No. 1) and the first wireless remote control (Zenith Flash-Matic).

I opted for the tour included in the price and received an extensive presentation. The museum is $10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 to 17, or $24 per car. You can find the Hayward Toy Museum on 2020 National Ave. in Hayward. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 4:30 pm to 7 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm.

The entrance to the Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito

Value the Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito

November 28, 2025Silvia

Do you know you can visit the World’s Largest Marine Mammal Hospital right here in the Bay Area? It is in the Marin Headlands, a 15-minute drive from downtown Sausalito.

Visiting the center is free, but you have to reserve tickets through Eventbrite. To enhance this experience, I highly recommend you book a tour. They are participating in the Discover & Go program through your local library, and we got a 50% discount. Our tour turned out to be a private tour. We were taken to the hospital and the seal restaurant which prepares the specific food needed for each species to heal. Which animals you will see depends on the season. February to May is pupping season for the northern elephant seal and the California sea lion pups. June to October is sea lion season and November to January is usually quieter. Current patients are posted on the website. In addition, you can do extra things such as touch the various seal and sea lion skins to see how different they are.

They do amazing research and take in seals from Monterey Bay to San Lois Obispo.

Stop by the gift shop to give some extra love. You can also donate or shop online. For delivery before Hannukkah, shop before December 4th; for delivery before Christmas, get your order in before December 9th.

The Marine Mammal Center is open Friday to Monday, 10 am – 4 pm (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day). It is located at 2000 Bunker Road, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito. You must book a ticket online.

Extra Impact

For an extra impact, they asked if you’d like to leave a comment in favor of the Endangered Species Act. These protections are likely to be removed in order to allow oil drilling. The government is soliciting public comments on the four proposed rules now through Sunday, December 21.

Visit the Pedrick Produce, Dixon

November 7, 2025Silvia

Last week I talked about seeing the Minions going south on I-80 from Sacramento near Dixon. And we are in Dixon, again! You might notice signs advertising fresh produce around Dixon. These signs will lead you to Pedrick Produce. For over 30 years, Pedrick Produce has served the community with fresh, locally grown produce.

Huge bins greet you – pumpkins and other seasonal items – with great prices before you even set a foot into the store. Their selection of dried fruits and nuts is incredible. In fact, this is a great stop if you have out-of-towners looking for something Californian to bring back home. Their website has a coming soon label on their seasonal gift boxes. But of course, you can put an assortment of pistachios and dried fruits together yourself. To spice it all up, you might want to add different hot sauces from the Wall of Flame.

Pedrick Produce is open 7 days a week, year-round, from 7 am to 7 pm. It is located at 6850 Sievers Rd, Dixon, CA, right off the I-80 exit.

A haystack minion with his arms stretched open

Drive by the Minions, I-80 near Dixon

October 31, 2025Silvia

When you travel south on I 80, between Dixon and Vacaville, you will go past an unexpected sight. Minions, from the popular movie, stacked three haystacks high. Juan Ramirez, a seasonal farmworker, is the creator of these hay sculptures. They have been popping up to greet the drivers on I-80 for years now. And if you travel up and down regularly, you can be part of watching them fall apart. I know this sounds gruesome, but it is actually part of the natural process, like seeing someone age.

Cooley Farms, where the minions are displayed, is no stranger to big attractions. They are the people behind the largest corn maze in the area. In fact, they held the Guinness World Record for the largest maze twice!

It’s such a great advertisement that brings momentous joy and something to look forward to every time I pass by there.

The Sacramento Bee interviewed the creator last year:

Minions made of hay delight millions driving on California’s I-80. Meet man who made them

A Closer Look at Farm Workers and Other People on the Line, UC Davis Library

October 11, 2025Silvia

The UC Davis Shields Library is currently showing photos of farm workers by journalist David Bacon. This exhibit, In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted, documents farm workers and people without a stable place in Northern California. It will be up until March 30th, 2026.

With about 80 photos, Bacon introduces us to the work and living situations of people who are rarely seen in society. This exhibit spans 35 years of his black and white photos. They are sprinkled with biographies that dive deeper into the living situations of people on the verge of society. These texts are provided in English, Spanish, and Tagalog. The exhibit was brought to Shields Library by the UC Davis Labor and Community Center.

You can find the exhibit In Camps, Under Trees & Evicted on the first floor of the Shields Library at UC Davis until March 30, 2026. It begins near the archives section on the left of the main entrance and continues in the east wing.

There are a few other exhibits here that might pique your interest. Most of them change every 3 to 6 months. The permanent exhibit Student Live in Color, showcasing UC Davis’s diverse community, is in the hallway to the east wing.

Relax at Soul Food Farm, Vacaville

October 3, 2025Silvia

With a name like Soul Food Farm, it was no surprise that our first encounter following the signs to the farmstand was a group of watercolor painters. There is definitely a heart and soul present here. This place offers opportunities for people searching for relaxation and nature.

We strolled over to the farmstand, which is so instagrammable, you wonder where your big white hat is. But in all honesty, they offer wonderful produce, delicious little cakes, homemade jam, ACME bread, and so much more. The owner told us that her main business has now become olive oil.

As we indulged in the little berry pie in the dreamy setting in the olive grove, we connected with nature.

There is an attention to detail that shows in every corner of the little farmstand. For example, a vase with rose hips and a mannequin wearing dried flowers show off the attentiveness. As we were leaving, a family with young kids got out of their car. You could tell that the kids were excited to be there. Maybe on their way to pet some sheep?

I am amazed at their local partnerships and their commitment to issues such as community land use and workers’ rights. Alexis Koefoed, one of the owners, is the president of the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (PVAA).

I highly recommend stopping by Soul Food Farm! They are located at 6046 Pleasants Valley Road, Vacaville, CA. The farmstand is open April – December; Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. By the way, the watercolor group is there every Friday.

A sign at the driveway to Morningsun Herb Farm with their opening hours

Purchase Herbs, Morningsun Herb Farm, Vacaville

September 19, 2025Silvia

Fall is a great time to plant. And if you are in the Vacaville area, Morningsun Herb Farm is a great place to pick up all that you’ll need to beautify your garden, not only herbs.

The nursery can be quite overwhelming, with rows and rows of perennials and herbs, augmented with fruit trees on the side. I think I counted 4 double rows just for all the lavender varieties. My tip is to check out their website: https://morningsunherbfarm.com/ and come up with a plan. I ended up with two varieties of thyme and some lime mint.

As an extra bonus, the Herb Farm is having its plant sale – 35% off all plants until Sunday, October 12th, 2025. If you act quickly, they also have a sale on soil and amendments (10%) and garden art (15%) until September 21st, 2025.

Now, I do love a nice nursery, but I love this one even more. You can stroll through relaxing gardens, and you can feed chickens and donkeys!

On Saturday, September 20th, 2025, Morningsun Herb Farm will participate in the PVAA 9th annual open farm day. They present an all-day program featuring interesting talks and a demonstration on the distillation of lemon verbena.

Morningsun Herb Farm is located at 6137 Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville. Their fall hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm. The overflow and large vehicle parking lot is located at the second driveway at 6147 Pleasants Valley Rd.

I did not receive any compensation for this post.