The Shell Alumni Museum is a volunteer effort run by the retirees (and family) of the nearby…read morerefinery. It is located at the far end of the parking lot (off Pacheco) that also serves the Shell Clubhouse. It is a nicely appointed building that contains a conference room and a lot of neat Shell memorabilia. What I admire the most is the certain equality, community service, and fun that retirement brings for these hard working alumni. Many former supervisor, manager, and employee work relationships come together in the form of trips, the annual Christmas lighting at the Clubhouse, activities for children of Shell employees, and other community-based activities.

This is one of the coolest car-related things I've ever done…read more The Cobra Experience (which is a non-profit) periodically has an event called "What's That Third Pedal For?" This event which happens bi-monthly provides an eclectic group of cars with a variety of transmissions to learn on. I had not driven a manual transmission car for at least 9 years (when I had parked a vintage Porsche 911 during a previous job - BOY that had a heavy clutch) and for $30.50 ($15.50 if you're between 15-20), this was an absolute no brainer! The cars provided today were a Nissan Pathfinder Northwest Edition, 2005 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z51 package, 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 289 HiPo, and a Superformance Shelby Cobra reproduction - not just any reproduction but the one that was used on-screen in Ford Vs. Ferrari(!!!). The course is designed to have participants get the chance to drive each car around a designated area surrounding the museum for 2 laps after receiving an initial ride-along lap with the instructor beforehand and parking in the designated 'pit' area to swap seats. This included multiple stop/starts to practice clutch release, upshifting and downshifting. All the cars appeared to be well-cared for and the instructors were super patient and helpful. My goal for this was to see if I could get through it without stalling. Not only did I manage this goal even with the GT350 and Cobra having no power brakes/power steering and super-heavy clutches, but all 4 instructors gave me high marks. What an absolute treat, and on top of that they gave each participant schwag bags filled to the brim and even a poster! WOW! I highly recommend this event alone as if you are looking to practice stick-shift. It's a fantastic way to do so in a safe, controlled environment as well as potentially drive special cars as a bonus for a very reasonable price. I'll definitely go back to the museum soon for a visit. Thank you to everyone the Cobra Experience, this was AWESOME!

Really amazing place, amazing cars, and truly amazing staff. Don't miss out on this place…read moreseriously. Don't listen to that guy Grigor with the bad review he sounds like a real loser. I will be back to the Cobra Experience forsure!

Beautiful venue that I visited recently as an event vendor. Lots of space for guests to spread out…read more Beautiful gazebo to have special occasions and photos. Kitchen inside the building with a kitchen that's perfect for preparing food. There's also a nice additional area with picnic tables.

Shadelands Ranch Museum is a nice wedding venue. I was fortunate to attend a couple of good…read morefriends' daughter's outdoor wedding. The ceremony was held in a beautiful area with a huge tree to provide shade for some of the guests. In another area, close by, there is also a pretty gazebo. Pretty roses and plants surrounding the whole area. At night, they have some string lights lit up around to provide a nice, cozy lighted area. They only have outdoor restrooms, but they are nice. It was a nice special day for the couple, along with their family and friends, to help celebrate this blessed occasion!

My dad found this place while searching for something else and what a find this was. I haven't…read moreplayed pinball for years and the last time I was around a pinball game I just watched. So I can't remember the last time I had my hands on a pinball machine. Located in an industrial area, down the Street from Costco and less then a mile from park and shop. It's really just around the corner from Costco. You can easily walk here from Costco while you family shops you can be having so much more fun and not rush them. There was plenty of free parking right out front. The front is liked with live plants that mesmerized my mom. She loves plants. Soon as you walk inside you enter a framing shop. This is in the back rooms of a framing shop. It all started with the owner and his love of pinball machines and his love of sharing his hobby with others. And we are so thankful that he has shared. What a fun time and bring lots of quarters if you have them. We should have brought more from our coin jar. My dad had them all pulled out, then mom said we didn't need that many, we really needed that many. They also have a change machine. If you put $20 in you get $20 of quarters. It doesn't give change back if you only want a portions of quarters. We only spent around an hour there, but I could have stayed longer. I was having so much fun, but we ran out of quarters. Too bad, there were so many games to play. The front room were the oldest games and gave you the most plays for your 50 cents. I believe all those games gave you 5 balls. For beginners like us we need all the balls we could get. The cost of the machines are not on the coin slots it's on the bottom left corner of the pinball machine. These machines take quarters only, no game card that you have to refill with money. I really dislike those cards as if you put too much on there is no getting your money back. So yea! For the use of quarters. I love this feature of The Flipper Room. They have my vote. Other pinball places also have a feature that I'm not sure about, they have it where they charge you by the hours. There is one in Reno like this and Downtown Sacramento. Those have those pluses too, but I really am a fan of the quarters. We have so many saved up in our piggy banks so it's like it's' free to play as we aren't going to the ATM, it's just free change. I had fun playing the pinball machines and also playing the PAC-Man Game. It was just a regular arcade game that cost 25 cents. It was. A mini game that they t up on a riser so you didn't have to bend down. I have fond memories of PAC-Man. We used to have a mini handheld version that was lots of fun. My mom is one of those annoying players that keeps hitting the flippers when the ball is no where near the flippers. We tried to explain to her that's not how to operate the pin ball machine, but she got really mad at us. We're sorry Flipper owner. We tried. I highly suggest you check this place out. Even if you aren't in the area it's worth the trip. They have both new and old school machines. There are 3 rooms of machines so if you bring a group you won't be cramped. Come play and have fun!!!

The Flipper Room is SUCH A COOL SPOT!!! It's the perfect mix of retro fun and modern charm…read more Remember back in the day when we would bring a pocket full of quarters to play Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and pinball? Well... there's a spot in Concord where you can bring your old date(s) to relive those good old arcade memories! The vibe gets even better when you notice their amazing wall art and posters -- many designed and drawn by super talented artists. They got an art gallery aesthetic going on, with cool prints, rock-style posters, and fun retro illustrations hanging on the walls. Super cool! And the BEST part? Spacer the shop cat! ‍ He's the absolute star here -- he has his own poster and even a custom-made pinball cat bed. Ah-mazing! He lounges around supervising, making sure that everyone is having a good time!! lol Whether you're into art, framing, pinball, or just want a quirky, nostalgic place to explore, The Flipper Room is Highly Recommended and a Must-Visit spot!

This location is really fun! I came here for a friend's 40th birthday party, not really knowing…read moreanything about this spot. We parked in a public lot nearby, but there was also plenty of street parking. Apparently free parking on weekends and after 6. They have 15 holes of indoor golf including some of these kind of puzzles like I've seen on Survivor where you have to hold up the board to get the ball in the hole. I think they really use the space well and some of the courses were super challenging. Everything is very open and well decorated, and seems fun for all ages. I didn't get around to playing video games but I saw they had a nice selection of video games and pinball. The party was catered by a local bbq place, not sure what food they serve here. We did get drink tickets but I just drank water. Some friends said they appreciated the beer selection. The service seemed very friendly and nice.

Cute mini golf place located in downtown Martinez with a bar and pinball machines. Most of the…read moreholes are unique and a couple are really creative! We had a good time and will come again.

Just a few minutes from home, but it feels like a whole escape…read more A place where the wine is smooth, the olive oil is rich, and the atmosphere feels like summer memories waiting to happen. From family-friendly events to country line dancing nights under the stars, there's always something that brings people together here. And when the holidays roll around, it turns into something even more special -- Christmas magic for the whole family Grateful to have a little gem like this so close by.

What a great unexpected location. Was driving around lost on Alhambra Valley.... started in…read moreMartinez went to Biones and after an unexpected stop at the Balestrieri farm ended up in Lafayette. This is a great farm experience! They have semi-rustic event space, some goats, corn husk spots, tables with covering and a beautiful covered barn area. Also a separate area to showcase and serve their different offerings. Wines (red & white)...I had the cab and thought it was a decent full flavor. They also have honey, fresh eggs, a few veggies & olive oil. I think the sun had me off my game because I left without trying the olive oil (usually my favorite)! Did purchase the honey and it's a nice smooth flavor. Last but not last was the WONDERFUL house manager. I didn't get her name, she was running around helping everyone, she is a warm,nurturing professional that felt like a breath of fresh air. She was juggling task for sure, but the patrons loved her it had a family atmosphere. I can't wait to meander in the hills again and visit this farm another day in the future. Great idea.. solid event space. Thank you, Sharine

This is great way to learn about the local history. Most artifacts were donated by local citizens…read moreso you get a good feel for how the place has evolved through the last century. The staff was really friendly and helpful. I felt like I had stepped back in time when I walked around looking at the old farm equipment. It's a much larger space than what you see from the outside. Definitely take 30 mins to an hour to peruse the exhibits when you are in town. Admission is free and there is plenty of free street parking available. I heard there is a nice restroom, too.

Rio Vista was originally founded in 1858 and relocated to the present site in 1862. It's the…read morelargest town on highway 160 as it meanders beside the Sacramento River. This museum celebrates the community and their history The simple façade of this museum belies the treasures inside. There is antique farm equipment, period clothes, pictures, and everyday things people used in bygone times. I am always drawn to this type of museum, and the Rio Vista Museum has so much to look at I wish I had spent more time looking at all the treasures they have on display

Such a fun weekend. My husband competed in the amateur competition and took 2nd in chefs choice…read more There is food to purchase from all the major BBQ joints, lots of booths with jewelry and other stuff. Glasses were 16 or 17 bucks and came with 2 drink tickets. ( we brought an ice chest ). did i mention parking and admission is free? See ya next year!

2013's fest was a bit underwhelming compared to the far more magnificent 2012 spread. Much smaller…read morethis year, and it might surprise newbies to see only 3 options for BBQ for sale to guests (no sampling of the competitors unfortunately). The local standbys of Kinder's and Back Forty are great, and in 2013 Smokehouse 10 was there. Their line was huge and prices astronomical, so I showed loyalty to my locals. They were also both wise to offer a rib sampler, 3 ribs for around $6, while Smokehouse only offered full meal platters. Kinder's ribs were tasty and smoky, and man does their sauce just ROCK. Back Forty's ribs were equally yummy and just a bit more tender. If I could get Back Forty's ribs with Kinders' sauce, oh happy day! Vendors were also scaled down quite a bit, only a small cluster of people selling more knick-knack items. 2012 offered multiple vendors selling homemade BBQ sauces and rubs, which was one of my main reasons for returning this year so imagine by disappointment when I couldn't restock! There were also more fun vendors selling quality knives and handcrafted soaps - the vendor quality was drastically reduced. So hopefully 2014 will bring the cool folks back, otherwise I might have to pass in 2015. : /