Drive past it so you know where to go, but park in a "C lot" on la rue. A stroller may be necessary…read moreto get from parking lot to entrance. "A" parking is for faculty and staff until 5pm. 35260 for a hint on the parkmobile app. You'll prob need parking for 1 hour. Cut through the parking lots and building walkways to get to Bohart. Museum (I think "open lab" is a more apt name) is on the ground floor, wander til you locate the door. Entrance is free. Have an idea about what bugs you would like to request to see. They have a small case for live/preserved bugs that you can hold, but if you come without ideas you might find it a little underwhelming with young ones. Ideal for kids who can safely hold a bug or glass jar without dropping or shaking. The staff is kind and knowledgeable. The room is small, you may like a mask on hand. They have a gift shop area and they have bug nets you can borrow.

Bugs are cool! Betcha didn't know that the seventh largest worldwide collection of them in No…read more America is nearby at UC Davis. They also boast the second largest mosquito collection -- shhh, don't tell Bill Gates! This was my second visit, this time with kids on a field trip. The collection is vast -- so extensive that they have installed rolling bookcases to house the specimens. Our 45 minute tour led us through some of the cases and then on to live specimens which included a giant millipede, hissing cockroaches, a scorpion, black widow, tarantula, walking sticks, and a leaf bug. Our group of little bookworms with ants in their pants was enchanted! The museum is open to visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Wise people call first before they go to ensure the museum is available. While there is a small charge for tour led groups, the museum is free for general admission. But don't be a stink bug; put some money in the donation box.

I've been here twice for concerts and have been extremely pleased with the venue and the overall…read moreexperiences I've had. The campus is gorgeous that it sits on and the Center is absolutely beautiful inside. What I love most about the seating inside is that it's designed well with comfortable seats that aren't crammed together and you can actually enjoy the show. There are vents under each seat to keep you cool, which is also a plus on warmer seasons. The sound quality here is absolute perfection as well and I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't feel the same way as I do about this wonderful venue! What a true gift it is to have near us! Oh, the parking here is great as well and so are the attendants!!!

Attended the UC Davis Video Game Orchestra "Against All Odds" spring concert at Jackson Hall and…read moresat in the Orchestra Terrace (Right), very good seats for the mid-tier price point. I've seen the UCD VGO perform before, but either at off-campus venues or on-campus at Wright Hall main theatre -- this was my first time watching them at Mondavi, they've grown a bunch! What's especially neat is that all of their members are current students or alumni of UC Davis, and all of their pieces are arranged by their own members. Each quarter is a different theme for the concert that explores various genres of video game soundtracks. Some of their past performances can be found here if you're curious as to what kind of music they play: http://bit.ly/4gLwY54 Some songs that were played (with live vocalists too!) were from Clair Obscur, Deltarune, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Deemo II, Minecraft, Peak, League of Legends, Xenoblade Chronicles, Fire Emblem, Overcooked, Bloodborne, Lies of P, Persona, and more. Same ticket pricing whether you purchase online or in-person at the box office. 10% CAAA alumni discount only for Mondavi Center Presents events throughout the season. Staff get discounted parking via the app as well. There is the Gateway parking garage and Parking Lots #1 and #2 shared with the Manetti Shrem art museum, Mondavi Food & Wine Institute, Alumni Center. They did have some parking attendants providing directions before and after the event. Print-at-home or mobile ticketing. Restrooms clean, did not avail during intermission but they also had a merchandise counter setup. As for concessions, only drinks can be brought into the hall, food has to be eaten in the lobby, also no outside food. Ushers/Ticketers were very good directing people to the correct doors/rows/seats.

So today I was here for my 1st graders field trip…read more Funny story, I found this amazing science center, while googling the words, "inexpensive science field trips." Lo and behold the science center was super cheap to attend for two classes, and the exhibits are very engaging and fun! Anna, Bradley, and David, made our experience fun and exciting! I've done a lot of field trips, in 27 years of teaching, but this one is one of my absolute favorites! I feel like their spot is totally slept on and underrated, we need to usher in more educators to take their kids here for their field trips! They're a non-profit and need our help to stay open! So spread the word and let's keep this learning gem, open longer! Science Exhibits: 20/10 Customer Service: 20/10 Quality of the Programs: Amazing! Overall: 20 out of 10!

We are members and absolutely love this place. My kids have taken camps here over summer and…read morethroughout the school year and we also had my five year olds birthday party here...they always want to return for more. They recently re did the science center and it is such a well done space. The kids enjoy all the interactive stuff as well as the animals. The membership is really great bc you get access to free events - like private times, meet Santa / holiday party, and discounted birthday parties and camps.

A first class museum of Native American art. We were there to see Brenda Mallory's exhibit, which…read moreis phenomenal. The permanent collection is similarly excellent. Highly recommended.

This is a small but beautiful museum along the arboretum. It is well curated and was a very…read moreenjoyable excursion.

The DMTC is a super cool little theater tucked away in east Davis! I had never been before and…read moreshowed up for an evening production of Little Shop of Horrors. Something that sets it apart from other community theaters is the setup of the stage and audience, which feels more intimate than most theaters do. I really enjoyed that they also have a live orchestra. The staff are all super friendly and helpful and the performances and drinks are affordable. I'll definitely be back!

Came to see Into the Woods for our first time attending a DMTC production. It was well done with…read moresome solid talent. Ticket prices can't be beat and the theater is cute! Not a bad seat in the house. Only complaint was the orchestra/pit. It's under the stage and the actors have to rely on a camera broadcasting to a TV behind the audience to keep an eye on the conductor. For a show with such a technically tricky score as Into the Woods, it proved difficult to keep the cast on key and tempo. Also, I think the musicians made some frequent errors whixh pulled me out of the magic and pushed me into "come on, you can do it" anxious mode. That was the only bummer, though.

Join FOL. Great selection of books at monthly sale. Great buys but especially on Sunday. Support…read moreyour local library and save money. Membership is minimal. Recycle, Read and Re-charge your mind.

The Friends of the Davis Public Library supports the Mary Stephens branch of the Yolo County…read morelibrary system. Some of their funding comes from memberships ($10-$100 depending on level) but a majority comes from proceeds of book sales. Every other month there is a HUGE book sale in the Blanchard Room of the Davis library. Real bargains can be found, especially it you go on Sundays where a whole bag of books costs only $5. If you are a member you receive a postcard announcing the next sale dates and the card is worth $4 towards your purchase. I've found bestsellers, numerous books on my "must read" list, cookbooks galore, and so much more. The Friends also run the Logos Books store in downtown Davis and have a sale shelf inside of the library.

Totally impressed that this theater group is run entirely by students. They put on plays as well as…read moremusicals complete with a band. Not only are all the actors students, but the artistic staff are also comprised of students and recent alumni. I have seen their productions of the play 'Spring Awakening' as well as the rock opera musical 'Rent'. I was impressed by the caliber of acting talent in 'Spring Awakening' -- their performance evoked a lot of emotion in a very challenging play. Before seeing 'Rent' I was dubious that a student group would be able to pull off an intense rock musical, but they did a great job. The theater itself is very unique -- Wyatt Pavillion used to be a barn -- so the director has to be particularly creative with the space. The front half of the stage is surrounded by the audience, and there is a tall platform that actors can access from backstage or by employing a ladder. The blocking (staging, in actor speak) was well-done, especially in 'Rent', which demands several different spaces for all the stories going on in the show at once. The student group takes on the challenges of each show and owns them. Mad props! They will all be fantastic when they move beyond college theater into the world of professional theater. TIP: Good theater always makes for an awesome date night.

Studio 301 Productions is an incredibly talented, student-run theatre group on the UC Davis campus…read more In the past couple of years they have put on several big name plays and musicals, including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Urinetown, The Pillowman, and Spring Awakening. It's definitely worth a visit to Davis to check them out. Their productions are top notch, with quality that far surpasses most other local theatres in the Sacramento area.