Elk Grove: Nature, History and Food

If you’re looking for a hotel in Elk Grove, it helps to consider your planned interests: the city combines open spaces by the water with a historic downtown; Main Street has cafés, bars and restaurants. Nature, history and local food spots offer different ways to shape your stay. The places and details below can help you decide which side of Elk Grove suits your travel plans.

Water, Trails and Landscapes

Laguna Creek Parkway is a 13-mile waterway with wetlands and open spaces. The parkway has hiking and horseback riding trails. This combination makes it both a waterside landscape and a place with different trail options. When planning time outdoors, you can consider hiking or horseback riding as separate activities.

Stone Lakes Refuge lies on the western edge of Elk Grove. This 3,000-acre national wildlife refuge is along the Pacific Flyway. On the southern edge is Cosumnes River Preserve, a riverside habitat along the Cosumnes River. If you’re comparing nature destinations, you can contrast Stone Lakes’ protected-area status with the riverside habitat at Cosumnes River Preserve.

While Stone Lakes Refuge covers 3,000 acres, The Preserve is a 28-acre park for quiet recreation. Its landscape includes restored wetlands, native grasslands and a native oak grove. The site also has a historic silo and a pistachio orchard. The difference in size between the refuge and the park offers a practical way to compare Elk Grove’s landscapes.

Fishing Information

Fishing is possible at Laguna Creek Parkway. At Elk Grove Park Lake, fishing is permitted from March 1 through November 30 during regular park hours. A visit to the lake therefore depends on both the season and park hours. Check the hours before your visit if fishing is a key part of your plans.

Local History and Old Town

Elk Grove was founded in 1850 as a hotel and stagecoach stop. This origin ties the town’s history to the history of travel and transportation. More than 40 buildings in Old Town Elk Grove make up a historic district listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. For a history-focused stay, the district offers a different emphasis from the city’s wetlands and river landscapes.

Old Town Plaza is also worth considering when planning your visit: it is suitable for community events, markets, fairs and festivals.

Food and Wine

Main Street has many cafés, bars and restaurants. You can choose from these different types of venues depending on whether you’re planning a coffee break, a restaurant visit or an evening at a bar. The street offers a distinct urban focus alongside the nature and history destinations.

McConnell Estates Winery has a tasting room where visitors can sample wines grown and produced at the winery. Check the availability of tastings before your visit. This lets you include the winery as a separate activity and plan your trip around local interests in nature, history and food.

Explore more destinations: Orangevale, Sacramento, Galt, Foothill Farms, Walnut Grove, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, Rancho Cordova.

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