New CRC Blog- Sacramento Valley, the perfect place to “Get some on ya”

By Tim Johnson, California Rice Commission President & CEO


The holidays provide an opportunity for wonderful reunions, decadent food and unplanned days where you can just get out. Maybe it’s the overheated living rooms or just grabbing the extra serving of my favorite but the weekend after Thanksgiving and certainly during the Christmas and New Years week I nearly always find myself in a car heading someplace – anyplace outdoors.

As a lifelong outdoorsman, my choice is often associated with waterfowl hunting this time of year. There are few things better than a turkey sandwich and black coffee in a duck blind. The Sacramento Valley has a huge number of waterfowling opportunities with state and federal refuges abounding. After hunting rice for years, I have to say that the hunting is every bit as good at the Yolo refuge or any of the others. While it takes a bit of work, the habitat is spectacular, staff helpful and the outing memorable.

If you are not into hunting, head to the refuges for spectacular birding. Reading historic accounts of the valley in books like Up and Down California (Brewer, William H., 2003, University of California Press) makes me wonder how many more ducks and geese we could really get in the Sacramento Valley. Where would you put them all? Honestly, if you have not been up Highway 99 or 70 up toward Chico you are missing one of the most spectacular migrations in the world. On I-5 near Williams and Willows, there are geese right only the side of the freeway! An absolute must is the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.

They have (as do most of the refuges) great driving tours and a terrific visitors center. You will see half a dozen species if geese, tundra swans, avocets and other wading birds and huge number of ducks – all about an hour outside downtown Sacramento.

Another great thing about the Sacramento Valley are the small towns. Try Colusa, Williams, Gridley and Richvale for the quintessential small town America right here in the Sacramento Valley. Take a drive around the Sutter Buttes through the town of Sutter. You will see fields, farm equipment, silos, grand old homes and winding levy roads. One of my favorite drives is Highway 45 between Colusa and Knights Landing. It’s about as authentic, untouched Sacramento Valley as you will find.

Finally, there are the eats. Granzella’s Inn is a must stop in Williams.

Chico has tons of restaurants and the Sierra Nevada Brewery. There are farm stands, small taco shops and great local restaurants everywhere along the way. Stop in and grab coffee, hot chocolate or pancakes for lunch.

So get out in the rain and get some mud on your tires. Or as we say at my house – “go out and get some on ya.”

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Tim Johnson, CRC President & CEO