Eating & Sleeping
Sacramento 1
5 Pizza Rock Pizza^ $$
(www.pizzarocksacramento.com; 1020 K St;
pizzas $14-17; h11am-midnight; aiW)
This is the loud and raucous hub of the
newly renovated K Street corridor. The
chef here was the first American to win
an Italian pizza-making prize.
4 Sacramento HI Hostel Hostel $
(%916-443-1691; http://www.norcalhostels.org/sac;
925 H St; dm $20-23, r $45-100; hreception
7:30-9:30am & 5-10pm; aiW) This hostel,
housed in a grand Victorian mansion,
offers impressive trimmings at rock-
bottom prices.
Clarksburg 2
5 Historic Grand
Island Mansion Brunch $$$
(%916-775-1705; http://www.grandislandmansion.
com; 13415 Grand Island Rd, Walnut Grove;
brunch $22-26; h10:30am-2pm Sun, Mon-
Sat by appointment) This surprising Italian
Renaissance building was built in 1917 for an
orchard baron and hosts a Sunday champagne
brunch.
Locke 3
5 Al the Wop’s Bar & Grill $
(13943 Main St, Locke; mains $8-15; h11am-
9pm) Al the Wop’s is a magnet for amiable
Harley crews. The draw isn’t the food (the
special is a peanut butter-slathered hamburger)
so much as the ambience. Above the creaking
floorboards, the ceiling’s covered in crusty
dollar bills and more than one pair of erstwhile
undies.
Isleton 4
5 Isleton Joe’s Bar & Grill $
(www.isletonjoes.com; 212 Second St, Isleton;
mains $5-17; h8am-9pm) Wipe your chin after
sucking down the crayfish on the breezy patio,
which often hosts live bands.Rio Vista
5 Foster’s Bighorn Bar & Grill $$
(www.fostersbighorn.com; 143 Main St, Rio Vista;
mains $8-25; h11am-9pm) A veritable museum
of taxidermy – with beer. Frozen snarls abound:
300 trophies include Kodak bears, rhinos and
big cats of every stripe. The centerpiece is a full-
grown African elephant, whose trunk extends
13ft from the wall. The menu? It’s appropriately
carnal, with steaks and big burgers.4 Brannan Island
State Recreation Area Camping $
(%916-777-7701; http://www.parks.ca.gov; 17645
State Highway 160, Rio Vista; sites $11-25; c#)
Reach campsites by boat or car, but the hike-in
sites at the water are best. Note that due to
budgetary cutbacks the camping area for the
park is open only on weekends.Port Costa 6
5 Warehouse Café Bar & Grill $$
(%510-787-1827; 5 Canyon Lake Dr; meals $8-15;
h11am-1am; c) Bikers and boaters mingle
over microbrews. Inside, there’s plenty on tap
and an enormous stuffed polar bear encased
behind glass. The food – boozy staples like
burgers and fried stuff with fancy additions like
shrimp scampi – is excellent.4 Burlington Hotel Hotel $
(%510-787-1827; 5 Canyon Lake Dr, Port Costa;
r $24-54) The weather-beaten lodgings have
loads of musty charm but belie its history as a
five-star Victorian brothel. It caps the voyage
with aptly surreal details.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.24
.LAzY DELTADAWDLE