Situated in California’s fertile Central Valley, Stockton offers a surprising array of attractions beyond its agricultural roots. From historic sites and cultural venues to outdoor recreation and family fun, Stockton provides plenty of ways to experience the richness of California’s interior.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Stroll the Stockton Waterfront | Enjoy scenic promenade, art installations, marina |
| Tour the Haggin Museum | Local history and art exhibits, beautiful park setting |
| Downtown Stockton Waterfront District | Shopping, dining, cultural attractions |
| Attend Stockton Ports Baseball Game | Minor league baseball, family-friendly atmosphere |
| Visit Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery | Explore Mexican-American culture, art exhibitions |
| Play at Swenson Park Golf Course | Classic design golf course, affordable rates |
| Cruise the California Delta | Sightseeing, dining experiences on waterways |
| Oak Grove Regional Park | Nature trails, wildlife, picnic areas |
| Shop at Lincoln Center Farmers Market | Local produce, artisanal foods, live music |
| Catch a Show at Bob Hope Theatre | Historic performing arts venue, various shows |
| Visit Reynolds Gallery and Gardens | Historic villa, gardens, art collections |
| Explore Tretheway House Art Gallery | Local artist exhibitions in Victorian home |
The city’s multiculturalism, affordability, and location as a gateway to the Sierra Nevada add to its draw. Here are 12 of the top things to do in Stockton, California for visitors looking to uncover the city’s charms.
Stroll the Stockton Waterfront
Name and Location: Stroll the Stockton Waterfront located along the downtown Stockton waterfront.
History and Significance: The waterfront has been an important part of Stockton since its founding in the 1850s as a port city. It continues to connect the city to its maritime heritage.
What to Expect: Visitors can walk along the waterfront promenade, visit marinas and docks, dine at waterfront restaurants, and enjoy views of boats and ships.
Visitor Information: The waterfront promenade is open daily and free to access. Parking available at nearby garages and lots.
The Stockton waterfront along the San Joaquin River has experienced major revitalization in recent years. Walk along the scenic promenade to take in views of the river and city skyline from Banner Island Ballpark to Weber Point. Art installations like the Shimmering Wings sculpture grace the landscape. Stop by the Stockton Visitor Information Center at the waterfront for area info. Continuing west brings you to the downtown marina, where you can watch boats and take excursions. And on weekends, the farmer’s market at Weber Point offers local produce, crafts, and live music.
Tour the Haggin Museum
Name and Location: Tour the Haggin Museum located in Victory Park, Stockton.
History and Significance: The museum opened in 1931 and houses a world-renowned collection of fine and decorative arts. It offers insight into the history and culture of the region.
What to Expect: The museum features paintings, photographs, artifacts and more. Guided and audio tours available. A cafe and gift shop onsite.
Visitor Information: Open Wednesday-Sunday from 1:30-5pm. Admission fee required.
Located in scenic Victory Park, the Haggin Museum offers collections related to local history and art. The complex includes a replica of the originalStockton home that stood on the site. Inside, exhibits cover the region’s agricultural roots and the history of immigrants who settled there. Highlights include historic ship models, ethnographic displays, and rotating fine art shows. The museum also houses the world’s largest collection of paintings by symbolistartist Jules Tavernier. With its regional focus and beautiful setting, the Haggin Museum provides insight into Stockton’s past.
Explore the Downtown Stockton Waterfront District
Name and Location: Explore the Downtown Stockton Waterfront District located along the downtown Stockton waterfront.
History and Significance: The waterfront district is the historic heart of Stockton. It reflects the city’s culture and heritage as a port city.
What to Expect: Visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment, museums, public art and architecture in the walkable district.
Visitor Information: The district is open daily. Activities and parking information available through the district website.
Stockton’s downtown stretches inland along the waterfront, offering shopping, dining, and cultural attractions. Stroll historic Weber Point, where you can explore restored brick warehouses now occupied by restaurants, breweries, and shops selling handcrafted foods and goods. Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square provides green space for events and city views. Nearby, the City Center complex houses eateries, retail, and entertainment options. And on weekends, the public market offers local products under shady trees. The downtown waterfront district reveals Stockton’s ongoing urban revitalization.
Attend a Stockton Ports Baseball Game
Name and Location: Attend a Stockton Ports Baseball Game at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton.
History and Significance: The Ports are a minor league baseball team founded in 1941. Catching a game is a beloved local tradition.
What to Expect: Enjoy an affordable, fun day at the ballpark cheering on the home team, having ballpark fare, and watching fireworks shows.
Visitor Information: The Ports season is April-September. Tickets can be purchased on the team website.
Minor league baseball is a cherished American pastime, and Stockton Ports games at Banner Island Ballpark provide family-friendly entertainment overlooking the waterfront. Opened in 2004, the 5,300-seat stadium honors Stockton’s deep Portuguese heritage. It offers affordable tickets, specialty food concessions, in-game promotions, and Ports merch stores. On fireworks nights, you can enjoy a spectacular pyrotechnic display after the final out. Catching a Ports home game lets you experience baseball Stockton-style.
Visit the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery
Name and Location: Visit the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery in downtown Stockton.
History and Significance: Founded in the 1990s to celebrate Stockton’s Mexican culture and heritage. The center promotes Latino arts.
What to Expect: The center features rotating art exhibits by Latino artists. It hosts cultural performances, classes and family activities.
Visitor Information: Free admission. Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 12-4pm. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
With a large Mexican-American population, Stockton’s heritage shines at the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery. Examine artifacts related to the immigrant experience in the Central Valley. See traditional folk arts on display, from pottery to embroidery. Learn about cultural celebrations and customs. And admire contemporary works by Mexican and Mexican-American artists in rotating gallery exhibitions. The center’s First Fridays Mercado showcases local artists, food vendors, musicians and dancers. For a taste of Mexican culture in Stockton, this is a must-see.
Play a Round at Swenson Park Golf Course
Name and Location: Play a Round at Swenson Park Golf Course in Stockton.
History and Significance: Swenson Park is Stockton’s municipal golf course, open since 1925. It offers an affordable golf option in the city.
What to Expect: This 18-hole course features tree-lined fairways and greens for golfers of all skill levels. A clubhouse and pro shop are onsite.
Visitor Information: Open daily. Tee times should be booked in advance online or by phone. Greens fees apply.
Boasting a classic 1920s design by legendary golf course architects William Bell and William Park, the municipal Swenson Park Golf Course offers an affordable and scenic play. The par-72, 18-hole course takes golfers past mature trees, narrow waterways, and sloping terrain with greens flanked by bunkers. With its convenient location, challenging layout, and reasonable rates, Swenson Park is regarded as one of the best public golf courses in the Central Valley. The clubhouse grill and pro shop round out the amenities.
Cruise the California Delta
Name and Location: Cruise the California Delta surrounding Stockton.
History and Significance: The maze of delta waterways has supported trade, transport and recreation since Stockton’s founding. It offers scenic natural vistas.
What to Expect: Cruise companies offer sightseeing tours showcasing the wildlife, houseboats, and landscapes of the California Delta.
Visitor Information: Tours depart from downtown Stockton. Advanced booking required. Fees vary by tour.
The California Delta encompasses a vast inland river system east of Stockton formed where the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers meet before entering San Francisco Bay. Cruises offer sightseeing and dining experiences on the scenic waterways. You’ll pass lush wetlands, experience historic river towns, and potentially spot wildlife like herons, beavers, and river otters. Many cruises depart from downtown Stockton, making getting out on the delta easy. It provides a relaxing way to encounter the productive ecosystems surrounding the city.
Marvel at Nature at Oak Grove Regional Park
Name and Location: Marvel at Nature at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton.
History and Significance: Oak Grove Park opened in 1949 and spans over 400 acres. It provides green space with diverse wildlife habitat.
What to Expect: Trails for hiking and biking, fishing and boating access, picnic areas, playgrounds, and natural scenery.
Visitor Information: The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Entry is free, parking fee required.
Spanning over 400 acres just south of Stockton, Oak Grove Regional Park immerses you in nature. Trailhead exhibits at the visitor center showcase local flora and fauna. Miles of trails traverse oak woodlands, wetlands, and stands of eucalyptus trees, providing opportunities to spot native birds and wildlife. Additional facilities include picnic areas, playgrounds, and campgrounds in a peaceful, picturesque setting. Oak Grove Regional Park lets you delight in the natural side of the Central Valley just minutes from Stockton.
Shop at the Lincoln Center Farmers Market
Name and Location: Shop at the Lincoln Center Farmers Market in Stockton.
History and Significance: Founded in 2006, this weekly farmers market provides fresh local produce and goods. It supports area growers and makers.
What to Expect: Browse stalls of seasonal fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods, flowers, crafts and more from local vendors.
Visitor Information: Open Sundays year-round 8am-1pm. Free entry and parking available onsite.
For a taste of Stockton’s agricultural riches, don’t miss the Lincoln Center Farmers Market. Running spring through fall on Saturday mornings, the market brings together over 90 vendors. Shop colorful piles of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on nearby farms. Sample artisanal foods like jams and roasted chilis. Enjoy live music and cooking demos. And check out crafts and plants from local purveyors. It’s a chance to connect directly with those producing food in Stockton’s fertile surroundings.
Catch a Show at the Bob Hope Theatre
Name and Location: Catch a Show at the Bob Hope Theatre in downtown Stockton.
History and Significance: This elegant Vaudeville theater opened in 1930 and today hosts live performances and films. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What to Expect: The theater presents concerts, comedy shows, musicals and more in an ornate, historic setting with excellent acoustics.
Visitor Information: Show dates, times and ticket information can be found on the theater website.
Built in 1930 and named after famous former resident Bob Hope, the Bob Hope Theatre is a beautiful historic performing arts venue downtown. It hosts concerts, comedy shows and touring productions in an intimate yet opulent setting. The interior dazzles with Spanish Revival architecture, a painted domed ceiling and an atmospheric lobby space with concessions. Upcoming acts range from tribute bands to dance performances, magic shows, and more. Taking in a show at this meticulously restored theater makes for a memorable night out.
Visit the Reynolds Gallery and Gardens
Name and Location: Visit the Reynolds Gallery and Gardens in Stockton.
History and Significance: Founded in 2005, this nonprofit art gallery promotes the arts in Stockton through exhibitions, classes and events.
What to Expect: The gallery showcases work by local artists in rotating exhibitions. Beautiful gardens surround the historic building.
Visitor Information: Free admission. Open Thursday-Sunday 12pm-5pm. Closed major holidays.
Once a private estate, today Reynolds Gallery and Gardens offers public tours of its historic 1930s Mediterranean-style villa and exquisite grounds. The home itself displays a superb collection of French furniture and fine European porcelain. The surrounding gardens were designed by noted landscape architect Thomas Church and encompass koi ponds, sculpture gardens, meadows, and wooded areas with walking paths to delight visitors. For a glimpse of elegant historic architecture matched with beautiful scenery, Reynolds Gallery and Gardens is a Stockton jewel.
Explore the Tretheway House Art Gallery
Name and Location: Explore the Tretheway House Art Gallery in downtown Stockton.
History and Significance: Built in the 1860s, this Victorian home turned art gallery exhibits work by local artists. It is one of Stockton’s historic sites.
What to Expect: The historic home provides the backdrop for displaying diverse regional art. Open studio events offered.
Visitor Information: Free admission. Open Wednesday-Sunday 12pm-4pm. Closed major holidays.
Occupying a restored Victorian home in Stockton’s Miracle Mile district, the Tretheway House Art Gallery displays works by local visual artists. The focus is on showcasing emerging and established San Joaquin County talent across diverse media – paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and more. Exhibits change bimonthly. In addition to viewing current gallery shows, visitors can browse the Tretheway gift shop with rotating handcrafted items. Supporting local creativity in an intimate historic setting makes the Tretheway House Art Gallery a worthwhile stop.
Conclusion
Bordered by fertile farmland yet located on a major inland waterway, Stockton offers visitors historical sites, cultural diversity, outdoor recreation, sporting events, and family attractions. From waterfront strolls to cruises on the California Delta, baseball games to museums and concert halls, Stockton rewards exploration with enriching experiences. The city provides easy access to the beauty and bounty of California’s Central Valley while revealing its own distinct charms. With this mix of natural landscapes, metropolitan amenities, and regional flavor, Stockton delivers an authentic Northern California getaway.