Seniors Enjoy Colorful Lodi, California

I will admit upfront that the idea for this travel blog came off a bottle of Malbec wine.  It was bottled in Lodi, California. I did not know anything about the town or the region and that’s why this senior is off today to check out the town. Get your coffee and let’s enjoy some time in this delightful city.

Lodi (LOHD-eye) is a city located in San Joaquin County, California, in the northern portion of California’s Central Valley. The population runs right at 63,000 inhabitants. The local Visitor’s Center suggests that you “pass the afternoon sipping wine with a local winemaker, shop for that perfect antique or gift in our historic downtown, stroll barefoot along the beach at Lodi Lake, tour a museum, catch a concert or play at a performing arts theatre and dine in casual or upscale surroundings.” That sounds inviting, doesn’t it.

Lodi is also a city in northern Italy where Napoleon defeated the Austrians in 1796 and won his first military victory. More than likely, some of the earliest settler families were from Lodi, Illinois and it is said that they chose to use the same name as their hometown.

Seniors Enjoy Lodi’s Mokelumne River

Senior visitors will find the calm and beautiful meandering Mokelumne River passing through Lodi. Explore both Lodi Lake and the Mokelumne River. Rent a kayak, peddle boat, or stand up paddle board. Ever try one of those? I have seen people who do that with a dog on their board. Consider a guided tour along the river, a picnic in a park, or take a hike along several nature trails where you will find a riparian habitat that is home to many species of mammals, reptiles and fish.

Lodi is the home of the state’s largest wine-grape appellation. Senior visitors will discover why wine experts and visitors alike are referring to Lodi as one of Northern California’s top wine country destinations. Lodi is located 35 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco. I counted ten wineries with a Lodi address and several more not far away.

 Seniors Find Zinfandel Capital

Lodi is known as the “Zinfandel Capital of the World”. Although its vintages have traditionally been less prestigious than those of Sonoma and Napa counties, in recent years, the Lodi Appellation has become increasingly respected for its Zinfandel wine and other eclectic varietals.

Lodi has ten annual special wine events and a fascinating historical business district.  Many say that the downtown district has the feel of the early fifties. I discovered that the town is the birthplace of A&W Rootbeer and they celebrate that as well.

Over a thousand businesses call Lodi home.  Lodi is much more that just wine as you will discover, so set your GPS for San Joaquin County and enjoy the wide variety of amenities the area has to offer senior travelers. -jeb