Vallejo, California: Scenic Spots, Museums and Dining

What better way is there to take in the beauty of a waterfront city than from the water on your visit?

The San Francisco Bay Ferry Vallejo offers routes from the SF Ferry Building to Vallejo, allowing tourists to take in the gorgeous vistas of Vallejo from afar.

Perfect for visitors taking a side trip from San Francisco to Vallejo or even for tourists in Vallejo who want to take a quick trip to San Francisco, the ferry is just an hour-long ride and totally worth the time and money.

Ferry trips depart regularly throughout the day with varying schedules on weekdays and weekends.

289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo, California 94590, Phone: 707-643-377

A historical landmark in downtown Vallejo, the Empress Theatre was built in 1911 and is arguably the most popular performing arts theatre and venue in the entire city. From movies to live performances, concerts to private events, the Empress Theatre has hosted a variety of shows and has brought world-class entertainment to all of its patrons since it was first opened. The Empress Theatre was built by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and designed by William A. Jones. Apart from the great shows that you can catch at the theatre, guests can also appreciate the beautiful architecture of the building like its two-tiered and gold-leafed ceiling.

330 Virginia Street, Vallejo, California 94590

Adrenaline junkies who are eager for a fix in Vallejo will get exactly what they’re looking for and more at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Take a break from the leisure and enjoy high octane thrill rides like Batman the Ride, northern California’s first 4D free fly coaster, the Boomerang Coast to Coaster, which features a trip of loops then flies backwards, and the Dare Devil Chaos Coaster, a brand new inverting roller coaster. There are tons of other thrill rides to experience, but the park also has family friendly rides and slower paced options for kids who aren’t quite ready for the high-speed coasters at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

1001 Fairgrounds Drive SW, Vallejo, California 94589, Phone: 707-644-4000

Mare Island was once the home of Bay Area’s most massive and well known shipbuilding location. Today, the former Naval shipyard is open for exploration to all those who desire to visit.

Photographers, bird-watchers and curious travelers alike can visit Mare Island and wander through bird-filled wetlands and grassy hills, or explore historic buildings and the shipyards famous dry docks. With a mix of perfectly preserved landmarks and buildings that are nearly falling apart, there is a curious, magical but also slightly eerie feel to the island. Other attractions to see in the area include the west coast’s oldest Naval cemetery, the oldest Naval chapel in the USA and the grand officer’s home.

Vallejo, California 94592

Learn about the fascinating stories of Vallejo’s place in the US Navy history at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.

Fittingly located on Mare Island, the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum preserves and showcases the diverse and exciting role that the city played in the navy’s western operations.

The museum has five galleries that center around the community, the naval shipyard and more.

There is also a working submarine periscope at the museum that showcases an incredible view of the city and Mare Island to those that peer through it. With over 25,000 square feet of exhibit space, there’s definitely a lot to see and do at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.

734 Marin Street, Vallejo, California 94590, Phone: 707-643-0077

A national historic landmark and one of Vallejo’s claims to fame, the Mare Island Naval Shipyard is a great place to visit for people who are interested in naval history or simply want to see one of the most popular attractions in the city.

This naval base has the distinction of being the first naval base on the West Coast and was established in 1854. Guests to the shipyard can learn amazing tidbits about the naval history on Mare Island.

For example, did you know that the Mare Island Naval Shipyard holds the record for building the USS Ward destroyer war ship in just 17.5 days? Some other things to see at the shipyard include the Alden Park and several historic buildings.

Mare Island, Vallejo, California 94592

Most rare book collections can be seen but not touched. That’s not the case with the McCune Rare Book and Art Collection, which welcomes everyone with an interest in books to swing by and have a hand-on experience for themselves.

At McCune, anyone can come by and experience the feeling of holding a rare book right in the palms of their hands. Some items that you can come and examine include a page from an original 15th century French Illuminated manuscript, pages from early Chaucer books circa 1551 and 1561, as well as authentic leaves from early printings of plays by none other than Shakespeare himself.

505 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, California 94590, Phone: 707-674-4082

Spanning the Carquinez Strait at San Francisco Bay’s northeastern end, the Carquinez Bridge is a landmark of Vallejo and is actually comprised of two parallel bridges.

The bridge was actually a single structure when it was first built in 1927. Later in 1958, the second cantilever bridge was completed. While there aren’t any particular things that one must stop by and see on the bridge itself, the view from the bridge is absolutely spectacular.

Driving across the bridge gives you a gorgeous view of the straight and of the neighboring city of Crockett. As such, it’s a must-see for anyone who visits in Vallejo as it is an iconic landmark of the region.

Vallejo, California