6 Best Sights in Chico, The Far North

This pioneer of the microbrewery movement still has a hands-on approach to beer making. The Brewhouse Tour surveys production—from sorting hops through fermentation and bottling—and concludes with a tasting. The Beyond the Pale Tour delves even deeper into creating craft beers, Sierra Nevada's history, and the company's sustainability initiatives.

Built between 1865 and 1868 by General John Bidwell, the founder of Chico, this mansion was designed by Henry W. Cleaveland, a San Francisco architect. Bidwell and his wife, Annie, welcomed many distinguished guests to their pink Italianate home, including President Rutherford B. Hayes, naturalist John Muir, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and General William T. Sherman. One-hour tours take in most of the three-story mansion's 26 rooms.

The 3,670-acre park straddles Big Chico Creek, where scenes from Gone With the Wind (1939) and Robin Hood (1938), starring Errol Flynn, were filmed. The region's recreational hub has a golf course; "the best urban swimming holes in California"; and biking, hiking, horseback riding, and skating trails. Chico Creek Nature Center serves as the official information site.

Immerse yourself in all things Chico at this small but engaging museum near Chico State University. Past exhibits have surveyed the city's American Indian legacy, its former Chinatowns, and area movers and shakers.

The Veterans Memorial Building, a handsome 1927 Classical Revival structure designed by a local architectural firm, houses this engaging museum of contemporary art. The focus is on works by artists from San Jose north to Oregon.

Spanning multiple decades, this yo-yo collection occupies the back of a toy and novelty shop. If you've ever aspired to Walk the Dog or venture Around the World, you'll find the museum a diverting brief stop. Highlights include the 256-pound No-Jive 3-in-1 yo-yo and comedian Tom Smothers's collection.