HotelTonight – Chico Hotels
There's something about a college town that still, to this day, intrigues me. I graduated from college almost 20 years ago now, but every time I have a chance to spend time in one of these places I make the effort to do so. Unfortunately, those opportunities don't arise very often anymore. I travel constantly for work, and most of my schedule is packed tightly with meetings. Even if I'm in a college town, the most I get to experience is some sort of dinner at the end of the day. I was in Northern California recently for work, and as luck may have it there was a scheduling mistake that meant that I suddenly had 24 hours at my disposal. I love the Bay Area, but I wanted to venture out a bit and see the college town of Chico, which I had heard a lot about over the years. A day there would likely be a lot of fun. I wasn't worried about finding a place to stay, either, as I had my HotelTonight app with me. I'd book a Chico hotel room as soon as I was ready to crash.
The Agriculture
Northern California is obviously a fertile area for agriculture, but I never really connected this aspect of life there to this college town. I soon did as I pulled into town, however. I saw a lot of different stores selling fresh crops, as I was there at the end of summer. I walked around in a few of them and snacked on tasty treats that included almonds, walnuts, plums and peaches. Everything I tasted exploded with flavor and texture, and I was stunned at how inexpensive it all was. I bought some almonds to take home with me.
The Universities
As it turns out, there are several post-secondary schools in Chico. I had heard of Chico State and spent a couple of hours walking around this beautiful campus, talking to students and purchasing some memorabilia that I would use myself and give as gifts. I also walked through Butte College, a smaller campus near there, and Cal Northern School of Law. Some college towns are really just cities with colleges in them, but Chico's pace of life is definitely driven by these campuses and the vibrancy the students provide.
The Dining
There were quite a few options for me for dinner, but a group of students told me about their love for a place that specializes in burgers and beer. I took their word for it and went there. I had a couple of very nice local pilsner beers and ordered the bison burger and fries. The bison was cooked perfectly and topped with more of that fresh local produce that I loved. The fries were enormous and the entire meal was a feast for a reasonable price. I could see why it was such a hit with students.
HotelTonight – Chico Hotels Around the Corner
I was full and ready to shower and get some sleep. I grabbed my phone, opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Chico hotel room in seconds. I couldn't wait to fall into bed, happy that I had gotten to spend some time in a lovely college town.
