When you embark on a road trip through Northern California, you’ll undoubtedly end up stopping at a roadside attraction or two. Our region is full of roadside attractions ranging from the downright weird to the delightfully wonderful. Some of these unique attractions have been entertaining families for up to a century, including the one featured here. Today, the Nut Tree Plaza is a beloved shopping destination, but it actually started out as a humble roadside family attraction. A century later, this place is still a popular spot for families and it’s easy to see why!
Located right along Interstate 80 in the town of Vacaville, The Nut Tree Plaza at first seems like a typical outdoor shopping center. However, you'll soon see that this charming destination is so much more than that.
It all started in 1921 when The Nut Tree opened for the first time as a humble roadside stop. The road stop steadily grew in popularity over the years, adding things like a restaurant, toy store, and even a railroad as word began to spread.
At one time, the Nut Tree even boasted a 2-acre amusement park—although that no longer is the case. Today, the Nut Tree Vacaville Shopping Center is home to a variety of both major name brand stores and charming local gems. It's for sure one of the most unique shopping malls in the state.
A lot has changed about the Nut Tree since it first opened for business nearly a century ago, but there are some specific things that have stuck around. For instance, a beautiful vintage carousel serves as a major homage to the roadside attraction's early days.
Not only that, but the original Nut Tree Railroad that was constructed in 1953 is still up and running to this very day. A ride on this carefully restored train is definitely a hit with the little ones. Kids two years and under even get their first ride for free.
No family outing at Nut Tree is complete without diving into some yummy eats. Home to a variety of restaurants, you'll find a little bit of everything to choose from at this shopping center. Some favorites include ice cream from Fenton's Creamery and endless seafood at Fuji Sushi Buffet.
Countless families have made long-lasting memories at the beloved Nut Tree Plaza, and you can too. This century-old destination represents a piece of treasured NorCal history and you simply can't help but love it.
