28 Things People From Stockton Have To Explain To Out-Of-Towners

1. SF Can Keep The Bay, The Delta Is Way Nicer Anyway

Ah, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. If you've ever had dreams of wakeboarding or tubing down a great river in California, this should be your destination. They naysayers who think the Delta is too polluted are just leaving you more room to enjoy it with the rest of Stockton.

2. La Comida En Stockton Is The Real Deal

Alice Waters should open a Chez Panisse in Stockton—it’s already an under-the-radar culinary thunderdome. Market Tavern is the best in upscale dining, along with Cocoro if you want that rolled sushi, but Stockton really shines with their fare from south of the border. Nena’s, Tepa and Maria’s Taqueria are just the beginning of your great tortilla voyage.

3. Michael’s Pizza May As Well Have Been Airdropped In From Manhattan

What’s more New York than King Kong climbing the Empire State Building? Probably folding his pizza in a plate and munching like a true Manhattanite. In Stockton, you can get the full Big Apple experience.

4. Stocktoberfest Is The Leider In Beer And Hosen

Ever wanted to lift a keg competitively? Or are you one of the many who love hefty sausage with your fine craft brews? Do you want to participate in a chicken dance-off? Stocktoberfest might be the best thing to happen to you all year.

5. Take Heart! The Asparagus Festival Is Coming Back!

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The Queen, The Runnerup & me! #asparagusqueen #hartmichigan #smalltownusa #stinkypee #puremichigan #asparagusfestival

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Just when everyone was crestfallen over the news that the world-famous Asparagus Festival wouldn’t be returning this year, local consultation agency Noceti Group picked up the pieces and is going put it all back together again! No one is happier for the return than the local charities that benefited from the festival. Now known as the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival, you’ll still get plenty of your favorite veggie.

6. Stockton Knows How To Do National Coffee Day Right

Whoever thought of the day when coffee shops across the country hand out espresso should be canonized, but if you’re in Stockton, you might be wondering where the longest line’s going to be. Without a doubt it will be at Jesus Mountain Coffee. Plus they got together with The Rustic Puff, i.e. they now serve artisanal marshmallows. Yum!

7. Stockton Basically Has Its Own Personal Bottle Service

You could write an article about any city in Northern California and commend the wineries nearby, but with Stockton, it’s amazing how close some of them really are. Sorelle, Delicato Oak Ridge… so many are less than half an hour away (sometimes even with traffic) that Stockton may as well be on your wine tour map above Napa.

8. Tasty Stockton Tequila, Stockton You Know I Feel Ya

Wine isn’t the only booze of note in Stockton—tequila, sweet nectar of the agave plant, has its own festival, the biggest in the Valley, right here in Stockton. Don’t worry, there’s also food, so you can taste to your heart’s content.

9. The Miracle Mile Is A Triumph For The City

You could spend an entire Sunday on the Miracle Mile without running out of things to do. A sample itinerary for a guaranteed good time: Sam’s for brunch, maybe a tasty crepe from Midtown, catch the game at Abbey Trappist and of course round it all out at AVE for happy hour!

10. Stockton Is Definitely In The Music History Books

Do we even need to mention Dave Brubeck? Yes. We must always mention Dave Brubeck. The man pioneered jazz with his funky time measures and generally awesome piano skills. Made Bill Evans look like a chump. And if you thought that was the only big blip on the musical radar out here, you’ve clearly forgotten about Pavement. Steven Malkmus, champion of the grungy, moany, proto-emo, full-on awesome garage rock that made Pavement famous, got the band together in Stockton.

11. Pay No Mind To The Stockton Haters

We don’t often check out the comments about the city on the Internet, but when they do, it’s a battle between people who actually live in Stockton and Lodi haters who are blowing the city’s issues out of proportion. The way they see it, you’d think Stockton was the only city with crime, or, like, had been affected by the recession.

12. Stockton Has The Hottest Felons

Sure it’s a dubious honor, but who can forget Jeremy Meeks whose mugshot caught the eye and heart of America? It was the most unlikely Star Search imaginable, and while Meeks didn’t pick up any modeling contracts (yet), you’ll always have that mugshot to keep you company.

13. If You Own A Boat, You’re Going To Make A Lot Of Friends In Stockton

What beats an afternoon sailing down the delta, catching some sun and relaxing on the water? To your average Stocktonian, not much.

14. Stockton Roars For The Tigers

University of Pacific has always been earned the darling child status it has with Stocktonians. The vibrant campus, its continuous upgrades throughout the years, not to mention the amazing likes of Dave Brubeck and others, make it one of the best colleges in the state.

15. If You’re Going To See A Show At The Civic, You’ve Got A Lot To Brag About

Why would you be posting all about your date at the Stockton Civic? Because you’re probably seeing something fantastic—they consistently put up productions of big Broadway hits like “The 39 Steps” or “The Sound of Music” with actors who are basically bound for the Great White Way anyway.

16. With The Water Right There, The Rowing Club Is Olympic Level

Revitalized in 1980, the main thing you have to take away from Stockton’s stellar rowing tenure is that they’ve sent several regattas, and at least one member to the Olympics.

17. The Golf Is Great For Newbies And Amateur Tiger Woods’ Alike

If you own any irons at all, you should make a point of hitting up Stockton’s greens. Everyone and their mother has carted around Swenson and Van Buskirk, and if you want to get into an argument about which is better, you won’t be light on contenders for either side.

18. Stockton’s Symphony Has Been Keeping It High Brow For Decades

Now in its 88th year (…and counting!), this is no slouch of a symphony. Featured in NPR, several world premieres and did we mention the near-century its been around? It’s so good that even kids like it, and if that’s no testament to how good they are, you must not know how kids generally feel about classical music.

19. The Bob Hope Theatre Is Just As Beloved As Its Namesake

This Nationally Recognized Historic Place is stunning to see—the auditorium’s red velvet seats, deco foyer and general feeling of golden-ness are straight out the ’20s. And the décor is just the first treat. Odds are, if you’re going, you’ll be seeing a fantastic classical film or a great performer whose pulling through this fine city.

20. Stockton’s Hockey Team Will Leave You Thunder-struck

Stockton might have just more love for blond, bearded dudes in Viking helmets than even Minnesota fans since The Thunder are known for having a fan base that will follow their team up to Anchorage. You can’t buy that kind of loyalty—just earn it, and earn it they do. As opposed to other teams in their conference, the Thunder actually display skill instead of just dropping the gloves.

21. Stockton Doesn’t Need To Import The American Pastime—They Got It In Spades

Yes, SF and Oakland are right there and they’re great teams right now, but you’ll be served just as well by checking out the Ports down by the delta. You’ll get to be at the front seat of history—every time a Ports player is really taking off, they get plucked up into the majors. And while it’s bittersweet to see ’em go, you’ll never be too sad, because next season will bring even more Ports baseball.

22. A Stroll Down The Waterfront = A Stunning Afternoon

Whether you’re heading to the Stockton Arena, the Civic Theatre, or simply want to take in the regal Hotel Stockton, a stroll by the largest marina in California is always gorgeous.

23. There’s No Such Thing As Sweater Weather In Stockton

Rip off those sleeves and invest in cotton, because Stockton gets hot. The city is not free of the heat California, especially the Central Valley, is known for—but what’s the matter with a little year-round summer?

24. The Weber Point Fountain Is Where Stockton Goes When The Thermometer Busts 100

When it gets a little too hot and muggy, the best thing is to plunge into an icy pool, right? Well, Stockton has another option—the interactive fountain at Weber Point event center is a fond memory for any Stockton kid. And when go to visit, it’s going to take every fiber of decency you’ve got not to run into the spray when it shoots up.

25. And You Can Do All Of This On A Shoestring Budget

If there’s one thing the Bay Area is currently known for, it’s for being the most expensive place to live in the whole world right now. Stockton, not so much. You can get a house for pennies compared to apartments in SF, and with all these awesome amenities burgeoning in the city, it would be hard to give a reason why you shouldn’t opt for Stockton.

26. Kids Don’t Need Much Beyond Pixie Woods And The Children’s Museum

If Weber Point wasn’t going to be enough for the kids, trips to the Children’s Museum in town will definitely satisfy the “I want to ride in a fire truck” quota for the week.

27. The Haggin Museum Is Where You Go For High Culture And Amazing History

The “Jewel of Stockton” is appropriately named thanks to the impressive variety of exhibitions on display here which range from pop culture to local history, and always features plenty of great art pieces to grab your attention.

28. Stockton Is Shining On

Stockton is the very definition of pulling itself up by the bootstraps. It faced hard times but is now better than ever. If you’re ever stuck for an idea on what this city can offer you, one of the best resources is going to be Visit Stockton, the tourism bureau—they’ve got your entire weekend lined up already. What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Stockton? Tell us in the comments below!