This historic town on the Carquinez Strait is commonly missed – perhaps since it's related to jury duty. Martinez is, in any case, the county seat of Contra Costa. But the waterfront town is having fun with a renaissance, says Adam Hoffert. And while you may expect that from the chairman of the town's Chamber of Commerce, he's not incorrect.
This region has all the time prided itself on its great mountaineering trails and outdoor activities, however the influx of recent, talented entrepreneurs and up-and-coming businesses – a market hall, recent restaurants and entertainment options – has increased the town's cool factor, says Hoffert.
The river breezes keep temperatures cool even through the summer heat – at the least on this side of the Caledecott Tunnel.
Nevertheless, start your Martinez adventure within the morning when temperatures are at their lowest with a morning hike around John Muir to Mount Wanda and Mount Helen. Start on the trailhead at Franklin Canyon Road and Alhambra Avenue and take the Main fire route for a brisk, peaceful 2.7-mile (4.3-kilometer) hike on the Lollipop Route up and across the two mountains named for Muir's daughters. Pause to benefit from the views from Mount Helen across the Carquinez Strait and keep an eye fixed out for the wide range of birds that often visit the preserve, including red-tailed hawks, scrub jays and acorn woodpeckers.
Then go to the John Muir National Historic SiteThis property, which incorporates Muir's Victorian home, orchards and gardens, once belonged to the legendary naturalist who is taken into account the daddy of the national park system. During the autumn harvest, the National Park Service offers visitors free fruit from the orchards.
Explore the Strentzel-Muir House and climb the bell tower for an additional great view and to ring the bell. Then, walk through the rooms and see how the family lived within the late 1800s. There's no charge to enter the grounds and also you're welcome to bring a picnic.
If you didn't bring any picnic food, you're probably ready for a snack now. Half a mile down Alhambra Avenue you'll find Mountain terraina small cafe serving cozy coffee drinks and inventive pastries. Treat yourself to an iced pistachio latte, perhaps with a blueberry custard galette.
If it’s a Sunday, the historic city centre is bustling with activity, because the Martinez Farmers Market takes over Main Street with stalls offering fresh produce in addition to prepared foods corresponding to bao, tamales and bolani flatbreads.
Down the road, Market & Main has been delighting locals and visitors since its opening in late 2021. It is home to quite a lot of temptations, from the Out of the dough Cookie Shop for Shuck It Oyster Bar, Souley Vegan and a Shipwreck Nautical Bar, which opened in February.
You will find the trendy Bentley's Cocktail Bar & Lounge with its Nineteen Twenties ambience on the upper floor and on the back floor, the sister hotspot, Bentley's Container Baran outside bar created from a shipping container that has been serving cocktails since last 12 months. And now Bentley's has introduced a Sunday R&B brunch – DJ Koolens did his thing one recent weekend. You'll need to make reservations, says co-owner Krystal Endsley.
If you're within the mood for something lighter, nearby Five Suns Brewing has a taproom and popular beer garden with 10 beers on tap, starting from a Reliez Pale Ale to a Ghost Moon Pilsner to a seasonal summer Cosmos. Hillside Tap Room and Eatery, which opened earlier this 12 months, offers a menu of creative hot dogs and slushy alcoholic beverages like frosé and blended sangria and Del Cielo Brewinghosts events corresponding to quizzes, cornhole tournaments, bingo and live music.
And for those who're in search of casual, creative sandwiches, there's Lucia's Craft Sandwich – the Martinez offshoot of the favored Crockett restaurant – which opened across town in 2021. Think sandwiches with smoked ham, apricot jam, ricotta and hazelnuts and a Veggie Deluxe with roasted peppers, artichokes, an eggplant spread and burrata.
There will probably be live music downtown at venues corresponding to Del Cielo, Five Suns and Roxx on Main, Lesley Stiles and Tony Lauro's Restaurant, which can host Carlos Reyes on August 30 and Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s on August 31.
And for those who are all in favour of baseball, that is the house of the Martinez Sturgeona Pecos League skilled baseball team that began play at Joe DiMaggio Fields in Waterfront Park in 2021. Look for the Sturgeon game lineup next spring.
When you go
John Muir National Historic Site: This national park is open every day from 10 a.m. to five p.m. The visitor center is situated at 4202 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez. Mount Wanda and the paths are open from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. www.nps.gov/jomu/
Mountain terrain: Opens at 5:30 a.m. weekdays and 6:00 a.m. weekends at 3750 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez; https://mtngrounds.com/.
Martinez Farmers Market: Open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 700 Main St.; www.pcfma.org.
Market & Main: Opens Monday through Wednesday at 11 a.m., Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m. at 610 Main St., www.marketandmainmartinez.com.
Brewing five suns: Opens Monday through Thursday at 3:00 p.m., Friday at noon and weekends at 11:00 a.m. at 626 Main St.; fivesunsbrewing.com.
Hillside Taproom & Eatery: Opens every day at 11 a.m. (closed Tuesdays) at 400 Ferry St.; hillsidemartinez.com.
From Cielo Brewing: Opens Tuesday-Thursday at 3:30pm, Friday at noon and weekends at 11am at 701A Escobar St.; https://delcielobrewing.com/.
Lucia’s craft sandwich: Opens every day at 9 a.m. at 6682 Alhambra Ave.; luciascraftsandwich.com
Cobra experience: Tickets are $10-$15. Open 10 a.m. to three p.m. the third Sunday of every month—August 18, September 15, October 20, etc.—at 777 Arnold Drive, Suite 200; https://cobraexperience.org/.
Roxx am Main: Opens Tuesday through Friday at 11 a.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., with live music on Thursday and Saturday, at 627 Main St.; www.roxxonmain.com.
Originally published:
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