Fairfield sits on I-80 between the Bay Area and Sacramento, with Suisun City next to it and the Suisun Valley wine country to the west. That puts a lot within a short drive. Here is what I’d actually send a visitor to, grouped by the kind of day you’re planning. Every entry says who it suits and what to check before you go, because hours and seasons change and I’d rather you not find that out in a parking lot.
Indoor games and family fun
Nitro City Racing Fairfield
The building at 1560 Gateway Boulevard, right off I-80, holds an indoor go-kart track, axe-throwing lanes, an arcade, blacklight mini golf, and a game floor, with a cafe in the same building. Walk in for most of it, or book a race time at Fairfield so the track is waiting when you arrive.
- Why go: one stop that covers kids, teens, and adults in the same afternoon. Indoor go karting in Fairfield runs timed races on SODI karts; axe throwing is for ages 12 and up; Amped Arcade has ticket games and a prize counter; Mystic Canyon Mini Golf is nine holes under blacklight; and Pixels is a floor of solo, team, and head-to-head games.
- Who it suits: families with mixed ages, groups, and anyone who wants to be indoors and moving.
- What to verify: racers need closed-toe shoes and a signed waiver, and junior and adult karts have height minimums. Current prices are on the Fairfield pricing page, and the Fairfield store page has the hours.
Jelly Belly Factory
The Jelly Belly factory at 1 Jelly Belly Lane runs a self-guided tour of the production floor, with a candy store at the end.
- Why go: it’s the stop people ask me about first, and the tour is short enough to fit before or after something else.
- Who it suits: young kids through grandparents. It’s an easy win for a family with a wide age range.
- What to verify: admission is charged for the tour, and the production line runs on weekdays only, so a weekend visit means a quieter floor. Check the factory page for tour hours and the current schedule.
Solano Town Center
Solano Town Center is Fairfield’s main shopping mall, with the Edwards cinema on site.
- Why go: a movie plus a meal is a reliable rainy-day or hot-afternoon plan, and the cinema makes it a two-stop evening without moving the car.
- Who it suits: teens, couples, and anyone waiting out weather.
- What to verify: store and theater hours differ from mall hours. Check the center’s site for both before you plan around a showtime.
Fairfield Civic Center Library
The Fairfield Civic Center Library is the main Solano County Library branch in town, with children’s programs and a full events calendar.
- Why go: it’s free, it’s air-conditioned, and storytimes and programs give a toddler day some structure.
- Who it suits: families with young children and anyone who wants a quiet hour.
- What to verify: branch hours and program times on the library page. Programs are usually listed a few weeks out.
Museums and history
Western Railway Museum
The Western Railway Museum sits on State Highway 12 in Suisun City, a short drive east of Fairfield, with historic streetcars and interurban trains you can ride on museum track.
- Why go: the train rides are the point. Kids who like anything on rails get a real ride, not a display case.
- Who it suits: families with train-age kids and anyone into transit history.
- What to verify: trains run on weekends, admission is charged, holiday closures apply, and the museum encourages reservations. Confirm on the plan-your-visit page before driving out.
Parks and open space
Rockville Hills Regional Park
Rockville Hills Regional Park is a 633-acre city-run open space at the edge of Fairfield, with a network of trails over rocky hills and oak woodland.
- Why go: it’s a real hike without leaving town, and the loop options run from a short walk to a full morning.
- Who it suits: hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. Young kids do fine on the lower loops with a snack break.
- What to verify: the park is open sunrise to sunset and charges a day-use fee. Check the city page for current fees, trail closures, and any seasonal rules.
Rush Ranch Open Space
Rush Ranch, run by Solano Land Trust, is a working ranch on the edge of the Suisun Marsh, off Grizzly Island Road south of Highway 12, with flat trails out into the marsh.
- Why go: big open sky, birds, and a landscape most people drive past without seeing. It’s quiet in a way the rest of the list is not.
- Who it suits: walkers, birders, and families who want an easy trail with no climb.
- What to verify: entry is free, but open hours change by season. Check the Solano Land Trust page before you go, and bring water; there’s not much shade out there.
Suisun Valley
Suisun Valley wineries
The Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association keeps the list of tasting rooms in the valley just west of Fairfield. Caymus-Suisun on Suisun Valley Road is one of the larger tasting rooms.
- Why go: a wine afternoon in a quieter valley, just west of town.
- Who it suits: adults, couples, and small groups. This is an adult stop at heart.
- What to verify: tasting fees and hours vary by producer, and Caymus-Suisun requires a reservation. Check the individual winery pages, not just the association list.
Paradise Valley and Rancho Solano golf
Fairfield runs two public courses, Paradise Valley and Rancho Solano, in Fairfield.
- Why go: a full round or a quick nine without a private-club price.
- Who it suits: golfers of any level; both courses take public tee times.
- What to verify: tee times, rates, and course conditions on the courses’ shared site.
Putting a day together
If the group is mixed ages, I’d run it like this: Jelly Belly or the railway museum in the morning while everyone is fresh, lunch, then an afternoon at Nitro where the kids can race and the adults can throw axes or sit down with a coffee. If the day is adults only, flip it: a Rockville Hills loop early, a Suisun Valley tasting after lunch, and a race at Nitro before dinner so everyone drives home with a lap time to argue about.
Planning the Sonoma County side of the week too? Things to Do in Rohnert Park covers the other Nitro town, and Rainy Day Activities in Sonoma County is the indoor list for when the weather turns.
