Macero Del Norte - Davis, CA

The area now known as Macero Del Norte began as a farming community. Davisville, as it was then known, grew up around a Southern Pacific Railroad depot in 1868. The name was eventually shortened to Davis when the city was incorporated.

As a community with deep agricultural roots, this area has contributed greatly to agricultural policy, as well as animal husbandry. The University of California, Davis developed out of the area’s original “University Farm School” teaching students how to become stewards of the land.

Though Macero Del Norte has no museums or art galleries, nearby UC Davis and the surrounding area supports the Bohart Museum of Entomology, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and C.N. Gorman Museum at UC Davis.

Macero Del Norte doesn’t host any annual events, either, though neighboring Davis supports the Davis Stampede, a series of street races designed for fun and fitness in the community.

Since Macero Del Norte comprises such a small area, restaurant options fall outside its borders. Though there's no central restaurant location, many are located just off interstate 80, or Lincoln Highway. If you're willing to drive a few miles west toward Davis, you'll find Chinese, Greek, American, Mexican and Thai, among others. The Dock Store - Sudwerk Brewery may be famous for its locally brewed beer, but the restaurant next door gives locals something to cheer about too. From crab cakes and chicken fingers to soups, salads, pasta and burgers, no one goes hungry here. Locals love the chill staff happy to suggest a great beer to pair with your lunch, making it perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon experience. Four Seasons Gourmet Chinese Restaurant may look unassuming from its position next to a local gas station, but locals can attest to the fine quality of the food within. Favorite dishes include Mongolian beef, walnut shrimp and lotus nut buns made in Cantonese style. Though the decor's nothing to write home about, the incredibly reasonable prices and high taste factor make this a keeper. Locals also say the service is excellent for such a small place. If you're craving Mexican, Taqueria Davis has all the authentic dishes you could want, served in a casual setting. Local favorites include the carne asada fries and taekwando tacos, but most agree that you can't go wrong with nearly anything on the menu. Since Macero Del Norte is so tiny, its nightlife can be quiet and found outside its borders, organized around the bar scene. Froggy's Grill has gained fame for its burgers, but it also functions as a neighborhood bar, with cheap drinks and service locals love. To try out some of the newest vintages, check out VINI Wine Bar for a classy vibe and small plates perfect for date night. The Davis Beer Shoppe and De Vere's Irish Pub have a kicked back vibe, great conversation and pub fare. If you're in the mood for a dive bar serving the college crowd, make your way to G Street Wunderbar, where you'll find pool, cheap drinks and live music.

Since Macero Del Norte is both a very small neighborhood and outlying to Davis and Sacramento, most residents choose to drive. Accessibility to Interstate 80 and Route 113 makes it easy to get to either city with no problem. You’ll find parking easy to come by and inexpensive.

Unitrans as well as Amtrak provide public transportation in this area. However, neither truly serves the Macero Del Norte area. You won’t find it easy to hail a cab on the street, but you will be able to arrange a pickup from a local cab company or Uber with little trouble.

Though this neighborhood has many pleasant amenities, it’s not considered especially walkable to accomplish errands. Though there are only some bikes lanes, cyclists can still feel safe because of the lack of traffic.

The Macero Del Norte neighborhood wraps around the area’s primary green space, Pioneer Park. Nicely shaded with amenities such as a basketball court, off-leash dog area, picnic area, barbecues, soccer field, tennis courts and kids’ play area, this park has something for everyone. Exercisers are welcome for a variety of active pursuits, while well-behaved dogs can run free. Since this park does not have a fence, however, only dogs that won’t run away will do well. There’s no charge to use the park.

The nearest annual event is Davis Beer Week, held each August. Regional brewing heritage is featured, along with local restaurants and pubs with ties to the craft beer industry.

Macero Del Norte’s cost of living sits higher than the Davis and national averages, with a typical one-bedroom residence renting for around $1,000 per month.

It costs just $1 to get to Davis on a Unitrans bus, but no such bus comes very close to Macero Del Norte. A beer at a local pub runs about $5 to $6, and gas runs around 17 percent higher here than the national average.

Most of Macero Del Norte's shopping options are located outside its borders near the UC Davis campus. Though there's no central shopping district, several large chains like Forever 21 and Target can be found in this area, as well as smaller boutiques. There's no high-end or luxury shopping nearby. Boheme Used Clothing & Gifts sells hip used clothing for men, women and tweens along with cute items like incense holders and wallets. Locals love the high quality of the goods here and that you can sell your own gently used items for cash upfront. Found has antiques and jewelry picked up on the owner's trips around the world. You'll find costume jewelry and blankets from India, Chinese costumes and other treasures. Those in the know say that they love the personalized, friendly service and reasonable prices here, which keep them coming back again and again. For groceries, Safeway provides the closest option to Macero Del Norte. However, if you're looking for healthy options, try the Whole Foods Market just to the west or Olive Drive Market for exemplary customer service and beverage tips. The area's closest farmers market happens in Davis on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Locals love the organic produce and location near Central Park, where there's a play structure and carousel rides for the kids.