Davis is a beautiful city! I recommend walking through the Arboretum on campus—it’s huge and gorgeous. If you like live music, depending on when you’re coming, you should check out Sophia’s Thai Bar. They have live music many nights of the week during the warmer months. I can’t remember when their schedule starts back up.
Sacramento, which is a fifteen minute drive east, has great nightlife, restaurants of every ethnicity, shopping galore, and a few great art museums. Check out Kasbah and Tapa the World for great food—they’re right next to each other on J St at 21st. Or the Tower Cafe, at 15th and Broadway. The Tower Theater adjoins the cafe, and they have great art films and movies slightly off the beaten path.
The Crocker Art museum is at 216 O St. It’s a great museum. I think Sundays are free admission. Then there’s Old Sacramento, which is kind of corny but pretty fun—it’s an area dressed up to look like Sacramento in the Gold Rush days, with period saloons, storefronts, costume shops, etc.

Have fun!

If you’re visiting on a Wednesday or Saturday, Farmer’s Market in Central Park is a must. The green belt and UC Davis arboretum are good too. Check out Daviswiki.org for up to date events on what going on in town.

Arboretum for sure—walk along the river and look for turtles and green and white-crowned herons. And Sophie’s is fucking amazing Thai food, too, pardon my Thai.

Shambhala Meditation Center downtown is one of the all-time greats, if you’re into that.

I agree with the Arboretum walk or you could rent bikes since Davis has some of the best bike paths built into their city. Also don’t miss having a burrito at Dos Coyotes!