Chico spring break

Day Three: Fuel up on pastries before antiquing and boutiquing

Return to Bidwell Park for an early-morning jog, stroll, or bike ride and you'll be in good company ― from fellow exercisers and dog walkers to curious deer and scampering chipmunks. Appetite piqued, head straight for the Upper Crust Bakery & Cafe, where still-warm scones and muffins await. Linger with the newspaper or a good read from the Bookstore next door.

Or eat and run: There's shopping to be done. Many of the independently owned boutiques downtown are worth exploring. LuLu's Fashion Lounge and Gigi Shoe Parlor sell stylish heels and colorful skirts and tops; Zucchini & Vine is great for gourmets.

Next, take a 15-mile drive northeast, climbing up the Sierra Nevada foothills to Paradise, where good finds and great deals make it true heaven for the antiques-obsessed. A short detour on the way back takes you to the 1894 Honey Run Covered Bridge.

No visit is complete without a stop at Madison Bear Garden, the unofficial social center for Chico State students, which is plastered in antiques and photographs from the Wildcats' triumphs ― plus retro video games, a sunny back patio, and, of course, plenty of ice-cold draws.

Details

• Upper Crust Bakery & Cafe. $; breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. 130 Main; 530/895-3866.

• The Bookstore. 118 Main; 530/345-7441.

• LuLu's Fashion Lounge. 212 Main; 530/343-3545.

• Gigi Shoe Parlor. 112 W. Second; 530/345-1512.

• Zucchini & Vine. 204 Main; 530/345-3551.

• Attic Treasures Mall. 7409 Skyway, Paradise; 530/876-1541.

• Honey Run Covered Bridge. At Centerville and Honey Run Roads, 5 mi. east of downtown Chico.

• Madison Bear Garden. Burgers, salads, sandwiches. $; lunch and dinner daily. 316 W. Second; 530/891-1639.