A Gluten‑Free Mom’s Perfect Day in Vacaville, CA: Outlets, Ice Cream & Family Fun

A Gluten‑Free Mom’s Day in Vacaville, California: Outlets, Ice Cream, Mini Trains & Family Time

If you’ve never heard of Vacaville, California, you’re not alone—I probably wouldn’t know about it either if it weren’t for my aunt and uncle who live there. This visit wasn’t for the happiest reason (funerals never are), but sometimes these moments bring families together in ways that everyday life doesn’t. And in between the emotional parts of the trip, I spent a surprisingly sweet day exploring Vacaville with my mom and my cousin’s teens.

Where We Stayed: Sonesta Essential – Vacaville

We checked into the Sonesta Essential – Vacaville, and honestly, it was perfect for a family meet‑up spot. They have a big open seating area where everyone can gather, catch up, and decompress. The morning breakfast was super convenient, but the real surprise?
✨ A Turkish coffee bar.
Never seen one in a hotel before—and as a tired traveling mom, I absolutely appreciated it.

Morning at the Vacaville Premium Outlets

Since it was a warm California day (the kind that makes you instantly forget winter exists), we kicked things off at the Vacaville Premium Outlets. Lots of room to walk and shop.

Nut Tree Plaza & Fentons Creamery: A Classic Combo

From there, we headed to Nut Tree Plaza, which is designed for younger families, but we didn't mind. Cute shops, lots of outdoor space, and the star of the show:
🍨 Fentons Creamery, where we cooled off with some seriously good ice cream.

And yes—no matter how old we get—we absolutely rode the little Nut Tree train that circles the playground. None of us were too cool for it!

A Sweet Finish at the Jelly Belly Shop

Next stop: the Jelly Belly shop. We grabbed some selfies and treats to take home (or realistically, to eat in the car five minutes later). It’s simple, nostalgic, and fun.

Dinner With Family & My Gluten‑Free Challenge at Korean BBQ

Later on, we met up with my aunt and uncle for Korean BBQ. They were wonderful, the food smelled incredible… but for this gluten‑free mom, it was rough. Once the pre‑marinated meats started hitting the shared grill, it was a full‑on cross‑contamination fiesta.
I ate what I could, laughed it off, and reminded myself: the company matters more than the menu.

Mandatory Stop: In-N-Out (Protein Style for the Win)

Of course, no trip back to the West Coast is complete without In‑N‑Out.
My go‑to?
Protein‑style burger — totally gluten free and totally delicious.
If you have dietary restrictions, this place is a blessing.

Why Vacaville Surprised Me

Vacaville might not be the first place that comes to mind for a family getaway, but it ended up being exactly what we needed: simple joys, warm weather, and time together.

Between:

• the outlet shopping,

• the classic family attractions at Nut Tree,

• Fentons ice cream,

• a fun little Jelly Belly excursion, and

• the comfort of having a cozy hotel home base…

…it turned into a beautiful reminder that joy can pop up in unexpected places—even on emotionally heavy trips.

Travel doesn’t always have to be grand; sometimes it’s just about being together.