Peacocks Roam Freely Throughout This Secret Lakefront Campground In Northern California

People head out into nature for a variety of reasons. Some pursue activities like hiking and kayaking, while others seek the simple solitude and tranquility that can be experienced at destinations like Kings Canyon, Mammoth Cave, and other underrated parks in the United States. While almost anyone who pitches a tent or hits the trail enjoys soaking up the unspoiled scenery and natural surroundings, spotting wildlife is always a bonus. For some, like birdwatchers, it's the primary motivation for getting out there in the first place.

You don't have to own expensive binoculars or carry an Audubon field guide to get a thrill from encountering avian creatures. Coming across common birds such as ducks, geese, and even woodpeckers in their natural habitat will likely bring a smile to your face, and watching a bald eagle swoop down and grab a fish from the surface of a lake is guaranteed to make your heart soar.

One bird we generally don't think of when enjoying the great outdoors is the peacock. While long appreciated for their majesty and beauty, this colorful breed is largely domesticated in the U.S. and the last thing you'd expect to stroll through your campsite. However, Lake Solano County Park in northern California is a haven for these multichromatic birds, and if you time your visit right, you can catch the males strutting around the peaceful grounds in maximum plumage.

Situated just 13 miles from the town of Vacaville, Lake Solano is a 97-acre reservoir formed by the damming of Putah Creek, a small river flowing out of the foothills of the state's Coast Range. The park was opened in 1973 and draws nature lovers with its ample opportunities for camping, birdwatching, and some of the best fly-fishing in Northern California.

As for the peacocks, the park is home to about 30 birds, but the population fluctuates each year. It is thought that the peacocks wandered away from local farms, where some farmers keep the birds as a form of pest control (they love eating insects and even small snakes). They stroll throughout the grounds and roost in the trees, piercing the air with their eerie, plaintive cries. In addition to Solano Lake, the peacocks have also taken up residence in the nearby town of Winters, to both the pleasure and chagrin of residents. 

Native to South Asia — one of the best places in the world to spot rare wildlife — the blue peacock we know is actually the male incarnation of the Indian peafowl (females are referred to as peahens). These relatives of pheasants and chickens display their dramatic, colorful tail plumage (known as a train) to attract peahens. It only reaches its full color during mating season, which, at Solano Lake, usually comes in the springtime, after the winter rains. This is the best time to head to the park and take in these creatures at their most beautiful.

Just a few miles up the road from Lake Solano Park is the Putah Creek State Wildlife Area. This 673-acre preserve is known for its flora as much as its fauna, with blue oak, cottonwood, and chaparral covering its gently rolling hills. The area is also great for hiking, with the Putah Creek Trail being the most popular. This 6-mile out-and-back path follows the flow of the little river that gives it its name. It's also ideal for swimming, kayaking, and bouldering, for those keen on doing a spot of rock climbing.

Also right there is Lake Berryessa, a 26-mile-long, 3-mile-wide reservoir that sits at the western end of Putah Creek. This big warm-water lake is popular with watersports enthusiasts, as it presents a wide, placid surface perfect for waterskiing, speed boating, jet skiing, and wakeboarding. It also draws anglers from all around in pursuit of its trophy trout, bass, and kokanee salmon, and its many secret coves beg for exploration via kayak or canoe.

The area around Vacaville is also home to the Suisun Valley, one of the state's great under-the-radar wine regions. A late arrival to California's wine scene, Suisun Valley put down roots in 1982 and now hosts around 10 wineries specializing in varietals such as merlot, petite syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. This bucolic countryside is where visitors can enjoy world-class wines in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. For another great hidden wine region in the Golden State, check out Paso Robles, dubbed by Samantha Brown as one of America's most underrated wine regions.