Just this past Friday, our class was given the opportunity to visit the Yolo County’s Visitors Office. It was quite informative to learn about what exactly visitors do when they come to visit Davis and also a little bit about the tourism business and how it affects this town. The YCVB is located behind the Hunt Boyer Mansion, a beautiful green colored business that has considerable historical significance to the city of Davis. It is a little difficult to find. A passerby could easily miss it for it is located in a little alcove on the second story. The YCVB is in a small, three room space that is decked out in Yolo County related decor. There is a book shelf dedicated to celebrating the many spectacles and draws of Yolo County. It displays various local wines and produce that has become synonymous with this agrarian town. During our visit, talked to YCVB executive director Alan Humason, a gentleman with considerable knowledge both about the tourism business and the city of Davis. He explained in great detail what it was like running a visitors bureau and from his description, it seems like no easy task. It requires a diverse multitude of different skills. You must be business-savvy, very sociable, and quite enterprising. It seems like a very fluid career, unrestrained by the usual workplace droll that seems to permeate the environment at large corporations and companies. Instead, Mr. Humason is able to be a master of many tasks, something he seems to enjoy immensely. This visit certainly further reinforced the image of Davis as a cultural destination. Much of the tourism draw of this town is its art. I thought it was slightly humorous when Mr. Humason described a trip he was planning for a group of Chinese tourists. As a member of several Asian tour groups, the activities planned are perfectly catered and planned. Inside the YCVB, one can find an array of different maps. There is a food guide to Davis, an art guide to Davis, a historical guide to Davis and the list continues considerably. Another comic point to bring up is how the YCVB capitalized on the phrase YOLO coined and popularized by pop star Drake. He said they try to avoid associating with it as much as possible but their annual magazine featured “you only live once” quite prominently on the cover. Hey, if it works, why not use it? Yolo county was around way before Drake’s time. Anyways this class got me thinking about Davis through the eyes of a visitor. I suppose being a student here, I have already become accustomed to the little town. But whenever I am visited, I see Davis through fresh eyes and am able to see the little quirks that make this town what it is. It is a quaint town that is bustling with cultural activity. There is nothing sleepy about this small town. It is a hubbub of activity that I am lucky to be a part of.
