Tips to Enjoying a Trip on the Sacramento River Delta

Getting there: Drive 1 1/2 hours northeast of San Francisco via any number of routes, or one hour southwest of Sacramento on Highway 160.

Where to stay: Grand Island Inn, 14340 Highway 160, Ryde, Calif. 95680, (916) 776-1318. Deco-esque rooms for two: $50 to $99. Open April to October.

Hotel Del Rio, 209 2nd St., Isleton 95641, (916) 777-6033. Doubles: $35-$55.

Rio Vista Hotel, 10 North 2nd St., Rio Vista 94571, (707) 374-6415. Double with private bath: $20.

B&W; Resort, 964 Brannan Island Road, Isleton, (916) 777-6161. Cabins with kitchenettes: $47-$72.

Campsites at Brannan Island State Recreation Area, 17645 Highway 160, Rio Vista, (916) 777-6671. Reserve space by calling Mistix at (800) 444-7275.

Where to eat: The Grand Island Inn serves meals on weekends only, including Sunday brunch, for $13 with champagne.

Grand Island Mansion, 13415 Grand Island Road, near Walnut Grove, (916) 775-1705. Sunday brunch: $16 with champagne.

Foster’s Bighorn, 143 Main St., Rio Vista. Prices: lunch $5, dinner $13, every day except Tuesday.

Al’s Place, Main Street, Locke. Prices: lunch $6, dinner about $12.

For more information: The Delta Chamber of Commerce, (916) 777-5007, will mail an informative package on lodgings, where to fish and rent boats, etc. Some businesses close in winter, so call ahead. Hal Schell, author of several books and maps on the Delta, sells them directly. Call him at (209) 951-7821. Dolphin Charters offers full-day and weekend Delta natural history cruises year-round. Call (415) 527-9622.