Best of the Burbs 2014: Best of Carmichael & Fair Oaks writers’ picks

Best biblically themed cheap tacos

El Mana Restaurant

To raise money to purchase a church home, volunteers from Sacramento's Palabra Miel congregation transformed a former coffee shop into a delicious taqueria and pupuseria. The food is healthy, fresh and inexpensive. And what better name than El Mana? Surely tacos named after the food that fell from heaven to nourish Israelites in the desert can sustain you at your desk job. 7429 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael, (916) 904-9842. B.C.

Best loitering wildlife

Effie Yeaw Nature Center

Suburbs are heavy on strip malls. Repetitive blocks of Starbucks and Safeways (and Starbucks inside Safeways) can wear on your spirit. Get out of your car and into the wild. The trails behind Effie Yeaw Nature Center practically guarantee wildlife sightings. Deer and turkey loiter about like aimless teenagers, as woodpeckers and turkey vultures busy themselves above. It’s the natural cure for suburban blues. Inside Ancil Hoffman County Park, 2850 San Lorenzo Way in Carmichael; (916) 489-4918; www.sacnaturecenter.com. B.C.

Best food-truck party with minimal lines

Park Rec & Eat It

Food-truck-festival lines are legend, but smaller crowds are one of the perks of doing things outside of the central city. Popular food trucks like Chando's Tacos, Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen and Green Papaya Food Truck set up inside Carmichael Park on the first Thursday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Park Rec & Eat It nights. Enjoy live music and easy dinner access. Carmichael Park, 5750 Grant Avenue in Carmichael; (916) 485-5322; www.carmichaelpark.com. B.C.

Best vegan soup in the known universe

El Papagayo Restaurant's vegan albondigas

El Papagayo Restaurant has proven itself vegan-friendly with all-you-can-eat vegan-taco nights and an ever-expanding list of vegan innovations tucked inside its regular menu. But one of its recent creations may be the restaurant's greatest gift to vegankind: a new version of albondigas, Mexico's traditional spicy-meatball soup. Handcrafted whole grain “meatballs” float in savory broth alongside potatoes, carrots, chayote squash and dried chilies. A bundle of warm tortillas and a generous plate of onions, cilantro and lime slices ride shotgun. The meal satisfies the Mexican-food jones, but leaves you feeling light. Genius. 5804 Marconi Avenue in Carmichael, (916) 487-7742, www.elpapagayo.net. B.C.

Best place to reclaim the past

Fair Oaks Boulevard

Next time you're bored on a Saturday afternoon, head over to that winding stretch of Fair Oaks Boulevard just south of Sunrise Boulevard. There are at least four antique shops here near the heart of Old Fair Oaks Village Park, ready for browsing. Choices include Bungalow Vintage Living (10139 Fair Oaks Boulevard), Blue Eagle Antiques (10201 Fair Oaks Boulevard) and Wink Fair Oaks (10147 Fair Oaks Boulevard)—which also carries new home and garden items. All are just around the corner from the Sunflower Natural Food Restaurant—a longtime favorite spot for a hearty vegetarian lunch. All the better to power up with before you power shop. R.L.

Best gardening inspiration

Fair Oaks Horticulture Center

The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Sacramento County know how to throw a garden party. Its monthly open gardens and workshops at Fair Oaks Horticulture Center give aspiring green thumbs a chance to have their questions answered by experts. Already know it all? Then just wander the center's garden plots to get ideas. 11549 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, (916) 875-6913, http://ucanr.edu/sites/sacmg. B.C.

Best summertime patio for margaritas

Carmelita's Restaurant in Fair Oaks Village

Carmelita's Restaurant's spacious, breezy patio is totally removed from the street and decorated with shaded tables, comfy couches and enough Mexican folk art to make you feel like you're on vacation. Generous baskets of chips and multiple flavors of margaritas (we recommend the mango) will have you relaxed and ready for summer. 4071 Howard Street in Fair Oaks, (916) 961-3327, http://carmelitasrestaurant.com. B.C.

Best place to pretend you're in Holland

Jensen Botanical Garden when the tulips bloom

This secluded oasis is worth a trip any time of year for its picturesque landscaping, burbling stream and singing frogs. But every March, a field of tulips blooms under the sprawling oak tree in the garden's heart. It's a tiny scene out of the famous Dutch tulip farms. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and Carmichael shutterbugs alike. 8520 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael, (916) 485-5322, http://carmichaelpark.com/jensen-botanical-garden. B.C.