French Camp

French Camp is a small town just to the west of Stockton Airport. It is a pretty typical town, except for the fact that two thirds of the population is male.

Why male?

Because a third of the population is locked up in a men’s prison there. That makes up a full third of the population, thus explaining the two guys for every girl demographics of the place. (Of course, unless you like your guy to have a strict curfew and only be able to see you for conjugal visits, not so sure it is really such a panacea for single gals.)

French Camp also has a hospital--San Joaquin County General, I think--and an arms depot to the south, which doesn’t seem like a great combination to me. (Generally, I wouldn’t want my prisons close to my armory myself.

Okay, but my reason for liking French Camp is neither the attractiveness of a bad-boy behind bars (a bit too unavailable even for me) or the chance mass mayhem offered by having a local armory nearby. No, what I like about French Camp is the Ghirardelli Factory Outlet. It is the ideal way to enjoy Ghirardelli chocolates for me: sans Fisherman’s Wharf tourists! You should definitely check this place out if you are in this neck of the woods anytime soon, as I was recently with my bf. You will loooooovvve it!

Okay, but what is it like living in this little town and is it worth it just for the chocolates?

I actually have little idea but I can imagine that it would pretty much suck. For one thing, Stockton is trying to annex you so that they can get more tax revenues and aside from the things I mentioned there really isn’t much to do here. For restaurants and entertainment you have to drive either to Stockton or to Lathrop, and let me tell you, if you look up to Stockton for entertainment and culture, you definitely don’t have much going on.

So my recommendation is come here for the chocolates; but then go back home somewhere else.