The Olive Pit in Corning (Green Olives, Nuts and Olive Oil)

It is always fun to find those little stops along your road trip that provide something different and help you to create new memories and traditions. For my friends and I, every trip to Northern California always has the Olive Pit in Corning in it. This place is in the self-proclaimed “green olive capital of the world,” and while that seems debatable to me, it is a lot of fun to stop at, and I am not even a green olive fan.

The history of The Olive Pit is as follows:

“Over 40 years ago, Pete and Ann Craig displayed several jars of olives on a small shelf of the original Olive Pit – a frosty and hamburger stand – to see if anyone would be interested in buying their locally grown, locally produced olives. People were quick to purchase the olives, and a Corning tradition was born.”

Upon entering, they have a tasting bar that has a plethora of green olives (mixed with everything from blue cheese to bacon) as well as kinds of butter (pumpkin and apple) and olive oil (everything from peach to garlic). All of these are fun to sample, and many of them are quite good. The friendly staff helps you figure out which one you would like and provide you with crackers and bread to try them.

They also have a vast area of nuts and other goodies such as dried fruit and jams. I always pick up the honey raspberry almonds or the butter toffee peanuts, which are heavenly. All of these things help to provide an atmosphere that is a fun way to stretch your legs on a road trip. They have a considerable amount of items to indulge in, and I guarantee there is something there to purchase that you have not seen before.

They also have a restaurant if you are looking to get a full meal in between samplings. The Olive Pit is an excellent place if you want a much-needed stop between Redding and Sacramento. Also, be sure and let me know if you know other great California road trip sights.