I spent so much of my undergrad here at the ARC. Lovely place to be, many amenities and sports to accommodate all. Highly recommend with my utmost respectful regard! read more

The ARC & Pavilion - First time trying out Taekwondo. The teacher is an asshole - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

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Best gym, although it will get packed during the quarter there is always something to use and the atmosphere and Davis culture is second to none. read more

Tried to inquire about pricing and was met with the worst customer service phone experience. The male worker on the phone was incredibly rude, unhelpful and clearly tried to me feel stupid for just asking about pricing when I was trying to clarify what the website had said. I was looking for a nice place to go workout over the summer but will not be going here due to the clearly unwelcoming environment present at this gym. read more

The facilities are top tier, for sure. What's unacceptable is the level of service at the ARC. We have repeatedly been kicked out prior to closing time 8:45 when it closes at 9, 11:45 when it closes at 12. Staff needs to let us stay until the proper closing time. Overcrowded with students. Although large with a lot of equipment, the sheer number of people sometimes makes it unbearable to get anything done. Needs more respectful and friendly staff, and the overcrowded nature really brings it down. read more

The newly renovated ARC is so beautiful! It has everything you could ever need and more. Even when it's busy, it's never too busy to simply modify your workout. Their hours during the school year make it so that you can easily fit a workout in, too! Sunday: 9 am - 12 am Monday - Thursday: 5 am - 12 am Friday: 5 am - 11 pm Saturday: 8 am - 9 pm read more

I seriously contemplated giving them fewer than 5 stars when they charged me a $25 fee for my passport application (on top of the $110 renewal fee), but then I looked it up: "An execution fee of $25 is mandatory when submitting Form DS-11. This is paid to the agent that adjudicates the application. " (http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/how-much-does-a-passport-cost.html) This means that on top of being a fairly well stocked gymnasium, one can take care of any number of tasks...like applying for a passport. I'd say a good 99.999% of the patrons here do not come for services like that. Instead, it is a relatively new gymnasium with plenty of study space. (study at the gym??? I ask the same thing each time.) There is a full-on Starbucks at this gym. Not a joke. Oh, and the workout facilities are nice also. They can get crowded. Try coming at an off hour- you'll be surprised how empty it actually does get. read more

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Alright, so I have to say that the ARC is basically my second home in Davis. I usually go to the arc about 4-5 times a week. The people here are nice and they are pretty chill. I usually use their weight room, the indoor track, or the pavilion and sometimes the basketball courts. The weight room definitely gets packed at night and it would take a while to get a set of weights if you're in there during that time. So if you want a good and quick workout I would probably suggest coming in the morning or around 3-4pm (this is during the summer; not sure if it's the same around the school year). Most of the time I use the pavilion to run laps, run stairs, or to do other random workouts. I enjoy running in the pavilion instead of the indoor track because the times I went in the pavilion it was always empty. The indoor track isn't always really full but I don't bother using it that much since it's weirdly shaped. The basketball courts here are decent but it is always crowded so it's hard to shoot hoops by yourself or get into a game. Also, on the second floor they also have the mat room (the room is full of mats everywhere) and a few extra rooms with mirrors where exercising classes are held or other random events are held like dance practices, etc. I really like using the mat room when I want to do an ab workout or just stretch. But you can only go during a time when there is not a class going on like a martial arts class for example. The only time I use the other rooms with the mirrors is when I am signed up for Andrea Khoo's classes ( I definitely recommend taking her classes; she is amazing, super nice, and a big motivator). All her classes are fun and will certainly give you a good workout. My goal is to still try out the other exercising classes that the ARC has to offer and to try out the racket ball rooms! Overall, I would say that the ARC is a really good place to workout or to even just chill and study in the lounges they have on the first floor. I will for sure miss this place once I graduate. read more

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Gym renovation complete (Spring 2019). Larger gym with more equipments... which leads to attraction of more people, so still have to wait on occasions. I also want to add that I dislike the new wipes they provide since it leaves an oily residue on the machines/screens - gross. I prefer the old paper towel/spray stations instead. read more

They change their hours at any time, with little to no notice and dont care how it affects anyone else.

The ARC is the University gym and rec center for UC Davis, so as you can imagine majority of the gym members are students or faculty. As a result, the gym hours depend on the quarter schedule which can be annoying during breaks for us who live in Davis year round. The gym itself is kept very clean and equipment is generally in good condition. There's 10 power racks and 3 benches, but the lines here are insane during peak hours. If you can't afford the time to wait for equipment look into another gym. At the time of this review, the weight room is currently on the basketball court while construction is being done. So it'll be better in 2019 once it's complete and moved back. read more

The facilities are nice but the staff are vile and rude. I've never had a good interaction with the people who check you in and it's a real bummer. I'm a student and the people who work here make me feel ostracized and nervous to come in. read more

This place is well maintained and just upgraded most of its weights and machines last year. The only downside is that its constantly overcrowded in the weight room. Hitting the gym before 8am or during the last hour of opening is basically the only time you can get a squat rack without waiting. There's also a rock climbing wall, indoor track, racket ball courts, and studios. There's cardio machines throughout the entire gym so you don't have to be stuck in the stuffy weight room. read more

I've actually never been a student here, but have alumni friends who introduced me to the arc back in the day when I would come visit. Now, living about 40 minutes away, I come get a day pass a couple times a year to get some hoops in! Being in my early 30s now, I'm just happy to be able to hang with these students, lol! As far as the facilities go, they're awesome! As far as the basketball courts go, the floors and hoops are all great and are college/pro style. I've only used the weight room once or twice, but the equipment is all high quality. The weight room does get understandably crowded, however. The locker room is pretty spacious and is clean most of the time. My friends and I will be back in a few months, probably. Lol, you might recognize us as the "young, old guys." read more

The ARC & Pavilion - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

The best thing about UC Davis!! Ever since the ARC weight room got renovated, it has gotten a lot better and it manages all the space to its maximum potential. It has a lot of running machines, treadmills, three benching stations, lots of squat racks (around 10?), benches to do free weights and many manual machines as well. The ARC can get busy from 3pm-6pm so watch out for that! The ARC offers free parking during the weekend and after 10PM on weekdays. read more

The ARC & Pavilion - Entrance - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

One of the best gyms I've been to! The weight room can get really crowded, so sometimes you have to wait for the equipment. I've tried going at different times (early morning, 10/11, noon, afternoon, evening) but I can never find a consistent time where I don't have to wait long for equipment, so it's a matter of getting lucky, being flexible with your workout schedule, going for what's available.. or just waiting because sometimes it is inevitable. Sometimes the line for squat rack is insanely long, going all the way to the desk in the center of the room, which is quite long. I once waited 30 minutes and gave up. Sometimes there's even a line for the benches. There are a lot of free weights, a nice track upstairs with cubbies to place your things, and a lot of foam rollers available that I tend to use after my workouts to help relieve tension in my muscles. The bathrooms and locker room are pretty clean. There's a large basketball, volleyball court, racquetball area, rock climbing wall, lots more and even a study area which is to the side of their lobby. The ARC also offers try-before-you-buy classes at the beginning of every quarter. Overall, the ARC has everything I need for all my workouts. If you forget your ID, you're allowed to tell them your ID up to 3x (I forgot to ask if it was per quarter or per year). I used that method when I lost my ID for a few days! read more

This is the biggest gym I've ever been to. It's got everything except a swimming pool. You should definitely take advantage of this place if you're a student!! I liked coming here to play badminton. Come here early though because the courts are usually full by the afternoon. It's also a great place to study - free AC! Also, if you're ever interested in joining yoga, pilates, dance, or martial arts they have a great try before you buy program. read more

I have coached at SONC Summer Games for the past 7 years. The last 2, our "Opening Ceremonies" and our "Group Social Event" has been held at the ARC & Pavilion. LOVE LOVE LOVE! The facility itself is huge, and out athletes (and Law Enforcement Supports) REALLY enjoy that the event is INSIDE where it is air conditioned! The "kids" get a kick out of being ON the court where the Aggies play! How cool is that? Easy access for the disabled, cool and comfortable. We REALLY get our dance moves on, and the seating allows for us to JUMP up and CHEER. High kudos to the AMAZING Aggie Staff that runs the ARC & Pavilion! You are the BEST! read more

The ARC & Pavilion - Summer Games! - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

How can I give the ARC less than 5 stars? This place has everything! I'd like to consider myself as a regular since I try to go 5 times a week. I normally go to run and lift, but I also play badminton and basketball from time to time. The weight room here is really big and has weights for everyone. You can be a total noob, or a workout addict and there will always be something for you. I really like how many options there are to work out. There are isolation-machines, compound machines, free-weights, and lots more. If you're looking to run and don't feel like running on the indoor track, there are treadmills, ellipticals, stair-climbers, and bikes in just about every corner. The ARC also offers 3 basketball courts and 1 volley court on a regular day. They alternate days for indoor soccer and badminton in the MAC, which is basically a mini-gym inside the gym. Upstairs, there are 8 racquetball and squash court along with an indoor track. There's also a mat room, normally used for martial arts classes, a workout room (they offer classes such as zumba and cross-fit), and a dance studio (workout classes are also taught here). If all the treadmills and ellipticals were taken up downstairs, there's a good 15-20 upstairs as well. The Pavillion provides stairs and natural track for people to run and train. There are also mirrors on opposite ends where a lot of clubs go to practice dance. Sometimes there are badminton courts set up as well. If you're just looking for a workout, you can go at any time of the day, although it tends to get really busy after 5pm when students end classes. If you're looking to play basketball, you can expect to see 5v5 games going all day from 10am-close. If you want to shoot around, the best time would have to be before 9:30am. Overall the ARC is amazing. The staff here are really nice and helpful. The place is very well kept, and all the equipment are all working 99.9% of the time. read more

Being the lazy person that I am, this reviews means a lot. THE ARC IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD!!!! There is so much to do here. There's squash courts, weight rooms, treadmills, and mirror rooms with padded flooers. You can do practically anything in here. The environment is so nice too. Being around so many people working out makes you motivated to do more and work off those calories. I myself don't work out very much. I consider bike rides to classes as my exercise for the day. However, on the rare occasion where I feel very inspired to get off my lazy ass, the ARC is the prefect place to go to. The equipment is great and the place is always clean. I've never had trouble looking for an open treadmill or a spot to stretch. Other bonuses are the upper level track and the rock climbing wall. There's also WiFi access, a gift shop and a food store. I mean, they have anything you're looking for. And if you don't feel like working out, just show up in a spiffy gym outfit and check out the guys, or girls for some people. Seriously, go to the ARC. Once you step in, you'll be wanting to come back. Unless you are like me and you're still too lazy to do anything. read more

The ARC has mostly everything a college student can ask for when wanting to exercise, do recreational activities, or play a sport. This place is so convenient because it is on campus and whenever I feel like I need to run, I can simply bike or walk over to the gym to exercise. I like the mats and dumbbells for toning. They provide lockers and shower stalls. They have badminton and rackets available for current students free of charge - as long as you don't break it or do any sorts of damage to it. (Basketball courts, volleyball courts, rock climbing area, dance rooms and etc are available.) This place is huge, modern and up to date. The ARC is very versatile - in ways, which you can study here, hold fundraisers, events, clubs and other activities. read more

Lucky to be one of the classes that got to see the ARC transform itself into the gym it is today. This gym has everything and it has become one of my favorite places on campus. The weight room has 16 cages for deadlifts, squats or benching. There are still 6 benches as well including one overhead, one decline, one incline and three normal benches. There are 3 racks of free weights so there is rarely a time when you cant find your weights. I highly encourage students to take advantage of the ARC, if not the weightroom than its other various aspects like gym classess, rock wall and indoor track. There are plenty of cardio machines and trendmills for everyone. Yes the ARC does get crowded but that is just something everyone has to deal with at every gym. The staff are friendly and keep the ARC in good condition. I also recommend people to use the pavilion when it is open, you can use the pav as another indoor track and one can also play badminton or ping pong etc. Seriously, this place was my go to place to destress. Use the ARC as much as possible because no other gym will ever be as awesome as the ARC! read more

One of the many benefits of attending UC Davis, is free access to The Arc & Pavilion gym. It's by far...one of the best gyms I have ever worked out at. It's super clean and I love how I'm not limited to just cardio and lifting, as they have plenty of other options for working out. They have a full-sized indoor track that floats over multiple basketball courts. They have a huge room for aerobic classes, volleyball courts, badminton courts, and several rooms for racket ball. They even have a freaking wall for rock climbing! I'm pretty grateful to have this amenity available to me, it's great to be able to relieve some stress from all that studying (or cramming). read more

The ARC & Pavilion - View of the full-size indoor track from the ellipticals. - Gyms Near Me - Davis, California

Talk about MO-TI-VATION! As a growing College student you realize that living through the freshmen 15 is not the best idea. You feel fat, lazy and worthless...Well thats why the ARC is your solution. For the Ladies: HOT muscular guys with their shirts off For the Guys: Sexy ladies strutting their stuff on the tred They have made some big changes through out the 4 years that I have attended Davis..better and more high tech mechines Best time to go: early in the morning at 6am or mid day around 12pm but anytime after 3pm it gets PACKED!!! The place is very clean and very BIG!! there are many machines to use either in 1) the weight room 2) upstairs by the raquetball area. Studios: there are about 3 studios for use. 1) 1 has a a huge mat for say tumbling or messing around or if you wanna get down, dirty and play rough, you can practice your martial arts! 2) 2 rooms have a floor, 1 room is usually locked because it contains many yoga equipment, but the other is usually available to use. There is a track to run on about 2 lanes and you can watch basketball or volleyball down below. But i wouldn't recommend it unless you want to be a creeper. Job: everything here is student run, the classes are taught by students and it is maintained by students! Overall you will have a good workout and be motivated by the other college students around who are fit! I don't have a membership anywhere else, but from what i hear from others, the ARC is by far the best compared to other UC gyms and some 24 fitness read more

One of the best gyms I've seen in my life. Too bad I was only able to use it for one semester. . . read more

I LOVE this gym! It has high ceiling and it's nice. The weight/cardio room can be crowded at certain times but it's relatively cool (not as cool as the outside though). I like the newer machines with the TV monitors, very neat! I love the outdoor track. I mainly just use the outdoor track and the machines in the cardio room, and sometimes the circuit machines near the basketball courts. If you want a towel or some equipment, you can check it out at the desk inside to get it. I also like the internet. It's just UCDavis Wi-Fi. The outside of the ARC is nice as well, it makes it a nice lounging area. A lot of people study there - including myself - because I don't like the quietness of the library but I like the colors and atmosphere of the ARC. Note: If you go to another UC, you can access this gym as well. Try it out. Ask the front desk. read more

Best gym ever! Machines rock, huge facility, nice studios for dance and martial arts. I am going to miss this gym sooo much when I graduate from UCD! I am so thankful for this exceptional gym! Oh, and service is usually excellent, too! :) read more

Great place to come work out. I had a lot of anxiety in the beginning but when I took a first year experience class that had me walk inside the gym I had a chance to look around and see some things and ask him questions we took a yoga class and it opened up my eyes so many different things. It sucks because I wish these type of classes were mandatory for students. You know the resources are here for students to use but we're so busy with class and midterms and being on a quarter sister move so fast it's really hard to get away and enjoy meditation or work out. It can feel like a real job but I love working out here. It was never really busy when I went I do know that outside members who do not attend UC Davis can also come to the gym, so it's not as easy to students the showers are decent. The water does get really hot. All the lockers are usually full towards the back so you usually have to use empty lockers in the front I do wish there was more seating in the showers so if you're in the shower, you can have your bag with you and not in the locker room area but I get it I'm very OCD so sometimes I do wipe the showers down but the fact that I am even willing to get naked and take a shower. It was not that bad. You can wipe down the machines after every use and they do offer different classes on different stuff so it is pretty cool. I just have to remember that I also have homework and stuff to do to not get carried away. Awesome. Check it out. read more

This is the place to get fit so put your wii down and take a trip to the arc where you have fine facilities and can increase in your athletic abilities The ARC is fairly new, the facilites are clean and it has a decent weight room (kind of small for the amount of people who go in to use it), nice racquetball courts, an indoor multipurpose room (for badminton, indoor soccer, and volleyball), martial arts/aerobics room, and really nice basketball courts. The running track upstairs is kind of funky....not to mention the smell when you run past the climbing wall, but other than that, this place is legit. read more

An overabundance of firm college-aged badonkadonk and iron. What's not to like? Also, what better environment to boost your testosterone levels than this one? Short answer: Nothing! Oh, and lets not forget about the 4 full size basketball courts at your whim. If there's been any particular building I will miss about UC Davis the most, it would be the ARC - bar none. Here, your exhaustive workouts result in muscle gain and/or fat loss. As a counterexample: At the library, you study your ass off and your success rate is still up in the air. But wait, the possibilities don't cease there! The varying weight/cardio equipment ensures that there is bound to be something for you. Need an idea for a date? Men can invite their crush here to leave them swooning at their hulking mass of vascularity, while women can exhibit their curves in attempts to wet the appetite of their potential sugar daddies. Or you can just work up an appetite and agree to a more civilized lunch or dinner date afterward. All in all, my life changed considerably with the consistent time I spent at the ARC...in fact, it was one of the more rare places where I felt like I was able to mold myself not only physically, but mentally as well. Even though it isn't open 24 hours, it's open late enough to where if I was in a crappy mood, I can still go and release all my negative energy in a healthy and rewarding manner....which cannot be said of a lot of places on the campus....you certainly wouldn't want to do that in a classroom or in a frat house party. read more

It may be a little unfair that I'm re-reviewing it to give it the same amount of stars, but you don't understand how much I miss this place. Why oh why didn't I utilize it more during my first and second years there?! :'( (1-2 times per week for dance practice do not even out my student fees.) I think I will be forever spoiled by this gym, so much so that every other gym I go to won't measure up. (I'd think it'd be pretty difficult to. ;_; ) I love... +the amazing hours +the weight room *-* (seriously, every other place I've been to is nowhere near as awesome as this one) +dance room (4 years worth of NKOH memories) +Hapkido club (I was there for a quarter; it was pretty effing fun) +lounge (really comfy, great place to meet with study buddies or to exchange items like textbooks and t-shirts; also a great place to sleep) I miss you. :[ Please move back to the bay with me! read more

Hands down the BEST gym I've ever been to. When I was an undergrad (and a tech) here, I would come here several times a week. While during peak hours it can get pretty busy, off-hours are normally empty. The weight room is pretty decently stocked, but when it's busy it can get hard to get a machine that you want. But there's also cardio equipment and free weights, so that's normally not a problem. The MAC has, in my opinion, the best floors for badminton in the ARC and pavilion, especially when they're freshly buffered. Just the right amount of traction - although the lights can take some getting used to. Basketball area has really high ceilings which just makes the whole place seem a lot bigger to me. The Pavilion is HUGE! Although there are areas behind the bleachers for volleyball/badminton or whatever else, the upper floor looks down on a huge "activities" floor - not just for basketball! There's also multiple sport studio-type rooms for martial arts or other classes. I took a cycling class here and the instructors that I had were always really enthusiastic and willing to help - and that class filled up fast! There's always something to do at the ARC. Even for people who want a somewhat nontraditional area to study, there's places at the ARC for that too! read more

Being here for almost 4 years, I haven't been to a gym as good as this one. Not only does it have an indoor running track, it also has a climbing wall and table tennis tables in the Pavilion. The tables may not be in the best of qualities but they are still Butterfly, Killerspin and such; they're very sturdy and good for normal uses (not for tournaments though). It does suck when you hit too high and lose a ball down in the lower pavilion but oh well, just don't use 3 star balls, each loss will be $1. I really like the dance studio; very well lite and fans on the ceiling, perfect when you're working up a sweat. There are pretty much all kinds of exercise equipment that you can think of there to use. On top of all the exercise equipment, you can always check out items like a basketball to use in the indoor court. Despite this place being a gym, it's also a really good study space with comfy chairs and a Starbucks attached to it :] I'm sure getting a drink after workout will defeat the purpose of trying to lose a few calories but c'est la vie read more

I've been coming to the ARC very consistently since the beginning of Winter Quarter. In many ways, the place has become like a second home to me! However, there are a few areas where the ARC could definitely improve. 1. It gets crowded a lot of the time, especially during the afternoon and evening. I like to come during the middle of the day, around 1 or 2 PM and the gym is usually pretty empty (I never go anywhere near the weight room as that always looks bustling and full of testosterone). 2. The customer service is absolute shit. The attitude that some of the student staff has is absolutely horrendous. I'm aware that it isn't particularly fun to sit and swipe your fellow students in, but it isn't the worst job in the world and you should at least make some attempt at being courteous. I'm a very polite person, so the fact that some of the staff has such terrible attitudes definitely irks me. At some points, it feels like they're irritated that you're even asking for help. The attitude issue is definitely something management needs to address. 3. GroupX passes are a scam. We already pay thousands of dollars for this facility every year. When I first came to Davis, I was told that we would have full and unlimited access to the ARC, so it felt like a slap in the face when I was told that, on top of everything else I pay to attend the university, they still want more money for me to be able to attend the group exercise classes. That is NOT unlimited access. 4. This point is probably connected to the previous one, but I guess it just feels like there are so many fees and ridiculous stipulations for you to just come and work out at a gym that you already pay for. It has a very corporate feeling. Some of the pros of the ARC is that it is usually well-maintained and the machines all work perfectly. read more

There should NOT be a 1/5 gym for a 5/5 school. UC Davis needs to invest in the physical health of its students. Please update the weight room! It is *NOT* that the weight room is overcrowded as stated in other reviews; in fact, it is that the gym is *REALLY* small, perhaps only big enough to service a population of 2,000 people, not 20,000. If you go to another college gym, you will realize just how small this gym's weight room really is. This gym is like a 7-11 and other gyms are like Costcos. There are only 8-9 utility benches to use at any time, meaning you have to wait for a utility bench (!). You have to fight for mirror space, and you are constantly in the walking space of other people no matter where you lift. There are 10 racks BUT they are stacked behind each other. This is a major health hazard, and I have seen people several times almost get injured because of the person directly in front/behind of them. It is dangerous to squat directly in front or behind a person, and I have no idea how the squat rack placement passed safety checks. It is literally a lawsuit waiting to happen! Please UC Davis, read this and rectify the problem! No one wants a kid to get hurt because of the bonehead squat rack placement. There are not enough places (or any place) to do free weight exercises. There is no deadlift area, so people are forced to do deadlifts in/near the squat racks. There are no straight barbells, so people use the straight barbells in the squat racks. Also, some people who frequent this gym are not told proper gym etiquette -- you will sometimes see someone doing a dumbbell exercise in the squat rack. Given the cluelessness of the facilities in constructing a proper weight room, it's definitely not the gym-goer's fault. What's worse, at peak times, you can expect to wait at least 15 minutes for the squat rack! There is typically a line. It gets even more abysmal, as you constantly feel like you are taking too much time since everyone in line is giving you the stink eye while you are lifting. Even worse, they took out benches for squat racks and so people now bench in the squat rack. This is an entirely acceptable gym practice, but it would not happen if the gym were the proper size and properly equipped. The room always gets a little too hot. It's not cooled enough. Please, ARC, look at other college gyms, spend the 20 bucks on a thermostat, and adjust accordingly! You have to check out small towels, which is an incredibly poor business practice. I realize why they force you to check out towels, but other gyms function just fine with a towel-loss stat on their quarterly reports. Here's a hint: just buy cheaper towels. Instead, people don't check them out and everything is really, really sweaty. There are not enough machines to do general cable exercises, and the cable machines that there are, are always in use or force you to stand in the walking aisle to do the exercise. To rectify these issues, they need to move out the cardio equipment in the weight room. They can move it to the center courtyard area or move it to the front room. Then, add pretty much double the amount of equipment you currently have. So 16 utility benches for 30,000 people, 6 benches for 30,000 people, 12 cable machines for 30,000 people. The weight room will still not be the proper size for a population of 30,000 students, but it will be a much better place to work out. I wouldn't be surprised if potential athletes (which the school puts a lot of money into with fields, stadiums, and gyms of their own) are turned off by seeing this lackluster weight room. It definitely sets a terrible precedent not only for avid lifters but also for people who want to lift weights and for people who want a gym in the same hemisphere as the school's caliber. read more

Exquisite institution forever indebted to the incredible due diligence and dedication of their employee Mia Rassam.

I didn't go to UC Davis while I was in college, but the times I have been here, I've been impressed with how accessable certain facilities and venue for visitors. Case in point is the ARC Pavillion. My daughter had a cheerleading competition over the weekend, and we had to be there by 9AM. It was only a few turns off the 113, and we were right into the parking lot. Very clean and modern facility. The Pavillion where the event took place was very well-lit and well ventilated. Since about 90% of the participants were girls/young women, they converted some of the men's restrooms for women. Even with the now reduced number of restrooms for men, they were still easily assessible. Before the competition started, I had a chance to walk around. Very modern fitness center with bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, machines, and free weights. I also liked the media room, where there were comfortable chairs with desktops for internet access. Nice comfortable chairs for me for take a snooze after the drive. Outside food was not allowed, and they had staff at the door inspecting bags. They "encouraged" visitors to purchase food from their concessions. As those who are familiar with the Campus, you'll need to drive into town to find other dining options. Only downside is there that there is only one way out of the ARC parking lot. After the competition, the parking lot was jammed with people trying to get out. Rather than following the lemming pack, we decided to eat our bento boxes and sushi (half off from Suruki's in San Mateo!), and let the traffic level off. With our late lunch we had some good entertainment from watching the other drivers cussing at each other for cutting them off, or watching some good 'ole boys in their Ford '450's taking matters in their own hands, and do some 4 wheeling and off-roading though the parking lot. Overall, this is a nice venue for a small-scale sporting event. read more

The best thing about being a UC Davis student, free access to the ARC! Well that and the education I suppose. I want to say the ARC was my second home while I was in Davis, but lets be honest, I only came to the ARC after not being able to fit into my jeans or feeling fat. Seriously the ARC is a wonderful place to work out. They have everything and it's super clean. They have tons of work out machines I never used, tread mills, the stair master, badminton courts, an indoor track that I ran around 4 times a week, basketball courts, and a mountain climbing wall. They also offer aerobics, exercise, self defense and dance classes. My favorite thing about the ARC, the racquetball courts. At first my girlfriend and I thought racquetball consisted of hitting the ball really hard against the wall and running away from the bouncing ball until we looked it up online and realized that, that was not the way you played racquetball. Haha but don't worry we eventually learned how to play the right way. For all the guys out there, the girls who come through the ARC are always in tight short shorts. I'm just sayin... read more

I will dedicate my 100th review for one of my favorite places in the world. Okay, a bit exaggeration, but that would be the ARC. No lie, this place was my second home at UC Davis. The ARC's got everything, man. Especially after they got renovated, the place is the bomb. The weight room: more squat racks, and all the cool upgrades. Obviously, avoid the weight room during rush hour, especially right after new years. You will cry after graduation that you won't have this much organized weights and racks anymore. Cardio: plenty of cardio equipments, basically located everywhere. Rock Climbing and Indoor Tracks: make sure to take advantage of them, while you are still in school! Studios: dance studio, martial arts studio. I love love using the martial arts studio for my insanity and stretching sessions with its gentle floorings. the sweat, not so much. Classes: Variety of classes are offered here, I think they are just aight, especially the dancing ones. Make sure to sign up for Andrea Khoo's PE classes though. She will make the 8am classes worth it. PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THE IM SPORTS AND COMPETITIONS: they are so much fun and worth staying up all night without any sleep or food. IM Dodgeball is a favorite for sure! So gather up some friends and have fun! :) read more

BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS... Ok, the ARC doesn't offer all of the above for people but does create smiles and rock hard bodies! When I was an undergraduate (wow, this makes me sound like I'm a dinosaur), I used to come here about a couple of times a week when I had random bursts of "I'm finally going to have a rock hard body"....or when I wanted to scope out the cuties with the bootays. I was a first year when the new and improved ARC was in its' second year of adulthood so it was spanking clean and fresh smelling. Over the years, it has changed in terms of upgrade of equipment, study space and recreational classes. EQUIPMENT: The ARC has been consistently updating their machines, so you always have new machines to get your workout on! The steady stream of new machines have also made the wait to use one not as long! I also like that they added the cleanser and paper towel dispense machines because if I remember correctly, they didn't offer this service before. STUDY SPACE: Loved the computer/study space and comfy individual chairs on the first floor by the sports shop so you can also get your study on. The random futuristic pod is also pretty nice if you want an isolated space while you're waiting for friends. The Starbucks is also a great addition when you want to chug your caffeine fix while you're studying. P.E. & RECREATIONAL CLASSES: Definitely try the try-before-you-buy during the first week of each quarter! I've tried different classes and have enjoyed each one, it's a great alternative to working out. The one class I definitely recommend people to enroll in is the Self Defense class...you definitely learn a lot about how to protect yourself! We're the only UC in the UC system to have this class, so take advantage of this! SERVICE: The students who work here are pretty awesome, they're usually pretty friendly and pretty good looking, haha. I've had a couple of friends who worked here when they were undergraduates too and they used to tell me that the ARC was a chill place to work at...so if you're looking for a on-campus job, apply here! A word to the wise... Do NOT, I repeat, come here during peak hours like 8-10am or 5-10pm Monday-Thursdays! If you come during those times, expect a wait if you want to use machines in the weight room or upstairs. It's pretty much dead on friday nights and on Saturdays...so if you're bored, you can kill time here! Overall...I have had so many fun experiences associated with the ARC, from self-defense classes to sorority exchanges to even a random date, haha. I love the ARC for its' everything...from the machines to the study space to the good-looking people who work out here! read more

Clean facilities, friendly employees, and good equipment. Only issues I have are that they are ALWAYS OUT OF TOWELS, air conditioning isn't cool enough on some days, and their speed bag breaks often by the boxing equipment. I'd say 10 out of the last 30 times I've gone to the gym they've been out of towels... But it looks like they've gotten better with it because the last 5 times I've had no problem with that! It's strange that some of the water fountains in here spurt out delicious ice cold water, and a few only have room temperature water... Not sure how that works, but if you go to the gym a lot I'm sure you know which ones to go to for delicious thirst quenching water and which ones barely work ;D I'm here 6 days out of the week. It's like my second home. Definitely a great spot to work out at, no other place in Davis can compare. I'm a member at 24 hour fitness too, but the drive isn't worth it when I can come to the ARC for free as a student! It does get crowded after 10 pm and just ridiculous in January and part of February because of the new year resolutioners, but there are times when it's not as packed (afternoons) which is when I try to squeeze in a work out session. If I'm in a hurry and can't go home after my work out, sometimes I stop by the pro shop, that's conveniently located right next to the ARC, and grab a protein bar, muscle milk, or coconut water to refuel! Sometimes I shower here using the tiny dinky towels you can rent for free with your student ID (it's possible I swear!) and study at Starbucks or the lounge that are both next to the ARC too :) read more