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César E. Chávez National Monument
Central California
Discover the Central Valley

California’s heartland offers up one of the state’s most authentic and sensory-rich experiences, a chance to see—and taste—the state’s bounty at every turn. Follow oak-shaded country roads to farm stands overflowing with fresh produce, and meander along wine trails to some of the state’s most productive vineyards and low-key tasting rooms.
Peaches, plums, apricots, and tomatoes—just some of the ultra-fresh produce you will find at farm stands throughout the valley.
Throughout the broad valley, stretching for over 400 miles/644 kilometers down the middle of the state, are cities and towns rich with history, international culture, and “everyone’s welcome” charm.
Spotlight: Bakersfield
The rapidly growing city of Bakersfield, in California’s southern Central Valley,...
Best Kept Secret: Solano County
A treasure awaits about 20 miles east of Napa, in a lovely but largely “secret” area of sprawling countryside and bayfront beauty. This is ...

9 Great Central Valley Farm Stands
The fertile Central Valley stretches some 450 miles from...
Davis
Eco-friendly, liberal leaning, progressive, impressive professor’s homes and fraternity houses—Davis has the hallmarks of a classic American...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisan cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets are...
Haggin Museum
Housed in an early-19th-century brick building, this handsome art and history museum is the centrepiece of Stockton’s stately Victory Park. The 34...

The Tehama Trail is a surprisingly fertile area—a prime place for farms and ranches. Many invite visitors to stop in and buy fresh produce, artisanal olive oils, and other local food products.
The trail links together nearly two dozen vineyards, orchards, and grass-fed beef ranchers and...
Bakersfield is full of surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, this Central Valley town is morphing into an arts, culture, and sports hub, while still offering a glimpse of the past. Visit Colonel Allensworth State Historic...
Each April, the University of California, Davis, invites the public to its annual and unabashedly friendly...
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Located on the Pacific Flyway 60 miles north of Sacramento, Gray Lodge encompasses 9,200 acres surrounded by agricultural flatlands and...
Houseboating
In California, it’s hard to talk about houseboats without talking about the Central Valley. One of the state’s premier places for holidaying in a...
Honour the harvest season this October at the Hoes Down Harvest Festival, a family-friendly event that takes place at the beautiful...
California Delta
Located north-east of the San Francisco Bay, this 1,000-mile network of inland waterways—the major waterway from the snow-capped Sierra Nevada to...
Lodi Wine Country
Best known for big red wines, particularly old-vine Zinfandels, the American Viticultural Area of...

Bakersfield
This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield has...
Smack-dab in the middle of some of California’s finest farm country, Yolo County is a natural fit for all things edible. There are even novel ways to experience them, like a self-guided visit—...
Spotlight: Fresno
Although it’s in the heart of California’s most productive agricultural region, Fresno is...