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Cambodian Buddhist Temple, Stockton
Courtesy of the Haggin Museum

Stockton

Stockton
Explore the Central Valley ’s port city, on the Sacramento Delta

The ocean-bound freighters dotting Stockton’s waterways seem a bit out of place in this middle-of-California town. Even though it’s 70 miles from the coast, Stockton lies on a winding channel that carves its way inland from San Francisco Bay. At California’s largest inland deep-water port, massive ships carry the region’s agricultural crops out to the Pacific and around the globe.

First time in Stockton? Get a taste for the seafaring life at Stockton Marina, where Opportunity Cruises’ riverboat steers visitors through the Sacramento Delta’s intricate web of inlets and bays. Wander the downtown waterfront, where you can catch live music, baseball, or ice hockey at the side-by-side Stockton Arena and Banner Island Ballpark, then spend the night at the stylish University Plaza Waterfront Hotel.

Landlubbers can stroll among the colourful grandeur of the Cambodian Buddhist Temple, also known as the Wat Dhammararam. The grounds of this working Buddhist temple are adorned with more than 90 vividly painted Buddha statues made of chicken wire and concrete. The temple hosts a three-day Cambodian New Year celebration every April.

More artistry can be found at the Haggin Museum in Victory Park. The 1930s red-brick building houses an intriguing mix of 19th-century European paintings, including a Renoir, and agricultural marvels like the first mud-worthy tractor treads. Don’t miss the collection of Albert Bierstadt’s Yosemite landscapes.

Stockton is prime salad-bowl country. On Saturday mornings, browse the Downtown Farmers' Market, where more than 80 vendors peddle an array of Chinese, Indian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Korean groceries—seafood and soy products, plus mountains of vegetables. Stop at The Fruit Bowl on Waterloo Road for a bucket of peaches, nectarines, or apricots, or sit down for a slice of fresh peach pie.

For dining options, head to the neighbourhood eateries at Pacific Avenue’s Miracle Mile. Try the classy small plates at The AVE, sushi at Cocoro, or crepes at Midtown Creperie. Rev up your energy with a cold brew at Empresso Coffeehouse, housed in the Art Deco Empire Theater. Or, catch a concert or a classic film at the 1930s Bob Hope Fox Theatre. Cross the lobby’s Italian marble floor, then take your seat in one of 2,042 refurbished red velvet chairs. 

Meet-and-Eat Stockton
Meet-and-Eat Stockton
In this edition of California Dream Eater, Stockton chef Michael Midgley takes the Dream Eater on a day trip around his town, which has some of the most diverse culinary options in California’s Central Valley.
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Laura Flippen

Central California

Discover the Central Valley

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13
March
Average (°C)
Mar - May
28°
High
7°
Low
June - Aug
36°
High
16°
Low
Sept - Nov
32°
High
6°
Low
Mar - May
28°
High
7°
Low

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. 

 

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Derrell McCain/Alamy

Best Kept Secret: Solano County

See why this Central Valley region holds its own in terms of good wine, pretty countryside, and cool activities

A treasure awaits about 20 miles east of Napa, in a lovely but largely “secret” area of sprawling countryside and bayfront beauty. This is ...

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Lake Berryessa, located just outside of Winters, has a sunken city underneath it called Monticello.
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Alex Farnum

Davis

You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the perks of this ag-oriented college town

Eco-friendly, liberal leaning, progressive, impressive professor’s homes and fraternity houses—Davis has the hallmarks of a classic American...

SPECIAL FEATURE
Farm-fresh produce, culinary adventures

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...

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Laura Flippen
Stockton HagginMuseum_CV
Laura Flippen

Haggin Museum

Local history merges with world-renowned art at this must-see museum in Stockton’s Victory Park

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...

California's Heartland

California's Heartland
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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...

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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...

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Kodiak Greenwood

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

Map of Shasta Cascade
Some 300 species of birds and mammals make this a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts

Located on the Pacific Flyway 60 miles north of Sacramento, Gray Lodge encompasses 9,200 acres surrounded by agricultural flatlands and...

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Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing

Houseboating

Take to the water on a deluxe floating home

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...

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Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing

California Delta

A boater’s and fisherman’s paradise awaits

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
Dale Goff Photography

Lodi Wine Country

Sample the city’s famous Zinfandels after a day of outdoor fun

Best known for big red wines, particularly old-vine Zinfandels, the American Viticultural Area of...

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The 10 acres of rooms, passages and gardens at Fresno's Forestiere Underground Gardens were excavated by hand using only farming tools.
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Courtesy of Buck Owens Crystal Palace

Bakersfield

Experience California’s oil-rich history, with Basque food and country western music on the side

This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield has...