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 kilometres down the middle of the state, are cities and towns rich with history, international culture, and “everyone’s welcome” charm.
California Questionnaire: Soterios Johnson
Soterios Johnson is not exactly a California expert—not yet, anyway. And that is one big reason why he is the ideal host for the brand-new...
Harris Ranch
Looking for a great place to stop on Highway 5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco? Look no further:...
Road Trip: Central Valley
Famous for its bountiful produce, quality wine, and country music, the Central Valley is California’s heartland. It’s also a place of...
Spotlight: Fresno
Although it’s in the heart of California’s most productive agricultural region, Fresno is...
SPOTLIGHT: BAKERSFIELD
The rapidly growing city of Bakersfield...
Hilmar Cheese Company
Most people are surprised to discover that California is the country’s second largest cheese...
Stockton
The ocean-bound freighters dotting Stockton...
Sacramento River Train
Fresno County Blossom Trail
Spring tends to kick off early in Fresno County with a fast-and-frenzied spectacle of blooming fruit and nut trees. Starting in mid-...
Best Kept Secret: Solano County
A treasure awaits about 20 kilometres east of Napa, in a lovely but largely “secret” area of sprawling countryside and bayfront beauty. This...
9 Great Central Valley Farm Stands
This fertile valley stretches for some 724 kilometres from roughly Chico south to Bakersfield—the pancake-flat belly of California. Farms and...
Davis
Eco-friendly, liberal leaning, progressive, impressive professor’s homes and fraternity houses—Davis has the hallmarks of a classic college...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
Haggin Museum
Housed in an early-19th-century brick building, this handsome art and history museum is the centerpiece of Stockton’s stately Victory Park. The 34...
Trip 3-5 days 10 stops
California's Heartland
This relaxed city has some secret gems that make a pleasing start to your trip. Start at Sundial Bridge, a functional work of art, the remarkable pedestrian bridge, designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, spans the tree-lined, trout-filled Sacramento River in Redding’s Turtle...
This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of pleasant surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield is morphing into a Central Valley hub for arts, culture, and sports, while still offering a glimpse of the region’s past. One fascinating historical site worth...
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 96 kilometres north of Sacramento, Gray Lodge encompasses 3700 hectares surrounded by agricultural flatlands and...
Houseboating
In California, it’s hard to talk about houseboating without talking about the Central Valley. One of the state’s premier places for vacationing in...
Honour the harvest season at this remarkable, family-friendly event, hosted at the beautiful Full Belly Farm in the fertile Capay Valley. The valley, just north of Sacramento, has one of the world...
California Delta
Located northeast of the San Francisco Bay, this 1,000-mile network of inland waterways—the major drainage 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 ...
Fresno
The Central Valley’s largest city makes for a surprisingly lively getaway. Seven stadiums and a pair of arenas satisfy sporty types, and an annual...
Bakersfield
This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of pleasant surprises. Once known for oil and...
Séka Hills Olive Mill and Tasting Room
Intimate Capay Valley is a world apart—with rolling hills and oak woodlands just west of the Sacramento Valley. Like its much larger neighbour,...
