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WITH NEARLY 80 wineries and a growing reputation, the Lodi wine region, right, is no longer California's best kept wine secret. The most notable souvenir from a trip through the Central Valley comes from any of the unbeatable roadside produce stands. Be sure to enjoy them before you return home, because the edible treasure of the region is best sampled fresh. City & Town Bicycles outnumber cars in collegetown Davis, with more bikes per capita than any U.S. city. Hotrods and Modesto were the stars of American Graffiti— and auto fans still flock to the valley city. Fresno's architectural history includes brick warehouses along the Santa Fe railroad tracks and the 1928 Pantages Theatre. The Great Outdoors Heritage & Culture Agriculture has drawn a diverse group of people to the Central Valley over the years, including migrant workers from Latin America, Dust Bowl-era farmers and entertaining country music masters. Visitors are always welcome to join regional celebrations, from Basque festivals to harvest days to Portuguese festas—which include bloodless bullfights. SPECIAL EVENTS 2013 ROGUE PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL Feb 28-March 9, Fresno roguefestival.com MARCH MEET March 7-10, Bakersfield famosoraceway.com BRUBECK FESTIVAL March 20-23, Stockton pacific.edu/Brubeck-Institute.html PICNIC DAY April 20, Davis picnicday.ucdavis.edu STOCKTON ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL April 26-28, Stockton asparagusfest.com ZINFEST WINE FESTIVAL May 17-19, Lodi zinfest.com BASQUE FESTIVAL May 26, Bakersfield kcbasqueclub.com Family Fun Families who love wide-open spaces will find plenty to do in the Central Valley. Escape the summer heat by tubing down the Sacramento River, discover the amazing Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, wander through the delta town of Locke, or gawk at restored military aircraft at the Castle Air Museum. CA 170 2013 travel guide to c al ifo r n i a AMERICAN GRAFFITI CAR SHOW & FESTIVAL June 7-9, Modesto northmodestokiwanis.org VILLAGE FEST Sep. 7, Bakersfield bakersfieldvillagefest.com FESTIVAL OF ROSES Sep. 8, Wasco www.ci.wasco.ca.us BIG FRESNO FAIR Oct. 2-13, Fresno fresnofair.com SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL Nov. 1-3, Lodi cranefestival.com DALE GOFF PHOTOGRAPHY; CENTRAL VALLEY CONVENTION & VISTORS BUREAU A sprawling web of rivers twists through the Central Valley—from the Sacramento to the San Joaquin to the Feather. The best place to enjoy river life is in the Sacramento Delta, with lush wetlands and vast orchards. The Sutter Buttes—considered the world's smallest mountain range—rise above the flat valley at its northernmost point.