170 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
MUST
DO
SEE,
»
»
Underground Gardens Wander through
the gardens in the hand-built network of
Forestiere Gardens' underground rooms, court-
yards and passageways.
› undergroundgardens.com
» Middle Mountains Hike the Sutter Buttes,
remnants of an ancient volcano and known as the
"world's smallest mountain range."
› middlemountain.org
» Wine Tasting Pay a visit to one of the 85
wineries in Lodi, producing more than 40 percent
of the state's premium Zinfandel.
› lodiwine.com
» Expansive Wetlands Explore Grizzly Island
in the Suisun Marsh, which makes up more than
10 percent of California's remaining natural wet-
lands.
› suisunwildlife.org/grizzly.html
» Bakersfield Sound Get to know the country
music style known as the "Bakersfield Sound,"
popularized by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
› buckowens.com
INSIDER'S
TIP
»
Catch a baseball game at
Banner Island, home of the
STOCKTON PORTS. An offshoot
of the team credited with
inspiring Ernest Lawrence
Thayer's famous "Casey at the
Bat" poem, the Ports got their
name because Stockton was
California's only inland port.
SPECIAL
EVENTS 2015
»
ROGUE PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL Feb 26-March 7, Fresno roguefestival.com
MARCH MEET March 5-8, Bakersfield famosoraceway.com
PICNIC DAY April 18, Davis picnicday.ucdavis.edu
ZINFEST WINE FESTIVAL May 16, Lodi zinfest.com
BASQUE FESTIVAL May 24, Bakersfield kcbasqueclub.com
AMERICAN GRAFFITI CAR SHOW & FESTIVAL June 12-14, Modesto
americangraffitifestival.com
VILLAGE FEST Sept. 12, Bakersfield bakersfieldvillagefest.com
FESTIVAL OF ROSES Sept. 12, Wasco ci.wasco.ca.us
BIG FRESNO FAIR Oct. 7-18, Fresno fresnofair.com
BRUBECK FESTIVAL Oct. 15-18, Stockton pacific.edu/Brubeck-Institute.html
SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL Nov. 6-8, Lodi cranefestival.com
off, and a shady swimming hole is an
ideal spot to spend an afternoon.
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.
