Page 150 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

CENTRAL VALLEY
California’s agricultural heartland
B Y J I L L K. R O B I N S O N
TOP CITIES
Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield, Davis, Stockton, Fairfield,
Merced, Visalia, Madera, Vacaville, Manteca, Lodi
INTERNATIONAL GATEWAYS
Sacramento International Airport (SMF), 80 miles
(129 km) from Modesto, 172 miles (277 km) from Fresno
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 94 miles
(151 km) from Modesto, 186 miles (299 km) from Fresno
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 118 miles
(190 km) from Bakersfield
TOURISM WEBSITE
visitcentralvalley.com
POPULATION
4,858,000
CENTRAL
VALLEY
The rich green strip wedged between the Sierra Nevada Range and
the coastal mountains in the center of California is considered by
many to be the greatest garden in the world. The Central Valley,
which runs 400 miles north to south, is filled with farms, orchards and
vineyards growing everything from almonds to cherries to peaches to
grapes, and supplies as much as 45 percent of the food eaten in the United
States. See and taste the state’s bounty when you travel here to discover the
soul of these vibrant communities.
California’s Central Valley contains thousands of acres of land under cul-
tivation and small farming communities that seem to have been frozen in
time. The larger cities here (Modesto, Fresno and Bakersfield) still have a
small-town friendliness that encourages visitors to slow down and find out
that there’s more going on beyond the farmland. From the quiet, northern-
most towns of Orland, Yuba City and Davis to Visalia, Tulare and Maricopa
at the southern end, it’s easy to feel at home and see what some call “the
Other California.”
Travelers using Interstate 5 to get through the Central Valley may believe
the agricultural region is nothing more than a sleepy little farming area, but
don’t speed by and discount the wealth of spectacular scenery, opportunities
for outdoor recreation, highlights of California history and funky roadside
diners. The best way to discover the area on a leisurely itinerary is by taking
Highway 99, which feels more like a back road. Cities and towns are clustered
along the route, giving you a chance to pull off and explore any time you want.
148 2019 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
VISIT STOCKTON. OPPOSITE:JEFFREY B. BANKE/SHUTTERSTOCK; FRESNO/CLOVIS CVB