Page 102 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

DOWNTOWN MODESTO, right; sunset paddle boarding at Lodi Lake, oppo-
site; dining in the fields, Yolo County, below.
City & Town
College-town Davis has more bikes per capita
than any other U.S. city. Modesto and its hot rods
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
(now Warnors Center for the Performing Arts).
The Great Outdoors
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 among vast orchards. The Sutter
Buttes—considered the world’s smallest moun-
tain range—rise above the flat valley at its
northernmost point.
INSIDER’S TIP
Heritage & Culture
Agriculture has drawn a diverse group of people
here 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 harvest days to Basque festivals to Portuguese
festas—complete with bloodless bullfights.
Catch an MiLB baseball game at Banner Island Ballpark, 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.
Family Fun
Families who love the outdoors and wide-open
spaces will find plenty to do in the Central
Valley. Escape the summer heat by tubing down
100 2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
VISIT YOLO COUNTY; MATT GUSH/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: LODI CVB