Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/569741
FALL 2015 DREAMSCAPES 17 laid-back wine region produces more than 40 per cent of the state's Zinfandels, as well as rich, concentrated New World varietals. Tasting rooms abound within a 15-minute drive from downtown Lodi, but it's always good to stop first at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, where you can taste the area's best wines and obtain expert suggestions based on your preferences. Farm stands dot the region, especially in summer. Take your time along country roads and look for painted or chalked signs announcing what's fresh and in season. Once you find your favourite, pull over and buy some just-picked strawber- ries, peaches or cherries for a relaxing picnic in the open air. Weekly farmers' markets have become regular rituals, where locals and visitors alike buy fresh foods and support farmers, listen to live music, let the kids explore, and shop for handmade gifts. Standout markets include Stockton's San Joaquin Farmers' Market (Wednesdays, year-round) and the twice- weekly market in downtown Davis. GREAT OUTDOORS A sprawling web of rivers twists through the Central Valley—from the Sacramento to the San Joaquin and the Feather rivers. The best place to enjoy river life is in the Sacramento Delta, a 1,609-kilometre network of inland waterways that lures boaters, birders and outdoor enthusiasts. This major drainage from the snow-capped Sierra Nevada is also a fisher's paradise, home to catfish, striped bass, steelhead and sturgeon. The Delta's quiet waters are a major habitat for migratory birds, with birders spying up to 200 species (including swans and sandhill cranes) passing through places such as Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The winding waterways also provide spots for exciting waterskiing and relaxed houseboating excursions in summer, with popular marinas in Lodi, Isleton and Stockton. CITY AND CULTURE In Sacramento and Stockton, hot summer days create some of the nicest evenings anywhere in the state, where locals sit on porches and kids scamper in leafy parks until sunset. Hotrods and Modesto were the stars of American Graffiti and auto fans still flock to the valley city for its annual classic car festival. Agriculture has drawn a diverse group of people to the valley over the years, including migrant workers from Latin America, Dust Bowl-era farmers and enter- RIGHT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: A sprawling web of rivers twists through the Central Valley, offering unique opportunities to escape the summer heat. Weekly farmers' markets are regular rituals, where you can buy local produce and support the farmers. Located in the San Joaquin County of California, Lodi is known as the "Zinfandel Capital of the World." LEFT: Sacramento sits at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. California Travel and Tourism Commission