Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/569741
taining country music masters. Visitors are always welcome to join regional celebra- tions, from Basque festivals and harvest days to Portuguese festas, which include bloodless bullfights. Bakersfield is home to the twangy type of Country Western music called the Bakersfield Sound, and Buck Owens' Crystal Palace is the place to hear it. A little more than a century ago, a group of citizens established the state's first town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Tulare County celebrates the utopian spirit of these individuals who worked to create their version of the American Dream. FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Families who love wide-open spaces will find plenty to do here. Take advantage of the opportunity to escape the summer heat by tubing down the Sacramento River, house- boating in the Sacramento Delta or merely playing along the water's edge and enjoying a leisurely picnic. Quirky and historic attractions include the amazing Forestiere Underground Gar- dens in Fresno, which has more than four hectares of rooms, passages and gardens that were excavated by hand using only farming tools. Levees protect the tiny town of Locke, once a thriving Chinese settle- ment, which now offers a glimpse into the region's past. Bicycles outnumber cars in college-town Davis, with more bikes per capita than any American city, and home to the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. One of the best times for families to visit the Central Valley is during harvest time, when festivals provide entertainment from corn mazes to hay rides, and the season's bounty is at the ready for hungry folks of any age. Just watching a harvest and then holding the final product in their hands is often enough for kids to appreciate the work that goes into what stocks their super- markets back home. ROAD TRIPS The fastest way to cover the region is along its main artery—Interstate 5. Even if you zip through, you can enjoy the wealth of spec- tacular scenery, opportunities for outdoor recreation, highlights of California's history and funky roadside diners. Plenty of chances abound to turn off and investigate a little more closely, as long as you're willing to take some time. The best way to discover the area, how- ever, is to take a tip from the relaxed pace of the region and meander along the slower Highway 99, which feels more like a back road. It's the same road the fictional Joad family travelled in The Grapes of Wrath. This route, referred to as "California's Main Street," starts in oil-town Bakersfield and heads north toward Fresno, Merced and Modesto. Cities and towns cluster along the way, giving you a chance to pull off and explore at leisure. DREAMSCAPES FALL 2015 18 RIGHT: Drive along the back roads of Central Valley to discover and experience the best of the area. BELOW: The amazing Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno features rooms, passages and gardens that were excavated by hand using only farming tools. California Travel and Tourism Commission T R A V E L P L A N N E R Central Valley is serviced by two airports. San Francisco International Airport is 151 kilometres from Modesto and 299 kilometres from Fresno while Los Angeles International Airport is 190 kilometres from Bakersfield. For more information, visit: Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau: visitbakersfield.com Central Valley Tourism Association: visitcentralvalley.com Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau: playfresno.org Modesto Convention & Visitors Bureau: visitmodesto.com Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau: visitsacramento.com Visit Stockton: visitstockton.org Yolo County Visitors Bureau: yolocvb.net DS