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THINGS
TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA |
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Leona
Valley U-Pick Cherry Orchards
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Set among the beautiful
mountains of Northern Los Angeles County, just 10 miles
west of Palmdale, California, is the town of Leona Valley.
Once celebrated for its abundance of cattle ranches, the
area is best known today for its agriculture, particularly
cherries and wine grapes.
With picturesque views of white cottony tree canopies
against clear blue skies combined with the sweet smell
of cherry blossoms Leona Valley is wonderful way to
spend an afternoon or weekend, especially in late spring
to early summer.
That’s because the town holds its annual Leona
Valley Cherry Festival, and is a great place to take
the entire family for a relaxing and inexpensive day
of cherry picking. There's several varieties to choose
from at more than a dozen orchards, from sweet red Bings
to sweet yellow Rainier cherries. The sweeter cherries
are usually available in June with sour cherries typically
ready for picking in mid July.
Every season, the Festival kick offs with a parade,
5K run, a food and craft fair, with a –you guessed
it---cherry pie eating contest, as well as a classic
car show and live entertainment. Visitors usually embark
from the city center on their own cherry picking journey,
stopping by any one of the many local business that
pass out free maps to the area’s orchards.
If you don’t have a map, that’s okay as
there are many signs on the streets around the Festival
directing you to the different orchards.
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U-Pick Cherries Leona Valley |
Most of the
orchards in Leona Valley are organic, and use minimal to
no chemicals as part of the growing process, so it’s
perfectly okay to taste from the tree you are picking from.
It’s amazing to see how different flavor and sweetness
varies, not only from orchard to orchard, but from one tree
to another.
If you’re not inclined to enjoy
the fruits of your own labor, many of the orchards sell
bags of cherries for as little as $5, and there are plenty
of roadside stands along Hwy 138 to buy them.
After a day of picking at various orchards,
you will surely work up an appetite and there is no better
place to experience some of areas best food and rustic
past then at the historic Rock Inn in nearby Lake Hughes.
For nearly eighty years, the Rock Inn
has served travelers in transit, in one form or another,
be it for fuel, food, or even to bed-down for the night.
It's said to have also been a favored destination for
golden-age Hollywood movie stars, looking for a quiet
retreat. Since those days, much has changed, and yet very
little has.
Walking through the front door is like
stepping back in time. One almost expects to see dozens
of cowboys sitting around smoky poker tables, as old-time
piano music is heard in the background. Instead, the space
is filled with locals, bikers, hikers, cyclists, and other
outdoor enthusiasts who have stopped for a cold drink
or something from the kitchen.
The Inn still offers overnight accommodations
if you find that you’re not ready to leave before
exploring nearby Lake Elizabeth.
With its spacious mountain views, nature
trails, and championship 18-hole golf course, The Ranch
at Elizabeth Lake offers a genuine outdoor life experience
for the entire family. Guests can enjoy a myriad of open-air
activities including bird watching, astronomical observation,
paddle boating, RC car and boating, basketball, ATV rental,
and kite flying.
A full service RV Park with a swimming pool, spa, tennis
courts, and playgrounds, as well as an on-site restaurant,
and rental cabins, all combine to make The Ranch a true
camping oasis.
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Leona Valley Cherry Orchard |
Lake Elizabeth Leona Valley |
There are
a couple of other points of interest worth checking out
before you leave the Leona Valley.
The first being the Neenach Volcanic Formations along
Oakdale Canyon Road just beyond the small town of Three
Points, a few mile west of Elizabeth Lake. This volcanic
area lies immediately to the north of the San Andreas
Fault and is covered in dark reddish- to purplish-brown
andesite and light-colored, greenish-gray, pink, red-brown
to tan felsites. It stands as an interesting and beautiful
reminder of how powerful and unforgiving Mother Nature
can be.
A final point of interest located at the eastern most
point of the Leona Valley, and an architectural oddity
designed to be a stone replica of a medieval Irish stronghold,
is Shea’s Castle.
Constructed in 1925 by real estate baron Richard Peter
Shea as a residence, the property, also includes a Kitanemuk
petroglyph site and a private airstrip. In later years,
through a succession of owners, the castle became a backdrop
for many movies and television shows. Today it is privately
owned, and although the interior is off limits to tourists,
you can see the castle during the day from various vantage
points along Munz Ranch Road.
Other side trips to the California Poppy Preserve as well
as the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster are within an
hour’s drive from Leona Valley.
Leona Valley is just 50 minutes north of Los Angeles.
Take the 5 Freeway. Proceed north through the San Fernando
Valley. Take the (14) Antelope Valley Fwy north and exit
at Palmdale Blvd. Turn left (west) on Palmdale Blvd. Travel
west approximately 9 miles to the center of Leona Valley.
Look for orchard signs or visit local businesses for a
complimentary orchard map. Article by matthew
Martz
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Leona Valley
Cherry Orchards |
Villa
del Sol - Sweet Cherry Farms - Villa
del Sol is a 25 acre working cherry farm almost 4000 cherry
trees. Leona Valley, California. Cherry
picking season May through mid July. |
Ambers
U-Pick Cherry Farm - Located in the beautiful
Leona Valley. Cherries are competitively priced. The orchard
has 450 trees. Kids loved picking easily from your little
(dwarf) trees. |
North
Side Cherries- U-Pick cherries for over 17
years. sell cherries by the pound, pitters to remove pits.
In order to pick in this orchard you must be on the mailing
list. |
Cherry
Pit Ranch - Cater's to the needs of families
that travel many miles to pick. Shaded picnic area provides
a cool relaxing spot. Home made jams and jellies.May
through mid July. |
| Copeland's
Cherry Ranch - Home of some of the best certified
organic cherries in Southern California. |
| The
Cherry House U-Pick cherries and pure local honey.
Onsite Wedding and Event Coordinator can make your dream wedding
plans come true in a beautiful Leona Valley cherry orchard.
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Julian
enjoy famous apple pie and take a walk
around this historic mining town. |
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Tanaka
Farms family
run operation that grows organic strawberries in
Orange County. |
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Vasquez
Rocks
Location for
movie and television shows including Star Trek.
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Oak
Glen - Famous for Apples, Cider, Antiques,
apple orchards and fruit stands. |
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