California Central Valley Day Trips Things To Do

Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad is an exciting 4-mile railroad excursion near Yosemite Park's south gate on highway 41. Ride into history where powerful locomotives once hauled massive log trains through the Sierra mountains. Where mighty lumberjacks felled the timber and flumes carried lumber to … [Read more...]

Kern River Camping areas include the Lower Kern River, Lake Isabella, and the Upper Kern River. State-run campgrounds, private resort style campgrounds, and free camping areas can all be found along the Kern River Valley. There are plenty of free (dispersed) campsites along the Kern River.  If … [Read more...]

The town of Tehachapi has made a name for itself because of the numerous murals that adorn virtually every wall in site. At every turn, a new and fascinating piece of artwork reveals itself. Many of the murals depict an important historical event, or a famous citizen, now passed. There are too … [Read more...]

More than just a beautiful gorge with a river running through it, Arroyo Seco campground located just west of Soledad, California is a rural but urbanized facility in California’s westernmost national forest. Situated at an elevation of nearly 1,200 feet, and surrounded by chaparral shrubs and … [Read more...]

Lake Isabella Camping Trip things to do while visiting this Kern County lake. Lake Isabella is Nestled in what is known as the Kern River Valley between two sections of the Sequoia National Forest. Surrounding communities are the towns of Lake Isabella, Kernville, Bodfish, Caliente, and Wofford … [Read more...]

Right, where Interstate 5 and California Highway 99 meet is the home of the newest outlet mall in Southern California. Let’s welcome the Outlets at Tejon Ranch. Outlet Mall Hours Monday – Saturday: 10 am to 9 pm Sunday: 10 am to 8 pm The Outlets at Tejon Ranch is everything you would expect from … [Read more...]

West Kern County Oil Museum is well worth a visit for if you live in the area or are traveling along Highway 5 between Southern and Northern California. In the early 1920s, West Kern County was a forest of oil derricks. Thousands of towering oil wells pumped out black gold day and night. There is … [Read more...]

The Central Valley city of Stockton is located in the middle of the rolling hills and bucolic vistas of the San Joaquin Valley's farm and vineyard country. But it's not just Stockton's location that makes it a good fit for day-trippers in northern California. Stockton is the hub of the California … [Read more...]

Located in the center of Roeding Park in Fresno, California, the smaller than average the zoo sits on 46 acres and is home to nearly 700 animals and over 200 different species. Visitors from all over the state come to see the zoo's various animals in habitats created to mimic they're own, … [Read more...]

With over 100 outlet stores, many of them upscale, Gilroy Premium Outlets is a shopper’s paradise. Spread out over four separate buildings, the outlets contain just about anything a person would want to buy From designer clothes, shoes and handbags to jewelry and other accessories, to luggage to … [Read more...]

Gilroy is a town of about 60,000 located in Santa Clara County. It is a bedroom community for the famous Silicon Valley and a balanced blend of agriculture, residential and retail offerings. For many people, when they hear Gilroy, they think garlic. While Gilroy is coined the Garlic Capital of … [Read more...]

Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center is a fun place to stop while traveling through California's Central Valley. Cheese samples, self-guided tours, sandwiches, and cheese products are all available at the center. Hilmar largest producer of natural American-style cheese and whey products in the … [Read more...]

Day-trippers report that the Sierra Railroad is no longer in operation. Travelers journeying through California's Central Valley looking for a unique dining experience should check out the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train. Launched in the 1970s, the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train playfully imitates … [Read more...]

If you are looking to spend a day soaking up the essence of rural Central California, then it’s time for a trip to the “Gateway to Yosemite”– Merced, California. Less than two hours by automobile from Yosemite National Park, Merced has a lot to offer travelers with a wide variety of attractions, … [Read more...]