Sights, sounds and flavors of California’s Central Valley

Where to go to discover authentic, natural California without the crowds?

With underground gardens, honey tasting rooms and its very own style of country music, make tracks for California’s Central Valley.

Explore an underground forest in Fresno

Created by Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere in the early 1900s, the Forestiere Underground Gardens are a sight to behold. Previously a citrus farmer, Baldassare spent 40 years excavating and creating an underground maze of passageways, hidden rooms, courtyards, and even an underground aquarium using just farm tools.

Taste honey in Yolo County 

The Hive in Davis, Yolo County has been a family business since 1980. Founder Isahai Zeldner began beekeeping in Israel and after moving to California, Zeldner attended classes in queen rearing, beekeeping and agriculture. The Hive, opened by Zeldner’s growing family in 2021, is a sustainable educational learning centre with the largest selection of honey and mead in California. Here visitors can taste over 30 different types of honey made in Yolo as well as honey beer.

Listen to the Bakersfield Sound(s) 

A gritty style of country music, the Bakersfield Sound was born in the mid-50s and pioneered by country music legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Bakersfield, known as ‘Nashville West’, has since become a hub for all kinds of music and the town has many ‘sounds’ for visitors to explore and enjoy. Venues include Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, famous amongst country music fans.

Watersports in Bass Lake, Madera

A short half-hour’s drive south of Yosemite National Park’s south entrance, is Bass Lake. The nearly 5-mile-long lake is the ultimate destination for watersports including water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, pedal boating as well as wave runners – a type of jet ski. It also has sheltered coves for swimming and for sailing, as well as kayaking and pedal boating (rentals are available). For those wanting to snag local fish, rent fishing gear or hire a local guide and catch rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon, and more.

Drive a classic car through Modesto

The classic car culture is a big part of the community in Modesto and the town hosts year-round events celebrating classic car culture. George Lucas was inspired by his high school experiences cruising through Modesto to write the 1973 film ‘American Graffiti’. Visitors can catch a bi-weekly car show or visit The State theatre, an art deco design theatre that first opened almost 90 years ago.

For more information visit www.visitcentralvalley.com

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