Central Valley

California's agricultural heartland, where the state capital Sacramento, Gold Rush history, the Delta waterways, Lodi wine country and winter migratory birds are the main draws.

Scope: This plan uses the California tourism office's "Central Valley" tourism region as its base and assigns whole counties, covering nine counties: Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Yolo, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced and Kings. Fresno and Tulare counties in the southern valley are assigned to the Sierra Nevada and Gold Country, Kern County to Southern California, and the northern counties to Northern California. Highlights: The state capital, Sacramento, has the State Capitol and Capitol Park, Old Sacramento with its preserved Gold Rush-era streetscape, the California State Railroad Museum and Sutter's Fort, and in recent years has become known for dining as the "Farm-to-Fork Capital." The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is crisscrossed by waterways, and along the river you can visit Locke, a historic town built by Chinese immigrants. Lodi in San Joaquin County is famous for its century-old-vine Zinfandel, with a more relaxed tasting atmosphere than Napa. In winter, national wildlife refuges such as Colusa gather huge numbers of snow geese and ducks, making them important birding sites in the West. Merced is the gateway to Yosemite from the valley. Things to do: Allow 1–2 days for Sacramento itself, and 2–3 days in total with a Delta drive and Lodi wine tasting; the area is often combined with the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe or Yosemite. Getting there: Sacramento International Airport is the main gateway, I-5 and Highway 99 run the length of the valley, and Amtrak's Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins lines connect the Bay Area with valley cities, though driving is the most convenient. Notes: Summers are hot and dry, so schedule outdoor activities for morning and evening; in winter, dense fog can make highway visibility extremely low, so drive with caution.

Destinations

Itineraries