Destination: Central California
Don Vaughan
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Emergency Services exhibit at Children's Museum of the Sierra in Oakhurst. Courtesy of Children's Museum of the Sierra. |
Any discussion of classic California roadways inevitably focuses on Route 66, a legendary stretch of highway made famous by the Bobby Troupe song and the popular 1960s television series starring Martin Milner and George Maharis.
But California has many other noteworthy highways besides Route 66. For example, California Highway 99, though not quite as famous, is a 425-mile stretch of road that takes travelers through some of Central California’s most gorgeous scenery and fascinating cities. And for nurses looking for a change, it’s a drive that can reveal a whole new world of career opportunities.
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The Japanese Garden in Micke Grove Regional Park, Stockton. Courtesy of San Joaquin County Parks. |
Stockton
CA-99's northern point is Stockton, with a population of just over 279,000; it is the 13th largest city in California. Before Stockton was incorporated in 1850, it was known by several other names, including Tuleburg, Gas City and Mudville. The city’s official name is in honor of Commodore Robert F. Stockton, who was instrumental in the capture of California during the Mexican-American War.
Stockton is a big city with a big heart and plenty of activities to occupy your free time. Especially popular are its many fairs and festivals, including:
- Ag Expo and Family Ranch Show, a three-day event held each January at the San Joaquin Fair Grounds.
- Asparagus Festival, held the last weekend in April. Recognized by Sunset magazine as a “Best of the West Food Fest,” this festival features two performing stages, celebrity cooking demonstrations, and a craft show.
- San Joaquin Fair, held two weeks each June at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds. Highlights include big-name concerts, a carnival, and horse racing.
Stockton also offers a wide variety of family attractions, including the Children’s Museum of Stockton, well-known for its hands-on, play-based exhibits; Haggin Museum, which has works by such noted painters as Albert Bierstadt and William-Adolphe Bouguereau; Micke Grove Regional Park and Zoo; and Oak Grove Nature Center.
If you’re into sports you’ll find plenty to cheer in Stockton. Baseball fans root for the Stockton Ports, the minor league affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Many of the local teams play their home games at the Stockton Arena: the Stockton Lightning, a member of the Arena Football 2 League; the Stockton Thunder of the East Coast Hockey League; and the California Cougars, a professional indoor soccer team.
If golf is more your game, you’re in luck — Stockton boasts eight courses of varying difficulty, including the Brookside Country Club, Lyons Golf Course, Stockton Golf & Country Club, and Van Buskirk Park Golf Course.
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Farmers' Market in Modesto. Courtesy of Modesto Convention & Visitors Bureau. |
Modesto
Continuing south on CA-99, we come to Modesto, the county seat of Stanislaus County and home to 200,000 people. Founded in 1870, the city provides access to Sonora Pass in Stanislaus National Forest, the Mother Lode country, and the Big Oak Flat route to Yosemite.
Modesto is located in the heart of one of the greatest agricultural areas in the nation — the San Joaquin Valley. Dairy products, nuts, fruits, wine grapes, and poultry are just some of the region’s top commodities. Visit in early spring to enjoy the delightful sights and scents of orchards in blossom, or drop by during the summer or fall harvest seasons and “taste Modesto” at the farmers’ market or the city’s many roadside produce stands.
Afterward, you can play a round of golf at one of Modesto’s scenic golf courses, explore the many antique shops, or visit other attractions such as the Great Valley Museum of Natural History and the McHenry Museum.
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Vernal Falls at Yosemite National Park. Courtesy Yosemite/Madera County Film Commission. |
Turlock
The city of Turlock is just a short drive south of Modesto. Though small compared to many of its neighbors, Turlock boasts a wide variety of exciting cultural experiences, including:
- Blaker Antique Auto and Clock Collection.
- Hilmar Cheese Company, where you can see the cheese-making process firsthand.
- Lawton Doll Company.
And for those who love the great outdoors, Turlock Lake and Don Pedro Lake offer opportunities for boating, fishing, jet skiing, and water skiing.
Merced
Further south along the CA-99 Corridor you’ll find the city of Merced, known as the Gateway to Yosemite because of its relative proximity to Yosemite National Park. But Merced has much, much more to offer visitors. Like the Applegate Park & Zoo, which makes for a wonderful family outing. Attractions include wild animals, ducks, a rose garden, Laura’s Fountain, and the Kiddieland Amusement area, which offers train rides on summer weekends.
Another popular attraction is the Agricultural Museum, which pays tribute to the region’s rich agricultural heritage with displays of antique gas engines, farm equipment, horse-drawn buggies, and a working blacksmith shop. And visitors can’t get enough of the Castle Air Museum, located at the former Castle Air Force Base. Here you’ll find a large collection of military airplanes ranging from WWII bombers to an SR-71 Blackbird.
Also worth a visit are the Castle Science & Technology Center, the Merced Courthouse Museum, and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, which offers five galleries showcasing arts and cultural exhibits of local, regional, and national importance.
Hollister
Swinging west from Merced, we come to Hollister, the county seat of San Benito County. This area has some of California’s most amazing natural formations and is a must-see for amateur rock hounds and geologists.
Of particular interest is the stunning Pinnacles National Monument, just an hour’s drive from the city. Rising out of the Gabilan Mountains, east of central California’s Salinas Valley, rests the remains of an ancient volcano, decorated with massive monoliths, spires, and sheer-walled canyons caused by eons of erosion and tectonic plate movement. For visitors, more than 30 miles of trails access geological formations, spectacular vistas, and wildland communities.
The San Andreas Fault Scenic Drive, which concludes in Hollister, is another popular regional attraction. The 110-mile drive begins on the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley, follows the grassy valleys formed by the San Andreas Rift Zone and crosses the edge of the Gabilan Range. It’s a gorgeous drive, say the locals, and definitely worth the few hours it takes to complete.
Madera
Back on CA-99 we next come to the small town of Madera, located in the Central Valley just 18 miles north of Fresno. Though not typically known as a tourist destination, Madera is definitely worth a stop if you enjoy good wine. Two wineries – Almaden Vineyards and Ficklin Vineyards – call the area home. Almaden Vineyards, the oldest in California, is not open to the public, but Ficklin Vineyards offers tours by appointment and free tastings on the weekend from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Fresno
Fresno is the next stop on CA-99, and is the sixth largest city in California and the largest metropolitan city in the Central Valley with a population of approximately 471,000. It serves as the business, financial, cultural, and entertainment capital of the San Joaquin Valley and offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor attractions, as well as close proximity to three national parks.
Some of Fresno’s most popular family attractions include:
- Children’s Museum of the Sierra in nearby Oakhurst, which features hands-on exhibits in science, natural history, community, and the arts.
- Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art, History and Science.
- Kingsburg Historical Park, which includes several restored historic structures from the area that have been relocated to form a village setting.
- Meux Home Museum, a Victorian house built in 1888-89 by Dr. T.R. Meux, a Confederate surgeon. Its restored furnishings and equipment convey a sense of family life in early Fresno.
For those who prefer to spend their time outdoors, Fresno offers easy access to some of California’s greatest natural wonders, including Boyden Cavern, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Park, Sierra National Forest, and Yosemite National Park. Depending on the venue, activities range from hiking and cycling to ice-skating and mountain climbing.
Visalia
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Woman of Takayasu, from the Tale of Ise, Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828).Clark Family Collection, on loan to the Lee Institute. Courtesy of the Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art at the Clark Center. |
Visalia is the county seat of Tulare County and the largest city between Fresno and Bakersfield, which is the southern terminus of CA-99; more than 111,000 people call Visalia home. Visitors are invited to enjoy the city’s many historic, artistic, and cultural attractions.
Foremost among them is the Tulare County Museum at Mooney Grove Park and the Tule River Historical Society Museum, both of which are rich with artifacts dating back to the 19th century. Another key attraction is the Central California Chinese Cultural Center, which commemorates the thousands of Chinese immigrants who came to California to work as laborers during the Gold Rush. The center includes a Confucian temple and an exposition room housing cultural artifacts, paintings, and rare architectural finds. Also of interest is the Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art, located in nearby Hanford. Nearly 160 hanging scrolls, 30 pairs or single screens, 10 works of sculpture from the Kamakura period, and several pieces of decorative art primarily from the Meiji period are housed here.
Bakersfield
Bakersfield is the largest city at the southern end of the CA-99 corridor. With a population that exceeds 284,000, it’s the third largest inland city after Fresno and Sacramento.
Known as “California’s Country Music Capital,” Bakersfield has a rich musical heritage that draws fans from around the world. The Bakersfield Music Theatre hosts top acts year round, and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, (now in its 74th year) presents a six-concert series beginning each November that is the core of its performance schedule.
Country music lovers will also want to visit Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, where they can stroll down the board walkways and marvel at memorabilia from the country legend’s astounding career, eat a hearty dinner and enjoy live music by country’s hottest performers.
While in town you’ll also want to check out the Bakersfield Museum of Art, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History, California Living Museum, Kern County Museum, and Murray Family Farms, where visitors can enjoy tours, education, and “U Pick” produce.
The CA-99 Corridor offers a lifetime of fun and adventure, as well as a relaxing change of pace.
