California Road Trips - 2020 - 16

ROAD TRIPS 2020

DISTANCE: 266 MILES * STARTS: FRESNO

Fresno to
Fairfield
Find a variety of treats on this
colorful Central Valley drive
rives don't get more
colorful than this trip
from the sweet-smelling orchards along the Fresno
Blossom Trail to the rainbowhued candies at Fairfield's Jelly
Belly California factory.
Fly into Fresno Yosemite
International Airport for easy
access to Sequoia & Kings
Canyon National Parks, Yosemite
National Park, and the Central Valley highlights on this
tour. First, head to the Fresno
Blossom Trail for a burst of
fragrance through the orchards
of stone fruit, citrus, and apples.
The bloom peaks in February
and March, but throughout the
year you can pick up produce at
Simonian Farms and the trail's
other farm stands.
Head northwest on Highway
99 to explore wetlands and look
for tule elk, migrating waterfowl,
and San Joaquin kit foxes on
auto tours and nature trails
at San Luis National Wildlife
Refuge. For a look at the history
of the Central Valley, the Great
Valley Museum in Modesto has
exhibits on five different local
habitats, as well as collections of
Yokut and Miwok Indian artifacts.
Planetarium shows on Saturdays transport visitors into the
distant reaches of outer space.
Continue north on 99 and
stop at Midgley's Public House
in Stockton for a hearty bowl of
French onion soup or prime rib
sliders. For dessert, continue to
Michael David Winery in Lodi,
which draws visitors for not only
its burly Zinfandels, but also
a café and bakery that serves
pies baked with a family recipe

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16 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

San Joaquin Valley
UC Davis
Arboretum
Old Sugar Mill
Cosumnes River Preserve
Jelly Belly Factory

Michael David Winery

Midgley's
Public House

SAN
FRANCISCO

Great Valley
Museum
San Luis National
Wildlife Refuge

FRESNO
Pacific
Ocean

Fresno
County
Blossom
Trail

WORTH A DETOUR
Walk break: Explore the Delta, California's "Inland Coast," along trails at
Big Break Regional Shoreline park.
Scenic vista: Climb to a plateau
at Rockville Hills Regional Park for
commanding views of the 3,848-foot
Mount Diablo.
AREA OF DETAIL

San
Francisco
Los
Angeles

San
Diego

Raise a glass:
Discover a changing collection of
limited-edition
and reserve beers
at Isleton's Mei
Wah Beer Room.

DESIGN PICS INC./ALAMY

(rhubarb is a big favorite).
Walk off lunch along the
3.3-mile Cosumnes River Walk,
which edges sloughs and travels
through stands of native valley
oak. Nearby in Clarksburg,
it's all about grapes at the Old
Sugar Mill, a one-stop destination with more than a dozen
wineries for tastings, including
the single vineyard Zinfandel at
Todd Taylor Wines.
Explore more of California's
crops at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, where
three different mile-long loops
lead through collections of
native plants and species. Save
the sweets for last and venture
southeast on Interstate 80 to
reach Fairfield's Jelly Belly
Candy Company. At the factory,
three different tours show how
these colorful treats are made
(and include free samples).
Combine beans to find your
favorite new flavor combination
and buy a pack for the road at
the Jelly Belly Candy Store.
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Road Trips - 2020

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