中央谷美食自驾游

Bakersfield 充满了惊喜. 曾经以石油和农业闻名, 这个中央山谷的小镇正在变成一个艺术城市, culture, 体育中心, 同时也提供了对过去的一瞥. Visit 阿伦斯沃思上校州立历史公园向北45英里. This early 1900s settlement—an attempt by a group of African Americans to create a utopian society far from negative influences from the outside world—offers a remarkable look at an unusual event in California history.

Bakersfield’s newer attractions include the gallery-filled Arts District20世纪30年代 Fox Theater 展示从流行音乐到芭蕾的一切. Don’t miss 巴克·欧文斯的水晶宫, home to the region’s signature Bakersfield Sound, a twangy type of country music. 全国最大的集中地 巴斯克餐馆 is a reminder of the region’s rich Basque history (immigrants from the Spanish and French Pyrenees settled sheep ranches here in the late 1800s). 春天，野花覆盖了附近的德哈查皮山脉.

离99号高速不远， Visalia’s historic and walkable downtown gives travelers all sorts of appealing alternatives to standard fast food fare. 老式印刷机 50多年来一直是当地人的最爱. It’s an elegant spot for dinner and also a sure lunch bet, 多亏了美味的亚美尼亚羊肉串三明治. 瓦尔哈拉殿堂餐厅 & Gift Shop brings the tastes of Denmark to town by serving up traditional breakfast favorites like aebelskiversand crepe-style Danish pancakes, as well as open-faced frikadeller(Danish meatball) sandwiches at lunch. And if you’re in the mood for something with more spice, try the chile verde burrito or carnitas at 墨西哥科利马 & 海鲜餐馆.

Fresno 这是一个令人惊讶的热闹之旅. 七个体育场和一对竞技场满足运动类型, and an annual Woodward Shakespeare Festival in lush Woodward Park reveals Fresno’s cultural bent.

但在这里，农业才是王道. 结帐慷慨 葡萄园农贸市场，星期三下午和星期六上午. 早春时节，驾车或骑车沿着这条62英里长的公路行驶 Blossom Trail, when the route lined with fruit and nut trees is in full bloom. 在夏天，它变成了 弗雷斯诺县水果小道在美国，水果摊上摆满了应季农产品.

回到城里，探索地下 森林地下花园, hand-dug by an Italian immigrant who saw going underground was a great way to keep cool and comfortable during Central Valley summers. Kids love Chaffee Zoo尤其是海狮湾嬉戏的鳍足类动物. Monthly Art Hops 是探索世界的好方法吗 壁画区这里是艺术家工作室和画廊的温床. After dark, restaurants and clubs light up the neon-bright 塔区.

While the Central Valley is best known for its fruits and vegetables, man does not live by produce alone. 如果你想吃牛肉， Merced 有两个以肉类为中心的选择要考虑吗. With its vintage neon sign proclaiming “Charcoal Broiled Steaks,“这个专业没什么神秘可言 烙铁. Around since 1952, this local institution is famous for prime rib and a coffee-rubbed ribeye. Or try the double French burger (actually made with four patties!) and a root beer float (delivered by a car hop, no less) at the vintage H & W家庭汽车餐厅.

在希尔玛镇，你可以参观和游览 希尔玛奶酪公司，一个完美的停留 约塞米蒂国家公园–bound travelers and anyone driving along State Highway 99. The impressive visitor center features a gourmet gift shop while the café takes full advantage of Hilmar’s pepper jack and cheddar via grilled sandwiches and a cheese chowder. 视生产进度而定, you may get to see workers packing massive 640-pound chunks of cheese for shipping. 在参观结束的时候, 免费品尝希尔玛奶酪, including a delicacy available only at the factory: fresh curds known as cheese squeakers.

Modesto 这个小镇是经典电影的灵感来源吗 美国风情画 and still has casual spots well-suited to its cruising tradition and eating on the go. 早餐时，去看看Mr. T 's精致甜甜圈店, which officially made it to the A Team after earning honors as one of America’s top 15 donut destinations. Its bacon maple bars are utterly irresistible—and best of all Mr. T’s是全天候开放的. Or you can relive the glory days of drive-in dining at Modesto’s A&W Restaurant自1957年以来一直存在.

周围是富饶的农田， Stockton 都是新鲜的当地食物吗. Its most famous crop is asparagus and in April you can watch cooking demonstrations and even taste asparagus ice cream (really!) at the 圣华金芦笋节. 星期六早上，浏览网页 市区农贸市场 那里有80多个小贩在兜售各种中国菜, Indian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, 还有韩国杂货店，还有堆积如山的蔬菜. Stop at 水果盘 on Waterloo Road for a bucket of peaches, nectarines, or apricots. Then sit down for a slice of this farm stand’s fresh peach pie. 说到烘焙食品 Genova Bakery, an Italian deli that has been filling the air with the aroma of traditional breads for a century, draws long lunch lines to its landmark yellow wood-framed building.

Best known for big red wines, particularly old-vine Zinfandels, Lodi, 83 miles east of San Francisco is also a leader when it comes to going green. Upwards of 25,000 vineyard acres are certified sustainable, and this is the birthplace of Lodi Rules, California’s first third-party certified sustainable winegrowing program. A variety of tasting rooms have sprouted up in recent years, with most of the action located within a 15-minute drive from downtown. 一个很好的起点是 Lodi Wine & 游客中心, offering a rotating selection of varietals from nearly 80 local vintners.

尽管葡萄酒的种类越来越多, the rich, concentrated New World varietals are still the region’s hallmark, and more than 40 percent of the state’s Zinfandels are produced here. Lodi行x行 (原Zinfest), 每年五月举行为期三天的品酒会, offers a chance to sample some 250 wines from Lodi’s best producers.

Pull into Galt’s historic downtown and you’ll be surprised to discover a diverse selection of restaurants. 在一栋经过精心修复的19世纪建筑中， 布儒斯特的酒吧 & Grill cooks up contemporary comfort foods—and mixes a mean craft cocktail too. Over at Lucia的Pastosa, such favorites as the house-made gnocchi have brought authentic Italian cuisine to town. 还有各种各样的街头小吃 StreetZlan range from chicken-and-waffles to 12-hour smoked brisket tacos—or treat yourself to the chilaka peppers stuffed with Oaxacan cheese.