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« Previous Edition | This California Travel Edition Posted on 10/03/11 | Next Edition »

Visiting California's Central Valley

Fall brings harvest time to California’s Central Valley. Called the Greatest Garden in the World, the Central California Valley is one of America's most important agricultural regions. Cities in the Fresno area also provide a gateway to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. The Central Valley of California is traversed by Interstate 5 which makes the best route to pass through the region - but why hurry? Fall in the Central Valley brings festivals, events and sports - check out October’s The Big Fresno Fair and ZooBoo at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Stretching from Sacramento south past Bakersfield, there is plenty of fall fun waiting in California's Central Valley.

Exeter, centrally located on Highway 65 in the San Joaquin Valley, claims to produce the sweetest oranges in the world. In any case, Exeter produces abundant citrus as well as fruits, nuts and grapes. Less than 45 minutes west of Sequoia National Park, outdoor recreation abounds in and around Exeter. A hub of small town Americana, Exeter celebrates the autumn bounty with October’s Fall Festival, generates community spirit with Exeter’s Chili Cook-Off in November and joins in the holiday spirit with the Exeter home town Christmas Parade early December. Join the Exeter community for wonderful events all year round.

Celebrate Veteran’s Day with free admission to a National Park near Fresno and Exeter. US National Parks offer fee-free visits over the Veteran’s Day holiday weekend November 11th through the 13th. A great opportunity to visit Kings Canyon National Park or Sequoia National Park before the snow flies. Enjoy the last of fall season recreation and celebrate Veteran’s day in Central California’s beautiful outdoors.

Sports fans don’t miss a Western States Hockey League game with the Fresno Monsters in their 2011 – 2012 season. The monsters take the ice at Selland Arena, in downtown Fresno off Highway 41. Home games run November 11th through the 27th, various dates in December, and January 6th through 15th, 2012.

Runners, test your training at the Two Cities Marathon and Half Marathon hosted by California’s Central Valley cities of Fresno and Clovis. Events include a 50K Ultra Marathon, Half-Marathon Relay and Half-Marathon Walk – a challenge for just about everyone. The marathon course takes participants through Fresno, to historic Old Town Clovis and back to the finish at Fresno’s Woodward Park Amphitheater. Enjoy festivities like the Fitness Expo and Beer Garden, live music and breakfast and massages for the runners. The 2011 Two Cities Marathon is November 6th – a great fall challenge for athletes.

The city of Turlock reopened the landmark Carnegie Arts Center in September after extensive restoration and rebuilding. Be sure to see the inaugural exhibit Ansel Adams’ California, featuring over 125 of the artists’ work and artifacts from his life. Running through January 8th, 2012, the show offers the unique and wondrous perspective of Central California through the lens of Adams. This is a must see exhibit for visitors to California’s Central Valley.