Central Valley California Vacation Getaway

Hotel Near Central California Yosemite National Park Historic Towns & Cities Laird Park

Northern and Central California are a fabulous destination for travelers, offering a wide range of fabulous landmarks, historic sites, quaint towns, interesting museums, fun family attractions, vineyards, national forest, and so much more. From the hills San Francisco to the granite cliffs of Yosemite, visitors from around the world flock to experience California’s unique geology, recreational opportunities, and culture. The quaint, rural town of Westley, California is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley, just minutes away from the state’s diverse attractions and visitor destinations.

Yosemite National Park.

Established in 1864, Yosemite is a National Park that is famous for its awe inspiring granite cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, groves of giant sequoia trees, and stunning landscapes. The 1,200 square-mile park was one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, and features hiking trails, lakes, streams, camping, biking, fishing, and wildlife. Formed by glaciers about one million years ago, the Yosemite Valley is best known for its impressive Half Dome mountain, El Capitan mountain, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls. www.nps.gov/yose/

Skiing.

California’s Central Valley is just a short drive away from a variety of top skiing destinations. From small, family friendly snow play parks, to large ski resorts, winter sports enthusiasts have a wide variety of winter activities to choose from. Badger Pass, Dodge Ridge and Mammoth are just a few of the fabulous ski areas that are open for wintertime fun. www.yosemite.com/tripplan/thingstodo/skiing.html. [Top]

Central California’s Historic Towns & Cities.

The foothills and valley of Central California are home to many historic towns, many dating from the late 1840s and early 1850s. These interesting cities and towns feature historic buildings, museums, history tours, entertainment, dining, and more.

Sacramento.

Sacramento was established during California’s Gold Rush, evolving through time to become the capital of California. Home to a wide range of historic buildings and monuments, as well as world-class entertainment, attractions, family activities, amusement parks, museums, outdoor recreation, shopping, and dining, Sacramento offers something for every visitor to enjoy. www.discovergold.org

Modesto.

Founded in 1870, Modesto is a historic town offering a wide range of interesting historic monuments and attractions, including the McHenry Museum and Mansion, George Lucas Plaza, the Gallo Center for the Arts, and the State Theatre. Today, Modesto has grown from a small frontier town into a huge center of the agricultural industry, offering all of the modern conveniences of a metropolitan center in the heart of California’s Central Valley. www.visitmodesto.com

Stockton.

The city of Stockton was founded in 1849 during California’s Gold Rush. After the Gold Rush, the city became an agricultural, transportation and shipping center. Today, this vibrant city is a busy commercial center of the San Joaquin Valley, that still holds on to its historic roots through museums and monuments. www.visitstockton.org

Columbia.

This State Historic Park features costumed shopkeepers, gold-panning areas, a live theater, historic hotels, restaurants, saloons, and a variety of museum exhibits.

Sonora.

This large town in the Mother Lode features a historic downtown district with shops, historic buildings, mining exhibits, a museum, a historic church, jail, and courthouse, plus restaurants, and hotels.

Jamestown.

This Victorian town was founded in 1848 and features historic balconied buildings, antique shops, gift stores, mineral shops, gold panning, and a steam train.

Coulterville.

This small town features historic buildings from the 1850s, including the Hotel Jeffery and the Magnolia Saloon. There is also a visitors center and restaurants. [Top]

Laird Park.

Located just outside Westley on the beautiful San Joaquin River, Laird Park is a ninety-seven acre open space offering picnicking, baseball fields, play areas, barbeque areas, river fishing, swimming, and more.

San Francisco.

San Francisco is a charming city offering visitors a wide range of fun attractions and interesting things to do. From the famous Golden Gate Bridge to Chinatown, Pier 39, Fishermen’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Park, San Francisco is a destination that offers something for everyone. Enjoy a day with the family at the Exploratorium, a fun museum of science and art. Fishermen's Wharf features great restaurants, souvenir shops, entertainment, and more, with Pier 39, The Cannery, and Ghirardelli Square just steps away. And, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco’s historic cable cars, Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury and the Castro District offer a glimpse into the colorful history of this famous city. San Francisco is also a cultural Mecca, offering a wide range of museums, live theatre, opera and ballet performances, galleries, and more. No matter what you’re looking for, San Francisco has it all. www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com