For the latest on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) click here
Sonny Lazzeri/Flickr
Mondavi Center
Mondavi Center
An arts showcase rises from the fields
Clad in sandstone tiles and with a lobby that looks out across surrounding agricultural lands through a wall of glass, this eye-catching multi-story structure on the U.C. Davis campus is a grand, modern arts venue for the region. Formally known as the Robert and Magrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts (the wine making Mondavis were lead donors for the project, completed in 2002), the venue presents a full calendar of performances, ranging from major artists, such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Elvis Costello, to concerts by the U.C. Davis Symphony and other more home-grown events. The main 1,801-seat Jackson Hall is a visual stunner, panelled from floor-to-ceiling in virgin Douglas fir originally logged in the 1800s. The wood was reclaimed from the bottom of a lake in Canada, and some of the sections may actually be 500 years old.
Insider’s tip: Free guided tours shed light on the Mondavi Center’s advanced design features, including an orchestra shell that elevates on air casters. Tours are free but require advance reservations.
Laura Flippen
Central California
Central California
Discover the Central Valley
More Ideas
California’s heartland offers up one of the state’s most authentic and sensory-rich experiences, a chance to see—and taste—the state’s bounty at every turn. Follow oak-shaded country roads to farm stands overflowing with fresh produce, and meander along wine trails to some of the state’s most productive vineyards and low-key tasting rooms.
Peaches, plums, apricots, and tomatoes—just some of the ultra-fresh produce you will find at farm stands throughout the valley.
Throughout the broad valley, stretching for over 400 miles/644 kilometers down the middle of the state, are cities and towns rich with history, international culture, and “everyone’s welcome” charm.
More Ideas
Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Spotlight: Bakersfield
Experience California’s oil-rich history, with Basque food and country and western music on the side
The rapidly growing city of Bakersfield, in California’s southern Central Valley,...
Derrell McCain/Alamy
Best Kept Secret: Solano County
See why this Central Valley region holds its own in terms of good wine, pretty countryside, and cool activities
A treasure awaits about 20 miles east of Napa, in a lovely but largely “secret” area of sprawling countryside and bayfront beauty. This is ...
Lake Berryessa, located just outside of Winters, has a sunken city underneath it called Monticello.
Laura Flippen
9 Great Central Valley Farm Stands
Sample fresh, seasonal produce and artisanal foods and chat with local farmers
The fertile Central Valley stretches some 450 miles from...
Alex Farnum
Davis
You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the perks of this ag-oriented college town
Eco-friendly, liberal leaning, progressive, impressive professor’s homes and fraternity houses—Davis has the hallmarks of a classic American...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Farm-fresh produce, culinary adventures
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisan cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets are...
Laura Flippen
Laura Flippen
Haggin Museum
Local history merges with world-renowned art at this must-see museum in Stockton’s Victory Park
Housed in an early-19th-century brick building, this handsome art and history museum is the centrepiece of Stockton’s stately Victory Park. The 34...
The Tehama Trail is a surprisingly fertile area—a prime place for farms and ranches. Many invite visitors to stop in and buy fresh produce, artisanal olive oils, and other local food products.
The trail links together nearly two dozen vineyards, orchards, and grass-fed beef ranchers and...
Bakersfield is full of surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, this Central Valley town is morphing into an arts, culture, and sports hub, while still offering a glimpse of the past. Visit Colonel Allensworth State Historic...
April
Each April, the University of California, Davis, invites the public to its annual and unabashedly friendly...
Courtesy of UC Davis College of Engineering
Kodiak Greenwood
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Some 300 species of birds and mammals make this a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts
Located on the Pacific Flyway 60 miles north of Sacramento, Gray Lodge encompasses 9,200 acres surrounded by agricultural flatlands and...
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
Houseboating
Take to the water on a deluxe floating home
In California, it’s hard to talk about houseboats without talking about the Central Valley. One of the state’s premier places for holidaying in a...
October
Honour the harvest season this October at the Hoes Down Harvest Festival, a family-friendly event that takes place at the beautiful...
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
California Delta
A boater’s and fisherman’s paradise awaits
Located north-east of the San Francisco Bay, this 1,000-mile network of inland waterways—the major waterway from the snow-capped Sierra Nevada to...
Dale Goff Photography
Lodi Wine Country
Sample the city’s famous Zinfandels after a day of outdoor fun
Best known for big red wines, particularly old-vine Zinfandels, the American Viticultural Area of...
The 10 acres of rooms, passages and gardens at Fresno's Forestiere Underground Gardens were excavated by hand using only farming tools.
Courtesy of Buck Owens Crystal Palace
Bakersfield
Experience California’s oil-rich history, with Basque food and country western music on the side
This rapidly growing city in the southern Central Valley is full of surprises. Once known for oil and agriculture, Bakersfield has...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Sample Yolo County’s bounty of local food and drink
Smack-dab in the middle of some of California’s finest farm country, Yolo County is a natural fit for all things edible. There are even novel ways to experience them, like a self-guided visit—...
Jack Andersen/Getty Images
Spotlight: Fresno
From blooming fruit trees to an acclaimed art museum, discover the diversity of Fresno
Although it’s in the heart of California’s most productive agricultural region, Fresno is...
![Mondavi Center VC_CesarEChavezNationalMonument_ST_RM_GE4MXJ_1280x640[1]](https://www.visitcalifornia.com/sites/visitcalifornia.com/files/styles/welcome_image/public/VC_CesarEChavezNationalMonument_ST_RM_GE4MXJ_1280x640%5B1%5D.jpg)
Spotlight: San Francisco
Wrapping around the north end of San Francisco, the ...
Spotlight: Santa Cruz
This remarkable preserve, California’s oldest state park, is an emerald gem in the Santa Cruz Mountains. With more than 80 miles/128 kilometers of trails winding through...
Discover the Central Coast
Feel like taking the wine trail less trammelled? You’ve found your secret spot here in Northern Santa Barbara County. ...