Getting Oriented in the Central Valley
The Central Valley is the vast geographical center of California and, from a breadbasket perspective, its proverbial heart. Many vacationers travel through the region on the way to Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite national parks. The valley’s flat landscapes may not appear as scenic as those along the dramatic coastline to the west and the spectacular peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the east. Beyond busy Interstate 5 and Highway 99, however, the region reflects the more subtle beauty of rural California: bountiful farmland, miles of gentle hillsides and wildlife areas, and small towns that have preserved the heritage and character of the state’s early history.
- Southern Central Valley. When gold was discovered in Kern County in the 1860s, settlers flocked to the southern end of the Central Valley. Black gold—oil—is now the area's most valuable commodity; the county provides two-thirds of California's oil production. Kern is also among the country's five most productive agricultural counties. From the flat plains around Bakersfield, the landscape grows gently hilly and then graduates to mountains as it nears Kernville, which lies in the Kern River valley.
- Mid-Central Valley. The Mid-Central Valley extends over three counties—Tulare, Kings, and Fresno. Bustling Visalia is mostly off the tourist-traffic radar but has its charms. From Visalia, Highway 198 winds east 35 miles to Generals Highway, which passes through Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Highway 180 snakes east 55 miles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. From Fresno, Highway 41 leads north 95 miles to Yosemite National Park.
- North Central Valley. The northern section of the valley cuts through Merced, Madera, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties, from the flat, abundantly fertile terrain between Merced and Modesto north to the edges of the Sacramento River delta and the fringes of the Gold Country. Modesto serves as a gateway to Yosemite, and Lodi lures lovers of old-vine Zinfandels and other robust wines.
