Northern California, Things to Do
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California Attractions
- Yosemite National Park. Coined "the most beautiful place on earth," by Theodore Roosevelt, Yosemite National Park embraces nearly 1,200 square miles of scenic wild lands set aside in 1890 to preserve a portion of the central Sierra Nevada Mountains that stretches along California's eastern highlands. The park ranges from 2,000 feet above sea level to more than 13,000 feet, and offers these major attractions: alpine wilderness, three groves of Giant Sequoias and the glacially carved Yosemite Valley with impressive waterfalls, cliffs and unusual rock formations. Walk, hike or wander through the magical mountain-and-valley scenery, wild lands, meadows, and forests. Yosemite is just 75 miles from Lathrop, California.
Old-Town Sacramento. For a taste of the Old West, complete with dirt and cobblestone streets flanked with wide wooden sidewalks and "Bonanza"-style buildings, visit Old Sacramento. Tour the historical four blocks in a horse-drawn carriage, or take a ride on an authentic riverboat. Bustling with activity, this place offers tourist shops, museums and antique trains. Enjoy entertainment, restaurants, lots of interesting shops, and plenty of great places to stay at this National Registered Landmark and 28-acre State Historic Park, on the river, in downtown Sacramento. The Eagle Theater, the first building west of the Mississippi built specifically for entertainment continues its rich tradition with a lively schedule of plays. You can laugh at comedians from around the country, be part of a murder mystery theater, or ride a train drawn by a steam locomotive, along the Sacramento River. Enjoy dozens of special events held all year long, like the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Festival de la Familia, Collector's Fairs, and Art Festivals. Stop by any of the area's cabarets, each with its own special flair for entertainment and fun. On weekends you can usually hear Cajun, blues, jazz, rock-n-roll or folk music in one of Old Sac's saloons and restaurants. - The Asparagus Festival. Tens of thousands of visitors attend Stockton's annual three-day food and entertainment festival, celebrating the most prestigious agricultural product in San Joaquin County. The festival features three performing stages, an Asparagus Alley with the best deep fried asparagus found anywhere, one of the finest celebrity chef cooking demonstration kitchens, a classic car show, a fabulous Spear-Its of the Valley wine and beer pavilion, a craft show, exhibits by more than 70 food purveyors and 100 specialty merchandise vendors, and much more! The festival will be held in Downtown Stockton! www.asparagusfest.com. [Top]
Northern California Sports & Recreation
- Stockton Ports. California's Class-A League affiliate of the four-time World Champion Oakland A's, the Stockton Ports are set to kick off a new era of professional baseball in the San Joaquin Valley. This exciting professional minor-league team plays home games at the brand new, $22 million Banner Island Ballpark, located on the North Shore of Stockton's Deep Water Channel in downtown Stockton, California. For group rates and special packages, please call the Ports at 209-644-1900.
- San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Enjoy big name entertainment, carnivals, horse racing, and animals at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, just 10 miles from Lathrop. Every June at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds thousands come to enjoy the San Joaquin County Fair. The grounds are also home to the Annual Stockton Ag Expo held every January.
- Big League Dreams Sports Park. Big League Dreams brings a top–quality playing experience through world–class facilities in a variety of sports–baseball, softball, soccer, indoor soccer, in–line hockey, basketball, flag football and sand volleyball. However, they are best known for baseball/softball fields that are replicas of historic major league stadiums such as Chicago’s Wrigley Field, New York’s Yankee Stadium and Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. For more information, visit www.bigleaguedreams.com.
- StrikeZone / Manteca Family Bowl Fun Center. StrikeZone has sports excitement for the entire family. There are two arcades with over 130 games, including state-of-the-art racing simulators, high-tech batting cages for baseball and softball, laser-lit, new age bowling lanes and large glow in the dark party tables for groups and parties. Rookies Pub & Grill is a 340-seat, full-service restaurant serving delicious cuisine, 22 kinds of beer, a dance floor, a theater-style TV and evening musical performers
- California Cougars Pro Soccer Team.
The California Cougars Major Indoor Soccer League team plays its home games in the beautiful state of the art Stockton Arena. Follow the fast paced, high scoring Cougars all season long as they battle the best indoor players in the world, including US World Cup star Tony Meola of the New Jersey Ironmen, and league MVP Jamar Beasley of the Detroit Ignition. Tickets start at just $10 and are available by calling the Cougars at 209 373 1550 or online at www.stocktontickets.com
- Stockton Thunder Pro Hockey. Stockton Thunder Professional Hockey. The Stockton Thunder plays in the beautiful, state-of-the-art Stockton Arena in downtown Stockton. The team is the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. Now in its third season, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance with an average of nearly 7,000 fans per game for the last two years. In January 2008, the Thunder will play host to the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition. For more information about the Thunder tickets call (209) 373-1500 and for a complete schedule of Thunder games, visit www.stocktonthunder.com.
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California Vineyards and Wine Tasting
- Lodi Appellation. Nestled between the world famous San Francisco Bay Area and the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the Lodi Appellation is truly a unique wine region. Since the Gold Rush days, the tradition of family-owned vineyards remains strong and the roots run deep. The areas pleasant Mediterranean climate with long warm days and cooling Delta breezes combine with rich, sandy loam soils for the perfect conditions for growing premium wine grapes. Exceptional wines are produced from 16 distinctive vineyards in the Lodi Appellation. The Winter Wine Wander features wine tasting, gourmet food items, recipes and unique gifts. Relax, shop, sip award-winning wines, and enjoy the unique tasting rooms of the Lodi Appellation.
Delicato Vineyards. For more than 75 years, the Delicato family has been crafting fine wines while assembling a portfolio of world-class estate vineyards. Today, Delicato harvests more than 10,000 acres of vineyards across the top grape-growing regions of California. These range from the coastal cool of the legendary San Bernabe Vineyard in Monterey to the rolling foothills of Lodi. A celebrated team of highly experienced winemakers has brought decades of expertise to bear on these remarkable grapes, to create Delicato wines of distinctive character, memorable quality and exceptional value. Their tasting room, open daily in Manteca, California, not far from the San Francisco Bay Area, features wines from Delicato Family Vineyards, Clay Station, Monterra, Encore and Delicato Monterey Vine Select, as well as limited release wines unavailable elsewhere. A wide array of wines is complemented by an excellent selection of gift and gourmet items - from personalized gift baskets to that perfect set of wine glasses. They also host special events throughout the year at the winery, such as the well-known Juried Art Show in January, the 3-D Art Show in March, and the Juice Days for Home Winemakers in September and October. [Top]
Northern California Universities
- University of the Pacific. University of the Pacific is an independent university offering a personalized education, small class sizes and an extensive selection of undergraduate and graduate / professional programs. With 11 schools and colleges and more than 80 majors and programs of study, U.O.P has that rare combination of small-university friendliness and programs found at much larger universities. At U.O.P, professors know students by name and learning is enhanced through real-world experience. www.uop.edu.
- San Joaquin Delta College. Located in Stockton, California San Joaquin Delta College values diversity in its programs and services and is dedicated to offering high quality educational experiences that foster personal enrichment and lifelong learning. The entire college community promotes the free exchange of ideas, with an eye toward ensuring that freedom of expression and academic freedom is celebrated and valued. Delta College offers programs and services that approach the development of students as holistic human beings capable of contributing positively to a community of learners and the wider community of humanity. The College's commitment to quality is sustained by continuous self-renewal, which enables the institution to be an innovative, efficient and effective leader among peer institutions and in the community. www.deltacollege.edu. [Top]
Lathrop California Golf Courses
French Camp Golf Course. This narrow course features many fairway sand bunkers incorporated into its design. The two and three-tiered greens are fast and extremely undulating. Water hazards (lakes and creeks) play into every hole. The signature hole is #8, a 191-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot to an island green connected to the mainland by a bridge. Group and private lessons are available at their full-service driving range. Call 209-234-3030 for information. - Manteca Park Golf Course. This public course was built on predominantly flat terrain. The fairways are narrow and heavily forested. Water hazards and sand bunkers are a constant threat adding a challenging element to your game. The greens are small, flat and generally fast. Call 209-825-2500. [Top]
Holiday Inn Express - Lathrop, CA
16855 Harlan Rd, Lathrop, CA 95330
Phone: 209-858-1234 Fax: 209-858-1800
Email: beth.kim.cha@sbcglobal.net
