Bicycle Trail Maps

When people think of California, they first think of beaches, theme parks and movie stars and often one of the most important aspects of this condition is ignored - from agriculture, which provides many of our basic needs. With agricultural land to rival anything you see in the Midwest, California, the vast San Joaquin Valley is dotted with small towns that exist primarily to serve those working in the agricultural industry.

For types of Big City, it can be enlightening to stop and visit some of these communities, if only to get an overview of the slower, quieter life when the word "shuttle" n ' is not in the local dictionary. Local residents bike might as well walk to work or the shops in Main Street - While most training. Perfect image of old-growth trees usually provide plenty of shade for areas of the city center, while imposing, historic houses adorn some of the main roads in and out of town. The traffic is almost nil, and people use their local parks to sit on a bench and just think about what it all means.

Between the towns are agricultural lands, carefully delineated in square or rectangular plots, each devoted to a vegetable or a culture. old farms are spaced every half mile or mile - although some of them are quite modern and impressive - and the seemingly endless two-lane roads are generally straight as can be. Not too many SUV or sports car here - about nine out of 10 vehicles is a van, so old, they are still alive past lives.

For families going through this agricultural land, it is possible to put things in perspective. children in the city that is producing magically appears at the local supermarket will be surprised to see their vegetables coming out of the rich soil of this region. For adults, there is a chance to get some of these things fresh and cheap - to buy fruits and produce in these areas is really cutting the middle man.

All this is played over hundreds of miles between the northern and southern California, but a place where local authorities have made a little easier for visitors of Fresno. While the town itself bustles with traffic and is far from being the "Mayberry" that you seek, the area south and east of Fresno is composed of several small towns with names like Sanger, Selma, Kingsburg and Orange Cove. Tourism leaders have created what they call the Fresno County Fruit Trail that takes you to three dozen farms, shops and unique attractions that will give you a taste, literally, what the region has to offer .

Timing is everything this trip. We drove the more than 100 miles around the loop just a little bit before the fruit was ready - useful, but somewhat disappointing in the number of seasonal contracts were not still running. Visitors who take the loop from the beginning of June will not have this problem. Most fruits will open in May with peaches and nectarines. Cherries and apricots follow. Traditionally mid-April to July is best for the berries, while mid-May to September will find the best stone fruit - several varieties of peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots. From mid-June to September, visitors can see the famous Fresno grapes drying in the sun.

Although we did not have much taste of fresh fruit on our record, we found some fascinating places on the trail of fruit. We started by obtaining a copy of the map of the Fruit Trail Visitors Bureau Fresno County (details below). The map gives an excellent overall perspective where things are, although some specific guidance has been a little difficult to follow. We must finally admit he made a mistake - using our GPS navigation system - but getting a good local map to complete the map Fruit Trail should dispel any confusion.

Most points of interest Trail fruit have been seven to 10 miles away, but there were several groups in mind.