It’s all about art deco, vintage neon signs, and nuns growing cannabis here.
Traveling between Fresno andModestoisn’t exactly glamorous . It ’s nowhere near the sea and at least 100 international nautical mile from wine country — but Merced is slowly starting to impale a title as a California travel destination that deserves to be on your radiolocation . The city is around an hour ’s parkway toYosemite ’s nearest entrance , which — deal the law of proximity and simultaneous distance — is why Merced ’s motto asks , " Why do n’t you stick awhile ? " And there ’s good reason to .
The metropolis has traces of vibration throughout the ages , with hints of Art Deco and vintage route stumble culture . And the historic downtown area is revivify once again , welcome new businesses at a frantic pace and comprehend its location in the heart ofCalifornia’sCentral Valley . Here , agriculture is n’t just an industry , but something that move the needle in the wining , dining , and entertainment sphere . You ’ve have seasonal savoring carte , whiskey distilled with mellifluous potatoes , and nuns who develop their own weed .
It also does n’t suffer that Merced is dwelling to the newest University of California campus . Because who does n’t love a bouncy , happening college town ? Plus with arts , off - metre shops , and enough retro neon sign to rival a miniskirt , classier Vegas , the city is full of character . Here ’s what to do when visiting Merced .
The tallest building captures the town vibe.|Flickr/Russell Mondy
Spend the night in an art deco dream
Merced has its plowshare of chain hotels , but there ’s really no equivalence toEl Capitan . The 144 - room boutique hotel open in 2021 and is a driving factor in the revitalisation of Merced ’s downtown territory . Most of it is new constructed , with the elision of a wing preserved and renovated from the original hotel from 1872 . An old neon marquee was make clean up and now hangs near a central court , where guests can enjoy vino and cocktails underneath twine light — because drinks always savor well with bowed stringed instrument lights .
The hotel rides a perfect residue between countrified and modern purpose . The diminished touches count : local artwork in the entrance hall , in - way record players , a Peloton motorcar in the gym , and San Francisco ’s awesomeEquator Coffees(featuring sustainably source beans ) function throughout the property . Plus all children receive a gormandize humblebee that the hotel bribe on behalf of a save - the - bees program .
Walk the streets and shops of downtown Merced
Downtown Merced was a hub of history , charm , and endear quirks long before the wine cake came along ( more on that later ) . The heart of Main Street runs about seven tree - lined mental block ( between O Street and G Street , give or take ) with autonomous retailer front and kernel .
corrupt a used book fromSecond Time Around , a raw wardrobe fromKelli , or vinyl fromTiggers & Daggers Records . Just need to browse a bit of everything?Abracadabrais an eclectic boutique with local nontextual matter and oddball item , while theMerced Antique Mallshowcases vintage items from a variety of resellers — almost like a flea market place , but with a uninfected layout . Some of the upright point are in the basement and in the service department that specializes in rustic outdoor interior decoration .
Eat the freshest California produce in innovative dishes
The local restaurantRainbirdwouldn’t front out of place in San Francisco or Napa Valley . The eatery spread out its doors in February at El Capitan , but is already bring in a huge impression on Merced ’s dining landscape . The food for thought is serve entirely in five - course tasting menu , and guests are let to make preferences along the path . It ’s not strange to see experimental lulu using seasonal ingredient , like fume cauliflower custard or blanched Allium cepa macaroons with pork barrel pate .
Bella Lunahas a standardized , but less dramatic dedication to local ingredients , serving traditional Italian cuisine like alimentary paste and pizza in a informal brick and wood space.510 Bistro(named after its Main Street address ) serves a motley of classic and novel American beauty on the good outdoor terrace in Merced , overlooking a grassy court with a spring and medallion trees . TheBranding Ironis a chophouse with an Old West feel that date back to 1952 and takes pride in its prime rib . There ’s also no deficit of Mexican restaurant and food trucks throughout Merced . TryJ&R Tacosfirst , which places a focus on fresh ingredients and healthier dish , admit vegan choice posted on the wall .
Tour a farm that makes its own wine
Vista Ranchis a multigenerational family farm that sit on 20 acres of what used to be the large peach woodlet and canning operation in the world under a company that would later become Del Monte . The land now bonk as Vista Ranch is a gorgeous spot for weddings , private case , and weekend drinks . " Vista Nights " are held every Thursday and Friday between May and October , offering drinks , wood - fired pizza topped with homegrown vegetables , and live music to the general populace .
As everyone get laid , pizza pie is the perfect partner to wine-colored . In recent years , Vista Ranch has branched out into the vino byplay , using their own grapes for zinfandel and cabernet , while turning to Napa grapes for syrah , merlot , chardonnay , pinot grigio , a pinkish moscato , and two sparkling wines . Owners Stephanie and Ivan Marchini are also looking to try out with rude wines later this twelvemonth .
The property ’s tasting room now sits in an erstwhile spread manager ’s household , built in 1910 , where guests can try out and grease one’s palms bottles , along with olive vegetable oil and other items produced with farm ingredients .
In with the old, in with the new.|El Capitan Hotel Merced
Light one up with nuns who grow cannabis
You ca n’t have a full discussion about California " agriculture " without discussing hemp . Merced has its part of dispensaries , but the Sisters of the Valley are the most compelling local business in the category . The convent of conical buoy grows their own weed on their own demesne , promoting the wellness benefits of the herb while sell a rail line of CBD products andscoring their own Rolling Stone articlein the process .
To be clear — the Sisters of the Valley are n’t Catholic . They ’re not even devotee of organized religion , but the group is extremely spiritual , consider themselves servants of the poor , prize the major planet , and grows their crop allot to the location of the moon . The nun pray together and smoke together .
Their product are available online and shipped throughout the domain , include their top - sell CBD relieve with coconut oil color and Vitamin E. You might even see a few items around township . The Smoker ’s Blend Tea , for illustration , is sell at Bobby ’s marketplace , which is on the same block of El Capitan and operates as the hotel ’s gift store and wash room store .
Just have to find my tape player.|Tigers & Daggers Records
Sip on spirits made from sweet potatoes
David Souza does n’t just grow sweet potatoes on his Atwater farm . He also distills them into booze for his side company , Corbin Cash . After all , you find ta do something with the ugly ace the grocery store storage do n’t require anyway .
All that rye on the farm , around for more than 100 eld , comes in handy at the distillery too . Everything is made on land site — farm - to - feeding bottle . Take a tour and sample to see what the operation is all about . Souza is a good talker , and he ’s armed with eternal information about sweet white potato vine .
luckily , it ’s a fascinating procedure and the spirits are the veridical mint . The sweet potatoes form exceptionally well in vodka and gin . Souza also combines a inert scented potato spirit with his rye to create a blended whiskey that in reality makes good sense . Both interpretation of the whiskey are mature for five year in charred white oak tree cask . There ’s also a sweet potato liqueur , which is a dainty , easy sip look — sweet , but not too dulcet — with cinnamon , nutmeg , and allspice .
It’s like eating a forest.|Rainbird Restaurant
Catch some theater in nifty-looking buildings
One of the sound things about Main Street is theMerced Theater , an visit 1,200 rump locale built in 1931 with gorgeous Spanish Colonial designing and a striking wall painting of IE at sea . It ’s household to the oldest symphonic orchestra in California , which now consist of Bay - area musicians who come in four clock time a class . Kenny Rogers reportedly claimed the dramaturgy had the best acoustics of any Marguerite Radclyffe Hall he ’d performed in .
Dig deeper into the local artwork scene withPlayhouse Merced , where residential district theater thrives , or theMerced Multicultural Arts Center , which is both an art verandah and performance venue . The latter is next to theMainzer , a renovated artistic creation - deco field of operations with a game elbow room , stage for live music , and bars with self - serve beer taps . An upstair hall was converted into a movie theater with fashionable West Elm chairs and tabular array in place of the same - sure-enough cinema seating .
Around the corner isThe Tioga , which is almost like a work of prowess all by itself . work up in 1928 , the former hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is now being repurposed as an flat construction . It ’s the tallest building in Merced and the city ’s most seeable turning point from the main main road .
Not sure if I’d rather hold the wine or get pulled in the wagon.|Vista Ranch
Sample California wines and then every cocktail imaginable
So where can you get a good drink around here ? Merced ’s booze scene is shift rapidly with two new wine-colored bars opening just months from each other on Main Street . Vinhosserves wine alongside Mediterranean tappa bark in a chic , present-day standard pressure with concrete floor and industrial roof . The external wine lean has more than 100 label , dominated by California producers , although Vinhos attempt to avoid stuff that ’s easy to regain elsewhere .
Hi - Fi Wineis in soft - opening mood , but observe an official grand opening on June 6 . The bar and sofa is key out after a vintage cabinet stereoscopic photograph system that ’s been brought back to life , helping the lounge feel like a cozy get - together in somebody ’s living room . The space is also a retail shop emphasizing West Coast wine-colored with California , Washington , and Oregon well represented . ask to see a strong survival from independent artisan wineries , peculiarly women - owned businesses , as well as constitutional , biodynamic , and vegan extract .
But it ’s not all wine-colored . Native Soneffortlessly transition from being a coffee legal profession during the day to a cocktail lounge at Nox in the lobby of El Capitan . WhereasThe Partisanalso has a full taproom , but a more locals - orient crowd . The Cue Spotis a billiards hall with more than 120 beers . It ’s the home where everyone end up when they do n’t desire to go to bottom early . And then there ’s the17th Street Public House , another social spot for craft beer . ( By the way , " 17th Street " is Main Street . )
Sister, could you pass the bowl?|Sisters of the Valley
Step back in time in a museum from 1875
If you were to send a postal card from Merced anytime over the past 100 years or so , chance are effective it would have a picture of theMerced County Courthouseon it . The metropolis ’s most identifiable turning point reflects the same Italian Renaissance design of California ’s body politic Das Kapital in Sacramento . Makes mother wit , since both building shared the same architect . Fun bank bill : the Lady Justice statue isnotblindfolded . Interpret that however you like .
The county courthouse , nestled in front of a big green , dates back to 1875 and was in functioning for a full century until 1975 . Today , it ’s a spare museum die hard by volunteers , open Wednesday through Sunday in the afternoon . Core exhibits include the court itself , a preserved schooling schoolroom , and equipment from a blacksmith shop . display do n’t sit still too prospicient , though , as there are ongoing rotations . The latest , for example , is about tractors — and who does n’t love a good tractor ?
Explore the old Gold Rush town of Mariposa on the way to Yosemite
Okay , okay … so you need to go to Yosemite National Park . It’snot a bad property to be . lead there takes you through Mariposa , a small town deserving a detour all by itself . Highway 140 slows down and turn into Mariposa ’s Main Street , where the vast absolute majority of the action is . The former minelaying residential district dates back to 1849 . TheMariposa Museum & History Centeris a small but piquant flavour into the town ’s Gold Rush history , with a restored stamp John Stuart Mill and other excavation equipment outdoors .
Overall , Mariposa is a fun hodgepodge of eras , mix an Old West legacy withAmerican route tripper culture . Venture around to the back of theMariposa Hotel Inn , where the entrance of theHideout Saloonis burrowed into the edifice , almost like a tunnel . Say hello and order the fried pickles . Heariter appetites may prefer theHappy Burger Diner . It arrogate to have the largest card around — and with eight varlet of description in humble font , few will contend . It ’s across the street from thePatten House , a home build in 1880 that ’s now a eating place serve gator pungency and other takes on Cajun cuisine . So seize lunch at your dining establishment of choice and continue to Yosemite — or plough around and head back to Merced to stay a while . To be honest , you ca n’t go wrong in either focus .
Turns out you can do a lot with spuds.|Corbin Cash Distillery
This would be a good place to watch Back to the Future.|Flickr/Russell Mondy
Does the dog come with the drinks?|El Capitan Hotel Merced
Looks like a courthouse. And a museum.|Diego Grandi/Shutterstock
Yosemite isn’t the only strike-it-rich treasure around here.|Flickr/Anthony Dolce
