Northern California is brimming with both well-known attractions and off-the-beaten-path gems, like the San Francisco Bay Area, the otherworldly trees of Redwood National Park, and the secret white sands and hiking trails of Stinson Beach, to name but a few. But have you heard of the quirky, less-traveled, so-called "Almond Capitol of the World"? The second-smallest city in San Joaquin County, Ripon is a thriving Northern Californian gem for visitors that has much to offer — including lots of almonds.
Ripon proudly boasts a number of annual family-friendly events throughout the year, but its biggest highlight is the Almond Blossom Festival, held on the last weekend of February each year. You see, almonds are the cultural and economic focal point of Ripon, hence the "Almond Capitol of the World" moniker. Renowned for its high production of almonds, it was back in 1909 that farmers began planting almond trees in the area.
The Almond Blossom Festival has been running since 1962 as a tribute to the town's long agricultural history and almond production. The festival takes place across four days and includes several exciting and tasty food events, a bake sale, dance, running races, and live music. The real star of the show is the parade that makes its way through downtown Ripon. If there's one thing you can't miss when visiting Ripon, it's the Almond Blossom Festival. Plus, it's certainly the most beautiful time to visit thanks to the light-pink almond flowers flourishing on the trees around you, which make for great photo opportunities.
Read more: 15 Underrated Vineyards To Visit In California
Ripon's Family-Friendly Activities
You'll be glad to learn that Ripon's Almond Blossom Festival isn't the only family-friendly event in town to enjoy. Ripon is home to 24 parks across the town, making them the perfect destinations to let the kids play, run, and get back to nature with a family picnic or whatever your heart desires.
Mavis Stouffer Park is a popular family-friendly spot in Ripon that has a lovely picnic area, a butterfly garden, riverside walking trails, and a volleyball area for visitors to enjoy. The town is also home to the Mistlin Sports Park, which has excellent facilities for a number of activities, including sports fields for baseball, softball, and soccer, as well as batting cages. It also has a seasonal interactive water fountain, perfect for cooling the kids down throughout the summer months.
To embrace the outdoors while visiting Ripon, consider checking out Caswell Memorial State Park. With its location along the Stanislaus River, this is the ideal location to beat the heat during the summer. Visitors can enjoy acres of serene forests in a park that protects threatened and endangered species, both trees and animals, including the riparian oak and riparian brush rabbits. The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Wining, Dining, And Reaching Ripon
This overlooked Northern Californian destination doesn't just accommodate kids. The state is world-famous for its wine production. Thus, there are an abundance of underrated vineyards across California to visit, and Ripon is no exception. While Ripon is home to a number of wineries and vineyards, one of the best to visit is Lucca Winery.
Open Friday to Sunday with tastings at noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m., this is a superbly affordable Northern California vineyard experience, as tasting flights start at just $15 per person, a fee that's waived with the purchase of any wine. An excellent date night idea is the winery's Pizza Friday for $50 a couple. Pizza and wine? Say no more. As with many things in Ripon, Lucca Winery has an interesting link to almonds in that the man responsible for the winery, Mark Lucchesi, farmed almonds and peaches before growing grapes. Lucca Winery is the product of a family history of farming and experimental creativity with homemade wine.
If you're planning on visiting Ripon, the good news is that it's super close to major cities like San Francisco and Sacramento. The closest major airport is Sacramento International Airport, just 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Alternatively, San Francisco International Airport is around 1 hour and 20 minutes from town. Accommodation options in town include everything from affordable motels to higher-end chain hotels, fitting a wide range of budgets. As such, a trip to the almond-centric, family-fun-filled Ripon should be on your Northern Californian bucket list.
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