County guide
17 outings for families, couples, seniors and groups, each linked to its source.
Holiday Pops, The Nutcracker, the Los Banos Christmas parade, Castle Air Museum, Applegate Zoo, Pacheco State Park and Merced River parks.
Maestro Ming Luke leads the Merced Symphony in holiday classics and festive favorites at the historic Merced Theatre.
The Chamber of Commerce's lighted night parade, themed "Elves on Parade," followed by awards, carolers and the tree lighting in Henry Miller Plaza, with arts and crafts, choirs, marching bands and food vendors.
Marie's Nutcracker comes to life on Christmas Eve in a production with 40 dancers, more than 150 hand-sewn costumes and hand-crafted sets. Runs 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20-minute intermission; ages 2 and up.
Military aviation history next to Castle Airport. The VC-9 presidential aircraft is open for tours on weekends, weather permitting, from 10am to 2:30pm for an extra $10 per person.
More than a mile of Merced River frontage for fishing, camping and picnicking. The Loop Trail is closed for repairs through 2027.
A lakeside park for fishing, kayaking and picnicking, with playgrounds, a swimming beach area, kayak and paddleboard rentals, beach volleyball and a boat launch.
Shady trees, campgrounds and grassy fields on the banks of the Merced River, with fishing and swimming.
About 75 mammals, birds and reptiles, many of them California native species from wildlife rescue centers. No pets, bikes or skateboards.
Exhibits on Merced County history in the county's three-story 1875 Italianate courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Current exhibits include The MAC at 30: A Canvas of Community and America 250 Merced County.
A 5-mile auto tour route and four nature trails through wetlands and grasslands. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge September through March.
Rolling hills with spring wildflowers, scenic vistas and 28 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The Dinosaur Lake Trail is closed until further notice, and water is not available in the day use area. No dogs.
More than 15 miles of auto tour routes and over 10 miles of nature trails through wetlands, grasslands and riparian woodlands, with tule elk viewing and a visitor center exhibit hall.
A state recreation area on San Luis Reservoir along Highway 152. Basalt Campground and Day Use Area are temporarily closed for a dam safety project.
Kalani Pe'a, No-No Boy, Holiday Pops and The Nutcracker at the Merced Theatre, plus refuge auto tours at dusk.
South Pacific Dance Co. presents Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kalani Pe'a, a four-time Grammy winner in Regional Roots and an eight-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner.
A multimedia concert by songwriter and scholar Dr. Julian Saporiti that blends original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research about Asian American communities, refugees and immigrants.
Maestro Ming Luke leads the Merced Symphony in holiday classics and festive favorites at the historic Merced Theatre.
The Chamber of Commerce's lighted night parade, themed "Elves on Parade," followed by awards, carolers and the tree lighting in Henry Miller Plaza, with arts and crafts, choirs, marching bands and food vendors.
Marie's Nutcracker comes to life on Christmas Eve in a production with 40 dancers, more than 150 hand-sewn costumes and hand-crafted sets. Runs 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20-minute intermission; ages 2 and up.
Four art galleries and the Arbor Gallery presenting local, regional, statewide and national artists.
A 5-mile auto tour route and four nature trails through wetlands and grasslands. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge September through March.
More than 15 miles of auto tour routes and over 10 miles of nature trails through wetlands, grasslands and riparian woodlands, with tule elk viewing and a visitor center exhibit hall.
Merced Theatre concerts, the 1875 Courthouse Museum, the MAC galleries, Castle Air Museum, wildlife refuges and Pacheco State Park.
South Pacific Dance Co. presents Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kalani Pe'a, a four-time Grammy winner in Regional Roots and an eight-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner.
A multimedia concert by songwriter and scholar Dr. Julian Saporiti that blends original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research about Asian American communities, refugees and immigrants.
Maestro Ming Luke leads the Merced Symphony in holiday classics and festive favorites at the historic Merced Theatre.
The Chamber of Commerce's lighted night parade, themed "Elves on Parade," followed by awards, carolers and the tree lighting in Henry Miller Plaza, with arts and crafts, choirs, marching bands and food vendors.
Marie's Nutcracker comes to life on Christmas Eve in a production with 40 dancers, more than 150 hand-sewn costumes and hand-crafted sets. Runs 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20-minute intermission; ages 2 and up.
Military aviation history next to Castle Airport. The VC-9 presidential aircraft is open for tours on weekends, weather permitting, from 10am to 2:30pm for an extra $10 per person.
One of the Central Valley's few remaining intact native grassland, wetland and riparian woodland habitats, along the San Joaquin River, with bank fishing and a boat launch for personal watercraft.
About 75 mammals, birds and reptiles, many of them California native species from wildlife rescue centers. No pets, bikes or skateboards.
Exhibits on Merced County history in the county's three-story 1875 Italianate courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Current exhibits include The MAC at 30: A Canvas of Community and America 250 Merced County.
Four art galleries and the Arbor Gallery presenting local, regional, statewide and national artists.
A 5-mile auto tour route and four nature trails through wetlands and grasslands. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge September through March.
Rolling hills with spring wildflowers, scenic vistas and 28 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The Dinosaur Lake Trail is closed until further notice, and water is not available in the day use area. No dogs.
More than 15 miles of auto tour routes and over 10 miles of nature trails through wetlands, grasslands and riparian woodlands, with tule elk viewing and a visitor center exhibit hall.
A No-No Boy concert, the MAC galleries, Lake Yosemite, Pacheco State Park trails, San Luis Reservoir and Merced River recreation areas.
A multimedia concert by songwriter and scholar Dr. Julian Saporiti that blends original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research about Asian American communities, refugees and immigrants.
Military aviation history next to Castle Airport. The VC-9 presidential aircraft is open for tours on weekends, weather permitting, from 10am to 2:30pm for an extra $10 per person.
More than a mile of Merced River frontage for fishing, camping and picnicking. The Loop Trail is closed for repairs through 2027.
One of the Central Valley's few remaining intact native grassland, wetland and riparian woodland habitats, along the San Joaquin River, with bank fishing and a boat launch for personal watercraft.
A lakeside park for fishing, kayaking and picnicking, with playgrounds, a swimming beach area, kayak and paddleboard rentals, beach volleyball and a boat launch.
Shady trees, campgrounds and grassy fields on the banks of the Merced River, with fishing and swimming.
Four art galleries and the Arbor Gallery presenting local, regional, statewide and national artists.
A 5-mile auto tour route and four nature trails through wetlands and grasslands. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge September through March.
Rolling hills with spring wildflowers, scenic vistas and 28 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. The Dinosaur Lake Trail is closed until further notice, and water is not available in the day use area. No dogs.
More than 15 miles of auto tour routes and over 10 miles of nature trails through wetlands, grasslands and riparian woodlands, with tule elk viewing and a visitor center exhibit hall.
A state recreation area on San Luis Reservoir along Highway 152. Basalt Campground and Day Use Area are temporarily closed for a dam safety project.
Free wildlife refuges, Great Valley Grasslands, the Courthouse Museum and the MAC galleries, plus Applegate Zoo and No-No Boy.
A multimedia concert by songwriter and scholar Dr. Julian Saporiti that blends original music, storytelling, archival images, field recordings and historical research about Asian American communities, refugees and immigrants.
One of the Central Valley's few remaining intact native grassland, wetland and riparian woodland habitats, along the San Joaquin River, with bank fishing and a boat launch for personal watercraft.
About 75 mammals, birds and reptiles, many of them California native species from wildlife rescue centers. No pets, bikes or skateboards.
Exhibits on Merced County history in the county's three-story 1875 Italianate courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Current exhibits include The MAC at 30: A Canvas of Community and America 250 Merced County.
Four art galleries and the Arbor Gallery presenting local, regional, statewide and national artists.
A 5-mile auto tour route and four nature trails through wetlands and grasslands. Sandhill cranes are abundant on the refuge September through March.
More than 15 miles of auto tour routes and over 10 miles of nature trails through wetlands, grasslands and riparian woodlands, with tule elk viewing and a visitor center exhibit hall.