Community Corner
Day Trip: Attractions East of the Tri-Valley
Tour some wonderful places in the Central Valley on your day trip to Knights Ferry.
Travel an hour and a half east on Interstate 580 and then along Highway 120 to Knights Ferry, a town nestled in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, along the banks of the Stanislaus River, to experience an abundance of attractions, happenings and fun things to do for the family.
Relax in the gorgeous scenery surrounding Knights Ferry, where everything stays green, cool waters gush down the Stanislaus, and family adventures await. Rafting on the Stanislaus River, out of Knights Ferry to Orange Blossom Park, is a great getaway.
“The rapids are low key,” said Shiloh Foust, general manager of Sunshine Rafting Adventures, in Oakdale. “It’s mellow rafting.”
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The Knights Ferry to Orange Blossom run contains class I and II rapids, with trip lengths varying from four to five hours. It’s perfect for families or groups with kids; participants only have to be 5 years or older. Sunshine Rafting Adventures invites the public to a low-risk Stanislaus River Rafting Float Trip.
“It’s a great family activity,” said Foust. “There aren’t a lot of outdoor, family adventures available in the Modesto area.” Modesto is about 40 miles southwest of Knight’s Ferry.
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The raft trips, which are available until Sept. 30, include paddles, life jackets, parking and a shuttle back to your car after the water journey. Ticket prices are $27 per person on Sat. and $24 per person on weekdays and Sun. The trips begin between 9 and 11:30 a.m. and last about four hours.
Foust recommends planning on five and a half hours, which includes the shuttle to your car. Call 800-829-7238 to book a trip.
Before leaving town be sure to see the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge, a 330-foot-long bridge crossing the Stanislaus River at the north end of town, Knights Ferry's most famous survivor from the years of the Gold Rush.
Head home, going west on Highway 120, and stop off at the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, 355 East “F” St. The cowboy museum contains the sights, sounds and smells of our western heritage. $1 admission. Visit the museum for its 14th Annual Dinner and Auction Fundraiser Sat., Sept. 17, tickets $75. Call the museum at 209-847-5163.
Continue west for another 20 miles and visit Manteca, located in the heart of the Central Valley. Take a Walking Tour of Murals of Manteca, a set of eight colorful murals by five artists adorning the walls of downtown businesses. The free tour begins at the corner of Yosemite and Main St. The Manteca Mural Society is planning for many more murals over the next few years. Call the Manteca Mural Society for more information, 209-823-7229.
