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Merced, California: The Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit (And Why You Shouldn’t Just Drive Through It)

Downtown Merced walks completely flat and the whole of it fits inside a single afternoon as well. Lake Yosemite is the short drive out and the shore walks easy right from the parking lot out there. The Castle Air Museum wants standing rather than walking, and a good deal of it out there instead. The zoo is small and it takes about an hour. Easy.

Planning a trip to Merced, California? Good call. This charming city runs plenty worth stopping for. Art, history, outdoor time, or simply eating well and doing nothing, Merced covers all four.

For some culture, take the artistic side of Merced. The Merced Multicultural Arts Center through to the Merced Theatre, the venues do not run short. And the Merced County Courthouse Museum walks you through the area’s past.

And no trip to Merced is complete without eating properly. The restaurants and cafes run broad, so something will land on the right taste. And for a souvenir with some character, take the local farmers’ market for the fresh produce and the handmade work.

Key Takeaways

• Merced, California is a city full of fun things to do and places to visit.
• You can explore the artistic side of Merced by visiting the Merced Multicultural Arts Center and Merced Theatre.
• Don’t forget to try the local cuisine and check out the farmers’ market for souvenirs.

The Artistic Side of Merced

After some culture in Merced? The city’s artistic side is where it is. Theater through dance through art shows, the range covers it.

Playhouse Merced

Theater people should take Playhouse Merced. This community theater puts on shows across the year, classic plays through to modern musicals. You never know what is on the stage at Playhouse Merced, and it holds up either way.

Merced Multicultural Arts Center

For art exhibits, the Merced Multicultural Arts Center is the one. The center shows art styles from different cultures, which opens the world up a little. And it runs classes in painting, drawing and other forms alongside.

Plays or art shows, Merced’s artistic side covers both. So go and get cultured, because what turns up may surprise you.

A Taste of Merced

On food and drink, Merced runs more than the size suggests. A quick lunch or a slow wine tasting, the options are there for both.

Downtown Merced Dining

For something to eat, head to downtown Merced. The restaurants there run fresh produce through to classic American cooking. For a quick and healthy lunch, stop at Cafe 15. This cozy room puts out salads, sandwiches and soups built on fresh local ingredients.

For something heavier, take The Partisan. This trendy room runs gourmet burgers and craft beer. Or head to The Branding Iron for the classic steakhouse version, where the cuts are juicy, properly seasoned and cooked the way you asked.

Vista Ranch and Cellars Wine Tasting

Wine people should take Vista Ranch and Cellars. This family-owned winery pours tastings of its award-winning wines, with tours of the vineyards and the production side. Sit down with a glass of Merlot or Chardonnay and let the country do the rest.

A quick bite or a slow wine tasting, Merced runs both. Get out and work this lively city properly.

Historical Merced

History people will take to the historical sites around Merced. Here are the two that put you back a century:

Merced County Courthouse Museum

Step inside the Merced County Courthouse Museum and the early 1900s come at you off the walls. This local museum sits in a historic courthouse built in 1875 and designed by the firm Allison and Allison Architects.

Inside there are exhibits carrying the history of Merced County, including the area’s Native American tribes, the agriculture and the transportation. And the courthouse’s own role gets covered, including its use as a jail and a courthouse for over a century.

Castle Air Museum

Military history people should not miss the Castle Air Museum. The museum holds over 70 vintage military aircraft, bombers and fighters and helicopters among them. You get close to the planes and the guides know what they are talking about.

The one everybody remembers is the B-52 Stratofortress, the bomber the US Air Force flew through the Cold War. You climb inside and see what the crew lived with on the long missions.

Local history or military history, Merced has the sites for both. Do not skip the Merced County Courthouse Museum or the Castle Air Museum next time you are through.

Outdoor Activities in Merced

In Merced the outdoors is not skippable. Parks, lakes and wildlife refuges all run here. Here are the outdoor things to take:

Applegate Park Zoo

Animal people should take the Applegate Park Zoo. This small zoo holds monkeys, birds and reptiles among the rest. You can feed the ducks and the geese living in it too. It suits an hour or two with the family and it costs very little to get in.

Lake Yosemite

For the peaceful version, head to Lake Yosemite. Grassy fields and wetlands close in around the water, and the local wildlife turns up in them. Fish it, boat it, or sit on the shore and take the view. And with luck the waterfalls along the Merced River show themselves.

Walking the dog or simply getting outdoors, Merced runs the options. Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Henderson Park and the Merced Dog Park are the other spots worth taking. So pack a picnic, take the sunscreen, and get out into it.

The Merced County Fair lands in June every single year with the carnival and the livestock. The courthouse has stood since 1875 and it works as a museum these days instead. The antique mall opens right the way through the whole of the week out there as well. And the wine tasting out at Vista Ranch runs the whole year through. And so does the food.

Shopping in Merced

After a shopping run in Merced? Here are two that will handle it:

Merced Antique Mall

Antiques people should take the Merced Antique Mall. It sits on Main Street and holds over 14 antique shops running vintage things across the board. Furniture through jewelry through collectibles, whatever the house needs is somewhere in there.

The mall opens right through the week, so the timing is never the problem. And with a collection that size, something will catch you. You may come out with something you were not looking for.

Downtown Merced Shopping

Downtown Merced is the other place to shop. The stores run clothing boutiques through gift shops through art galleries. And eaters do well too, because the restaurants and cafes are all along the same streets.

The strongest thing about shopping in downtown Merced is the atmosphere. The streets are lined with trees and historic buildings, which gives the whole area a charm the chains cannot copy. And events and live music turn up often enough to build a day around.

A gift with some thought in it or simply something for yourself, downtown Merced has it. So put the walking shoes on and go.

Where to Stay in Merced

Planning a trip to Merced means finding the right bed. Luxury or budget, the town covers both. Here is the one people name most:

El Capitan Hotel

For a luxurious stay in Merced, the El Capitan Hotel is the answer. This historic hotel has been renovated recently and runs modern amenities without losing the old character. It sits in the heart of downtown Merced and most of the attractions are a walk away.

The rooms at El Capitan Hotel are spacious and comfortable, with plush bedding, flat-screen TVs and high-speed internet. And there is a fitness center, a business center and a rooftop lounge with the city out across the view.

The strongest thing about staying at El Capitan Hotel is the restaurant, The Vault. The kitchen runs farm-to-table cooking with plenty of it sourced from local farms and ranches. And the wine list is long enough to take your time over.

So for a luxurious stay in Merced, El Capitan Hotel is the one. Between the historic character, the modern amenities and the restaurant, the stay holds up.

Merced Events and Festivals

Merced is known for the events and festivals it runs through the year. Music person, eater, or somebody simply after a good day out, one of them will suit.

Merced County Fair

The biggest event in Merced is the Merced County Fair, held every June. The fair marks the county itself, with carnival rides, live music and proper fair food. The livestock exhibits put you next to cows, pigs and the rest. And the games are there if you fancy winning something.

The Merced County Fair works on the whole family at once. A ride on the Ferris wheel or a slow hour of live music, both are on.

So mark June in the calendar and go and take the Merced County Fair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any secret spots in Merced that only locals know about?

There are, yes. But telling you would rather defeat the point. Merced runs plenty of places only the locals name. Merced Fruit Barn is one, holding fresh produce and homemade pies. And the Merced Cemetery is the other, which is a quiet and genuinely good walk.

Can you recommend any quirky attractions in Merced?

Plenty. For something out of the ordinary, take the Merced County Courthouse Museum. It sits in a historic building and runs exhibits on local history. And the Merced Antique Mall is the other one, where the unusual things turn up.

Where can I find the best tacos in Merced?

The age-old question. There are so many strong taco places in Merced that picking one is hard. But if we had to, Taqueria Apatzingan is the answer. They run tacos, burritos and the rest of the Mexican favorites properly.

What’s the craziest event that’s ever happened in Merced?

There was the time a herd of goats escaped and took over a neighborhood. But honestly, Merced runs quiet. There are not many wild events, and there are plenty of community ones worth turning up to.

Is it true that Merced has a giant statue of a fruit?

It is. The Fruit Salad sculpture is a 20-foot-tall statue of a fruit salad standing in the heart of downtown Merced. It is quirky public art and the town has taken it to heart.

Are there any haunted places in Merced that I should visit?

We do not want to alarm you, and there are places in Merced rumored to be haunted. The Merced Theatre is said to hold the ghost of a former projectionist. And the old Merced County Hospital is said to hold the ghosts of patients who died there. Friendly ghosts, by all accounts.

Frequently asked questions about Merced, California

How many of the aircraft does the whole of the Castle Air Museum actually hold out there, then, really now, in the end?

Over 70 vintage military aircraft out there, bombers and fighters and helicopters all among them. The B-52 Stratofortress is the one everybody remembers, flown right through the Cold War. You climb inside it and see what the crew lived with on the whole of the long missions. Guides.

How old exactly is the whole of the Merced County Courthouse Museum out there, then, really now, in the end?

Built back in 1875 by the firm Allison and Allison Architects right out there. Inside you get the history of Merced County, the Native American tribes and the agriculture and the transportation. The building worked as a jail and a courthouse for well over a century. Exhibits.

How many of the antique shops does the whole of the Merced Antique Mall actually hold, then, really now?

Over 14 of them out there, all sitting on Main Street in the very same building. Furniture and jewelry and collectibles all run right the way through the whole place. It opens right through the week, so the timing never becomes a problem at all. Vintage.

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