Denair to Albany train

Denair is a small town between Modesto and Merced on the Amtrak San Joaquins route. Many of the restaurants, shops, and amenities are in the neighboring town of Turlock, and you won't find chain restaurants in this quiet, friendly community. Instead, you can find local favorites like Riveras Crazy Snacks, Denair Donuts, and the El Jidalguense taco truck when hunger strikes.

Plus, since you're in the agricultural embrace of central California, there is no shortage of foodie experiences in the area around Denair and Turlock. Bring an appetite to Resendiz Family Fruit Barn, where you can sample fresh fruit, baked goods, and to-die-for smoothies. Meet the local chicks at Hen and Harvest Farm, open in Turlock on Sundays.

There is also plenty of outdoor adventure in Stanislaus County. Turlock Lake State Recreation Area is just one of central California's gorgeous spots to go boating or camping. A little further west, you'll find Don Pedro Lake in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas.

Thanks to the San Joaquins trains that stop in Denair each day, it's easy to reach the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, or Bakersfield within a few hours. Plus, it's a straight shot on the train from Denair to Merced, one of the main gateways to Yosemite National Park. Although Denair does not have intercity bus service, Greyhound runs several routes to its neighbor, Turlock.

Albany is an Oregon city located halfway between Portland and Eugene, just south of the state capital, Salem. To get a feel for the town's history, visit Monteith House and Albany Regional Museum, both of which house artifacts from the 19th century when Oregon was a growing destination for pioneers.

Thanks to its location in the Willamette Valley, Albany is near many top-rated wineries and vineyards like Springhill Cellars and Delfino Fine Wines. Oregon's beer culture also shines in Albany, at breweries including Calapooia Brewing Co. and The Garage, with 54 drinks on tap downtown. Albany also has many excellent restaurants, with specialties ranging from Italian to Hungarian dishes.

Many bus routes serve Albany, the most useful of which are ATS (Albany Transit System) for travel within the local area and Amtrak Thruway for intercity travel. Amtrak's Coast Starlight between LA and Seattle and the Cascades from Vancouver to Eugene both stop in Albany for easy rail connections up and down the coast.