Things to Do in Oakdale

Together, Pirate Rafting Company's guides have logged more than 15,000 miles on dozens of rivers. Their steadfast paddles continue to lead the charge as groups, seated in sky-blue rafts, crash into whitewater, spraying guests with mist like a surprise party for Shamu. Three separate stretches of river set the stage for these adventures. The North Fork American River includes Class IV+ rapids that blast the snowmelt against the dusk-colored rocks. The South Fork American River and Middle Fork American River include intense stretches, but are generally better suited to beginners.

Off the water, the guides demonstrate their expertise by setting up camp along the tree-lined banks and pitching tents beneath the stars.

For four generations, the Cutter family has tilled the land and reaped the harvests of Countryside Farms. The farm opens its gates to strawberry picking in the early summer months, and to cherry picking in June. As the seasons evolve, so do the attractions. When pumpkins reach their peak of ripeness, which is right before they turn into carriages, the farm hosts fall-themed attractions including hayrides and corn mazes. In addition to growing different crops, the farm houses a variety of friendly animals—Quackers the duck, Thanksgiving the turkey, and Dewey the horse, to name a few.

The Stockton Indoor Sports Complex celebrates fast-paced sports and recreation with public-skate sessions, roller hockey, and roller-derby contests. During public-skate sessions, adults and kids lace up old-fashioned quads or in-line skates and glide around the center's hockey-rink-sized floor. Add a couple goals to the floor, and it's ready for youth- and adult-hockey leagues or indoor-soccer matches—the complex's only skate-free activity aside from bathroom breaks and oft-discouraged handstands.

For those who prefer to spectate, the Port City Roller Girls zip around the track on select days, shouldering opposing teams into the boards as they entertain fans during grueling roller-derby matches. On special occasions, the rink's private party rooms are available for birthday parties replete with pizza, hot dogs, and soliloquies lamenting the fleeting nature of one's youth.

Just 2 miles from the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park sits a post that passed from homesteader to cowboy to Mike and Sherry Knapp, who dubbed it Yosemite Trails Pack Station 70 years ago. Since then, three generations of Knapps have run the station, but it remains as isolated and wildlife rich as it was in 1966. Today, Larry Knapp and his team still raise cattle as well as american quarter and american paint horses in the Sierra Nevada mountains, getting them acclimated to the rocky terrain so that they can safely carry patrons on trail rides. Trails wind through Big Creek, the Vista Pass, and even venture into Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove, thick with millennia-old redwood trees. Days on horseback often culminate in cowboy cookouts with hot dogs, s’mores, and photos of ex-boyfriends roasted over the campfire. When summer fades to winter, guests can still enjoy the mountain-lined horizon on sleighs drawn by belgian draft horses.

If you've ever tried to beat rush-hour traffic by tethering your car with helium-filled balloons, then you know that hot-air flight should be left to the professionals. The Federal Aviation Administration–certified pilots at Sky Drifters Hot Air Ballooning embark on journeys from the Sierra Nevada foothills daily, and their company has been named one of the 10Best attractions in Sacramento. Whether piloting a small group or private flight, the balloon captains show passengers a bird’s-eye view of the rolling hills, winding rivers and finely crafted comb-overs whose majesty can only be truly appreciated from above. Their aerial transports also play host to weddings in the sky and can provide a lift to those who enjoy BASE jumping from the clouds.

The nine holes of River Creek Golf Course are spread across the same granite-streaked foothills occupied by Yosemite National Park, which lies just 30 miles to the northwest. Snowcapped Sierra peaks hover above the trees as golfers contend with a John Hilborn–designed layout that welcomes golfers into its embrace with a 542-yard dogleg first hole, the longest on the course. Once players have holed out on the birdie-prone 349-yard ninth, they can head to the clubhouse, checking clubs at the door and instructing golf carts to sit and stay. Inside, the café and bar menu slakes hunger with lunch options, such as hamburgers, caesar wraps, and quesadillas, as well as beverages, including fountain drinks and premium beer.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par-36 course
• Total length of 3,152 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 68 from the back tees
• Course slope of 128 from the back tees
• Fives sets of tees per hole