Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A vintage burger stand (part of a chain founded in nearby Lodi), where roller-skating car-
hops and classic cars on display move a lot of root beer floats. George Lucas supposedly
cruised here as a youth.
Minnie's
CHINESE
(
http://minnies.58-s.com
; 107 McHenry Ave; mains from $7.50)
On the north end of town, Minnie's is a mid-century Polynesian pop institution, one of the
last-standing tiki restaurants of its era. Opened in 1954, the Mah family has kept the ori-
ginal carvings, rattan, and menu favorites including chow mein and deep-fried asparagus.
Look for the oil-on-velvet paintings of nippled beauties by the celebrated Ralph Burke
Tyree.
Merced
You can jog over to Yosemite from many of the small towns in this part of the valley, but
this is a convenient staging area, right on Hwy 140. The machine of progress has not been
kind to Merced, as it suffers more than its share of strip malls, but at its core are still tree-
lined streets, historic Victorian homes and a magnificent 1875 courthouse. The downtown
business district is a work-in-progress, with 1930s movie theaters, antique stores and a few
casual eateries undergoing constant renovation.
Merced is right in the midst of a population makeover, thanks to the newest University
of California campus, opened in 2005. UC Merced's first freshman class numbered just
1000 students, but the school continues to grow with a diverse student body and has begun
to dramatically shape the city.
Downtown Merced is east of Hwy 99 along Main St, between R St and Martin Luther
710 W 16th St; 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm Sun)
, adjacent to the bus depot, has local
maps and information on Merced and Yosemite.
5050 Santa Fe Dr, Atwater; adult/child $10/8; 9am-5pm Apr-Sep, 10am-4pm Oct-Mar)
in Atwa-
ter, about 6 miles northwest. A squadron of restored military aircrafts from WWII, the
