Whether by plane, train or automobile, visiting Merced is easy.

Automobile
Laying at the intersection of U.S. Highways 140, 59 and California Highway 99, Merced is located in the heartland of California.The downtown transportation center serves as the hub of Merced’s local, regional and national bus service, and also houses the California Welcome Center.The Center can provide advice and helpful travel information for destinations in Merced and the surrounding region.

Merced Conference and Visitors Bureau & California Welcome Center
In addition to other business information, this link contains local Restaurant information.
http://www.yosemite-gateway.org/
710 W. 16^th Street
(209) 384-2791

The Bus (Merced County Bus Transit)
http://www.mercedthebus.com/
(209) 384-3111
1 (800) 345-3111

YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System)
http://www.yarts.com/
1 (877) 98-YARTS

Greyhound
http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp
(209) 722-2121

Train
Amtrak provides multiple daily stops in Merced along the San Joaquin line.From Merced there are direct rail connections to numerous cities along the line between Sacramento, Oakland and Bakersfield.
Station Information:
http://www.amtrak.com
324 W. 24^th Street
(209) 722-6862(For Station Information)
1 (800) 872-7245(For Reservations)

Plane
The Merced Municipal Airport provides daily passenger service to Las Vegas by US Airways. In addition to passenger service, several freight carriers use the Merced Airport.

www.usairways.com
US Airways
(209) 723-3900
1-800-2FLY-AWA

Merced Municipal Airport
20 MacReady Drive
(209) 385-6873

Merced Area Attractions

Agricultural Museum
4498 E. Hwy. 140
209-383-1912
Open Tuesday to Sunday
10 AM to 4 PM
Free Admission

The museum includes antique farm equipment, gas engines and horse-drawn buggy displays.The featured display is a working blacksmith shop.

Applegate Park and Zoo
26th & R Streets
209-385-6840
Zoo Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM March to April
Under 3 FREE
Ages 3 to 10 $ .75
Ages 11 to 59 $1.25
Ages 60 and over $ .50

The crown jewel of the City park system, Applegate Park meanders along the bank of Bear Creek and is a stopping point along Merced’s extensive bike trail network.The park boasts, picnic areas, a rose garden, Laura's Fountain and Kiddieland Amusement area with train (available on weekends June to September).

Applegate’s Zoo is home to native wild animals that are non-releasable, many having come from wildlife rescue centers or being handicapped. These animals are at the Zoo to help visitors learn about California's wildlife heritage.

Buchanan Hollow Nut Company
6510 Minturn Road
Le Grand
(209) 389-4594
Open Monday thru Saturday
8 AM to 5 PM.

Visitors can take advantage of friendly tours of the small nut processing/packaging plant.The company specializes in pistachios and other local nuts produced in the area. The tours end with free samples.Visitors may purchase specialized gift boxes and have them shipped any where around the world.

Castle Air Museum
5050 Sante Fe Drive
Atwater, CA 95301

Office (209) 723-2178
Gift Shop (209) 723-2182
Fax (209) 723-0323
Cafe (209) 723-2177 (Cafe closed Tuesdays)
Museum Hours:
October - April open daily 10am - 4pm
May - September open daily 9am - 5pm

Admission:
Adults: $8
Seniors (60 & over): $6
Youth 12-17: $6
7 and under: Free

Active Military: Free

The tremendous collection of planes includes notable crafts such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator, the B-29 Super Fortress, the B-26 Marauder and the B-25 Mitchell Bomber.With more than 40 vintage military issue aircraft from World War II to present, an indoor museum, a gift shop and a restaurant the museum is a must see attraction.

Castle Science and Technology Center
3460 Challenger Way
Atwater, CA 95301
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm
General Admission $ 6.00
Students/Seniors $ 5.00
Children under 6 $ 3.00
Annual Membership and group rates are available.
For reservations call (209) 726-0296.

The Center includes numerous hands-on exhibits teaching scientific principles while entertaining the students at the same time. Some of the favorite attractions include:

• 1492: Two World of Science from Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley
• El Nino Interactive Computer Display from Jet Propulsion Laboratories, Pasadena
• Planet Polluto Interactive Display from San Joaquin Valley Pollution Control District
• NASA Displays from Johnson Space Center, Houston
• The Blue Planet Globe
• Harmonograph
• Bubblemania
• Butterflies around the World

Challenger Learning Center
3460 Challenger Way
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 726-0296

Challenger Learning Center of the San Joaquin Valley is a mathematics and science facility that incorporates the thrill and adventure of space flight with the down to Earth necessity to master the fundamentals of mathematics and science.Along the way, three important skills are developed: teamwork, problem solving, and communication.

Merced Courthouse Museum
21st & N Streets
(209) 723-2401
Open Wednesday thru Sunday
1 to 4 PM
Free admission

Listed on the National Register of Historical places, the 1875 Courthouse houses historical exhibits of Merced County and the State. Rotating displays of quilts, artists, dolls and more. Courthouse Park is located adjacent to the Museum, and features a Memorial to all the fallen Veterans of Merced County.

Downtown Farmer’s Market
Corner of “N” and 19^th Streets
Open every Saturday 7 a.m.
Free admission

Come taste the bounty of the valley or take home a unique treasure from a local artisan.The food and merchandise is always new and always unique.