Merced, Uniqueness at its Finest
Merced, meaning “mercy” in Spanish, is located in the San Joaquin Valley and was named after the Merced River because of its proximity to the site. It holds the county seat of Merced County and shelters more than 80,000 residents. The city is also known as the “Gateway to Yosemite” as it stands about less than two hours away from Yosemite National Park. Merced, CA offers its guests with a plethora of hotel choices to accommodate them, along with various attractions and entertainment facilities.
Best Time to Visit
While most of the year is nice and sunny across Merced, California, summers and winters tend to have the peak of the temperatures. The best dates to plan your trip to the city are between mid-March and early July and early September and mid-November as these days have clearer skies compared to the rest of the year. As the city celebrates the 4th of July and its Art Hop Downtown Merced event, both held in July, people tend to fill the Merced, CA hotels, so better plan ahead. The crowd usually decreases come November.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Among the top go-to places in the city is the Merced County Courthouse Museum that features exquisite collections of blacksmith shops, Indian artifacts, and turn-of-the-century schoolhouse. The Applegate Park & Zoo, Merced’s first ever city park, also attracts tourists of all ages. Another must-see site in Merced is the Castle Air Museum where you can see the cockpits of 46 vintage airplanes that dates back to World War II. Afterward, relax and be pampered at the Best Western Inn in Motel Drive or the Ramada Merced Inn And Suites in E Childs Avenue.