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Valley-based Crate Republic offers a taste of the Golden State

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her nine-year-old son, husband of 14 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works full time with ValleyPBS as their Director of Educational Services and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.
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My family is no stranger to the phenomena that is monthly subscription boxes. I’ve tried IPSY, Birchbox, Boxycharm, the Walmart Beauty Box, and Stitch Fix, and gifted Graze snack boxes. My son has subscribed to Loot Crate and my husband is a loyal customer of the Dollar Shave Club.

Being the subscription box enthusiast I am, when I heard about Crate Republic, a new gift box and monthly subscription service designed to bring awesome food, drinks, and gifts from California’s upstart and small-batch businesses to your doorstep, I was intrigued. Even more so when I heard the business is based right here in the Fresno area!

Food and wine subscription options

Checking out Crate Republic’s website, I discovered there are two main types of monthly subscriptions—food and wine. The options for each are as follows:

Food subscriptions

  • The Great Crate: Comes filled with five to six full-sized, artisan-crafted delicious, consumable products and one keeper-gift item
  • Nor-Cal vs. So-Cal: Comes with four artisan-crafted products — two from northern California and two from southern California — and you decide which is best
  • The Snack Pack: Comes filled with three to four award-winning delights

Wine subscriptions

California Crate Republic

Crate Republic’s Sweet Spot Crate

Gift crates

In addition to monthly subscriptions, you can also make a one-time purchase from Crate Republic’s curated selection of gift crates, such as the Bite for Binge Watching, a crate of tasty California-made snacks like lightly salted pistachios, toffee almonds, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. It all comes in a handy tote for easy portability and activities like binge-watching your favorite shows at a friend’s place.

Other gift crates include the Bloody Mary Mix-Off, the Carnivore Crate, the Coffee Break, the Sweet Spot, the Host with the Most Crate, and the Road-Snack Smackdown. (Everyone loves a good snack selection for long road trips!)

Worried you’ll fall in love with an item included in your monthly subscription box or gift crate and have a hard time procuring more of it? Fear not: Crate Republic also offers you the ability to shop their curated California pantry for individual items you’d like more of.

California Crate Republic

Crate Republic’s Bloody Mary Mix-Off Crate 

For the California lover, while giving back to California

Crate Republic subscription and gift boxes range in price from $27 to $70 a month, so there’s a great gifting (or self-gifting!) option for everyone, from those who live here in California and love it to those who wish they lived here. Also, if you’d like to purchase a crate in person (as opposed to via the website), you can find a selection of crate at Crazy Squirrel Game Store, 464 E. Bullard Ave. #105 in Fresno.

“In this land of giants (sequoias or otherwise),” says Crate Republic, “the upstarts can get overshadowed. We’re dedicated to shining a light on those upstarts—the small-batch wineries, the indie food makers, the artisans—and giving them a place to be noticed and appreciated.”

In addition to supporting California businesses, Crate Republic also gives back to fellow California residents. “Crate Republic adores the Golden State, and lives by the Golden Rule. That’s why a portion of every sale goes to local organizations aiding the 90,000 victims of the devastating wildfires in Northern California.”

So, subscription lovers – what Crate Republic box has your interest piqued?

Got the travel bug? Visit Mammoth Lakes year round

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JoAnn Hallum

Houseplant killing optimist- freelance writer -kid herder

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Considering Fresno’s location in California, it’s crazy to limit one’s travel opportunities to just the summer. All year long there’s something fun for everyone in the Eastern Sierra mountains—the question is, have you discovered it?

During the summer, it’s a short and beautiful four-hour drive directly through Yosemite to Mammoth Lakes. (Of course, the trip gets longer if you stop along the way to see Yosemite wonders like Bridal Veil Falls and Glacier Point, or if you visit during snow season.)

Once you’re down the Tioga Pass, you’ll notice a high desert landscape vastly different from Fresno’s western agricultural side. It’s a great piece of California to visit, any time of the year.

Fall

Last weekend, I was in the Eastern Sierra with my kids, soaking in the fall colors and the quiet before the busy ski season. It’s hard to say which season is my favorite to visit Mammoth Lakes. If you like peace and quiet, beautiful leaves, and the slight but exciting chance that the Tioga Pass will close from a light snow and leave you with an eight-hour drive around the mountains, fall is the time to visit.

Mammoth Lakes

Obsidian!

We spent our time hiking along creeks and earthquake faults. Since there’s lots of volcanic activity in those mountains, it’s a geologist’s dream to visit.

You can hike Panum Crater and hoist giant chunks of pumice over your head—a lightweight igneous rock that makes even the wimpiest person look good (you don’t have to tell anyone that when you share vacation pics.)

Mammoth Lakes

The view from Town Loop Trail in Mammoth Lakes

Or you can simply take a walk. There are hikes for all levels of ability. Since I had a three-year-old with me, we walked along the Town Loop Trail along Mammoth Creek. The kids searched the paths for shiny, black obsidian, and they found handfuls. They also tried to find gold, since Mammoth has an old abandoned mine (also a hike) and a history of gold mining. Sadly, they didn’t find handfuls, but you never know, right?

Besides hiking, you can fish in multiple lakes, but beware: on Lake Mary it’s known that bears will walk up and take the fish away from you. Finally, there’s always a hot springs adventure to take. Travertine hot springs is a popular one, and one of the easiest to get to. Find directions to it here.

Mammoth Lakes

An earthquake fault is fun to hike! For more info, click here

Winter

In the winter, Mammoth is a snowboarding and skiing destination. Southern Californians flock to it, though it seems like Fresnans generally stick to local spots that are a shorter drive away. However, if you want to take a few days for a winter vacation, consider Mammoth Mountain. You have to drive down to Bakersfield and around the mountains during the winter because the Tioga Pass closes. But, you can visit Manzanar and Red Rock Canyon along the way.

During winter months, the town of Mammoth Lakes is bustling with activity. In addition to world class skiing and snowboarding, there are activities for the smaller set. For example, you can buy a ticket to Willy’s Tube Park and send your children flying down a gigantic inner tube hill. There’s a tow rope that drags you and your tube up the hill, which is a total win for parents everywhere.

Snowshoeing, sledding, dog sledding, and snowmobiling are also available. So although the drive is longer in the winter, the list of activities when you arrive is longer, too.

Mammoth Lakes

The Eastern Sierra in the winter time

Spring and Summer

Once the snow melts, it’s bike time. The mountain transforms into a mountain bike paradise. But if riding down a mountain on two wheels isn’t your thing, you can hike to Devil’s Postpile National Monument. It’s a weird and wonderful rock formation you have to see to believe.

From there you can continue to Rainbow Falls or continue to the lower falls, which are less crowded and a great picnic spot.

Mammoth Lakes

Devil’s Postpile photo by @hike.and.destroy on Instagram

Other summer activities include golf, kayaking, fishing, and camping. Although I was just there for a few days last week, you could easily stay a month and only scratch the surface of activities and places to explore.

Depending on your budget and interests, the cost of visiting the Eastern Sierra varies widely. You could camp for a small fee (not in the winter though, of course), or you could stay at a world class hotel, or rent a condominium. Hiking is free, and other activities range from the cost of a fishing license to hundred-dollar lift tickets.

As you can see, there’s something for everyone all year long. Have you headed to the Eastern Sierra yet? What’s your favorite thing to do?

To plan a trip or to find out more information, click here to visit the Mammoth Lakes website.

Casa de Fruta is the home of fruit and a whole lot more

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FresYes Writing Team

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If you’ve never been to Casa de Fruta, or haven’t in a while, then it’s time to stop, stretch your legs and explore this unique rest stop.

Located along the Diablo Mountain Range, Casa de Fruta is about two hours from Fresno, two miles east of the Highways 152 and 156 junction.

Its location makes it a popular place to stop while en route to places along the coast, like Santa Cruz or Monterey. Folks on their way to Gilroy or San Jose like to stop there, too.

However, Casa de Fruta doesn’t need to just be a rest stop—it could be the destination. Consider making it a day trip!

casa de fruta

Casa de Fruta features a 24-hour restaurant, fruit stand, wine bar and much more.

You may remember last month I blogged about the 10 Reasons You Should Visit Santa Cruz This Summer. Well I just got back from my annual family vacay and it started off great, with a stop at Casa de Fruta, of course.

Fruit and Nuts Galore

The first Casa de Fruta orchards were planted in 1908. A roadside cherry stand opened in the 1940s and now over two million visitors stop each year.

The fruit stand is huge. It’s fully stocked with a wide variety of seasonal fresh fruit. Peaches, plums, pineapple—it’s all there. There’s also lots and lots of dried fruit. Think apricots, prunes, and mangoes.

casa de fruta

The fruit stand at Casa de Fruta has just about every type of fresh and dried fruit imaginable.

casa de fruta

If nuts are your thing, then be prepared to load up. They have nuts in their shells and without. Almonds, walnuts, pecans—every type of nut.

There are lots of jams, jellies, sauces, and dressings too. It’s hard not to leave with more than you planned to.

Stop and Eat

Casa de Restaurant is open 24 hours. The restaurant is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It never stops serving breakfast and is known for its fresh baked fruit and cream pies. Click here to check out the menu.

Casa de Wine is also a pretty neat spot. Like the name implies, you’ll find wine from award-winning Zanger Vineyards; you’ll also find wine tasting here. There’s a wide variety of fruit wines, made from apricots, blackberries, pomegranates, and Santa Rosa plums.

casa de fruta

casa de fruta

Inside Casa de Wine at Casa de Fruta you can sample the wide variety of wine varieties.

Also inside the wine shop is an easy, quick, and tasty place to get a sandwich, salad or wrap. You tell them what you want on it and they build it for you. Choose everything from the meat to the veggies to the spreads.

If you want to satisfy that sweet tooth, then Casa de Sweets is the place for you. You’ll find everything—baked goods, candy, ice cream. They sell coffee, too.

casa de fruta

casa de fruta

For the sweet tooth. There’s all types of candy and chocolates for sale.

Save Time to Play

The atmosphere at Casa de Fruta is park like. There are lots of photo opportunities. Kids and adults alike will get a kick out of  the vintage feel.

casa de fruta

casa de fruta

Back to the classics. Vintage farm and mining equipment call Casa de Fruta home.

There are a couple of rides that operate, weather permitting. The Casa de Choo Choo takes riders along a two-mile track that passes along the scenic Pacheco Creek. The carousel, known as Casa de Carousel, is double-decker and was handcrafted in Italy.

casa de fruta

casa de fruta

Fun for the little ones. Take a ride on the train or carousel.

Casa de Fruta is also home to a Chevron Station, RV Park, and Inn. To learn more and to plan your visit go to CaseDeFruta.com or call 1-800-543-1702.

Happy traveling!

Coalinga’s Horned Toad Derby Promises Cow Drops, Seed Spitting, and Odes to a Toad (of sorts)

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JoAnn Hallum

Houseplant killing optimist- freelance writer -kid herder

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If you’re looking for a unique activity over Memorial Day Weekend, you’ll find it in Coalinga.

A small town nestled in the hills, it might not seem like the first choice for adventure. But every May, this town is home to the Coalinga Horned Toad Derby, an event full of fun, food, and of course, horned toads.

Coalinga Horned Toad Derby

The majestic horned toad

Horned Toad History

Coalinga has been hosting the Horned Toad Derby for 81 years with no plans of stopping. How does a town begin racing horned toads, you ask? Long ago, some teenagers were bored at an annual Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting. Since it was 1933, taking selfies to stem their boredom wasn’t an option, so they did the next best thing: they rounded up a bunch of the local lizards to race — that’s right, a horned toad is actually a lizard; try to keep up — and a tradition was born.

In those early days, there wasn’t a rule about what sort of creatures could be raced. Folks raced frogs, mice, and more. According to Mrs. Abel, who operated the Hot Springs Hotel where the races took place in the 30s, “It took days to rid the hotel of frogs and other reptiles from the evening’s activities.”

By 1938, it was all about the horned toad. There was even an official California Horned Toad Racing Association. Celebrities, who always know a cool thing when they see it, jumped in on the action. In 1941, Bob Hope raced a horned toad. I have no idea if he beat Rudy Vallée or not, but toad racing was trending.

A Beloved Toad

These days, horned toads are still a fixture of Coalinga’s identity (and have even put Coalinga’s high school on the map as part of Mental Floss’s list of Unbelievable High School Mascots). According to Kate Delano of the Coalinga Chamber of Commerce, “We are very proud of our beloved toad. They are a protected species and you must have a permit to have a horned toad in your possession.”

And guess what, folks? The Coalinga Chamber of Commerce has a permit to have horned toads in their possession. How many cities can say that about their Chamber of Commerce? I’m guessing just one.

So every year, they go up to Howell Ranch to catch the toads for the derby. They mark the exact spot where they were captured, so after a really exciting weekend, the toads are returned to the same place. These toads are beloved, and the city wants to ensure they’re well taken care of and back in their natural habitat.

Coalinga Horned Toad Derby

A crowd gathers for an exciting race at the Coalinga Horned Toad Derby. Photo courtesy of the Coalinga Chamber of Commerce.

Cow Drop, Seed Spitting & Elvis

Personally, you had me at horned toads, but if that isn’t enough to get you out to Coalinga this weekend, there’s more. Not only can you watch the toad races, you can enjoy food, drinks, and even a cow drop contest.

(Perhaps you don’t know what a cow drop contest is, in which case I feel bad dumping this on you in the same article where I try to explain horned toad racing. A cow drop contest is where there are squares marked out with numbers on the ground — like a big bingo board of sorts — and a cow. You choose a number and if the cow drops, um, droppings on your number, YOU WIN! Not sure what you win exactly, though.)

Not to be outdone by the cows and toads, the First Presbyterian Church will hold a watermelon seed spitting contest on Monday. There will also be carnival rides, beer gardens, craft vendors, and food including Rosa Brothers Milk Company ice cream. Finally, be prepared to dance your socks off to live music ranging from Jeremy “Elvis” Pearce and the Memphis Band to Mariachi Uruapan.

Admission and parking to the derby is completely free, although the experience is guaranteed to be priceless.

Coalinga Horned Toad Derby

Enjoy family fun after the toad races at the Coalinga Horned Toad Derby.

I know it seems like Coalinga has taken something unusual (horned toad races) and doubled down with every small town activity in history, but they’ve done even more than that! I haven’t even begun to cover things like the parade, adult tricycle races, and the whiskerino contest. What can I say, I didn’t want to overwhelm you.

The point is, Fresno is an hour-and-a-half away from a guaranteed awesome weekend. If you decide to check out the 81st Horned Toad Derby, I bet you aren’t going to forget it!

Event Details

Location: All events take place Friday-Monday, May 26-29, at Olson Park, 400 N. Garfield St., Coalinga, CA 93210.

Cost: Admission and parking is free.

Times:
Friday events are from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday at 7 a.m. is the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast. At 10 a.m., the parade winds through town. At 11 a.m. the derby continues and ends at 11 p.m.

Sunday, events begin at 12 p.m. and end at 11 p.m.

Monday, the festivities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. anyone bringing two non-perishable food items will receive two ride tickets while supplies last.)

More information: The Horned Toad Derby Facebook event page is here.

The Coalinga Chamber of Commerce website is here, or you can call (559) 935-2948 for more information.