The agricultural center of Delano, California, is in Kern County, about 31 miles northwest of Bakersfield. It is in the middle of a major grape growing region and is also home to two California state prisons. Until recently, Delano was part of the famous Voice of America shortwave radio broadcasting network. If you are a golf lover staying in a budget hotel in Delano, the city has a par 64, executive 9-hole course with small greens and tight, tree-lined fairways. The view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is spectacular. To learn something of Delano’s past, go to Heritage Park. Historic buildings and antique farm machinery give you a peek into life in days gone by. For a quiet picnic and a pleasant day by the water, go to Lake Woollomes, just three miles southeast of town.

For visitors staying in discount hotels in Delano, the Kern National Wildlife Refuge is a must-see. This beautiful wilderness area is 18 miles west of Delano at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. It covers 11,249 acres of grasslands and marsh. The Refuge is home to many species of fish, mammals, amphibians, birds and reptiles, several of which are on the endangered species list. If you are a bird lover, this is a paradise, and it is the best place in California to view wintering Sandhill Cranes. The Tulare County Audubon Society has opened an excellent self-guided trail for birders.