BY ALYSSON AREDAS
Living in 209
While many people might shrug off Turlock as just another small town, the booming city has proven that is anything but that in recent years. In just one day, Turlock is sure to make an impression on any and every visitor with its bustling collection of businesses, restaurants and nightlife hotspots.
To fuel up for a full day in Turlock, start at the family-owned Creperie for a sweet or savory crepe.
At the Creperie, owners Akheqir and Nora Hermiz offer an assortment of breakfast crepes using ingredients such as ham, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, onions, bacon, cream cheese, cinnamon and apple butter; Belgian chocolate and Nutella crepes with the option to add strawberries, bananas and other fresh fruit; savory crepes including chicken crepes and salmon crepes; and ice cream crepes with flavors ranging from vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.
Turlock visitors looking for some retail therapy should check out Monte Vista Crossings, which even after two decades continues to expand with new businesses and restaurants. With over 50 businesses including F21 Red, PetCo and Buffalo Wild Wings, Monte Vista Crossings has made a name for itself as one of the top five largest open air shopping centers on the West Coast.
Despite its grandiose size, visitors should not stop at Monte Vista Crossings when it comes to shopping. Further down Golden State Boulevard, visitors can find downtown Turlock, which is bustling with small businesses such as trendy boutiques and unique antique stores. Visitors looking to recharge should make a stop at La Mo Cafe, a casual bistro that has become a staple of downtown with its delectable coffee beverages, creative Latin-American dishes and delectable pastries in a courtyard setting.
For those still looking to quell their appetite, Dust Bowl Brewing Company’s new Fulkerth Road facility is sure to satisfy any and every hungry patron. Since its opening in July, the new building includes a taproom that boasts 20 tap towers, where 18 different styles of Dust Bowl brews are poured, and a menu that contains “Squeakers,” which are Hilmar cheese curds lightly fried with Hops of Wrath beer batter, sweet potato fries, and artisanal pizza. The brewhouse and taproom off of Highway 99 is hard to miss as a giant neon sign adorns its roof.
To satisfy their sweet tooth after a big meal, visitors should stop at Latif’s Restaurant where they can get a slice of one of their famous pies. Restaurant-goers can choose from fruit pies, such as apple, apricot, boysenberry, peach and rhubarb, or cream pies, such as coconut, chocolate, banana and lemon. If one slice isn’t enough, visitors can even order a whole pie to-go, which serves eight to 10 people, for just $19.95.
After a full day of eating and shopping, Turlock visitors can end the night on a high note in downtown Turlock with live music and great drinks. Bars such as the Udder Place, Vintage Lounge and Piano Bar and Red Brick Bar & Grill have made the area a destination for nightlife and depending on what night they visit, visitors can stop by Udder Place for karaoke nights, tango and rumba lessons at Red Brick, or comedy nights at Vintage Lounge and Piano Bar.
These Turlock destinations are only a snapshot of what the city has to offer — proving that no matter what you expect during a typical visit, you are sure to find it.
