The city of Oakdale is located in the heart of the California Countryside, on the eastern flank of the state's Central Valley and on the bank of the Stanislaus River. It's a popular gateway for Yosemite National Park and other destinations along the Sierra Nevada range.

Agricultural tourism is hot, and Oakdale is right in the thick of this travel trend. Its farms produce almonds, peaches, apricots, grains, diary, poultry and more. In season, roadside fruit and vegetable stands sprout up everywhere.

Interested in seeing how Gouda cheese is made, the old fashioned way? Stop by Oakdale Cheese & Specialties, where visitors can watch the cheese making process through viewing windows and via video. The store also features gourmet foods, bakery, produce stand with local fruits, vegetables and nuts, and a scenic picnic area with ponds, waterfalls, and petting zoo. It's located right on Highway 120, perfect for the trip between the San Francisco Bay Area and Yosemite/Gold Country destinations.

Primarily an agricultural community, Oakdale is also home to several large manufacturing firms including Hershey's Chocolate. But first and foremost, Oakdale is "cowboy country." The Oakdale Rodeo was the first outdoor rodeo in the Western United States. Since 1954, it has been held, rain or shine, helping Oakdale earn the title "Cowboy Capital of the World."

Today, the contestants, who have grown in number to more than 400 and now include women barrel racers, are often professional athletes instead of the ranch-born and raised contestants of the earlier days. Over the years, as the winner's purse has increased, so has the pride of the Oakdale Saddle Club, as it presents this superior exhibition. Traditionally, the rodeo is held the second weekend of April.

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