Visilia, CA

The Agricultural Center of California

Set in the foothills of the brilliant Sierra Nevada Mountains is the dynamic city of Visalia. Visalia is a convenient starting point for visits to the nearby attractions including Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. And although it is often as a stop-off point, the reality is that Visalia is a wonderful city to spend some time. It is primarily an agricultural city, owing to its location in one of the world’s most fertile valleys. As one of the larger cities in the region, Visalia has lots for visitors to do, see and experience. With its founding taking place in the 1800’s, Visalia is full of historical buildings including original Victorian houses, the classic Fox Theatre and the art-deco Visalia Town Center Post Office. A unique feature in town is Mural Trail: Visalia, which is a collection of over 100 murals on the sides of many of the town’s buildings. While you are in Visalia and the surrounding area, expect excellent weather with nice, hot summers and mild winters.

Visalia sees most of its visitors while they are coming and going to from the two national parks in the area – Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Run by the National Park Service, these two are some of the United States’ greatest treasures. Both parks have untouched landscapes filled with giant sequoia trees, hundreds of species of wildlife and the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States - Mount Whitney. Back in Visalia, guests can enjoy what the area’s agriculture has to offer. This includes wineries, farmers’ markets and quite a few farm-to-table eateries. Las Flores Winery is a family-owned boutique winery that produces excellent Chardonnays, Merlots and Syrahs as well as a variety of sparkling wines. The Vintage Press Restaurante in Visalia was named the “Best Restaurant in the Central Valley” by Fodors. The meals are all created using locally sourced produce from the region’s farms and ranges.