An adventurer's guide to California's hidden heartland

Visalia — with its rural character, quaint feel and the dusky Sierra Nevada peaks —is known as the gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Just a three-hour drive from both Los Angeles and the Bay Area, this vibrant city delivers everything a weekend traveller might need — from locally grown produce and stylish boutique shopping to a thriving craft beer scene and a burgeoning arts community. Pair all that with nature on the doorstep, including two of the world’s largest tree species, and Visalia makes an ideal base for exploring California’s wild heart. Here’s how to make the most of three days in this area.

Day 1: Sequoia National Park

Morning: Before spending a full day exploring Sequoia National Park, fuel up at one of Visalia’s classic breakfast spots, such as Black Bear Diner. Order a hearty plate of thick-cut bacon, sausages and scrambled eggs or a stack of sweet cream pancakes — a breakfast made to last the day. If your trip includes a stay on Saturday, head to the year-round Visalia Farmers Market, where stalls brim with local produce ranging from pears, apricots and figs to honey, nuts and dates. Ideal fuel for a day on the trails.

Afternoon: Depart early in the day for the 45-minute drive to the entry gate of Sequoia National Park, passing vast orange groves, shimmering Lake Kaweah and foothills that frame the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains. Upon arrival at Sequoia — the nation’s second designated national park and the first created to protect its namesake trees — follow the 2.7-mile Congress Trail to see General Sherman. This gentle route loops around the tree, the world’s largest by volume, standing at 275ft. When you’re ready to pause, find a picnic area to enjoy your farmers’ market finds before continuing on a scenic drive through the park’s grand sequoia groves. Climb the 400 steps to the top of Moro Rock for sweeping views, then continue to Tunnel Log — a fallen sequoia with a section cut from its trunk in 1938 to let cars pass through.

Evening: After a day among the giant sequoias, return to Visalia to relax and reflect on the experiences of the day. The city’s official craft beer trail features nine stops, from the lively 1852 Brew Co at Soccer City — where live football (soccer to Americans) matches are aired for enthusiastic fans — to the classic Brewbakers Brewing Company pouring beers like Sequoia Red and Sherman Stout. Stay at The Darling, a historic Art Deco boutique-style hotel in downtown Visalia that blends vintage charm with modern comforts, including a rooftop restaurant and lounge that will have you refreshed and ready for another day exploring.

Day 2: Kings Canyon National Park

Morning: Grab a light bite at the hotel or stroll five minutes to Valhalla, a much-loved family-run restaurant that pays homage to its Danish roots. Owners Kim and Rande Payne have created a homely feel with dishes inspired by Kim’s grandmother’s kitchen — think Belgian waffles and French toast or medisterpølse, a thick spiced sausage made with minced meat and suet. Next, pack a picnic and take the 75-minute drive to Kings Canyon National Park, home to one of the deepest canyons in North America.

Afternoon: Once you arrive at the park, head to Grant Grove, near the Big Stump Entrance, where you'll find the world’s second-largest tree, the General Grant, a hulking 267ft sequoia known as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Take an easy walk along the Big Stump Loop to see the remains of trees cut down long ago. Then drive down to Road’s End in the canyon, which opens seasonally from April to November, for spectacular views, soaring granite cliffs and easy-to-see waterfalls. Follow the 1.5-mile Zumwalt Meadow Trail and marvel at the mighty Kings River before returning to Visalia in time for dinner.

Evening: After freshening up at the hotel, take an eight-minute walk to The Vintage Press. A frontrunner in California’s farm-to-fork movement, this family-run restaurant has been a local favourite for more than 50 years, serving a seasonal menu that celebrates flavours of the Central Valley, paired with standout wines from across California and beyond. While here, don’t miss the pistachio-crusted Atlantic salmon.

Day 3: Explore Visalia

Morning: Visit California’s first county park, Mooney Grove. Here, you'll find James Earle Fraser’s End of the Trail bronze statue — a figure on horseback that has come to symbolise the loss faced by Indigenous peoples — and the Tulare County Museum, which houses one of the nation’s largest collections of Native American woven baskets of the Yokuts tribe.

Afternoon: You’ll have passed Lake Kaweah on your way to Sequoia National Park — and if you didn’t stop then, now’s your chance to take things at your own pace on its glistening waters. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards or patio boats from Kaweah Marina and, with the Sierra Nevada foothills as your backdrop, watch as the sun sets on your California adventure.

Downtown Visalia may boast some of the Central Valley’s best restaurants, but it’s also a stylish spot for shopping, whether it’s crate-digging at Velouria Records, browsing one-of-a-kind finds at Letter and Grain or Joshua Tree — or perusing international brands at Visalia Mall. When your feet are tired of wandering, round off the weekend with a pint of craft beer at BarrelHouse Brewing, one of the best taprooms in the region (with live music from Friday through to Sunday), before heading away from the city.