8 Fun Things To Do In Visalia, California

Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park have been on my bucket list for years! But it took me years to finally explore it because I felt like it was challenging to get to. I finally planned a trip to Visalia, California, so I could finally experience these two national parks. I was so surprised at how easy it was to get to Visalia. I was also blown away by how cute, fun, and vibrant the city of Visalia was. I was so sad to leave, and I will have to come back to this great town and explore the national parks even further.

If you are looking for the best place to stay while visiting Sequoia National Park, Visalia is it! But there are other fun activities you can do while you are here, so below are the best things to do in Visalia. I talk about my favorite restaurants, breweries, national parks, and more!

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What To Pack For Visiting Visalia

Sunscreen: California gets HOT, and there is so much sun. Definitely bring some sunscreen. >Buy Sunscreen
Hiking Boots/Shoes: >Check Out The Hiking Shoes Shown In The Pictures Here
Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have a plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
Water: Stay nice and hydrated. It gets pretty hot here.
Sunglasses: It gets pretty sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. Clif Bars are great for hiking.
Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography. >Buy Sony Camera Here
First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark while hiking! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
Leggings or shorts: Shorts are good for hot days, but I loved the leggings I wore in Visalia! >Click For The Cute Leggings On My Photos
Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable and don’t wear cotton. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
Sports Bra: For women. >Buy The One In The Pictures Here
Jacket: You should bring a jacket if you go during the Winter, Spring, or Fall seasons. >Buy My Favorite Jacket
Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here
National Park Pass: I highly recommend getting a year-long America The Beautiful Pass so you can get into both parks with ease. >Get It Here
Cute Shorts: For walking around town. >Check Out My Favorite Jean Shorts
Cute Shirt: For walking around town. >Check Out This Shirt
Cute Dress: For photos in front of the stunning art. >Click Here

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Where To Stay

The Darling Hotel: I talk about The Darling Hotel below, but this is a great place to stay if you love historical buildings. >Book Accommodation Now
Visalia Marriott: Modern hotel with live music, a restaurant, and a bar. >Book Accommodation Now
Wyndham Visalia: Budget-friendly hotel with an indoor pool and hot tub. >Book Accommodation Now

Map Of Activities

Below are the best things to do in Visalia in Google Map form.

How To Get To Visalia, California

Getting to Visalia, California, was much easier than I thought it would be. I flew directly from Seattle to Fresno, rented a car, and drove around 45 minutes Southeast to Visalia. It was a straightforward and easy drive.

As seen above, Visalia is located near Sequoia National Park in central California. In between Los Angeles and San Francisco. You can also fly into Los Angeles and San Fransico and then drive from there, but it will take longer to get there. Below are the mileage and driving times (please note that LA is known to be traffic prone, so time will vary):

Los Angeles International Airport: 3 hours, 192 miles
San Francisco International Airport: 3 hours 30 minutes, 230 miles
Fresno Yosemite International Airport: 45 minutes, 48 miles

Things To Do In Visalia

Check Out The Beautiful Art

I was astonished at how unique the art was throughout the town. There were so many beautiful murals and Instagramable spots. I especially loved the bright yellow wall art (shown above) with “Visalia” written across the building. This is located on S Court Street in downtown Visalia.

There are also many fire hydrants with colorful art. We found a few and, of course, took pictures of them.

Go To Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is around an hour and 15-minute drive from Visalia. It is an underrated national park with many things to see and do, and it is filled with massive sequoias, mountains, rivers, and cute horses.

The best things to do include:

Visiting the Grant Grove Tree
Exploring the Zumwalt Meadows
Riding a horse at Grant Grove Stables
Hiking around Hume Lake

It is a beautiful park to visit, and you only need half a day to one day to explore it.

Hike Around Sequoia National Park

Parker Group Sequoias
Moro Rock

One of the best things to do near Visalia, CA, is to visit Sequoia National Park. The park is less than an hour away from Visalia, and I highly recommend it. The trees here are out of this world, and the trails are gorgeous. I loved experiencing this park; it was on my bucket list for years.

Some of the best things to do include:

Seeing the famous General Sherman Tree (the largest tree in the world),
Driving under the tunnel log,
Sunset at Moro Rock,
Taking pictures with the Parker Group Sequoias.

This national park is perfect for everyone. There are strenuous hikes as well as easy hikes for the whole family. Now I know why people love visiting this park!

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Drink Beer At BarrelHouse Brewing Company

The BarrelHouse Brewing Company was one of the best breweries I have ever been to. I loved the pinball machines they had, the bar was large and had plenty of space, and I loved the decoration.

Plus, the beers were so good. We were especially fond of the Juicy Michelada, which includes the combinations of BarrelHouse Juicy IPA, savory Clamato juice, and tangy Chilito mix. It is so good! This is definitely the way to go if you are a bloody mary fan. We even asked for seconds!

What I also liked about this brewery was the large patio, and that there is live music on certain days. If you want a calendar of live music schedules, click here.

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Have Breakfast At Component Coffee Lab

Before heading out to Kings Canyon National Park, we decided to get some coffee and breakfast. The coffee was delicious, and the food was so yummy. I ordered a blueberry donut which was so Instagram-worthy, and an everything bagel sandwich. My friend ordered a burrito and said it was one of the best burritos she has had.

It was an overall excellent breakfast experience. There is seating inside and outside.

Check Out The Farmers Market

When I travel, I love heading to farmer’s markets to try out the local foods. Every Saturday from 8 am to 11 am, Visalia holds its lively farmers market, rain or shine.

The market is held on West Caldwell Avenue and has other items that do not include food. Like jewelry, art, body products, and much more! This is a great way to support locals and is a fun start to any Saturday morning.

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Relax And Do Yoga At The Space Visalia

After hiking all day, we decided it was best to wind down, stretch out, and do a yoga session. The Space was one of the best relaxing yoga sessions I have ever had. The owner/instructor, Kristen had a way with words. She helped melt away my stress and helped me relax. I felt so much lighter when I left than when I came in. You can check out the class schedule here.

Hang Out At The Darling Hotel Rooftop

The building, now known as The Darling Hotel, was initially built as an annex to the Tulare County Courthouse in 1935. It is now renovated into one of the best hotels in the town. What is even better is that they have the only rooftop bar/restaurant in Visalia. The rooftop area is called Elderwood, and they have brunch, dinner, and a full bar. It is recommended to make a reservation here.

Final Thoughts On What To Do In Visalia

Thanks for reading about the best things to do in Visalia, California. I hope you have a fantastic time in this fun, cute town! Now, check out some of my other California blog posts below: