Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
between the Transit Center and Hanford station a half hour away by reservation only (use
local buses as an alternative). From Hanford, you can connect to all other Amtrak routes in
the state, including the
San Joaquin
, which travels north to Sacramento ($32, four hours,
two direct daily) or south to Bakersfield ($22.50, 1½ hours, six daily).
The convenient, bike-rack equipped
Sequoia Shuttle
( 877-287-4453;
www.sequoiashuttle.com
; 425 E Oak Ave; adult/child return incl park entry $15/7; late May-Sep)
picks up from major hotels and takes two hours to reach the
Giant Forest Museum
in
Sequoia National Park. The
Visalia Towne Trolley
(425 East Oak Ave; ticket 25¢;
7:30am-5:30pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri, 9:30am-11pm Sat)
hits most downtown sights over two
circuits and costs just a quarter.
WORTH A TRIP
SCENIC DRIVE: THE BLOSSOM TRAIL
When the Central Valley fruit and nut trees are in bloom, the winding roads around Visalia
make for a lovely, leisurely afternoon drive (just pack your antihistamines). The 62-mile
Fresno County Blossom Trail
(
www.gofresnocounty.com
) is especially stunning
between February and March, when the orchards are awash in the pastel petals of
apricot, almond, peach, nectarine, apple and citrus. Come back starting in May to taste
the results.
Route maps are available online and at the
Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bur-
eau
, though DIY is possible if you don't mind taking occasional detours on the back roads
between Sanger, Reedley, Orange Cove, Selma, Fowler and Kingsburg.
Bakersfield
Nearing Bakersfield, the landscape has evidence of California's
other
gold rush: rusting
rigs alongside the route burrow into Southern California's vast oil fields. Black gold was
discovered here in the late 1800s, and Kern County, the southernmost along Hwy 99, still
pumps more than some OPEC countries.
