Living Our Retirement Dream: Bakersfield & Visalia, CA

We arrived into Bakersfield on April 19 and only spent 2 nights. We left Menifee and went up 215 to 395 and across on 58 - great drive. Bakersfield happens to be the 51st largest city in the US - we had no idea. We were given one of the rally pull through sites and happened to have the entire 180' to ourselves.

We didn't see much due to the timeframe, but did enjoy a short drive through the town to see the Buck Owens Crystal Palace. Not much going on, so we just took a couple of pictures. It was constructed by Buck Owens, and was opened in 1996. Primarily it is a performance venue for country western music, although other music genres have been heard there. It is also the home of the Buck Owens Museum, which contains items related to his career and includes a nightclub, bar, and restaurant.

Outside of the Crystal Palace, there was the Bakersfield archway.

Down the road we saw the Beale Memorial Clock Tower which was a gift to the City of Bakersfield in April 1904, from Xruxtun Beale in memory of his mother, Mary Edwards Beale. The clock tower was demolished in the earthquake of 1952 and was rebuilt and dedicated to the Kern County Museum in December 1964, using the parts that were saved from the earthquake.

Bakersfield is known for their Basque Restaurants, so we made reservations at Wool Growers known as one of the top Basque Restaurants. We had quite an assortment of food to include pickled tongue and Brochette of Beef.

Brochette of Beef

Pickled Tongue

We then drove up 99 to Visalia and stayed at our first KOA park in a very long time. They could fit us in one sight and we only had 30 amp service, but good satellite view around all the trees. Again, as we drove around Visalia, we discovered it was a lot larger than we had expected. We enjoyed the Farmers Market and all the various fruit stands. I bought the best strawberries I have ever had. Another discovery, Tulare County, is the top agriculture producing county in the world, providing for more than 83 countries. We were in Visalia for four nights, primarily to see Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

We went to Sequoia on Friday, and even though it was supposed to rain, it was very nice for the first part of the day. In the afternoon, the clouds came in and so when we went up on Moro Rock, we could see nothing. Also, as we headed north into Kings Canyon Park, we had rain, hail and low visibility due to low clouds and fog, but we still saw a lot within the park.

General Sherman Tree - world's largest
living tree and has survived at least
22 forest fires

Top of Moro Rock

I only went 1/2 way up when I found
out that it was cold, windy and no view.

Fire Damage of Tree

This tree was over 2200 years old

Tunnel Log

On Saturday, we went to Trevor, CA to see the Bravo Farms Tree House. This is a Vintage Cheese Factory as well and was quite interesting. The Tree House once held the world Guinness record for the world's tallest tree house. It was quite interesting and nothing like what we had expected - we must watch too many of the Treehouse Masters TV shows. This one was very small inside and felt more like a doll house with very low ceilings and tight quarters. But we climbed to the top and I couldn't wait to get out, as the treehouse felt like it was leaning.

On Sunday, we then drove up to Kings Canyon Natl Park and drove along the upper edge and down into the Canyon after stopping at General Grant Grove.

General Grant Tree - Third largest
Tree

The Rough Fire that started on July 31, 2015, burned over 151,623 acres, one of the largest fires in California's history. This is the on the northern slope of the Kings River Canyon, and as we drove across the Canyon, we could see the fire damage for miles.