Armpit of CA, but CA armpit still sweeter than any
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1/16/2006
I grew up in Visalia and and as a teen always complained that there was nothing to do. I then moved to southern California and realized that unless your a bar and club hopper, the southland isnt all that much more entertaining. Visalia is Nestled up to the foothills of the Sequoia national park, a mear 30 min or so drive, even closer is Kaweah lake. The lake, though not the prettiest lake in the state, is still big enough for boating, jet skiing, water skiing and the works. Pismo is about 2 hours west, LA 2 to 4 hours south, depending on traffic. Theres lots of camping to be done in the mountains, Skiing just north of Fresno. Visalia has grown dramatically in the last 3 years, its population is about 110,000 now. The main shopping street has added a good mile of shops. There's 2 malls, more if you count the outlet in Tulare, a short 5 min drive. And anything you can't find in Visalia can be found 30 mins away in Fresno. The air polution is pretty bad, but right after it rains the mountains are stunning. You can't belive how close they are, unfortunally most the time, because of the air polution you can't see them at all. The people are generally friendly. The crime occur mainly on the northside of town. Stay on the southside and you'll generally feel safe, though you'll still want to lock your doors at night. I always said I'd never get sucked back into Visalia after I left, however, now that I've seen what little Southern California can offer, I'd rather go back and raise a family there. Housing has gone up with the rest of California, but it's still some of the cheapest housing California has to offer.
Seth | Newport Beach, CA