EXETER, CALIFORNIA
Gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest.
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Tina Rice, CEO of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, gives an overview of what visitors can experience in Exeter, including annual events and festival, murals and public art, dining, and shopping. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on Spreaker, PodBean, or SoundCloud.
Nestled in the famous San Joaquin Valley in central California, Exeter was named after the settler and Southern Pacific Railroad representative D.W. Parkhurst’s home town of Exeter, in England. In the early days, before the European settlers, this area was part of the vast plains that boasted herds of grazing antelope, and deer, and profusely blooming wildflowers. Established in the late 1800s, the Gill Cattle Ranch was the largest cattle ranch in the US, owning or leasing over 6 million acres in 9 western states.
Today, Exeter is a quaint art and agricultural community known for its abundant supply of citrus, deciduous fruit and table grapes. Home to about 10,000 residents, the town sits at around 500 feet above sea level, at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills of the San Joaquin Mountain range. This area is famous for the General Sherman tree, which is the world’s largest tree; Mount Whitney, which at 14,494 feet in elevation, is the highest peak in the continental USA; and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The scenic region is surrounded with snowcapped peaks dotted with lakes, offering some of the finest hiking, camping, fishing, and sightseeing in the state. The quaint downtown district has a charming small town atmosphere, and boasts a beautiful series of murals that reflects the town’s history and culture, a variety of casual and fine dining establishments, and wonderful boutique and specialty shopping opportunities. Local events include festivals, parades, arts & crafts fairs and exhibits, garden walks, car shows, marathons, and more. Learn more at www.ExeterChamber.com.
Local Highlights include: Exeter Mural Tour, Exeter Courthouse Art Gallery and Museum, Exeter Public Golf Course, Bravo Lake Botanical Garden, Sequoia National Park, Lake Kaweah, Kaweah Oaks Preserve.
Regional Highlights include: Visalia Fox Theatre (approx. 12 miles), AgVentures! Learning Center / International Agri-Center (approx. 20 miles), Tulare County Fairgrounds (approx. 20 miles), Lake Success (approx. 30 miles), Kings Canyon National Park (approx. 50 miles), Balch Park Campground (approx. 50 miles), Yosemite National Park (approx. 115 miles).
Nearby Cities include: Lindsay (approx. 10 miles), Visalia (approx. 11 miles), Tulare (approx. 18 miles), Porterville (approx. 20 miles), Three Rivers (approx. 23 miles), Hanford (approx. 32 miles), Fresno (approx. 55 miles), Kettleman City (approx. 63 miles), Bakersfield (approx. 70 miles), Paso Robles (approx. 120 miles), and Los Angeles (approx. 180 miles), and Sacramento (approx.. 230 miles).
Nearby Airports: Visalia Municipal Airport-VIS (approx. 17 miles), Fresno Yosemite International Airport (approx. 60 miles), Bakersfield Municipal Airport (approx. 75 miles), Los Angeles International Airport (approx. 180 miles), LA/Ontario International Airport (approx. 215 miles), San Francisco International Airport (approx. 240 miles).
