Visalia, CA

Key Highlights

Hotels	18
Total Sleeping Rooms	2,192
Largest Exhibit Space	114,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $81
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $61
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $216

Visalia, CA Meeting Planning Overview

Nestled in the heart of California's agricultural San Joaquin Valley, Visalia is often referred to as Gateway to the Sequoias and The Jewel of the Valley. Though the city certainly does have its fair share of natural attractions and picturesque views, it is also rapidly making a name for itself as a cultural and economic hub of Central California. In fact, in 2007, Visalia was named the 3rd fastest growing city in the state and the 19th fastest growing city in the United States.

Visalia's prime location in the middle of California makes it an easily accessible destination for both air and ground travelers. Visalia Municipal Airport serves three daily flights to California's Ontario International Airport, from which guests have access to non-stop flights to 30 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Visalia is also located just 45 miles outside of the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, where eight carriers offer 42 daily departures. By car, guests find Visalia is within a 3.5-hour drive from major business centers such as Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Visalia's convenient location has made it a premier meetings destination. The city is home to a wealth of first-class convention and meeting facilities that provide 140,000 square feet of meeting space city wide. In fact, the regions largest convention center, Visalia Convention Center, is in the heart of downtown offering 114,000 square feet of space. Additionally, Visalia is now home to the first full-service Marriott hotel in the California Central Valley. Located adjacent to the convention center, the Visalia Marriott has 195 rooms and an additional 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Another meetings property, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, has 256 rooms and more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space.

The options for successful meeting locations in Visalia extend beyond the traditional. Host an event at the historic Visalia Fox Theatre, a city treasure that can seat over 1,200 people. Or, treat guests to a relaxing afternoon at the nearby Historic Seven Sycamores Ranch in Ivanhoe, perfect for corporate picnics, receptions and more. For a truly memorable group experience, plan a team building trip to the nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Home to the famed giant sequoia trees, some of which are the largest in the world, the parks ranger-led walks and scenic bus tours are sure to inspire and engage attendees.

Visalia's economy and identity is built upon its agricultural strength. Located in the single most productive agricultural areas in the country, Visalia produces more than 250 different crops, notably grapes, olives, cotton and citrus. Higher learning also holds a strong presence in the area, as Visalia is home to the College of the Sequoias and San Joaquin Valley College, as well as branches for Chapman University and Fresno Pacific University.

About Visalia, CA / Additional Info

At 28.6 square miles and just over 123,500 residents, Visalia, California, is one of the most stunning destinations in the San Joaquin Valley. After all, it's located within two hours of two national parks, lays under the shadows of the tallest mountain the continental United States, is home to the world's biggest tree, and boasts more murals per square mile than Florence, Italy. And that's just the beginning of its stand-out qualities.

This thriving community takes pride in its small town charm and big city amenities, an intriguing mix that visitors can easily see just by walking the streets of downtown. Here, several modern buildings stand side by side with historic venues like the Visalia Fox Theatre. Guests can wander through Visalia's Farmers Market to enjoy the fruits of the regions agricultural wealth, including high-quality produce, gourmet cheeses, seasoned nuts and freshly-baked cookies and pastries. Guests can also enjoy fresh, locally grown ingredients at downtown restaurants such as Cafe 225 and the popular Acequia on Main.

In addition to dining on the agricultural fruits of the San Joaquin Valley, visitors to Visalia can experience them first-hand. Savor the nutty, smooth Serena cheese produced at Three Sisters Farmstead or the award-winning Silver Mountain Aged Clothbound Cheddar at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory, both of which are open to group tours. Or, taste more than five kinds of gourmet and oil-infused extra virgin olive oils at the BARI Tasting Room at Weibe Farms, located in nearby Dinuba. Guests can also enjoy the tastes and aromas of hundreds of herbs at Squaw Valley Herb Gardens. In addition to tastings and demonstrations, Squaw Valley offers tours of the history and use of these ingredients.

Of course no visit to Visalia would be complete without exploring some of the regions most notable natural attractions. The stunning Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie just east of Visalia in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Together, these parks are home to some of the world's most captivating feats of nature. The Giant Forest contains five of the 10 largest trees in the world by wood volume, including General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth. The Redwood Mountain Grove is the largest remaining sequoia grove in the world, while Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain the lower 48 states. Whether driving through the massive fall tree known as Tunnel Log or marveling at the sparkling stalactites in Crystal Cave, the wonders of these parks are sure to delight and amaze visitors young and old.

Visalia, CA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT)
Convention Center(s):

Visalia Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? No

Airport(s):

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
7
Population
125,921
Restaurants
100
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.50%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Visalia, CA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Fresno, CA	44 mi	48 min	N/A	N/A
Los Angeles, CA	188 mi	3 hr 13 min	8 hr 50 min	USD $475+
Sacramento, CA	212 mi	3 hr 35 min	7 hr 34 min	USD $430+
San Francisco, CA	228 mi	4 hr 2 min	9 hr 32 min	USD $430+
Las Vegas, NV	360 mi	6 hr 3 min	7 hr 18 min	USD $366+

Visalia, CA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	57	64	69	76	84	92	100	98	92	82	70	59
Avg. Low (°F)	36	40	43	47	52	57	62	60	55	49	40	36
Rec. High (°F)	80	89	90	104	108	113	115	115	110	104	94	86
Rec. Low (°F)	13	21	22	26	29	35	32	40	35	30	24	20
Rainfall (in)	2.0	2.0	2.0	1.0	0.4	0.1	-	-	0.2	0.4	0.8	2.0

Visalia enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate marked by mild temperatures and low levels of precipitation. Winters in Visalia bring highs in the 50s and lows just above freezing, while the summer months can see temperatures peak at an average of 95°F. Visalias warmest month is July, with an average high of 94°F and average low of 65°F, while the coldest month is December, with an average high of 54°F and average low of 36°F.

Visalia sees an average of 11 inches of rain per year, falling mostly from November to April. Snowfall is extremely rare. The best time to visit Visalia is during the late spring and fall months, which boast mild temperatures and little rainfall.

Meeting Planning in Visalia, CA

Visalia Convention Center

The Visalia Convention Center is known as a premier mid-state meeting destination, offering expansive, flexible space on a beautiful campus. With 114,000 square feet of flexible exhibit and meeting space, the center recently invested $1.5 million to install stadium-style retractable seating in its 31,675-square-foot Exhibit Hall. Other venues available at the center include the 8,316-square-foot Charter Oak Ballroom and the 3,536-square-foot San Joaquin Ballroom, each divisible into four spaces; the 992-square-foot Grand Boardroom; the 589-square-foot Executive Board Room; and six other meeting rooms totaling 4,408 square feet in size.

The Visalia Convention Center boasts such amenities as in-house catering; audio-visual technology, telecommunications and equipment rental service; and 2,400 free parking spaces within a four-block radius. The center is also adjacent to the beautiful 195-room Visalia Marriott at the Convention Center. Fresh off an $8.5 million renovation, the Visalia Marriott offers an additional 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

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Visalia, CA Meeting Venue Spotlight

Holiday Inn & Conference Center

Visalia's second-largest meetings property, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, has 256 rooms and more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space. The facility features two ballrooms, 12 banquet rooms and an executive boardroom. The largest room, Valley Oak Center, can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees in a theater style setting, 800 for receptions, and 650 for banquets. The total area of exhibit space available, 22, 893 square feet, can accommodate 130 8' x 10' booths.

The Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center also features a business center, health club and spa facilities and free wi-fi in public areas. The PGA-rated Valley Oaks Golf Course is nearby.

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Visalia, CA Airport Information

Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS)

Approximate taxi fare: $15 USD

In operation since 1927, Visalia Municipal Airport is San Joaquin Valley's oldest airport. The airport is located just four miles west of downtown Visalia and serves three daily flights to Ontario International Airport. From here, travelers can access non-stop flights to 30 cities daily throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Visalia Municipal Airport also provides charter and private flight service.

Airline carrier serving Visalia Municipal Airport

Great Lakes Airlines

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

Approximate taxi fare: $90 USD

Located just 45 miles outside of Visalia, the Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the main airport in the San Joaquin Valley. Serving more than one million passengers per year, Fresno Yosemite International provides service throughout the United States and Mexico. Airport amenities include a number of restaurants, shops, terminal-wide free wireless Internet access, and short-term and long-term parking options.

Airline carriers serving Fresno Yosemite International Airport

Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air
Allegiant Airlines
American/American Eagle

Delta Airlines/Skywest
Mexicana Airlines
United Airlines/United Express

US Airways

Visalia, CA Train Information

Hanford Amtrak Station

The nearest Amtrak station to Visalia is located in Hanford, California, which is about 20 miles outside of the city. The Hanford Station serves the San Joaquin Route, which runs multiple times daily between Sacramento and Bakersfield, with major stops in Oakland, Stockton, Fresno, Modesto and Merced.

Amtrak connecting bus service can be accessed at Visalia's Greyhound station, located at 425 East Oak Street. The Hanford Station is open daily from 5:45 AM to 10:30 PM

Visalia, CA Public Transportation

Visalia Transit Bus System

The Visalia Transit Bus System operates along 11 routes throughout Visalia and the nearby communities of Exeter, Farmersville and Goshen. The bus system serves more than one million passengers per year and provides daily, convenient downtown service.

Buses run Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 9:30 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6:30 PM and Sunday from 8 AM to 6:30 PM. Adult peak fare is $1.25 per ride. Reduced adult fare, offered Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM, is $0.25 per ride. Two kids ride free with each adult; additional children are charged adult fare. Passengers may also purchase an unlimited ride day pass for $2.50.

Visalia Towne Trolley

The Visalia Towne Trolley provides convenient weekday service throughout Visalia's downtown district. The trolley runs on four color-coded routes: the Blue Route, Red Route, Green Route and Gold Route. The Green Route provides direct service to the Visalia Convention Center.

Schedules vary by route. The Visalia Towne Trolley costs $0.25 per ride.

Sequoia Shuttle

Visalia's Sequoia Shuttle takes passengers to and from Visalia and Sequoia National Park, as well as around the park itself. Operating daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the 16-passenger shuttle buses are available by reservation only.

The Visalia/Sequoia Park route departs from the Visalia Convention Center and major hotels between 7 and 10 AM and then returns to Visalia between 3:30 and 6:30 PM. Once inside the park, passengers have unlimited access to three in-park shuttle routes. Sequoia Shuttle passes, which include a round-trip and in-park transportation, are $15 per person.

Rental Cars

Enterprise rental car service is available at Visalia Municipal Airport. Counters for rental car companies Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Alamo can be found near the baggage claim area at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

Taxis

Visitors to Visalia can access several taxi companies at the Visalia Municipal Airport and Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Visitors should expect to pay about $15 in cab fare from the Visalia Municipal Airport to downtown Visalia and about $90 in cab fare from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to downtown Visalia. Taxis can also be hailed on the street or at hotel taxi stands in the downtown region.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Fresno, CA	44 mi	48 min	N/A	N/A
Los Angeles, CA	188 mi	3 hr 13 min	8 hr 50 min	USD $475+
Sacramento, CA	212 mi	3 hr 35 min	7 hr 34 min	USD $430+
San Francisco, CA	228 mi	4 hr 2 min	9 hr 32 min	USD $430+
Las Vegas, NV	360 mi	6 hr 3 min	7 hr 18 min	USD $366+