Following are descriptions of the "cultural" tour options as available by date.

FRIDAY

  • Two Options (please choose one; these options are available to those not participating in the Friday morning technical education session)
  • Date: Saturday, 16 February:
  • Time: 9:30-12:00
  • Location: All tours will leave from the convention center and return for lunch with the conference participants.

Walking Tour of Visalia’s Historical Homes:
Wear your comfortable walking shoes. Consider bringing a hat or umbrella along with your camera. Visalia is one of the oldest inland towns between Los Angeles and Sacramento with impressive Victorian homes - The earliest dates back to 1872. There are 50 such homes and the walking tour will take you only to about 29 of them that are clustered together. These were the homes that the town merchants built to be close to their businesses. You will be lead by a local historian to add the color and information that makes a walking tour evocative.

Chinese Cultural Center:
A bus will take you to a unique experience. The Chinese Cultural Center was built to honor the thousands of Chinese immigrants who came to California during and after the Great Gold Rush of 1849. The Center features original artwork, cultural artifacts and even a Confucian temple. The Center seeks to preserve Chinese contributions to the state’s development from a wild frontier to the economic and political power of today. You will have opportunity to have questions answered by a knowledgeable staff.

SATURDAY

  • Farm to Fork Culinary Tours: “An Agriculture Adventure”
  • Date: Saturday, 16 February:
  • Time: 9:00—4:00
  • Location: Leaving from the Convention Center
  • Who: This option is available to those individuals not participating in the Saturday technical educational sessions.
  • Experience Three Family Farms
  • Almonds, Peaches and Lavender
  • Delicious Tasting, Tips and Recipes
  • Great Hospitality
  • Vintage Barn
  • Lunch and Dessert
  • Tasting is Included at Each Stop

Squaw Valley Herb Gardens —Lavender:
Rosemary will delight you with absorbing information about herbs, spices and lavender, delicious recipes, and enthralling history. Learn how agriculture came to California. Gift Shop

Wiebe Farms —Peaches:
Meet Lavone and Karen whom, weather permitting, will guide you on a trolley ride through the orchards on a tasty, instructive and peachy tour. Viewing their new olive grove will be included. Three generations of farmers still work together growing stone fruit at Weibe Farms. Tour the Vintage Barn and enjoy your delicious lunch with recipes from generations past and present. Country Store.

Luke’s Almond Acres —Almonds:
Learn about almonds and their history as you step in the orchard with Ed. Enjoy gourmet tasting with Silva. Their Country Store is filled with gastronome delights, gift packs and baskets.

SUNDAY

  • These "cultural" tours are available to ALL conference participants.
  • Please choose ONE of the following options:

Farm To Fork (a mini version of Saturday’s tour).
The bus will leave at 12 noon. Sign up now as the bus limit is 46 individuals. A box lunch is waiting you on the bus but better yet is the dessert you will enjoy at the farms.

Take the Mural Trail.
It began with a 150 ft by 40 ft high mural of orange pickers as they might have appeared in the 1930’s. Today the number of murals in Exeter has grown to 20 and with the ones in Lindsay, Visalia and Tulare, there are more than 50 total. The trip will also include some time at the amazing antique shops in Exeter. A knowledge guide will be on board the bus to give you additional historical information. A box lunch will await you on the bus. Sign up now for the bus limit is 55 individuals.

Historical Visalia Walking Trail & Historical Homes.
Enjoy your box lunch at the convention center and be ready at 12:30 to head on the first portion of your walking tour to sites of Visalia First Hotel, Butterfield Stage Station, Little White Schoolhouse, and more. Then walk on to the Historical Home tour as described on the Friday Cultural Tour.

Sequoias & General Grant. (***SOLD OUT***)
This adventure requires being prepared for snow. The largest sequoias are as tall as a 26 story building and their diameters at the base exceed the width of many city streets. Weather will dictate which areas we see but expect to see the General Grant, Kings Canyon Visitor Center and with luck the largest sequoia known as General Sherman and the adjoining museum. A box lunch will be on the bus and there are several buses available.

IFTA Sister Meetings (committees and other organizations)
Please select this option on your registration form if you will be participating in one of these meetings AND you would like a box lunch prepared for you on Sunday.