Tulare, CA

Before Tulare was incorporated as a town in 1888, the area had already accumulated a long history. One of the many Yokuts tribes had inhabited the area, making their living from present-day Tulare Lake, until Spanish and American peoples began settlement of California. The town was originally settled as the Central Valley outpost for the Southern Pacific Railroad. These original workers of Tulare faced many hard years, as the town was burnt down and rebuilt three times within its first two decades.

After the railroad headquarters was moved from the town, the need for another source of industry and work was found in agriculture. After the establishment of the Tulare Irrigation System and the implementation of an extensive series of canals through the area, the city's agriculture was allowed to grow and prosper. Tulare maintains a strong sense of agricultural pride in its local culture to this day.

Residents can always head down to the Tulare Historical Museum on West Tulare Avenue to learn more about the neighborhood's history. The Tulare Historical Society holds several special events each year, celebrating the rich roots here.

Residents enjoy a number of eateries just in the Tulare area alone, with restaurant options varying from local to foreign.

At Bravo Farms, customers experience a calm and casual atmosphere under the restaurant's charming low-lighting alongside fresh salads, sandwiches, fries and more. Bravo's small tables constantly fill up with shoppers coming in from the outlet stores next door. Along with its indoor tables, Bravo Farms offers both bar-side and outdoor seating.

The Pho 99 Noodle House provides a change from local cuisine with its authentic Thai menu. This restaurant maintains a simple and clean decor, while the service keeps the food fast, friendly and high quality under reasonable prices. The owner of Pho 99 loves to talk with costumers about opinions and thoughts on the food and atmosphere, lending the place a casual atmosphere.

If you're looking for a fun night out in Tulare or even just want to catch the game and have a beer, Amigos Restaurant and Cantina might fit your needs. The family-friendly restaurant side of Amigos offers sit-in, take out, catering and even banquet services while the cantina provides many televisions, a sizable draft list and mixed drink menu that features the bar's well-known Bloody Mary.

Highway CA-99 runs north to south through the city, while highway CA-137 runs west to east. The local Tulare Intermodal Express maintains a fixed route around the city and north into Visalia, while Greyhound Lines provides bus service to western cities and towns from their station located near the center of Tulare.

The city does not charge for its public or street parking, and walking about should be easy on these pedestrian-friendly streets. Uber does not provide service in this area, however the RD Taxi Service can be contacted by phone. While resident cyclists around Tulare have mapped routes within the city, there are no city-maintained paths for bicycles.

Not only does the community of Tulare maintain a variety of locations around the city for outdoor activities, but these locations are packed full of equipment, special features and events for residents to enjoy.

Topham Park features the Rotary Skate Park, an ideal location for both youth and adults. The city received an award of excellence from the state of California for the pristine design of this fun public location. The park offers lit walking trails, bathrooms and a concession stand and charges no usage fee.

If you're looking for a more casual time with the family, check out Del Lago Park on North Laspina Street. This park provides many picnic areas, a water play area, some fire pits and even handicap accessible playground equipment. The park welcomes dogs and does not charge a usage fee to residents or visitors.

Every September, the neighborhood's local fairground floods with vendors, fun rides and the smell of cooking food for the Tulare County Fair. This fair aims to celebrate the local area's deep heritage with agriculture and a literacy in the agricultural arts. Petting livestock, antique farming equipment, food shows and camping exhibits all make an appearance at this lively outdoor event. The fair operates from late morning until midnight all throughout the week.

The average rent in the city of Tulare hovers around $658, while average rent for the greater Visalia area costs around $884. The cost of living in Tulare stands at 4 percent higher than national averages — 22 percent lower than the average cost of living in California.

Gas prices in the area fall near 2 percent lower than the national average. A one-way ticket on the Tulare Intermodal Express costs $1.75, and monthly passes are available. At a local pub, customers expect to pay between $3 and $4 for a beer.

Several grocery markets serve the Tulare area, such as the Grocery Outlet on East Cross or Vallarta Supermarkets on North Cherry. Both Tulare and Visalia host large farmers markets in the warmer months; the Tulare Market takes place on Tuesday nights on Retherford Street and the Visalia Market on Saturday mornings at the corner of Mooney and Caldwell.

Right on Highway 99 in Tulare, stands the Tulare Outlet Center that provides residents with an afternoon of shopping at stores such as Aeropastale, PacSun, Bath and Body Works and many others. The Outlet Center also features the Galaxy Theatre for movie-goers, and Bravo Farms supplies lunch and dinner for hungry shoppers.

At the Top O' the Morn Farms at the Evolutions Plaza in Tulare, families can stop in or drive by to refill a gallon of milk, stock up on eggs and then finally grab a tasty snack. The store offers a wide range of local milks from whole to skim, including strawberry, coffee and root-beer milks. A range of other local grocery products are sold at Top O' The Morn such as nuts, cheeses and butter.