Visalia, California: hidden nature preserve.

[bigbeergeek]

If you find yourself in the city of Visalia, CA (that's ~1 hour south of Fresno, ~1 hour north of Bakersfield) and need to get back to nature quickly, head east on highway 198 for 10 miles and exit when you see a small brown sigh with the image of a hiker on it. Head north 0.5 miles and park in the gravel parking lot. You've arrived at the Kaweah Oaks Preserve: a wildlife preserve that has remained undeveloped -- a sharp contrast to all the agriculture and city development that surrounds the 50 acres of fields and oak groves. Great place for a cheap date.