Fall is teasing us across the country, and California's Sequoia Country — home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and the welcoming communities of Tulare County — is right on the edge of the season's first cool breeze.

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California Sequoia Country" Podcast, Sequoia Tourism Council members Suzanne Bianco (Visit Visalia) and Holly Streit (Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks), talk pumpkins, changing leaves, dark skies, and the harvest season events that make fall one of the best times to visit.

Suzanne shares the local countdown to fall starting with Vintage Press's stuffed pumpkin dish in Visalia, and points listeners to cooler-weather hikes at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, Mooney Grove Park, and the Woodlake Botanical Garden loop around Bravo Lake and more.

Holly talks changing colors in the giant forest, the importance of dark skies for migrating birds and bats, and previews the Sequoia Parks Conservancy's Dark Sky Festival (September 11–13) which will features a keynote from the scientist behind Wowsabout, the Jim Henson Company's preschool special exploring Sequoia National Park and the science of awe.

The conversation covers shuttle schedules (Memorial Day–Labor Day), the foothill hikes at Potwisha and Paradise Creek, and giant forest trails including Congress Trail and the North Grove Loop. Then it's on to fall festivities: the Tulare County Fair, Visalia's Taste of Downtown (October 7) and Taste the Arts Festival, First Friday art walks, mixed-media artist Toni Best's gourd art, and early holiday-shopping tips through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy.

🌲 Plan Your Visit: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ 🌲 Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com/ 🌲 NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon: https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm 🌲 Sequoia Parks Conservancy: https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/ New episodes of California Sequoia Country air every first Thursday on Big Blend Radio. 🎧 Follow the Show: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-podcast 📖 Explore Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-magazine

Wrap up summer with an unforgettable adventure in California's Sequoia Country, home to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia National Forest, the Giant Sequoia National Monument, and the welcoming communities of Tulare County.

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" podcast, discover family-friendly attractions, outdoor adventures, seasonal produce, and exciting community events that make late summer one of the best times to visit. Learn about the National Park Service's 110th anniversary celebration, Junior Ranger Day, the upcoming Dark Sky Festival, scenic shuttle services, Crystal Cave, Mineral King, farmers markets, golf, museums, and local dining experiences.

Whether you're planning one last summer getaway or looking ahead to a quieter fall escape, this episode shares travel tips, park highlights, and local experiences for visitors of all ages.

Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include: * Suzanne Bianco – Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com/ * Holly Streit – Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm * Shannon Schroth – Exeter Chamber of Commerce: https://www.exeterchamber.com/

📍 PLAN YOUR VISIT: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/

🎧 Listen to more California's Sequoia Country podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-podcast

📖 Explore Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-magazine

📡 This episode also airs on Big Blend Radio's Vacation Station, Parks & Travel, and Big Daily Blend podcast channels.

Journey through the history of California's Sequoia Country as we explore the parks, people, and places that have shaped Tulare County—from giant sequoias and Indigenous heritage to military history, railroads, agriculture, and the communities that continue to preserve the region's remarkable legacy.

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's California's Sequoia Country podcast, discover the fascinating stories behind Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the General Grant Tree, Colonel Allensworth, Native American tribes, historic communities, museums, and the agricultural traditions that continue to define this remarkable region. Learn how nature, history, and culture come together to create one of California's most inspiring destinations.

Featured guests from the Sequoia Tourism Council include: * Suzanne Bianco – Visit Visalia: https://www.visitvisalia.com/ * Holly Streit – Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: https://nps.gov/seki/index.htm * Shannon Schroth – Exeter Chamber of Commerce: https://www.exeterchamber.com/ * Dwight Miller – Exeter Historian

📍 PLAN YOUR VISIT: * Sequoia Tourism Council: https://www.discoverthesequoias.com/ * Museum Alliance of Tulare-Kings Counties: https://matkc.org/ * California's Sequoia Country Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-podcast * Big Blend Radio's "California's Sequoia Country" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/california-s-sequoia-country-magazine

📡 This episode celebrates America 250 and Parks & Recreation Month (July 2026).