Touring * Street * Historic *

From State Highway 99, exit to the east on the Mineral King Highway, State Highway 198. After five miles, take the West Main Street exit going north. West Main turns quickly to the right to parallel Highway 198, separated from the highway by narrow West Main Park and its protected oak trees. Park across from West Main Park in the large Elks Lodge lot, close to Main Street.

Just because they live near the heart of the agriculturally rich Central Valley doesn't mean residents here don't know how to live as well as folks in more urban parts of the state. Just south of the attractive country club golf course, a mature and elegant neighborhood near Mill Creek demonstrates the local talent for creating an oasis amongst the fields. From the Elks Lodge parking lot, skate to your left, heading east on the narrow sidewalk bordering Main Street. When you reach the left turn onto wide Mill Creek, cross to the bike lane painted on the far side to start your tour of this fine neighborhood. Follow the bike lane past finely manicured lawns and landscaping that reflects the alpine scenery of the nearby Sierra. Mill Creek ends at Demaree Road half a mile up. Demaree is bordered by wide sidewalks, but the traffic noise and view-obstructing stucco walls make it strictly a fitness tour; for more interesting scenery, turn back via Mill Creek instead. Along the way, take the first left on Hyde, where super-black, super-smooth asphalt irresistibly beckons. Just a warning, though: there are no sidewalks or marked bike lanes here, so you'll be street skating, sharing the right-of-way with cars. But in the middle of a weekday there's hardly a moving vehicle (or person) in sight. Hyde takes you past more expensive homes and delightful shady yards, meeting up with Hillsdale a few blocks away. Hillsdale takes you back to Mill Creek if you turn to the right. Turn left and it becomes Keogh, which terminates at the intersection with Border Links. Go left here to explore Border Links en route back to Hyde. You won't get lost as long as you remember that Hillsdale, Hyde, and Keogh all return to Mill Creek when you're skating toward the west. After exploring the country club neighborhood, return on Mill Creek to Main Street. If you're still feeling adventurous, turn left to take a quick tour around the grounds of the Tulare County Civic Center. You'll have to skate on the shoulder of Main Street after the sidewalk ends at Ranch Street. Although there's no crosswalk or light, with care you can safely cross Main Street at Sunset. Concrete sidewalks run throughout the complex, and the main building's breezeway is the only place posted as off-limits to skaters.