One might consider it surprising to find a town named Exeter in the California, not English, Countryside, but it's just one of many delightfully surprising aspects of this small San Joaquin Valley town.

In the late 1800s, the railroad was carved through the San Joaquin Valley, and towns grew up along its route. When D.W. Parkhurst, a representative of the Southern Pacific Railroad, bought land from a local settler named John Firebaugh, the town of Exeter was born (named after Parkhurst's native Exeter, England).

With San Francisco about four hours (240 miles) to the north, and Los Angeles three hours (200 miles) to the south, Exeter is within easy day-trip distance from either city center. It's a rewarding drive; from Exeter's downtown at an elevation of 390 feet, there is a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada range and its snowcapped peaks reaching more than 13,000 feet.

Like its English namesake, Exeter is a great base from which to explore spectacular national parks - in this case, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Both parks accommodate year-round recreation and feature such prominent landmarks as the General Sherman Tree, the world's largest living thing, and Kings Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America.

Downtown Exeter is a wonderful place to spend a day or more, with its antique stores, specialty shops, murals, restaurants, and affordable lodging. Arts and tourism are supported by the city, with a focus on an outdoor art gallery and downtown murals. Horse-drawn carriage rides are a fun and relaxing way to tour downtown Exeter.

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