Hanford is a small Central Valley city that punches well above its weight in historic interest. The main draw is China Alley, a remarkably preserved enclave from the late 19th century when Chinese railroad workers settled here after the transcontinental lines were complete. The 1893 Taoist Temple on China Alley still stands, and you can visit it by reservation — it is one of the oldest Chinese temples in the American West.
Downtown Hanford has aged gracefully. Courthouse Square is a genuine town square anchored by an ornate 1897 courthouse, and an old-fashioned carousel still runs there on weekends. The Fox Theater, a 1929 movie palace, has been restored and hosts live performances. Across the square the mission-revival Civic Auditorium and the Carnegie Museum fill out a surprising afternoon of sightseeing.
Eating well in Hanford is not hard either. La Bastille serves steaks in the old county jail, and Superior Dairy has been scooping its own ice cream since 1929. For a small city, there's a surprising amount worth seeing on foot.