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City in California, United States
Photo: JMora24, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.
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A complex of underground gardens and rooms built by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere between 1906 and his death in 1946. Originally intended to be a hotel, the subterranean complex instead servdd as Forestiere's residence until his death. Reservations are required and the tour lasts one hour. Not all of the tunnels are accessible to the public, as some of them remain on land with different owners.
A zoo in Roeding Park near downtown that features many popular animal exhibits including the Winged Wonders Bird Show.
The only modern art museum between Los Angeles and San Francisco. FAM's collection includes contemporary art, and a large collection of Mexican art from pre-Columbian times to the present.
Wine tasting and tours M-Sa 9AM to 4PM. Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Low-A Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. Chukchansi Park is located downtown, built in 2002 for the team.
The sports teams of Fresno State (formally California State University, Fresno), competing in 20 sports (8 for men, 12 for women), with almost all teams in the Mountain West Conference. Football has traditionally been the highest-profile sport, with men's basketball a close second, but many other sports are nationally competitive, notably baseball and softball. Essentially all venues are on campus, most notably Bulldog Stadium (football) and the city's main indoor venue, Save Mart Center (basketball).
Traffic is being reintroduced to this formerly traffic-free six-block pedestrian mall. The mall features a large collection of public art and holds a spot on the California Register of Historical Places. Though the area does not have a robust retail or restaurant scene, it is home to Fresno Brewing Company (coffee and craft beers), Twee (artsy, hip, and often local home goods and gift items), and several other retail and dining outlets.
Fresno Soccer Team
Fresno Football Club is the first professional soccer team in the San Joaquin Valley. It is a member of the United Soccer league (one division below Major League Soccer). Its first season was in March 2018 and it plays in Chuckchansi Parki in downtown Fresno.
Built in 1894, this is one of the oldest buildings in Fresno.
The highest building between Los Angeles and San Francisco completed in 1925.
16-room Victorian mansion available by tours that take 45min to an hour.
This turn-of-the-20th century mansion was the ranch headquarters of Kearney’s Fruit Vale Estate.
Modeled on the Canadian and North American Fringe Festivals, the Rogue showcases local and national artists, with dance, music, comedy, film, art, and theatre at venues around the Tower District. Performers come from around the state, and as far as Vancouver and London.
The sixth oldest gay & lesbian film festival in the country takes place every year in Fresno's Tower District.
Water slide park open between June and mid-September.
Has batting cages, bumper boats, paintball, miniature golf, sprint cars, water slides and arcade games.
Spelled with an "o". The theatre used to be owned by Warner Bros., and the spelling was changed to avoid copyright infringement after it was sold.
Celebrate the origins of the food truck with Taco Truck Throwdown. The food truck was first created to serve ag workers in Fresno and catered to a Mexican clientele. That tradition is live and well at Taco Truck Throdown held in November.
Family-owned ice cream parlor, with gourmet specials that rotate every month.
Upscale dining with great food and a nice bar.
Armenian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Traditional Yemeni restaurant. Bread and tea included with any order of food.
Authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Well-known for its sandwiches (bahn mi) and pho. Part of a local chain, this location is the most centrally-located in Fresno.
A traditional coffee shop, known for its breakfast.
French-inspired California cuisine.
Syrian & Lebanese cuisine.
A small sandwich place, with sandwich ingredients available to buy as well.
Italian food, with homemade pastas.
A diner-style cafe serving breakfast and lunch, with some interesting specials.
Steakhouse that now has multiple locations in the state, but started in Fresno.
Look for the old style of KFC building. Fast food (but good) style Mexican fare.
A Japanese restaurant serving teriyaki bowls, sushi, etc.
A beer garden and assorted food trucks pop up at this nursery a few nights a week. Check ahead on the website for which nights it'll be during a given week.
California's last and only raw (unpasteurized) milk dairy. The owners are a family farm who are passionate about raw milk. You can buy fresh cold just milked milk and dairy products from the farm.
Bicycle-themed bar that offers craft beer and arcade games in the Tower District
Music venue in the Tower District
Local brewery with beer garden.
Near Bass, Shaver & Huntington Lakes for fishing, boating & hiking and also convenient to CSUF, Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Wildwater Adventures and the Muex Home Museum.
Suites with full kitchens, large work desk, free internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to free hot breakfast, pool and fitness center.
Free Wi-Fi and breakfast.
Suites with microwave, mini-fridge, free internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to free parking, free hot breakfast, business center, pool and fitness center.
Herndon Ave between Blackstone Ave and Freeway 41
All suites include microwave, fridge, coffee/tea maker, free Wi-Fi, desk, two phone lines and sofa sleepers. Free hot breakfast served every morning, fitness room, indoor pool and hot tub.
Plush hotel with atrium and waterfall, restaurant with breakfast buffet (surcharge), bar, pool and hot tub, and gym.
As long as you're right in the middle of California's agricultural heartland, try the local produce. Fresno State's Farm Market sells the produce grown by the university's agriculture department, plus fresh cheese, ice cream and wine. Fresno State is one of a few universities in the United States with a wine-making program that can sell its products to the public.
If you're looking for a souvenir of the San Joaquin Valley, try the Sierra Nut House for dried fruit, nuts, jams & jellies, and coffees & teas.
The largest and most extensive of the farmer's markets in the area. Open year round twice a week on Wednesday afternoons from 3-6PM and Saturdays 7AM till noon. During summer, there is also one in Old Town Clovis every Friday evening.
The most popular shopping center and hangout in the city of Fresno. Contains various stores including Edwards Movie Theatres, the famous Spicy J's Chinese restaurant, Lowes, Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble, Pier 1 Imports and Target.
Considered the most popular shopping mall within Fresno County, it has stores like Macy's, JCPenney, Forever 21 and H&M.
By train
Amtrak serves Fresno with six trains a day via its Gold Runner route, running south to Bakersfield and north to either Sacramento or Oakland.
By car
Almost everybody gets to Fresno by car. The drive to Fresno takes about 3 hours from San Francisco, 3½ hours from Los Angeles, and 5½ hours from San Diego.S.
By bus
Greyhound has a terminal next to Amtrak in downtown Fresno. Exercise caution in this area at night.
By bus
There is a modest bus system, Fresno Area Express (FAX), but a car would be advised. The city has a bus rapid transit line.
By bike
In 2011, Fresno became the first town or city in the Central Valley to earn a Bronze Medal Designation from the League of American Bicyclists, recognizing Fresno as a bicycle friendly community.
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Fresno · International · FAT
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