Things to Do in Fresno
Tucked in the heart of the nation's top-producing agricultural area is the city of Fresno, the largest metropolitan area in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
The fusion of city hubbub and pastoral country life ensures you'll find plenty of things to do during your stay in what’s known as “The Raisin Capital of the World,” no matter where your interests lie.
Beat the Heat
Sunny summer days nudging 100 degrees give you the ideal time to visit one of the local water parks. Wild Water Adventure Park on the city's east side is home to the largest wave pool in California. Enjoy a selection of high thrill rides ranging from water vortexes to slides, along with play areas suitable for even the youngest kids. In the north part of town, dawdle down a lazy river at Island Water Park or scream your way through darkened tube slides punctuated with blasts of sudden sunlight.
Get a Taste of This
Whether you like wine or beer, you can taste your way through 11 local wineries and two breweries on the Fresno County Wine Journey. Experience fine red wines with oak or redwood finishes at A. Nonini Winery, or savor chili beer and pale ales at Tioga Sequoia Brewery. You'll also find U-pick farms and produce stands in the area, so you can get locally grown treats year-round. Enjoy fresh head lettuce as early as March, and summer tomatoes, chilies, peppers and corn. Fall heralds a long season of bounty from the area's fruit and nut trees.
Enjoy the Weather
Days that rarely dip below 50 degrees make anytime ideal for getting outdoors in Fresno. See dozens of animals up close at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Stand nose to nose with sea lions at an up-close viewing window, and then watch them from above or even witness their graceful underwater ballet through an aquarium-style observation tunnel. Stop and smell the flowers at Shinzen Japanese Garden. The garden bursts with color year-round, from thousands of cherry blossoms in the spring to vivid displays of fall foliage and winter greenery. Trying to stay out of the sun? Visit the Forestiere Underground Gardens to view trees, grapevines and other plants thriving in a network of hand-hewn tunnels.
Get Your Fill
Mike's Grill (6642 North Cedar Ave., Fresno) unabashedly boasts having the best tri-tip barbecue in the city, and you'll find the dish served up thinly sliced in a garlic toast French roll. The regional barbecue style is traditionally served with chili beans, but you'll find additional sides at Mike's that include rice pilaf, macaroni salad and potato salad. At Rudy Jr's Chicken Man (2707 North Hughes Ave., Fresno), your fried chicken gets made to order while you wait, so expect up to a half-hour before it arrives at your table sizzling hot. Don't want to wait? Try one of Rudy's famous sourdough burgers, ribs, wings or deep-fried appetizers.
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