Attractions & Hospitality

It’s been said that if you build it, they will come.

Keeping true to the old adage, Fresno has built a community that welcomes its visitors with open arms, offering an abundance of opportunities for family fun year-round.

Fresno is the only city surrounded by three national parks – Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of all the parks have to offer – including guided tours, hiking, bird watching, camping, mountain climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, swimming, wildlife viewing, stargazing and much more. Winter visitors enjoy cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding and ice-skating. A camera is a must for
capturing the beauty of the immense mountains, deep canyons, towering trees and the more than 200 fascinating caverns that lie beneath the surface.

Outdoor adventure continues for the whole family at the Chaffee Zoo, located in the Roeding Park area. The zoo often features special exhibits, and offers children’s and community programs – all of which help to keep Chaffee one of the most popular attractions in the city and Central California.

A visit to Fresno isn’t complete without a stop in the Tower District, a unique section of Fresno that offers an atmosphere of fun and flair. During the holidays, the Tower District hosts “Taste. Toast. Tinsel in the Tower,” complete with food and beverages. A lively Mardi Gras parade is held in February, and the summer months host “Jamaica My Weekend” (featuring the sounds of the Caribbean), a multi-lap bike race and the Rogue Festival (celebrating independent performers and artists).

Set in the Woodward Park region, the Shinzen Japanese Garden is one of the most unique attractions in Fresno. Shinzen Japanese Garden is thriving in the dry and hot valley thanks to the continued dedication by a multitude of volunteers – including the Japanese American
community. The five-acre wonder is complete with a stone garden and an authentic thatched-roof teahouse, one of only a few authentic teahouses in the United States. The area is complemented with streambeds that flow under waterfalls, seven ponds and beautiful, lush foliage – all of which has made for a beautiful setting for outdoor weddings.

The Forestiere Underground Gardens on Shaw Avenue is another distinctive
attraction. Visitors are surprised to find a subterranean network of more than 100 niches, courtyards, patios rooms and passageways along this busy boulevard. Visitors are even more surprised to learn it was built by one single man, Baldasare Forestiere, back in 1905.

Fresno is home to numerous museums, all of which help to preserve the rich history of the area. The Meux Home, a classic 10-room Victorian house built in 1888 by Dr. T.R. Meux, is especially noteworthy because of its history and architecture. Now owned by the city, the home is open for tours and available to rent for small weddings.

The African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley, which opened in 1995, celebrates the contributions of the African-American community. The museum hosts rotating and permanent displays that highlight African-American history and culture, and features exhibits on prominent African Americans in the Fresno area.

The Fresno Metropolitan Museum features numerous art and agricultural exhibits, photograph collections, decorative arts, crafts and textiles displays created by Native American groups from the central valley. Beautiful pieces of handcrafted Asian fine arts, educational programs and a fascinating science center are also offered.The Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium is home to the Legion of Valor Museum, which houses thousands of items and papers donated by Legion of Valor members and others. Staffed by volunteers and supported in part by the city, the museum’s framed citations, photographs and exhibits tell the story of America’s wars as seen by individual soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Hundreds of thousands of people come through Fresno each year, many of whom include the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center as their primary stop. The Convention Center (which opened in 1966) features the Selland Arena, the William Saroyan Theatre, the Valdez Hall, Robert A. Schoettler Conference Center and the Exhibit Hall South. The facilities are ideal for hosting conventions, large meetings, sales shows, banquets, receptions, concerts and other performances. The Saroyan Theatre has hosted Mikhail Baryshnikov, Arthur Fiedler, Isaac Stern, magician David Copperfield and the Broadway shows Les Miserable, Cats, Evita, Chicago and Riverdance.

Located just 15 minutes northwest of Fresno, Table Mountain Casino is the place where winners come to enjoy non-stop gaming action and award-winning dining. The casino features more than 28 table games and more than 1,650 slot machines, as well as 850 seats for bingo games that offer big cash prizes and huge monthly giveaways.

The casino also features award-winning dining in two state-of-the-art restaurants – Eagles Landing for elegant dining and Mountain Feast for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Recently voted “Best Casino Dining in the Valley” by the California Restaurant Association, both restaurants feature an international and regional dining experience.

Semi-pro and professional sports are also a big draw. The Fresno Falcons (a San Jose Sharks NHL affiliate and Cleveland Barons AHL affiliate) is part of the East Coast Hockey League, and takes to the ice at the SaveMart Center. The Heat Wave professional basketball team (American Basketball Association) plays its games at the Selland Arena, and Fresno also hosts the Central Valley Coyotes football team, which is part of the Arena Football League’s National Conference West.

Fresno’s multipurpose 12,500-seat stadium is home to the AAA Grizzlies baseball team (an affiliate of the Giants), and also hosts numerous high school football games, international soccer games and many other community events.

The list of things to do and see in Fresno is endless and more than can be done in a day. So, it’s great to know that there are thousands of hotel and motel rooms available to make the stay more comfortable.