| Fresno | ||
 | ||
Flag  | ||
| State | United States of America | |
|---|---|---|
| Federated state | California | |
| Territory | San Joaquin Valley | |
| Altitude | 90 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 271.4 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 530.093 (2018) | |
| Prefix tel | 1 559 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 93650, 93701–12, 93714–18, 93720–30, 93737, 93740–41, 93744–45, 93747, 93750, 93755, 93761, 93764–65, 93771–79, 93786, 93790–94, 93844 and 93888 | |
| Time zone | UTC-8 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Fresno is a city of California, in the county of the same name.
To know
Many visitors stop in Fresno on the way to the Yosemite National Park, for the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks or other destinations in the Sierras. California State University's Save Mart Center, Fresno ("Fresno State") also hosted concerts by high-profile artists.
Fresno's most famous son is writer William Saroyan, after whom a local theater is named. The city has a large Hmong community.
How to orient yourself
Fresno (California): full screen map.How to get
By plane
- 1 Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (IATA: FAT). Fresno is connected with several US and Mexican cities.
- There are taxis, rideshare, Fresno hotel shuttles, shuttles and buses to the Yosemite National Park, for Hanford, Lenmore is Visalia. There are also rental cars available at the airport and it is the preferred method for more flexibility in travel. See this Link for a list of ground transportation providers. # 26 bus connects the airport to downtown Fresno and north along N Palm Ave to the Village Mall, while the # 39 bus goes west along Clinton to W Clinton and Brawey Ave in the west of the city, but does not go downtown.
- 2 Sierra Sky Park Airport (Sierra Sky Park Airport), 7398 N Doolittle Dr (located in a residential neighborhood), ☎ 1 559 436-2015. Private airport for public use reserved for general aviation flights.
By car
Most people arrive in Fresno by car. The drive to Fresno takes approximately 3 hours from San Francisco, 3 and a half hours from Los Angeles and 5 and a half hours from San Diego. Coming from the San Francisco Peninsula or from South Bay, most people take US Highway 101 to Gilroy, State Highway 152 over Pacheco Pass, and through Los Banos, then State Highway 99 south of Fresno. From the northern peninsula, you could take Highway 92 over the San Mateo Bridge, to 880 North, then 580 East to 205 East, 5 North, 120 East, 99 South. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north and State Highway 99 north. Fresno is accessible from Central coast southern via State Highway 41, usually used with State Highway 46. Fresno is the largest city of the United States with no interstate highway running through it, but Corridor 99 provides much of that function and is slated to be upgraded as Interstate.
On the train
Amtrak serves Fresno with six trains per day across its route San Joaquin, which runs south to Bakersfield and north up to Sacrament or Oakland. Fresno Station is located in a historic Santa Fe passenger depot at 2650 Tulare Street. Fresno is also expected to become one of the first stops on the high-speed rail system in between Los Angeles is San Francisco. The system, still under construction, foresees a partial opening in 2022.
By bus
There is a Greyhound terminal near the Amtrak station in downtown Fresno. Be careful in this area at night.
- Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS).
All the year. The YARTS shuttle travels on Highway 41 between Fresno and Wawona and Yosemite Valley, stopping at Fresno Amtrak / Greyhound Station, Fresno Airport, CSU Fresno (Shaw & Barton), North Fresno (Howard & Fresno), and Highway 145 Park & Giro. Ticket prices include park admission and can be purchased from the shuttle driver. - Flixbus, manages the service along corridor 99.
- V-Line operates six times a day between Visalia, Fresno Airport, the university and downtown Fresno.
- KART, operating twice a day on weekdays for Hanford.
- Fresno County Rural Transit, provides services to small communities in Fresno County. Hours vary.
All the year. The YARTS shuttle travels on Highway 41 between Fresno and Wawona and Yosemite Valley, stopping at Fresno Amtrak / Greyhound Station, Fresno Airport, CSU Fresno (Shaw & Barton), North Fresno (Howard & Fresno), and Highway 145 Park & Giro. Ticket prices include park admission and can be purchased from the shuttle driver.How to get around
By public transport
There is a modest bus system, Fresno Area Express (FAX), but a car is recommended.
By bike
In 2011, Fresno became the first Central Valley city to earn a bronze medal from the League of American Bicyclists, recognizing Fresno as a bicycle-friendly community. The city is further expanding its cycle paths in an effort to improve access to bicycles.
By car
As is typical in the cities of the California Central Valley, a car is useful and often necessary to access most of the city's neighborhoods. Traffic congestion in Fresno isn't as bad as larger places in California, but the streets of Shaw and Herndon can get quite busy, especially since there are no east-west freeways across the north side. The CA-99 runs along the west side of the city, becoming semi-rural before exiting Fresno County on the northwest side of Fresno. The CA-41 runs in the city center. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s these were the only highways in Fresno, but a surge in growth spurred the development of the CA-180 and CA-168 highways.
What see
- 1 Forestiere underground gardens (Forestiere Underground Gardens), 5021 West Shaw Ave, ☎ 1 559-271-0734, @[email protected].
Senior (59) $ 8, Adult $ 9, Teen (13-17) $ 7, Child (4-12) $ 6. Summer opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday. Low season: weekend (weather permitting). Call for timetables and reservations (required). The Forestiere underground gardens are a complex of underground gardens and rooms built by the Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere between 1906 and his death in 1946. - 2 Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 894 West Belmont Ave, @[email protected]. November-February 9: 00-16: 00; March-October 9: 00-18: 00. A zoo in Roeding Park near downtown Fresno that hosts many famous animal exhibits, including the Winged Wonders Bird Show.
- Fresno Art Museum (Fresno Art Museum), 2233 N. 1st St, ☎ 1 559-441-4221. The only modern art museum between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The FAM collection includes contemporary art and an extensive collection of Mexican art from the pre-Columbian era to the present.
- 3 Nonini winery (Nonini Winery), 2640 N. Dickenson, ☎ 1 559-275-1936. Mon-Sat 9: 00-16: 00. Wine tasting and tour. Call ahead to schedule a tour.
- 4 Fresno Grizzlies, 1800 Tulare St, ☎ 1 559-320-4487. From $ 7 to $ 44. A Minor League baseball team affiliated with the Washington Nationals. Chukchansi Park is located downtown and was built in 2002 for the team.
- 5 Fresno State Bulldogs, 1600 E. Bulldog Ln. (south entrance to Bulldog Stadium), ☎ 1 559-278-DOGS (3647). Mon-Fri 9: 00-16: 30;. Fresno State sports teams (formally California State University, Fresno) compete in a total of 20 sports (8 for men, 12 for women), with nearly all teams at the Mountain West Conference. Football has traditionally been the highest-profile sport, with men's basketball in second place, but many other sports are nationally competitive, most 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).
- 6 Fulton shopping center (Fulton), Fulton St. Traffic has been reintroduced in this previously traffic-free six-block pedestrian mall. The mall features a large collection of public art and holds a place on the California Register of Historic Places. While the area doesn't have a solid retail or restaurant scene, it is home to Fresno Brewing Company (coffee and craft beers), Twee (artsy, trendy and often local homeware and gifts) and many other retail and dining outlets.
- 7 Fresno FC (Fresno Soccer Team), 1800 Tulare Street, ☎ 1 559 320-2525. From $ 17 to $ 77. Fresno Football Club is San Joaquin Valley's first professional football team. He is a member of the United Soccer League (a division under Major League Soccer). His first season was in March 2018 and he plays Chuckchansi Parki in downtown Fresno.
- 8 Old Fresno Water Tower (Old Fresno Water Tower). Built in 1894, this is one of the oldest buildings in Fresno.
- 9 Pacific Southwest Building. The tallest building located between Los Angeles and San Francisco was completed in 1925.
- 10 Woodward Park.
Senior (59) $ 8, Adult $ 9, Teen (13-17) $ 7, Child (4-12) $ 6. Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Island Water Park, ☎ 1 559-277-6800. From June to mid-September. Water park.
- Rogue Festival. Modeled after the Canadian and North American Fringe Festival, the Rogue showcases local and national artists, with dance, music, comedy, film, art and theater in venues around the Tower District. Artists hail from all over the state, as far as Vancouver and London.
- 2 Shakespeare in the Park (Woodward Shakespeare Festival).
- Tower District Mardi Gras Parade.
- 3 Reel Pride. The sixth oldest gay and lesbian film festival in the country takes place annually in Fresno's Tower District.
- 4 Blackbeards Family Fun Center, 4055 N. Chestnut, ☎ 1 559-292-6386. It has batting cages, bumper boats, paintball, mini golf, sprint cars, water slides, and arcade games.
- Fresno walking tour, @[email protected]. $ 25 per person. Fri 18:00; Sat 10:00. Unique walks through Fresno, featuring local art, architecture, food and history. Advance booking required by email. Four tours available: Downtown Art & Architecture; Art Born of Graffiti: Murals; Art and antiques: Old Town Clovis; and Tower Art Taste.
- Back Country Off Road Tours, 37604 Cardinal Ln. Squaw Valley, ☎ 1 559-470-8086. Visit East Fresno County and Sierra Nevadas with a local who has 30 years of experience as a guide to nearby parks. Tours can include waterfalls, meadows, fishing, camping, beautiful views and trails, as well as information on historic logging operations, efforts to preserve world-famous redwood forests, and stories of historical figures. Tours can be tailored to specific areas of interest. Call for details.
- 5 Tower Theater.
- Artists' Repertory Theater.
- 6 Warnors Theater. The theater was owned by Warner Bros. and the spelling was changed to avoid copyright infringement after the sale.
Study opportunities
University studies
- 3 Fresno State University (California State University (California State University, Fresno State University)). Known for its agricultural programs, many Fresno State students and faculty travel to developing countries for agricultural assistance programs.
- 4 Fresno City College. A 2 year community college.
- 5 Fresno Pacific University. An accredited private Christian university offering many undergraduate and masters degrees. It has satellite offices throughout central California (Merced Regional Center, North Fresno Regional Center, Visalia Regional Center, Bakersfield Regional Center).
Shopping
- 1 Organic Pastures, 7221 South Jameson Avenue (20 minutes outside Madeira), ☎ 1-877-729-6455. California's last and only raw (unpasteurized) milk dairy. Family-run farm whose owners are passionate about raw milk. It is possible to buy fresh milk and dairy products from the farm.
- 2 Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market, 5368 N. Chestnut Ave (On the corner of Chestnut and Barstow). As long as you're in the middle of California's agricultural heartland, try local produce. Fresno State Farmer's Market sells produce grown by the university's agriculture department, as well as fresh cheese, ice cream, and wine. Fresno State is one of the few universities in the United States with a winemaking program capable of selling its products to the public.
- 3 Sierra Nut House. If you are looking for a souvenir of the San Joaquin Valley, try the Sierra Nut House for dried fruit, nuts, jams, jellies, coffee and tea.
- 4 The Vineyard Farmer's Market (Shaw and Blackstone). Wed 15: 00-18: 00; Sat 7: 00-12: 00. The largest and most extensive of the farmers' markets in the area. Open all year round twice a week. During the summer, every Friday night there is also one in the historic center of Clovis.
- 5 Riverpark Shopping Center, Corner of Blackstone Ave. and Nees Ave.. Shopping center and most popular meeting place in the city of Fresno. There are Edwards Movie Theaters, the famous Dai-Bai-Dang Chinese restaurant, and several shops.
How to have fun
Night clubs
Nightlife in Fresno is great if you are in the right areas.
- 1 Dirty Olive, 9455 North Fort Washington Road # 104, ☎ 1 559 434-3077.
- 2 Elephant Bar, 7965 N. Blackstone Ave, ☎ 1 559 226-2110.
- 3 Five, 1110 E Champlain Dr, ☎ 1 559 434-5553.
- 4 Spokeasy Public House, 1472 N Van Ness Avenue, ☎ 1 559 4927765. Bike-themed bar offering craft beer and arcade games in the Tower District.
- 5 Strummer's Bar & Grill, 833 E Fern Avenue, ☎ 1 559 4855356. Music venue in the Tower District.
Gay clubs
- 6 Alibi, 4538 E Belmont Avenue, ☎ 1 559 2522899.
- 7 FAB, 716 E Olive Avenue, ☎ 1 559 4923911.
- 8 The Red Lantern, 4618 E Belmont Avenue, ☎ 1 559 2515898.
Where to eat
River Park Plaza contains many popular restaurant chains, including The Elephant Bar, Tony Roma's, Logans Steak House, Yoshino's Sushi House, and Hooters. For a large and diverse concentration of local establishments, go to (Tower District). There are also many noteworthy restaurants scattered elsewhere throughout the Fresno area.
Average prices
- 1 Countryside, 1185 E. Champlain Dr, ☎ 1 559 433-3300. Luxury dining with great food and a nice bar.
- 2 Dusty Buns, 608 E. Weldon Ave (Fresno High Area), @[email protected]. Tue-Sat 17: 00-21: 00. Gourmet sandwiches with local seasonal ingredients.
- 3 George's Shish Kebab, 3045 W. Bullard Ave, ☎ 1 559 449-0100. Armenian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
- 4 Irene's Cafe, 747 and Olive Ave (Tower District), ☎ 1 559 237-9919. A traditional coffee shop, known for its breakfast.
- 5 The Landmark, 644 E. Olive (Tower District), ☎ 1 559 233-6505. Basque and traditional American cuisine. Often live music.
- 6 Luby, 1075 E Bullard Ave, ☎ 1 559 439-8357. Chinese food. It only has a few tables.
- 7 Max's Bistro & Bakery, 1784 W Bullard, ☎ 1 559 439-6900. French-inspired Californian cuisine.
- 8 Mone's International Market & Deli, 7975 North Cedar Ave, ☎ 1 559 438-8975. Excellent Armenian, Russian and Middle Eastern cuisine, as well as some very interesting international products.
- 9 Parma (Herndon & Marks), ☎ 1 559 432-3389. Italian cuisine, with homemade pasta.
- 10 Slates, 7455 N. Fresno St, ☎ 1 559 256-4141. One of the creations of Fresno chef Roy Harland, featuring contemporary American cuisine.
- 11 Tahoe Joe's, 7006 N. Cedar and 2700 W. Shaw, ☎ 1 559 299-9740 (Cedar), 1 559 277-8028 (Shaw). Steakhouse that now has multiple locations in the state but started in Fresno.
- 12 Taqueria Don Pepe, 4582 N. Blackstone, ☎ 1 559 224-1431. Look for the old style of the KFC building. Fast (but good) Mexican style food.
- 13 Thai House, 1069 and Shaw, ☎ 1 559 221-7245. Thai food.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Courtyard Fresno, 140 East Shaw Ave, ☎ 1 559 221-6000. $174-199. Close to Bass, Shaver and Huntington Lakes for fishing, boating and hiking and also convenient to CSUF, Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Wildwater Adventures and the Muex Home Museum.
- 2 Homewood Suites, 6820 North Fresno St, ☎ 1 559 440-0801. $95. Suite with full kitchens, large desk, free Internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to the free hot breakfast, pool, and fitness center.
- 3 La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fresno Riverpark, 330 E. Fir Ave, ☎ 1 559 449-0928. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast.
- 4 Piccadilly Inn University, 4961 N. Cedar, ☎ 1 559 224-4200.
- 5 Piccadilly Inn West Shaw, 2305 W. Shaw, ☎ 1 559 226-3850.
- 6 Residence Inn Fresno, 5322 N Diana Ave, ☎ 1 559 222-8900, fax: 1 559 222-9089.
- 7 SpringHill Suites, 6844 North Fresno St, ☎ 1 559 431-0004. $130. Suite with microwave, mini-fridge, free Internet, flat screen TV. Guests have access to free parking, free hot breakfast, business center, pool, and fitness center.
- 8 Comfort Suites (Herndon Ave between Blackstone Ave and Freeway 41), 102 East Herndon Ave, ☎ 1 559-435-5650. $99. All suites include microwave, refrigerator, tea / coffee maker, free Wi-Fi, work desk, two phone lines, and sofa bed. Complimentary hot breakfast served each morning, fitness room, indoor pool and hot tub.
- 9 The Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2233 Ventura St, ☎ 1 559 268-1000. 321 rooms with Sleep Number beds, beauty salon, Pizza Hut, Java Stop, gift shop, airport shuttle and dry cleaning service.
- 10 Vagabond Inn Fresno, 2570 S. East Ave., ☎ 1 559 486-1188, fax: 1 559 486-2743. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00.
Safety
Crime presents significant concerns in Fresno. As a general rule, travelers should exercise extra caution in parts of the city located south of Shaw Avenue.
Homeless people are known to congregate near the so-called Chinatown area of the city, across the railroad tracks from Chukchansi Park. The area also suffers from a high crime rate. Care should be taken when visiting the area.
Avoid the southeastern part of the city at night due to the high crime rates.
Unlike other parts of California, earthquakes of any magnitude are rare in Fresno and surrounding areas. If warned, earthquakes tend to cause minimal damage (if any).
Consulates
Mexico, 7435 N Ingram Ave, ☎ 1 559 233-3065, fax: 1 559 257-4839, @[email protected]. Mon-Fri 8: 00-17: 00.
How to keep in touch
Around
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