Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, avid art lover, farm-to-fork foodie, or snowboarding fanatic, California’s Central Valley has a playground for you, any time of year!
National and State Parks
Within easy driving distance of Fresno, you can visit Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Park, or explore dozens of state parks, wilderness areas, lakes, and hot springs.
Outdoor Sports and Recreation
The Central Valley stretches from the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east to the Pacific Coastal Range in the west. This stunningly beautiful area provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, rock climbing, boating, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, skiing, and more.
Family Friendly Attractions
It’s easy to raise a family in the Central Valley, with its affordable lifestyle, temperate climate, and congestion-free roads. For a fun family day, visit the largest wave pool in California or the largest middle-Pleistocene fossil excavations in North America. Feed a giraffe at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo or get hands-on with science at the Discovery Center.
Farm Fresh Food
Known as the Ag Capital of the World, you’ll find a farm-to-fork paradise in the Central Valley. You can pick your own cherries and strawberries in the morning, stop for wine tasting at our local wineries, and pick up locally produced sausage, bread, and cheese for dinner. It’s a feast for the senses, right in your backyard!
Cultural Arts
The cultural arts scene in Fresno rivals that of cities multiple times its size. We credit our rich cultural heritage and diverse population, as well as generous community support. In addition to many historical and cultural museums, public art installments and galleries, we also host one of the biggest Rogue festivals in the West, featuring 10 days of theater, dance, spoken-work, music, and more.
Sports Venues
Minor League baseball, USL soccer, college football, WSHL hockey – even an annual rodeo -- are just a few of the ways sports fans find their entertainment in the Central Valley. If you’d rather play sports than watch them, we’ve got miles of accessible sports fields, running trails, tennis courts, and swimming pools, and the weather to enjoy them year-round.