Definitely, there is something extraordinary about Fresno that made this gorgeous city the state capital of California. But, it is surely a daunting task to catch the beauty of this huge city in your camera with only 24 hours in your hands. Hence, to make your one day trip to Fresno the most enjoyable one, to soak up its top picks that are rich in intriguing history and culture,and to enjoy the bounty of things-to-do to live your one day here to the fullest,here are a few valuable tips to follow.
Image by Andy Jack via http://www.panoramio.com/photo/55698599
8:00 am: Stroll around Woodward ParkKick-start your day early amidst the nature and its beautiful creatures. Away from the cacophonies in the city, a peaceful walk around
Woodward Park is ample to fresh your mind and soul and to fill you up with enough of good spirit.
Address: 7775 North Friant Road, Fresno, CA 93720
Phone: 559.621.2900
Website: www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/ParksandRecreation/ParksandFacilities/Regional Parks/WoodwardPark.htmOperation Hours: Opens daily (7:00 am-10:00 pm)
9:00 am: Grab breakfast at Aria Persian CuisineAfter a serene walk, its time time to grab some snacks and energy drinks to get your energy pack. Head NE towards North Friant Road and stop by
Aria Persian Cuisine for wholesome morning appetizers to keep you going. No other place in the city can serve as delectable Persian food as Aria Persian Cuisine can.
Address: 9415 Ft Washington Road, Fresno, CA 93730
Phone: 559.434.2742
Distance and time from Woodward Park: 0.1 mile or 3 minutes drive
10:00 am: Cultural and Educational Trip to The Shinzen Friendship Garden of Fresno
After a hearty breakfast, its time to wander around The Shinzen Friendship Garden of Fresno. It was built in 1981 in the honor of Kochi Japan, the Fresno’s Sister City. This stunning facility is indulged into spreading the cultural and educational awareness about the Japanese culture. Superbly up kept garden.
Address: 114 West Audubon Drive, Fresno, California 93720
Now, its time to experience some wonder. After leaving The Shinzen Friendship Garden of Fresno, jump onto Yosemite Road, start walking towards West Audubon Drive and drop by West Shaw Avenue to visit Forestiere Underground Gardens. This astonishing wonder is a hand-built web of underground rooms, passageways reminiscent of old catacombs, courtyards, fruit producing trees and shrubs that grow underground, vaults, arches and stone-built walls that are based on 90-year-old Roman architecture, underground micro-climates (10-30 deg temperature variations), and an unparalleled underground home of Baldassare Forestiere, who was a Sicilian visionary and builder, that steals the show.
Address: 5021 West Shaw Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
Distance and time from The Shinzen Friendship Garden of Fresno: 9.1 miles or 20 minutes drive
1:00 pm: Time to visit whopping Old Fresno Water TowerAfter gazing at an eye-popping wonder, start walking east on West Shaw Avenue towards North Cornelia Avenue and drop by visitors center. Now, you are standing in front of
Old Fresno Water Tower. You will be surprised to know that it is the oldest surviving structure in the history of Fresno city. This American Romanesque styled water tank is 109-foot high and possesses 250,000-gallon storage capacity. A true architectural symbol of Fresno it is!
Address: Visitors Center, Fresno, California 93710
Distance and time from Forestiere Underground Gardens: 7.9 miles or 18 minutes drive
2:00 pm: Satiate your growling belly at Veni Vidi Vici
You have walked around too much and must be peckish by now. You can jump on CA-168 from East Shaw Avenue and drive until you reach N Fulton St. Here, you can swing by Veni Vidi Vici to satiate your craving for American and rustic European delicacies. Apart from high-quality food and wine, there is one more thing about this restaurant that makes it prominent, and that is its bespoke interior. Its rooms are designed by using local, found and waste materials and elbow grease as well. Indeed, a great place to dine in a casual atmosphere without hitting hard your pocket.
Address: 1116 North Fulton Street, Fresno, CA 93728
Phone: 559.266.5510
Website: www.venividivicirestaurant.com/index.php?n=1&id=1Operation Hours: Monday-Thursday (11:00 am-10:00 pm); Friday-Sunday (11:00 am-12:00 am)
Distance and time from Old Fresno Water Tower: 8.2 miles or 13 minutes drive
3:30 pm: A quality time with adorable animalsNow, you have got enough dose of energy to continue your journey. Walk south on North Fulton Street towards East Alhambra Avenue and drop by West Belmont Avenue to reach
Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Interact and get clicked with the multitude of African animals and bird species here. Malayan tapir, Orangutan,Red ruffed lemur, Radiated tortoise, Mexican red-kneed tarantula, Red wolf,Scimitar-horned Oryx, Ring-tailed lemur, and there are a lot of other animals which can fill you with joy and bring a smile on your face.
Address: 894 West Belmont Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728
Phone: 559.498.5910
Website: www.fresnochaffeezoo.orgOperation Hours: Opens Daily (9:00 am-6:00 pm)
Distance and time from Veni Vidi Vici: 2.1 miles or 8 minutes drive
6:30 pm: Shopping timeBesides accumulating some cherishing moments in Fresno, there is one more way to heighten your excitement in the city—hands full of shopping bags. For a delightful shopping adventure in the city, you can pop in
Manchester Shopping Center as it is dotted with upscale stores showcasing collections of internationally acclaimed fashion designers, shops for apparels and accessories, gift shops, a gamut of dining options, and other modern age services catering to today's tastes, styles and preferences.
Sun has set, clock strikes 8:30 'o' clock, and you must be famishing by this time. Don't panic. Manchester Shopping Center is packed with numerous premium restaurants, namely, Blue Jay Ice Cream, Pretzel Place, Yanagi Japanese, Panda Express, Manchester Steak House, Taqueria Garibaldi, Goodfellas Pizza Co., Dairy Queen/ Orange Julius, TJ Connors Gourmet Burgers, King Buffet, and Starbucks. Treat your belly with the finger-licking cuisines and snacks served here and leave the place with a wonderful dining experience.
Address: 1901 East Shields Avenue #203, Fresno, CA 93726
Phone: 559.227.1901
Website: www.manchester-center.comOperation Hours: Monday-Saturday (10:00 am-8:00 pm); Sunday (11:00 am-6:00 pm)
Distance and time from Fresno Chaffee Zoo: 6.7 miles or 12 minutes drive
10:00 pm: Dance frantically at Club LegendBefore bidding a bye to this imposing city, don't forget to check out its opulent nightclubs and bars. Its nightclubs, bars and discotheques always remain flocked with party lovers and a hoot of joy and madness keeps wafting out of them. Imagine, how exciting it gets inside them when it gets dark outside. And, one such place is the
Club Legend where you will fail to refrain yourself from shaking your belly to the astounding and thumping music spin by famed DJs. Such tempting and imposing nightclub it is!
Address: 3075 North Maroa Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704
Phone: 559.222.2271
Operation Hours: Monday-Saturday (9:00 pm-2:00 am); Sunday (4;00 pm-2:00 am)
Distance and time from Manchester Shopping Center: 1.1 miles or 5 minutes drive
A Map Guide on 24 Hours Tour in Fresno
