This is California’s underground.

If you’re looking for a different kind of California vacation, Fresno County gives you access to the real and raw heart of the state. It’s California’s underground. For the real traveler. Start your trip wandering through the Forestiere Underground Gardens, a home carved by hand beneath Fresno’s surface. Inspired by the catacombs in Sicily, tour through the winding tunnels and see 100-year-old hybrid citrus plants. In the summer, the gardens have their own microclimate, making the tunnels 10-20 degrees colder than the surface level. Hike through Kings Canyon National Park where giant sequoias, rushing waterfalls, and clear blue lakes sit within the deepest canyon in the United States.  The park is quieter than neighboring national parks in the state, but the views are just as incredible. National park lovers can also see Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks just a short drive from Fresno. 

As one of the United State’s most culturally diverse destinations, Fresno County’s food scene is unparalleled. Try authentic Japanese mochi from a store that’s been around for more than 100 years in Fresno’s Chinatown. Taste the flavors of Italy at Andiamo Restaurant in Clovis where they’re making homemade pasta and pizza. Stop in Fresno’s Brewery District for great hops and a variety of food trucks. Sip your way through Fresno County’s wineries—California’s underground wine country. The county produces a large sum of the state’s wine grapes. Try the zinfandel at Kings River Winery or the cabernet at Ziveli Winery. 

Plenty of fun. No fast passes needed.

Spend more time enjoying the thrills of summer with your family and less time juggling fast passes. Visit the Fresno Chaffee Zoo to see more than 200 species within their interactive exhibits for a fraction of the cost of other nearby zoos. Join one of the behind-the-scenes experiences to help train sea otters, feed a giraffe, and touch a stingray. Get your game on at No Surrender Adventure Park. They have locations in Fresno and Clovis. Take a spin at K1 Speed Clovis Go-Kart Race Track. Go for a splash at the many splash pads and waterparks in Fresno and Clovis. 

Cool off at Fresno County’s many lakes, whether you’re a water sports fanatic or want to sunbathe on the lakeshore. Millerton Lake is a short drive from Fresno and Clovis and is great for paddle boarding, canoeing, and boating. Go kayaking along the San Joaquin River that runs north of Fresno with the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. Thrill seekers can take a wild ride down the Kings River. Experienced tour guides will lead you through the twisting channels and chilled waters during a whitewater rafting trip hosted by the Kings River Expedition Class 3. The season runs through August. 

Late summer travelers can enjoy beloved local events like Fresno Greek Fest, where the city’s Greek community spends a weekend celebrating their heritage with music and food. See hot air balloons lift off at ClovisFest, Clovis’s annual festival that bids farewell to summer and welcomes the fall.

Getting There

Fly into the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport, the only international airport in California’s Central Valley. The airport has non-stop flights to 14 major cities, including Dallas, Denver, and Atlanta. California road trippers can hop on State Route 99 or Interstate 5 to enter the city. Fresno is three hours from San Francisco and Sacramento and four hours from Los Angeles. 

For more information go to visitfresnocounty.org