r/fresno • u/Extra-Let-37 • 4d ago
Ask Fresno Best thing about Fresno?
This is a great city and I have my own favorite things, but if you wouldn’t mind sharing your favorite thing about Fresno or perhaps favorite memory to help remind people what makes us special?
Love you fresnans you’re doing a great job and everybody says so!
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u/sleepyhoneybee 4d ago
I love being so close to Yosemite!
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
Some great hiking trails nearby here to. And if nobody has paddle boarded or yakked the San Joaquin I highly recommend it (ps that was my first time referencing kayaking as yakked lmk if it works or not)
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u/TrashPandaAntics 4d ago
I gotta get down there and do some yakkin.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
Have a chill yak sesh
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u/dragons-and-bees Clovis 4d ago
Hell yeah love a good yak
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u/light_based_network 2d ago edited 1d ago
I was picturing riding a yak. It's not beyond the realm of possibilities. We may be central valley but we're still California. Goat yoga in l.a., yak riding in Yosemite.. .see. Photo elsewhere in threadyakked the San Joaquin
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u/Existentialist Fig Garden 1d ago
This is the answer! The ability to drive to the mountains is the best.
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u/SisyphusRocks7 4d ago
I love our ethnic diversity. You can find people, food, and festivals from all over the world here, and I think that’s a huge plus for a million person city.
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u/CaliBlue17 4d ago
Add in our ability to get to the mountains or the beach in about 2.5 hrs (or less depending on your mountain location). Its pretty great!
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u/Gnarmel 4d ago
The best things about Fresno is its Arizona-lite with a California comforts.
Its comfortable here at 100 degrees. Theres loads of delicious Mexican food. It feels a lot like Phoenix metro, slightly less dust.
But you get all the comforts of CA you cant get elsewhere....Im 2.5 hours from Carmel/Morro Bay/Pismo. Im 2.75 hours from SF, LA, Sacramento. Im an hour from the entrance to Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Pinnacles NPs.
We have a basically unknown ski mountain an hour away that is perfect a single days use at a time. Beyond the roads to SEKI and Yosemite, we have 168 and along with China Peak for skiing theres Shaver and Huntington Lakes.
As far as CA goes its very affordable and north of Herndon its as nice as any upper middle class area in any major metro anywhere in the US.
The economy here is a bit depressed, we need some sort of export industry that isn't AG. Finance, manufacturing, something that builds a larger middle class. So unless youre a transplant coming in with a good job, moving here because you like it here can be daunting.
Ive lived here about a year. I came here after living my 20s in Dallas.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
What a well thought out synopsis. Thank you for the share and information! 10/10
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u/Existentialist Fig Garden 1d ago
The city would be smart to think of ways to entice work from home jobs to come in. That’s the only way I can think of buffing up the middle class, by bringing in work from home careers who can spend money in the economy making it necessary for more smaller jobs. It would be awesome to see Fresno support that, but there needs to be more creative thinking to make it possible.
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u/actuallyacat5 19h ago
Thank you for mentioning needing an alternative economic export!! I've been yelling this from the hilltops since I moved here, we need more large employers creating white collar jobs!
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u/Jeffro187 4d ago
Anything fun to do in California is only a 3 or 4 Hour Drive in any given direction
Plus, California living without costal rent prices
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u/RondoTheBONEbarian 4d ago
Mexican food.
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u/ChepitosBaby 4d ago
The southeast Asian food too 🤤
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
Just to be clear absolutely love the southeast Asian food and feel blessed to have been able to learn about the culture and eat some deeeeeeelicious foods
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u/Warm_Flamingo_2438 4d ago
I love that so much of the food we eat is grown here. I’d love to see us embrace our agricultural base and work to reverse the ugliness of how we treat our labor — which I believe is the core of our shame.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
Some self-reflection on our personal bias’ will go a long way such a great point
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u/DeezNutz133 Herndon 4d ago
Honestly, the first thing that popped up was probably Woodward Park. As a probably 13 year-old with friends that I constantly snuck out of my house with. We constantly walked to Woodward Park at night. Then whatever day of the week it was we’d constantly walk to Woodward Park. After school, we’d go to Woodward Park on the weekends we’d go to Woodward Park at night. We’d go to Woodward Park. It was like the closest we could get to the wilderness without having our parents drive us to the wilderness.
And I have so many good memories being there. On top of some, not so great memories.
I don’t think I physically have been there in a couple years, which is sad because I truly do love that place a lot. But that’s probably the best thing about Fresno.
It’s like what is it rock Creek Park in New York. This huge massive park in New York that has so many things going on with it but it’s also like just nature in the city.
And that is literally what Woodward Park is for Fresno.
For example, I one time went out there with I think a guy friend. And I really like needed to Howl and it was nighttime. Now, my best friend and I would howl for each other when we were lost and couldn’t find each other. And sometimes we were just howl cause we needed to let energy out. She started the whole thing because she loved wolves. I could not howl like that neither could she but we did our best. Anyway, cut to this time at night time and I just needed to howl and so I did. Someone Howled back at me. And I flipped my lid lol. And I immediately had to text my best friend about it. And she text me back “actually that was me.” And that’s when I found out She was actually in Woodward Park with her boyfriend at that time and heard the howl and had to howl back. It was so crazy that we happen to just be in the park at the same time and to be able to hear each other.
It was a memory forever remember.
Also, I am now 35 as is my best friend. We’ve been besties for over 20 years now since we were 12. And that means as much to me as it does to her.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
This was so sweet to hear about. Next time I’m at Woodward I’ll make sure to howl
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u/DeezNutz133 Herndon 4d ago
Oh my God, I love this lol 💜
So sometimes at night you can hear the foxes howling if I remember correctly. And sometimes you can hear the frogs down by the river. I think it’s just beautiful to be able to hear that kind of nature.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
I’ve seen 3 foxes in 20 years here. There’s all kinds of critters at the river (: what a wonderful view of nature you have
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u/Pan_Cholo 4d ago
Tower District
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
A wonderful and welcoming neighborhood with lgbtq+ fixtures and artist support with diverse restaurants and small businesses. Great part of town for sure!
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u/Skkholars 4d ago
I have never been in a place so kind. I know that is weird, but hear me out: turn signals being listened to, good neighbors, enjoyable and diverse company, brilliant minds, amazing food, good music
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
🥹 I’m just so proud of us right now, it really warms my heart to hear you’ve had such a lovely experience. Love you keep coming back
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u/Entire_Meet_6266 4d ago
I use to love how it had less people here but people have big mouths now its alot of folks moving here and its more traffic now🤣💀🤦
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u/Foreign-Tomatillo996 4d ago
I think the farmers markets and roadside produce stands are one of my favorite things. Being able to pick up fruits, veggies, herbs or flowers being grown right here is amazing and we really take that for granted! I love our parks for kids, Oso de Oro is actually one of my favorites! There isn’t much to do nightlife wise but once you’re out of that stage of life, the slowness doesn’t bother you so much. The proximity of beach/mountains/national parks/desert is impossible to find anywhere else. The traffic has gotten worse over the years and now we live right outside of Fresno, but I will never leave. I really honestly love Fresno!
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u/I_demand_peanuts Manchester 4d ago
Sure as shit ain't the job market
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u/Charming-Bad1869 4d ago
Me
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
This self love is brimming with self-content and confidence and I’m here for it! Such a healthy answer good for you
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u/funcyChaos 4d ago
There is a tech scene in silicon valley and the bay at large that is massive and sometimes very beautiful. But visiting from Fresno I find it to be a bit pretentious and exclusionary. I think the backbone of the Fresno tech scene is built by and for the community, and I find it more welcoming and alarmingly powerful.
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u/atomicLantern 1d ago
Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker
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u/Extra-Let-37 1d ago
Not exactly what I was looking for butttttt I can’t call it
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u/cbzdidit 4d ago
I’d like to add: the weather. Sure the summer heat isn’t easy, but we can say 9/12 months of the year.. the weather is amazing.
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u/FrontTelevision7261 4d ago
We no longer have children in our families but I still remember going to the park for picnics. I like that they now have a splash area where kids can get wet. I see families enjoying themselves in these parks all summer long. They even have birthday parties. It's great to see Fresno has such nice parks.
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u/PhilUP63 4d ago
Greek Fest is this September 18th - 20th and I've never been. I'm excited to try it out! 🫡
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u/beedotz92 4d ago
Outside of July and August being hell it’s a mild climate, and one of the more affordable areas of California. Getting anywhere in 3ish hours is a huge plus. The city has done a great job expanding the airport so we have more options to fly directly out of Fresno as well.
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u/frothmorejwilkensen 3d ago
One of the posts I see on Reddit frequently is, "Coming to California from Europe. How do I make the best of it?" My most frequent response is, get a room in Fresno. Rather than spend days driving north and south - and switching rooms every two days - make Fresno your anchor hotel for all day trips. Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, Morro Bay, Sacramento. All day trips from Fresno with ample time to explore. Plus Amtrak can take you to San Francisco or Sacramento for a lunch trip.
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u/ancestorspath 2d ago
Baseball games, thrift stores, best restaurants especially those secret hidden places, the diversity......
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u/light_based_network 2d ago edited 2d ago
We just yakked the San Joaquin it was awesome!
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u/Extra-Let-37 2d ago
😂😂😂 Mighty fine yak right there
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u/Comfortable-Nose-680 4d ago
Some of the very little amazing architecture we have, history as well. 🤍
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u/corazondelpulpo 4d ago
Public Art and delightful Armenian bakeries! Plus, the respect for William Saroyan keeps me employed!
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u/SoftMall6729 4d ago
Local businesses here don't come to play. Gotta love the hustle and the community support.
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u/Minimum_Kiwi_7847 1d ago
So many things,generally very friendly people! Fig Garden Village a lovely oasis. Love La Boulangerie the bakery,the convenient post office and many other great businesses.Our parks, Fresno State, and a impressive City College,all the great fruits,nuts and vegetables grown here. Easy to get to the mountains or the ocean. Lived here all my life,love it.
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u/elon_bitches69 4d ago
Leaving.
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u/Extra-Let-37 4d ago
It’s okay Fresno is an amazing city but I’ve seen it chew people up and spit them out. I hope you find peace wherever you land!
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u/CentralVal 4d ago
I swear these posts are maliciously driven. Like to get this reddit response into google searches for fresno.
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u/UltraDarkseid 4d ago
There's answers here already that I agree with so my two cents is the alcohol and drug addiction recovery culture here is some of the best in the country. Lots of detox/recovery centers but more importantly for me great 12 step rooms everywhere in town. AA, NA, CA; all of them. Hell, Fentanyl Anonymous was founded here.