Discover Fresno

Fresno can be explored through a variety of themes: nature, wildlife, science, art and history. As you plan your trip, you can consider which of these experiences you would like to shape your stay. Options range from a seasonal route through Fresno County to museums and art programs with their own scheduling requirements.

Nature, wildlife and science

Woodward Park is a 300-acre regional park and bird sanctuary on the south bank of the San Joaquin River. The Blossom Trail offers a different focus: this 62-mile route through Fresno County, which you can travel by car or bicycle at your own pace, passes agricultural and historic attractions. It is seasonal; bloom timing varies from year to year. Check bloom conditions before setting out and practical details before visiting the park.

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is home to approximately 200 animal species and offers close-up views of wildlife. African Adventure is a 13-acre expansion within the zoo, with naturalistic habitats for lions, African elephants, cheetahs and white rhinos. Exhibit details may change as the zoo develops. Twiga Terrace is a giraffe-feeding station; feeding availability and conditions may also change. Check these details before your visit.

The Fresno Discovery Center site covers 5.5 acres, with outdoor exhibits, play areas, gardens and animals in a park-like setting. It also includes the Indoor Science Center, where exhibits are designed to encourage hands-on learning. The outdoor areas and indoor exhibits offer different ways to explore nature and science topics, so you need not expect the same kind of experience in both.

History, art and schedules

The Kearney Mansion Museum offers a tour exploring the agricultural beginnings of the San Joaquin Valley through the life and work of M. Theo Kearney. The tour focuses on a specific historical figure and his connection to agriculture in the region. Confirm tour arrangements before your visit. Another historic landmark is Courthouse Park, which has been a center of community life since the 1870s.

Gallery Row includes numerous galleries featuring local paintings, photography, ceramics and performances. In the Tower District, the name refers to a prominent neon-lit Art Deco theater that opened in 1939. These references offer different starting points for an art or cultural stay: from a range of art forms in galleries to the history of a theater that gave the district its name.

The Fresno Art Museum has a permanent collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. Its exhibitions range from children's book illustrations to contemporary works from Mexico. Collection descriptions and the exhibition program may evolve over time. ArtHop is an open art program held on the first and third Thursdays. It takes place in studios and gallery spaces downtown, as well as at other locations in Fresno. Check the current schedule before your trip if you plan to attend ArtHop.

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