Points of interest around Fresno CA
Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_County,_California
Situated in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, Fresno is a city that offers a surprising array of attractions for visitors. From natural wonders to cultural treasures, there’s something for everyone in and around this vibrant Central Valley hub. Here are some of the top points of interest to explore when visiting Fresno.
Forestiere Underground Gardens
One of Fresno’s most unique and intriguing attractions is the Forestiere Underground Gardens. This remarkable subterranean network of caverns, tunnels, and garden grottos was hand-carved over a 40-year period by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere. Using only basic tools, Forestiere chiseled out this underground garden retreat, creating an incredible showcase of his vision, skill, and perseverance. Tours take you through the maze-like underground pathways, revealing arches, underground citrus groves, a chapel, fishponds, and more.
Woodward Park
For a taste of the outdoors within city limits, Woodward Park is a true gem. This lush, 300-acre urban park offers a tranquil escape with its Japanese Garden, lakes, streams, and ample green spaces for picnicking and recreation. The park boasts a condensed-terrain bicycle motocross (BMX) track, dog parks, and the Woodward Shakespeare Festival, which stages plays during summer months.
Meux Home Museum
Get a glimpse into Fresno’s early history at the Meux Home Museum, an 1889 Victorian cottage that stands as one of the city’s oldest surviving buildings. The beautifully-restored home allows visitors to tour its period rooms and displays of artifacts and furnishings from the late 19th century, providing a window into life during Fresno’s pioneer days.
Kearney Mansion Museum
Another architectural standout offering a link to Fresno’s past is the Kearney Mansion Museum. Built in 1890, this 25-room mansion was once the home of M. Theodore Kearney, superintendent of the Fresno Canal & Irrigation Company. The property showcases lavish Victorian-era design and craftsmanship, from its ornate woodwork and stained glass to the stunning 19th-century accents and decor.
Forestiere Underground Gardens
One of Fresno’s most unique and intriguing attractions is the Forestiere Underground Gardens. This remarkable subterranean network of caverns, tunnels, and garden grottos was hand-carved over a 40-year period by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere. Using only basic tools, Forestiere chiseled out this underground garden retreat, creating an incredible showcase of his vision, skill, and perseverance. Tours take you through the maze-like underground pathways, revealing arches, underground citrus groves, a chapel, fishponds, and more.
Arte Américas
In fresno, CA, Arte Américas is a multidisciplinary cultural center dedicated to celebrating the rich diversity of Latino art, culture, and heritage. Its highlights include an impressive museum showcasing rotating exhibitions of works by acclaimed Latino artists. The center also hosts vibrant events like music and dance performances, film screenings, and the popular annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.
Visitors can tour a portion of this intricate underground network, including catacombs, grottos, auditoriums, and fruit orchards planted beneath the surface. Some of the highlights include an underground chapel with a ceiling that opens to the sky, as well as aquatic gardens where koi and goldfish swim beneath your feet. It’s a true marvel of engineering, perseverance, and one man’s eccentric vision.
Whether you’re interested in history, nature, art, or simply discovering something distinctly offbeat, Fresno CA and its surrounding areas offer no shortage of alluring points of interest to explore. From underground gardens to Victorian mansions and cultural attractions celebrating Fresno CA’s diversity, there’s an eclectic mix of memorable sights and experiences awaiting visitors to California’s Central Valley. Learn more about Fun facts about Fresno CA
Questions & Answers
The Forestiere Underground Gardens is a remarkable network of underground catacombs, tunnels, grottos, and gardens carved entirely by hand over 40 years by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere. Using only simple tools, he dug out around 10 miles of caverns under the city of Fresno, creating a bizarre subterranean world with fruit orchards, a chapel, aquatic gardens, and more. Tours allow visitors to explore this incredible underground creation.
Woodward Park is a huge 300-acre urban park in the heart of Fresno with tons of recreational options. Its features include scenic Japanese gardens, lakes and streams, picnic areas, a condensed BMX bicycle track, dog parks, and the Woodward Shakespeare Festival that stages plays outdoors in the summer. It's a popular place for jogging, walking, biking, and just enjoying some nature within the city.
The Meux Home Museum is an 1889 Victorian cottage that provides a glimpse into Fresno's pioneer days. Inside the beautifully restored home, you can tour period rooms furnished with 19th century decor, artifacts, and furnishings. It's one of the oldest surviving structures in Fresno and illustrates what life was like for the city's first residents.
The Kearney Mansion Museum is a grand 25-room Victorian mansion built in 1890 that showcases the lavish and ornate architecture and design of that era. It was the former home of M. Theodore Kearney, an important early developer of Fresno's canal and irrigation systems. Visitors can tour the mansion's ornamental woodwork, stained glass windows, elegant furnishings, and see what a high-class home looked like over 130 years ago.
Arte Américas is a multidisciplinary cultural center in Fresno focused on Latino art, culture, and heritage. It features an impressive museum with rotating exhibitions by acclaimed Latino artists. The center also hosts a variety of events like music/dance performances, film screenings, and major celebrations like Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It's a hub for experiencing and learning about diverse Latino traditions and artistic expressions.
