Where to stay

Visitors staying in Fresno can indulge in numerous natural pursuits despite the city's increasing urbanization. The Forestiere Underground Gardens are regularly rated among Fresno's top attractions, while Woodward Park includes the serene Shinzen Japanese Garden. A little farther north, Clovis is the best place to book accommodations for enjoying the Fresno County Blossom Trail, with blooming trees and wildflowers that are particularly striking during February and March. For something more challenging, book a room in Visalia, which offers outdoor adventures for every season, including mountain biking, horseback riding, paint ball, and hiking.

As the biggest city in the Central Valley, Fresno has no shortage of culture. Book accommodations in downtown Fresno for easy access to the Art Museum and the Kearney Mansion Museum. The Meux Home Museum here is a restored 1889 Victorian home. To peer back in time, consider hotels in Clovis or Herndon for the chance to tour red-bricked Old Town Clovis, featuring antique shops, old-style saloons, and art galleries in an area once famed for lumber production. One industry still going strong is quilting, with live displays at the Mennonite Quilt Center halfway between Fresno and Visalia.

Stay in Clovis in April for its annual Clovis Rodeo, a popular event including live concerts and parades spread over five days. Tickets usually go on sale in January and accommodations in this area should be booked well in advance. Car lovers often choose hotels in Fresno which, along with nearby neighborhoods Clovis and Visalia, welcomes several car shows throughout the year. Hotels near Woodward Park in Fresno are great for attending the annual Shakespeare Festival. Fresno also hosts the largest event in the Central Valley, October's Big Fresno Fair, featuring carnivals, horse racing, and live music.