Whether you're traveling Highway 99, exploring the Sierra Nevada Mountains or dropping the kids off at Fresno State, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find in Fresno. It's the largest city in the Central Valley, and has enough historical sites to warrant its own downtown walking tour.
The biggest draw by far is the Tower District, a happening little 'hood named for the historic Tower Theatre. This is where you come for hip restaurants and bars, as well as galleries, performance spaces and nightclubs. Outside of the Tower District, you can explore wineries around the Madera Wine Trail, take in a minor league sporting event, or visit the Forestiere Underground Gardens.
Many travelers stop in Fresno on their way to one of the many excellent national parks and forests in the area. Yosemite National Park is just one hour north, Kings Canyon is an hour east, and Sequoia – where you can salute General Sherman, the world's largest tree – is about an hour and a half southeast.