4 family-friendly activities to help you welcome spring in FresYes

It’s officially spring! Spring is a favorite season for me because I’m most adventurous at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since the flowers are blooming and the air is clear (shout out to the mountains I forgot about in my backyard!), I’ve compiled a list of things you should do to welcome spring in Fresno.

1. Celebrate spring at the Shinzen Friendship Garden

No one knows how to celebrate a seasonal change like the Shinzen Friendship Garden. Tucked inside Woodward Park, this tranquil gem is home to a large bonsai collection, as well as countless picturesque scenes composed of water and plants.

I’ve mentioned their fall festival in the past, and now the Spring Cultural Faire is coming up soon. On Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can enjoy the spring blooms, participate in a bonsai silent auction, watch a Hmong fashion show, and more! There will be food, beverages, and vendors as well, so bring cash to shop and eat your way through the garden. Plus, if you haven’t seen McLane High School’s Art Venture work yet, their latest project will be on display here.

Admission is $3 for kids 4-14 and $7 for adults. Families are $20, and members get a discount. The complete schedule of events is here. For more information, visit the Shinzen Friendship Garden website here or check out their Facebook event page here.

welcome spring — Bonsai trees at the Shinzen Friendship Garden in Woodward Park

2. Take yourself out to the ball game

Time for peanuts and Cracker Jack! Time to ROOT ROOT ROOT for the home team! Okay, calm down.

Anyway, it’s nearly baseball season and the Fresno Grizzlies’ opening night game will take place Tuesday, April 10 against the Tacoma Rainiers. Not only will there be fireworks after the game, but this opener falls on Taco Tuesday! Expect $2 tacos, churros, and sodas.

There’s no better way to spend a spring evening than under the stars eating a taco and rooting for your favorite team. For tickets (they start at $9) click here, and for more information about the opening night game, check out the Facebook event page here.

3. Say goodbye to winter sports

Perhaps you don’t associate springtime with snow, but thanks to some impressive weather in March, the local ski scene at China Peak is open for business daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Monday, April 2. This might be your last chance to enjoy some skiing.

If you want to double down on fun, the Sequoia Brewing Company Ski Bus is taking its final run for the regular season on April 2. For $49 you can catch a ride to the mountain—it also includes your lift ticket. The bus leaves Sequoia Brewing Company at Champlain and Perrin at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m. For tickets and more information about the SBC bus, click here.

There will be one more special SBC bus run on April 7. The occasion? The 60th anniversary of the resort. You can purchase lift tickets here for special “retro” rates. Although the $5 rates from the 1950s are sold out, there are still some 1998 and 2008 prices available if you hurry. You can follow China Peak on Facebook for current updates and weather conditions on the mountain—just click here.

4. Explore the great outdoors in your own backyard

At FresYes.com, we always like to explore a good hiking trail, and now is a great time to start planning your next adventure. To start, check out 3 Must-See Hiking Trails here. You should probably try to make 2018 the year to see them all.

If you’re looking for hiking a little closer to home, there’s a lot to choose from. You can try mountain biking at Woodward Park (find more information here), a hike along the Hidden Homes Trail (complete with oversize animal homes to visit), or consider a visit to the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery.

I know it sounds a little fishy (heh), but you’ll be hooked once you check out this family friendly, free place. Not only can you see a ridiculous amount of trout and salmon, there’s a fantastic playground (fish-themed of course) and walking trail that is perfect for kids of all ages.

Find out all the details (including my review of the bathroom situation, because I’ve got your back), here.

Of course, this is just scratching the surface of fun spring activities in the 559, but with bonsai trees, baseball, skiing, and fish hatcheries, I think there’s a fair chance something will catch your eye. If not, drop your favorite FresYes spring activity in the comment section.