As I sat and wrote this at the Sea Shanty in Cayucos closing out the Thanksgiving weekend I thought it would be fun to look into the best things about FresYes Outdoors in a Late Show top ten fashion so without further hesitation here we go!
Starting off the list is a FresYes great and one I visited for the first time as a kinder gardener in 1975 ………….
Number 10. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
Every time I visit today with my kids I think back to a simpler time when Nosey was the main attraction and popcorn was under a dollar. Today the Zoo has grown leaps and bounds, popcorn is way more than a buck but the feel and good times are just as great as my first time as a kid and because of that I land the Zoo solidly on this years list.
Number 9. Oso De Oro Park.
A quiet neighborhood park with a top notch play area located in NW FresYes. If you have small kids or just want a place to sit and relax Oso De Oro or Bear Park as my kids always called it is a no brainer as the best small park in FresYes.
Number 8. Woodward Park’s Dog Park
This place is the bow to the wow of dog parks. Set up on a small hill in the north end of the park its an easy walk from the closest Starbucks and the local group of regulars is as colorful as the cast of Cheers. If you don’t have a dog, borrow one, its that fun.
Number 7. River Park Farmers Market
Held on Tuesday nights near the fountain is the Farmers Market. While its not the only game in town it is the only one where you can buy some fresh local grown foods then go see a movie all in the same trip.
Number 6. Christmas Tree Lane – Walking version.
A FresYes tradition dating back to the 20’s is stepped up in fun with the closed to cars walking nights. Its quieter, you see more and people watching is on another level. Dec 2nd………TOMORROW is the first one of the year so don’t miss out.
Number 5. Fresno State Farm Unit.
Have little kids ( or big kids ) and need a close to home destination to entertain them at a low cost? Take them to the Fresno State Farm and you have a ready made field trip and the price of FREE is right on target.
Number 4. Fresno State Football Tailgating.
For every person I meet who has never gone camping I meet at least 5 who have tailgating down to a science with what could be called urban camping by some of the setups I see every year. The RED WAVE brings it in a big way and rain or shine they love their Dogs.
Number 3. Simonian Farms.
From locally grown produce, the collection of old FresYes equipment, monument to the interned Japanese Americans and my wifes favorite the bike collection Simonian Farms is a great stop. When a President visits and gives it his seal of approval it makes it easy for me to do the same.
Number 2. Woodward Park and the Eaton Trail.
I’ve written about both the Trails and the Park before and love them equally which lands them together right near the top of the list and only second because my lists number one so far out performs the rest it was a land slide.
Number 1. The People of FresYes.
Growing up in a small town it was normal to feel like the only person who did an activity or at best one of a very small group. Here in FresYes we have such an amazing collection of outdoors groups that no matter what you are into you can find a group or club to join. If you want to try fly fishing, you have company. Want to ride bike, run, canoe, roller blade, play disc golf, hunt, walk, lay roller derby, bird watch or just about anything else you can find instant friends and expand your FresYes world. While I love the stuff of our fair city it is the people that make FresYes a winner in the outdoors game.
- Invitation to the Ball - November 6, 2015
- Sportsman’s Warehouse, the New Kid In Town - July 20, 2015
- The Freewheel Project - July 13, 2015
I certainly enjoy the initiative taken in writing this. I would also add the vineyard farmers market, Gazebo Gardens with the beer garden and line of food trucks, forestiere underground gardens, & the Shinzen Garden (Japanese garden in Woodward) to the list of fun outdoor things in Fresno.
Zion, All great additions and a few of them are targets for the next few weeks. Stay tuned!