Located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno offers the amenities of a large city, combined with the benefits of a more intimate community. Here, you can enjoy great shopping and fine dining one day—and a neighborhood block party the next—complete with an old fashioned lemonade stand. With a population of more than 420,000, Fresno offers a rich, cultural mix of more than 90 different nationalities.

Fresno is truly a melting pot, which enables residents to enjoy spending time with people from various backgrounds and virtually all walks of life. The symphony, local theater companies, music and dance productions add a good dose of culture and the arts, providing many options for those who are artistically inclined. Surrounded by three national parks, Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, Fresno is within comfortable driving distance to San Francisco, the California Coast and the Los Angeles area. Being so close to so much in Fresno means your biggest obstacle will be deciding which day trip to choose—and what to do when you get there.