See a different side to California in Fresno County

While California’s glittering shores and iconic coastal cities attract millions of visitors, there’s a gold mine of treasures hiding in plain sight within the Central Valley. Fresno County offers a different side to life in the Golden State, one that enjoys the hum of city life, alongside several fascinating experiences within a surprisingly varied landscape.

From a sublime food scene using fresh produce from the world’s fruit basket heartland to one of California’s most underrated National Parks, Fresno County is an ideal base for exploring a unique corner of a state you thought you knew. Here are some of Fresno County’s highlights:

With a population of over 550,000, Fresno is California’s fifth largest city, yet one of its main attractions couldn’t feel further from city life. Inspired by the catacombs of ancient Rome, the Forestiere Underground Gardens are a hand-chiseled subterranean network of tunnels, chambers and grottos spanning 10 acres. They were the brainchild of Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who found the Central Valley’s summers a little too hot for his liking, so he spent 40 years from 1906 to his death in 1946 carving out these stunning underground gardens with their own microclimate.

Citrus and berry trees – some of which are over 100 years old – reach through the skylights and make this a magical place to wander and appreciate, especially when you feel the cooler temperatures below the surface and see what Forestiere was thinking when he crafted this special place on the west side of Fresno.

Farmland is often what defines the Central Valley, but in Fresno County its eastern edges transform into a place for the adventurer. Flanked by the soaring Sierra Nevada Mountains, Kings Canyon National Park is formed of ancient sequoia forests, verdant trails, monumental rock formations and rushing rivers beneath crystalline skies. It’s also home to one of the deepest canyons in North America, with its dizzying walls rising 2,500m from river to rim.

Yet despite peaks reaching heights of 4,300 m, this remains one of California’s quieter national parks. Follow the short 30-minute Grant Tree Trail to get a glimpse of the immense General Grant Tree, the world’s second-largest sequoia tree at 32.8 m. So for a single day hike, this gorgeous park at the end of Highway 180 shouldn’t be missed.

If iconic sights like El Capitan are on your bucket list, then Fresno County also doubles up as a handy base to explore more popular parks like Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. Both can be driven to in just 90 minutes from Fresno, and staying in quiet Fresno County means returning to a serene home after visiting one of California’s most famous landscapes.

Though for even more convenience, Authentic Adventures Central California offer guided hiking tours from Fresno into the National Parks of Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite, with the driving, parking and reservations already arranged for guests. These widescreen locations are huge and can feel intimidating for first-timers, but their experienced guides quell any anxiety and lead their guests through the most spectacular parts at all times of the year. And for those who want to feel fully immersed, their Three-Day National Park Tour hits all three in one unforgettable, three-day trip returning to Fresno each night.

With nearly 200 million acres of farmland growing around 300 different types of crops, Fresno County basks in a Mediterranean climate that creates some of the world’s finest produce, including peaches, nuts, grapes and stone fruits.

So with an agricultural setting like this, each season offers something new. From mid-February to mid-March, the Fresno County Blossom Trail is a colourful 112km tour of events, fruits, farms and breweries in a bright blooming landscape, while from mid-May to early August, the Fresno County Fruit Trail brings not only tastings of wonderfully fresh cherries, plums and apricots, but also the chance to meet the farmers themselves.

Drop by family farms like Simonian Farms, before attending the twice-weekly Vineyard Farmers Market where stalls overflow with locally produced artisan bread, olive oil, honey and chocolate. Over in the town of Clovis, the Old Town Clovis Farmers Market is a local favourite, especially on Friday nights where lively music performances add to the atmosphere.

There are few better corners of America for farm-to-fork eating than Fresno County. The north side of Fresno is blessed with some fine spots, including fresh seasonal Americana at Heirloom, while over at Westwood BBQ there’s sliced brisket, baby back ribs and almost anything else you can throw over a flame. There are global flavours here too, with Tandoori Night bringing a fiery taste of authentic Indian cuisine.

To continue the journey into Fresno’s diverse palette, head to the fringes of downtown where breezy Southern soul food spots like Chef Paul’s Cafe hide in plain sight. Don’t miss traditional Japanese mochi rice cakes at Kogetsu-Do, either.

And with Fresno County producing grapes for 1 in 5 wine glasses served in California, it would be remiss not to drop by a couple of vineyards. Inspired by Croatia’s Dalmatian region, the spirit of Europe flows through the wine produced at Ziveli Winery, while the pastoral setting of Engelmann Cellars is perfect for live music and a glass of their Cabernet Sauvignon.