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Parks, Gardens & Retreats

Squaw Valley Herb Gardens

Bring your senses alive. Immerse yourself in nature's aromatherapy in beautiful, rustic landscapes featuring hundreds of herbs and a hillside of lavender. Established in 1984 by two artists and featured on PBS "California Heartland" and "Gardening by the Yard". Rosemary Nightingale & Tim Friesen invite you to book a tour to their private home and gardens. Rosemary lectures at the San Francisco & Seattle Flower & Garden Shows. The gardens feature Tim's unique art, etched stones, hand-lettered signs, bamboo creations and herb carts. Your tour includes: a guided walk; garden theater with fascinating history, demonstrations and tastings; and a light herbal inspired lunch. 

Located 30 miles east of Fresno and 20 miles west of Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks.
Available by advance reservations - $10-$45 per person based on tour type

Open Saturdays March through September.

Gift Shop & Organic Herb Nursery.

559-332-2909
800-579-8043

For more information visit:
www.squawvalleyherbgardens.com

Clovis Botanical Garden

The Clovis botanical Garden is a place to relax, bring the family and enjoy plants that thrive in Clovis.  The garden is filled with intriguing landscapes, water-wise trees, herbs, native California plants and aromatic shrubs from the Mediterranean. 

The garden is located at 945 N. Clovis Ave., north of Alluvial and south of Nees

Open to the public Thursday-Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons, closed when temperatures reach 100 degrees.  No admission fee.

559-298-3091

For more information visit:
www.clovisbotanicalgarden.org

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Take a subterranean journey to the Mediterranean – in the middle of California. Beneath the hot arid surface of the San Joaquin Valley, Baldasare Forestiere (1879-1946) began sculpting a fantastic retreat in the early 1900s.  Excavating the hardpan by hand, he created a unique complex of underground rooms, passageways, and gardens that ramble throughout a 10.5 acre parcel.
Forestiere spent 40 years sculpting this amazing underground complex. The site consists of interconnecting subterranean rooms, patios and courtyards with stonework and building techniques patterned after the ancient catacombs.  Explore his five-room underground home, the auto tunnel running the length of the gardens and the multilevel aquarium.  Forestiere adorned these areas with a unique variety of fruit-producing trees, including strawberry, mulberry, date palm, olive, quince, persimmon, and citrus bearing several kinds of fruit on a single tree.

Located at 5021 W. Shaw Ave., just two blocks east of Highway 99.

Guided tours of this state landmark are available Thursday through Sunday, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Closed December, January & February for maintenance

559-271-0734

For more information visit:
www.undergroundgardens.com

Kearney Park

Fresno County’s first park encompasses 240 acres on Kearney Boulevard, seven miles west of Fresno.  Located in the park is Kearney Mansion Museum.

 

Picnic facilities, including a group reservation area, are available for public use. 

Sport facilities include soccer fields, horseshoe pits, two softball fields and four playground areas.

$5 fee per car.

559-488-3004

For more information on the Kearney Mansion visit:
www.valleyhistory.org

Lost Lake Recreation Area

Attractions in this area 19 miles north of Fresno below Friant Dam include a 70-acre nature-study area and a lake. 

The day-use area ($5 entrance fee per car)

Includes picnic facilities with one group area, a softball field, playgrounds and a volleyball facility. 

A campground is available for a fee of $18 per campsite $9 for senior citizens) per night. 

Group reservations are available with a minimum of 10 vehicles.

For more info call:
559-488-3004

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area and Friant Dam


 

On Saturdays and Sundays during the months of January and February, take a boat ride aboad our barge for a guided tour to observe bald eagles and other wildlife.  Reservations accepted as of Nov. 1 for upcoming year. 

559-822-2332

For more information on Friant Dam visit:
www.usbr.gov

Fore more information on Millerton Lake visit:
www.parks.ca.gov

Regional Sports Complex

This Regional Sports Complex is 110 acres of baseball, softball and soccer dream land.

Regional Sports Complex has the only Vert Ramp open to the public in the Valley.  (42ft wide, 13ft tall, with an 18ft roll-in).

Located at 1707 W. Jensen Ave., Fresno

It offers nine soccer/football fields, two of which are champion size, six baseball fields, a paintball field, picnic benches, restrooms and a pond.

There is an entry fee of $3-$5 per vehicle.
559-621-6720

For more information visit:
www.fresno.gov

Roeding Park

This 157-acre park features the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Playland and Storyland, a dog park, tennis courts, two lakes, boat rentals, barbecues, picnic areas, playgrounds and fishing. 

Belmont and Hwy 99

Open daily
$3 admission per car.
559-621-2900

For more information visit:
www.fresno.gov

Shinzen Friendship Garden


Located in Woodward Park, the garden features an authentic teahouse, koi pond, Ume Grove, streams and waterfalls, double moon bridge and meditation areas.

559-621-2900

For more information visit:
www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org

St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center

Located in the foothills near Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, majesty meets serenity.  Within the rolling hills of this 272-acre estate, a beautiful Byzantine monastery and cathedral lie near a tranquil lake and historic barn. Lodging and dining are available.

559-338-2103

For more information visit:
www.stnicholasranch.org

Woodward Park


Photo: Shinzen Japanese Garden in Woodward Park

This 300-acre park and bird sanctuary features picnic shelters, playgrounds, a dog park, BMX complex, a lake, disc golf, Japanese Gardens, the Rotary Amphitheatre and trails.

Audobon and Friant.

Open daily, $3-$5 fee per car.
559-621-2900

For more information visit:
www.fresno.gov

Wonder Valley Ranch Resort & Conference Center

Nestled in the Sierra foothills next to the Kings River, minutes from Fresno, Pine Flat Dam and Sequoia/Kings Canyon national parks. Resort-style accommodations and full-service conference and retreat facilities. Abundant on-site recreation.

800-821-2801 or visit
www.wondervalley.com

 
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