Lively Attractions In Fresno
Nicknamed the Raisin Capital of the World, the sixth largest city in California and the county seat of Fresno County, Fresno California is an important center for local government. Its economy was mainly agriculture based but it has an industrial core now in food processing, engineering and medical technology. Its proximity to Los Angeles and the Yosemite National Park brings constant tourists through the city. It's well worth a visit for itself, with many cultural pursuits available. There are several parks in the area, including zoological gardens. Kearney Park is the site used for the annual Civil War re-enactment. The Forestiere Underground Gardens is an eccentric subterranean labyrinth of courtyards and passages with attractive fruit trees. Fresno California has other unusual claims to fame. The city established the first ever modern landfill site in America in 1937, namely the Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill. It had a pioneering waste disposal technique. After its closure in 1987, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Art and music are greatly respected in the city. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum houses permanent and temporary exhibitions and organizes lectures. It also has an impressive Science Center. The permanent collection contains more than 3,000 works of art, including a Native American collection and a display of Ansel Adams Californian landscape photographs. There is also an arts and crafts section with Japanese porcelain. The Fresno Art Museum displays art, presents art house films and organizes poetry readings. Arte Americas celebrates Hispanic tradition with performing arts and art exhibits. This gives the Latino community the opportunity to celebrate its cultural heritage. Music lovers in Fresno California are fortunate in having the Fresno Philharmonic orchestra. The Fresno Grand Opera has an international reputation for its opera productions and concerts. The advertised program for the 2006-2007 season includes a concert given by Audra McDonald, a production of Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, Rossini's Cinderella and Puccini's Manon Lescaut. Sports fans are not forgotten. The Save Mart Center is a recently built 18,000 seat indoor arena, which plays host to basketball, ice hockey and professional wrestling. It also is the venue for concerts and attracts iconic acts such as the Rolling Stones. The city has re-invented itself for the 21st century, without losing sight of its cultural roots. There are fine modern amenities and artistic centers alongside a desire for the wide open spaces. Industry has supplemented the declining agricultural prospects of the area and Fresno California would appear to have a rosy future. |