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Fresno, California
The city of FRESNO lies in the midst of it all...only 90 minutes south of Yosemite National Park, and 2 hours north of SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST...nightlife rages downtown in the Tower District...and weekend outings in the SIERRA NEVADAS are only 1 hour away...just 3 hours from San Francisco and four hours north of LOS ANGELES...Fresno is in the HEART of it all...
Japanese Garden at Woodward Park |
Sequoia National Park |
Huntington Lake in the Sierra Nevada's |
Yosemite National Park |
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The Community: Fresno's metropolitan area has a population of more than 460,000 and yet it maintains a friendly "big town" feeling. Cultural events are numerous and feature such groups as the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Fresno Arts Center, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum and several live theater organizations. The popular Tower District located downtown (surrounding the Tower Theatre which is now used for concerts) offers many pubs, restaurants, espresso cafes and small jazz clubs that add to Fresno's night life. The community is proud of Fresno State and enthusiastically supports many of the university's programs, whether they are sports, the arts, academic competitions or other special events.
Recreation: Fresno is the only place in the nation within an easy drive of three national parks - Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Therefore, it isn't surprising that much of Fresno State's recreational and social life centers around the outdoors. Fresno is also centrally located within the state, making drives to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey or Los Angeles easy. Fresno is only three hours south of San Francisco, two hours east of Santa Cruz and Monterey and four hours from the city of Los Angeles.
Boating, fishing, water skiing and windsurfing at one of the six nearby lakes are popular activities during the spring and summer. Winter recreation includes downhill skiing and cross-country skiing at nearby Sierra Summit or Badger Pass in the beautiful Sierra Mountains.
All year round, nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts can choose from a variety of parks to visit while in Fresno. One favorite haven is Lost Lake Park. Only 24 miles northeast of Fresno, Lost Lake boasts a 70-acre primitive nature study area and a 38-acre lake. Recently, a part of the park was filled with 70,000 tons of sand to create seven volleyball courts.
In addition to an extensive intramural program, on-campus recreation includes a series of current films, drama productions and concerts ranging from rock to jazz to classical. The annual Vintage Days celebration and a number of university receptions, winetastings, art festivals and the University Lecture Series are among the many events open to the public. Informal meeting places such as the University Student Union and the Satellite Student Union are visited by students throughout the day and evening.
