Fresno, Ca. Trip Report
 

I'm certain that many of you have been waiting in breathless anticipation for a Trip Report to Fresno. First let me say, my expectations were very low. Fresno met my expectations.<BR><BR>On Wesdnesday, the flight leg from Dallas to Fresno on AA was two hours late. We boarded the plan in Dallas, thev deplaned because there was a hydralic problem with the nose wheel (SUPRISE). This one was serious enough that we had to get another aircraft. Of course it was at the complete opposite end of Terminal C from our original gate. We luckily had a plane, but then had to wait for Sky Chefs to stock the food for First Class. Finally 2 hours late, we took off.<BR><BR>Smooth flight to Fresno. As you may or may not know, the Fresno Airport is just about down town. On our approach, the air was so fouled you could barely see the downtown buildings. Could have been Los Angeles.<BR><BR>Picked up my rental car from Budget. The car rental desks are directly across from the baggage claim. Then you have to walk about a mile (it seems) to a lot to pick up your car. That would be a lot of fun in the rain.<BR><BR>I drove the two blocks to my hotel, the Piccadilly Inn Airport. Nice looking property and courteous desk help. Rooms are nicely furnished and large. The downside was you could hear EVERYTHING in the hallways. <BR><BR>I went to the bar and ordered dinner. Their &quot;house specialty&quot; is Baby Back Ribs. I ordered the half-rack. Talk about falling off the bone......The Coleslaw was very good. On a scale of 5, I would rate the dinner a 2.<BR><BR>

Fresno...Part 2<BR><BR>Bright and early Thursday morning I headed downtown to the beautiful Fulton Mall...All I will say is that it is helpful if you speak spanish since just about all the business was aimed at the spanish speaking people.<BR><BR>My business was concluded much earlier than I anticipated, so back to the hotel I went after stopping for needed supplies. I turned the car back and called the hotel for their shuttle. It took forever, but they finally showed up.<BR><BR>I had lunch in the bar. I ordered their version of a Philly Cheese Sandwich. I will admit that the potatoe salad was very good. Another 2 on the 5 scale. The bartenders were very friendly.<BR><BR>Back to the room for some business calls. In the late afternoon, back to the bar for coctail hour. Decided against dinner and went back to the room to watch the very limited tv selection.<BR><BR>Early Friday morning (4:30), caught the hotel shuttle to the airport. Plane left on time and another really smooth flight. <BR>No problems in Dallas this time. The flight from Dallas to Raleigh was actually early.<BR><BR>The best parts of the trip was breaking through the clouds at RDU and seeing real trees and green again, and knowing that I will NEVER have to go to Fresno again.<BR><BR>Fresno Airport (fat) is really a small town type of airport. Most commercial aircraft seem to be regional jets. Not a lot of flights in/out. They still announce arrivals and departures over the PA system!!! The last time I had flown into fat was in the 70s. It hasn't changed.<BR><BR>Curious

Herb Caen once referred to Fresno as &quot;Modesto...without the glitter.&quot;

No offense Curious, but that is probably about the most boring trip report I've ever read. So I guess Fresno was all you expected and less!!<BR>So it's nice to know that you can get good cole slaw and potato salad in Fresno. Have you alerted Zagats??<BR><BR>Too funny, og719. I must remember that one!!!

I thought Stockton was Modesto without the glitz?

CURIOUS you are too funny! Where is the best place to live in fresno?

Patty,<BR><BR>&quot; best place to live in fresno?&quot; That is an oxymoron as far as I'm concerned. But to answer your question, I would suggest you live as far away as possible. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to live in Fresno when there are many other more attractive places in California.<BR><BR>Curious

Sounds like the air quality hasn't changed since I was there more than a decade ago. I think if you like to BREATH, &quot;far away&quot; is the best place to live in Fresno. But as I always like to find a bright side of things, Fresno was an great location from which to take a quick trip up to see Yosemite and the giant redwoods. That was fabulous!

Don't know why you would want to even write a trip report on Fresno, but I can tell you as someone who used to live there that you saw probably the ugliest parts of the city. There is no beautiful skyline, in fact the skyline has stayed the same as far as I can remember, and the Fulton Mall. Outside of it's claim to fame as being the first outdoor mall, it is a depressing place. There was a time, however, that it was a nicer place to go and the center of shopping in Fresno (circa 60's &amp; 70's). The retail mix was much different than it is now. <BR><BR>The government, courts and a few business remain downtown, but Fresno has indeed sprawled north towards the river and aside from the fact that is is an incredibly unfocused city it isn't the worst place in the world.<BR><BR>When I lived there I did consider it airport purgatory, as it offered very few choices.<BR><BR>Air quality, well there was also a time when you could see the mountains that are pretty close. Right after a rain is best for that, but it is a valley and no wind or rain means pollution just sits there.<BR><BR>As for Suericia question, I would live in the Northeast area. Good freeway access and services and schools.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Yeah..no one loves Fresno. People just use our Airport to get to YOSEMITE! Tee hee hee.

Anyway, I've lived here for less than a year and I came from HAWAII! I have family here. Living here is not THAT bad. Air quality is significantly lower but much more opportunity to get out and DO SOMETHING!

You did see the worst part of Fresno, really. The airport has under gone some reconstruction and is better than it use to be.

You should have visited the north area by Woodward Park/River Park. It's a very nice shopping/diner/entertainment area. Even Fig Gardens is nice. You could have visited the Japanese Garden as well in Woodward Park.

Clovis would have been good to see as well. They have a nice historic town with a lot of cute antique shops.

Anyway Fresno/Clovis isn't exactly your tourist town unless you're passing through to the Sierra's or Yosemite. :o)