I need some information on Fresno, California. Cali GCers, please help!

[phisigduchesscv]

As everyone said - it is going to be HOT in Fresno but it also depends on where she's coming from in the first place (ie Phoenix or Maine, etc).

It definitely isn't small and rural (okay rural compared to Los Angeles). If your sister is an outdoorsy type then she's within driving distance not only of Yosemite but also Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks (The trees are huge there). It's also central to much of California and only a few hours drive to LA, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and the rest of the coast, Sacramento etc. I'm not sure how far from Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada but probably not that far.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by AYE FEE
Out of curiousity, which hospital had offered her a job??

AYE FEE!
I just heard back from my sister! Everything is still very preliminary, so she does not know what hospital just yet (I assume it's all being set up by an agency).
She is still checking the dates to make sure that she is available for the times that they want her.

Once again, thank you to all of you who replied. It's very helpful and so kind & generous of you all!

[treblk]

and everything AYE FEE said about this city is correct. But the one thing I have to mention, and I know I sent Cutiepie2000 a PM, is that Fresno is really a college town. The city is really devoted to the school, it comes out in droves to the stadium for football games and other games, and tail-gating is the thing to do. Fraternities and Sororities are big in Frenso, there is Fraternity row off Cedar and Barstow.

If you love fruits, then Fresno is the place for you. The university has it's own farm and farmers market (the best grapes this side fo the yosemity(ms) ), it even makes it's own alcohol (and you can take a wine tasting class..I did ) It is just like a big city, the only reason it looks rural is because it's FLAT.

Fresno has some beautiful HUGE homes that cost more money then a little bit , during x-mas, you can drive down Candel Stick Lane. The Fresno fair brings out the family in everyone, the Fresno Relays are very fun, and all the concerts that university sponsers adds some class and cluture to the city. (why do I sound like a PR person for Fresno

I think your sister will like it.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by treblk
If you love fruits, then Fresno is the place for you. The university has it's own farm and farmers market (the best grapes this side fo the yosemity(ms) ), it even makes it's own alcohol (and you can take a wine tasting class..I did ) It is just like a big city, the only reason it looks rural is because it's FLAT.

I think your sister will like it.

My sister definitely likes fruit so it sounds like the place for her.
The wine tasting sounds pretty good too! I think she'll like that

I have been busy copying and pasting what y'all wrote to me and bombarding my sister with emails about Fresno!

[AYE FEE]

Treblk -
What chapter were you in at FSU? How long ago did you go there?

CutiePie2000 -
I agree about the 'college town' personality of Fresno - a lot of people who attend the school were born and raised there (as do their friends), so there are a lot of strong family/friend ties. The tailgates are really fun, and most the football games & basketball games are sell-outs.

My mom works with the Fresno-Madera Medical Society (a society of health care professionals in the area, and a major provider of continuing education programs) so I can give you a lot of information about the hospital she will be going to.

AYE FEE

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by AYE FEE
My mom works with the Fresno-Madera Medical Society (a society of health care professionals in the area, and a major provider of continuing education programs) so I can give you a lot of information about the hospital she will be going to.

Cool! Right now, everything is still very preliminary, but when there are further developments, I'll be sure to get in touch! Thanks.

[CarolinaCutie]

I guess it all depends on what you're used to...

I've been to Fresno. And I am quite sure I went into the "ghetto" parts. Pretty scary, if you ask me. However, there were other parts of the city that looked very nice.

From what I saw, Fresno and the South are two different worlds. I'm sure California is very nice but I really could never live in Fresno. There's not really a lot of trees... actually it was all very brown and boring. There's quite a bit of smog... and the people just didn't seem all that nice to me.

Everyone else has had lovely things to say about Fresno, so maybe my experience was just not very good.

Funny story... on the plane ride there, the lady asked me where I was going (was flying into SF). I told her Fresno and her face sort of fell. She asked if I had ever been anywhere else in California, and I told her no. She said, "Well please don't judge this state on your visit... Fresno is like the butthole of California!"

I don't want to discourage but I thought I'd give a different side of the story!

[AYE FEE]

That's pretty much the reputation Fresno (actually most of the Central Valley) has - the 'armpit' of California or what have you. There are cities with a lot of culture here (LA and SF) that makes Fresno a little boring in comparison, but I don't question my parent's decision to make a home there!

(CarolinaCutie - You must have been downtown; when I moved to the SF Bay Area, I couldn't believe the lack of trees here because I was so used to being in an area with such an abundance in Fresno)

Again I know I am biased, but what can I do

[josh8o]

hey
my sister was a theta at fresno state, and she now works for the university. i have been there a few times to visit her. fresno is not really a touristy place (my opinion). but it's nice. the weather is very warm in the summer. there are a lot of different restaurants and they always seem to be building something new...like shoping centers. the university is nice too, my great uncle used to be head of viniculture (sp?) or wine making if i completely spelled that wrong. fresno students make their own wine too...and it has won some awards. anyway, if you have any specific questions i can ask my sister.

[navane]

Ok, I don't want to attract the wrath of any Fresno-lovin' people, but I did want to add my viewpoint.

I've never been to Fresno itself, so I can't comment on the city - that wouldn't be fair. However, I have been to other nearby Central California locations such as Bakersfield, Tulare and Visalia a few times. When I think of that region of California, I think of the phrase "middle of nowhere". It seems so flat, brown and uninteresting. Like CarolinaCutie, I too noticed the lack of trees. Drive along the southern stretches of the 99 for a while - it's kinda surreal.

On a related note, my car once broke down on the way to San Fransisco. Where did it break down? Firebaugh. That has to be a grand prize finalist for the Middle-O-Nowhere awards.

Anyway, CP2000, just make sure that your sister understands that she's not going to be "near" the ocean or something, k? I think that a lot of people have an image in their mind of what California should look like - Fresno won't fit that bill at all.

Try looking at these websites if you haven't already:

http://www.ci.fresno.ca.us/

http://www.fresnocvb.org/

.....Kelly

[navane]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU


And if you are averse to being called or implied that you are a 'person of size' you will not like the airport code for Fresno -- it's FAT (Fresno Air Terminal). (Seriously, it is FAT!)

Actually, that's no longer correct. The Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) is now called the Fresno Yosemite International Airport and, thus, carries the airport code - "FYI".



.....Kelly

[DELTAQTE]

Man I wish I could have seen this thread earlier! lol

Anyway my soror TreBlk really summed Fresno up but I just wanted to add:

YES it does get hot! In the summer, expect it to get to over 110 at times, and yes it can get humid. If she can't handle heat, I would seriously tell your sister to maybe visit somewhere else for the summer.

Fresno has grown SO FAST in the past 10 years. In 2-3 years, we will reach a million in our population. A lot of people move here from the big city for a few reasons:


1. To raise a family
if you want to have a backyard for your kids to play in and good schools, then come to Fresno. Very family oriented

2. Cost of living!
Compared to other places, Fresno can't be beat. My rent just got raised and now I'm paying.....400 a month(oh it's breaking me, lol) I live right across from the college in an excellent area. I know many people who buy a house here and have a job in San Francisco and travel EVERY DAY back and forth to their job because they can't afford to live there.

3. Location
We are neither north or south cali, we are CENTRAL california. It is so great to be able to travel only 2,3,4 hours to the nearest big cities, have your fun, and come back to the home town feel of Fresno.

4. Entertainment
Can I say when I was younger Fresno really truly had nothing to do. Now we have a lot of things to do here. Dance Clubs, Comedy clubs, cookouts, going to the park, zoo, etc I could go on and on. If you are from a big city where there is something to do every second on the day, I suggest you not move here, because we are not THAT fast paced. We have come a long way, but we are not the end all be all of an entertainment city. But it's fun nonetheless.

Yes we have bad areas but what place doesn't? If we were so bad, we wouldn't of been dubbed one of 2000 "All American Cities"! We are very proud of that title because we still carry tradition(kinda country, lots of cows, etc) but we are very modern as well.


QTE

[treblk]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AYE FEE
[B]Treblk -
What chapter were you in at FSU? How long ago did you go there?


I was in Fresno from 92 - 98. memeber of Delta Sigma Theta. But my Soror DeltaQte and everyone else has given you much of Fresno.

Like any other city, Fresno has it's not-so-nice side. But if your from a very sheltered suburb, then any place that isn't home will be a bit scary. Fresno is a lot tamer then most cities in CA.