Balanced Books

Nature lovers will not want to miss the chance to explore Woodward Regional Park. This 300-acre park is home to a number of attractions. It has a multi-use amphitheatre, an authentic Japanese Garden, an extensive trail system, three children's playgrounds, a fenced dog park and several bodies of water.

Get fresh fruit and veggies grown with minimal chemical and pesticide use from Sumner Peck Ranch, just a few minutes outside of Fresno. Purchase from the fruit stands or go out into the fields and choose your own. Pick a variety of in-season foods including cherries, grapes, oranges, apples, jalapenos, lettuce, peppers, squash or pecans. Honey from the farm's hives is also available.

Experience Japan without leaving the States when you visit the authentic Shinzen Japanese Garden. This garden features Japanese architecture incorporated into the meticulously kept landscape. View the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. Stop by the Tea Garden to witness a tea ceremony. Experience outdoor tranquility by the koi pond. Join in one of the many cultural festivities hosted in the garden throughout the year.

Admire the architecture of the historical Meux Home Museum from the outside, and head inside for a one hour tour of this preserved and restored Victorian middle-class residence. The home was built in 1888 for Civil War doctor and surgeon Dr. Meux and was passed on through his family for generations. Fresno's oldest dwelling is a piece of history that's open for you to explore.