Did you know tourism touches many industries? We chatted with some of the incredible local businesses that make our community special for visitors to our area. Meet some of the people that make Fresno County the incredible place it is. They shared their stories, how tourism shapes their journey, and what makes Fresno County a unique slice of California. As we close out Tourism Month, dive into the authentic California experience through their eyes and don’t miss out on your chance to explore and enjoy all the amazing opportunities Fresno County has to offer for visitors (and locals)!
Evelyn from Mi Cafesito
Tell us about your business.
We are Mi Cafesito. We specialize in Latin American coffee beans and flavors. We want to bring a little bit of Latin American culture to our immigrant population and to those that haven't been to Latin America so that they have some exposure to it.
How do you think tourism has affected your business?
We had a lot of people say we saw you on the Visit Fresno County [Instagram account} and we wanted to stop by. So it's very cool because we have had people from San Jose that came and they tried [our coffee] and said [our shop] has a good community. We had visitors from Los Angeles say they also saw us on Tiktok and they said 'We have to come and see it. We love coffee.' Customers have liked the fact that one person can have their Mexican coffee and the other person can have their Handuras coffee at the same place.
What are some of your favorite spots in Fresno County?
I love Forestiere Underground Gardens. I love Shinzen Japanese Garden. I like places where I can go and relax and let go of stress that I have. I like to go to places where I can sit down and clear my head. For restaurants, we have so many to try. We have Mexican food, Mediterranean food. It's amazing. I'm very big on small businesses. As a small business myself, I know the struggle. I try to eat as much as I can at [locally-owned restaurants]. I like Las Mananitas. When I don't want to cook myself, that's where I go to get my chilaquiles. Guadalajara Restaurant is another one that's been favorite for us for a long time. El Premio Mayer is my favorite taco place. The Big Fresno Fair is another thing you can't miss.
Are there any known places in Fresno County that you think people should know more about?
Woodward Park has many things to do. Another thing that I've always wanted to try is seeing a show at Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater where they do a play and eat dinner. The farmers markets are also nice to do so you can walk and buy some fruits. I like that you can get fresh fruits there and meet the people who are growing them and selling them to you.
Dallas from Solace Lavender Farm
Tell us about your business.
We are Solace Lavender Farm in Kerman. We're trying to offer a little something different for Fresno County doing lavender and making it a u-pick experience that you can come to our farm. I think a lot of people who are around Fresno see the agriculture and see the fields but not everyone gets the chance to set foot on a farm. We see that as a role that we can play giving people a space to connect with the agriculture and the soil and what's growing in it.
How do you think tourism has affected your business?
Local agritourism has really gotten us off the ground over the last couple of years. We weren't even sure we would start out that way. We weren't sure if we would offer u-pick right away but we decided to offer it it to see if anyone would show up. Would only ten people show up? Would 100 people? Then it was much bigger than that. It really got us off the ground and made it something we can keep doing.
What's something you would want visitors to know about agritourism?
I think people who are coming in to visit Fresno County, I hope they leave appreciating the agricultural communities but also the soil itself. It's some of the most fertile soil in the world. I hope that they're able to see the diversity of what we can grow here. Our little input of lavender is an element that most people don't see.
What do you think sets Fresno County apart from other places?
I think people who are coming in to visit Fresno County, I hope they leave appreciating the agricultural communities but also the soil itself. It's some of the most fertile soil in the world. I hope that they're able to see the diversity of what we can grow here. Our little input of lavender is an element that most people don't see. I think the diversity of what we have to offer. Everything from the mountains and the trees and the national parks nearby to down in the valley like these small family farms. I think there's a lot of places just within Fresno County where folks can find something unique and interesting.
What are some of your favorite spots in Fresno County?
My favorite restaurant is probably Mochuelo. I like the tapas style and it's just quality food. it's something different and there aren't a lot of places like that. I really like the coffee shop at Bab Al-Yemen Cafe. My family also likes going to Woodward Park and Forestiere Underground Gardens.
Alexis from Authentic Adventures Central California
Tell us about your business.
My business is Authentic Adventures Central California and I do national park tours to Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. Our role in the community is to get people here. When I get my guests they don't know that we're near all three [parks]. It's been really fun to do that and bring awareness to Fresno.
How do you think tourism has affected your business?
A ton. I came from a healthcare background. My bachelor's [degree] is in recreation management and tourism but I did the therapy route so I was in a therapy mindset for years. Tourism is a whole other beast which I really enjoy. I like how the tourism community is very collaborative and very friendly and welcoming. There's competition but there's not. People aren't trying to take business from you, they want to help and give tips. It's been a great way to grow my business and meet a ton of people.
In what ways does your business benefit visitors to Fresno County?
It helps gives them access to the parks they want to see. A lot of the visitors I get are nervous about driving in the mountains and the parks are so big they don't know where to start. So they come knowing that I take care of everything for them. They're able to enjoy their vacation and really see the parks without having to plan everything. I try to get them to do other things in Fresno while they're here too such as visiting the underground gardens and farmers markets.
What do you think sets Fresno County apart from other places?
We're a bigger city that's so close to three parks. That's really awesome so people can do more things here and there's access to more restaurants, more places to stay and more outdoor rec.
What are some of your favorite spots in Fresno County?
Kings Canyon is my favorite park to take people to. A lot of people don't know about it and a lot of people bypass it to go to Sequoia National Park. It's been nice to show them this park that has giant trees, a massive canyon and meadows. You get kind of a mix of Sequoia and Yosemite in one park. I love taking people to Heirloom. The food is really good. I love Old Town Clovis because it's very walkable and there are a lot of great restaurants and shops. The Annex Kitchen is another great place as well as Annesso Pizzeria. The San Joaquin River Parkway is a great place to go. There are tons of walking trails and you can go kayaking. Shinzen Japanese Garden is also really great.
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