Fresno Weekend with the Kids

If you are looking for a good place to take the kids for a weekend--maybe even a good place to layover on your way back from Yosemite--think about staying in Fresno. Fresno is only a couple of hours from Yosemite so it would be a good place to stop and freshen up after fighting the mobs of tourists in the valley. Besides, Fresno has lots of fun, cheap activities for the kids. Get refreshed at the Island Waterpark, visit Storyland and the Zoo, or just kick back a bit and swim in the pool at the Residence Inn Marriot.

This hotel is great for families. This hotel is clean, a good deal for the money, has all the amenities like pool, spa etc., and offers rooms with full kitchens (or kitchenettes) that allow for families to eat at "home" to save money.
This adorable amusement park with a Mother Goose theme, has 13 rides, just enough for the little ones. There is a choo choo train to ride, paddle boats, carousal and more. Purchase a wristband and the kids can ride all day. This is an inexpensive day of fun.
French-fry servings are humongous so consider sharing.
Hey, admission to the Fresno zoo is $3.50 for kids and seniors (over 62) and $7 for adults. You really can't beat those prices for a day of zoo fun. This is a very nicely landscaped zoo with a rain forest area in the center. They have interactive educational activities for kids too.
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This water slide park is a great place to take the kids on a hot Fresno day. In addition to the slides they have the "lazy river" which is a shallow water "river" that flows in a circle for cooling and playing. One day at the Island for 3 people will cost around $39, parking included. Good deal!
OK, this is for a special night out that is more for mom and dad but the kids will appreciate it too. They serve incredible gourmet dishes like Fillet Mignon Wrapped in Applewood Bacon and delicious pasta dishes the kids might prefer. Entrees are $30 or under.
You really can't beat those prices for a day of zoo fun.
This is a great spot for barbecue, tri-tip sandwiches, ribs, and buffalo wings. French-fry servings are humongous so consider sharing. Most Entrees here are under $10. More
This is a great spot for barbecue, tri-tip sandwiches, ribs, and buffalo wings. French-fry servings are humongous so consider sharing. Most Entrees here are under $10.
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About the Author

Jana Lane
Jana Lane
I am the Vice President of an international, non-profit conservation organization, Save the Turtles, Inc. My eight years as a hands-on VP has provided me with plenty of experience writing web content, proposals, ad copy, brochures, fliers, promotional material, letters of inquiry (the list could go on and on.) Writing for Save the Turtle's website has provided me with great exposure to the concepts and practices of SEO. It seems that we have done rather well as our Google ranking is most often number one on the page. Although, I am still on the board of Save the Turtles and every bit as passionate about saving endangered species as ever, I am currently also enjoying another incarnation as a freelance writer. I love, love, love writing travel blogs! Lately, I have been writing for Uptake.com. and Mynatour, an eco-travel site based in London. I have also written an number of articles for other sites covering such wide-ranging topics as health, food, real estate, and science. My goal, with each writing assignment, is to match each clients individual needs by writing with an appropriate "voice" and level of readability for each unique, target audience. Please feel free to scroll and read!
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