What To Do

WHY DINUBA SHOULD BE YOUR BASE WHILE VACATIONING IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Fill your vacation with nonstop things to do,

good food and a safe, nice place to stay

– all family friendly and affordable –

Dinuba, a small town friendly island of tranquility, has everything its larger neighbors to the north (Fresno) and south (Visalia) have except major crime, environmental degradation, traffic jams and all the other nightmares people go on vacation to escape. The best part if you are looking for a base from which to explore the San Joaquin Valley, National Parks and all the fun and beauty California has to offer is that Dinuba is smack dab in the center of everything locally, as well as being 205 miles from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

While other communities advertise:

thousands of hotel rooms (expensive);
mega convention centers (filled with harried business people);
gourmet restaurants (expensive with waits up to two hours);
rapid transit systems (needed to bypass clogged streets);

Dinuba is proud of:

100 upscale “motel” rooms
the absence of hordes of impersonal faces from big cities
many ethnically diverse restaurants quickly serving delicious, inexpensive foods the whole family will love
no need for a large transit system, much less a costly rapid one that is always late and designed to carry the “masses” to places you wouldn’t be safe and wouldn’t want to go.

If you are vacationing from somewhere other than the San Joaquin Valley, you probably have limited time and want to do as much sightseeing as possible. Location, location, location applies to tourism as well as real estate. While in the Valley, you must see Kings Canyon National Park (35 miles and less than 1.0 hours from Dinuba), Sequoia National Park (65 miles and less than 1.5 hours from Dinuba) and possibly Yosemite National Park (120 miles and much less than 3.0 hours from Dinuba). The fact you probably do not know, is that you should also see and experience the extraordinary sites, events and adventures listed below. If you are a family from a big city, these are MUST SEE tourist attractions that will educate, inspire and bring the family together beyond your wildest imagination (Ralph H. Hinds, Executive Director, Dinuba Chamber of Commerce, providing personal testimony).

I, Ralph H. Hinds, start by providing a list of events that will enhance your vacation. These are all easily accessible as day trips from Dinuba, i.e., you move into one nice room; unpack once; receive good service because the “motel” staff has become your friend; get the hang of the pool diving board; eat at ten different good, inexpensive restaurants; and avoid the dreaded - “are we there yet?” - because the children will know where they are staying each night and be at home in Dinuba. You then take (or do not take as you please) day trips, have picnics, explore new horizons and bond with your family. If this vision does not materialize, you frog march the whole brood into the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce, 210 North “L” street, Dinuba, CA 93618 (559) 591-2707, and demand that Mr. Hinds himself explain how to make it happen. Even if everything is far beyond your expectations as predicted by me, Ralph H. Hinds, please stop by for a small town chat (it is amazing what you need to know about tree fruit, the weather and the benefits of going to school, living and working in Dinuba).

The event schedule is followed by a simple list of places you and your family might want to experience. One or two destinations may not be adventurous, educational or fun, but Mr. Hinds bets that your family will skip the losers and only visit the winners.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO - EASY DAY TRIPS FROM DINUBA -
Dinuba is an island in a sea of vineyards, orchards and farms. You will pass many fresh fruit stands on your way to any of these exciting places. Be warned that the juices explode from fruit picked ripe on the day you sink your teeth into it. You will not soon forget this wonderful experience (or the sticky hands).

ADVENTURE & ECO-TOURISM

Coke Hallowell Center For River Studies, 11605 Old Friant Road, Fresno, CA 93720 (559) 248-8480

Fort Roosevelt - A Wildlife Adventure, 870 W. Davis, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-8970

Hogwallow Preserve (Near Exeter, CA), 301 E. Acequia Street, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 738-3435

Kings River Expeditions (White Water Rafting), 211 N. Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93701 (559) 233-4881

Mendota Wildlife Refuge, PO Box 37, Mendota, 93640 (559) 655-4645

Millerton Bald Eagle Tours Millerton Lake, 5290 Millerton Road, Friant, CA 93626 (559) 822-2332

San Joaquin River Parkway / Canoe Trips, 1550 E. Shaw, Ste. 114, Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 248-8480

AMUSEMENT PARKS AND WATER PARKS

Blackbeard's Family Fun Center, 4055 N. Chestnut, Fresno, CA 93726 (559) 292-9000

Boomer's Park, 7354 N. Abby, Fresno, CA 93720 (559) 432-9684

Island Water Park, 6099 W. Barstow, Fresno, CA 93722 (559) 277-6800

Old-Fashioned Carousel, Courthouse Square, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-0483

Playland - Roeding Park, 890 W. Belmont, Fresno, CA 93706 (559) 486-2124

Wild Water Adventures, 11413 E. Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 (559) 299-9453

ANIMALS

Sierra Cat Haven, 38257 E. Kings Canyon, Dunlap, CA 93621 (559) 338-3216

Chaffee Zoo, 894 W. Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93728 (599) 498-2671

CASINOS

Chukchansi Gold Casino, 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold, CA 93614 1.866.7.WIN.WIN

Club One Casino, 1033 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 497-3000

Eagle Mountain Casino, 681 South Tule Road, Porterville, CA 93258 (800) 903-3353

Mono Wind Casino, 37302 Rancheria Lane, Auberry, CA 93602 (559) 855-4350

Palace Indian Gaming Center , 17225 Jersey Ave., Lemoore, CA 93245 (559) 924-7751

Table Mountain Casino, 8184 Table Mountain Road, Friant, CA 93626 (559) 822-7777 or (800) 541-3637

MUSEUMS & VENUES OF HISTORIC INTEREST

African American Historical and Cultural Museum, 1857 Fulton Street, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 268-7102

Alta District Historical Society & Depot Museum, 289 South “K” Street, Dinuba, CA 93618 (559) 591-2144

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Museum, 3233 N. West Ave., Fresno, CA 93705 (559) 229-8287

Arte Americas Museum, 1630 Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 266-2623

Central California Historical Military Museum, 11100 W. Eagle Field Road, Firebaugh, CA (559) 392-8264

Centro Bellas Artes Museum, 1048 E St., Fresno, CA 93706

Civil War Reenactment - Kearney Park, 7160 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA 93706 (559) 441-0862

Clovis Big Dry Creek Museum, 401 Pollasky Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 (559) 297-8033

Cultural Arts Center Museum, 1045 Rose Ave., Selma, CA 93662 (559) 896-8918

Discovery Center, Central Valley Science Museum, 1944 N. Winery Ave., Fresno, CA 93703 (559) 251-5533

Downing Planetarium, 5320 N Maple Ave., M/S DP 132, Fresno, CA 93740 (559) 278-4071 or (559) 278-4070

Eastern Fresno County Historical Society Museum, P.O. Box 625 Auberry CA 93602 (559) 855-8874

Fresno Art Museum , 2233 N. First Street Fresno, CA 93703 (559) 441-4221

Fresno Assembly Center (Japanese Detention Camp), 1121 S. Chance Ave., Fresno, CA (559) 650-3247

Fresno Metropolitan Museum / Bee Bldg., ( 1922) 1555 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 441-1444

Hanford Carnegie Museum , 109 E. 8th St,. Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-1367

Hanford Taoist Temple & Museum 12 China Alley, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-4508

Heritage Ag Museum, International Agri-Center, 4450 S. Laspina St.,
Tulare, CA 93274-9539 (800) 999-9186 (559) 688-1751

Huntington Lake Museum , P.O. Box 257, Huntington Lake, CA 93629 (559) 893-3226

Kearney Mansion Museum at Kearney Park, 7160 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA 93706 (559) 441-0862

Kingsburg Arts Center Museum , 1332 Draper Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631 (559) 897-1553

Legion of Valor Museum, 2425 Fresno St. Suite, 103 Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 498-0510

Madera County Historical Museum, 210 W. Yosemite Ave., Madera, CA 93637 (559) 673-0291

Merced County Courthouse Museum, 21st & 'N' Sts., Merced, 95340 CA (209) 723-2401

Meux Home Museum , 1007 R Street Fresno, 93721 CA (559) 233-8007

Mexican Institute of Central California, 830 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 445-2615

Porterville Historical Museum, 257 N. 'D' St., Porterville, CA 93257 (559) 784-2053

Reedley Museum , 1752 10th St., Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 638-1913

Sanger Depot Museum , 1770 7th St., Sanger, CA 93657 (559) 875-2848

Sarah A. Mooney Museum, 542 W. 'D' St., Lemoore, CA 93245 (559) 925-0321

Sierra National Forest Discovery Center Museum, 1944 N. Winery, Fresno, CA 93703 (559) 251-5533

Tulare County Museum, Mooney Grove Park, 27000 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA (559) -733-6616

Watson's Antique Farm Equipment Museum, 5716 S. Frankwood, Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 638-7985

NATIONAL PARKS

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271 (559) 565-3341

Yosemite National Park National Park , PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park , CA 95389 (209) 372-0200

PERFORMING ARTS

Central California Ballet & Lively Arts Foundation, 1752 W. Bullard Avenue, Fresno, CA 93711 (559) 432-0155

Children's Musical Theaterworks, 2425 Fresno St., Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 442-3140

City College Theater, 1101 E. University Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704 (559) 442-8221

Fresno Ballet, 1401 N. Wishon Fresno, CA 93728 (559) 233-2623

Fresno Grand Opera, 700 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 431-1126

Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, 700 M Street Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 261-0600

Fresno State 's John Wright Theatre, 5241 N. Maple Avenue, Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 278-2216

Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater, 1226 N. Wishon Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 266-9494

Second Space Theatre, 928 E. Olive Fresno, CA 93728 (559) 266-9494

Theatre 3 Performing Arts, 1544 Fulton Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 486-3333

Tower Theatre, 815 E. Olive Avenue Fresno, CA 93728 (559) 485-9050

Warnors Center for the Performing Arts, 1412 Fulton Street Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 264-6863

PLACES OF INTEREST

Central California Chinese Cultural Center, 500 S. Akers Rd., Visalia CA 93277 (559) 625-4545 or (800) 524-0303

Courthouse Square,Downtown Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-5024

Forestiere Underground Gardens , 5021 W. Shaw Avenue Fresno, CA 93722 (559) 271-0734

Gateway Restaurant & Lodge, 45978 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271 (559) 561-4133

Hanford Fox Theater, 326 N. Irwin St., Hanford CA 93230 (559) 584-7423

Hanford Taoist Temple & Museum, 12 China Alley, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-4508

Historic Fox Theater, 308 W. Main Street, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 625-1369

Horse Corral Pack Station, PO Box 546, Woodlake, CA 93286 (559) 565-3404 or (559) 564-6429 in winter

Kaweah Oaks Preserve, 29979 Road 182, North of Highway 198, Visalia CA 93291 (559) 738-0211

Kaweah Post Office (smallest post office still in operation), Kaweah, CA 93237 (559) 561-4745

Kingsburg Swedish Village , 1475 Draper Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631 (559) 897-1111

Madera County Arts Council "Circle Gallery," 315 W. Olive Ave., Madera, CA 93637 559/661-7005

Mennonite Quilt Center , 1012 G Street, Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 638-3560

Moore 's Miniature Rose Garden, 2519 E. Noble Avenue, Visalia CA 93292 (559) 732-0309

Old Fresno Water Tower, (1894) Visitor's Center, 2444 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721 (559) 262-4271

Old Town Clovis, 298-5774 P.O. Box 1548, Clovis, CA 93613

Reedley Opera House, 1720 10th Street, Reedley, CA 93654 (559) 638-1900

Riata Ranch International, (trick riding & roping cowboys & cowgirls) P.O. Box 363, Exeter, CA 93221 (559) 594-4288

Ruth & Sherman Lee Institute for Japanese Art, 15770 Tenth Ave., Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-4915

Shin-Zen Japanese Friendship Gardens , 7775 Friant Rd., Fresno, CA 93710 (559) 498-1551

Zauld House & Gardens, 393 N. Hockett St., Porterville, CA 93257 (559) 782-7548

RESORTS & RECREATION AREAS

Dinkey Creek Recreational Area, Dinkey Creek Road, CA (559) 841-3435

Edison Lake Recreation Area, CA (559) 259-4000

Hume Lake Recreation Area, Hume Lake Ranger District, 36273 East Kings Canyon Road, Dunlap, CA 93621 (559) 338-2251

Huntington Lake Recreation Area, Pineridge Ranger District, P.O. Box 559 , Prather, CA 93651 (559) 855-5360

Lake Kaweah/Terminus Dam, P.O. Box 44270, Lemon Cove, CA 93244 (559) 597-2005

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, 5290 Millerton Road, Friant, CA 93626 (559) 822-2332

Mountain Home State Forest , Tule River District Ranger Station, Springville, CA 559/539-2607
Pine Flat Recreation Area Recreation, P.O. Box 117, Piedra, CA 93648 (559) 787-2589

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, c/o Kern NWR Complex, P.O. Box 670, Delano, CA 93216 (661) 725-2767

Shaver Lake Recreation Area, P.O. Box 58, Shaver Lake, CA 93664 (559) 841-3350

Sierra Summit Mountain Resort, Hwy 168, Lakeshore, CA 93634 (599) 233-1200

Sierra Summit Snow Skiing, 59265 Hwy 168, Lakeshore, CA 93634 (599) 893-3316

Success Lake (Tule Recreation Area and Rocky Hill Recreation Area) P.O. Box 1072, Porterville, CA 93258 (559) 783-9200.
Wonder Valley Ranch Resort, 6450 N. Elwood Road, Sanger, CA 93657 (559) 787-2551

Wishon Reservoir Recreation Area, Wishon Village RV Park (full hookup), (559) 865-5361