A Hidden Gem City You Can’t Miss When Visiting Sequoia or Yosemie

Yesterday I shared about the unique and fun Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno — and it got so many likes and saves! ❤️ So today I’m continuing the love with more highlights from this underrated city! 🎉 Originally, we planned to visit Kings Canyon, but due to wildfires and road closures, we ended up spending a full day in Fresno. And what a pleasant surprise! The city is not only home to great food, but everyone we met was incredibly kind. Coming from LA, we were almost taken aback by the warmth and hospitality. 🎉 Our first positive impression came from the front desk at Hampton Inn. Right after checking in, we noticed one of the bedside lamps was missing. We called to ask if we could switch rooms—not only did they apologize sincerely, but they also upgraded us to a suite for both nights since no standard rooms were available. The whole time, they kept saying sorry for the “inconvenience.” I was honestly shocked… Are people in Central California always this nice?! 🎉 Our two dinners here were also fantastic. — J Pot Hotpot was delicious! The Taiwanese sausage, grilled green beans, and especially the grilled squid brought back childhood memories of street-style iron-grill squid—except these portions were way bigger and better! 🦑🔥 — New City Dim Sum serves dim sum all day. Not only was the food authentic, but the service was genuinely warm. For the first time in years, we were greeted by a friendly Cantonese-speaking auntie pushing the dim sum cart with a big smile. The whole experience felt like a breath of fresh air—especially compared to the often-rushed dim sum service in LA. 🥟💖 🎉 On a whim, we also tried an escape room—and it did not disappoint! The place is called Puzzle Effect (rated 4.9 on Google). Unlike other escape rooms where you have to ask for hints, the staff here closely monitors your progress and gives subtle clues right when you’re stuck. The host was experienced and timed the hints perfectly. It was one of the few times we actually escaped—and had a blast doing it! 🧩😄 🎉 Overall, our two days in Fresno left us feeling relaxed and happy. Next time we go to Yosemite, we’ll definitely be stopping here again! #HiddenGems #TravelDiary #SlowTravel #UnderratedCities