Day Trippin' › California › From Fresno › Best food and wine stops
Our picks for the best food and wine stops within 3 hours of Fresno: 13 places, 0 under an hour away, 3 between 1 and 2 hours and 10 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 93721.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Buck Owens Crystal Palace, 1 hr 35 min southeast of Fresno.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Skyman9999, CC0
#1 · Landmark · 1 hr 35 min southeast
A famous country music hall, restaurant and museum in Bakersfield with live music.
Heads-up: Some shows are 21+.
Photo: Original uploader was MCB (talk) at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
#2 · Landmark · 2 hr 23 min southwest
Eye-popping pink roadside inn, with a famous bakery.
Heads-up: Busy on weekends.
Photo: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Landmark · 2 hr 44 min northwest
A waterfront district in Oakland with restaurants, a Sunday farmers market and ferry views.
Heads-up: Check market days.
Photo: Flickr user MiguelVieira, CC BY 2.0
#4 · Town · 2 hr 44 min northwest
A small, well-kept Gold Rush town with balconied buildings, antique shops and wine tasting along Highway 49.
Heads-up: Main Street parking is limited on weekends.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
#5 · Food town · 2 hr 19 min west
Working fishing harbor with antique shops, seafood stands and sea otters in the water.
Heads-up: Big power plant sits on the shore; the harbor is still lovely for wildlife.
Photo: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0
#6 · Landmark · 2 hr 31 min west
Former sardine cannery street, now shops, restaurants and tide pool views.
Heads-up: Busy on summer weekends.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
#7 · Family fun · 2 hr 59 min northwest
Sea lions, street food, an arcade and a carousel on the busy waterfront.
Heads-up: Crowds and car break-ins at lots. Use transit if possible.
Photo: Trish Hartmann from Tampa, Florida, USA, CC BY 2.0
#8 · Winery · 1 hr 54 min southwest
Hundreds of wineries on rolling oak hills, plus a charming town square.
Heads-up: Plan a designated driver. Hot in summer.
Photo: Steveozone, CC BY-SA 3.0
#9 · Winery · 2 hr 8 min northwest
Rustic tasting rooms in a Zinfandel region with old vines.
Heads-up: Designate a driver.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
#10 · Winery · 2 hr 42 min west
Wine tasting rooms and cafes in warm, sunny Carmel Valley.
Heads-up: Plan a designated driver. Official Monterey County tourism page; wine tasting rooms and Garland Ranch Regional Park nearby
#11 · Food town · 1 hr 36 min southeast
Family-style Basque restaurants, a local specialty.
Heads-up: Some are cash-only or closed some days.
#12 · Winery · 2 hr 30 min southwest
Cool-climate vineyards just outside San Luis Obispo with tasting rooms.
Heads-up: Plan a designated driver.
#13 · Winery · 2 hr 53 min northwest
Rolling foothills near Plymouth in the Shenandoah Valley with dozens of tasting rooms, known for old-vine Zinfandel.
Heads-up: Plan a designated driver. Many tasting rooms keep shorter hours or close midweek.
Our top picks are Buck Owens Crystal Palace (1 hr 35 min), Madonna Inn (2 hr 23 min), Jack London Square (2 hr 44 min), Sutter Creek (2 hr 44 min) and Moss Landing (2 hr 19 min). The page lists 13 places in all.
13: 0 under an hour away, 3 between 1 and 2 hours and 10 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 93721.
Buck Owens Crystal Palace, about 1 hr 35 min southeast of Fresno.
4 need no pass or fee, including Jack London Square, Madonna Inn and Moss Landing. Fees change, so check each place.
12 of the 13 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.