Things to do Outside the City

   Not everything has to be done in the city. The city of Fresno is surrounded by lakes, rivers, camp grounds and national forests. Many of the lakes around Fresno are man made, damns were created to conserve water from streams and rivers. The closest lake to Fresno is Millerton Lake. Friant Damn was created to conserve the San Joaquin River and and thus creating Millerton Lake. There are many things to do at Millerton Lake, such as, fishing and boat riding. There are many aquatic creatures that you can fish out of the lake like the aggressive Largemouth Bass, the large Catfish and the tiny but tasty Crappie. Another activity to do at the lake is riding a boat or a ski jet. If you have a couple of hundred dollars in your pocket you can rent yourself a boat or a ski jet at the lake. There are also camping fees and permits you can find on there website.
   Lets say you would like to be a bit more adventurous and travel farther away into the wilderness. Shaver Lake would be the best place to visit, located deep in the Sierra National Forest. The lake is also man made and the water is being conserved by the Shaver Lake Damn from incoming water of Big Creek and smaller streams that come down the mountains. Due to its high elevation, the temperature at the lake is always pleasant during the summer. Some restrictions due apply in the winter because of snow in the winter. Check this website for hourly forecasts. You can basically do the same things at  Shaver Lake that you would do at Millerton Lake. Fishing, boat riding, camping, hiking, etc, but it feels as if you were away from civilization. The lake also has a city that is named after it, Shaver Lake. A few stores and restaurants align the road before entering the lake.