Hanford families are always looking for a family getaway. Hanford is conveniently located within two hours of many great sites. Our top picks include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cambria, Sequoia National Park, and the Fresno Zoo.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Just two hours north on Interstate 5 and then Highway 52, Hanford residents can visit this world-class aquarium in Old Monterey. The aquarium is home to a wealth of marine life, including tidal pools. The aquarium borders the ocean itself, allowing the marine life in the aquarium to experience the ocean. You can see sea lion exhibits as you feel the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash against you. While you’re there, Monterey is home to a variety of seafood restaurants and is minutes from Carmel State Beach.

Cambria Beach

About two hours west of Hanford is the town of Cambria, just off Highway 41. Cambria is home to a pebble beach where pebbles replace the sand on the beach itself, gently massaging your feet. A small park borders the beach and offers great play time for younger children.

In the village of Cambria you will find the historic Linn Restaurant and a variety of cafes. Boutiques also line the small streets.

Sequoia National Park

About two hours east of Hanford is Sequoia National Park, just up Highway 198 past Visalia and Three Rivers. Although the park entrance is just a few miles past Three Rivers, the heart of the park is an additional hour’s drive (for a total of two hours from Hanford).

As you enter the park, you will pass Moro Rock, an opportunity for exercise climbing to the top, but well worth seeing the golden trout desert in the tall redwoods and the San Joaquin Valley below.

Not far from Moro Rock is Crescent Meadow, a delightful walk in itself that offers a surprise: a hollowed-out log that was once used as a home by a guy named “Tharpe.” Tharpe’s log is on the road around Crescent Meadow.

You will have the opportunity to drive through and over the giant sequoias, the largest living things in the world. At the heart of the park is the largest of the giants, the General Sherman tree. You can park near it and walk to its base to take pictures. Lodge Pole near the Sherman Tree is your best option for food before heading home.

Fresno Zoo

Fresno Zoo is a relatively small but beautifully landscaped zoo that offers a variety of activities. Most days you have the opportunity to feed a giraffe or touch stingrays. On weekends and during the summer, the staff organizes an entertaining bird show. The zoo offers a rainforest with a collection of rare and beautiful birds. Elephants, orangutans, monkeys, tigers, giraffes, zebras, condors and more line the landscaped paths of the Fresno Zoo.

Better options

All just a short drive from Hanford, these great spots offer fun for the whole family and even a little exercise for residents of Central California.