Eastern Fresno - Fresno, CA

The Central Pacific Railroad Company founded the city of Fresno in 1872, and it became the county seat two years later in 1874. Although the metropolitan area quickly transformed into an urban realm, the outer eastern suburbs have maintained an agricultural heritage. Although new farming technologies have arrived, very little has changed here in the past 100 years.

For a taste of the local culture, stop into Sanger to visit the Sanger Depot Museum and explore a humble art scene accented by a few local galleries. Stop into Fresno for annual community events such as the Rogue Festival celebrating fine arts and the highly anticipated Fig Fest.

Explore Outer Eastern Suburban Fresno to discover a home-town dining scene with a touch of rural flavor scattered throughout the area. Farm-fresh ingredients adorn plates of rare steak, huevos rancheros and crisp salads in restaurants where wait staff greet you with a smile and call you by name.

Follow the vintage trolley car parked out front to find The Red Caboose Cafe, a family-friendly eatery serving up breakfast favorites that may remind you of mom's home cooking. Pull up a chair on the patio or watch the model trail whiz past you in the dining room while savoring some hearty biscuits and gravy, a country-fried steak or a fluffy omelet. Locals flock in on the weekends for the prime rib special with steamed vegetables and folksy jam sessions on the patio.

Blossom Trail Cafe may look like your typical roadside diner, but this local bistro serves up some of the best Mexican-style breakfast dishes in the eastern suburbs. For an extra-special treat, catch the Italian-inspired chef who runs the dinner menu a few days a week to sample some gourmet entrees. Try the rigatoni in a creamy red sauce, the pasta misto made with fresh fish and pasta or a plate of grilled salmon with veggies.

Get in touch with your inner cowboy at the Rare Steer Steakhouse, a laid-back dinner spot for a porterhouse steak or a rack of ribs that fall right off the bone. Order a side of baked potato and ranch beans for the perfect complement to your meal, and don't forget to try a bowl of bread pudding with caramel sauce. Bring your own bottle of wine to create the atmosphere of a five-star restaurant without the price, but call ahead before stopping by as the restaurant only opens a few nights a week.

This rural community doesn't have much of a nightlife scene, but you can always head into Sanger to explore the dive bars and pool halls where locals come to catch up on the local happenings with a bottle of their favorite brew. Stop by Oasis to choose from more than 10 beers on tap while enjoying a plate of fried zucchini. Although you have to go into Fresno for live music and clubs, Oasis never fails to draw a diverse crowd of party-ready locals.

Whether you need to drive to the airport or commute to downtown Fresno, enjoy easy access to the metro area via Kings Canyon Road. Finding free parking never presents a problem in the car-dominant area, but ride-share services like Uber and local taxi companies don't normally service the outer suburbs.

Although the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency aims to connect suburban residents to the metro area, the only bus stops you find here lie in Sanger. You can always take your bicycle down the dedicated bike lanes along Belmont Avenue and Academy Avenue, but keep in mind that the area's scattered layout makes running errands by bike or on foot a challenge.

Outer Eastern Suburban Fresno doesn't have much for public parks, but local families enjoy bathing in the numerous creeks. Go for a quiet bike ride or a jog with your canine companion along the country roads, or head into Sanger for more traditional park spaces. Faller Park stands as a community favorite with a soccer field, a softball field and a playground for the kids.

Residents of Outer Eastern Suburban Fresno enjoy a cost of living that hovers well below average for the city. While a one-bedroom apartment in Fresno carries an average rental rate of $750 per month, you can find a dwelling of the same size in the outer suburbs for roughly $615. Gas prices hold steady at around 11 percent above the national average, and buying a pint of beer at one of the local bars generally costs $4 to $5.

Stop into Sanger to explore a small-town spread of discount stores, bridal boutiques and floral shops. Although you only find high-end fashion boutiques in Fresno, you don't have to travel far for your basic amenities.

Whether you seek a bridal gown, prom dress or quinceañera dress, Araceli's Elegant Bride & Formal Wear has something to make you feel like royalty. The fashion-forward selection features only top-quality dresses, and you even find a few tuxes for the groom or prom date.

Nothing says love like a hand-crafted gift, and Royal T Designs specializes in just that. Browse display racks filled with feminine bows and children's jewelry, reusable glasses with bow-adorned straws and cute jars with special messages printed onto the glass. Everything here is made to order, so you can score the perfect gift for any occasion with customizable colors, themes and logos. You can even get your child's name printed onto a sippy cup along with a cartoon design of his favorite animal.

For your weekly grocery shopping, grab a few basic food items at the roadside Circle C Market, or find all your staples at the Walmart Supercenter in Sanger. Despite the area's rural character, you may need to drive to the Fresno metro area to find a sizable farmers market for fresh fruits and veggies.