Photo contributed | On Nov. 20, the Fresno City Council recognized Cassie Yoshikawa of Cassie's Compass for sharing her adventures and reflections on community, creativity and faith and highlighting the people and things that make Fresno shine.

A Fresno-based social media influencer was recently recognized for highlighting attractions and activities across the Central Valley.

Cassie Yoshikawa is the creator of Cassie’s Compass, a travel blog showcasing various activities, locations and events in the local area, as well as across the state, country and world — strongly inspired by her Christian faith.

Yoshikawa is originally from Oklahoma and moved to the Central Valley about eight years ago with her husband.

“I like to discover what I would call hidden gems, or rediscovering things people kind of forgot about or people didn’t know were there,” Yoshikawa said.

Along with her blog, Cassiescompass.com, started in 2018, she is active on social media, including TikTok and Instagram. She is also the content and media coordinator at The Well Community Church in Fresno.

Yoshikawa has more than 17,000 followers on TikTok and 74,000 followers on Instagram.

She said she loves the Fresno region because of the easy access it provides to beaches, national parks and hiking trails without having to take time off work.

Yoshikawa’s faith in God helped her fall in love with nature and the outdoors — enjoying his creation.

She also admires the local dining scene and highlighted the area’s small businesses and the strong entrepreneurial spirit she sees growing.

“I see people as God’s creation — so God’s creation creating other things and then sharing those with others is a great way to get to know him,” Yoshikawa said.

She also uses her platform to highlight local volunteer opportunities and inspire people to support and help local organizations.

Yoshikawa said Fresno can have a reputation as a place where there is “nothing to do” compared with other California cities, but there is an A to Z bucket list of things to do in Fresno.

Fresno is not just a gateway to Yosemite National Park or other places, she said, but also a place where there are many things to do.

On Nov. 20, the Fresno City Council recognized Yoshikawa for Cassie’s Compass for sharing her adventures and reflections on community, creativity and faith and highlighting the people and things that make Fresno shine.

Along with Mayor Jerry Dyer, the Fresno City Council proclaimed Nov. 20, 2025, Cassie’s Compass Day.

She said many businesses reach out to her for collaborations, and she also pitches to businesses, especially if she is already planning travels or some sort of series in the future.

Yoshikawa said there is value in small businesses partnering with influencers, widening exposure and reach.

“You get the point of view of someone going somewhere and what they thought as they did it, and that really helps engage people and bring them to the next step … rather than just seeing a regular ad from a business,” Yoshikawa said.

The holiday season also presents entertainment and shopping events that offer chances for content, such as the opening of the Mariposa Ice Skating Rink in downtown Fresno.

“Partnering with content creators and businesses is a really good way not only for me to connect with my audience and give them something valuable, but also to bring in customers and visitors who otherwise wouldn’t have. I love where I live and supporting the people and businesses that help make this place great,” Yoshikawa said.

Denine Currie contributed to this report.