As a general rule, we’re against having to see people kiss in public. But its Valentine’s Day and spring is in the air (meaning it’s not raining or freezing cold) and we’re feeling a bit romantic.
Inspired in part by “The Best Place to Kiss,” series of books — sadly, Fresno is not listed in the Northern or Southern California editions — here’s the Famous guide to the city’s best places to smooch.

It’s an abbreviated list, so feel free to post your own.

Fresno County Clerk’s office/2221 Kern St./(559) 488-3003
Standing in line isn’t romantic. Kissing in line is worse. It’s just so teen-agers-at Disneyland.
Unless you’re standing in line to get a marriage certificate.
Then it’s just cute.

Tokyo Garden/1711 Fulton St./(559) 268-3596
Dimly lit, loud and sardine-packed (at least on post-ArtHop nights), Tokyo Garden is the kind of place for those sweet kisses you know you’ll regret later. But those make for the best stories, right? So, snuggle into a back booth with a couple of tall Sapporos and go for it. We won’t tell.

Santa Fe Depot/2650 Tulare Street
Goodbye kisses are sad. But they lead to welcome-home kisses, which are wonderful.
The Santa Fe Depot gets both.
Built in Mission Revival style in 1896, the depot was renovated in 2005 to be used as the Amtrak stop in town. It is on the local and national Register of Historic Places and the architecture alone makes it way more romantic than the airport or Greyhound station.
As a bonus, no one will know you’re there just to make out.

Spiral garage/Inyo St. and Van Ness Ave.
Normally, taking someone to a parking garage for a kiss would be super creepy. But from the top of the spiral you can see a whole lot of downtown, which, at night with all the lights, is actually really nice, like living in a true Metropolis — down to the bum stink.

La Boulangerie/Fig Garden Village/(559) 222-1500
If the French are good for anything, besides their food and wine and thoughts on the work-week, it’s their kissing. With an outside patio and cakes and pastries too pretty to eat, La Boulangerie is a little slice of Paris in Fresno. If you plan right, you can catch a meeting of L’alliance Francais (ils parlent en français) for the full-on package.

Is it wrong to add my bedroom to the list?