The Top Things to Do in Fresno [that are actually in Fresno!]

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Despite being California’s fifth-largest city, you’ve probably only heard of Fresno if you happen to be passing through it on the 99.

Fresno often gets a bad rap for being a hot, farming city in the middle of the state. I actually shared this opinion before moving here myself.

However, as a current Fresno resident, I know first-hand how much this city offers. There are so many fun things to do in Fresno that it needs to be considered a destination in itself.

As California’s most productive agricultural region, Fresno’s fields and orchards provide more than a rich restaurant scene. They are also a hallmark of Fresno’s most enjoyable outdoor activities. Plus, Fresno’s centrality makes it the perfect place to get a little taste of everything that California offers.

Most guides to Fresno suggest things to do outside of Fresno. And while the proximity to so many National Parks is great, I wanted to create a guide of activities that are actually in Fresno.

From pottery and painting classes to museums and hikes, here are the best things to do in Fresno, California, according to a local!

Things to do in Fresno

1. Forestiere Underground Gardens

The Forestiere Underground Gardens is one of the more unusual things to do in Fresno. Tour over 10 acres of underground open-air tunnels, rooms, and patios constructed singlehandedly by the Italian immigrant, Baldassare Forestiere. This is one that I would do during the summer when the underground tunnels are cool temperature-wise.

As the agricultural capital of California, these gardens are also a good way to learn more about the staple of Fresno’s economy.

2. Fresno Chaffee Zoo

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo is one of the top things to do in Fresno with kids and should be on every family adventure list. Visit over 190 species of animals, from giraffes to wolves, to sea lions and elephants. My favorite exhibit is the African Adventure because of the 360-degree views of the savannah habitat.

Additionally, they just brought back the flamingoes! Not many zoos have interactive exhibits where you can experience the animals up close and personal, but the Fresno zoo does.

3. Fresno Blossom Trail

You must drive the blossom trail if you are lucky enough to visit Fresno in the springtime. California produces one-third of US-grown fruits and nuts.

Drive over 65 miles of country roads between the orchards. There aren’t many places in the world where you can find this sheer volume of blossoms in one place. And it smells great!

4. Woodward Park

This 300-acre park has over 5 miles of trails and sweeping views of the nearby Sierra Nevadas.

The best way to experience it all is by renting a bike from The Bike Shop, conveniently located just across the street. Renting a bike will allow you to park in the shopping center parking lot, avoiding the $5 Woodward Park parking fee.

Bring a hammock, a blanket, and picnic near the river. Or you can bring the pups to play in the dog park.

5. Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden

Within Woodward Park is a hidden oasis complete with waterfalls, koi ponds, tōrōs (stone lanterns), live peacocks, and an authentic tea house. The Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden is a peaceful place to walk, sit, and rest.

Bring cash for both the entrance fee and the parking.

6. Raphio Chocolate Factory Tour

Did you know that Fresno is home to a craft chocolate maker? Take a private tour of Raphio Chocolate, taste the process, and learn how chocolate is made from bean to bar.

I would describe this as a hidden Fresno gem. The owners personally do the tours, so we learned a ton, and the tour was just fun! The shop space is small, but they take you through the whole process, and then you get to taste ALL their chocolates.

Beware, once you take this tour, you will never return to eating “artificial” chocolate again.

7. Rare Earth Roastery Classes

Rare Earth is one of the best places to visit in Fresno for coffee enthusiasts. They are more than a coffee shop and roastery; they also offer classes ranging from barista classes to tastings, to roasting classes.

Rare Earth uses air roasting rather than drum roasting, making the experience even more unique. In the roasting class, we learned from a master roaster as we tried more than eight coffees, and then we picked our favorite flavors and learned how to air roast our own blend- and they give you all of it! We got to keep 20 pounds of coffee.

I named my blend “The Compass” and am still sipping on it to this day.

8. Millerton Lake

Millerton is an artificial lake just 15 miles north of Fresno. Escape the Fresno summer heat by hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, picnicking, and fishing, just a 10-minute drive north of Fresno.

Dogs are allowed, so take the whole family. You can even find rentals right on the lake.

9. Old Town Clovis

Old Town Clovis is a neighborhood featuring a walkable district with dining, coffee shops, restaurants, and antiques. While not technically in Fresno, it is incredibly close.

Plus, this boutique shopping area with a historic feel is too cute to miss.

10. Good Dirt Pottery Studio

If you are looking for activities to do in Fresno, have you ever considered wheel throwing or slab building with clay? Good Dirt offers parties, memberships, try nights, and various craft workshops.

I loved learning to throw pottery on a wheel at the Try Night. I even got to take home a bowl and cup that I made!

11. Wine Tasting

While Sonoma and Napa are more famous wine regions in California, Fresno holds its own with seventeen wineries in the county.

Spend an afternoon enjoying a tasting and tour. Many wineries even offer brunch and special events. Here are just a few of my favorites.

• Ziveli Winery
• Toca Madera Winery
• Englemann Cellars
• Fasi Estate Winery

12. Sky Harbour Hiking Area

Sky Harbour is one of the most popular places to hike near Fresno. Most of these trails are beginner friendly. Sky Harbour Road runs along the east side of Millerton Lake and offers several places to park and hike.

13. Arte Americas

More than a museum, this “casa de la cultura” is one of the largest Latin cultural centers in the state. If you are wondering what to do in Fresno, give yourself a greater appreciation of what it means to be “American” from the perspective of those who have always been here.

14. Tower District

The Tower District is quintessential Fresno. It is another neighborhood featuring a walkable district with dining, coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques.

Plan to spend an afternoon walking the different shops, restaurants, and venues here.

15. Farmer’s Market

As California’s most productive agricultural region, the locally-grown ingredients are a trademark of Fresno flavor. Miles of orchards surround the city limits, and almost every nontropical crop is grown here, so freshness is guaranteed.

Since agriculture is central to Fresnan’s way of life, a visit here wouldn’t be complete without perusing at least one the nine farmers markets.

16. Joy’s Velitas Candlemaking

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Fresno for adults, look no further than Fresno’s first candle bar. Book a candlemaking workshop where you and a few friends can learn to make candles while enjoying a craft cocktail in a cute space.

17. Christmas Tree Lane

If you happen to be in Fresno during the holidays, visit the nationally recognized Christmas Tree Lane. Walk or drive the historic Van Ness Avenue and enjoy three miles of extravagant Christmas lights in the heart of Fresno.

18. Crow & Wolf Taproom Fitness Classes

Crow & Wolf is a taproom close to the border of Fresno and Clovis. Spend a weekend morning trying a new fitness class in their taproom, then hang out afterward for a pint of your choice, included in the class price. I have tried CrossFit, yoga, and HIIT classes.

19. Escape Room

Looking for a mental challenge? Fresno has a few escape rooms to try, with new rooms and challenges each month. You’ll need to work together to find clues and find a way to escape before the time runs out.

• Next-Gen Escape Room
• Method of Escape
• Unlock Escape Rooms
• Puzzle Effect
• Xcape Room Fresno

20. MetalMark Indoor Climbing Gym

Try indoor rock climbing or bouldering at Fresno’s premier gym. MetalMark offers drop-in days, as well as classes for first-timers and any skill level.

I consider myself a hobbyist rock climber at best, but what I love about MetalMark is the community you find there. The people that frequent MetalMark are so welcoming and offer advice for bouldering or would even kindly belay you if you don’t have a friend.

21. Fresno Clovis Rail Trail

One of my favorite things about Fresno is the miles of paved pedestrian and bike-only trails. The Fresno Clovis Rail Trail is a connection of three trails: The Old Town Clovis Trail, the Dry Creek Trail, and the Sugar Pine Trail.

You can walk on a paved pedestrian path from the Fresno Yosemite Airport all the way to Woodward Park.

The trail passes through many local parks and provides a safe way for everyone to get fresh air and experience the outdoors.

22. Downing Planetarium

Go stargazing indoors! The Downing Planetarium is on Fresno State’s campus and features a 74-seat theater with rotating shows. You can also stargaze for free on select weekend nights.

23. Kearney Mansion Museum & Park

The Kearney Mansion is in a 200-acre park with soccer fields and picnic areas.

On weekends you can tour the historic mansion built in 1903. The best part of this park is the olive tree path. It tends to be less crowded, so finding a spot for large family gatherings throughout the park is easy.

24. Big Fresno Fair

The Big Fresno Fair is the largest in the Central Valley, featuring carnival games, museums, and live horse racing. It takes over the 160-acre fairground and happens every October, although there are many smaller festivals and events there year-round.

The giant cinnamon rolls are a must-try.

25. Kuppa Joy Coffee

Take a break and chat, or bring some board games to play at one of Fresno’s coffee shops. With four sit-down locations in Fresno, Kuppa Joy is my personal favorite.

The Hallelujah is one of the top foods to try in Fresno, featuring vanilla, sweet cream, and cinnamon.

26. The Foundry Cooperative Creative Workshops

If you love crafting and trying new skills, there is always a new workshop on the calendar at The Foundry Cooperative.

From bible journaling to bath bomb making and paint nights, the Foundry has a cute artisanal space to get creative.

27. Fresno Audio Drive Tour

To get to know Fresno beyond its main attractions, start with this audio tour by the nonprofit Every Neighborhood Partnership. Pray for Fresno and all the great work happening here as you are exposed to different areas of the city and its history.

28. Flora Flower Co. Flower Arranging Classes

Flora started as a flower bike cart and is now a cute boutique in north Fresno’s newest shopping area. Check out their Instagram to see the latest workshops they are offering.

I did a flower arranging class, and it was such a fun date. We learned how to arrange the flowers, and the class included flowers and a vase to take home.

29. Chukchansi Park Minor League Game

In addition to hosting concerts and events, downtown Chukchansi Park is home to two of Fresno’s minor league teams. Catch a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game or cheer on the Central Valley Fuego soccer team.

30. Downtown Fresno Ale Trail

Grab a drink downtown at a brewery or bar. Downtown Fresno has quite a few fun spaces to grab a quick bite or trivia night. Enjoy craft cocktails or ale from local breweries.

On the fourth Thursday of every month, join in on the new SipHop bar crawl.

• Tioga Sequoia Beer Garden
• Full Circle Brewing
• South of Shaw Beer Company
• The Modernist
• Quail State

31. Fresno ArtHop

ArtHop is a pubic art crawl between artists’ studios in downtown Fresno. It happens on the first and third Thursdays of the month and often features food trucks, happy hours at surrounding restaurants, and free admission to galleries and museums.

32. Meux Home Museum

Tour a Victorian-era home from 1888 at the Meux Home Museum. Tours are cheap and only take about an hour to explore the house and the gorgeous grounds.

Map of Things to Do in Fresno

(Want even more pins and adventures near Fresno? Check out my Fresno and Surrounding Day Trips Map!)

Things to do Near Fresno

Fresno’s central location makes it the perfect home base for several bucket list day trips, the foremost being visiting Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is just a two-hour drive northeast of Fresno. See El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, or even hike Half Dome.

Fresno is the nearest major city to three National Parks. In addition to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are doable day trips from Fresno. Drive two hours southeast through Visalia to see the largest trees in the world and the deepest canyon in the United States.

But wait, there’s more! Drive two and a half hours west of Fresno, and you can also make a day trip to Pinnacles National Park. See California Condors and explore talus caves.

If you are visiting multiple National Parks, invest in a Parks Pass!

If National Parks aren’t your thing, take a ninety-minute drive directly west and enjoy the small mountain town of Shaver Lake. Or if you ar more of a beach person, take a day trip two hours west to Pismo Beach.

And for a fun and easy family day trip, take the train to Hanford for Superior Dairy ice cream.

Getting Around Fresno

The easiest way to get around Fresno is by renting a car. The Fresno Airport has an Enterprise and Budget booth, but you can find all major rental agencies within Fresno. Uber and Lyft also operate throughout the greater Fresno metro area.

Looking to get around via car? Find the cheapest car rentals here!

Besides a car, there are a few other public transit methods in Fresno. The FAX (Fresno Area Express) bus system runs through the Fresno metro area. This would be the cheapest way to get around Fresno if you stay downtown and within the city limits.

The FAX system connects to the Clovis Stageline, the bus system for the City of Clovis. On select weekends and holidays, you can even catch “Dolly,” the Old Town Trolley bus making her rounds.

You can even get to Fresno’s nearest National Parks via shuttle bus! Reserve a trip on the YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transit) shuttle from the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Or connect your trip and see Sequoia National Park without a car using the Sequoia Shuttle.

Where to Stay in Fresno

Fresno has a decent selection of hotels and Airbnbs to stay at. When deciding where to stay in Fresno, the most significant factor will be how you get around and your itinerary.

If you use public transit, you will want to stay in the hotels near the heart of Fresno. If you plan to make day trips and visit the nearby National Parks, you can consider a boutique stay closer to the foothills.

Best Fresno Hotels

• DoubleTree by Hilton Fresno Convention Center: A modern hotel in the heart of downtown with spacious working areas and an outdoor pool.
• Hyatt Place Fresno: Featuring an indoor pool and right off Highway 141, this is the best place to stay near Fresno State.
• La Quinta Wyndham Clovis: Located right on the Old Town Trail, La Quinta offers a clean stay for a good price.
• Courtyard by Marriott Fresno Clovis: Offering a pool and hot tub, free bike rentals are included in the stay, which is convenient as the Old Town Trail is just a few minutes away.

Best Fresno Airbnbs

• Modern West Fresno Home: Near Highway 99, this newly renovated home is perfect for large parties and families.
• Home Near Fresno Airport: A simple clean home near the airport.
• Historic Renovated Home: This renovated home is close to Christmas Tree Lane in a more historic part of Fresno.

Fresno Attractions FAQ

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