The 20 Best Things to do in Fresno, California

This post is for anyone who wants to visit Fresno, CA and wondering what to do in Fresno. I’ll cover where to stay in Fresno, where to eat in Fresno, and fun places in Fresno. Read on to find out the 20 best things to do in Fresno. 

Fresno, one of the 15 cities that makes up Fresno County, is located in California’s Central Valley known primarily as an agricultural area and more commonly as a city you pass through on your drive down from Northern California or up from Southern California.

But, there’s more to the city than meets the eye. A city rich in fresh produce and farmers markets (its largest crop is grapes aka plenty of wine to taste), Fresno is surrounded by green space. It’s one of the only cities in the USA to be in close proximity to three national parks: Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Sequoia National Park.

And, it’s a city close to my heart. It’s where I spent four years going to college (go Bulldogs!) – I’ll never forget the first time I flew into Fresno. Considering it’s the fifth largest city in California, I assumed it was going to be a lot like Los Angeles. You know what they say about ASSumptions…imagine my surprise looking out the airplane window only to see miles and miles of farmland!

Best Things to do in Fresno

The next time you roadtrip through California, consider spending a weekend in Fresno. Read on to find out the best attractions in Fresno, CA, including what I loved to do when I lived in Fresno.

1. Forestiere Underground Gardens

This is definitely one of Fresno’s best kept-secrets! I didn’t hear about the Forestiere Underground Gardens until my college roommate started working there part-time and told me to come visit. Built by Baldassare Forestiere, an immigrant from Sicily, who moved to the Central Valley in the 1900’s, the Forestiere Underground Gardens are a series of underground passageways, grottoes, and rooms as a means of escaping the sweltering Fresno heat.

Using mainly shovels and other hand tools, Baldassare continued to excavate his property which spanned over 10 acres. He also started grafting and planting different varieties of fruit and grapevines – some of which still exist today. Considered a California State Landmark, it’s seriously one of the coolest places in Fresno, pun intended. Guided Tours occur every Wednesday through Sunday. Find out more information here.

2. ArtHop

One of my favorite things to do in Fresno was head to downtown Fresno and the Tower District on the first Thursday of every month for ArtHop. ArtHop is organized by the Fresno Arts Council and is a day when museums, studios, galleries and other art spaces open their exhibitions to the public for free between 5:00-8:00pm. I spent many a Thursday nights gallery hopping downtown, checking out the local art scene (which is frankly underrated in my opinion), discovering new artists, seeing my friend’s art featured in shows, and just having a good time.

3. Fresno Art Museum

The Fresno Art Museum houses a collection of over 3,600 works and focuses on Pre-Columbian, Mexican modern and  folk art, and both modern and contemporary art of the 20th and 21st century. The permanent collection includes works by Ansel Adams, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Clement Renzi, Diego Rivera, Norman Rockwell, Varaz Samuelian, Andy Warhol, and many more. Current exhibitions are always diverse with emphasis placed on features from local artists.

4. River Park Farmers Market

You cannot come to Central Valley and not get a sampling of the fresh produce the county has to offer. Farmers markets in California are legit the best ever – the produce is extremely cheap, and since Fresno County is one of the top agricultural producing counties in America, the produce is so fresh. There are plenty of farmers markets in Fresno and the surrounding cities – some are seasonal, others year round. I particularly like the River Park Farmers market, but here’s a list of others around town.

5. Fresno State Farm Market & Wine Shop (Rue & Gwen Gibson Farm Market)

This list would not be complete without a mention of my alma mater’s incredible farm market. I was an agriculture student when I attended Fresno State (it feels like a past life, but my degree is actually in Animal Science and I was on my way to becoming an Equine Veterinary Surgeon before I discovered my love for all things creative!) and spent a lot of time on our on-campus farm. The market offers a wide variety of products that are produced by students on the university’s campus; everything from ice cream, to cheeses, nuts, and even Fresno State wine made from grapes grown on campus by Enology students!

6. Shinzen Japanese Garden

Located inside Woodward Park, the Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden was originally opened after World War II to recognize the role that Japanese immigrants played in US society. The Garden serves as a Japanese cultural resource in Fresno providing community events, and contains a tea garden house to promote the significance of tea ceremonies. During the Spring, there are a number of Cherry blossom trees that bloom, and there’s also a bonsai exhibit of 140 bonsai at the Clark Bonsai Collection.

7. Tower District

Tower District is a fun art-deco themed neighborhood in Fresno filled with locally-owned restaurants and bars (I love Veni Vidi Vici), theaters, cafés (Teazer World Market on 645 E Olive Ave is a must!), quirky shops, and art galleries. On the first Thursday of every month, art galleries are free to the public from 5:00-8:00pm for ArtHop. And be sure to catch a movie at the famed Tower Theatre.

8. Fresno Tower Theatre

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Opened in 1939 as a 20th Century Fox Movie house, the Fresno Tower Theatre is now on the National Register of Historic Places. If you love art deco, you’re going to love the Tower Theatre – both the interior and recently renovated exterior have an authentic art deco theme with historic glass etchings in the lobby and Italian Terrarzo flooring. The theatre hosts a variety of events, one of my favorite being the annual Fresno Film Festival.

9. Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church

Considered a National Historic Place, the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church is the first church in the United States that was designed by an Armenian architect (Fresno’s first!), Lawrence Karekin Condrajian, and the first to be built in traditional Armenian architecture. One of the church’s most distinguishing features is its unique dome and its located in an area that used to be Armenian Town before the Armenians moved to the suburbs in the 1950’s. If historical sites are your thing, the Historic Fresno website has a driving tour of all the National Register Sites located in Fresno!

10. Catch a Show at the Save Mart Center

The Save Mart Center is a event venue located on the Fresno State campus and hosts a wide range of events – everything from traveling Cirque du Soleil shows, to music concerts, and it’s also the home of the Fresno State men and women’s Basketball teams! Check their website for the latest events and to buy tickets.

11. Fresno Philharmonic

Fresno’s professional symphony orchestra is in its 63rd season and is an incredible asset to the the community’s arts scene. Each season the Fresno Philharmonic puts on live musical experiences and is also responsible for providing educational programs to students in the Central Valley. My first-every orchestra was at the Fresno Philharmonic – I listened to a mesmerizing symphony of Mahler while a friend was first chair in the orchestra!

12. Old Town Clovis

Old Town Clovis is a charming section of Fresno’s neighboring town, Clovis. The area hosts of a number of things to do including wine walks, an antiques fair, weekly farmers markets, and is home to a number of locally-owned boutiques, cafés, bars, and restaurants.

13. Sun-Maid Raisins Country Store

You know the famous Sun-Maid raisins you get at every grocery store?? Well the world’s largest processor of raisins are dried fruits is located right in the heart of Fresno County. While not in Fresno city, but in the neighboring town of Kingsburg, a trip to the country store is well worth a visit – you’ll learn about the history and how close to 750 family farmers harvest grapes used to make the raisins we eat!

14. Downing Planetarium

Part of the Fresno States Department of Physics, the Downing Planetarium with a 30ft dome was officially opened in 2000 and hosts a variety of shows in its 74-seat star theater. The planetarium uses a Minolta MS-10 star projector and also has a full dome hemispherical mirror projection system which covers the entire dome with a movie! When the weather’s nice, the planetarium takes their telescope outside to look at celestial objects

Seasonal Things to do in Fresno

15. Fresno County Blossom Trail

You’re visiting the agricultural capital of California, and what better way to experience that than by going on a self-guided tour in Eastern Fresno County?! This 62 mile self-guided trail features stone fruit and nut orchards, citrus groves, vineyards and historical points of interest. Peak season is from the end of February till mid-March.

16. Fresno County Fruit Trail

Once May rolls around, the Blossom Trail makes way to turn into the Fruit Trail which takes you through orchards of ripe fruit and is an incredible way to get to know where the produce you eat comes from. You’ll get a chance to buy produce straight from the farm and get to take home some of the best locally grown Fresno honey, nuts, jams, and baked goodies. Check out their website for more information on how to access the trail.

17. Big Fresno Fair

There’s nothing more American than attending a county fair. I’ll never forget the first time I attended the Fresno Fair; got to ride the amusements like I was a 6 again, eat deep-fried oreos, and try my first funnel cake. Ahhh, only in America! The fair is home to 300 vendors, hosts a number of concerts and events, and sees over 600,000 visitors attend each year. It’s definitely not one to be missed if you’re in Fresno in October.

18. Fresno Film Festival

The Fresno Film Festival is organized annually by Fresno Filmworks, an all volunteer non-profit that promotes cinema, and an understanding of world cultures. I used to love attending and one of the main reasons why is because it’s at the historic Tower Theatre in downtown Fresno. The festival features a number of international movies, hosts appearances by filmmakers, social events, and Q&As. Last year’s was held in November – check out more info on the official website.

19. Christmas Tree Lane

A Fresno tradition since 1920, Christmas Tree lane is one of the most fun things to do in Fresno in December. Each December, N. Van Ness Boulevard in Fig Garden becomes a one-way street lined with hundreds of trees and gigantic homes all decked-out for the holidays. There are two days of the month when the street is closed to traffic and hundreds of people walk down the street, marveling at the decorations. Best of all? If you’re on a budget, it’s a free thing to do in Fresno!

20. Hmong New Year Celebrations

Fresno is home to the US’s second largest Hmong population and each year hosts the largest Hmong New Years celebrations in the United States. The celebrations have traditional parades where attendees can watch dances and hear music played on traditional Hmong instruments like the qeej. Traditionally the Hmong New Year was celebrated to mark the end of harvest but now it’s mainly done to preserve Hmong culture and traditions. Interested in tasting Hmong cuisine? Head to SabaiDee Thai Lao Cuisine, Mimi’s Kitchen, and Mamas Asian Noodle House.

Where to Eat & Drink in Fresno

Fresno is quite a diverse city and for culinary travel enthusiasts like myself that means you get to sample a number of cuisines without having to travel too far. To me, the best restaurants in Fresno aren’t fancy, but ones that serve up delicious meals. Here are a few that I frequented during my time living there.

If you want some good Chinese food, head to Hunan Chinese Restaurant. It’s one of my favorite hidden gems in Fresno and serves up authentic Hunan and Szechwan cuisines with a menu designed by Jimmy Liu, an award-winning chef from China.

If you’re looking for somewhere to watch sports and have a good meal, then Doghouse Grill has a table with your name on it. Located right across the street from the Save Mart Center, this grill and sports bar is a favorite with Fresno State students and gets busy in the evenings and on weekends, it’s not uncommon to see a line out the door waiting to place an order. They’re most known for their tri-tip sandwich, but as a veggie lover, I always get their Garden Burger with a basket of fries (trust me, they’re addictive) and multiple sides of ranch.

Another favorite by the university is a restaurant-duo Betty’s Toasted Sandwiches & Uncle Harry’s NY Bagelry. Some of the freshest bagels outside of NY, and Betty’s sandwiches were always filling and the side of cold pasta salad made from sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and olive oil is absolutely to die for. I wish I had got the recipe when I had the chance!

My love for Mexican food stems from my time living in Fresno. I think outside of Mexico (I haven’t been yet, but it’s at the top of my travel list), California is the next best place to try goooooooooood ass Mexican food. And my absolute favorite spot in Fresno, where I got a lot of late night sport burritos, is Robertito’s. It’s nothing fancy, but the tacos and burritos are legit…just the thought of one is making me salivate.

If you’re in the mood for fresh seafood, make a reservation at Pismo’s Coastal Grill located in the Villaggio Shopping Center. They get their fish in fresh daily from the Bay Area and even have a fish market if you want to go shopping.

Fresno has a large Armenian population, and if you’ve never tried Armenian food before now’s your chance! I love AJ’s Armenian Cuisine and Alla’s Armenian Restaurant & Deli. 

I went to college with a couple of kids of Basque origin and was surprised to discover a few Basque restaurants in Fresno! I spent a summer studying abroad in the southwest of France, and our weekends were generally spent heading to San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Bayonne aka Basque Country. Try some Basque cuisine, which is delicious in case you’re wondering, at Santa Fe Basque and Shepherd’s Inn.

If it’s cold out, go and get some pho! The popular Vietnamese dish, pho, is a soup made with rice noodles, a well-seasoned broth, your choice of protein, and topped off with fresh greens. Fresno has a lot of Vietnamese restaurants, but a couple to try are Pho 90 and Huong Lan.

I’m more a vino than beer drinker, but Fresno does have a burgeoning craft brewery scene. Here’s a great post on the best breweries in Clovis. And, if you find yourself in Tower District, stop by Veni Vidi Vici – I’ll never forget visiting after a year in DC and gawking at the cost of a gin-n-ginger – $5!

Where to Stay in Fresno CA

While Fresno and luxury don’t necessarily go together, you will find a collection of hotels that offer dependable accommodation. With a large university and student body at Fresno State, a lot of visitors to Fresno come to drop their kids off to college. So, a lot of hotels are within the vicinity of the Fresno state campus.

Here’s a list of some of the top hotels in Fresno, CA:

Hotel Name	Star Rating	Check Latest Price
Best Western Fresno Airport Hotel	***	Check Price
La Quinta Inn & Suites Fresno Riverpark	***	Check Price
Homewood Suites	***	Check Price
Springhill Suites	***	Check Price

Click here to check even more hotels in Fresno.

The neighboring town of Clovis is also an option when looking for places to stay in Fresno. Here are a few recommendations:

Hotel Name	Star Rating	Check the latest rates and availability
Homewood Suites by Hilton Clovis	***	Check Price
Hampton Inn & Suites Clovis	***	Check Price
Hilton Garden Inn Clovis	***	Check Price

If you can’t find a hotel you like in Fresno, there are other accommodation options. Don’t forget to check out Airbnb for home rentals – here’s $18 off your first trip using Airbnb. And if you’re just planning on stopping by Fresno on your way to the national parks, then I recommend checking out the rentals on HipCamp. There are some cool ranches and cabins you can rent and all of them are located away from the city, and closer to the parks – here’s a $20 credit that you can use on HipCamp.

I hope this post convinces you that Fresno’s more than just a city on your California roadtrip. There’s plenty to see and do in California’s agricultural haven. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve been to Fresno before!

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