Even though it’s toasty out right now in my favorite city, there’s still so much fun and joy to be had. This time of year, I manage my dislike of hot weather by mimicking the lifestyle of crepuscular animals: I stay hidden and indoors when the sun is out, then have all my fun in the evenings once it goes down. Foxes, deer, skunks, and cats have the right idea, if you ask me!
This year, I put together a Fresno Summer Bucket List to make sure I don’t spend the whole season hiding at home from the heat. Our city has so much to offer all year long, and I want to soak up as much of it as I can.
Here are the local things I have on my summer bucket list. I’d love to hear yours too, so let me know in the comments!
1. Downtown Fresno Ghost Tour
US Ghost Adventures just added Fresno to their lineup, offering historical tours packed with eerie ghost stories and human interest tales about landmarks you’ve probably driven by a hundred times, seen in a whole new light (or should I say dark). My family and I went on one of their tours in Monterey last fall, and it was one of the most fun things I’ve done in years. I can’t wait to check out the Fresno version, and since our summer evenings cool down without getting cold, it feels like the perfect season for it.
2. Visit the Fresno Art Museum
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that the last time I went, I was a kid tagging along on my mom’s college photography assignment. I really want to support Fresno’s local galleries and museums, and since the museum is indoors and air conditioned, summer feels like the perfect excuse to finally go back. (Note: They are actively doing an exhibit change, but will reopen with all new exhibits on August 1.)
3. Sanger Lotus Pond and Night Market
I’ve been meaning to visit the beautiful floating lotus pond just east of Fresno and enjoy the delicious street food at their evening night market. I’m making it a point to go soon, and I’ll be sure to share photos here afterward!
4. Vineyard Farmer’s Market
It’s stone fruit season everywhere, but we’re lucky to have some of the best peaches, plums, and nectarines in the country growing right here in the Valley. I want to hit up the Vineyard Farmer’s Market early on a Saturday morning before it gets too warm, grab a pastry from the La Boulangerie booth, stock up on stone fruit and berries, and maybe pick up some fresh flowers for the kitchen table. It’s so colorful and beautiful there this time of year!
5. Learn to Make Cheese at Basilwood Farms
This has been on my to-do list for a while now. It looks like so much fun to learn to make three different kinds of cheese and then enjoy a tasting at Basilwood Farms, up in the foothills just above Fresno. Fair warning if this sounds fun to you too: their classes don’t happen super often and they fill up fast, so keep an eye on their social media and website if you want a spot. I learned that the hard way, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait!
If any of these ideas sound fun to you, click the links in each section for more details so you can join in on the local summer fun. Now I have to know: what’s on YOUR Fresno Summer Bucket List?
- My Fresno Summer Bucket List - July 17, 2026
- Meet the Fresno Cleaner Going Viral for Keeping It Real: Suhaila Mendoza’s Pure Essence Story - July 8, 2026
- Masa Madre Is Open: A Beloved Fresno Family Restaurant Reimagined - July 2, 2026
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