Fresno & Clovis California Travel Guide

Some of you may know that I recently moved away from Fresno (like, to Canada) recently after living there for almost four years. It’s my general mission in life to be a tourist in whatever city I’m living in. I’ve found that most people haven’t experienced what their own city has to offer. Anyways, now that I am missing Fresno I thought it would be the perfect time to finallyyyyy make a Fresno travel guide of all my faves!

There are a lot of really great things to do and see in Fresno, but I tried to narrow it down to my faves, which ended up being an insanely long list anyways – ha! So, I broke it down into categories: To Eat (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Dessert, Drinks) To Do (Activities & Shopping), and finally Day Trips, as in 2-3 hour drives. Hope you guys fall in love with Fresno like I did!

PS. I made a walls & murals guide for Fresno and Clovis that you can find HERE!

TO EAT:

BREAKFAST:

Benaddiction

This is easily my husbands favourite breakfast place and is what he wants to eat on his birthday haha! It’s this tiny little place that basically only serves Eggs Benedict, but a tonnn of different variations! It’s so fun and so delicious!

Farm Fresh Bowls

This is one of my faves! It is a little spot with breakfast bowls – different acai bowls, savoury bowls, and egg hash type bowls. It’s so yummy and fresh!

Reinvent Juicery

They make their own juice here, but I go here mainly for their acai bowls – they are so amazing! Plus they are located in Fig Garden which is my fave shopping center!

La Boulangerie De France

They have yummy croissants and breads here at great prices, a really fun breakfast or lunch spot!

Don Pepes 

My husband and I declare this the best breakfast burrito in the city. They also have lunch and dinner options, but their breakfast burrito is where it’s at!

LUNCH & DINNER:

Butterfish

This is probably the place we eat at most!! I also think it’s my husbands legit fave restaurant in the world. Anyways, it’s California poke, but a subway version of that where you make your own. I hate fish, but still love this fish because they have a chicken option!

Heirloom

This was started by the same people who started Butterfish so you know we love it! It’s an upscale counter service restaurant with amazinggg food! We took my dad here when he was visiting and we still often talk about their cashew cauliflower regularly cause it’s just that good!

Jacks Urban Eats

This place has so many yummy things, but the BEST part is their ‘Urban Fries’ (pictured below). I have claimed them as the best fries in the city. They also have great salads and sandwiches!

Quesadilla Gorilla

A true Fresno classic. They just make really delicious quesadillas! They are also located right next to my fave ice cream shop (Ampersand), fave coffee shop (Kuppa Joy), and fave record shop (Tower District Records), so you can really make the perfect date night.

Mayd

A newer spot that opened this year. Another Subway-style restaurant but this time with Mediterranean bowls! Their ‘naakos’ (naan tacos) are also amazing!

El Premio Mayor

Fresno naturally has a lot of really great taco places and we have made it our mission to try as many as possible. I personally think that this is the best one!

House of Juju (CLOVIS)

This is another spot we go to pretty often! I alwaysss get their sliders cause you can choose three different kinds (but the blue cheese is best), and their roasted potatoes with their homemade dipping sauces. So delicious!

DESSERT:

Ampersand Ice Cream

Hands down the best ice cream place in the city. They now have a few locations (yay)! All of their flavors are yummy and so unique, and their seasonal flavors are always fun. However, the honeycomb is the BEST and I will never not order it.

Sno Cafe

A New Orleans inspired snowball truck! It goes all over the city and is pretty easy to find, just check their Instagram! It really is a must try!

Crave Cookies

A local cookie shop that you can also order online! The biggest, softest, most delicious cookies!

Donut Fantasy

I’m not going to lie, Fresno doesn’t have the best donut scene, but Donut Fantasy is easily the best in the city with unique flavors and cronuts!

Roll Me Some (CLOVIS)

Our fave rolled ice cream! They have a bunch of fun favors with fun toppings! Plus it is located in Old Town Clovis, so it’s the perfect place to walk around and eat your ice cream!

DRINK:

Kuppa Joy

Fresno has a few great coffee shops, but Kuppa Joy is EASILY our fave. My family joked about moving to Fresno just for Kuppa Joy – ha! My go-to is an iced Kuppa Joy – love, love, love.

Boba Addict

I’m a big boba fan, and have tried sooo many boba spots in Fresno and this one is my fave! They have split cups so that you can try two favors, plus their taro flavor is delish!

Hi-Top Coffee

Another great Fresno coffee shop! Easily the cutest and most Instagrammable if you’re into that sort of thing! I feel like true coffee connoisseurs claim this one as the best.

Sweet Life Boba

This Boba place is so fun and has soooo many fun options on their menu – like insane! They have a ton of unique things which is why I love it!

The Revue

Another great coffee shop in the heart of the tower district. This one has the best outdoor and indoor seating for really hanging out.

TO DO:

ACTIVITIES:

Walls & Murals

I’ve already made a post with alll of the best walls and murals in Fresno and Clovis! Find it HERE!

Underground Gardens

One of the very coolest attractions in Fresno that nobody ever talks about! It’s basically a hugeeee underground home built by Baldasare Forestiere, an immigrant from Sicily, over a period of 40 years from 1906 to his death in 1946. It is all made of stone, it’s so beautiful and unique – a must!

Gazebo Gardens

This is a plant shop but on Thursday – Saturday nights they have a ton of food trucks come, it’s a great way to spend an evening!

Woodward Park

My fave park in Fresno! I’ve had many picnics here and we love it!

Vineyard Farmers Market

This farmers market open on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings is the cutesttt spot to pick up some local produce!

Old Town Clovis (Clovis)

Probably one of my very favourite places. It’s such an adorable little area with some of my fave shops, coffee shops and restaurants. I just love walking around here so much.

Botanical Gardens (Clovis)

Another spot that is never talked about but so pretty, a great place to walk around and take photos!

Old Town Farmers Market (Clovis)

My fave farmers market! It’s Friday nights during the summer/fall, it’s huge with live music, food trucks, fresh produce and local goods! I love it!

Old Town Trail

I LOVE biking or walking this trail! It takes you to Old Town Clovis (which I love) and it is so beautifully kept, there’s bridges and tons of trees! It’s one of my fave activities.

TO SHOP:

Shop KLSD

I’ve loved KLSD’s online shop for years, so it was very exciting when she opened her own store! She sells a mix of her own apparel and other beautiful goods that she’s curated.

Fig Garden

My fave shopping center! It’s all outdoors, so pretty, with more upscale stores like Madewell and Anthropologie. Some of our fave restaurants like Jack’s Urban Eats are here!

Flora Flower Cart

Fun fact, I started this little flower business many years ago. I am no longer involved, but it is still so so cute! You can see the cart at popups to make your own bouquet, order one online for delivery, and they are now opening a storefront – woo!

Tower District Records

I loveee this record shop! I have found so many gems here! It’s high quality, organized well and they staff are so helpful!

Evergreen Garden Center (Clovis)

My FAVE plant shop ever! It’s fun to just to walk around, they have both indoor and outdoor plants. You have no idea the hours I’ve spent and the amount of plants I’ve purchased from here!!

Foundry Collective (Clovis)

My favorite boutique! They have both clothing and home decor, I often go here to buy gifts because everything is so beautiful!

Foliage (Clovis)

My friend started this ADORABLE house plant shop that is located in Old Town Clovis! She has the best house plants, hosts workshops, and teaches you how to care for your new plant babies!

DAY TRIPS:

These are all locations that you could drive to in 2-3 hours from Fresno, that make great day trips!

Sequoia National Park

This national park is nice and close, and is a really, really beautiful park full of GIANT sequoia trees! It also has the largest tree IN. THE. WORLD. called General Sherman which is obviously worth seeing!

Yosemite

This is an obvious must see! One of the most beautiful national parks in America! It’s close to Fresno and has a ton of walks, hikes, and views. We like the classic tunnel view, walking up to the Yosemite falls, the Mirror Lake Trail, and Glacier Point.

Pincushion Hike

This is the best and closest hike to Fresno, it’s uphill but not too hard, has amazing views from the top, plus you’ll probably see lots of random cows along the way – ha! It’s so beautiful our friends even got engaged at the top of the hike!

Madera Drive Inn

Who doesn’t love a classic drive in movie?! This one has snacks and we loved watching a movie here – so fun!

Genesis Organic Farm

I got it in my mind one year that I wanted to go Apple picking, turns out a farm that does U-Pick is hard to find in the Fresno area. Anyways, I found this one and we made it a fall tradition. They have apples, pluots, a cucamelon (teeny cucumber type fruit) maze, and some animals. We love it!

Millerton Lake

We often come here with friends, it’s a great lake to go swimming in, with lots of spots to sit and relax. It’s very close to Fresno, so it’s a great spot for a lake day.

Avila Beach

Definitely my favourite beach nearby. The little town it’s in is SO, SO cute, plus the beach is beautiful and not too busy. We like to walk to the end of the beach to explore the caves and spot starfish.

Madonna Inn

This hotel is on the way to Avila beach, and we love to stop on the way and eat at the restaurant – they have the BEST monte cristo sandwich, they also have great iced tea that comes with a sugar stick (rock candy). The interior is stunning and worth the stop.

That’s it for my Fresno & Clovis California Travel Guide. Fresno tends to get a bad rap, but living there I really fell in love with it! It’s a great city and just getting better! Let me know if you visit any of the spots on this list – I’d love to hear, just tag or DM me @mikylacreates on Instagram.