Correct me if I’m wrong, but there are few things more joy inducing than having a holiday line up with a weekend, giving many families several days off in a row. I know I’m excited, that’s for sure! Fresno’s heat can make planning fun things to do with the family a little but tricky, seeing as melting family members and bbq guests is somewhat undesirable. To help make planning a little easier for you, I’ve put together a Fresno-heat friendly list of 5 fun things you can do with your family this holiday weekend, I hope you enjoy it!
1. Eat a delicious all-American meal from a family-owned Fresno institution: Triangle Drive-In
Triangle Drive-In has been a Fresno favorite for decades, with many families making the trek for burgers at Belmont and 99 despite often living nowhere near the area. It’s a great pre or post Chaffee Zoo or Storyland-Playland visit meal, however Triangle now has a second location on Barstow and First, making it easier for those of us living a bit further from the original location to enjoy those delicious seasoned burgers and old-fashioned crinkle fries. The 50’s style decor, friendly employees and cold AC make eating-in a fun, family experience.
2. Visit the Island Water Park at a discounted price
The two Fresno-area water parks aren’t the cheapest places to visit with the family if you haven’t planned ahead and purchased discounted season passes in the off-season, however, with a discount code and a little preparation, a visit to the Island Water Park can be enjoyed somewhat economically. First, purchase your tickets online for 30% off using the code WAVE4 at checkout. Next, pack up your own sandwiches, drinks and snacks to enjoy in the park. You’re allowed to bring in ice chests, so long as you avoid glass, alcohol and knives. If it’s been a few years since you’re last trip to the Island, you can look forward to increased shady spots to relax and enjoy your food too! Plus, if you go to the park on the 4th, 5th or 6th you can also enjoy a great fireworks show after sunset.
3. Make s’mores in your backyard, without a firepit
Our friends recently came over for a bbq with a grocery bag in hand, filled with wooden skewers, marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey bars and Sterno gel fuel cans. Not sure why that idea had never come to me before, but I was impressed at my friends’ foresight. Sterno gel fuel can be purchased inexpensively ($3) and a single can lasted us plenty long enough for two families to make multiple s’mores each. We enjoyed our s’mores after dark when the air was cooler and best of all, the Sterno cans are clean burning, so they won’t contribute to the Valley’s air pollution problem.
4. Bounce around at the new indoor Aerosports Trampoline Park
My son and I visited Aerosports last Monday for the first time, and wow is that a fun place to spend a few hours! With at least 6 large trampoline courts (two of which empty into massive foam pits!) a bounce house/obstacle course area and interactive virtual soccer game your family is sure to have a blast. Parents who need a chance to relax while kids get their energy out may also enjoy the wifi lounge in the center of the action. Aerosports’ cold AC keeps everyone comfortable while they jump around and enjoy rounds of dodgeball or have a flip competition into the pits. (Snag tickets for 50% off on Groupon, plus enter the code FUN15 to save an additional 15% off the Groupon price through July 7th, making the cost just $15.30 for two hours of jump time for two people – normally $36).
5. Enjoy a flick and affordable concessions at Clovis Towne Center 8 theater
The $3 theater is now the $3.75 theater, but still a heck of a deal! This weekend, families can enjoy Spiderman 2 or Rio 2 in the cold a.c. while snacking on popcorn, fruit snacks and a soda (the “zap pack”) for just $5 (or $6 if you’d like to upgrade to an Icee). As far as movie fare goes, this is definitely a bargain. Click the link above for show times.
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