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Here are 6 fun and unique ways to celebrate Valentine’s weekend in Fresno

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

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Valentine's weekend

Let FresYes be your guide to creative, local dates this Valentine’s weekend

Ah… Valentine’s Day. Is it a holiday made up by retailers to ensure profits in an otherwise slow month or a truly romantic, love-filled day?

Though opinions vary, odds are if you’re part of a couple, your other half may be hoping (secretly) or hinting (not even close to secretly) to spend some one-on-one time together celebrating your relationship. If so, I may be of help!

To help you plan the perfect Valentine’s date, I’ve rounded up for you six fun, unique and Fresno-centric ways to celebrate the sweetest of days with your sweetheart (and all in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, so you can hopefully avoid big crowds, too!)

Valentine's weekend

1. Catch Dirty Dancing at the Crest Theatre

Enjoy a fun, throwback flick in a beautiful, vintage theater at a super affordable price!

Take your date to see 1987’s hit film Dirty Dancing at the historic Crest Theatre in downtown Fresno on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $5 each and concessions are available for purchase as well. (And for more reasonable prices than you’re likely used to.)

2. Enjoy a coffee brewing class

Are you and your better half coffee enthusiasts? You may enjoy spending the morning together learning how to perfect the perfect pour-over at The Revue’s Pour-Over Tutorial taking place on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m.

Instruction will be provided on how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home, and afterwards you can relax in The Revue’s bright and comfortable cafe while enjoying a Whiskey Caramel Latte. (You know you want one. I want one!)

3. Learn to make chocolate mousse 

Need some chocolate for your Valentine? Tree of Life is happy to offer you the chance to learn how to make their delicious chocolate mousse plus feed you and your date a delicious chicken parm sandwich and soup dinner for just $15 per person.

The class takes place on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (559) 663-7776.

Valentine's weekend

My husband and I at last year’s Wine & Chocolate Weekend

4. Hop the Golden Eagle trolley to Wine & Chocolate Weekend

My husband and I have enjoyed this event—which takes you to several Fresno County wineries—for the last several years. It’s so much fun to ride the bus and just relax knowing you don’t have to worry about finding someone to drive you while you enjoy wine tasting and shopping. And so far, on this weekend each year, the weather has been phenomenal!

This year, the Golden Eagle charter bus will load at 10 a.m. and visit five Fresno County wineries, returning you by 5 p.m. The price per person is $35, and that includes your wristband for wine tasting at all five wineries. (Bring your own glass, or you’ll need to buy one at your first stop, fyi.)

The Fresno County Wine Trail Wine & Chocolate Weekend event takes place both Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11. Call Golden Eagle Charter at (559) 275-2910 to reserve your seats.

5. Enjoy a succulent planting class

Succulents have experienced a surge in popularity thanks to their drought-tolerant nature and attractive appearance. Want to build your own heart-shaped succulent garden with your honey and learn more about beautiful succulent varieties together?

RSVP for Gazebo Gardens’ succulent planter workshop taking place Sunday, Feb. 11 from 2-3:30 p.m. Included with the class are the materials you need to create your own succulent garden in a wooden, heart-shaped planter, as well as your first drink (beer, soda, or something from Café Van Ness). Cost is $45 per person in advance ($50 day of), and only 20 seats are available, so if you’re interested in this option, I’d book promptly.

6. Take a chocolate tour

Valentine's weekend

Learn how cacao beans become chocolate at Raphio Chocolate

Fresno-based Raphio Chocolate, located at Bullard and First, offers an amazing tour and educational experience at their micro factory. I’ve had the chance to take this tour in the past (learn more about my experience here), and it would make for such a fun date!

Raphio makes top-quality, artisan chocolate from cacao beans that they source from regions across the globe. And yes, owner Elisia Otavi will be sure to provide you with opportunities to taste the difference between the chocolates from a variety of origins.

Reserve a spot for yourself and your main squeeze in the tour taking place Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. here.

…

Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Date Night Fresno hosts “The Grape Escape” couples event Sunday

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

Latest posts by Natali Carrera (see all)

Have you heard about Date Night Fresno yet? Local entrepreneurs Tyler and Michelle Turk founded Date Night Fresno earlier this year as an extension of their subscription “date in a box” service, Crated with Love, and launched with their “Roasted with Love” event back in May of 2017.

My husband and I along with some friends attended the Roasted with Love event and had a great time sampling coffee from Lanna Coffee and artisan chocolate from Raphio Chocolate. Tyler and Michelle had coordinated a number of couples’ competitions and challenges, and had prizes for the winners. It was a fun way to spend time with my guy and something different from the typical meal-and-a-movie date many of us tend to fall into. (Check out more about our first Date Night Fresno experience here.)

Having fun with other local couples, competing in a coffee-themed challenge at the first Date Night Fresno event

If you missed the first event but would like to get in on the next, there’s good news: Date Night Fresno’s second event is just around the corner!

The Grape Escape: A Wine Adventure For Couples 

Grape Escape

What: On the next adventure, the Date Night Fresno crew will take you through the wine-making process at the beautiful Kings River Winery in Sanger.

You’ll begin at the vine to learn more about the grapes, then get a little dirty grape stompin’. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor (or someone else’s labor) by tasting a variety of Kings River Winery’s delicious wine. You’ll also get to see the bottling process—with a fun couples twist.

In true Date Night Fresno fashion, there will be a couples wine competition where you and your partner will get to battle it out with other couples for the chance to win awesome prizes.

A personalized wood-fired pizza is included for each person with the cost of tickets.

Go for the wine and pizza, make new couple friends as a bonus.

Who: All couples are welcome

When: Sunday, Aug. 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: Kings River Winery, 4276 South Greenwood Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657

Why: Tyler and Michelle Turk founded Crated with Love in 2014 while attending Fresno State. After noticing how much stronger their bond was after committing to date night, they knew other couples would benefit as well. With their newest program, Date Night Fresno, Tyler and Michelle strive to offer local couples fun and unique date opportunities while helping to support other small businesses.

Tickets: $50 per couple, available online through Eventbrite here.

Here’s What It’s Like to Attend Date Night Fresno

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

Latest posts by Natali Carrera (see all)

Recently on this site, Sarah introduced you to the local husband and wife team behind the company Crated with Love, and I told you about their event, Roasted with Love – a couples’ coffee- and chocolate-tasting paired with a competition complete with prizes.

Last Saturday, my husband and I attended the event, and since it was Crated with Love’s first Date Night Fresno event, I thought you might be interested in hearing how it went and what we did.

date night fresno

Lanna Coffee Co. located in downtown Fresno made for a great venue for the first Date Night Fresno event

Roasted with Love was hosted at Lanna Coffee Co. in downtown Fresno, and featured on-site roasted coffee as well as food from local restaurant Benaddiction and artisan chocolate from Raphio Chocolate.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Crated with Love staff, who checked us in and provided us with tasty, made-to-order breakfast burritos from Benaddiction and invited us to relax and enjoy some coffee while we waited for everyone to arrive and check in.

The Competition

Once everyone had a chance to enjoy their food, Crated with Love co-founder Tyler Turk explained how the couples competition would work. There were six stations set up around the room that provided couples with a different challenge, each focusing on either coffee or chocolate. The stations we experienced were as follows:

1. Coffee Taste Testing

We tasted three different roasts of Lanna coffee and had to match the coffee to the package based on the description (we got 100% on this on our first try – we were off to a good start!)

date night fresno

2. Thai Trivia

Lanna Coffee uses profits to provide clean drinking water to Thailand. At this station, we learned more about its mission, and answered a multiple choice quiz. (We got 4 out of 5 right. Not too shabby.)

3. Coffee Bean Stacking

This station reminded me of a “Minute to Win It” type game. The objective was to stack three coffee beans on top of each other, and my husband and I had to take turns placing beans on the stack. This challenge was super difficult and frustrating! Next time, I’m whipping out some eyelash glue and cheating! Kidding. Mostly…

date night fresno

4. Chocolate Tasting

We were treated to a chocolate-tasting with Raphio Chocolate owner, Elisia Makmur, who had us taste four different varieties of chocolate and guess which variety was which based on taste and description. (We got 100% on this one – woot, woot!)

5. Chocolate Quality Quiz

At this station, we tasted four different chocolate bars and had to determine which had the greatest amount of actual cacao in it, as well as the fewest added ingredients. (I was really surprised at the results of this test, and we only got one right!)

6. Blindfolded Communication Game

The final station consisted of a pile of cacao beans painted coral and aqua and a pair of color-coded jars for each couple. Our task was to blindfold one partner and communicate using words only, so that the blindfolded partner could pick up the beans and place as many as possible into the corresponding colored jar. We did pretty well at this one, though it was challenging!

date night fresno

At each station, we had the opportunity to earn raffle tickets, and after all couples had a chance to participate in all six stations, Tyler held a raffle and gave away four prizes: A gift certificate to Lanna Coffee, a wine and chocolate basket, and 6- and 12-month subscriptions to his monthly date box subscription, Crated with Love.

Unfortunately, we didn’t win any raffle prizes, but every couple who attended still received a free Crated with Love sample box, complete with Lanna Coffee and Raphio Chocolate inside, and we all had a great time.

Following the event, Crated with Love followed up with a guest experience survey and a code for 50% off a first month of their date box subscription.

Future Date Night Fresno Events

Crated with Love is currently planning additional Date Night Fresno events, including an Old Town Clovis Scavenger Hunt and a Cocktail Making Class/Party. Follow them on Facebook for info on future events.

Overall, we had a great time at the first Date Night Fresno event and would definitely consider attending future events planned by Tyler and Michelle Turk.

date night fresno

Hubs and I, with coffee, sans parenting responsibilities – yup, we’re happy!

‘Roasted with Love’ Combines Coffee, Chocolate, Brunch and Competition

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

Latest posts by Natali Carrera (see all)

When was the last time you went on a day time date? Been awhile? Are you competitive, and a fan of chocolate, coffee, and prizes? If so, have I got an event to share with you!

Roasted with love

Recently, I was on the Eventbrite website and noticed a section titled “Events Happening Near You.” As I quickly scrolled through the section, an event caught my eye: “Roasted with Love – Couples’ Chocolate and Coffee Tasting.”

The event, which is just $30 to attend, includes chocolate tasting from the amazing Raphio Chocolate (check out my article on my recent visit to their Fresno-based, artisan micro-factory), coffee tasting from Lanna Coffee Co, AND brunch from the amazing Benaddiction!

(If you’ve never had their Grand Illusions French Toast sticks, which are rolled in crushed graham crackers before being quickly deep-fried to golden perfection, you’re going to need to remedy that promptly.)

Roasted with love

An event with coffee…

Roasted with love

… and Raphio chocolate! How could you go wrong?

In addition to the coffee, chocolate, and delicious brunch, couples in attendance will also receive a Roasted with Love gift bag, meet other highly competitive, fun-loving couples who also love coffee, chocolate, and brunch and compete in coffee- and chocolate-themed games and challenges for prizes.

The event, which is hosted by Date Night Fresno, is open to all couples and will take place at Lanna Coffee Co. in downtown Fresno at 617 Broadway St., on Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Date Night Fresno is from the creators of Crated with Love, a popular date-in-a-box subscription service known for coming up with creative and affordable date ideas.

For tickets to this event, visit Eventbrite and register. You’ll be given instructions and the opportunity to submit both a team name for you and your date as well as brunch orders. Considering you receive brunch for two, plus the chocolate and coffee tastings, gift bags, and potentially prizes, I’d say $30 is a fantastic price! I wouldn’t wait on it though – space is limited to 50 couples.

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Opening this weekend: Breakout Fresno!

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FresYes Writing Team

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Ok Fresno, stop what you’re doing, pause the multi-tasking for a moment, and check out our newest, local business celebrating their grand opening this weekend – Breakout Fresno! Breakout Fresno is an AWESOME, new entertainment option in which you, along with your family, friends or coworkers enter into a room with one goal in mind: to solve the problem at hand in order to successfully “escape”!

Breakout Fresno!

I had the honor of taking a group of friends through a Breakout Fresno experience this past weekend and I can honestly say this is one of THE most fun things I’ve ever done. We came SO close to breaking out, but even though we didn’t, we still had SUCH a great time! We’ve been messaging each other since, exclaiming, “That was SO cool!” and “I want to do it again!”

(FYI: I have included a few images from our visit, however we were VERY careful not to show any spoilers, and if you go, PLEASE maintain the integrity of the game by not sharing solutions/spoilers with others or online.)

Breakout Fresno!

Here’s how it works:

  • You arrive in a group of at least two, but up to six (the more people in your crew, the better, as you’ll have more brains to access and be able to come at a problem from multiple viewpoints)
  • Your game master reviews the rules with you and lets you know how your experience will begin and how you proceed through it
  • You’ll be shown into a room and a narrator will introduce you to the scenario you have just walked into
  • Your objective will be to work together, with your team over the course of one hour, to use your surroundings, clues that come up on a video monitor and good old fashioned critical thinking in order to successfully “escape” out the other side of the room, through a locked door

Breakout Fresno!

Questions you’re probably going to ask:

  • “I saw something similar on the Bachelorette, it was a scary room! Is this scary?”
    • This is not scary at all. It is simply a timed, story-based situation you will need to think through to solve. Though it is exciting, it is not scary.
  • “I’m claustrophobic! I can’t be locked in a room!”
    • You can exit the door you entered at any time, if for some reason you needed to, but the room is just a normal, good-sized room, this isn’t anything you need to worry about.
  • “What are the problems/stories/rooms about?”
    • Currently, there are two scenarios available and up to 3 groups can go into rooms at a time. For details on the two scenarios, “Sabbotage” and “Wanted” check out the room descriptions here.
  • “What if I don’t have 6 people in my group?”
    • You can still play, but you may be asked to join another group with fewer than 6 people, or you may not be as successful as you would with more people to help you problem solve.
  • “What does it cost?”
    • $28/person for 2-3 people, $26/person for 4 people, $24/more than 4 people. A 20% discount will be available if you sign up for email updates and make a reservation during their opening month, even if the reservation is for a future date.
  • “Can kids go?”
    • Technically, kids 12 and older can attend with a parent, or older teens can participate. Children younger than 12 are not allowed, mainly because the problems are just too complex and not something a young child could solve/fully understand, not because of anything inappropriate. Really, this is geared toward grownups and it’s worth planning for a sitter, I promise.

Intrigued yet? You should be! If you love suspense, puzzles, riddles, solving problems and working together with others – you will love the thrilling rush offered by Breakout Fresno.

Owners, Brian and Sarah Clem, are excited to be introducing the “escape room” style business to Fresno, after experiencing something similar and falling in love with it on a recent trip to Philadelphia. “We get excited when each new group goes into a room! It’s fun for us, too!” says Sarah.

Breakout Fresno!

To book your visit, or find out additional information about the Breakout Fresno experience, visit their website, like their Facebook page and sign up for their email updates (scroll to the bottom of the home page).

With a strong showing of interest and engagement from the community, the Clems look forward to expanding story options and offering additional scenarios in the near future, so come out and show them how much we love this innovative new idea!

Why we love Piazza del Pane (and think you should, too!)

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FresYes Writing Team

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On any given weekend night, when my husband and I are lucky enough to have a sitter and the opportunity to enjoy a date night out together, there comes an inevitable conversation that goes something like this:

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t care, I’m just happy to go out, what sounds good to you?”

“Honestly, I don’t care either – pick something?”

“I don’t want to pick, you pick!”

And so on, and so forth.

I’m fairly sure this conversation occurs for about 90% of couples who’ve been together for some time. When this happens to us, we have a “fall back” place that makes us both happy – and that, is Piazza del Pane.

Piazza del Pane

What surprises me, is how often Piazza del Pane is relatively quiet on a Friday or Saturday night, which is what prompted me to write about them this week. While I don’t want them to suddenly become too packed for us to easily get in, I also want to see them do well so that they’ll be around for years to come!

Piazza del Pane started with its original location on Cedar and Nees, offering counter-order lunches and full-service dinners in a beautiful yet cozy and comfortable atmosphere, complete with see-through fireplace and relaxing patio seating. Their paninis, pastas, gelato and espresso drinks were always well-made and delivered by attentive, polite, yet unobtrusive servers.

Upon the completion of Pane’s second location at Palm and Herndon (“Palmdon Drive”), my husband and I found ourselves visiting more often for dinner, as it was closer to home for us. The dinner menu expanded, offering selections beyond contemporary California-Italian choices and adding comfort-food classics like wine-braised ribs and an exceptional Pane burger. (I know, your instinct wouldn’t be to go to Piazza del Pane and order a burger, but trust me – you should! It’s my favorite entrée on their menu! And I’m not even a big burger-eater/ordered typically.)

More recently, the restaurants added full bars and enclosed patios with heaters and fireplaces. This additional upgrade is what made Piazza del Pane my husband and my favorite date night spot. The patio on Palm and Herndon offers pleasant outdoor seating in an uncovered patio that is almost always uncrowded, in addition to the covered patio seating. The new addition of a happy hour appetizer and drink menu makes gourmet apps incredibly affordable, yet luxurious to enjoy. This past Saturday night, we ordered their Fried Brie (cheat day, don’t judge!) and it was served with olive oil and herb-brushed crostini, sliced fresh strawberries, apples and grapes as well as a side of honey for drizzling. I’m pretty sure I could enjoy eating this combination of foods every day and never tire of it!

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The service we enjoy on the patio is always attentive, even when we sit away from the rest of the crowd we’re not forgotten and our drinks are always refilled. Beyond the Fried Brie appetizer, some of my other favorite foods to enjoy from the Pane menu include their house salad (the balsamic dressing is absolutely fantastic!), their lightly tempura-battered sweet potato fries with aioli dipping sauce (my favorite sweet potato fries in town), and if it’s on the menu when you go – you should try the Gemelli Pasta with Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Basil Cream Sauce – so good! (I make a wannabe copy-cat version at home using Trader Joe’s Tomato Cream Sauce. Good in a pinch, but Piazza del Pane’s version still wins for sure.)

The bread served with dinner is soft, freshly baked and lightly herbed and comes with an herb and garlic whipped butter spread. (Ok, I’m drooling on my keyboard now, dangit!) and my favorite cocktail at Piazza del Pane, is their Cherry Limonata. Since we’re already talking fried cheese and sweet potato fries, we may as well go all out and say you need to try their exceptional crème brûlée. It’s a wonderful dessert to share, and a great way to end a delicious meal.

Piazza del Pane has hosted holiday luncheons for the company I work for, for the past two years (and has done an exceptional job) and both locations are wonderful for bridal or baby showers and other private party events, as you can reserve the whole patio. Additionally, both locations offer a tasty and reasonably priced Sunday brunch, so if you’re into brunching with friends and family, so be sure to give that a try as well.

Now that I’ve shouted from the rooftops (err… webtops?) about how wonderful Piazza del Pane is, please make it a point to go enjoy eating their soon, especially during the spring and summer when you can enjoy eating in the uncovered patio area at the Palm location – you’ll love it! Oh, but just don’t all go at once, because the lack of excessive crowds is one of the greatest things about the restaurant – visit in a steady stream, kthanks! 😉

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FresYes Places: North Fresno Batting Range

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Natali Carrera

Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her twelve-year-old son, husband of 17 years and bargain hunting at Target. She works in the field of education and is also a freelance writer and YouTube vlogger (as a hobby). She's been told "bubbly" is the best descriptor of her personality, though she wonders if what people really mean is that she talks too much. Natali is a lifelong Fresno resident and Fresno State grad.

Latest posts by Natali Carrera (see all)

A couple of weeks ago, I shared information about Future Prospects indoor batting cages and baseball training facility here on FresYes. A fantastic facility with lots to offer, and the advantage of being entirely climate controlled – Future Prospects is a great place to sharpen your skills before hitting the diamond. However, there is another hidden gem in the Fresno baseball world that I feel deserves mention as well. Even if there isn’t anyone in your immediate family who plays baseball or softball, I think almost anyone can enjoy hitting some balls for practice or pleasure at the North Fresno Batting Range.

Though unassuming from the road, North Fresno Batting Range is a nostalgic and functional hidden gem

Though unassuming from the road, North Fresno Batting Range is a nostalgic and functional hidden gem

The North Fresno Batting Range is located at 5365 N. Parkway Drive in Fresno, and you’ll see it just before you hit the entrance to the Island Waterpark. Unlike the Island, North Fresno Batting Range has been in this location for as long as I can remember (and I used to ride in the car with my parents or on the school bus down Parkway Drive daily as a kid – so, that’s a fairly long time). Pulling up to the dirt lot parking area, you won’t be blown away by modern amenities like free wi-fi and leather chairs like you would at Future Prospects, but there’s a certain laid-back charm to North Fresno that makes you feel nostalgic walking in. The shady trees, friendly people working the token window and spacious viewing area make North Fresno pleasant for families and other spectators and the varied pitching speeds, ball types and multiple cages make North Fresno a very functional and enjoyable place for players to practice their hitting.

North Fresno Batting Range

 

If you find yourself on the Northwest side of Fresno on a Friday evening, I’d encourage you to make an evening of going to dinner then hitting some balls at North Fresno Batting Range. We did that with our neighbors and their kids a couple of weeks ago, and even us grown-ups got in the cages for fun. I’ve never played softball in my life (well, once, in junior high for the youth group – but anyone on that team would agree I didn’t truly “play” softball…) but I had a blast swinging away and happily even making contact every few pitches. I’d even suggest hitting this batting cage as a fun part of a date night or as a way to release stress on your own!

North Fresno Batting Range

North Fresno Batting Range

North Fresno Batting Range offers affordable pricing and token-based pitching machines. Helmets and bats are available for use and the range is open 7 days a week. (I took photos of the pricing and hours signs for your convenience.)

I hope you’ll go enjoy some batting practice – either to get ready for the next big game, or just to have some fun at North Fresno Batting Range soon. I’ve been twice in 3 weeks, and look forward to going back again (even if it’s with my little-big guy who’s copping some attitude in the photo below ;-)).

North Fresno Batting Range