Sunday – Thursday 10am to 8pm
Friday – Saturday 10am to 10pm
General admission $10
Children 12 and Under $8
(includes parking validation and skate rental)
Where: Fulton Mall
The downtown area keeps getting better and we can’t think of a cooler way to celebrate the coming Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year holidays than by ice skating outdoor!
The Underground Gardens are the life-long devotion and
hobby of Baldassare Forestiere (1879-1946), a Sicilian
immigrant who came to America in 1901 to escape the
iron rule of his wealthy father and pursue his own
dreams. The Gardens are a subterranean complex of
patios, grottos, and garden courts interconnecting with
passageways that encircle the living quarters of the self-
taught artist and builder who sought to escape the brutal
heat of Fresno summers.
Forestiere patterned his underground world after the
ancient catacombs, which he so admired as a boy.
Arches and passageways dominate the underground
landscape while the stonework provides stability and
beauty. But unlike the dark catacombs that protected the
remnants of the lifeless, Forestiere designed well-lit
courtyards and grottos to bring forth the radiance and
vitality of life.
No plans were put on paper; each room and
passageway originated in Forestiere’s mind as he
worked. With the simple tools of a farmer—a pick, a
shovel, and a wheelbarrow—the young immigrant dug,
chipped, and carved the unforgiving hardpan land for 40
years (1906-1946) in his spare time. By the time he was
44 years-old, he had excavated and planted over 10
acres.
But the humble immigrant’s genius did not stop there.
Incredibly, Forestiere planted multiple varieties of fruit-
bearing plants at different underground levels. Oranges,
lemons, grapefruits—many on a single tree—as well as
more unusual varieties like kumquat, loquat, jujube,
strawberry, quince, and dates could be easily plucked
from the surface by simply bending down. Wine and
table grapes also grace this sanctuary, and dangle
lusciously in great clumps every-where—truly an oasis in
a modern-day desert of pavement.
The Cracked Pepper Bistro is said to have the BEST and BIGGEST ‘bread pudding’ dessert in town. With 81 reviews on Yelp, totaling nearly a 5 star rating, this restaurant is definitely worth trying out. Who said the city of Fresno can’t accomodate foodies?!
There really are a million things to do in Fresno, and biking is definitely one of them. The ‘I Bike Fresno‘ group can help keep you up-to-date on all biking events in and around the Fresno area. Check out their resources page for bike clubs, where to shop, where to ride and more!
Below is a poster for their upcoming Halloween event. Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook.
While this place is a good 30 minute drive outside of Fresno, it still made our Million Cool Things To Do in Fresno cut. Hillcrest Christmas Tree Farm is the oldest in the San Joaquin Valley. Founded in 1960 by Ed and Bonnie Toews (pronounced Taves), it has been at its current location ever since. Right now the place is GOING OFF in the harvest/pumpkin department. What a fun place. Check it out for sure these next couple of weeks if you get a chance.
Come on, you can’t tell us that you don’t like shopping here from time to time. Handbags, heels and hotness await you at this affordable establishment.
Uhhh, ok, my husband just wrote that. He’s not very funny.
From Yelp:
“The Fresno Brewing Company is a hidden, local gem in Fresno’s Fulton Mall. I often walk the five blocks from my office to the Brewing Company for the good coffee served up by friendly staff in a a relaxed and spacious environment. With their later closing time now, I have spent hours working on my laptop in the evening here before and found it to be a great work/study environment. I will definitely be bringing my out of town friends here to show them the best of Fresno!”
