Family Fun
The ☀️ is shining and the kids are on summer break – time to get in some fun family adventures!
If you’re looking for new ways to have fun with the family, check out our suggestions below. We have activities for everyone to enjoy and
there’s plenty of family-friendly places to go in Modesto. Any combination of these locations will be sure to tire your little ones out!
Modesto Library – If you’re looking to keep your kids’ brains engaged this summer, your local library has plenty of fun and free options! With a dedicated Kids Page on their website, you’ll find awesome activities like summer reading challenges, book lists, story times, games, LEGO days and more. If you visit the Modesto Library in particular, you’ll find a kids’ section that takes you on an adventure, complete with an indoor tree! Make sure you take advantage of all of the free and amazing options at your local library.
U-Pick Farms – What better way to get everyone out of the house and get the freshest fruit and produce you can find? There are a few different u-pick farms in our area, and we have them all conveniently listed and linked HERE. Make sure to subscribe to their newsletters or follow them on social to see when the best times are to pick your favorite fruits! Right now there are still plenty of blueberries on the farms, summer squash, and some stone fruit are finally starting to ripen. Pack up the family, go on a farm adventure, and then take some of your freshly picked fruits or other goodies from your favorite farm stand and go on an outdoor picnic.
Children’s Garden – This brand new space in Modesto is a one-of-a-kind experience for the family! They have their own version of a Farmer’s Market every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month where kids can pick their own fruits and/or set up booths to sell their own homemade goods. Follow along on their social page to keep up with any upcoming fun events, and make sure you take some time to check out this unique and fun kids’ space.
Dragonfly Tea Room – With a different theme every month, this is the perfect unique experience to treat your kiddos and some friends to! Gather a group and book your tea time in advance to ensure you get a table as they can get very busy, especially on weekends. Dress up, have fun, and do a monthly mothers and daughters tea party day and enjoy all of the fun themed food and drink while taking photos that will induce FOMO on IG.
Great Valley Museum – An often overlooked local spot, Great Valley Museum is the perfect place to combine fun and learning! There’s a special nature photography exhibit displayed through November, science nights, live animals, and the Planetarium where you can explore our solar system and beyond with shows on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Explore the great indoors at our local museum and show your kids that science can be fun!
Modesto Certified Farmer’s Market – With fresh produce, local artisans, and plenty of other awesome vendors, the Farmer’s Market is always a fun morning trip! They even have cooking demos and other events that happen throughout the season – make sure to follow them on social media to stay up to date on upcoming events. This would be a perfect day to also head over to the Modesto Library, the McHenry Museum, or take our Mural Audio Tour and enjoy a day outside exploring downtown Modesto.
Splash Grounds at Modesto Parks – What better way to cool off during the summer than with splashing around in water? Many of our local parks have special splash grounds open all summer for the kids to play in. Find your closest splash ground at this link and find a spot in the shade to relax while the kids run wild. Some of our favorite local parks are Graceada Community Park, Dry Creek Regional Park, and Ustach Park – for a list of all parks and facilities in Modesto click HERE. This is another excellent opportunity to pack up a picnic or get lunch to-go from one of our amazing local restaurants and enjoy some al fresco dining with the family in a beautiful park.
The State Theatre – Our local arthouse theatre has kids events and activities at least once a month! Their Donuts, Coffee and Cartoons happens on the first Saturday of every month and includes an activity and themed treats from our local Mocha Magic Cafe and Bake Shop – don’t miss the SpongeBob Squarepants movie on the big screen in August. Keep an eye out for these monthly events, and all of the other family-friendly movies and events, at the State all year long!
Dave & Buster’s – If you’re looking for a more adult-friendly place with fun vibes, check out the new Dave & Buster’s in the Vintage Faire Mall! This place feels like an indoor theme park, but with happy hours and fun drinks (both with and without alcohol). The vast arcade and selection of VR games are perfect for all ages, but especially if you have a house full of antsy teens or pre-teens who need a change of scenery. Add in billiards tables and great food, and you have an afternoon filled with family fun!
PLAY Modesto – If you have younger children, this is the perfect space to take them to for age-appropriate play structures and fun! There’s a playground for active play, a space for those kiddos who love playing pretend, and even an area for infants to get to roam around in. Bring your little ones and watch them explore new worlds and make new friends in this indoor playground, then take them to get some froyo at your favorite Yogurt Mill location (the self-serve location on Pelandale is especially close to PLAY).
The Ice Cream Co. – Have you ever taken a group of kids to try to finish a literal mountain of ice cream? If not, now’s your chance for a fun foodie adventure with the family! The La Palooza at The Ice Cream Co. is 10 lbs. of ice cream made with your choice of different ice cream flavors and toppings – and boy do the kids have a blast trying to take down this monster one spoonful at a time. If you’d rather not over-indulge, there are plenty of normal-sized ice cream options as well, milkshakes, and sundaes all made with their homemade ice cream. If you’ve never stopped at this sweet spot, this is a must-try for your family this summer!
Gallo Center for the Arts – Do you happen to have a child with a natural flair for the dramatic? Then Gallo Center’s YES Company is perfect for them! Whether they want to sign up to participate, or you just want to see some of the shows put on by these talented youngsters, it’s an afternoon activity that’s sure to keep them busy. Don’t miss this summer’s production of The Addams Family School Edition at the end of July!
Sky Zone Trampoline Park – In need of a way to help the kids get their energy and wiggles out, but it’s far too hot for them to run around outside? Take them to run around in this indoor trampoline park! With all of the activities, the kids are sure to stay entertained for hours doing obstacle courses, playing basketball and dodgeball, and diving into foam pits. We recommend reserving your spot online in advance to streamline the process and get to playing faster!
Chartreuse Muse Classes – Drawing, painting, working with clay – Chartreuse Muse has it all for the creative little ones in your life! They have an expansive list of summer classes offered for kids (and adults) to help them tap into their creativity this summer, especially when it’s too hot to play outside. You can also explore their gallery full of different artistic mediums to explore, and if you want to make it an artsy day, head over to check out the Mistlin Gallery, stop at Picasso’s Gourmet Deli for an artist-themed lunch, and then use our Mural Audio Tour to walk around and explore all of the outdoor art in Modesto.
Boomers – Sure to be a crowd pleaser with an entire group, Boomers offers indoor and outdoor fun! If you love summer and the sunshine, head outside and enjoy mini golf, go karts, batting cages, bumper boats, and an outdoor seating area with TVs and fire pits. Indoor lovers will enjoy the loads of arcade games, bumper cars, and laser tag (and don’t forget to grab your prizes on the way out). Grab a fun group of family and friends and enjoy a day of playing with your kids or acting like a kid!
The Dragonfly – Art for Life – Another perfect space for the artsy kids in your life! Art classes, summer camps, and studio time are all available depending on how experienced you are with different mediums and what you’d like to learn or work on. The summer camps remaining in July include making fairy gardens, creating clay pots, and Christmas in July, so make sure you sign up ASAP to join in the fun!
