The Great American Summer
By Chris MurphySummer is here and the open road calls. Here we are in the 50th Anniversary of the movie Easy Rider, and that image just conveys the sense of free travelling and exploring and whatever situation you may find yourself. (If you have seen the movie, that is where the parallel ends) Modesto is uniquely located so when that roaming sprit calls you, you can make a quick break from the mountains, prairies and even the cities, you don’t have to waste a minute, and when you are on the move, you are never bored and you refresh your sense of self.
For summer vacation, the Stanislaus County Fair is exciting, live music rings in the 10th St Plaza and the hills and valleys around us lure us to explore, firing up the family station wagon or jumping on a big chopper, charging up the EV or pumping up the tires on your bicycle. However you go, there is something to do, here in town and right up and down the road or trail. Here are just a few of some of the things you can do this summer. Make sure you check www.modestoview.com<www.modestoview.com> for the latest updates. Share your experiences and #modestoview on your photos and follow us @modestoview
Summer Baseball – Go Nuts!
You can find some of the best fun at the ballpark. The Modesto Nuts are having a great season and when I wrote this, the Nuts were leading the California League with a .627. Think about it, a summer night, cold beer, the sound of the crack of a bat and good times with friends and family. Local ball has that baseball spirit, the players are trying to make it and make time for the littlest fans.
This month, you can enjoy a special all-American fireworks show after the game on July 3. The Nuts are home against Fresno July 1, 2, 3, against Stockton July 19, 20, 21 and against Inland Empire, July 30 & 31. Weekday games start at 7:05 and weekend games at 6:05. You can even book a sky deck for a special party and of course, you can get a great hot dog. Tix range from $8 – $15
Get tix at www.modestonuts.com<www.modestonuts.com>
Stanislaus County Fair Highlights
There is something just classic and all-American about a County Fair. Movies, songs and so much more has been written about the fair experience. The Stanislaus County Fair is nearly here and will run from the 5th until the 14th of July. The fair is fun for the whole family, with something for just about everybody, and it is filled with an array of thrilling rides for both children and adults. Animal lovers will be delighted with the various attractions that provide fun and educational experiences. For those seeking adrenaline, there is bloodless bullfighting that is exciting and respectful to the animals. The roar of monster trucks will fill the air, offering a spectacle for all motor enthusiasts, alongside the tractor pulls, which always draw a crowd. Don’t miss out on the destruction derby, a real crowd-pleaser where you can watch vehicles crash and collide until the last one can drive. Indulge in the food, funnel cakes, corndogs, and cotton candy.. Of course, the fair wouldn’t be complete without the headlining bands on the main stage.
www.stancofair.com
Run the Rivers
It is a good water year. In June, there was so much water flow in the Stanislaus River that rafting was suspended. It should be running well in July. For over 30 years, Sunshine Rafting has been guiding adventures for all abilities and this family style raft float trip has a couple of fun rapids running from Knights Ferry to Orange Blossom.
www.raftadventure.com/<www.raftadventure.com/>
Looking for whitewater thrills? Get some category IV and IV+ rapids in an aggressive run from Meral’s Pool below where the first few miles the rapids are non-stop and Clavey Falls is amazing. Pull out is 18 miles downriver at Ward’s Ferry. Meet up at Groveland. 2024 will be thrilling.
Tix and route info > www.arta.org/tuolumne/<www.arta.org/tuolumne/>
Have you been to Yosemite?
It is amazing how often I talk to people that have not been to Yosemite. One of the most beautiful places in the world, yes the WORLD, is right up the hills on Highway 120. I feel especially passionate about it as I was born in Yosemite and it’s wonders never go away from rock scrambling, trail hiking and even some of the steep trails from the valley floor to Glacier Point make a lifetime memory. It is busy and there is a reservation system and there are day of entry opportunities. Another way to get in is to get a hotel or campsite reservation. If you can, you need to stay at the Awahnee at least once. There are other lodgings available in Yosemite Village and Camp Curry. If you are following in the footsteps of Royal Robbins, there’s Camp 4.
How to get into Yosemite > www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm<www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm>
Stay Cool Here at Home
The Modesto City Parks are really a gem. Many have been upgraded recently and some have splash pads in parks all across the city and surrounding communities. Graceada and Empire parks have great pools and you can even get swim lessons at the area high school pools. Stay cool and learn how to swim.
www.modestogov.com/483/Activity-Guide<www.modestogov.com/483/Activity-Guide>
www.modestogov.com/543/Splash-Grounds<www.modestogov.com/543/Splash-Grounds>
Kids Camps
Are the kids looking for a retreat? There are some really fun kids’ camps happening this summer. Modesto Children’s Museum has been delivering some great fun in downtown Modesto with some fun programs. You can also learn how to do sound for live performances at Modesto Sound Recording Arts Camp, where youth ages 8-18 get to spend a week with us at Gallo Center for the Arts learning how to play instruments, compose songs, and perform on stage live for friends and family in the Foster Theatre. MJC has some fun kids’ camps, too. There are also some special needs programs at Camp Taylor. Salvation Army also has a drop-in program at the Red Shield Center.
www.modestosound.org/camp/<www.modestosound.org/camp/>
www.modestojc.augusoft.net/<www.modestojc.augusoft.net/>
www.modestochildrensmuseum.org/summer-camp<www.modestochildrensmuseum.org/summer-camp>
www.modestosummercamps.com/<www.modestosummercamps.com/>
There is so much more you can learn this summer.
You can take swimming lessons, become a lifeguard, learn computer science, take dancing lessons, play softball, tennis, basketball, pickleball, and do some arts & crafts and even games, yoga, aerobics and even movie nights. Did you know the City of Modesto offered so many options. Learn more in the Activity Guide.
www.modestogov.com/483/Activity-Guide<www.modestogov.com/483/Activity-Guide>
County Fair Schedule
ARENA SERIES 6:30 pm
July 5th Tractor Pulls
July 6th Tractor Pulls
July 7th Bloodless Bullfights
July 8th Destruction Derby
July 9th Dirt Drags
July 10th Monster Trucks
July 11th Monster Trucks
July 12th Destruction Derby
July 13th Ranch Rodeo
July 14th Hispanic Rodeo
CONCERTS 8:30 pm
July 5th David Lee Murphy
July 6th Fuel
July 7th Jesus Ojeda
July 8th The Commodores
July 9th Lonestar
July 10th 38 Special
July 11th Scotty McCreery
July 12th Great White
July 13th All Time Low
July 13th No Way Back 5-7 pm
July 14th La Septima Banda
CENTER STAGE LOCALS
July 6th MF Silverado 5-8:30 pm
July 8th Tongue & Groove 5:30-8:30 pm
July 10th Sweet Mama Rachel & the
Homemade Jam Band 5:30-8:30 pm
July 11th Greg Scudder & the
Honky Tonk Heroes 5:30-8:30 pm
July 12th Melynda Rodriguez 5-6:45 pm
Horizon Point 7-8:30 pm
July 13th Dirty Lies & Alibies 12:30-4 pm
No Way Back 5-7 pm
July 14th VMI Rocks12-8:30 pm
stancofair.com for more information
