Stand at the corner of 10th and J streets and you are standing on the Historic Cruise Route, the stretch of downtown that the City of Modesto designated as a tourist walk covering the city's music, car and Graffiti culture. Look up and you will find the Modesto Arch carrying the city's official motto, "Water Wealth Contentment Health."
Modesto suits travellers passing through the Central Valley who want a compact, walkable downtown rather than a resort, and anyone with an interest in American Graffiti, George Lucas or the cruising era. It also works as a base for river float trips and for the farmland that surrounds the city.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources support, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Modesto
1. Historic Cruise Route
Historic 10th and 11th streets were the original locations of the cruising featured in American Graffiti, and the City of Modesto has designated them the Historic Cruise Route. It now functions as a tourist walk with information about Modesto's music, car and Graffiti culture.
Walk it in the evening, when the downtown core is at its liveliest, and combine it with the murals and the Walk of Fame markers that sit along the same route.
2. Walk of Fame
Launched in 2014 on the Historic Cruise Route, the Walk of Fame consists of markers celebrating classic legends including George Lucas, Gene Winfield and Bart Bartoni.
Treat it as part of a Cruise Route walk rather than a separate trip, and look for the markers as you move between 10th, 11th and J streets.
3. Classic Community Murals
Classic Community Murals was launched by the Modesto magazine ModestoView and the Peer Recovery Art Center to create a series of large-scale murals celebrating the Modesto Classic Graffiti heritage. Many of them are on the Cruise Route.
Because they are spread along the route, the easiest way to see them is on foot during the same downtown walk as the Walk of Fame.
4. Modesto Arch
The downtown Modesto Arch carries the city's official motto, "Water Wealth Contentment Health," and appears in local photographs and postcards. The motto was chosen in a contest held in 1911.
It is a downtown landmark rather than a destination in itself, so see it as you pass through the core streets of 10th, 11th and J.
5. Gallo Center For The Arts
The Gallo Center For The Arts, at 1000 I St, is one of the downtown attractions that arrived with the revitalization of the 2000s. A promenade is being designed to create an entertainment zone along the corridor between the Modesto Centre Plaza and the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Check what is on before you go, and pair an evening performance with a walk along the adjacent core streets of 10th, 11th and J.
6. McHenry Mansion & Museum
The McHenry Mansion at 906 15th St is a restored historical home built in 1883, and it offers free tours year-round. The Museum is across the street from the mansion.
Because the tours are free and run year-round, this is an easy addition to a downtown day; the museum across the street makes a natural second stop.
7. Great Valley Museum and Planetarium
On the Modesto Junior College campus at 2201 Blue Gum Ave, this is a natural history museum tailored to the Central Valley, with a planetarium and special exhibits. It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 9AM to 3PM, and admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and children.
Go earlier in the day so you have time for both the museum and the planetarium, and note that it is closed Sunday through Tuesday.
8. Lucas Plaza Statue
At the intersection of Downey, 17th Street, McHenry Avenue, J Street and Needham Avenue, this bronze statue features two 1960s teens leaning on a car. It is a tribute to George Lucas, who grew up in Modesto.
It is a quick stop, so fold it into a wider downtown wander rather than planning a visit around it.
9. Sunshine Rafting Adventures
Operating out of Knights Ferry, Sunshine Rafting Adventures at 17500 Sonora Rd offers low-cost float trips on the Stanislaus River and has done so for over 25 years. It runs 7AM to 8PM, with trips from $17.
This is a summer activity, so build it into a hot-weather day and confirm your trip before travelling out to the river.
10. Jacob Myers Park
At 23655 S Santa Fe Rd in Riverbank, this is a water hole where you can go floating or swimming in the Stanislaus River to cool off. It is open daily, 7AM to 6PM.
Come on a hot afternoon, and note the early closing time when you plan the rest of your day.
11. Boomers! Modesto
Boomers! Modesto at 4215 Bangs Avenue is an amusement park and a straightforward option if you are travelling with children or want an activity that does not depend on the weather.
It sits away from the downtown core, so treat it as a separate outing rather than something to combine with the Cruise Route.
12. California's Oldest & Largest Walnut Tree
The tree is unmarked but stands next to a roadway, so it is a curiosity for anyone driving the surrounding farmland rather than a formal attraction.
Because there is no signage, do not plan a trip around finding it unless you already know the location; the farmland drive itself is the point.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start downtown on the Historic Cruise Route, walking 10th and 11th streets and the core streets of 10th, 11th and J. Read the Walk of Fame markers and look for the Classic Community Murals along the way, then see the Modesto Arch.
Afternoon: Visit the McHenry Mansion & Museum at 906 15th St for a free tour, with the Museum across the street. If you have time before it closes at 3PM, continue to the Great Valley Museum and Planetarium at 2201 Blue Gum Ave.
Evening: Return downtown for the Gallo Center For The Arts at 1000 I St, checking what is on in advance, and finish with the Lucas Plaza Statue at the intersection of Downey, 17th Street, McHenry Avenue, J Street and Needham Avenue.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Modesto?
Modesto has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with cool to mild winters and hot, dry summers. Most rainfall falls in winter, and summer can bring multiple consecutive days above 100 °F, so plan outdoor walking and river activities accordingly.
Do I need a car to get around Modesto?
Several of the places above sit outside the downtown core, including the Great Valley Museum and Planetarium on the Modesto Junior College campus, Boomers! Modesto on Bangs Avenue, and Jacob Myers Park in Riverbank. The downtown sights on the Historic Cruise Route are best seen on foot.
Which activities are best in hot weather?
Floating or swimming at Jacob Myers Park, open daily 7AM to 6PM, and the float trips on the Stanislaus River offered by Sunshine Rafting Adventures out of Knights Ferry are the obvious choices. Otherwise, plan indoor stops such as the Great Valley Museum and Planetarium during the middle of the day.
Is there anything free to do in Modesto?
The McHenry Mansion offers free tours year-round, and the Historic Cruise Route, the Walk of Fame markers, the Classic Community Murals, the Modesto Arch and the Lucas Plaza Statue can all be seen on foot downtown at no cost.
Pick your dates around the season, sketch out a downtown walk and a river day, and you have enough to start planning a trip to Modesto.