1. Downing Planetarium

1. Downing Planetarium

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Fresno, CA

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Downing Planetarium

5.0 (7 reviews)

Downing Planetarium Photos

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2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
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4 months ago

Helpful 1
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1 year ago

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2 years ago

Helpful 6
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10
5

5 months ago

Amazing place to take the kids. Fun and educational at the same time. I enjoyed it almost as much as they did

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2 years ago

Helpful 7
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Love this 6
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8 years ago

This is a gem in the middle of Fresno/Clovis areas. Very cool for kids and adults. We can always learn something!

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Fresno Discovery Center - Alligator sculpture

Fresno Discovery Center

3.9(113 reviews)
3.1 mi

We met family from Sacramento here today, we're from Bakersfield. We have never been here before…read more It was a great deal at $3/person, since it's the 1st sat of the month. We spent about 3 or so hours playing & exploring. It's really meant for younger ages,probably up until about 10-11. My son is going to be 11 next week & loved it because he loves dinosaurs, digging & science. Not sure i would go out of my way to go back, only because we don't live locally but if we lived in fresno I would consider getting a membership. They have a lot of great programs throughout the week which would be great for school field trips or homeschooling co-ops.

Awesome place for the kids to learn and run around. Was looking for a place for the kiddos to play…read moreand I came across this. Came here once for my nephews birthday and haven't been back since, so it's been a while and I kind of forgot this place exists. You can get your tickets online, I happen to check at the right time because their prices and affordable on every first Saturdays of the month! The lady working was super friendly and helpful, she even told me they do music classes and that the kids are more than welcome to join. Around 11am they have a person doing a science presentation but unfortunately she was running late on her project and I overheard her being kind of rude and not in a good mood so we decided to move on to the next room. They were also selling boba and eggrolls outside, sorry I forget the name of the seller that had their booth there. The kids enjoyed the front area where they can dress up, draw and play with toys. There was also someone selling their 3D printed animals, which the kids loved so I caved and bought them all one plus help support small businesses. Overall it was a nice experience for the kids to enjoy.

Photos
Fresno Discovery Center - A really pretty tree in their Cactus Garden

A really pretty tree in their Cactus Garden

Fresno Discovery Center - California Desert Tortoise basking in the sun

California Desert Tortoise basking in the sun

Fresno Discovery Center - Red-Eared sliders basking in the Walden Pond

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Red-Eared sliders basking in the Walden Pond

Fresno Art Museum - Chair rocker by Maruyama

Fresno Art Museum

4.4(29 reviews)
3.2 mi

The art itself is absolutely five stars--beautiful, thoughtful, and well curated. Unfortunately,…read moreour experience with the staff completely overshadowed the visit. We came with our kids, including my 10-year-old daughter, who is an artist and was genuinely excited to be there. Instead of feeling welcomed, we were treated like our presence was a nuisance. The staff was extremely strict and repeatedly barked orders at us, with very little customer service or warmth. In one area that had children's blocks, our kids were playing and got a little loud. Wanting to be considerate, my husband closed the door so they wouldn't disturb others. There were no signs anywhere saying the door couldn't be closed. A staff member then came in, visibly upset, and yelled at us--again, with no clear explanation or signage to justify the reaction. Later in the gift shop, another staff member sharply reprimanded my kids for leaning on the glass. Once again, no signs were posted, and the tone was unnecessarily harsh. None of this felt kid-friendly or welcoming. It's unfortunate, because the art and the artists deserve better representation. The staff's behavior made it hard to enjoy the exhibits at all, and it completely turned us off from what could have been a great family experience. We had even considered a membership, but after being treated this way, we will not be returning. The art is wonderful. The customer service is not. ### In response to the owner's reply: your response reinforces exactly why we will not be returning. Your tone comes across as condescending and punitive, with the majority of your response focused on what we supposedly did wrong rather than how your staff handled the situation. Saying you will "talk to your staff" reads like an afterthought when roughly 90% of your response places blame on us. We are fully aware that this is not a children's museum or an interactive museum. The fact that you felt the need to explain this only adds to the condescension. Our children were respectful, quiet, and well-behaved. They were not running, not acting out, and not treating the space inappropriately. In the designated children's area, their voices briefly rose while playing together. Out of courtesy to other guests, my husband closed the door--unaware it was not meant to be closed or that it locks automatically, as there was no signage indicating this. The staff's response was unnecessarily aggressive. You offer a family pass, which implies families are welcome. A family-friendly environment should not make parents and children feel like a nuisance. Because of both the original experience and the tone of your response, I am updating my review from two stars to one star.

This is a great way to spend half a day in Fresno, especially if it's a cold or rainy day. I have…read morecome here twice on their FREE days, which are every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. Their exhibits change periodically, so if you wait a few months to go again there is usually something new to see. The staff is very welcoming and kind. Right now they have a kid exhibit which is cute, they had some art by Diego Rivera. They have a very interesting cemetery piece. I think my fave was The fruit of life and The contemporary art exhibit, using stones from Zimbabwe (I can't remember the name). They have an outdoor area where you can sit under trees and they also have sculptures out there as well. They also have a great little gift shop! Definitely check it out and support Fresno's Art museum. Afterwards you can go to lunch at Sam's Italian deli across the street or Thai Phucket near by!

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Fresno Art Museum - Outdoor space

Outdoor space

Fresno Art Museum - Tags from THE TAG PROJECT-- These tags were worn by Japanese Americans on the way to Internment Camps

Tags from THE TAG PROJECT-- These tags were worn by Japanese Americans on the way to Internment Camps

Fresno Art Museum

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Veterans Memorial Museum - Fresno memorial auditorium

Veterans Memorial Museum

4.9(19 reviews)
5.4 mi

One of the best places to learn about wars in US History from the last 125 years! So much…read morememorabilia, artifacts, costumes, and testimonials along with actual veterans who volunteer there and are ready to answer any questions you have or just to say "thank you for your service." Such a rich treasure trove of information and artifacts and well organized. Anyone who is doing research on any of the wars, making a movie or documentary, or even some local Fresno history needs to come here and do their homework. You simply can't take it all in with one visit. Seriously, this place has the most artifacts I've ever seen in any veteran's or US historical museum and we have this piece of history right here in our own town. Let your friends in Hollywood know, this is the place to come to check your facts and see an amazing collection!

I didn't visit this museum this time around, but did watch my nephew and niece in a play version…read moreof, The Wizard of OZ. The theater here is on the smaller side, but is perfect for kid plays and other local theater shows. To help fill the space on stage, they have an LED screen that allows any color, theme, or design to be added and enhance the physical props on the stage. The audio kept popping, not if that's because of the kids touching mics, but was a little distracting. I loved the real fire balls they shot up from the stage whenever the wicked witch arrived along with the subtle fog and light elements. The only available parking is street parking and it's metered. So get here earlier to snag a spot close to the venue.

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Veterans Memorial Museum
Veterans Memorial Museum
Veterans Memorial Museum - Lovely Wednesday to visit

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Lovely Wednesday to visit

Downing Planetarium - planetarium - Updated July 2026

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