3 Best Places To See in Fresno, CA

I want to start by saying that the Gardens themselves are absolutely stunning and well worth seeing. However, despite their beauty, Fresno initially seemed fine, but it quickly turned into a disappointing experience. While the Gardens are a peaceful, lovely escape, the surrounding area is far from it, and the parking situation is a nightmare. We parked our rental car right in front of the Gardens, just feet away from the attendants, thinking it was safe, with a locked vehicle. We spent about an hour enjoying the Gardens (let me be very clear on the gardens are FANTASTIC)but when we came back, our car had been broken into and several of our belongings stolen. We asked the attendants if they had seen anything. Their response? A flat “no.” We called the police, only to wait 24 hours for a call back. When they finally responded, they essentially told us to forget about it, offering no help at all. It was incredibly frustrating and left a sour taste in our mouths. So while the Gardens themselves are fantastic, be very cautious about the parking situation and the area surrounding it. If you go, make sure to take every valuable with you, because someone is likely watching and waiting for you to leave your car. I certainly won’t be going back.

This place was remarkable. You can see the heritage and the passion that went into it. Our tour guide Rhanda was very engaging, attentive, and an excellent story teller. Definitely recommend this tour in Fresno.

This hidden gem is certainly worth a visit. We booked the guided tour in advance. We highly enjoyed our visit. The well-preserved underground gardens are a kind of a time capsule.

Really enjoyed the Fresno Art Museum. Each little wing was for a different artist, and we saw a nice mix on display. I enjoyed the focus on the different people, different media types, and the lovely courtyard as well. It was a little chilly, which I understand helps with the art preservation but still - bring a jacket. It somehow felt a little empty, like the rooms were large but could have been fuller, but maybe the individual pieces were just a little small for the walls. It was still well worth it. The employees were delightful, and they were even serving cookies and cider in the main area for free. It was very nice art museum.

Do yourself a favor and get on the mailing list to receive upcoming events and exhibits postcards/emails. Always at least one artist with a connection to Fresno and the greater Central Valley region. Wide range of materials (nature, metal, plastics), forms (books, murals, sculptures, paintings, digital) and time (BCE Americas to contemporary). Multiple exhibition rooms, hallways and outdoor areas have well lit displays and easy to read description cards. Outdoor park has cobblestone, dirt walkways, tables and benches. Find items from exhibits plus interesting toys, books, food and more in the gift shop.

Took my wife and older kids here. We had a blast! It wasn’t too busy and the museum was magical to walk through. I recommend buying tickets in advanced to reduce the wait time. We will be returning.