Wow! So much to look at. $40 for a ticket, and a small family lunch was $60. But, it felt like you…read morewere really supporting something magical...well science but still magical. Was afraid my 3yo would be bored but she loved looking at all the experiments. We stayed for about 4 hours. Parking was pretty easy if you come right at 10am and park across the street ($27).

While visiting the Bay Area this summer, we were told that this is some place we HAD to visit. Like…read morethe Bay Area Discovery Museum (which was ADORED), we could have gotten in with a reciprocal membership we have from LA, but I wasn't aware. I was just dropping money left and right for kids museums that were free for us. Sigh. Lesson of the trip: check your memberships! A lot of the exhibits were broken or not working, which was a bummer, but there was plenty of stuff for us to look at, and we didn't even see it all. Some highlights for the kids were the interactive laser table, the room where everything has no color unless you use a white light flashlight (they were in there FOREVER), and the cow eye dissection (which also left us all a little queasy...). We took too long getting brunch at the Ferry Building, so we didn't have enough time to explore it all, but I'm sure we'll return when we come up again.

Fantastic hidden gem! The downstairs nature exhibit was worth the price of admission alone!…read more Each sub-section was displayed beautifully so that the pieces of art, be it Western, Asian, African, Nature or Automobile, could be appreciated.

I visited this museum on Mother's Day with my family while 21 weeks pregnant. I had been here once…read morebefore and previously had a wonderful experience, which made this visit especially disappointing. Shortly after arriving, I noticed a water bottle refill station inside the museum and refilled my water bottle there. While quietly viewing an exhibit with my family, we were suddenly approached in a very loud and confrontational manner by a female staff member who stated, "Ma'am, ma'am! There is no food or drink allowed in the museum. You either need to leave or throw your water bottle away." I was surprised by both the tone and the interaction, especially considering the museum itself provided the refill station inside the building. I explained that I had filled the bottle there, but was told that people are apparently expected to "refill their bottles and then leave the museum to drink from them," which honestly made very little sense. Because I am pregnant, I asked if I could simply keep the bottle closed while inside, rather than repeatedly separating from my family whenever I became thirsty. She reluctantly agreed, but after that interaction, staff members continuously followed my family throughout the museum for the remainder of our visit, seemingly monitoring whether I drank water. What should have been an enjoyable family outing became extremely uncomfortable and unenjoyable. Being closely followed from exhibit to exhibit over a closed water bottle felt excessive and unnecessary, especially under the circumstances. Unfortunately, the experience left my family and I not wanting to return. I truly hope future guests are treated with more kindness, professionalism, common sense, and dignity.

I can't believe I've lived just an hour or so away from this place my whole life and this is my…read morefirst time ever visiting. I had an absolutely amazing time here. The staff at the front gates were incredibly welcoming and friendly. I mention the front gate specifically because I did stop in the garden shop and another little snack boutique later in the day and the service there was just okay. The woman who helped me in at the front was very warm and explained everything kindly and made me feel very welcome. She also let me know about events and other things I could see and do in the gardens. The gardens are breathtaking and there are so many different areas to explore. I personally liked the formal gardens best, but I think one of the nicest parts was seeing how many people were simply relaxing and just enjoying the property. There were people laid out on blankets, people seated on benches reading and it really helped remind me to just slow down. Sometimes I personally feel like I need to get through everything or see everything and this place has a vibe that you don't need to rush; it's fine to just sit and take in the beauty around you. There were also many people lounging by the pool, which brings me to the house.I really enjoyed exploring the historic house, probably almost as much as the garden's. The ballroom was fantastic and they even added an interactive activity where they project dance steps onto the floor so visitors could follow along and learn how people would have danced in that ballroom originally. I was terrible at it but it was very fun to try. The ballroom was definitely my favorite part of the house. I loved the giant fireplace and just imagining what it would have been like to be at a party in that room or to have danced on that floor. Lastly, of course, I had to go looking for Rose Wonders. I am a big fan of Dambo'ss trolls and this is the first one I have seen where you can actually go inside. She is also one of the larger trolls I have seen. It was a hot day but I walked the trails to find her and there were wooden sculptures along the way that definitely helped the walk feel shorter. Seeing her and being able to climb inside was absolutely incredible and I highly recommend it. Because of the way she's built, the hands that cradle you at the top kind of cover her face so I found it difficult to get good photos and video. But the experience itself is definitely worth it. Before heading back to leave, I definitely needed some water and stopped in to one of the snack shacks to grab some. I also had to try one of their Garden Pops as I saw them advertised all over. II think it's cool that Filoli has some of their own products that they create themselves. I really wanted to love them because the concept is great but honestly, the heat of the day and the flavor of that popsicle were probably the only things that I didn't enjoy my entire visit. I'm still glad that I tried it. They were setting up for a summer nights event while I was getting ready to go and I love the string lights and how much care the staff was taking to prepare the area. I'm sure it was magical. I honestly can't recommend this place enough and I think it would be a great group activity, especially because whether you're interested in history, architecture, gardening, nature, art, or just want to climb inside a giant troll, there is something for everyone here. It's definitely a beautiful place to spend your day.

Just beautiful grounds. Peaceful and lovely to walk around…read more Perfect for a ladies group gathering You can only eat in the cafe. So don't bring your own picnic hoping to sit inside to eat Great for photos!

Such a unique experience. I've lived in Pacifica for years and always wondered the history of this…read morecastle and what was inside. Now I know! Definitely worth a visit for anyone who likes unique history, movie buffs, and grand decor. Plus, delicious lemonade.

Who knew there was a castle in Pacifica? A nice visit if you're into history, architecture and want…read moreto see some views. Built in 1908 by the San Francisco rail magnate Henry Harrison McCloskey by the sea as a safe haven after his San Francisco home was severely damaged in the 1906 earthquake. It was later sold by his wife after her husband's death in 1914 Up until 1959, it had a reputation as a speakeasy, an illegal abortion clinic, a brothel and Coast Guard barracks during World War II. The castle was purchased and restored in 1959 by the late Sam Mazza, commercial painter and real estate magnate filled it with items from old theaters (fixtures, props) and items he purchased at garage sales...so a lot of kitschy items can be found. Place was never used as a residence but hosting parties and used as an event space. The place isn't as grand as I had imagined but definitely back in the day when Pacifica wasn't quite developed. A bit worn on the outside with no greenery and can see it providing a creepy backdrop at night. The docents (dressed as Mr and Mrs McCloskey) and Jeanette Cool, Executive Director of the Sam Mazza Foundation provided rich history that made it interesting and fun. The tour is 1.5 hours with a 10min video from 2000 of Sam Mazza at age 94...energetic and a bit quirky, eccentric with unique taste. All his real estate holdings, including the castle, and his art was left to his foundation after he passed in 2002. So now the castle provides tours, afternoon tea, holiday events and even a Halloween event with a medium...yeah friend bought tickets for that! An enjoyable visit with light refreshments after so grab a bite to eat before or after your tour

Compared to the Exploratorium, this museum is more focused on life sciences…read more There are 3 things that make this place worth it and stands out to me: 1. Indoor rainforest is really really cool. 2. Planetarium, specifically The Size of the Universe showing. 3. Thursday night life with live music/dj and karaoke in the basement!

This is hands down one of the best activities to do as a local or as a tourist (and as a child or…read moreadult). If you're an adult I'd recommend checking out the Thursday night admissions which are from 6-10pm ish. No kids allowed and 21+. So fun. We just went to the disco night which had free disco gem make up, karaoke, free DIY disco jelly fish crafts and free photo sessions. Lots of value! If you become a member you get discounts on events, merch, food and with my membership I can bring someone for free each time.

Hiller Aviation Museum is an aeronautic historical museum that displays notable jet aircraft and…read moreengine components, including an Aero L-39C Albatros military jet trainer and the forward fuselage and cockpit of a historic Boeing 747-100. Similarly, they have a Czech training jet L39C Albatross which was very cool. Visitors who are into aeronautics this is the museum for you. IMHO this museum is great for families and young kids. Ample of parking spot in the lot. Admission ticket is affordable. Staff are nice. Overall, this is a nice little museum to spend the afternoon. I recommend if you're in the bay area.

Hiller Aviation Museum is one of the more unusual aviation museums I've ever visited. It is just…read moreabout 11 miles south of SFO off Hwy 101 adjacent to the San Carlos airport. The aircraft & artifacts are mainly from the collection of Stanley Hiller of the Hiller Aircraft Corp that has been developing helicopters and other experimental flying machines since the late 40's. So many of these unusual copters, gyros & flying platforms are on display, plus anything else Stanley had collected over the decades. There aren't a lot of more recognizable aircraft, but you learn a lot by reading about these rare, one-of-a-kind flying machines. On slow days, you buy your entry ticket in the gift shop and go through the entry hall that is dominated by a full scale replica of the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne hanging from the ceiling. As you enter the main gallery, you have turn of the century wood & fabric biplane replicas of the Wright brothers & Glenn Curtiss along with early not-so-successful flying machines. Moving onto the middle 20th century, the Hiller Aviation Corp. designed some offbeat personal aircraft with personal vertical takeoff craft 70 years before their time. There are also more conventional winged aircraft like the Grumman Albatross (propeller seaplane) and Aero L-39 Albatros (Czech jet trainer), 2 totally different planes with similar names sitting right next to each other. Above them all is the mother of all remotely piloted drones, the Boeing Condor from 1988 with a huge wingspan of 200 ft! If you go out the back, you get to climb through the nose section of a Boeing 747-100 jumbo airliner from the 70's & 80's. The gift shop is one of the more extensive that I've seen with lots of souvenirs for all ages and aviation memorabilia for enthusiasts.

For the price, it's definitely a little gem in Palo Alto. Having a little young, I didn't even know…read morethat Palo Alto had this zoo but we decided to take a trip one day to come check it out. You have to make a reservation I'm guessing so it doesn't get overpacked. As soon as you enter, there's a ton of indoor activities for the little. There's a dino area right outside and then on the other side is where the zoo part is. There's not a ton of animals but the animals that are there were pretty active when we were there. There was a tortoise, birds, rabbits, fish, flamingos that we actually got to feed and a few others that I'm forgetting. Again, not huge but it was enough that we probably spent about a good 2 hours there. After that, there's also a park right behind it so if your kiddos aren't tired already, they can burn off some energy there. If we lived closer, I would consider getting a pass but for now, we'll do some day trips there

Admission I've visited a couple of times - once for a…read moreregular visit and birthday party. During my first visit in May 2026, the admission was $14 per ticket for both an adult and toddler for the 10:00 a.m. reservation. If you're planning a birthday celebration or picnic, there are first-come, first-served tables at Rinconada Park next door. Venue The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is exactly that - it's a smaller, toddler-friendly museum and zoo. Plan to visit for an estimated 1.5 - 2 hours, as this should be plenty of time to explore everything. There are both indoor and outdoor experiences, including interactive activities for little ones, an outdoor zoo, complimentary flamingo feeding sessions, and a treehouse-style playground. Animals available included meerkats, flamingos, raccoons, fish, a tortoise, and macaws. Location / Parking The museum is right next to Rinconada Park and there's a dedicated parking lot. It can fill up quickly during popular reservation times and street parking is also available nearby. Customer Service The front desk staff scans admission tickets upon arrival and provides a stamp for in-and-out privileges, which is helpful if you plan to visit the neighboring Rinconada Park.

We had an amazing time with my two kids and husband. This place had super interactive activities…read morefor my 4yr old and 18m old. They enjoyed dressing up in fireman gear, playing with water, doing crafts, playing in the pretend food area, building with blocks, making bubbles, and playing outside. This place has a lot to do and we wished we could have stayed longer. Only part that is annoying is the stroller rule. If your child CAN walk, you can't take your stroller in. Weird rule for a place that caters to kids, including younger ones in that in between stage. Even cmy 4 year old gets tired more than average. And sure, my youngest can technically walk but he can't last the whole time walking. Anyway, we had fun but I felt like I couldn't fully relax.

Pretty freaking amazing children's museum, kids loved it (and the adults had fun hanging out too)…read more Kinda a no-brainer if you have kids -- we have a 4yo but there were bigger kids and even teens here bustlin' around.

A little zoo + a little science museum. Such a great combination! Our kid could easily spend half a…read moreday here. The zoo has both indoor and outdoor areas, with amphibians, birds, bobcats, raccoons, and more. They also had an otter, but sadly it recently passed away. There is also a playground that feels like a mini version of Magical Bridge Playground. The indoor science museum is full of hands-on, interactive exhibits. Everything is designed for kids to touch, explore, and play with, so they can easily spend a long time here. In the back, there is also a beautiful view of the bay with telescopes to look through. If you have a membership from another participating zoo, you may be able to get 50% off admission. There is an $8 parking fee to enter the park. There are lots of picnic tables nearby with a great view of the bay. You can watch the boats on the water and planes flying overhead while having lunch. Definitely a great place to spend a few hours with kids!

My 4yr old and 19m old enjoyed the playground, zoo, outdoor eating/ play area, and the hands on…read morescience activities. The little souvenir shop is quite small. If you're traveling with little ones, know there is no cafe or option to buy coffee other than a little refrigerator in the little shop so make sure you pack a lunch and snacks.

I came for the Halloween After Dark where my friend presented. All of the talks were funny and…read moreinformative and well delivered. Very imaginative and fun! The drinks are crazy expensive but thats to be expected. The festivities around Halloween were fun - costume contest, pumpkin carving (though not enough for everyone), etc.

Many of the exhibits are closed. The place is super crowded and there's pounding techno music…read moreeverywhere. The only good feature was the food trucks.