We spent 2 hours here, but could have spent so much more time if we didn't have a deadline. We went…read moreon the free day (first Friday of the month), but with that free ticket you only get 2 to 3 hours in the afternoon before the place closes, so it's a great taster to make you want to come again! Our kids ages 2 to 7 all had a great time! There was so much to do, from walking through the river and doing water play, to sand play in the pretend lake, to crafts (that we didn't have time for), to climbing equipment, and building/engineering/physics activities. Plenty of things to do both indoor and outdoor. The physics section is great for older kids too, even middle school (but the rest of the museum is definitely geared to elementary).

The Kidspace Museum in Pasadena is one of the better children's interactive museums we've been to…read more It has a huge, shared parking lot near Rose Bowl Stadium. Outside, there are two adjacent outdoor kid's playgrounds. Near the entrance they have juice and fruit vendors and a balloonist. Entry fee is very reasonable at under $50 for family of three with in-and-out privileges. Inside the museum, its like 80% outdoor exhibits and 20% indoor. They have an onsite cafe and food vendors throughout. The outdoor exhibits has a park area dedicated to physics. You'll see fans, pulleys, etc. to help your child appreciate scientific concepts while having fun. They also have tie-dye stations, climbing structures, tricycle race tracks, live music, and my son's favorites - the sandbox and pretend farmer's market and veggie patch. I noted lots of friendly staff dressed as camp rangers working with the kids and maintaining order with a smile, which is huge. Inside the buildings, you'll see traditional kid activities like toy trains, quiet reading areas, legos, and even more climbing structures. Looking forward to coming back next time we're in the area. The in-and-out policy is nice since they have lots of nearby offsite restaurants in nearby Old Pasadena.

I recently visited Wonders of Dinosaurs with my family to take my three-year-old nephew, and…read moreunfortunately it was not worth the money. The space has two floors -- one floor is strictly jumping castles, and the other floor has mini rides and mini golf. The issue is that the rides and mini golf cost additional money on top of the admission price ($2 per ride). It's about $30 for a child and $10 for an adult just to get in, so having to pay extra for most of the activities felt excessive. There was also only one employee working the entire floor with the rides and mini golf, which made things feel understaffed and unorganized. Cleanliness was another big concern. There were crumbs and dirt all over the floors, and the men's restroom changing station was very dirty -- the baby changing platform was especially unpleasant. Overall, this place did not feel like a good value for the price. I wouldn't recommend it, especially considering the additional costs and lack of cleanliness.

The kids had fun but overall feel is very low grade and kind of hacked together, a lot of…read moreinflatables and old animatronic dinosaurs.

My 7& 9 year old have been to the discovery cube twice on class field trips but always felt they…read moredid not have enough time to enjoy it. I finally had a day off work and was able to take them on a Friday. They had the ocean encounter and Scooby doo event simultaneously which we got to enjoy as well. Lots of different learning activities that were interesting for the girls. Their favorite place is the shopping mart. When they told me about this place before, I thought it was just a market like Pretend City where you buy things and put it in the cart. To my surprise, they have different missions that always teach you how to be an eco-shopper or healthy shopper. I really loved the education tired into these activities. As an adult, I loved this area as well. My second favorite place was the recycling center game. It definitely brings out the competitiveness in all of us. I found out that I was a terrible garbage sorter LOL There is definitely room for improvement. My 7 year old enjoyed the dinosaur exploration area. She enjoyed looking for items with the digital scanner you check out at their store desk. We learned a lot of fun facts and got to enjoy the nice outdoors without being too hot. The touch pool was fun. We got to feel the sharks and sting rays. The ocean encounter exihibit was nice and peaceful. Lots of information about preserving our oceans. I enjoyed all the lantern ocean mammals hanging in the sky. Very nice. Scooby doo area was a nice play for photo fun and discovery mysterious. Girls enjoyed the different activities they had there. Needless to say, this was a great day for all of us. I highly recommend visiting!

Came back for the ocean encounter exhibit and it was great, my son had a blast!…read more There wasn't much for him to do since he is still young and reading isn't all there yet, but he had a great time at the submarine simulator and just seeing all the displays of sea animals. The AC was on blast, my parents were cold so they sat outside in the dinosaur quest benches to warm up.

I brought my 10-month-old here on a Saturday hoping to see the infant play area. There's a sign…read morethat says it's for 2 years and below but some parents of older children were letting them play and some of them were so rough and almost falling or stepping on my baby. We took breaks leaving the soft play area but I wish someone was there to remind parents of the age group intended for the soft play area especially since the rest of the museum is open to the older children. This was the only section truly available for babies. I also wish there was staff wiping down the area more often or at least have sanitizing wipes available outside of the play area, especially since babies drool and spit up. I was there for 2 hours and didn't see any staff tidying up or wiping the area down. Some of the soft play sections were separated too where there would be small open spaces revealing the concrete underneath which was a little disappointing because it didn't feel so safe. The gate to close the section off kept opening up too. Aside from the issues above, my baby enjoyed himself. The soft play area is honestly small but I imagine it looks huge from my baby's perspective. There's a mirror, lots of hills and steps, and there's a little slide. He loved every second of it. He also loved the installation on the ceiling above the soft play area. Parking in the garage is free for 90 minutes I believe and it's right next to the museum. The staff at the desk are kind. You leave your strollers at the lobby in front of the front desk. There's several restrooms and there's a nursing/quiet room with 2 rocking chairs facing each other. I wish there was a privacy screen or something though because I was just nursing in front of a stranger and I would have felt more comfortable if we weren't directly facing each other haha. The rest of the museum was great. Lots of sections for older children to run around.

I rarely leave reviews, but this experience left our family extremely disappointed…read more We were visiting the children's museum, when my husband, who is a Santa Monica police officer and assigned to the area, stopped by to say hello while actively on duty and in full uniform. He entered the museum without issue, and staff allowed him inside. At no point was any "no weapons" policy explained to him. While there, the interaction between my husband and the children was honestly so heartwarming. Kids flocked to him, excited to meet a real police officer. He handed out stickers, took photos with children who asked, and created such a positive, sweet moment for families and kids. It was one of those genuinely special interactions that helps children feel safe and build positive relationships with law enforcement. Unfortunately, that moment was completely ruined when a manager approached and told him he had to leave because he was carrying his service weapon, despite being an on-duty officer in full uniform. Had this policy been clearly communicated at entry, that would have been one thing. Instead, he was allowed in, warmly engaging with families and children, only to be asked to leave afterward in a way that felt unnecessary and upsetting. I respect that businesses can have policies, but the inconsistency and lack of communication were disappointing. More than anything, it was sad to see such a positive interaction for children abruptly cut short. Experiences like these matter because children benefit from positive relationships with the people who serve their communities, whether that's police officers, firefighters, mail carriers, or other public servants. Those everyday interactions help kids feel connected, safe, and familiar with the people they see in their neighborhoods. What should have been a lovely memory and a meaningful community moment for my kids turned into an uncomfortable and disappointing experience for our family.

Pretend city is such a unique play space for kids! What stood out to me most was how thoughtfully…read moredesigned each area was. Instead of a traditional playground, they have created miniature real world environments where children can explore different roles and interests through imaginative play. My daughter loved moving from room to room pretending, exploring, and discovering new things. From the boat area to the mechanic shop, every space felt engaging and encouraged creativity, problem solving, & independent play As someone with a background in child development, I appreciate businesses that understand the importance of hands on learning and open play. It's clear that a lot of thought went into creating an environment where kids can have fun while building valuable skills. The facility was clean, well maintained, and provided a wonderful experience for both kids and parents ... We will definitely be back!

Very large open space but lots of different PlayStation. It was awesome for both our toddler and…read moreinfant. There was an infant section in the middle for the smaller babies. The toddler really loved the sandbox area, the train area, the painting area, and especially the market which it has a Trader Joe's one. Everything was fairly clean and it was a good time. The only thing that kind of was a bummer is the adult had to pay also which I haven't been to many places that required adults to pay.

For those who may not know, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, is free from 3 to 5 p.m…read more maybe only on weekdays but maybe weekends too. I am not sure, but most of the information is right, if one is compelled they can fact-broaden my statement. I went to take advantage of this offer but it was June 19th and in honor of the holiday everyone got in for free on this day. But apparently it was a last minute decision. So poor reporting seems to be more like offering information as it comes, not in a malicious way, or incompetent way, more in like the town crier gives what he knows in excitement and it is the responsibility of hearers to know what to do with the information, including vetting it responsibly or accepting it as a gift when given by surprise, even though it could have come in handy earlier. So I entered and I made a beeline to the Butterfly Pavillion. I think it was 12 dollars and worth every single cent. And I write that as a full-blown understatement because exaggeration did not seem the way to go. Like saying this place was worth more than 12 dollars, it was worth the weight of a camel's back in gold. The experience was beautiful. And that statement can be easily understood. I mean butterfly garden + momentary visit= beautiful. But more than that it was a type of beautiful that I had not experience before. It was a new facet of nature's beauty that I experienced. Mostly because I had never interacted with butterflies in this way. For instance, there was a butterfly with wings that were a strong bold blue, almost neon, and for sure, vibrant. Like a royal blue not because it was that shade but because amongst blues it would have palatial lineage in its shade. We were warned that butterflies might be on the ground. And on two experiences two were. The first I encountered was not flying. And the younger members of the experience made sure to announce the butterflies presence and its vulnerability. I feel like sometime in this place's history a butterfly did get stepped on. And for no other reason, than the natural happens. In the second occasion, a butterfly was trying to fly or stand still and could not because the winds made it topple. During that moment a butterfly apparently landed on my back. Man people, if not all, wonder if a butterfly will land on them? And what it would mean? I mean, it could be good news. Saying that a butterfly landing on a person is an omen of disaster does quite fit the visual of the insect and what horror brings. A butterfly did land on my wrist and of course one can't help but feel special. Like, the butterfly chose me and its trying to communicate something. Something important that the universe wants me to hear. What exactly that is? I am not sure. I need to reflect on that later or I will know when the butterfly effects comes clearer in time.

I was really looking forward to visiting the Natural History Museum, but I left feeling…read moredisappointed--and not because of what was inside. First impressions matter. Before even stepping through the doors, the entrance felt neglected. The front of the museum was dirty, the stairs were stained and covered in dirt, and the area was lined with street vendors right up to the entrance. Instead of feeling welcomed to one of our cultural institutions, it felt cluttered and poorly maintained. Museums are places that inspire curiosity, learning, and pride in our communities. The experience should begin the moment visitors arrive, not only once they purchase a ticket. I understand that maintaining public spaces isn't always easy, but keeping the entrance clean, inviting, and organized would go a long way toward creating the experience visitors expect. I hope this is something that can be improved because the museum deserves an entrance that reflects the value of what's inside.

The California Science Museum is the best and maybe only option for kids and adults to experience…read morethe world of science around us in Los Angeles. The Space Shuttle Endeavor is here and might have been what initially drew me to the museum but they have an IMAX theater as well as new rotating exhibits to keep things fresh. The current new exhibit is Mummies. And don't forget to go outside and see the SR-71 Blackbird by the parking structure.

It hurts to not rate this 5 stars because I have been going to this museum since I was 6, but…read morehaven't been in a while. Nothing can beat the fact that it's free admission (but $20 parking), but this trip was devastating. So many of the exhibits I loved as a kid are no longer operating, the bird simulators have 2 balls to share among 6 booths, the buttons for many things are gone, there's no marble to represent an elephant baby's metaphorical marble maze through life, Tess the giant body animatronic is unviewable, the outdoor water play area is closed off, the ROV is no longer displayed and the simulator is broken, etc. Some recent reviews here are posted this week but clearly are from many years back, Endeavor has not been on display for close to 3 years (but it will be when the Samuel Oschin Space Exhibit opens Nov 17, 2026!), currently there's a physical motion exhibit where endeavor previously was. I completely forgot to check it out but the photos are cool and they've put the old rock climbing wall that was next to the teleprompter, here now. But the aquarium is still top notch, tons of fish a child gave me a thrilling lecture on the difference between tiger, leopard, and lemon sharks (He told me lemon and tiger sharks are neon yellow, I strongly believe him). You can pet an urchin, a sea slug, or a star fish depending on the day but the hand dryers after are broken. The foxes, lizards, tortoises, and bugs are all living their best lives. There's a nice sitting place on the top floor to relax away from it all. Still deeply love this Science Center, but I wish they'd secure some funding to bring some life back to many of their exhibits, but I'm really excited for the Space Center to be ready! 100% worth a visit when that opens.

What a fantastic gem in our community! My children (6, 3, and 8 mos) each found something to love…read moreat KidSTREAM. From a truly impressive lego display, to a jaw-dropping makerspace with every craft supply you could think of, to the air tunnels the small indoor space alone could have kept my family entertained for hours! The outdoor exhibit is where the museum is currently the most fleshed out at the moment. Farmers markets, balance beams, a small area for the little guys to play, dress-up heaven, a chance to be archeologists and dig for fossils, and a truly impressive channel islands-inspired play area make for a delightful place for kids to get lost in play and imagination! Beyond the exhibits and interactivity, what truly brings KidSTREAM to life is the fanatstic team they have assembled! Staff work with kids on a variety of rotating experiments and crafts, and help breathe life into the museum. Our family found great value in the membership and have already visited 3 times in the first week! My kids are already asking when they can return!

Wonderful community museum with amazing outdoor space and special events. We have enjoyed the…read morebirthday parties and pop-up events for years, so much that we were inspired to contribute. Now that phase 1 of the museum is complete and open we are amazed. A beautiful little outdoor theater, a play cafe and farmer's market, a real greenhouse and a Channel Islands themed playground are just a few highlights of the outdoor experience. The indoor has a nice little classroom and shop area and a really cool maker space including a cardboard "chomp saw" and lots of crafts! The staff are really kind, patient, polite, and helpful. They help transform this from a fun space into an inviting experience. You can tell how passionate they are about family learning. The museum is already amazing and a fitting successor to the library that used to be on the site. We can't wait for phase 2, when the rest of the indoor space is renovated and available!