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    Oakland Aviation Museum

    4.3 (142 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Reviews With Photos - Oakland Aviation Museum

    Kashyap J.

    Father's Day special! It was a perfect opportunity to go see all the amazing airplane models and special day to enter the cockpits. We parked across the road near the hangers. Our kiddo was thrilled to see the tiny planes getting pushed into hanger. The surprise was the train exhibition and that was the star of the day. Specially the step stools all around for the little ones to look at the trains go was a big plus! Loved the scene of the fire station and a blue train! Big applaud to the band playing and little area where kids could enjoy playing with planes. All the young and adults can enjoy this place. Definitely once more when little older kinda museum.

    Phil A.

    This was a great Museum!! Only $20 to enter, which is well worth it!! There's a lot to see here, inside and outside. There are a lot of rooms inside, including the engine room, movie room, the Luftwaffe, General Doolittle along with some very good reads on all things Aviation!! Everything from Amelia Earhart to the Red Tails to the Wright Brothers is here. There is a strong military presence here, at least to me, lots of military aircraft inside and outside. I've driven past this Museum so many times and have always wanted to stop and check it out, so glad I did!!!

    Small and beautiful museum. Very good information of how the aviation started at Oakland.

    Terry K.

    Located in the North Field of the Oakland International Airport and between the rental car returns and the OIA terminal, you will find the Oakland Aviation Museum. I stopped in as I had a couple hours to spare and it was a good stop. First; admission is $20 per person. Second, you will find a pleasant host and cashier when you enter. Third, you will learn about Oakland's role in air transportation and everything Navy, albeit air and sea! I found a book about Pan American Airways for my lady friend who was a flight attendant for Pan Am when flying was a luxury. I got to see the plane and gears for the flown plane by Orville & Wilber Wright (and I just can't imagine how they got it up in the air and now, the rest is history) A great quick educational stop. Recommend !!

    Grumman F-14 A TOMCAT
    Helene S.

    Unique aviation museum set in a vintage hangar. Located in Oakland International Airport's historic North Field, it is very convenient to the airport. Nice collection of restored military and civilian planes as well as replicas of historic flights. Interesting to see a replica of the plane flown by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, a replica of the famed "Red Tail" Mustang flown by the illustrious "Tuskegee Airmen," and restored F-14 Tomcat, Douglas Skyhawk and Skywarrior planes. The Short Solent Mark III Flying Boat was built for the RAF. It was later converted for commercial travel to exotic destinations like the Egyptian Nile, Tasmania and the South Pacific. It was featured in " The Raiders of the Lost Ark." It is one of only two of its type remaining in the world today. Great for a short visit on the way to the airport near the car rental return area. Plenty of parking. Check the schedule for open cockpit days.

    Jeff C.

    Smallish museum but if you are into airplanes, it a great 1-2 hour visit. The airplanes outside need some TLC and better signage

    Carol C.

    Date: 4/24/2021 Time: 3:00 PM 65° Sunny The purpose of my visit was to find out if the museum has an educational program to encourage local young African American men and/or women who are considering a pursuit of a career in aviation. I have been asked to do a research on a project that a few of us Oakland Tech alumnus are working on to honor the legacy of one of my classmates, Wanda A. Green, flight attendant of UA Flight 93 who lost her life on September 11, 2001. The volunteer at the front desk was very helpful and provided me with a business card to contact Ian Wright, M.A., Director of Operations. The museum is opened Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Last entry to the museum is 3:00 PM. Admission is $12 for seniors (60 and over); $15 for adults. Unfortunately, I did not jot down the admission price for military vets and young adults. While my husband and I were touring the museum on our own, we appreciated the exhibits and history. It was when we were outdoor that a docent gave us more history of the flying machines. In one of the smaller rooms was an exhibit of female pilots. I learned that Bessie Coleman was the first female pilot to fly a plane. Because of her skin color, she was not taught how to fly in this country, but she had to travel to France twice for flying lessons. To my surprise, Bessie Coleman even had a flying school in Oakland. Wow...I never knew that. I learned something new during my visit. Thanks to the docent who was there to give us more detailed history, which made our visit interesting and enjoyable.

    Alejandro C.

    Great place, staff is friendly and professional. Gayle is the best, she makes each of our visits very memorable and enjoyable. The kids love her, she is very knowledgeable and helpful. Thank you Gayle and OAM!

    Semuteh F.

    Such a cool museum for kids (and adults too!). Came with two 2yo kiddos and a baby and we had so much fun. Only caveat is that the indoor portion is a true museum so you can't touch those planes. The outside planes are available for touching and exploring though. Lots of cool exhibits and types of aircraft. They have a flight simulator too and some cool interactive things for kids to do. Definitely a must if you have a child who loves planes. It's also near the oakland airport so you can see planes taking off and landing from the front area.

    Can't go in the cockpit.
    Guest U.

    Dropped by for the first time. We had a good deal on the tickets via Groupon. The museum planes were interesting to look at along with some of the old aviation memorabilia. Overall a good way to spend an hour or two.

    We got a deal off Groupon and visited on a Sunday afternoon. It takes about an hour to walk around and look at all the different exhibits. Most if not all of the planes are museum pieces so no touching allowed. It was pretty neat to see all the different historical pieces along with displays. The posters and articles are a bit dated and could use some color reprints with new info. There are also flight simulator rides available for purchase although I did not try it out. It takes about 1-2 hours. Look out for the open cockpit days on their website.

    Inside the Oakland Aviation Museum....
    Jonathan G.

    My buddy and I had a really good time at this museum, it exceeded our initial expectations based on the initial appearance When we first got there we were a little concerned because it looked old and it looked very small. But we met a very helpful assistant inside and ended up spending twice as long as we thought we would be getting historical information and details on the engines and planes and some history about Oakland too. Just my opinion but it's worth a visit if you are in aviation buff at all, and/or are interested in Oakland history.

    This prop is too big to put in my living room
    Michelangelo S.

    Great Collection of Vintage Planes To Admire & Place In Historical Context SITREP West Coast Aviation comes alive here at the Oakland Aviation Museum (Museum) located on the Old North Field of the Oakland International Airport, and the Museum has a solid collection of many different kinds of aircraft from our country's aviation history. THE SETUP I'm a total geek who loves museums. But as a private pilot I also love planes. This stop brings together two (2) very enjoyable studies of mine in one place and I couldn't be happier! AIRPLANE OR AIRCRAFT? Even though some terms are used synonymous with each other, they are actually terms of art. For example, we often use "airplane" or "aircraft" synonymously, but they mean different things: * The denotative definition of "aircraft" means any craft that flies through the air, whether it be an airplane, helicopter, missile, glider, balloon, blimp, or any other vehicle that uses the air to generate lift for flight. * Whereas, the denotative definition of "airplane", is more specific to a powered aircraft that relies on fixed wings to generate lift. * For example, a commercial airline jet is both aircraft AND airplane. However, a military attack helicopter is an aircraft, but NOT an airplane. EVENTS The Museum has regularly scheduled events throughout the year for everyone to enjoy, all of them getting you an opportunity to get up close & personal with the aircraft. One of the best events is the "Open Cockpit Days" which allows you to get right into the cockpit of the aircraft: * Tour the Solent Flying Boat that appeared in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"; * Check out a Korean War-era MiG-15 that the Chinese & Russians used in dog fights against American Pilots; * Check out a recording of a Navy A-3 Sky Warrior taking of & landing from an aircraft carrier. Lots of fun stuff to check out on different days! DISCOUNT LIMITATIONS Groupons and Amazon passes are good on the museums' regular days of operation, but they are not doable on the special event days (ie. "Open Cockpit Days"). So check in advance before making a trek down here to the Museum - like we did from Sacramento - before finding out that your Groupon does not work on this Blackout Day. THE LOWDOWN The Oakland Aviation Museum is a fantastic stop for anyone who has a love and appreciation for the world of aircraft and flying.

    flight data recorder aka "Black Box"

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    We were early to the airport for our flight and had time to visit this very interesting museum.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Oakland Aviation Museum

    Review Highlights - Oakland Aviation Museum

    Dale, our tour guide, who is also a retired USN pilot, is very knowledgeable about the history of this plane.

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    Oakland Museum of California

    Oakland Museum of California

    4.5
    (639 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    Healthy dining
    Kid friendly

    This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

    I have been coming here for years. Specifically for their special exhibitions. They are always so…read moreinteresting and well planned out on display. The museum has three floors and their outdoor garden overlooking lake merrit. They have a little bit of everything, if you're curious about real history and wanting to learn more this is the place. Their annual membership is so worth. As they have several special events. Next to the museum they have plenty of parking. I take Bart as the stop is one block away. Chinatown is walkable for great restaurants. The Oakland library is close by too! There's a restaurant inside the museum while the food sounds great it's okay. I would recommend walking /driving to Chinatown or downtown Oakland for amazing food.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Oakland Museum of California
    Ruth Asawa in the entrance to OMCA

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    Ruth Asawa in the entrance to OMCA
    Chabot Space & Science Center

    Chabot Space & Science Center

    4.0
    (486 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    I had the honor of escorting one very excited astrophotographer and his girlfriend (my Goddaughter)…read moreto experience a talk by Dr. Filipenko on the 150th anniversary of the James Lick Act of Congress. The talk started at 7:45 pm in the evening, and went well into 9 pm after the speaker allowed for a short Q&A session. I learned more about James Lick and how generational wealth was built than I'd ever imagined possible on a Sunday. Unfortunately for us, humidity was at an all time high, so we only had the opportunity to look at these massive telescopes, instead of gazing at the far away stars they were built to study. I did get to walk through The Chabot science center and see how fun it would be to come back with you get kids. Can you believe, you can even decorate a postcard that they will send to space. I would now like to design a piece of mail destined for space. Also, you can come out on Friday and Saturday nights and get the opportunity to look into the heavens with these giant creatures. I guess, this just means I have a rain check to visit Oakland in the near future.

    This place is so great! It has a lot of kids to do and the planetarium show was awesome. The…read moretelescopes and observation deck was beautiful. The bottom floor is being renovated right now so I definitely want to come back when that is done. Great place to take kids of all ages!

    Photos
    Chabot Space & Science Center
    We rented one of the telescopes for the party
    We rented one of the telescopes for the party
    Chabot Space & Science Center

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    Pardee Home Museum

    Pardee Home Museum

    4.8
    (74 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    The Pardee Home Museum has been on my radar for a while as one of the few places in the East Bay to…read moreget afternoon tea. I ended up finally booking the garden for a large party this month and was impressed by the experience from start to finish. It's hard to believe that it's entirely volunteer-led! Everyone I met was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the house, its history, and its preservation. Making a reservation was easy and the coordinators were kind and courteous during the whole process. The day-of place settings were beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had for tea in addition to being generous and variable in servings. There were even some kid-friendly items (including some non-caffeinated beverages) as I had a few young guests in attendance. The tour we had following our tea service was detailed and informative without being boring. The house itself is incredibly preserved and in immaculate condition. It was great learning about the history of the Pardee family and their influence in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. There were some interactive parts too including getting to touch some antique items and listen to some hand-cranked music players. I will undoubtedly be back sometime and highly encourage anyone who likes good food and vibes or learning about local history to book a visit themselves. If you have people from out-of-town visiting, the Pardee Home is an excellent first choice for doing something low-key and private but still touristy.

    The Pardee Home Museum (Italianate architecture) was built by the Pardee family. Three generations…read morelived lived there from 1868 to 1981. The last survivor put the home in a trust that is run by a Board of Trustees. It's self-supporting and run by volunteers. The father (made money in the mines, was an eye doctor and a California State Senator) and his son was Governor of California who made the poppy flower CA's state flower; reformed prisons; and established the EBMUD. All furnishings and collections are original and left intact. The tour is about 1.5 hours. Tour was educational and interesting - it covers the entire residence of 3 floors. The tour guide was nice and knowledgeable. She kept the tour intense so you wanted to know more. She gave insights and tibits of the family. All questions were answered. The afternoon tea is delightful. The food is prepared from scratch with lots of love from the volunteers. They were friendly, personable and thoughtful. Since it was the day before Easter, they put some Easter bunny theme to the tea. Just lovely people who made a delcious three course of food assortment. I definitely recommend the tour to learn about Oakland history and to visit one of the last standing historical mansions. Tea was authentic - no crust on the bread :)

    Photos
    Tons of teapots!
    Tons of teapots!
    Apricot tarts
    Apricot tarts
    Such a wide variety of collectibles

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    Such a wide variety of collectibles
    Exploratorium

    Exploratorium

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    11.2 mi

    5/28 It's been quite…read moresome time since my last visit to the Exploratorium. Ironically, I felt like a child when there were no children to be found. I went to experience After Dark and felt like a kid in a candy store. The museum and exhibits seem and feel bigger than ever before with both new and pre-existing experiences. I kept walking, walking, and walking into what seemed like an endless amusement park. My mind was both overwhelmed and exhilarated while I touched, felt, grabbed, banged, spun, tapped, listened and saw with my eyes. There is still much more grounds to explore and it's also a fun group outing to do.

    I have been here multiple times throughout the years, and have only had good experiences. However,…read moremy last visit stood out to me the most. A few weeks ago was my senior prom, which was at the Exploratorium. The exhibits and environment were very fun and made for a super engaging night! As a trans person, I have a lot of anxiety in public bathrooms. Although they were unable to open up the general neutral bathroom (I mean, it's high schoolers, you can't trust them). However, the staff was extremely accommodating and kind, and escorted me to a separate bathroom. They made sure I got to pick the bathroom I was most comfortable in, as well as apologized for the inconvenience. Not only is this place fun, entertaining, and family friendly, they are welcoming, kind, and caring. I will never forget the kindness that I was shown.

    Photos
    Pitcher plant
    Pitcher plant
    Fun with optics!
    Fun with optics!
    Wooden replica of San Francisco

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    Wooden replica of San Francisco
    Lawrence Hall of Science

    Lawrence Hall of Science

    3.9
    (315 reviews)
    10.3 mi

    LHS: -New cafe! Even has coffee…read more -room to run and play -two outside areas to explore -now has bathrooms on upper level -rotating exhibits -animatronic dinosaurs

    Well when I came in to pay. This young lady was very I tentative! She explained everything to us…read more So on our merry way. We are the first floor so many activities to do. My cousin and daughter loved the . And outside where they were was an amazing view of Berkeley. We were sitting on top of the world. A little girl came over and talked to us. Her father said it was ok to film her. She was five years old! A very bright, intelligent, fun loving girl! Her favorite pass time was golf. She knew the stands to when u putt! She was amazing. She came and brought us flowers. My daughter n I put them in our hair. Ok down to the exhibits down stairs. Well we walked in no one spoke. Parents kept asking the young lady so what do we do! Horrible horrible horrible! Customer service! Young ladies you should say hellli when someone walks in the door! You should come and explain what to do. Not just stand in the lockers. So, went to the souvenir shop! We all couldn't wait to spend some money. The gentleman never said hello! He kept flipping his hair looking off into space! Wow! Very easily for people to steal items! Tighten up! Greet people pay attention! Speak to the customers! Terrible customer service March 21,2026 3pm-5pm! Do better! I didn't get a chance to give anything I. The suggestion box! Next time I will! Thanks we guess!

    Photos
    Examining a dino tooth.
    Examining a dino tooth.
    Fun for everyone here
    Fun for everyone here
    Pretending to have magic while playing with gravity.

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    Pretending to have magic while playing with gravity.
    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

    4.2
    (988 reviews)
    10.9 mi

    I absolutely loved the exhibits!…read more I didn't get to try the drinks/food this time around but I'll be sure to try them next time I come.

    Whenever I go out - I always carry waaaaaaay too much stuff. I have the bandaids, the blister…read morepacks, the hand sanitizer, the ear plugs, the tissues, the peppermint oil, the lavender oil, the rose spray etc, etc etc. I really have it all - and I will proceed to carry it all with me - -even at the expense of my shoulders etc. It would make sense for me to 'check' my heavy bags at venues like museums and such. But I do not. Instead - I usually end up uncomfortably lugging around said bags everywhere with me. I like to have my things on me in case I need them. Friends, loved ones, and family members usually end up watching me struggle with my cumbersome (often unnecessary) luggage. Shaking their heads at my heavy bags, and my unwillingness to put them down. The SFMOMA is such an inspiring and well curated museum of diverse art that I for once (in a very very long time) - decided to finally check my bags. My dad was surprised as I walked over to the kind staff member behind the counter and voluntarily checked my many bags. I knew that to fully enjoy such a phenomenal museum like the SFMOMA - that I needed to be fully present - and free to roam the beautifully curated space with ease. SFMOMA will do that to you. It makes you want to let go and immerse yourself in its inspiring and profound art. If you live in SF and haven't yet been to the SFMOMA in awhile or ever - remedy that quickly. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time to explore this special art museum. I'd recommend going solo - or with a friend and/or loved one - who is able to take their time with you. The SFMOMA is too special of an art space to move through quickly. There are too many legendary pieces here to rush through. If you're able to - I'd recommend going during the week - on a cloudy or rainy day - when you're not tempted by SF's glorious sunshine and when the museum isn't busy. I came here with my dad a number of weeks ago on a rainy day - when he was visiting from overseas. It was one of the highlights of his brief visit - for both of us. We both were stirred by the impressive collection of iconic art that graced the walls of this captivating space. We were particularly awed by The Fisher collection of art - https://www.sfmoma.org/artists-artworks/fisher-collection - beautifully displayed throughout SFMOMA. If you're not familiar with Doris and Donald Fisher (the co-founders of Gap) - I recommend reading up about them and their world acclaimed collection of contemporary art. Doris Fisher - actually passed away this year on May 2nd, a week after our visit to the SFMOMA. It struck me - when reading about Doris Fisher's legacy - that her and her husband Donald (who passed in 2009) will forever be remembered through and for their acute eye for profound art. Art that pushed boundaries and made people think. If you're in SF and or visiting SF - and looking to infuse your life with more creativity and inspiration - go to SFMOMA. Check your bags - and indulge in some what's up art. Be sure to also save time to visit the SFMOMA Gift store. There are so many magical finds inside, which make for thoughtful unique gifts for both yourself and loved ones. Take time for yourself and art. It's important. Trust.

    Photos
    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Kaws: Family, May 01, 2026. I can imagine many of these images on colorful T-shirts.
    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Kaws: Family, May 01, 2026. I can imagine many of these images on colorful T-shirts.
    Got my tickets! Let's gooooo!!
    Got my tickets! Let's gooooo!!
    Great gift shop with nicely curated items

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    Great gift shop with nicely curated items

    Oakland Aviation Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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