Cancel

    Search

    Pretend City Children's Museum

    3.9 (1k reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Request information

    You can now request information from this business directly from Yelp

    Services - Pretend City Children's Museum

    Community Service/Non-Profit

    Venue rental

    Pretend City Children's Museum Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Pretend City Children's Museum

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Rachael H.

    Such a fun place for kids! I took my twins and there were so many different activities for them. Also great staff that worked in each area.

    UPS store and Brodard restaurant
    Erika R.

    We've only visited once and had such a great experience that I'm considering a membership! My baby is an early walker and very active so Pretend City was the absolute PERFECT place to run around everywhere and play with everything! I loved all the detailed rooms in this little city with matching toys. My favorite was Trader Joe's! You can dress up in their tropical t shirt, push a cart around and grab all the groceries in Trader Joe's packaging. I did notice staff and volunteers making rounds and organizing toys. I also did notice staff step in to guide a child who was playing with something incorrectly which could potentially hit another child! We visited on a weekday afternoon which was a bit busier than I expected, but I was able to maneuver baby easily if an area was too crowded. Parking options to be near entrance is limited, but there are more spots around the corner. Adults do have to pay an entrance fee but I actually don't mind it. I feel like it minimizes the amount of adults that would enter and take up space for a kids play area. I also appreciate their safety measures stated on their website: adults cannot enter without a child! If an adult is meeting with someone, they will be escorted by staff! Free lockers and stroller parking are at the entrance. I don't know if they're supposed to lock, but I just kept baby's stuff without any valuables.

    Pretend City boat
    Ernesto M.

    We took our two year old here for a family date, great place with so much interactive play! I recommend being there in the earlier hours as the more crowded it gets the less is available for the kids to play with and more chaotic it can become. Restrooms were clean and well maintained which is a big deal for littles with grabby and touchy hands. I can't speak for the women's restroom but the mens did have a child-size potty for toddlers. All in all it was a great experience, the staff did a great job picking up after the children and putting the toys back in their places for other kids, the facility was clean and well maintained.

    Mike M.

    My kids had a good time here; they had fun being creative and just being silly, creating scenarios at all the great small real places you find inside here. In one, they had me be a customer while they cooked me a meal, and in another I had them working to pay rent. It was fun for a bit. My experience, however, was far from great, as this place gave me a hard time using my wife's EBT card to enter for the discounted price. Museums for All is a program that helps families visit these types of places. I've used it with my kids in multiple places; however, it is in my wife's name, but I have been able to use it everywhere, including in Vegas. Most places are incredibly lenient and just have me bring a pic of my wife's ID to match, like Kids Space. Clayton had me bring proof that we live together but ended up giving it to me even for the entire year for free. My wife works every day, while I work only 3 days a week, 12-hour shifts, including Saturdays and Sundays, which gives me multiple days to be with my kids the entire week, where we go out and explore. We check out everything from parks to museums to pools, etc... I never had a problem using my wife's card to enter until Pretend City. The only place that gave me any issues. I called ahead, and they told me my wife needed to be there, which I believe to be unfair because, like I said, she's not always available, but we're from the same household, so basically telling me I can't take my own kids out and use that benefit that she gets is, in a way, sexist. Especially when I can provide the proof. Pretend City highly advertises that they are a part of the museum program and has stories and posts advertising it and that they are proud to be a part of it, but ironically, they are also the only ones to give me such a hassle. When I arrived with my kids, I was prepared to pay full price but decided to try and ask why they would not take it. Then the manager came out and screamed! I told you over the phone; we don't take it! In an unnecessary manner. I was pissed not that they didn't take it but at her attitude towards it. I emailed Museums for All, and yes, they confirmed that is the policy, however! It is not heavily enforced, and it's up to the museum if they want to allow for us to provide just a pic of the cardholder because their ultimate goal is to have families access these museums, something Pretend City is not willing to do. I have never had any issue using the card for Kidspace, Clayton, and others that take it, but this place, wow, they are willing to fight you and throw hands with you just because the cardholder is not with you. This experience did not occur recently, but I am only sharing now as my platform has grown. Back then I had no one, but now as I share my time with my kids, post about indoor playgrounds and aquatic centers, and write reviews, I feel like I now have a place and the followers where I can voice this issue and will openly express this, as I feel it is not right that I can't enjoy these benefits with my kids just because my wife is not available to join us, even if I can take them myself and we're in the same household. As you can probably guess. We have not returned since that incident. Be aware, for families that plan to use the EBT card benefit. They are not kind.

    UPS Store. Like all of us, she only wanted to be in there for 30 seconds. Haha.
    Sally F.

    This was a great first visit with my kids. They had quite a number of things that engaged my 2 1/2 year old and a little crawler space and STEM area that was fun for my 10 month-old. I always wanted to visit this place when I had kids, and we finally did it! We came on MLK Day, and although we didn't stay long enough for their MLK book reading, I loved that they had that and also some minor bits of Lunar New Year items dispersed throughout the area (as well as a featured Vietnamese family for the "House" in Pretend City that touched on Lunar New Year too). We'd visit again! Parking: Not gonna lie, it is ROUGH. Parking is limited immediately up front, but there is another little lot if you drive past the entrance doors, make a left, and then drive to the end and turn right to a dead end parking lot. There are signs everywhere in the immediate industrial area that specifically warn about towing you if you park in the wrong place. Just follow the signs. I would recommend parking on the right along the street as you enter the road to the Pretend City lot, or instead of turning right into the Pretend City lot, turn immediately left and park alongside the street that runs for quite a ways away (so you're hopefully bound to find a spot). Price (3/5): It can be a bit spendy as they charge $19 per child over 1 and any accompanying adults. However, it's worth it if you're planning to spend a few hours there and your kids enjoy pretend play a lot. It's a bit subjective. Experience (4/5): Our daughter had a lot of fun with the various themed areas, particularly Trader Joe's. I saw a lot of kids getting involved in the building section, restaurant, car mechanic area, and riding cars around (let's not forget the UPS truck--adorable to see kids delivering things to the wrong places!). The middle of the city is also a nice fenced up area for younger children to play safely, with an even smaller section for the crawlers. I wish there was more for the crawlers, but ultimately, my baby boy had fun anyway and would probably enjoy it like his big sis in a few more months when he can walk. I'm pretty sure we'd come again! :)

    David Keith C.

    This place is sooooo awesome!! If this place was close to my home, I'd be here with my daughter at least once a week. That's how much my daughter had The staff, the environment and the vibe were all great

    See all

    13 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    18 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brenda L.
    1699
    4644
    10372

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Joyce D.
    1
    106
    100

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Swan L.
    319
    886
    2837

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diana T.
    1007
    743
    1716

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kat C.
    302
    137
    289

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lucy L.
    0
    40
    21

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Chanelle G.
    16
    162
    436

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al S.
    16
    8
    1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ellen P.

    Ellen P.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 27

    Pretend City Children's Museum Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pretend City Children's Museum

    Hello, is it possible to re-enter on the same day if before 4 pm?

    Yes!!

    Hello! Are we able to bring in snacks and lunch? If so, can we carry it ourselves or does it have to go in a locker? Thank you.

    You can bring snacks and drinks. There are tables towards the back that can be used to eat at. Just as a courtesy of others, don't leave your bags on the tables the entire time you are there. We have had that happen and it minimizes the space… Read more

    How much is the entrance ticket?

    $19.95

    I've seen "sessions" mentioned, is there a time limit?

    There are no sessions anymore, they are now open from 10am-4pm (all day) Wednesday through Sunday.

    Do you let guests re-enter the museum still? I saw an old answer 4 years ago which says yes, but I would like to make sure.

    Yes, please sure to keep your receipt and present it upon reentry.

    Do they accept the WIC card for the museums for all pricing?

    No, it’s only for EbT

    How much are tickets for children under the age of 12 months?

    Free!

    Is there a discounted ticket price if you have Calfresh/EBT?

    Yes, the price is reduced to $3 per person. There may be a limit on how many people get the discounted price, for example 4 ppl max. They will check your id to match your cal-fresh/ebt card.

    Is there an age requirement? I have a very curious 8 month old, he's crawling and pulls himself up to lean/stand but can't walk yet... he'd love it here!

    No, all ages welcome

    How do I purchase military discount tickets?

    Hello, you may purchase them at the door.

    Are we able to bring in our own snacks to eat at the tables?

    Yes, you are able to bring your own snacks. We ask our guests to refrain from bringing any type of food that contains peanuts or any other nuts into the facility. Many children have an extreme allergy to nuts; therefore, we strive to keep our… Read more

    Can we bring strollers inside or do you have to park them outside?

    Hello, we allow strollers inside, we have designated stroller parking inside.

    Do you need reservations ? I looked online and says tomorrow is 12/3 is not available, help!

    Hello, We do not require reservations, we accept walk-ins. You are able to purchase your tickets online or at the door.

    Are they forcing people to wear masks?

    Masks were not required and we went recently.

    When buying eTickets, do they need to be printed on paper or can we just show the tickets on the phone?

    Ticket on phone also okay

    A th re r r E?

    Yes

    Can two adults come with one kid?

    I mean, unless there is some updated restriction because of COVID then I'd say yes. Both parents came with my child. You just have to pay for both adults (and kid).

    Is this facility nut-free?

    We strive to be nut-free - but cannot guarantee people follow our guidelines.

    If we go the morning time but the kids not done playing, can we go back afternoon without buy tickets again? Since the open time is very tricky?

    Unfortunately tickets are for morning or afternoon play only. There is no coming back later... my kiddos definitely wish!

    I have three children ages 3, 5, & 8. This place looks great but I'm feeling some anxiety about them all running in different directions at the same time. Any advice? Thanks!!!

    That's tricky. The times I've been there I've had help. I have two and they definitely go in different directions. They don't track kids walking with random people so that can be a concern. I'm sure your 8yr knows better but would still have other… Read more

    View All 47 Questions

    Review Highlights - Pretend City Children's Museum

    A mini trader Joe's, stage area to pretend to sing, a vet/doctor office, construction zone, sailing a boat, etc...

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Segerstrom Shelby Event Center - Some beauties .

    Segerstrom Shelby Event Center

    (16 reviews)

    The legend lives on -- and we were there to prove it! We had…read morea great time at the Sagerstrom Shelby Event Center and Shelby Auto Museum! And celebrating the life and legacy at his tribute was evan better! The Carroll Shelby Anniversary Tribute event and car show was,in a word,Awesome! Superformance,Hillbank Motors,and The Sagerstrom Shelby Events Center participated in hosting the Carroll Shelby Car Show & Tribute -- a morning dedicated to honoring one of the greatest names in American automotive racing,engineering and design history. Shelby cars and trucks came rolling in early Saturday morning for great time and car talk! Their were Cobra's, GT350's, GT500's, and a terrific collection of all things Shelby machines! Their was also a super Hillbank lineup of Superformance (Shelby licensed), Shelby Cobras, Daytona Coupes, GT40's and performance cars on-site. The entire street in front of Hillbank Motors and the nearby Sagerstrom Shelby Events Center was lined with Shelby cars and trucks and bustling with Shelby nation fans and owners! All the proceeds from the event benefited the Carroll Shelby Foundation! . . . #CarrollShelby #ShelbyCobra #shelbysagerstomeventcenter

    This is an amazing event center and the cars are beautiful. I attended a car show over the weekend…read moreand was blown away with this facility. I think it would be fun to attend a formal event/ party here. The car show was organized and everyone did a fantastic job.

    Moulton Museum - Lewis Moulton's saddle

    Moulton Museum

    (6 reviews)

    As an archaeologist, I know every museum in Southern CA or that was what I thought until I came…read moreacross this museum on Yelp. I was like where is this place and how I have never knew about this being 15 mins away from my house. I had it on my list of places to visit and finally I went there last week and I am so happy that I did. The kind docent Nicole gave me a quick tour of the museum. The museum is all about the history of Southen OC cities which was owned by a guy named Lewis Moulton. The museum is not open every day so check their website before going there. It is for sure worth checking it out!

    If you like history, especially local history, you'll really enjoy this little museum. Even if you…read moreare not a history buff you may have driven around the Laguna Niguel area or Laguna Hills area on Moulton Parkway or Nellie Gale Road and wondered who these streets were named after; you'll find out if you visit here. This museum is located in a small plaza. You can walk through it on your own or have one of the docents walk you through it and tell you the story of Lewis Moulton and his wife Nellie Gale. I opted to have a docent tour and Dave was a wealth of information. My one-on-one tour lasted about an hour; I had a lot of questions and Dave had a lot of answers. The museum is full of artifacts. The placards and video screens along the museum walls give the basic story of the Moultons if you choose not to have a docent accompany you. But it you're not in a hurry - choose to have a docent guide you! I learned so much about the history of the area from Irvine to El Toro (now known as Lake Forest) and southward to Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano...and the areas surrounding them. The museum is free and has very limited hours but it's worthwhile to find the time to make the visit. They occasionally schedule events at other times which might be more convenient so check their website. Oh, and if you happen to get Dave as your docent, have him tap out some Morse code for you!

    Coast Gallery - Coast Gallery

    Coast Gallery

    (24 reviews)

    I am writing this still shaken by the lack of basic human decency my family experienced at Coast…read moreGallery on Forest. While walking through the construction currently surrounding Forest Avenue, my young daughter was injured by the hazardous conditions right in front of this gallery. As any parent would, I immediately tried to move her to a safe, quiet spot off the sidewalk to check her injuries and calm her down. Instead of showing the slightest bit of empathy or asking if a child was okay, the staff at Coast Gallery were immediately hostile. We were told to "get lost" and move away from their entrance. It wasn't just a matter of being "unhelpful"--the tone and specific remarks made it painfully clear that we were being targeted because of our race. They saw a family of color in distress and their first instinct wasn't "how can we help?" but "how can we get these people away from our storefront?" It is ironic that a gallery claiming to represent "culture" and "fine art" operates with such an ugly, narrow-minded prejudice. To prioritize their "aesthetic" over the safety of a bleeding child is a reflection of the toxic environment they've cultivated. Laguna Beach prides itself on being an inclusive artist colony, but Coast Gallery is a stain on that reputation. If you value humanity over elitism and bigotry, please spend your time and money at any of the other truly welcoming galleries on Forest Ave.

    Absolutely awesome. Kevin, Sandy, and Anthony are fabulous. Felt no pressure at all. Make buying…read moreart enjoyable. Both times we went there we were not going to buy anything. First time we had visited a few galleries but walked out with nothing and were going to go back next day. But when we went to Coast Gallery, the variety of artists and the collections kept us there for a while. First time we walked out with three paintings and loved another set which just wasn't the price we wanted to pay. Kevin said he would speak to artist and get back to us. Well he did exactly that and delivered and hung all the paintings for us. The second time we were coming back home from Huntington Beach and just wanted to visit Kevin and Sandy. Well, we spent hours with our new friends and before you knew it we bought two more pieces of art and an artistic side table. Overall we found Kevin and Sandy to be extremely knowledgeable, fair minded and willing to be reasonable on prices. We would highly recommend this gallery for the outstanding and variety of artists and art as well as the people.

    Pretend City Children's Museum - venues - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...