I visited this museum, in December of 2025. And it is almost Valentine's Day, 2026 so I am late to…read morerecord my experience, I understand that. But I rather take down the Christmas on Super Bowl weekend than wait to take the lights down near the 4th of July. I went to this place on my first trip to Santa Cruz. And I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this place, and its focus on Santa Cruz Culture. Thorough out my life, I have heard that Santa Cruz is known for crystals, and forest green. But on my trip here, I learned that Santa Cruz is also famous for surfer culture, As some of the pictures, demonstrate surf boards, like cups, hair styles, and volcanoes, come in a variety of lengths, shapes, colors and purpose. I also learned that surfing has its origins from Hawaii, and even though I did not know that, it totally makes sense. I will never be on a surf board, catching a big wave, while the breeze hits my face, and pelicans fly above, but by visiting this museum I learned the historical value of the surf movement that waved hello, initially, in Santa Cruz by way of Hawaii. My favorite room was that one that reflected the beach and ocean vibe of Santa Cruz in place. The room was colored in a deep blue that did not resemble clear waters, more like the deep blue that is found when the ocean seems to be infinite. I am not sure the exact shade of blue that the room was painted in, but I will call it calming serenity blue, which is a close cousin to royal blue. If popcorn yellow and burnt cocoa brown are colors than mine can be colored too, I do not need Crayola level authority to christen colors. The pictures in the room continued my trance into serenity. The paintings showed these peaceful seascapes, where sky and sea became partners in a waltz, not interwoven as one, but paired into slow movement that induces stillness upon the viewer. Other pictures showed a calm beach, where the shore water had white froth as it met the sand. In the background, there was a rock formation and behind the rock formation was a tranquil sky brighten by subtle hues of a descending sun. Even as I reviewed the pictures for this yelp, I found the paintings to be, in a phrase: rest in ocean and pastel candy colored strokes. The room also had a speaker that played the sounds of the ocean, quietly about a chair. I allowed myself to transport myself to a beach shore, to experience the colors of the sea breeze. The museum also tried to educate others on its place in USA farm produce history. One of the pictures discusses the migration pattern by stating, "Today Mexican men, women and children cross the border voluntarily- but at great risk of violence and rape." This is just my opinion, but this sentence, is too broad yet to specific at the same time to accurately paint a picture of the migration experience of many Mexicans and by extension other people who seek to come to America to fulfill their version of the American dream. The way it is written, again from my interpretation, implies that the choice to come to America is one that is a "voluntary" decision like skipping or going to the gym, or using a credit card for a jacket when it does not fit your means. Meaning, that the word voluntary may ignore the vast conditions that push others to migrate, other than personal choice. But this is just one Yelper's opinion, if that makes sense. In another, poster, which I clipped, explains how Santa Cruz goes alternative. The poster explains that "Santa Cruz became a cauldron of cultural experimentation, neighborhood activism, intellectual exploration and environmental protection in the 1960s and 1970s." I think that the word cauldron here is not the right choice because a cauldron most often then not, holds a witches brew. And, most witches brews that are mixed in a cauldron, are meant to produce a potion that results in some type of calamity or curse. I know I may be nitpicking, but if a museum is going to report history, they should be prepared for a response, as history should be reported with objective caution, not editorial perspective. A better word, again in my opinion, would be site, like Santa Cruz became a site of.... this gives objective reporting, as a posed to imagery that a word like cauldron produces. I think, and thus I write. Angela Davis, said, according to a poster, I also clipped, " I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I am changing the things I cannot accept." I also really enjoyed playing with Christmas train models for about 10 to 15 minutes. I was not transported into the Polar Express, but, it was fun to turn on cabooses and view their speed and stops through the tracks. It was a zen kind of moment. The museum also had a sculpture garden and a picture of a man in front of a giant redwood that made me want to find a giant tree and walk inside its tunnel. I guess, what I am trying to say is that this museum has a lot to see and ponder about. I was stirred, and calmed, by it.

What a great find while visiting downtown Santa Cruz with my girlfriend! Such a relaxing experience…read morevisiting this museum, it wasn't busy and the exhibits are very simple. You really get to learn about the history of Santa Cruz and the surrounding cities. It was three floors and wasn't a crazy big museum. I enjoyed it a lot and it was affordable to enjoy. Definitely can be a cool add to your itinerary for Santa Cruz. Bathrooms are a bit spooky though haha, they are super dim and is very ominous! Could barely go anymore once I walked in.

Parking is seamless and stress-free. While admission is free, the high quality of the exhibits…read moremakes you feel it's genuinely worth supporting. I deeply appreciated their tasteful, low-pressure approach to donations, it creates a welcoming atmosphere that actually inspires visitors to contribute willingly. A beautiful space that deserves to be recognized for its quality, not just its price tag.

Cute museum, was a little hard to find the entrance, but overall quiet and nice atmosphere.read more

Always a nice visit to see what new exhibits they have going on. Love how small and intimate the…read morespaces are. You can easily take your time visiting every piece without feeling like you have to rush it. Some of the new works in the new "Motherboards" exhibit are really cool too. Will be back!

Went on BoA's museums on us's first weekend (it is now first Sundays only). Most of the second…read morefloor was closed when I was there, so I was able to complete my visit within one hour. I would say an hour per floor was a good pace for me. I liked the locality of the pieces, whether it was about the artist and/ or art itself. I couldn't get the online guide to work but plan to be back when their second floor collection is open! They seem to allow small bags but I had to check in my backpack at coat check. Easy and convenient.

ICA is a large cool funky art space that also hosts events…read more Among the many cool restaurants and bars along south First Street are the cool artsy venues. The Institute of Contemporary Arts (i.e. ICA) is fantastic. It showcases local Bay Area artists' works among others. Super friendly staff are on hand and have the latest scoop on upcoming happenings. Go online to see upcoming events at the ICA. You may discover some cool-funky talks and art shows. Happy adventures!

Feeling arty-farty, I decided to go check out the Institute of Contemporary Art. It's located in a…read morereally cool area of First St. Admission is free which is always nice. I wanted to donate and the friendly guy asked if I wanted to sign up to get information, but I declined. I was the only one in there. The exhibit was called "Allegedly the Worst is Behind Us" which featured 12 artists and their work expressing intergenerational trauma. The work was very personal and moving and inspiring too. The work was much more interesting than the San Jose Art Museum. I felt the work would definitely resonate with others who may have experienced the same thing. Since I saved $20 on the last museum, I put it in the donation box in the front. Great place to come to!

This place is a hidden gem in Palo Alto, in an industrial area surrounded by factories. It is a…read moremuseum of the work of Tony Foster, an artist from UK who paints beautiful watercolor landscapes. It's free, and a nice place to visit for an hour or so ... highly recommended.

We tried Story Time with Anna on Sunday. It was an hour experience that our grandson enjoyed. We…read moresigned up ahead of time and street parking was easy. There was also a sign that there is additional parking behind the museum. After checking in there was a craft/art activity with stickers and tempera paint sticks. Low mess :). Adjacent was a play area with colored scarves, a pretend campfire, felt board for the children to explore, and books. Before entering the museum area Anna gave an introductory talk describing what to expect. She made it interactive which was very nice. They also did a song to get their wiggles out. She then guided the group through the museum to the carpeted area with cushions for the kiddos. Ana talked about and asked questions about the art on the walls. She read Under the Same Sky to the children and made this an interactive experience also. It was just the right length of time, thirty minutes. This was just right for our 18 month old grandson.

I'm not really a museum guy--I usually only visit when a friend visiting from out of town wants to…read morego. But I have to say, the de Young was a genuinely great experience. We caught the Monet special exhibition, and I found myself unexpectedly captivated by it. It was large enough to feel like a full day out but didn't feel overwhelming. I actually enjoyed it so much that I ended up signing up for a year-long membership (and they let me put the cost of our two adult tickets toward the annual fee, which was a nice bonus). A quick tip for those driving: I got lucky and found street parking on Fulton. It saves you the trouble of the underground garage, but do keep in mind that car break-ins are common in this area--so don't leave anything visible in your car if you decide to walk a few blocks. Highly recommended, even if you're not a "museum person." It's well worth the visit.

Art, Atmosphere, and Joy…read more Unexpected visit to San Francisco turned into something truly special. I didn't plan it, but I happened to arrive while a Monet exhibition was on display, and it felt like perfect timing. Monet has always been one of my favorite artists, and seeing his work in person at the De Young Museum made the experience feel both intimate and powerful. The museum itself is just as impressive as the art it holds: calm, spacious, and thoughtfully curated in a way that lets you slow down and really take things in. The free audio guide was also very helpful and added meaningful context to the exhibition without feeling overwhelming. I also stopped by the café and had the lasagna with an American coffee. It came to about $35, which is on the expensive side, but I consider it part of supporting the museum and the experience itself. Everything was satisfying and well-presented. Overall, this visit felt unexpectedly meaningful. I'm glad I came when I did, and I would absolutely return again, especially for future exhibitions.

Huge 7 floor Museum with lots of see. There were plenty of people and students. They have their…read morecafé and the fifth floor and then they also have a smaller café on the second floor before you enter. Each floor has both stairs and an elevator. Sometimes the stairs were hard to find. I only stopped by quickly for the special exhibitions. And they were pretty interesting and fun. There was lots to see, so I only stopped by very quickly by each exhibit. My favorite exhibition would probably be the yarn art exhibition as I was one of the few items that were very unique and different from everything else

San Francisco has always been a plain canvas and a city full of artist. You can see art on the…read morestreets with the architecture and buildings and you can also see it at a restaurant and especially at a Michelin guide restaurant on a plate of food. You can listen and watch San Francisco art on your analog and digital devices. The art of the deal is happening all over the city. The art of rebellion is part of the fabric of San Francisco. Even one of San Francisco's past Mayors is name Art ( Agnos). There is one place where you can see over five floors of modern art exhibits in San Francisco in the SOMA. It's called the SF MOMA. On a SOMA stroll I entered the SF Museum of Modern Arts building. Inside I went to many floors of different art exhibits and there was plenty to explore. I also was able to see the KAWS exhibition which had very animated art and is only available until May 3rd. You will also see visual art and also photography art. This place has a little bit of everything with the human touch and not totally made by a robot or AI ( time will tell). A good human experience of the human experience in San Francisco. Plan a visit when in SOMA. San Francisco art is everywhere and even in the restaurant food's "aroma"especially in the neighborhood of "SOMA" and to appreciate art you don't need to have an art "diploma" you can just go and appreciate the art inside of the "SF MOMA" Art is more than when someone paints or when someone "draws "some art can be digital as long it has a message and some have a "cause" some art museums are therapeutic like mental "spas"there is a few days left to watch the art exhibit at SF MOMA for "KAWS"

Someone else described it as pompous, and that felt pretty accurate…read more The art itself was weird in a bad way, very dark, heavy vibes that just didn't feel enjoyable or inspiring. The whole place felt small and honestly not worth making a trip for. What really made it worse was the staff behavior. One worker or volunteer took a photo of us and then awkwardly hid behind a wall, which was unsettling. Another staff member kept staring at us the entire time, then eventually approached to say we couldn't have a water bottle inside and had to check it at the front desk. That would have been fine if the front desk had mentioned it in the first place. The inconsistency just added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, not worth the visit at all. If you are deciding between museums, Oakland Museum of California is much better and a far more enjoyable experience.

I went there today for an international film named "La ciénaga". I love the fact that they show…read moreinternational and other interesting films there! Hollywood movies are getting so boring to me with the same old formulas, so this was a great find! Inside was very spacious, modern, and clean. Bathroom was super clean, too! Location is very near downtown Berkeley ( 2min walk) and so convenient! I would definitely go back:)

This review is for the new location in the Transamerica pyramid…read more The main art exhibits are rotating. The exhibit I saw was amazing and beautiful and displayed well. The staff happily explained it as well as the books on the table that I was able to leaf through. There are also materials on the table explaining the exhibits. There was another room about the time capsule found containing documents about the Transamerica pyramid, but that doesn't seem to be part of the art museum. There is a second exhibit but it wasn't available even though there were flyers about it. My main complaint is this location was too small with only one exhibit. It's free, but I'd happily have paid to see a larger museum.

Glad I got to check this place out before they move out of their space on Montgomery Street…read more Fun art across 2 levels. Free admission. Highlights included the colorful felt blorbs in the Midnight March by Masako Miki. It was also really cool checking out the Vault in the basement. I was told the building used to be a bank and the Vault was an actual vault they used back in the day. Bummed they will be moving out of this building and transitioning to a more nomadic model. I'll stay tuned for what's next!

There have been MULTIPLE instances where I have passed by this museum every time I visited Fremont…read moreand each time I asked I was told, "nah, it's not for you. It's really only just for kids and not really for adults", so I've never had the opportunity to go until recently and I'm glad to say that it's NOT just for kids, but it's definitely a GREAT place for kids to come and learn about the local natural history. The workers there are extremely kind and welcoming. Super helpful and I loved my entire time there. You can tell that this museum has been a staple to the community and that it's well loved by all those who visit. There's a scavenger hunt for little kids and big kids with a prize at the end (we got the big kids one, lol), an arts and crafts room, an electricity show (sad that we missed it!), lots of interactive exhibits that aren't too overwhelming (not a fan of touch screens and tablets everywhere, so a lot of the analog and hands on stuff was really, really nice), and a gift shop. There's also meetings rooms and such, probably for the field trips that visit. First off, the gift shop. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! The fact that there are actual items that are under $1 and that a child can purchase with pocket change is amazing. It's not junk either since you can get various shells, minerals, stones, and toys/items that are tangentially related to what you see going through the museum. Definitely got a bunch of souvenirs here and I really wish that I went during the school year cuz there's lots of small trinkets and knick knacks that would have been great for my middle school class! For all those crystal/gem people, it is definitely and INFINITELY much cheaper to get the crystals here than at any new age healing shop, just a side note haha. They also had a section with some lab items that are sold at a cost that is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than what I've seen on some STEM teacher supplies catalogs. There were even some free Periodic Table mats as well. Amazing! But now onto a review of the actual museum! The exhibits are on the second floor along with the arts and crafts room. If more time permitted I can easily spend hours here as there is a lot to look at, read, and engage in. As mentioned above I really like that this museum isn't like so many of it's more modern counterparts. It was nice to focus on what was in front of me and actually pick it up and interact with it (the ones that you are allowed to touch of course), especially in a matching and sorting sense (great way to get that pattern recognition thinking and learning for kids and adults likewise) without being overwhelmed by touch screen voices/recordings, etc going off at once. There's also something very nostalgic, familiar, and heartwarming about how aged some of the décor and how obviously homemade some of the stations are. Once again showing the love and care that went into everything. Now, I have to say that I am IMMENSELY impressed from the standpoint of a STEM major and from someone whose gone a decent amount of museums by the VAST collection of fossils, specimens, and REAL pieces of history that they have here. ALSO, from the standpoint of someone whose worked with zoomers before, very, very impressed that so much of it is OUT IN THE OPEN for the public to view. I've been to the LA Natural History museum and this children's museum has things that that huge museum does not and that is mind blowing for sure. I have never seen a taxidermy river otter, koala, or bear cub before. They had so many marine fossils and specimens of crustaceans that I have never seen preserved in such a way either. The 2 things that amazed me the most were the pieces of local natural history such as the fossils of prehistoric mammals that were found in Fremont or nearby and what may potentially be two real human skulls on display (how they got there, I REALLY wished I asked but completely forgot). If there's an opportunity to, I would LOVE to go back and learn, interact, and explore some more (and go shopping in their gift shop again).

Such a fun place for kids to see and observe fossils, learn about local paleontology, and do a…read morescavenger hunt with a prize at the end all for $3 per person! What a steal! It's a very small museum in a very old office building. But it's a hidden gem. Probably best for kids at least 4-5 and up. The artifacts are fragile and kids need to be able to follow directions to not touch things that shouldn't be touched. But there are hands on activities as well. Highly recommend!