We visited for the annual domino drop. Kids love this museum as they have so many things to explore. It's clean and safe for kids to explore. I love that we can watch movies when kids are all tired. read more

Overall, I think there's a lot of wasted potential here. It looks super well funded but lacking details and forethought. I'll give some examples: there's a massive cylinder next to the stair case area, i wondered about for a while. After going inside and seeing the roots which didn't even extend 1/10th of the way up and reading the text, i didn't quite understand why such a massive structure was needed for such a insignificant exhibit. Or take the anatomy level. There's plenty of bones and bodies all over the place without explaining anything about what makes a cheek bone significant, or a pelvis or any of the other bones or organs. very little explanation, no fun facts, no connection to why these things are useful for scientists and doctors to know about. the giant baseball figure: the text explains the that the upper torso is counter moving the bottom legs. empty spots all over the place. the 1 useful fact given about the impact of smoking on the heart is something everyone already knows about. what about the impact of diet on your arterial walls, your endothelial cells or your heart and all the risk factors for metabolic syndrome? The text information is generic, basic, obvious, dry, lacking inspiration. I really feel, that if you took the local high schooler's 50 best science projects for the year and filled the room with them, it'd be much more interesting and you could learn more from it. That would also cost orders of magnitude less and you wouldn't have to charge 28$! To be frank, many of the exhibits don't make sense. one area said, design your own animal, with cells displayed on the screen, you could move the dials around and the colors would change but it just didn't make an ounce of sense to me. and no explanation anywhere, nowhere. Massive floor to ceiling Screens everywhere, with cells floating around. there's very little you could actually learn. An entire robot area dedicated to learning about the basic principle of input and output. Perhaps, it was well suited for a 5 year old. In the climate change area, there were a few facts (emphasis on few) given about the differences between 1.5C and 2.0C and the most interesting thing they could say was to talk about permafrost increases without explaining anything about that or why that's important. Most of the massive displays with the dials on the wall had graphics that were in-decipherable. what was going on there? did i miss the text or something? The build your own taco calculator even had information that was wrong: Corn produces more calories per acre than almost anything else which is the exact opposite of what the calculator stated. We shouldn't be optimizing for land use anyways because water is a far more precious resource. All the text has been translated into Spanish, so if you don't know any English and only know Spanish then this is a great museum for you. Here are some positives: they did have a nice place for kids to play in, to play with blocks. and it's all young kid friendly and toddler friendly. The staff were helpful and kind. There was plenty of parking and the validation worked, 5$ yay! Also, there was plenty of restrooms and they were easy to find. I think kids could have a lot of fun here. and well, it is interactive. For adults, this place works better if you approach it as an art exhibit. We did get to see a lot of colorful stuff and it was still entertaining. Also, if you just want an indoor place to take some toddlers, then this place has really nice AC. read more

First visit to a museum since the beginning of the pandemic and I was really impressed. My first experience of the museum was back in the late 90s when it had first opened. If I remember correctly it was geared toward kids then as well, so I thought it was a great opportunity for my kids to experience. I had originally planned a couple of hours for this place but plans were thrown out when my kids decided this place was going to be an all day event. As others have mentioned this is geared more toward those 8+ but there was definitely activities that both my kids enjoyed! The Reboot reality and Bio Design studio where really great areas of interaction but the lower level was even better. Social robots and the tech studio where really great areas for kids to see problems and use their problem solving skills to help create awesome robots and machines. The only issue we had to deal with is that their was a bit of wait as they were limiting the number of each activity but it wasn't long and well worth it. We also checked out the beta solve for earth exhibit and the kids found multiple ways to keep busy. Ultimately, I think the biggest indicator of how much the kids liked this place is that we stayed from open to close. While it might not be geared toward adults, it really allowed the kids to exercise their creative and technical side of their brains! read more

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We've been several times over the past few years with Bofa free museum weekends. I would not be too happy paying full price for this place. It has some cool exhibits but also some things that could be better. Never went to their cafe but it looks good. They could include more exhibits for younger kids as it's never too early to inspire them to experiment and explore! read more

I typically love museums, but this one falls short for me. The only thing I find interesting is the human bodies exhibit, but they don't seem to change it up with different themes like they did in the past (brain, reproduction, etc). The imax theatre is nice but it costs extra. I find myself bored, but my child seems to like it, as does my husband. I think there are better interactive museums for families. The exhibits are always a little less than promised. For example one station let you prepare a lab sample, but the one you get to view the results for was prepared by someone else. It was a round about way to just use a microscope to look at premade samples. Directly creating and testing would be more fun, and more crafts would be engaging. There are so many opportunities to make science fun, but it misses in my opinion. read more

Amazing place for both kids and adults! The AI and robotics exhibits are cutting-edge. Love their special events and hands-on workshops. The IMAX dome theater is spectacular. Perfect blend of education and entertainment read more

We were near by on a weekday and decided to check it out. There was so many things to do and look at. My kids ( 12 and 9) loved it! Unfortunately there were several schools there at the same time we were and there were a lot of rude teens there that kept cutting in line. But we still enjoyed ourselves and realize that the museum can not control this. read more

Class fieldtrip and the kids were directed to eat on the floor. I found this odd. It seems there used to be more interesting exhibits. It was crowded. The iMax movie was interesting. I think the kids learned some things they will remember, but I feel like the museum used to have more hands-on activities. The kids wanted to leave early. Compared to our visit to Lawrence Hall of Science last year, when the kids didn't want to leave. The tech would get 4 stars, but minus 1 for lunch on the floor. read more

This place is amazing so interactive and fun- brought a bunch of 2nd graders - love the imax dog documentary made me cry!

It was really good,but when I tried to get my cotton candy it broke and the workers rolled their eyes it was fun!

Fun Fun Fun! Three levels of a Bunch of touchy stuff for the kiddos. So it is very interactive, hence the name!!! The IMAX with Lasers was the best I have ever seen before. The cute show about Brink of Extinction was very informative and inspiring to keep animals safe and the environment. We learned a lot about the Island Grey Fox, Golden Monkey from China and Red Crabs in Australia. Conservation of these animals environments is very important. The sound quality was booming and high fidelity. I can't wait to watch more movies here in the future. The ground floor was the best. Making your own robot was the student's favorite station and just about everything down there. Coding, malware, lock picking, understanding the net, there was all kinds of excitement. Top floor was the body experience. The students get an explanation of what they are going to see and to respect the science behind the displays. You know how youngsters are when seeing body parts but they had fun. Then there is this one table that displays each system in the body. For instance, all organs are shown as they lay inside the body and then can swipe them aside to see what lies beneath. Great experience for the whole family!! read more

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Our 3 kids ages 5-11 didn't want to leave. It was clean not very crowded on a Sunday. The exceptional staff did a great job of asking our kids questions rather than solving their problems. read more

The Tech Interactive - Giant Rube Goldberg machine. - Museums Near Me - San Jose, California

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There's a closeby parking garage near the Tech Museum, so make sure to look ahead first at where to park. You can also validate the parking inside the museum for a cheaper parking rate. The total parking fee with validation came out to be $5.00 on a weekend. We ordered tickets online in advance as we were afraid tickets may be sold out. When we arrived, they scanned the ticket and gave us a physical map. You can also download the map on your phone instead if you don't want a physical map. They'll also give you a physical ticket so you can scan to do most of the activities inside. A lot of the activities were physical and mental puzzles, which were fun. I was sad they removed the earthquake simulator and replaced it with something else. But they added a few new areas since the last time I came (4 years ago). Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Order tickets online to book a time slot - Validate parking to get a cheaper fee - Keep the physical ticket they give you so you can scan it to use the activities read more

We went on a field trip for my daughter's 4th grade class and it was disappointing.The staff members were not friendly and just seemed annoyed, the prices for snacks and drinks are outrageous. For a place that hosts field trips daily, it was disappointing the kids had to eat their lunch on the floor instead of having tables. The kids were bored after 45 minutes. read more

I volunteered at the Tech before the civod panic. It's a great place for 6-12 to open their horizon, and the lab support of school is an integral part of the Tech's mission. read more

The Tech Interactive is a super cool and fun activity in Downtown San Jose! As described in the name, the exhibits are all very interactive and engaging, and they have a great variety of activity types and topics. Right now they have exhibits covering topics like city and civil planning, food production, the human body, computer science and robotics, space exploration, biology, and much more! Great for all ages, from young kids to proudly-nerdy adults! They are also a fantastic and unique venue for large events - we recently hosted our wedding reception there and it was super fun for us and our guests. We rented out the lower level after hours and they kept the exhibits open for our guests to play with throughout the night. I highly recommend them as an event space! read more

A great place for kids and adults! Lots to learn, see, and experience. We have visited with our toddler a few times and he enjoys his time there as well but I do believe it is mostly designed for older kids. Multiple floors, lots to think about, explore, and learn from. IMAX theater is also something to see! They have great films full of information. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

Thankful for the tech museum in Silicon Valley. However, given that this is the Silicon Valley it could be better. It is decent and I thought it is a bit pricey. It would not be something we would visit on a regular basis. The IMAX dome theater is the bomb! Saw TRex... was amazing. The cafe was good. Staff is friendly. I liked the body worlds decoded on the top floor. We covered it all in 4-5 hours. I hope they add more exhibits. We need our own Fleet Center. read more

Terrible. Dirty and run down. Broken exhibits. Overpriced. There is little to no explanation on many of the interactive exhibits. Any exhibit that may be worth visiting has a wait. Parking is ridiculous. ($30.99) read more

To begin with, it doesnt have a designated parking and the parking close it is closed, like the whole toad is closed. The attendants are mostly just on their phones, not helpful at all even if you look like a dumb tourist trying to figure out what. I wish they had something that tells u the must do, then which ones are timed activities etc. honestly i like the Exploratorium so much more so dont waste ur time and money here. read more

I've been to this museum on at least three different occasions now and every time I always find everything fascinating! I really like the cadavers that are upstairs and the body details that were given into the different parts of the body parts?! It was so interesting and gross at the same time! Lol, I thought there was an earthquake simulator seer somewhere but I couldn't seem to find it. My summertime campers really liked all the want to be computer programming, coding section downstairs on the basement floor, and a handful of them were fascinated by creating their own community that was a system, sustainable for animals, plants as well as people. they also have a coffee shop with a concession stand for the theater without righteously priced items as well as a gift shop with more at Regency priced items. Lol some of my campers only had five dollars and couldn't really buy anything but I'm sure they didn't need those trinkets to begin with. After all you come to explore the museum and learn things not for a gift shop! Lol I will definitely be back here again and I hope this coming fall during October the host the Greek-Oktoberfest. They had one back in the fall of 2019 and it was a lot of fun!! I actually won some tickets online from Instagram and my friend and I were able to attend but then the pandemic happened and I haven't heard of geek-October Fest coming back to the tech museum. read more

The Tech Interactive - Museums Near Me - San Jose, California

Coming from Chicago, this is quite a unique museum for me as it's very technology oriented, utilizing VR, cryptography, networking, and other themes to provide a very educational experience. The exhibits are mostly self serve though some of the more complex experiences have someone to guide you through the process. This is not only focused on the use of technology for communication, work, or gaming but also its application in medicine, space exploration, sustainability, providing clean water, improving transportation, and other applications. If you visit this museum, don't expect to see lots of flashy exhibits and relax. You'll need to put on your thinking cap and keep an open mind to really enjoy everything. read more

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Would you pay $24, the regular adult price of admission, to see the Tech Museum of Innovation? We would not pay even $19, the student or senior price or child price of admission. Waited 15 years until they had a free admission day to TMI on Sunday June 24. Checked with the web site to find validated $5 parking anytime at either the San Jose Convention Center garage or Second & San Carlos garage, each about 0.4 mile or an 8 minute walk away. The closest parking garage is City View Parking across the street on Park Ave. $10 after 5pm on weekdays and all day on weekends. Do not park here on weekdays before 5pm, as $1.50 every 15 minutes, or a maximum of $30 per day. Talk about losing your shirt! Shocking orange colored building with a blue roof. City of SJ must have been trying to save money with surplus paint in those color shades! 10:09am: 12 minute wait in line for getting the free admission tickets, and 4 IMAX adult show tickets, normally $11 per adult per show, on this day only $5 per adult per show. 2019 ticket adult ticket prices are $24 for exhibit admission alone, $29 for one IMAX film and exhibit combo, and $11 for each additional IMAX film. Seniors (65+), college students and children (3-17) pay $19 for the exhibit admission alone, $23 for one IMAX film and exhibit admission combo, and $9 for each additional IMAX film. A small cafeteria and gift shop are accessible from the outside without going through the ticket line. No food nor drinks allowed in the exhibit areas. You may bring in your backpacks and strollers. Elevators and escalators, with bathrooms, water fountains, and benches to sit on every floor. Upper level we checked out the Body Worlds Decoded exhibit. Went in front of a screen where an electronic reproduction of my body's central nervous system, as I was moving. Saw plastic models of muscle tissues of complete humans, just like you see of people being skinned alive by the Mexican cartels. Most of the models were anatomically correct. But at least one ballet dancer model not only gelded but totally castrated. Mouth wide open -that must hurt! Security now present to make sure visitors don't hack off any more male models' genitals for souvenirs! Cool three dimensional electronic diagram of the human body showing main organs, and a reset switch to show central nervous system, all operated by Museum volunteers. Body turns over just like a pig impaled on a stake over an open fire. Don't want kids playing around with the controls! Another screen where you could see a thermal reflection of your hands, as they moved. Reminded me of the Predator movie. Virtual reality flight simulator, where person lies down flapping his hands on wings with map of downtown skyscrapers. Separate additional charge of $8 to use. Oculus medium virtual reality. Free, but have to sign up several hours in advance, with two users every 15 minutes. Wife tried it, and said it was cool, but a bit uncomfortable with the mask on her nose. Bottom floor, Exploration Gallery with an earthquake simulator. What a joke, sideways movement on a moving floor. No up and down movement like you see at Disneyland's Tower of Terror. Lot of photographs of space technologies, which were interesting, but which I had seen before on the internet. Hands on exhibits, including lego building, geared mainly to grade school kids age 6-12. Not much interest in Cyber Detective nor Body Metrics. Saw two IMAX films in the 280 seat dome theater, with 180 degree wrap around image, at least 40 feet in height. One on American music, and another on under the ocean creatures. Line of people allowed into the theater 15 minutes before showtime. Dozens of stairs to climb to get to your seats inside the IMAX theater, and dozens of stairs to climb down to get out of the IMAX theater. If you don't like stairs, you are SOL! Each film 45 minutes long, with the best seats second row from the top in the center, with feet over the projection platform. Drink holders with extreme stadium seating - your feet are at head level of the row in front. They try to clear out the theater after each performance, before the next show's audience enters. Last show of the day was sold out, and some latecomers could not get seats, as some freeloaders managed to stay over from the previous show. The dome theater will be closed July 2-November 2018 for renovations. You are paying $11 for 45 minutes of film, or the equivalent of $30 for a full length movie. Last came here 10 years ago, with my two nephews and niece, all in grade school, and best suited for this museum. Saw Star Wars on IMAX. This time didn't call up the grandkids, as trying to control rampaging kids in a museum on a weekend is not my idea of fun. Will wait until the next free admission day. If it is another 15 years, then I might be six feet under! read more

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We were really impressed with this museum. We expected we'd have fun but not as much as we did. Both the 14 year old and the 7 year old had a great time. I believe we spent about 4 hours and could easily had stayed even longer. There is so much to do and we didn't even watch a movie! We plan to get a family membership soon. I love that all ages can enjoy this museum and everything is so hands-on. There are 3 floors to explore and lots of labs and extras to check out. Highly recommended. read more

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I've always stood behind the phrase, "it's all about approach". I'm very sad and bothered by giving The Tech Museum a 2 star rating and actually had to wait a few days to calm my emotions to write this review. The museum itself is quite the cool place for our children, 'the next generation'. My group of kids were very eager, ready to learn, ready to explore, full of excitement, full of joy. My heart was broken and my patience was tested when employees/volunteers kept yelling at the children for......um being children. The first case was forgivable, but the moment you get annoyed when a child who's is there to LEARN asks a question about what they are LEARNING about, that is just wrong. It didn't happen once, not twice, not three times but four and at different exhibits. My sister went with her daughter's class and had the same rude and impatient experience with her group. It's just sad that our kids fundraiser so hard and we're overjoyed with excitement to be let down by heartless individuals who are to busy talking to one another to actually provide the decency of a smile or welcoming attitude. Please improve this with new hires or retrain your employees/volunteers to understand that children will be children! read more

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I had been meaning to come to this place for the last two decades but just never made it because I kept seeing it described as a kids' museum. I was recently visiting my dad down south and decided I should take a downtown detour and give it a walkthrough to satisfy my long-gestating curiosity. Excluding the educational IMAX film showing, the gallery admission was definitely on the high side at $24 for non-members, and I didn't have a clue as to what I was going to see. Not even Wikipedia described what was inside with any detail. I mean I knew it was going to be kid-friendly... I didn't know just how completely focused it would be on their enjoyment and education. For my entire visit, I felt like an interloper in a playground marked with a "No Adults Allowed Unless Accompanied by a Minor" sign. I just feel this museum should be renamed the Children's Discovery Tech Museum because that's what it really is. The museum galleries consist almost entirely of interactive exhibits whether to build social robots, recognize human senses (photo: http://bit.ly/2FgFJng), or experience a massive earthquake in a simulator (photo: http://bit.ly/2FpXZXD). Very little was targeted to the unsupervised adult of a certain age. That's why I was thrilled to see a panel devoted to Buzz Aldrin since I was probably the only customer in the museum who remembered who he was. To be fair, there was an interesting exhibit of the human body in motion as illustrated by skeletons frozen in specific activities such as swinging a bat (photo: http://bit.ly/2tkguuY) and flamenco dancing (photo: http://bit.ly/2oVkkoM). However, it would have been nice if there was at least one exhibit that delved into the history of Silicon Valley without the need to push a button or operate a crane. If you're looking for a thoughtful examination of how innovation has inspired Silicon Valley, you'll be challenged to find it here. read more

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This museum opened on October 31, 1998; as I finally came here for the very 1st time a couple of years ago. The museum is composed of three floors; as the ground floor has the main entrance, a gift shop & cafe, and a recreational area that is reserved for special events. Its IMAX theater is also located here, which is Northern California's only domed IMAX Theater, and it can seat up to 280 people. Its upper levels has four major theme galleries; which are Communication, Exploration, Innovation and Life Tech. As of 2018, its ticket prices for the Museum galleries are $20 for adults and $16 for children. If you only want to see the Educational IMAX film only, then it's $8 for adults and $6 for kids. If you want to do the Combo (galleries plus educational IMAX), then it's $24 for adults and $19 kids. I did the combo. There are metered parking outside, or you can pay for parking in a public garage that is walking distance from the museum. As for the museum, I felt that kids would enjoy this place a lot more than an adult. To me, a 3-Star rating is very fair, but a child may have a lot more fun with the interactive part of this museum. I would recommend this place if you have young kids; but if you would like to check this place out as an adult, maybe come here if you can get a promotional discount instead. read more

I am a teacher and had been bringing my students to visit the tech museum for years. However, the last two visits were extremely disappointing. There are less hands on activities for the students to do, long lines, broken exhibits, long waits to sign up for activities, and many of the best exhibits are gone. (We miss the earthquake exhibit!) I believe that the tech museum has a few great ideas on what they want to present to students, but a giant million dollar exhibit about greenspaces isn't engaging if there are two buttons to push and one button is broken. I get the idea of it is to bring awareness, but in exhibits like this feel like ways for investors to pat each other on the back about their progressive or innovative ideas rather that actually having engaging exhibits for kids and families. Also, these kids are at screens ALL DAY all the time. The tech museum needs more hands-on projects, less screens. I know I sound old, but I'm not, I really believe technology is great, but the focus of the museum should switch back to more open and interactive exhibits to let the kids play. Also, the staff was so grumpy, we got some unclear directions, and they barked at my class. They are awesome kids, just being curious and excited, not doing anything wrong. It was a little frustrating. I was so disappointed (and honestly bored) the last visit that we opted to skip this year. read more

The Imax theater is definitely worth it. Came here for a quick visit and stayed for longer than expected. The Imax theater had different shows and we got to watch about the Hubble telescope which was pretty awesome. The seating and the 3D view is absolutely a must try. There are 3 floors and all of the floors have several interactive sections. I don't intend to give anymore spoilers so go and explore this place. Bet you won't regret and ignore the negative reviews read more

The Tech Interactive - Museums Near Me - San Jose, California

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Their museum is very interactive and engaging for students of all ages. There is something for everyone pre-k - adults. Never stop learning is the goal here and it also demonstrates that anyone can learn technology just have the willingness to try and it's fun! The students learned about the history of rollercoasters and how different facets of science plays an important in things we enjoy-in society. This was a great way to engage our students and give real world application to how important science is in education. Each group created their own rollercoaster and they had to test it 3 times in order to ensure success. Mariah was our instructor today and she did a phenomenal job giving background knowledge and give the students simple standards their coaster must meet in order to be successful. The students remained engaged throughout the entire class. Now for the museum itself this place is completely run by your ticket you purchase using the barcode. They show us how science applies in music, video games of course, civil engineering with the a earthquake simulator and various everyday life activities that we may not think about. The build your own robot exhibit is pretty AWESOME and the staff mama it well. Also check out IMAX. They are also a part of the Museum for All Initiative. You can find details about that program here: http://www.thetech.org/plan-your-visit/museums-all. These events are quite expensive and I like the way they provide access for all. Th efforts are greatly appreciated because we have to remember exposure creates desire. Children who aren't exposed don't get the opportunities that others do. In Houston we have museum Thursdays; the museums are available to everyone after a certain time. I didn't look into the details but hopefully it's similar to ours. Thank you once again to Mariah and the museum staff for a wonderful day and we hope to be back. I know you'll have greater things in store for us! read more

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THIS PLACE IS HIGH TECH ........if we were in 2012. Busted machines and none of the exhibits were that cool. Workers were kind though. read more

The Tech Interactive - Museums Near Me - San Jose, California

This is mostly waste of money. only open on very select days, very inconvenient and not much learning for middle schoolers. least they can do is to keep it open. the projects etc also have to be done through schools! so parents can't get their kids involved in any long term learning through The Tech. Not engaging for kids. spend your money elsewhere. it's a total waste. read more

Came here mostly for the IMAX theater, which was showing a wonderful documentary, "Superpower Dogs", about real-life hero working dogs trained to save lives. Every dog lover would love this documentary and I applaud the Tech Museum for choosing this movie! It's playing at the IMAX until the end of June 2019 so hurry if you'd like to see it. The IMAX Theater itself was large and comfortable. I'd forgotten how huge and impressive the Imax screen is all around you which totally immerses you into the movie. I walked out of there loving and appreciating dogs even more and in awe of their special abilities! The museum was clean, modern, and the displays were interesting especially the Body Worlds Decoded (anatomy/physiology exhibit). That was my favorite exhibit which I thought was fascinating and well done in terms of relevance to common health conditions and everyday physical movement. They also had many exhibits and interactive activities geared toward children as well as an earthquake shake table which simulated the Seattle earthquake of 2001. The IMAX Theater, Body Worlds Decoded (anatomy/physiology exhibit) were definitely worthy of 5 stars. But I'm knocking off a star for the museum as a whole because the admission price was high even with the savings of buying a combo ticket, and although I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the museum, there really weren't as many exhibits as one would expect from a major Tech and science museum. read more

I'm conflicted on this place. First off, the price is too steep for what you get. $25 for adults! I went solo and quickly learned that the museum is geared towards children. There was nothing of interest on the bottom floor, so I quickly walked through and then made my way to the top floor. The highlight of my visit was the "Body Worlds Decoded" exhibit. You can check out a tablet which provides 3D viewings of various parts of the body. Using the heart as an example, I was able to walk around it and see it from every angle. The exhibit uses human skeletons, which was interesting. I learned so much and was able to see what healthy organs looked like as opposed to unhealthy organs. Other than this exhibit, I didn't see anything else worth spending my time on. Worth noting, the museum has a gift shop and café that you can visit as well. read more

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While on a field trip with about a 120 3rd graders, I was saved!! The Sugar-Free Vanilla Latte was pretty darn tasty! Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. I am sure we don't go to the museum for their coffee, but if you want it while you're there, it's pretty good!! Way to go, Tech! read more

The Tech Interactive - Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Latte - Museums Near Me - San Jose, California

It was a great afternoon with family of all ages. There was something for everyone! Kids were having fun and learning!!!

I enjoyed this museum with my nieces ~5 years ago, but was disappointed with my last visit. The museum is quite expensive - $25 for adults, $20 for kids - and it seems like a smaller version of the Exploratorium in San Francisco. There is a ton of technology in the museum (duh), but even on a day that wasn't terribly crowded, there were longish lines for many of the devices and stations. I can see how parents might enjoy getting a membership and just letting kids run around in there for an hour or so every couple of weeks, but it's not much of an attraction on a standalone basis. read more

This place is amazing. Great learning experience and activities for kids. There is so much to do here. We had a great visit

Small amount of activities to do with Covid 7/11/2021 in place, still have to pay full price to enter. Large areas under construction unaware when visiting. If was fully open would be great place to spend, great for all ages. Clean inside, wish some instructions came with interactive machines, took me awhile to realize I needed to use my admissions ticket to operate the machines. Nothing explained when purchasing ticket or entering. read more

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Today's review of The Tech is brought to you by the number 3. 3 hours. That's how long it took me and the wife to do just about every exhibit here. This place is way smaller than the Exploratorium in SF. 3 levels. The upstairs level has galleries for Silicon Valley innovations (mainly microchips), technology solving problems in developing countries, and an extremely small gallery for digital music. On that floor are also robotic arms that draw your picture and spell out a custom phrase with building blocks; pretty cool. The downstairs level had more interesting galleries: body metrics, cyber detectives, earth and space, and a hands-on robot building lab. The ground level is just a cafe, gift shop and the entrance to the IMAX theatre. 3 broken exhibits. I remember at least three exhibits being broken. 3 areas I liked best. The cyber detectives gallery was probably my favorite. I liked the interactive exhibits that taught about crytopgraphy and password cracking. The space section of the exploration gallery was my second favorite; they have a space jet pack simulator that you propel across the floor with bursts of air (for the inner astronaut in all of us). The earth section of the exploration gallery gets the bronze medal; the most notable exhibit there was the earthquake simulator (you go stand in it and get to relive what notable recorded earthquakes felt like). 3 dollar amounts of note. Admission was $21 for adults and $16 for children. Add $5 to your ticket price if you're seeing an IMAX movie. The wife and I had fun, but we're not really itching to come back. 3 stars. Enough said. read more

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