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    CuriOdyssey

    4.2 (375 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Services - CuriOdyssey

    Venue rental

    CuriOdyssey Photos

    Recommended Reviews - CuriOdyssey

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    Illuminossedy
    Jojo P.

    If you have a baby or toddler, this place is worth a visit. Lots of hands on experiences and during the holidays, they have a glow light experience! My little one loved it and this place had lots of variety including the live animal exhibit and playground. Quick tip: beat the crowd and go when it open.

    Mae O.

    We went on MLK Day & surprisingly it wasn't too crowded. Yes, there were lots of people, but there were plenty of things for the kids to see & do. We stayed most of the day & even had a picnic. You can bring in a stroller. We brought a stroller to hold our jackets & lunch. They do have stroller parking which was nice. My kids enjoyed IlluminOdyssey. The interactive winter light experience. It ends Jan. 25th. Unsure of what will take place, but the exhibit was huge. My kids also enjoyed the outdoors! The played the floor is lava and jump from one stump to the other. So fun! Parking is $6 Open every day unless special hours 10-5pm

    Pranamee S.

    This is definitely a wonderful place for a summer day out, with plenty of picnic spots and beautiful trails inside the regional park. Just note that everything--including the park gates--closes at 5 pm! I was disappointed that they sold us 4 pm tickets for the Illumiodyssey winter program when the park shuts at 5. The zoo animals were already gone, we had to rush through the museum, and most areas were closing. That said, it is a great spot for kids to explore, imagine, and learn science. We'll definitely be back--just at an earlier time!

    Deanna L.

    CuriOdyssey is the perfect science exhibit for little ones. It's not too big, but it has plenty of interactive exhibits, animal displays and even a built in playground for younger and older kids. The outdoor area is spacious for when you need a break from the chaos and the view of the bay is spectacular!

    I know it's blurry but it is the only photo that did not include a child.
    Michele M.

    I have been here twice this year with a two year old, once in spring and once in the winter. What is nice is they mixed up some of the displays and interactive activities so there were new things to be discovered. What was really fun is each child was provided a lantern in an area where the lights were dimmed and everything was aglow. I included a photo of the area, it is a bit blurry but it is the only one that does not have a child in it. I love that there are different areas and things to do; interactive exhibits inside, animals outside, and then a playground. I would say this is most suited to younger children and it is a delight to watch them explore here. I do feel that it is pricey if you are going for one visit. That being said, they do offer memberships that make it worth it.

    Apparently my husband thought it was funny that this lizard was named Charlene
    Kalae M.

    Spent a couple hours here. I'd say it was worth it. First time seeing an eagle that close and the staff are very informative when you go to the different parts of the zoo. All in all a good time! I'd suggest bringing your own food and picnic at the park towards the end of the park.

    Wind tunnel
    Nathan D.

    We came here as part of a trip to explore the ASTC Passport program. What a cool spot on the bay. The combination of the science museum, playground and zoo is fantastic. So many great interactive exhibits. There is so much to learn from here, especially for a child that is over 3 years old. Us parents had a blast with the exhibits too, many clever visual exhibits. The zoo is a nice touch, good exhibits for the animals and the enclosures looks to be well maintains and good size. The playground is pretty neat too, since it is also for teaching physics. Overall a great place to stop and learn and a beautiful location.

    Lactation pod (2nd floor)
    Jonathan C.

    Pro Tip: If you aren't a member, check the local library for a free parking pass and Discover and Go for a free child ticket! Walkways are a bit narrow, so would leave the stroller if you don't need it. Mother's room available for those that need to pump or nurse. Compared to Palo Alto Children's Museum, the exhibits here are more science oriented similar to Exploratorium in San Francisco. The "zoo" question is very small and we walked through that area in about 10-15 minutes. There is also a small playground outside as well. The membership options are worth it if you plan to come at least 3 times in a year. Personally, I don't see myself visiting the spot that often unless you live close by.

    permit parking
    Amy Y.

    CuriOdyssey is a small science museum with an equally small attached zoo, with an emphasis on small. What makes up for its square footage are the fun, informative, and interactive displays, and the friendly staff. They are open every day of the week but close early at 5pm, as most museums do, with the exception of the first Friday of the month where there is additional entertainment until 8pm. CuriOdyssey does a seasonal winter theme called IlluminOdyssey which I'll plan to check out later this year. The admission fee is $27.95 per adult, slightly reduced rates for children, students, and seniors, and $6 for parking. There are various parking lots around the park, so you'll have to drive to a different lot if the closest one is full. You can buy membership which includes free parking, or get free entry (and membership) under Museums for All. The Coyote Point recreation area is quite popular for various events and activities such as picnics, fishing, walking, etc. so it's nice to pair a visit with an outdoor day. I enjoy visiting on weekdays, when there's not many people here at all; on weekends, it's swarming with children and families. Make sure you eat before or after your visit since there's no food here. There are two types of "shows" that happen daily, which include otter feeding at 12pm, and animal/creature presentations at 1pm and 2pm. Additionally, there is a paid option to do a private feeding and QnA session with otters. There are basically inside and outside sections, and a smaller building in the back with some "phenomena" exhibits. Before you reach this building is an outdoor area with picnic tables, squirrels and birds, and a view of the bay. The inside section is basically two large rooms and a hallway filled with science and physics stuff, most of which are interactive, and is located right inside the door after you purchase admission. The redwood hall features exhibits that change every now and then. The outside area, located to the left of the steps up to CuriOdyssey's entrance, features the gift shop, insects, a few displays, a small stage area where they do presentations, a playground, and the zoo. The few animals it showcases are cute, but most of them were hard to spot as they were snoozing. I would say that you can probably see everything in half an hour if you do a speedrun, or two hours if you want to thoroughly read and play with everything. CuriOdyssey is definitely geared towards children, but I found it fairly enjoyable as an adult. It's a museum made for local families, as I'd recommend directing tourists to the bigger science museums in SF. But if you want low-key educational fun, this is a swell place to be.

    Play Area
    Ter L.

    As much as I really wanted to like CuriOdyssey, this spot just didn't do it for toddler or myself. I was excited to take my 4yo here because of her love for all wildlife & nature. According to the website, CuriOdyssey houses about 70 different creatures. Not all 70 animals are available for viewing but I anticipated a lot more than what was on display. The highlight of our visit was the sleepy raccoon & the lightning fast otter. The establishment was smaller than I had imagined so I felt like we breezed through everything fairly quickly. Luckily for us, the playground was a hit. This is actually where my child spent most of her visit. 3 stars. I am glad to have experienced this but can't confirm that a 2nd visit is needed for my family. Do be advised that parking is plentiful but there is a parking & vehicle entrance fee of $6.

    Great oversized hands-on music box!

    See all

    2 months ago

    I love it so much fun i recommend it! It's a really fun place and very entertaining! Also the otter was very cool to watch!

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    10 months ago

    Loved this place so much we ended up applying our day admission fare toward a family membership

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - CuriOdyssey

    Is CuriOdyssey only geared towards younger children? Will tweens find it boring?

    I personally think curiOdyssey is geared towards all curious minds of ages! Lots of fun hands on things to explore! Similar to the exploratorium in SF!

    What is a good amount of time to allocate for a small group of kids to see and do everything here?

    I would say an hour to 1.5, it's a small place but the science area will definitely catch their eye.

    Hello, has anyone held a child's birthday party in the theater and classroom? Their staff indicated there is no freezer, refrigerator or microwave so I'm not sure what food to serve. Thanks!

    Hi Lisa! Our theater and classroom birthday party is for parties of 49 or fewer including the guest of honor, host family, and all attendees. We don’t have any appliances such as a fridge or microwave available for parties so please plan… Read more

    Can you pet any of the animals?

    Certain animals come out for special talks, and some of those are able to be touched. I think it's a good idea to call ahead of time and ask about the scheduled talks.

    Does CuriOdyssey have any cafes or anywhere at the zoo to buy lunch?

    They sale snacks, not substantial lunch. But there are picnic areas all around outside.

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - CuriOdyssey

    We ended up liking the Redwood Hall so much that we had our entire wedding there (ceremony and reception).

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Bay Area Discovery Museum - Lookout Cove, one of our seven exhibits.

    Bay Area Discovery Museum

    (697 reviews)

    One of the few places where you can spend almost the entire day with kids without constantly trying…read moreto figure out what to do next. The Bay Area Discovery Museum somehow manages to feel exciting without feeling overwhelming. There are indoor exhibits, outdoor play areas, sensory stations, bubble activities, climbing structures, toddler-friendly areas, and sand play with Golden Gate Bridge views. The layout makes it easy for kids to naturally move from one activity to another without parents constantly redirecting the day. The overall vibe feels chill, playful, interactive, and very exploration-focused instead of overly chaotic or overstimulating. Quick guide below. What really stood out to me was how thoughtfully designed the museum feels for both children and parents. Many activity areas are staffed, which makes the experience feel more interactive and supported instead of parents having to carry the entire outing themselves. One staff member even pulled out a little guitar during one activity, and suddenly kids and parents were all singing together like a tiny spontaneous flash mob It gave the whole place a really warm, community feel instead of feeling like just another children's museum. I also loved the dedicated toddler play areas where bigger kids can't just run through and take over, which made it feel much calmer and safer for little ones still learning to explore independently. ------ QUICK GUIDE What matters: * Free parking available * Designed mainly for kids ages 0-8 * Indoor + outdoor children's activities * Toddler-friendly play areas * Bubble + sensory activities * Sand play area * Large climbing/play structures * Golden Gate Bridge views * Bathrooms throughout * Stroller-friendly paths * Staff throughout activity areas * Open space to roam and explore * Great for both low-stimulation and high-energy kids * Easy place to spend several hours with children ------ Pro tip: if you accidentally forget diapers or wipes, they have diaper backpacks stocked near the bathrooms -- one of those small details that makes the whole place feel genuinely parent-friendly. Adding photos because it was hard to picture the overall layout before going.

    This place is so cool! We're always on the hunt for an epic sandbox with a view, and Bay Area…read moreDiscovery Museum delivered. Such an amazing experience, and now that we've been once, we're already excited to plan our next trip to make it more of a full-day adventure. Coming from the East Bay, the drive was nice. Where the Bay Area Discovery Museum is located, you feel you're in a movie set. Gorgeous Bay views, just overall incredibly picturesque. A few notes when planning: check museum times (we ended up arriving close to their closing time, so our tickets were reduced in price which was nice), but we def could have been playing/exploring for longer. Also, there is a safe parking lot adjacent to the museum. We were greeted by friendly staff and given a map of the area. They outlined what could be fun for our kiddo's age range, and we honestly had such a fun time. From bubbles to music, water play to trains, an oversized fruit exhibit to pirate ship, there's so much to see and do, and ground to cover. We also noticed a cafe too with patrons grabbing coffee and whatnot. We have friends that have a membership which would be fun to consider for future. Can't wait for round two already!

    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Feeding the tortoise

    Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

    (388 reviews)

    I had to run some errands in Palo Alto, and my little one tagged along with me for this trip. I…read morethought it'd be fun to bring her along to this museum. There isn't much fun stuff to do in Palo Alto if you're a tiny tot, but this place seemed like it was created for the little ones! Would highly rec if you are in Palo Alto for a day and want to bring your young child somewhere. There are different parts to this - a museum, and also a mini zoo. The museum has all sorts of fun activities, similar to the Bay Area Discovery with building blocks, magnets, trains, cars, tops, etc. The mini zoo is also quite fun with a variety of animals, although not many. The quality of the animals was great, though. They had a feeding hour for the Flamingos when I was there, and although my toddler was not interested, it seemed like the staff stayed for the whole hour, and made sure that anyone who wanted to do it had a chance to do so. Other animals there included a free-roaming peacock! The only draw here is that it's a little small, compared to a real zoo, or a real museum such as the Bay Area Discovery Museum, or the California Academy of Sciences. That being said, the price for this museum was quite reasonable, at $14 per person over 1 year old. Even for the 1.5 hours I was there, I thought it was well worth it! Free parking too. If in the area, I'd definitely stop by again.

    Pretty nice little spot for the kids to spend some time. It's not very large, so be prepared for…read morethat. Still, we were able to spend a quality couple of hours here and enjoy the time with the kids. A nice little museum with a tree house and some animals that the kids will enjoy. Again, slightly small, but overall a good time.

    Children's Museum of Sonoma County - Firehouse set up outside

    Children's Museum of Sonoma County

    (215 reviews)

    Got it--here's a sharper, more satirical version that still lands well as a review:…read more We visited the Sonoma Children's Museum and quickly learned it's less "children's museum" and more "rule enforcement training facility." At the water play area, my child took off his shoes (you know... at a water feature), and we were immediately told he could only use his hands--not his feet. I explained this to him, he was listening, all good... or so I thought. A few minutes later, the same staff member circled back like we were committing a repeat offense, and then a supervisor came rushing out like there was an actual emergency. In front of everyone, she asked my son, "Where is your parent?"--which felt unnecessarily dramatic and honestly a bit humiliating for a kid who was doing his best to follow directions. Then came the lecture. I got a full, very intense Public reprimand and rundown about hand, foot, and mouth disease, delivered with the urgency of a public health crisis... over a kid standing near water without shoes on. Look, I understand hygiene and safety. But the energy here was wildly disproportionate. It felt less like a place for kids to explore and more like a place where adults hover, monitor, and correct every move. If your idea of a fun outing involves being policed over minor things, you'll love it. If you're hoping for a relaxed, kid-friendly environment... maybe adjust expectations.

    Super cute museum! My son is 7 and autistic. They have headphones available if you need them. We…read morealways bring ours but LOVE that they offer this accommodation for kids who have sensory sensitivities. The outdoor and indoor areas of the museum are sooo packed with lots for kids to explore, learn, play, and engage. One of my son's favorite activities was the outdoor water play area. There's also bikes to ride, two classrooms for art and block play, a huge outdoor area for snacks and climbing around, a mud garden / kitchen, and also an indoor area that is more typical of a children's museum but so well kept and clean. My son loved the train tracks inside, the space section, the fruit tubes, and over-all it was a lovely location and I'd happily go back.

    Hiller Aviation Museum

    Hiller Aviation Museum

    (301 reviews)

    I came here after my kiddo had already visited because he talked so much about it…read more I've driven by so many times but this was the first time I stopped in to check it out. We walked in and we paid our entrance fee at the front and were told if we were interested in a membership we could use our entrance fee to pay towards that cost. My kiddo led our visit around the entire museum. I loved how interactive the areas were specially the cockpit area. The volunteers and staff were friendly and my kiddos enjoyment of the space solidified my interest in a membership which I ultimately got. Since then we have been back multiple times. We've enjoyed all our visits and check in goes smoothly since we already have a barcode. At our last visit I ended up setting the 5 minute timer for the cockpit area since we waited so long to get in. Probably the most popular space in this entire museum. While my kiddo and I played and several other families waited their turn patiently a parent walked up and asked how much longer we'd be there since her kid had been waiting a long time. Wild to me because we had been waiting in line that's not really a line but some seats in the back and not once did I see this parent waiting. She must of waited a whole minute before speaking to me. I told her we just got in and that I had set my 5 minute timer. She said she didn't see the sign and others pointed her right to it. Right in front of her face. She asked if I worked here. I said no but that the 3 volunteers out there did to redirect her and enjoy my 5 minutes. As one of the most popular attractions here it would be beneficial for volunteers to monitor the line and timers per group. It's insane to me that grown people can act like this or just oversee other waiting groups and act more impatient than a toddler. The space is way too small to be insufferable in a place to enjoy, explore and take turns. Front staff is great. Most volunteers are great. The volunteers in the cockpit benefit from helping maneuver cockpit time and potential lines. This is a well cared for museum and an enjoyable way to spend the day. Our family enjoys it and will continue to be members till my kids want to be.

    Hiller Aviation Museum is one of the more unusual aviation museums I've ever visited. It is just…read moreabout 11 miles south of SFO off Hwy 101 adjacent to the San Carlos airport. The aircraft & artifacts are mainly from the collection of Stanley Hiller of the Hiller Aircraft Corp that has been developing helicopters and other experimental flying machines since the late 40's. So many of these unusual copters, gyros & flying platforms are on display, plus anything else Stanley had collected over the decades. There aren't a lot of more recognizable aircraft, but you learn a lot by reading about these rare, one-of-a-kind flying machines. On slow days, you buy your entry ticket in the gift shop and go through the entry hall that is dominated by a full scale replica of the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne hanging from the ceiling. As you enter the main gallery, you have turn of the century wood & fabric biplane replicas of the Wright brothers & Glenn Curtiss along with early not-so-successful flying machines. Moving onto the middle 20th century, the Hiller Aviation Corp. designed some offbeat personal aircraft with personal vertical takeoff craft 70 years before their time. There are also more conventional winged aircraft like the Grumman Albatross (propeller seaplane) and Aero L-39 Albatros (Czech jet trainer), 2 totally different planes with similar names sitting right next to each other. Above them all is the mother of all remotely piloted drones, the Boeing Condor from 1988 with a huge wingspan of 200 ft! If you go out the back, you get to climb through the nose section of a Boeing 747-100 jumbo airliner from the 70's & 80's. The gift shop is one of the more extensive that I've seen with lots of souvenirs for all ages and aviation memorabilia for enthusiasts.

    The Discovery Center

    The Discovery Center

    (4 reviews)

    Very cool spot. This place is probably best for school-aged children. They do have one wall with…read moreconnector toys for the toddlers but that's about it. It's small but a nice spot to spend under an hour. Also finding the entrance was hard because google maps takes you to the wrong main gate.

    I almost got into the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory! Yes, the Lawrence Livermore National…read moreLaboratory is self-described as "a premier research and development institution for science and technology applied to national security." Because they are working with important stuff pertaining to national security, nuclear materials and other top secret stuff, they won't let the average Yelper in there. But, right outside their front gate is the Discovery Center. The Discovery Center is a small museum that gives you a brief introduction to the lab and what they do. They have hands on and interactive exhibits for children to play with. Most of the exhibits were well maintained. It is an interesting way to spend an hour. The staff, at least on the day were there, was fantastic. Since we were the only ones there, she almost gave us a personalized tour to explain some of the exhibits and talk about the lab and what they do. They have an easy scavenger hunt for children with a nice t-shirt as a prize. They are pretty generous with the scavenger hunt and let children of all ages play. The museum is priced just right for most Yelpers. It is free! It's a nice place, with not a lot of visitors.

    CuriOdyssey - zoos - Updated May 2026

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