A little zoo + a little science museum. Such a great combination! Our kid could easily spend half a day here. The zoo has both indoor and outdoor areas, with amphibians, birds, bobcats, raccoons, and more. They also had an otter, but sadly it recently passed away. There is also a playground that feels like a mini version of Magical Bridge Playground. The indoor science museum is full of hands-on, interactive exhibits. Everything is designed for kids to touch, explore, and play with, so they can easily spend a long time here. In the back, there is also a beautiful view of the bay with telescopes to look through. If you have a membership from another participating zoo, you may be able to get 50% off admission. There is an $8 parking fee to enter the park. There are lots of picnic tables nearby with a great view of the bay. You can watch the boats on the water and planes flying overhead while having lunch. Definitely a great place to spend a few hours with kids! read more

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My 4yr old and 19m old enjoyed the playground, zoo, outdoor eating/ play area, and the hands on science activities. The little souvenir shop is quite small. If you're traveling with little ones, know there is no cafe or option to buy coffee other than a little refrigerator in the little shop so make sure you pack a lunch and snacks. read more

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Beautiful kids museum. Many educational hands on activities that covers science topics like vortex, gravity, fog, magnets and so much more. There's play area that include and outdoor playgrounds and an indoor space. Animal exhibit with birds and reptiles that can no longer survive in the wild. It's also located near the bay so there's a waterfront view. Easy parking inside Coyote state rec park. read more

This was my family's second time here. We cane with friends and we were all loving this cute little museum. There's something fun to check out around every corner. The last time we came they had the light exhibition. My toddler remembered it but unfortunately it is only during the winter time. They did have some remnants of it which pleased my toddler. They had some cool soft blocks that the kids really enjoyed. There were a lot of school trips but it was during the week in summer, I get it. Overall, we all had a blast. read more

CuriOdyssey - Camera Obscura - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

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It was pretty cool inside and had a lot for kids to do. I wish they had a healthier selection of lunch besides a taco stand. Not to say the taco stand wasn't good. It was amazing but it's hard to keep going after a heavy meal read more

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! read more

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Honestly, never heard of this place until it popped up on Facebook. It had popped up as a place to go to for First Friday. No discounts for going but they do have some pop-up/ food truck type places here. This is on the outside in front of the entrance. Admission was a little expensive in my opinion. I think it was $29 and it was 5pm-8pm. It was a cool experience with the IlluminOdyssey and fun activities they had. It was raining off and on the First Friday of January. The kids weren't able to play in the playground because it was wet and it was kind of hard to see the animals because they were hiding. I think it would be best to go here when daylight savings time begins so it's bright outside still. I would definitely recommend going here at least once. read more

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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. read more

CuriOdyssey - Illuminossedy - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

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 read more

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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! read more

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This is specifically about my experience trying to book a birthday party with CuriOdyssey. Their event coordinator is extremely difficult to get a hold of because of their Friday to Sunday work schedule, and despite multiple emails and phone calls and messages left I never heard back from them. I had started planning in the fall for a January event, and the last communication I received Oct 2nd. No responses to any of the follow-up emails from me, from the messages I left in their voicemail box, or from the messages I left at the front desk. Not sure how everyone else is getting their events planned and scheduled there. read more

Today was our first time visiting CuriOdyssey. I've been wanting to bring our daughter for the IlluminOdyssey exhibit and finally made it out. We got a membership for parking. With the parking permit on our dash, the parking attendant flagged us through. We were able to find parking pretty close to the front entrance. The lanes for admittance are divided by membership, purchasing tickets and re entrance into the museum. I saw a few people getting stamps while waiting in line. We arrived around noon and the line had two groups in front of us. Once in, the first place our daughter ventured was the playground. You can see it from the parking lot so it was inevitable not to start there. There is a play area to the left when you first enter the playground for the little ones. It consists of one two slides - one being a double slide and a teeter totter. The rest of the play area consisted of two flatbed swings (similar to a tire swing), a double swing for the little one and big person, a rocking chair swing with a lock, a spinning climber, a flat disc spinner and another spinning carousel style round about (not sure of the name). The kids were able to share and play with one another while parents and kids took turns spinning each other. The zoo area is located adjacent to the play area. The only animals we were able to observe was the owl and snack. It's a good way to introduce kids to different animals "up close." The IlluminOdyssey exhibit had a few interesting interactive stations, one being our daughter's silhouette being projected onto a screen by multi color projection lights. I'm not certain what I expected, I was a bit underwhelmed by the stations engagement or lack there of. There are two other areas of exploration, the main area as you enter the museum and another on the grounds of outside where picnic tables are to eat. The area off the picnic area has three wind tunnel with different air pressures, flight showing of incoming/outgoing airplanes, a water flow and a few others. The picnic area was pretty cool. Along side the picnic tables are large logs to sit on and smaller free standing logs. I used the large log as a place to sit and observe the beautiful views of the bridge and bay. Our daughter climbed the logs and kicked over the ones dad built with. Coming from the east bay, this will not be a location we venture to often but is definitely a get out of the house and do something different. I like supporting organizations with a great mission so I do not regret the membership. read more

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. read more

CuriOdyssey - I know it's blurry but it is the only photo that did not include a child. - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Nice museum in the Peninsula, good for passing an afternoon or morning with the little ones. It was very crowded when we came to visit and the exhibits and playground ware packed. It was a hard to see anything and my 2 year old kept getting pushed off the exhibits and slide by bigger kids. Animals weren't really out except for the otter which folks were crowding since it was a feeding time (at noon), so again, very difficult to see anything. Not sure if it is worth the membership since it is always so crowded on weekends and that is the one time our family can make it, but we did get one anyways since coming 2-3 times would make it worth the cost at least. Added bonus is my toddler likes staying in the parking lot to see the airplanes and boats. read more

PRO-TIP: Free entry with SNAP/EBT card under the Museums For All program! Came here with my boyfriend after Christmas and it was quite busy with lots of families. It's $6 to park here without a membership and if the lot gets packed, you might have to park closer to the marina, but it's a nice cool area and not too far of a walk. All the workers at the CuriOdyssey are super friendly and welcoming too. It is definitely more aimed towards children but there's lots of signage, displays, and explanations that can pique the curiosity of an adult as well. The inside sections, at least at the time that we went, deal more with physical sciences such as currents, visualizations, waves, etc. and there are LOTs of hands on activities for the kiddos to get involved in. Lots of laughing and having fun for kids there. There is their Redwood Room which has a changing exhibit. When we went it was one focusing on Illumination and lights. It was really neat since everyone got their own little lanterns and everything was immersed in darkness but there was lights everywhere. Very neat and visually appealing. There's also an outdoors section where you can enjoy a breath of fresh air as well as a view of the ocean. And there's also a small building in the back with all hands on physical science exhibits. Outside towards the front side is a playground, the gift shop, and the zoo area where all the animals are. They have birds (owls, raptors - hawks, etcs.), reptiles (snakes, tortoises, chuckwallas), amphibians (toads and newts), mammals (the real show stoppers here for most people - raccoons, their cute otter, etc.), and much more. Check their speaker hours because it gives you a chance to watch feedings or get close and personal with some animals. There's also the option to sponsor an animal for a year. I wanted to sponsor their chuckwalla, Charlene and Buck, but there was no specific donation for them, but now worries! Their staff was nice enough to allow me to make this very specific request and lo and behold, I'm the first person to ever request to sponsor the cute little chuckwalla! Can't wait to come back and visit them again too! read more

Super cute kids activity in san mateo. Love the outdoor cave view of the animals, all the science projects, and the outside view is gorgeous. Only feedback is alot was closed to renovation so it didnt feel like a full moneys worth, but will still def be back soon read more

This review is for CuriOdyssey for a wedding venue. We loved this venue and all our memories from our wedding. We worked with Narod who helped in all communication. We also got help from Ryan in AV. They were both so easy going and great to work with! We loved how beautiful the setup is. The ceremony outside was so nice. The Redwood Hall is also so gorgeous for photos and fun for dancing. We also really liked the cocktail area. We got an animal ambassador and guests had fun seeing the ferret and kestrel. We got nothing but compliments related to how fun the venue was. We are so happy we chose this place for our wedding. We loved the experience. Thank you to CuriOdyssey for going above and beyond. From communication early on to day of. It was amazing! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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Science museum and a zoo all in one place! CuriOdyssey offers engaging hands on exhibits, rescued native wildlife, and a fun playground, making it ideal for young children. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, as well as the well-maintained facility. read more

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. read more

CuriOdyssey - Lactation pod (2nd floor) - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

We really love this place! This place is in such an amazing area! We bring our lunches and enjoy the outdoors, too! The museum is geared towards families with kids! The place is fun for the kids to be hands on and you get to see wildlife up close! We love supporting this museum! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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We have visited CuriOdyssey multiple times with our two-year-old and have always had a great time. The zoo is small but very interesting, with animals like raccoons, bobcats, and otters, as well as eagles and owls. They also offer educational sessions where you can learn more about a specific animal, which we've enjoyed. The science exhibition is a nice addition, but we've found it to be only so-so for younger kids. Our absolute favorite part is the back area where you can watch planes take off and land on their way to SFO. It's a unique and fun experience. read more

This was my first time ever at this particular, small zoo and science exhibit. I love the environment and my classroom children got to eat lunch outside while sitting on this giant tree used as a table/bench. They also loved watching the airplanes taking off as well as boats setting sale from the docs/harbor. I like all the exhibits within the animals section and we had the older children read to the younger ones and then got to look around to find each of the animals within each environment. My group of 17 children age TK through sixth grade spent a good two hours in the animal side as well as another 90 minutes on the science side of this hands-on museum! We had to cut them off from the hands-on art gallery in the back where the children were able to watch Airplanes coming in as well as touch fog/black ice I'm guessing in one of the hands on exhibits. The children barely played on the playground for 10 minutes, but they loved all the activities! Fun fact regarding the animals were easy enough for my second grade children to read, so they felt included and able to read the literature to the younger children! I was happy to see my classroom children within this exhibit The only reason I'm not giving them a five star is the fact they have a "Cafe in the gift shop. Sadly, they only had store-bought Frappuccino from Starbucks and I'm lactose intolerant. Lol I was hoping for an iced latte with oat milk or soy milk or macadamia nut milk, something but I couldn't get any thing. I'm also not one to drink an energy drink, but I would have liked a fresh pastry or even a cookie. They only had boxed items similar to a vending machine. The lady at the gift shop/Cafe said I could drive down to the front entrance and there was a restaurant attached to the golf course there, but since we came on a school bus, I had no Tran to get to the front of the park. Lol. I wouldn't mind coming to the particular exhibit again, but I will definitely bring my own coffee! Hee. read more

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WHEN: Wed @10am PARKING: Since CuriOdyssey is located inside a national park, you do have to pay $6 to park. However, it's free if you are a senior citizen, which is what my dad is! So thanks to my dad joining us, our parking was free! We arrived a bit after opening time which is why we lucked out with a parking spot right by the entrance! It wasn't too packed but definitely busy with kids. ADMISSION PRICE: $25.95 - Adults 18-61 $21.95 - Kids 18mo-17yrs, Students, and Seniors 62+ FREE - Infants up to 17mo, Members, and Museums 4 All (EBT, WIC, etc.) Thanks to my dad's EBT card, we all got in for free! This Science Playground and Zoo is open everyday Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, but closed on Mondays. I wish we knew there was a nice outdoor picnic area to plan and bring our lunches here. It's so nice with all the tables, benches under the large trees with shade. And from there you can see planes take off and land from SFO. It was such a lovely day out! There is so much to do here, and I can tell my 3 and 5 year old niblings enjoyed it all. They just touched everything, and there's so much to explore. My dad joined us and he said "I see why this place exists! It's to inspire young minds to become scientists one day!" Not only is there 2 rooms and a long hallway with hands on machineries and gadgets to play with, there's a whole other side of this place that is like a mini-zoo! But between these 2 areas is a large playground for kids to run around and play in. It looks new and is very clean! By the entrance are some hands on activities involving water. So much sensory things! They have feeding sessions for both the otters and bobcats. There's a bird sanctuary with volunteers who can chat with you more about them. There may not be a cafeteria to buy food from, but they do have a gift shop that also sells snacks and drinks. We decided to let the kids pick one item each since we didn't pay for admission. Thank you Museums 4 All! read more

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Great place to take your kids! Get there early because parking is limited (you also have to pay for parking). I packed a lunch for me and my son. We were able to eat lunch outside with some squirrels for company. read more

First time visiting CuriOdyssey with my 4-year-old this past Saturday and I'm already planning our next trip! This place exceeded all my expectations. We lucked out because it was Bubble Day, my daughter was absolutely mesmerized by all the bubble activities and demonstrations. The themed days are such a brilliant idea and really add something special to the experience. The exhibits themselves are engaging and perfect for curious little minds. Everything is hands-on and interactive, which kept my kiddo busy for hours. What really stood out to me was how genuinely friendly and knowledgeable the staff was. They clearly love what they do and were so patient answering my daughter's endless questions. You can tell they really care about making it a memorable experience for families. The food trucks outside were a nice surprise too, we grabbed lunch and ate in the outdoor area, which was a perfect break between exploring. Honestly, I wish we had discovered this gem sooner! It's such a wonderful place for kids to learn and explore. We're definitely becoming regulars. read more

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11/11/23 It's been a while since I've reviewed CuriOdyssey. Today was exceptional The lights and lanterns were really beautiful!! The animals quite available. My grandchildren love coming here. I highly recommend read more

CuriOdyssey - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Spent the morning here with my nieces and nephew (ages 8, 6, 3). They all had a blast! This place is the perfect size for a half-day excursion. Here's plenty to do, but it's not too big and you feel like you could get lost. There's also are multiple outdoor playground areas as well. You can pack a little picnic to enjoy there. read more

CuriOdyssey - Zoos Near Me - San Mateo, California

Toddler loved the holiday light exhibit! This place is similar to the Palo Alto Junior Museum with more science based displays. A handful of animals and a small playground. Lovely location with the airplanes landing in the background. Great place to pass some time and keep the kids occupied! read more

Amazing experience with our kid and friends family even though we spent a short time over there!! The animals are few but can watch them nicely - otter, bobcat, fox, etc. the bird area was amazing and so was the playground and kids had great time. Also , we could not tour the museum but had fun in limited time!! Highly recommend when in the beautiful coyote recreation area!! read more

What a great adventure we want in to this cute little location. Loved the science, the animals and the playground. Military discounts offered at enter de to the grounds (free). They also hade teacher and military discounts at the ticket window to enter. Staff and everything was great. read more

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We enjoy taking our grandkids to CuriOdessey. The small zoo, feeding times and ranger animal handler talks make for stimulating times for our grandkids. The love to see the massive Golden Eagle and were incredibly sad when it died from an illness. They had a special relationship with that eagle. One visit it decided to hop down the side of concrete cage quickly and pecked the glass picture window with wings fully extended, screeching loudly and scared all three gkids who left wildly screaming to the otherside of the cave. It was scary, beautiful, remarkable, hilarous, heart-pounding and memorable family experience. The river otters, lynx, raccoons (usually sleeping), lizards, snakes, the owl and turtles usually get some kid time as well. Especially it's feeding time. The modern playground with all its contraptions is good an hour of activity. Sometimes across 2 visits on same day. The experiments and scientific principals demonstration machines get a lot attention depending on how kids already around it. The wind machine is a favorite as are the large building blocks, telescopes, magnification and light machines. We usually bring a picnic lunch and eat outside. Great views of Oakland Bay Bridge and SF Airport landing pattern. CuriOdessey is an A+ locale for under 10.'s. We usually arrive at 11:30am midweek. School field trips leave around 1:30-2:30pm which makes for much more access to play ground/machine apparatus's and it easier on the ears. read more

CuriOdyssey is a combination science museum, playground, and zoo located in the Coyote Point Recreational Area in San Mateo. it'll cost $6 for a parking permit and then another $20+ per person for a ticket to enter CuriOdyssey. Yelp reviews from 7-10 years ago had ticket prices under $10 so there's definitely inflation at play! The Science museum has several interactive exhibits but it's definitely on the small side. The light-show exhibit was a little underwhelming and younger kids may even be afraid of the dark. The outdoor playground and zoo are pretty cool. Saw some snakes, a chuckwalla, and a scary looking owl and bobcat. Plenty of places to sit for a picnic and some cool outdoor art pieces with famous illusions. Overall 3 stars for me. Its not SF Exploratorium or Academy of Sciences. However, being nestled within a nice park, marina, and having a small zoo makes CuriOdessey worth at least a visit. It's on the pricier side however. read more

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We took our 22 month old toddler here for Father's Day, and it was kind of a hit. A lot of the indoor science exhibits are more geared towards older kids (maybe at least 3-10), but their outdoor playground made it a better experience for us. The first thing to note is that you have to pay for parking - it is cash only with the attendant, but since we didn't have cash, the attendant told us to drive to a spot to pay with our CC. Nestled in a fairly big park, you could always bring food and have a picnic in the surrounding parks after you're done at CuriOdyssey. Apparently the playground here is AMAZING... although sadly we weren't aware of that before coming here! Because we came right when it opened at 10am, the exhibits were fairly empty... which is such a nice change if you've ever gone to the zoo or other popular kids museums. Bearing right takes you to the indoor science exhibits, and then walking left at the entrance takes you to the zoo and playground. We went inside to the exhibits first, but as I mentioned, our toddler couldn't quite comprehend any of the exhibits. After a quick walkthrough, we headed out to the outdoor playground where she had a much, much better time. Since it was again, pretty early in the day, we had no issues playing with whatever structure that she wanted because of the lack of people. It was nice! Slides and swings for a while. Not as expensive as other kids museums, although I guess there is technically a parking fee. read more

I am an adult-kid so I had a blast here. I came here for the rescued animals and what they had did not disappoint! I took so many photos and had fun searching for the creatures in their habitats. I went around the small CAVE displays about 4 times to capture the animals at play and moving about. It's not a Zoo or museum, more of an interactive visual display of contraptions with happy rescued animals and birds. There is a large outdoor play area for the kiddies. Even more optical illusion signs on the way out. Inside the main area, are a lot of interactive science and visual displays. Lots of paid parking here. $6 read more

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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!

This was a nice place to bring my 2 year old too; even though half of the things were a bit too complex for her to understand. I believe she still had a good time, I'll probably bring her back when she's a year or two older, so she can enjoy it on a new level. She really enjoyed the live band also. The staff were friendly as well. read more

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