This museum holds a special place in my heart -- I grew up coming here, and now I bring my own…read more3-year-old. She can spend hours here without a single complaint, which says everything. The indoor exhibits are largely the same as they've always been -- a bit unchanged over the last decade -- but the new outdoor additions have completely breathed new life into the experience. The playground, gravel section, and bubble area are an absolute hit and clearly a favorite for little ones. We now come back 3-4 times a year just for that outdoor space alone. A beloved Bay Area staple that keeps earning return visits. Highly recommend for families with toddlers!

This place is awesome! I've only been twice so far and have already signed up for a membership…read morebecause I can see myself coming here with my family more during the warmer summer months. My 1.5 year old's favorite exhibits are the water/ball area, outdoor bubbles, market stand with the pretend food, and the dancing room. They also have a room that you can rent out for birthday parties, which would be so fun for all the guests!

This is one of the places you have to see if you live in San Jose. It's not one of the bigger…read moremuseums in town, but it is interesting. I found out that this is the world headquarters for this religion. Make sure you get the free tickets to the stone tomb. It's a recreation of a governors tomb. There's plenty of free parking in the back. Also it's only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I really enjoy all things Egyptian and was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a museum in…read moreSan Jose! It's not as large as other museums so less people, which means more time for you to look around! It's 3 levels and there are a lot of different artifacts to see, my favorite of course, are the 2 mummies they had! There are few casted statues (wish they had originals but that's understandable for a small/lesser known museum) and a couple spots where if you push a button it tells you more about what you're looking at. There was also a free "Tomb Tour" that was cute. The guide was funny and engaging and explained different parts of the fake tomb/answered questions after if we had any. I liked that extra part because even though it was a replica, it was neat to see how areas may have been used back then. Parking is free and around the corner in a lot, and it's wheelchair friendly with even pathways and ramps to get to the museum. It's a cool way to kill a couple hours, definitely check it out!

I had a ghost experience!!! And that never happens... so worth it if you're into that kind of…read morething. Our tour guide Courtney was awesome, especially for being 103 yrs old! she made it super fun, kept a good pace, answered lots of questions and had the perfect vibes for hosting. Anyways, my ghost story was somewhere between the transition from the 1st and 2nd floors, just after the room with the piano music playing, my cousin and I were chatting not even during one of the guided portions it was literally during the walking part and someone clear as day shushed me right in my ear, but there wasn't anyone next to us, and my cousin didn't hear the aggressive "shhhhhh!!!". It was weird and freaky, but not scary. Super fun experience, great to learn so much about Sarah and her eccentric life - she's my kind of heiress!

Sarah Winchester is an interesting woman in local history, so we decided to tour San Jose's…read moreWinchester Mystery House. Booked and paid for our reservation online. I received an immediate confirmation and additional info, like parking, etc., which I appreciated. They also texted a reminder 24 hours ahead. Parking was a breeze and their lot wasn't full, but that may have been due to it being a dreary Sunday in April. The grounds are nice and we enjoyed walking around a bit before our tour. Lots of vibrant flowers and everything appeared well cared for. There was a private wedding party going on, so some of the grounds were blocked off. Our tour guide, Savanna, was very knowledgeable and seemed to really understand and care about the history of the house. The only problem we had was the size of the group we were put in. Most of the rooms are quite small, as are the hallways and staircases. We couldn't all fit in the room to hear her speak so missed some of what she said. There was another group right behind us, and sometimes I could hear that guide better than my own. They offer discounts for seniors and kids 12 and under, but otherwise is a bit pricey at $48 for adults to spend an hour walking through the house. I was disappointed that none of the furnishings are original. It's just been staged with furniture from the approximate period. We also paid for the basement access, and at $13 each (no discounts) it was an absolute waste. Very little to see there. It's just a basement. The cafe was closed while we were there, which was disappointing. Interesting to read about Sarah Winchester and her house, but not really worth the price to visit.

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

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

I came here for the Taylor Swift laser show and it was a fun way to spend an hour. It was just fun…read moremusic, lots of screaming kids singing the lyrics, and some cool lasers to look at. I did have to close my eyes a few times to give them a break from all the colorful lights. You can choose where to sit when you come into the planetarium room. The presenter did a good job. The visuals were a bit older, but it was still fun and the ticket prices were pretty reasonable/affordable. There were lots of parking available in I think Lot E.

My husband and I attended the Daft Punk laser show and it was sooo good. Apparently, they only do…read moreDaft Punk once a year and we were lucky to catch it. Parking is easiest in lot E and there were plenty of spots available. The workers were friendly and gave good advice on where to sit, which is toward the back and in the center. We got there 20 minutes early which was perfect because there were only a few people waiting outside the door. Around 15 minutes before the show, they opened the doors, and we were able to snag the best seats. The seats are decently comfortable and you can rest your head against the back for the show; I've been in more comfortable recliners but it was adequate. The laser show was very good - had some of the best Daft Punk music and a variety of lasers from just syncing to the beat of the music to drawing out storylines. The show ended up being about 45 minutes total from start to end and I would definitely go again.

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

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

I love the Triton Museum of Art. Definitely a pillar of the Santa Clara Community. Free admission!read more

This was actually my second time ever at this museum, I came a couple years back when they had a…read morechalk festival. If you ever get the chance to come show up both days so you can see the artist outlines, and when they start everything, and then day two to see the finished product!! This particular day I went with my dad and Brother to check out what new art pieces they had. We spent about an hour walking through and looking at everything. My brother, major in art and could tell us about different types of oil/paint that was used and how it would last over certain decades or fall off and crack ! Lol so I found the history of how well each artist project with withstand the time of life very interesting as well. I will definitely come back when this gallery changes to another theme! It also has a very nice park. I just wish there was a coffee shop or Matcha shop nearby! Hee

Spent a few hours at the Computer History Museum and didn't expect it to feel as reflective as it…read moredid. The museum walks you through the evolution of computing, from early mechanical calculators to modern microprocessors, software systems, and AI. You can see machines like ENIAC (one of the first general-purpose electronic computers) along with punch-card systems, the Apple I, and other machines that once felt futuristic and now look dusty and almost fragile. Everything here is built in layers, not in isolation: ideas evolving over time, people contributing in ways that are not always visible at first, yet shaping the outcome. Still, it is striking to see how these machines have become extensions of how we think nowadays (our brains). We offload memory, rely on algorithms to anticipate what we want, and increasingly hide behind screens. We run away from the real world and avoid real human connection. In some ways, it can feel easier to trust systems than real people because systems are predictable, responsive, dopamine-inducing, and do not require human effort or vulnerability. People do. People are messy. Here where the museum unexpectedly becomes even more reflective. It makes you wonder how easily we stay self-contained, avoid the messiness of real connection, and fill the space with endless technological distraction. Roughly 1 in 2 U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with in-person social interaction declining over time. Technology makes it easier to stay in your own world, away from uncertainty, risk, and the effort real closeness requires. So where does this lead us? What is our future? Is it for our good? If it feels easier this way, is it actually better? Are we becoming more connected, or just more efficiently alone? P.S. I think the admission for youth should be cheaper.

A fantastic journey through the history of computing! So…read moremuch to explore here and they even offer demonstrations. Always a great time.

There are TWO listings here on Yelp for this great place. Same place, different address. I write on…read morethis listing as it shares the same address as the official website. (Can someone please consolidate the two somehow?) Great historical living museum of aircraft that served in various conflicts and battles. Not huge so happily, it's packed with wonderful archives and exhibits but does not require hours and hours to soak in. Any aeronautical enthusiast (or history buff) will surely enjoy a visit here. In addition to planes and parts, there are authentic uniforms, photographs, and documents to help with a better understanding of the times. Lastly, be sure to check out the train room, which is a lot of fun, too. It's easy to get mesmerized by the train cars of another era -- with double tiered tracks to follow along. Though it may not be a place you would hear a lot about, Moffett Field Museum is a well-cared for and important museum with much to enjoy. Note: Be prepared with your I.D. and check it out! (There are a few food options nearby -- so before you leave, ask the volunteers for recommendations and/or check Yelp!)

Very nice volunteer-led museum in the old Moffett Field. Amazing collection of model aircraft, many…read moreto scale, including blimps. Various military vehicles and mementos are more on-subject than the astonishing model train setup also found here. Moffett Field--with its huge dirigible hanger--was a primary location for aircraft patrolling the Pacific Ocean. Not many will recall the blimps, much less the original dirigible, but many can recall the daily turboprop, later jet powered, flights scouting out potential threats over or under the waves.

Great movie theater! The seats were super comfortable, and the screen quality was amazing. The…read moresound system really made the experience immersive. Staff were friendly, and everything was clean and well organized. I'll definitely be coming back!

The video frame was stretched and uncomfortable to watch . Had to turn from left to right to watch…read moreeverything. Not all IMAX movies can be suitable for this dome screen. The screen resolution should be ideally be adapted to the dome for a good experience . Also the leg space is poor and it is uncomfortable to sit for 2 hrs