Bay Area Discovery Museum

Have taken my nephew here twice, once in the summer and once in the winter. Both times there were new experiences to try for kids of all ages. The art room was a big hit as was the indoor skating rink (which involves sliding around on strap on plastic "skates"). Cute stuff! The outdoor climbing areas, the boat and the mud kitchen were also lots of fun. The food is expensive for what it is but otherwise this place is a dream for parents (or aunties) looking to entertain their littles with more than electronics and screens. The whole property is very well managed, with friendly staff, clean facilities, tons of parking, and lots to do throughout the year, rain or shine. Plus you can't beat the scenic view from the parking lot. Highly recommended!

Wonderful mostly outdoor active experience for kids. Appropriately for ages 3-8 probably. Very child-led. Explore a fishing boat, build a structure with giant pieces of foam, climb up into the treetops and walk a rope bridge before sliding down a huge slide. Lunch and snacks were surprisingly higher quality. The entire park was in good repair and clean. Workers were plentiful and engaged. Bathrooms were built with kids and parents in mind, clean. We explored with two 3.5 year olds and they were ecstatic from start to finish, and we didn’t even see the whole place before we left exhausted.

Excellent museum for the children. We went during a week day after the rain and the kids had so much fun. You can spend at least 2 hours here.

Toddler and bigger kid friendly. They have different areas that are 42" and under and safe for smaller visitors. Went on a holiday weekend and it was soo packed but its such a big area and so many sections that we could easily avoid crowds. 100% recommend ordering food online and just picking up at the window.

Took my 4-year-old here today and wow, what a gem! This place is absolutely perfect for little ones. My daughter was completely captivated from the moment we walked in - there’s just so much to explore and discover. The hands-on exhibits are fantastic and really encourage creativity and learning through play. We spent hours here and she didn’t want to leave! The staff was friendly and helpful, and I love that it’s designed specifically with young children in mind. Plus, the Sausalito location is beautiful. Definitely worth the trip from anywhere in the Bay Area. We’ll be back soon!

Sept 2025 long weekend ( Sat) Get here early ~ 1030 am to maximize time Plenty of kids activities, from obstacle courses for the young kids, to toddler activities The Paint splash room is a brilliant idea ! Cafe onsite has reasonably good food and drink options Family friendly and you can spend all day here - 430 pm is a hard stop museum close time - I wish they had extended times in summer/fall

If you are looking for a place for your kid to let loose, get dirty and explore, this is a great option. It is filled with interactive and curated immensive experiences. We brought a 1, 2 and 3yo and they all had a blast! Bring: snacks, water bottle and extra set of clothes...or two!

Beautiful views of Golden Gate Bridge. Creative playground suitable for all ages. Very nice areas for imaginative play and building stuff. Cute cafe with kid-friendly food, though the long was long and they were kind of slow. Nice to go to take the kids to play and catch up with a friend over coffee while enjoying the amazing views.

Super fun museum with a gorgeous view of the GG bridge! We were able to go for free through the library card "discover and go" program. Getting there was a bit of a trek with windy roads but it added to the adventure. There's something for all kids' ages- my 2 year old had a blast in the indoor tot spot, train/playground, how do things work room, and his favorite- the outdoor water play area. I honestly could've left him there for hours and he'd still be playing with the pretend ducks, frogs on the mini rock river. Although they provide aprons, you definitely need an extra pairs of clothes because I guarantee that they WILL get wet. There's also art, indoor iceless skating rink, outdoor playgrounds, a cute cafe with yummy chicken nuggets and healthy options, and a ton more. Can't wait to go back!

First time visitors and we all had such a great time! I heard great things about this place from parents of older kids, and thought we'd give it a shot. It's very well laid out and lots of excellent planning went into place. Maybe it was because it was particularly busy today, but I'm suggesting a separate line or signage guiding prepurchased tickets to the correct place. We love the Tot Spot. It got kind of tricky when older siblings of a tot accompanied the youngers. But overall, parents were very mindful of how much space the older kiddos took up. All the signage's helped point out the benefits of play with kiddos and some tips for parents. We're thinking of purchasing a membership, but we're definitely returning!

all day long! You'll be there...all day long but the kids will have fun...all day long. This place really has something for every child. Kids will love it here and will never want to leave. As a matter of fact, you might have to drag em outta there after 8 hrs of fun kicking and crying at closing, lol. Theres two large outdoor playgrounds, theres other outside play structures like a train, theres indoor buildings with different activities like painting and playing with race cars or even an indoor kids kitchen. Theres iceless ice skating, and I can't explain it, you just have to try it yourself. And as a bonus, theres a snackbar with sandos, pizza, coffee and cookies. One day after my battery recharges and the weather warms up, we'll def be back for more. This place is a hidden gem and the kids had an absolute blast.

This spot is located on Fort Baker with a unique campus-like layout of multiple buildings & outdoor areas to walk through. There's a lot to see & do here, mostly geared towards younger kids & some things for slightly older kids to still appreciate. A couple of areas were specifically for those under 42" tall. It's probably not going to be as interesting for those past 2nd/3rd grade. Depending on age, some activities will be hit or miss. There are plenty of hands-on indoor activities including a fishing boat to play on, large scale music box mechanism, large train track table, race car ramp, play kitchen, & arts. Some of the many outdoor activities are a woodworking tool area, a sand area, large foam shapes to build with, & a wooden train to climb into. A large playground area has activities like a boat & different structures to climb, a mini tide pool, cave, dump truck gravel area, mud play area, & trail with viewpoints. Another playground has 3 large treehouse structures. Some notes-- You get an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge! Staff was helpful enough when paying our entrance fee. I didn't encounter many staff members maintaining the spaces. There is a small area with toys to purchase in the visitor services building. I appreciated big hand sanitizer bottles on the walls of the indoor buildings. The restrooms were decently maintained. Some of the materials & furniture in areas were worn & dingy. One activity was broken. You're going to be at the mercy of the weather since so many of the activities are outside & you have to walk from building to building. As in any kids play space, you're going to need to negotiate dealing with the behavior of other kids/parents & abilities to share & take turns. There's a lot of neat fun to experience (more than I could mention in this review) for younger kids.

Whelp, this one's a bit different. Despite writing almost 1,800 of these (and counting), I don't think I've ever done one for a place quite like this. Sure, I've written about aquariums, museums, and other similar types of venues, but none of them have catered so specifically towards children/families the way that the Bay Area Discovery Museum does! I guess that's just how fast life can change - from nights out with friends at bars and nightclubs to days out with friends and their kids to other friends' kids' birthday parties! Now, while I'm still kind of a big kid at heart, I'm clearly not the target demographic here. However, if I was a kid, I probably would've asked my parents to come here every week if we could. In a way, this entire place is like a giant playground filled with different activities and areas for kids of all ages. They have several outdoor play areas, including a sandbox, a small boat you can climb on, and a climbing structure, and a number of buildings that each house a variety of playrooms and classroom-type spaces. In each, you'll find arts & crafts studios, "discovery zones"/education rooms, and a large theater space that can also host parties. What's more, that's only based on what I saw which wasn't even everything this place has to offer. Since the birthday hosts took care of everything, I can't say how much general admission (or membership) costs nor what it's like to come on a regular sort of day (we just had to check in with a worker). I can't imagine it being all that pricey, but it's also probably pretty easy to get your money's worth. With so many different offerings for the kids to play with, there's no shortage of things to keep them entertained and busy. Plus, the cafe here actually has some decent food options (and coffee for all of the sleep deprived parents out there!). The one piece of advice I would give is to make sure to bring layers of clothing for yourself and your little ones. Given their location and how so much of this place is outdoors, it will come in handy, especially with the way the weather can change relatively quickly. Also, don't forget to take a moment to check out the view from the parking lot, as you'll get a really nice perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge. Unlike me, who forgot to take a photo on the way out. Ugh.

Sept 2025 long weekend ( Sat) Get here early ~ 1030 am to maximize time Plenty of kids activities, from obstacle courses for the young kids, to toddler activities The Paint splash room is a brilliant idea ! Cafe onsite has reasonably good food and drink options Family friendly and you can spend all day here - 4 pm is a hard stop museum close time - I wish they had extended times in summer/fall

Museum geared towards younger kids with science, art and climbing activities. Excellent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the free parking is a plus. Entry is a bit on the higher side, and expect to spend at least a couple of hours to go through all the activities.

Love this place! They rotate exhibits and always seem to be a great hit with my toddler. Today we discovered story time here l and did a bug hunt. Such a lovely asset. I wish there were more of these in the Bay Area.

The Bay Area discovery museum is such a gem. It is mostly outdoors. There are plenty of things for children of all ages to do, but this museum is geared more towards toddlers in my opinion. We had a nice afternoon here, we got our complementary tickets from the discoverandgo website with our library card! They have free parking on site. They also have a café, with plenty of rest rooms.

Visited for the first time it is a great place to explore for families and children of all ages to enjoy. So much to do and learn that really keeps children active and exploring. There is a nice café that offers snacks during the visit and there are picnic tables to enjoy. I would definitely come back to this museum. I also appreciate that they offer various discounts for families and also members of other museums.

Stayed nearby for Mother's Day weekend and was recommended to take the family here. The suggestion was greatly appreciated as the whole family had a wonderful time! There were activities for my 2 and 4 year old and mom and I loved playing with them as well. We made candles, climbed, made wire figures, played with bubbles, music machines, and there was an awesome spot for the younger kids to climb inside also. We spent about 4 hours there before leaving and there was much more yet to be done. If in the area with littles, recommend this spot for a long day of entertainment.

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a paradise for young kids! We love taking our kids here and they always ask to come back. We love the focus on STEAM and the variety of rooms to play. This past visit, there was the art print shop, the "how stuff works" room, and iceless skating. The iceless skating was definitely fun for us parents! We also love the many outdoor activities to offer, like the different climbing structures, water play, sand and mud area. It's really a chance for a kids to climb, play, learn and explore. There are plenty of bathrooms around the area. For food, you can bring your own snacks/lunch or buy from snack shop. There some tables but they get filled during lunch time. There's also a little gift shop to buy some goodies. Tickets are pricey as they include parents and kids, but there is a chance to use the amount you paid towards a membership if bought on the same day. And that alone felt worth it!

First time coming to the museum on Veterans Day and I will never go on a holiday again. It was a lot of kids there which isn't the reason I am giving such a bad review, there was not a worker in sight. I gave 2 autistic children, one was sitting next to me and the other was playing with the train set inside a crowded room. I witnessed this older man take multiple train cars from my child leaving her with one. She didn't say anything so I stood up and told the man to ask my child before taking her toys, she would've given him or his grandson a train with no problem. It seemed like he wasn't understanding what I was saying so I repeated just ask next time. He began taunting me telling me to go cry a river , go take a deep breath so something, go call the cops and so on. Me being the only African American in the room I kept it cool but I looked around and outside and there was no worker in sight. It took everything in me to keep cool. Eventually my girls were ready to go. My kids won't react when kids take things from them so they won't say anything if an adult does the same thing. This place seemed like a safe space but after this incident I was on guard and I was no longer enjoying myself. I'm asking if it's as busy time of the year maybe you should have more workers present especially in inclosed spaces.

The Bay Area discovery museum is a hidden gem in the Bay Area. It's the perfect place from toddlers (and older kids). The variety of activities, friendly staff, stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and overall cleanliness of the facilities will keep us coming back. It's expensive for a 1 day use but the membership is totally worth it!! It's crazy how long you can spend in each room. 5/5 experience!

This place was a lot bigger than I expected and I appreciated the large outdoor space. My daughter is 3 years old, so she was fascinated by a lot of the things they've here. The bean sprouts cafe had a pretty fun menu also. I didn't get to explore the arts studio and a few other parts where she needed to take her shoes off. She was already pretty tired after the first half of the museum.

This museum is so great, just for the location alone! We arrived about an hour and a half before closing so they were nice enough to charge us half off. We didn't get to quite explore all of the different buildings in our short stay but it was a nice intro with less crowds and we'll definitely be back! They have a playground for bigger kids above age 5, but also a soft play indoor area for younger kids. The sand pit was a huge hit with our son and you can't beat the Golden Gate Bridge view from there! I also appreciate the amount of seating all around for parents, and wide walking areas for strollers. Some kids museums are so cramped and tiny, and this one felt spacious and takes advantage of the nice weather. It is a little bit odd that the parents and kids are all the same price ($20 each) but otherwise it's a nice museum worth the drive!

This is the best location if you don't want to go to the museum itself but spend the day outside. A very different view of the Golden Gate. The museum is our favorite place in the Bay Area to bring our toddler to spend the day out. The bubble and the little water stream part will always attract the tots. The train section is another favorite part of ours. We are now member of this place and hoping to visit it once a month. Perfect to play in sand/ perfect to understand how the light/sound works and create some art for the young ones. Plenty of outdoor play structures as well. It would be nice to have two adults free entry with family membership when the grandparents visit!

Tot spot is the way to go for babies at crawling stage and beyond. The other studio rooms and play area is catered more for toddlers and up. Creative aspects going on and great utilization of space in this area. It's superbly convenient if one is looking for a spa day outing and have the babies/toddlers/kids be here to play a bit. There's a spa, restaurant & resort in this remote vicinity. Nice atmosphere. I would come here again for my kid to be entertained.

Came for the Big Art Weekend for our little one to experience various art forms and play structures. The speciality stations included with the Big Art Weekend included pipe wire sculptures, rainbow weaves, chalk art, paper bag collages, fairyland builds and a few others. My little one was not much interested in these stations, but plenty of children were. Climbing is her thing. There are plenty of attractions for this...trails to a telescope to look out, a ship with a deck and under boat entrances, how it works dryer tube and slide, a rope climb with a high walk and slide, a boat deck with pullies to catch rubber fish, rock climbs and others. The weather was beautiful and even with a crowd of people, there was still space for her to enjoy the various attractions and stations they had. Parking is always insane, but if you arrive during the member hours then it's easier to find a closer spot. Pack snacks and drinks for your little person (people) to eat around the park. The snack line is always long and the wait may be too long for them to wait. Food prices are pretty reasonable and offer a variety of meat and meatless options which I greatly appreciate. There are plenty of restroom stations around the park so fear not you will make it to one when the urge strikes your little one.

We came here in a weekday afternoon around 1pm. There was a good amounts of summer camps everywhere inside the museum with small kids. Be sure to bring a jacket as it's right of the water, so it was very windy despite it was a sunny warm afternoon. It was a nice day to enjoy the view of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Luckily, we brought food for picnic at the smaller little grass area just right outside of the museum parking lot. The museum didn't have a restaurant, but they have a small little shop with snacks and drinks. The museum is pretty small but very open and close to nature with outdoor activities and has a nice view due to location. Kids spent good amount of time playing outside at the sand box and playing at the slide it was pretty clean and restrooms available. Admission is about $20 pp children and adult (same price)

Mixture of indoor and outdoor learning/play activities. Play structures are geared more towards kids. The bathroom has a complimentary diaper bag with diapers and wipes for people to use, which is a nice touch. Small cafe that took frustratingly forever to order and get food (~40min total). Would recommend bringing your own food. Overall, 3/5 * for children 2 years and under. Was ready to leave after about 2 hours. Pro Tip: You can a free adult and child ticket through your library card via Discover and Go!

I remember coming here as a kid, and really loving it. Fastforward 30 years, now I have taken my daughter here, and she loves it! This museum is so great because it's geared towards many ages of youth - from zero to 8 years old. There are different buildings focusing on different age groups. I can't say I have visited the older areas yet, since my daughter is a toddler, but in years to come! For the toddler area, she really enjoyed the Ball Room, which had an elaborate trains and tracks that had a cute Golden Gate Bridge. She also really enjoyed the Imagination Playground, which was basically a bunch of giant foam tinker toys, which she loved carrying, throwing, pushing, building, etc. They also had an indoor playground-type area, where you take your shoes off, so it did feel a bit more sanitary. I enjoyed that the exhibits were very hands-on, interactive, and stimulating for my daughter. All were play-based activities, which she had so much fun playing with. This was quite a different experience from the California Academy of Sciences (which I also love!), where I felt I was reading her the educational points at each exhibit. Just different - great in different ways. I was able to find parking on a weekday, although I had arrived a little before 11am, and it seemed almost full?! So weird. The cashier at the front desk said it was a "quiet" day too - I can't imagine coming here on the weekend. The views here are spectacular. It's located right at Murray Circle, so you are parking right on the lawn which overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge. Many of the buildings overlook the Golden Gate Bridge, too! Nice. I am really looking forward to spending more time here. I ended up buying a membership, and if you aren't sure, you can wait until your day is up to decide, and your ticket from the day can be applied to the membership. Also, if you buy in January, you can get one month free! Nice. Can't wait to return!

Kiddo loved this museum and the adults enjoyed it too. So many activities to do indoors and outdoors, she had so much fun and really occupied her for 4 hours straight. Great views of Golden Gate bridge and delicious food from the cafe. $20 per person (adult and kids) is actually pretty reasonable. We came on a day after the rains. The main parking areas were full and had to drive through a lot of mud to get to the side lots. There were some pretty huge potholes.

Pretty cool place to take your toddler. Four free tickets for veterans until Labor Day, so it was a neat little surprise to arrive and be told we could get in for free. Parking is also free so definitely makes up for all the tolls we had to pay to get here from the east bay. My daughter loved playing with all the toys and gadgets and Knick knacks the park had to offer. They have a cafeteria onsite as well with some healthy food options as well as desserts

The Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) is a large campus with plenty of outdoor and indoor activities for the kiddos. There's something here to keep children busy for hours. Multiple outdoor play areas and buildings with activities for the athletic, artistic, inquisitive, and rambunctious. Favorite areas so far for our 3yo son: 1. How Things Work - A building with lots of hands-on props like kitchen tools and food, musical instruments, and even a car. 2. There's another room that simulates the SF Fisherman's Wharf with a rocking boat and fishing/crabbing nets. Plus a gigantic toy train set. 3. A decent onsite cafe serving healthy pizzas and chicken quesadillas, along with crispy baked tater tots. Decent organic coffee for the parents too. 4. Brave and athletic kids may like the various climbing structures and slides scattered about. 5. Plenty of restrooms and sanitizer stations My only gripe, and is worth -1 star is the parking lot. Sure its free and huge, but if you arrive before like 12pm you'll need to park on the gravel lot or muddy areas. Tons and tons of potholes throughout. The paved lot is often full right when they open.

A great place for families and great place for Veteran's Discounts. My boyfriend is a veteran and found the following discounts here so great. First, the museum participates in the Blue Star Program, offering free admission to all US active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. This program begins on Saturday, May 27, 2023, Memorial Day Weekend, and ends on Monday, September 4, 2023, Labor Day. Other days of the week, they offer free admission to one child and one adult with an active military ID. This discount is offered year-round. We love it so much, we bought a annual family membership for $48 with the Veteran's Discount. All deals and free days here: https://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/visit/admission This museum is a fun blend of indoor and outdoor activities that include science, art, imagination and activity. We bring out own lunch and picnic in the shaded tree area while the kids run and play around.

A fun filled day soaking in the great bay air just blocks away from the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. If you're lucky enough to find parking in the main lot, you'll be just a few minutes walk from the front office. If the lot is full, which it often is, you may be able to find some spots on the grassy section near the main lot. Just be careful driving through the lot - the dirt road is not very well maintained and has huge bumps that will rock you in your car. Go slow! After finding you way to the front office, you'll be greeted by the staff who are always friendly. If you're a member, they'll look you up and if you're not a member, you'll be able to show them your tickets or purchase tickets on the spot. Do note that your local libraries may also have admission tickets to borrow out so check if you plan on visiting. Furthermore, if you're unable to cover the expense of the tickets, you may be able to have it discounted or waived as well. With indoor and outdoor activities for young kids all along the property, you and your little ones can easily spend a couple hours here. For the tots, there is also an indoor play area and an outdoor "river run" water play area where they can play with some toy animals and bubbles. From the two outdoor play structures (one being a boat and another being some sort of jungle) and other climbing modalities to clay modeling stations, you'll also have activities for the older kids. They do have a small snack bar here but we tend to bring our lunches and picnic nearby or in the various outdoor seating areas. After enjoying the museum, spend a few minutes to peruse through the small selection of toys in the store/front office. While you're there, use the restrooms before you leave. Overall, on a nice sunny day, you'll have a pleasant time here and can easily make a family outing for the day. Otherwise, due to the proximity to the bay, it may be a bit chilly but the indoor learning centers can be good shelters while the kids play and discover. I would say most of the activities would interest kids from age 2-8 but any older, they may breeze through the stations. But in any case, it's a place to discover and if you haven't been, you may learn a thing or two!

I'm always on the hunt for fun and interactive places to go with our kids, and Bay Area Discovery Museum has been at the top of my list for awhile now. We finally had the opportunity to go, and were delighted that it was so easy to get to and had picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The day was rather cold and sunny, but there were lots of other families braving the SF winter. The museum is huge! So much space for the kids to run around and explore and plenty of places for parents to sit down comfortably and observe. It is a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces (though the kids spent more time playing outdoors). There is a mud kitchen area with a trail right behind it, so I highly recommend bringing boots or shoes that you don't mind muddying up. Other things I'd recommend bringing along are a bagged lunch, snacks, and baby wipes (that sand pit will do a number on their hands and clothes). They have an onsite cafe for sandwiches and coffee, as well as a small gift shop. There is ample parking at the museum. Contrary to how full the parking lot is, there is always a car leaving. Be prepared for a fun day! The kids will leave happy and exhausted.

The BA Discovery Museum has been a staple for years and years, and continues to be a wonderful place to take kids, especially between the ages of 1.5-6. Certainly you can take kids younger or older; this is just the "sweet spot" ages for activities in my opinion. What's to love? A lot! -So many great activities inside and out. Inside examples - the tot spot: great for those younger ones with shoes off crawling spaces and lower reachable toys, plus a waterbed-like area that's super fun for new crawlers and toddlers alike; "how it works" room: for developing an understanding of how household items work, cooking materials, and a fun car; wobble room with all kinds of large food items to crawl on, in and around; train table/fishing boat room: very fun, very large train table setup and a fishing boat with fun moveable parts to explore. Outdoor examples: water tables area, bubble machines, huge boat play structure, climbing towers, wobble toys, hula hoops, sand pit, chalk boards, and so much more. As you can see, there's hours of activities here and my kids find a new way to explore the museum every time we come. -Food: great little cafe in case your kiddo needs a bribe..I mean "snack".. or drink. -Ample seating: for consuming cafe snacks, catching a break while kids run around, feeding a baby, etc. -Fully fenced: the whole museum is fully fenced in which is great for peace of mind. -Ample gender neutral restrooms: lots of restrooms, all gender, no waits. -Gift shop: thoughtful toys that aren't all the regular "junk" you see at other gift shops. My son got a package of paint sticks here that he loves (and we love). They were expensive, but with member discount, not much more than Amazon. What could be improved: a few things. -Expensive: definitely get the membership if you'll come even twice a year, it makes it much more affordable. Plus, it's a great activity for rainy days or when school is off. -Entrance/Exit location: This drives me nuts. The entrance is at one far end of the museum and is the only way to enter/exit even though it would be really easy to add another "re-entry" point at the other end. I find this frustrating because multiple times when at the museum, I've been at the opposite end of the museum and need to get something from my car, which I can see from where we are, but which I have to walk all the way back to the other end of the museum, to my car (so basically all the way back to the other end again), back to the entrance, and back to the end of the museum to get. Can you see why it's frustrating? I've wanted to hop the fence so many times, but have used my restraint. -Capacity: Being a member is also great for the "member hour" because during general time, some rooms hit capacity and you can't use them for a long time. This can suck if you have a younger child who can only use certain rooms (say, the wobble room) and it's not available. Overall, an awesome place and I would highly recommend bringing your kids here! As a "frequent flyer", I just have a few bees in my bonnet that I had to share for an honest review :)

Had a fantastic time here with my grandchildren so much to do here we spent a good 2.5 hours here which could easily be longer the kids had a great time discovering so much to do. Great hands on learning inside and outside Plenty of fun things to do for all ages lots of climbing equipment outside and inside easy way to get those wiggles out A great area for the littler ones nice quiet Indoor area to climb and jump We had fun playing on the fishing boat inside and outside This is a fantastic place to take your children for a fun day pack a lunch snacks or buy something in their snack shop the line was to long for us so we weren't able to enjoy any treats Forgot to add the fun spinning rides outside so pretty and fun for all

Great place for toddlers My 2yo had great time and definitely coming back. Every min we spend there was fun

i love this place. it's great for a full day of kid time for all ages. i used to bring my kids when they were toddlers and babies. there are accessible places for everyone! bring the big stroller or the wagon and leave it parked in front of the buildings. Soooooo many kids here but it doesn't feel overwhelming because most of the activities are outdoors. That being said, please check the weather before coming. They allow yo to bring outside food so that helps. If you forget, there is a decently priced food vendor inside the museum. o will definitely be back and recommend this place to all my young kid family friends.

What a wonderful children's museum! We happily stopped by this museum on our way back from Napa and were delighted it was part of the ASTC reciprocal membership program. We have never been to a children's museum that had as much outdoor play space as this one and were delighted to spend so much of the day in the beautiful sunny weather with gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Our 3 and 5 year old had a blast exploring the various play areas set up for creative play. As parents, we were intrigued by the cleverly designed indoor area teaching STEM/engineering ("how things work") designed as just play. There are also two areas dedicated to the shorter than 42 inch kiddos which were filled with joyful tots and was still intriguing to our 3 year old. We will definitely be back when in the area!

We adore this museum :) seriously can spend hours here and it's such a pretty setting. A must do if in the north bay.

This is so grossly overpriced for what it is, I'm still mad about it despite having a coupon that allows 2 free guests. We paid $40 for 2 additional people, $20 per adult and kid. It was crowded the day we went so that definitely didn't help. Like another review said, most things were outside which is annoying if it's wet or cold. The stations inside were dirty and things were missing. Some stations were dangerous and could take a kids finger off if you weren't careful or watching closely. There was nothing to "discover". They had a room with things that were cut in half with 0 explanation into how it actually worked. A sink was cut in half... so what? There was a clay room where you can play with clay but it was so messy and crowded. There were other indoor stations but they were closed. They had 1 tiny little cafeteria. And there was a playground in the back. I'm not sure what I paid for. It was basically access to a playground. Really? I know folks recommend this place for their kids but I wouldn't bother driving all the way here for this place, it's not that special!

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is where kids' imaginations run wild and adults remember why they need coffee. I took my nieces and nephew here, and they had a blast exploring every nook and cranny. From the outdoor play areas to the interactive exhibits, it's like Disneyland without the lines (or the mouse). My nieces conquered the climbing structures like tiny ninjas. The museum is so engaging that I almost got lost in the fun myself. The only downside? Trying to get the kids to leave! If you need a place to tire out your little ones and maybe even learn something new, this is it. Just don't forget your energy drinks--you'll need them to keep up!

Set in a scenic location with views of the Golden Gate reminiscent of the Presidio in SF. It's definitely an outdoors attraction (maybe 50%), in contrast to the Exploratorium which is 95% indoor. My 21 month old spent 4.5 hrs here and probably could have spent more time. She had such much fun she forgot that she was missing a nap. I had to carry her out of certain exhibits so that we had time to see everything. At the end, I had to carry her out again. Went on a cloudy/misty December Sunday and still tons of kids there. Some kids don't have manners but what can you do, older kids definitely may not respect younger ones. Entire family of 5 kids eating indoors in one of the halls right next to the sign "don't eat inside". But honestly it's lacking indoor cafe seating, especially on a cold day where people don't necessarily want to be picnicking outside. Drink your coffee and go on a sunny day, but again, maybe the crowds will be even worse! I think the Bay Area really needs more places like this for younger kids. 1.5-5 year olds will get the most out of this place but 5-10 year olds may have fun too.

Review from a parent with a child less than 1.5 years old Wow best musuem in the area for babies and toddlers to explore. Most museums do not have a dedicated section for toddlers. BADM had an entire indoor tot spot with 2 different rooms. Bathrooms are abundant and lots of parent seating in the tot spot. The beach chairs by the sand pit are a great touch. The view of the golden gate bridge by the parking lot is out of this world, best view without much effort. Top Tips: 1) bring a change of clothes if your littles like to play in the water stream by the Tot Room or mud kitchen 2) free day every 2 months on the first Wednesday 3) weather can change very quickly. If your kids like to play outdoors, once it is sunny /less windy let them play outside! You'll never know when the wind or clouds come back!

The kids had an amazing time! So much for them to do! Pretty cool location too! We will definitely be bring the kids back the next time we're in town.

Beautiful views and great weather today. I'm not sure why they're charging $20 for babies/toddlers when 80% of the place is not baby friendly. I would not come on the weekend again if we were to come back. Unfortunately other parents not monitoring their kids or teaching them to take turns ruin it for the rest of us. My daughter patiently waited for her turn only for other kids to push their way in front of her. The toddler area was over crowded with adults and cramped. There didn't seem to be many workers monitoring the spaces and honestly didn't feel that clean. I think the museum is best for ages 4-7 years old I'll wait a few years and consider bringing my daughter back.

Amazing! We had the best time here with our 2 year old. Was the best thing we did the entire trip and I would recommend to all Toddler parents.

Love taking my toddler here! It's a little pricey but worth it to get my child's energy out before nap time. They had so many sensory exhibits for the kids and many indoor and outdoor section. Pro tip I would bring your own snacks as the place does have food for sale but it's pretty mid. I really like the outside views of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a must go if you're in Sausalito!

Based off their website I didn't expect the whole facility to be outside. You are able to go inside some of the buildings but you need to leave your stroller most of the time (which I'm scared to because we have valuables). This place is more older kid friendly 6+, took a 6 year old and a 2 year old here and definitely the older kids have more fun vs the littles. Cute little spot just bring your sun shades and hats!

I was just here today for a field trip with my school, and was nothing short of amazing! Madeleine and her staff, truly rolled out the red carpet for us, making us feel welcome, providing us everything we needed, from an area to have a picnic lunch and checking on us throughout us the day. This place is one of my favorite places for a school field trip. The only downside was that cafe wasn't open today for us to eat their yummy food!

I've been here several times with my family now and it's definitely a favorite of the kids! My boys, about 3 and 6, both have hours of fun here. The Wobbleland exhibit was a surprising favorite--it's just big foam foods to climb and play with, but it's the space they end up spending the most time in. When it's not crowded the space can be a good room for getting regulated for the kiddos (there's calm music playing too). My youngest loves the gravel and dump truck area; these guys really know their audience! My eldest loves the outdoor boat. Pro tip: if it's super windy but your little one wants to play on a boat there's also a nautical/boat area indoors, shared with the big train set. I'm taking off a star because the location really requires some indoor space for dining. The cafe is very small, so you can't have lunch there, and it's so windy often that the picnic area tends to be cold, windy and stressful to let your kids have their snacks there. I really think an indoor, or at least tucked away from the wind, area where the kids can eat would be nice. Maybe there is one and I haven't found it? Bring a warm layer because even on mild days that wind becomes an active part of the experience. Great place overall and we will definitely be back again and again!

My kid absolutely loves this place. Highly recommend anyone with kids to spend the day there. Bring a lunch so you don't have to wait in line to order and consequently wait for your food, cuz your kid will want to maximize play time. That said if you need to purchase food it's good. We usually stay till closing time which is 4pm. They have great activities for toddlers.

A good museum (albeit mostly outside so more akin to playgrounds) for the under 42" crowd. However, children under 42" cannot go into several of the rooms, which amounts to about half of the indoor space when summer camps are in session. My 5 year old had fun but my 7 year old was fairly bored.

Our kids love this place! They spend four hours there every week. I am highly recommended for any family!

We've been members for a few years, and it's well-worth the affordable membership. Since we live on the north side of SF, it's just a quick drive across the GG Bridge for us, which means it's an every weekend option to keep the kids busy for a few hours. There's a great mix of indoor & outdoor spaces, and my twins (5 yo) and daughter (2.5 yo) are all able to find activities to stimulate both their brains and their bodies. The only knock I have is on their limited food options, but we mostly just end up bringing our own food. Also, the parking lot fills up early, so be prepared to walk a little if you're not here early on weekends; I'd suggest arriving no later than 10am or coming after 11am to pick off a spot opening up from early departures. B uy a membership - saves you $ after 3 visits! A ctivities for all ages of pre-teen kids D on't arrive between 10-11am if you like close parking M ediocre food, so bring your own lunch