The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science This is such a hidden gem up in the Berkeley Hills. I've came here since elementary school so it's never a dull moment. The Dinosaur exhibit was really cool and I love how it's in one area. The additional restroom outside was really clean and convenient. We came here in Monday, November 10th, 2025. The café at the cafeteria was close so make sure to pack some lunch or snacks. There was 2 microwaves there and some Lysol wipes for the tables. The animal rooms are separated in 2 rooms. I always come here to see the hamsters, chinchillas and bunnies. The last time I was here, they had a gaming room which is replaced now for the music room. I would come back again and make more paper airplanes. 😂✈️

The kids loved all the interactive activities and the drive up is spectacular. We had a lot of fun and would recommend this to anyone that has time with the kids and want a fun activity that doesn't feel like learning.

Hidden gem in bay area, that should have been more popular. The exhibits and experiments are engrossing for adults and kids. Specially liked the revelations in the future of food section. Could see many of the stuffs that had read in textbooks, such as air/liquid flow when disturbances are present, visualising sound, bio tech related stuffs and many more.

My kids ages 3 and 5 loved this place. We stayed for 5 hours and I had to drag them out because they wanted to stay. Lots of hands on science and building activities for kids to explore plus an outdoor play/picnic area, robotic dinosaurs, climbing structure, puppet theater, music area, and more. Go on a sunny day with a picnic lunch so you can sit outside and enjoy the view.

A fascinating place for science lovers of all ages! I visited on a weekday — there was no wait at all, which made the experience even better. The museum offers hands-on exhibits that are both fun and educational, especially great for kids. Although it was foggy when I visited, the view from the hilltop location is usually stunning and overlooks the Bay. Parking was easy, and staff were friendly and helpful. I’d recommend making a reservation in advance, especially during holidays or weekends. Great stop for families or anyone curious about science and discovery!

If you have kids under 10 years old, they will have so much fun here! They can touch everything and learn about so many scientific related topics. There's 2 outdoor areas for the kids to explore and you can bring your own snacks and lunch to eat outside. The planetarium shows are only $5!!

We had so much fun here that my son says this is his favorite museum! They have Axolotls!!! We got lucky and happened to be there during their feeding and water tank change all while talking to the animal care worker about Axolotls. This was the highlight of our visit! All the other exhibits and activities were so much fun like the marble drop building station (ending in end of May) and the animation stations. Wow, we were pleasantly surprised. And the view of the SF bay is unparalleled. They also have a waterfall and dinosaurs that move and make noise in the back. We were there for 4 hours but could have spent the entire day if we didn’t have to avoid traffic on the bridge. We will definitely be back! Don’t forget to pack a lunch as the cafe is permanently closed but there is a cafeteria to eat your lunch at downstairs. And parking isn’t free. You have to pay at the pay station.

A good place for kids to explore and learn. Lots of hands on activities that there’s more than enough to fill the day. We usually do a few and then go again another day to attempt the others - makes the membership worthwhile when you can go 3-4 times a year and it pays for itself and more. This time, we checked out the newest exhibit on food. It was cool and much to learn that helps kids to learn what to eat for happier gut bacteria.

We arrived at the museum at 10am on Mon Aug 18 2025 only to find it closed for two weeks despite no notifications on the website. I had checked the website the same morning and it showed open. As we were walking up to the museum other visitors stated the doors were closed with a sign stating the museum would be closed until Sat Aug 30 2025. The website updated later that morning with the closure notification. We drove for over an hour to get to the museum. Posting a two week closure notification after normal opening hours is unacceptable, especially with no additional details (e.g. an emergency closure due to something unexpected).

This was an amazing trip with two of my grandchildren. It was the perfect place for them and I found it extremely entertaining and interacting. Getting here is a snap and there is a parking lot right on the grounds. My son has a family membership and the only cost was for my wife and I. This is a beautiful spot and we headed right over to the 3D movie. My seven and four year old grandchildren really enjoyed this movie feature. Once complete they headed out to the live animal display and truly had a great time. My wife and I stayed with the young lady who had a snake crawling and climbing her. It was pretty fascinating to watch this. Many animals in glass cages to watch and learn about. The Lawrence has set up a great spot for kids to come and observe. I liked the main hall where they had demos on paper airplanes, sound, basic gears and mechanical toys. It was also a beautiful day that the kids could run and play outside. Really, a perfect venue for children and adults alike. KUDOs to the team at Lawrence Hall of Science

Going here for the first time, I didn't realize it was a museum mostly for kids. Had I known that before, we probably would not have come, but we just gave it a chance. The most interesting thing here, to me, was the globe showing all the airline flights all over the world. There are lots of interactive things here for kids to do. And this place sits high in the Berkeley Hills, awesome views of the entire Bay Area!!

Wow! What a fun day! We enjoyed the cool, hands-on exhibits at The Lawrence Hall of Science. They've added many new interactive experiences! There are a number of exhibits which I've added videos of. I feel they definitely stepped up the experience since our last visit From STEM activities to immersive displays, this spot is perfect for curious minds. Placed in the Berkeley hills, it also has some of the best views of the Bay.

I'm a fan of the Lawrence Hall of Science but I was less impressed with their summer camps. The Lawrence's Toy Builders was, by far, the most expensive summer camp we signed our kid up for. The camp's description includes the following: Participants will use their creativity to transform recycled materials into a take-home toy with moving parts! We didn't see anything resembling a toy come home with our camper. But she seemed to watch a lot of movies over her two weeks at the Lawrence... It doesn't square for me that this is the priciest camp and the only one where they frequently plopped my kid in front of a screen. The camp seems to lack the adult supervision and structure of other camps my daughter attended this past summer. Overall, my kid was also less than enthusiastic about the camp, so all around Toy Builders was a miss for us.

My son enjoyed his time here. He was enthralled by the dinosaurs outside. Enjoyed exploring the playtopia juegolandia activities, especially the wind ones. The animal discovery zone was also a hit for him. He was scared and interested with one of the lizards there. This is a great place and can't wait for him to go back to explore more.

For a museum focused on teaching basic science concepts to young children you really cannot go wrong with taking your kids to the Lawrence Hall of Science. The museum itself is located up in the hills of UC Berkeley. There are dedicated parking lots near the museum, though these do fill up pretty quickly on the weekends. Parking fee is reasonable and can be done at the kiosk or on your phone. We really enjoyed the AI exhibit on the bottom floor as well as the dinosaur animatronics in the outdoor area on the top floor of the museum. There is also a sandpit in the outdoor area with the dinosaurs that your little ones can play in, consider bringing your own beach/sand toys since there are only a few shovels provided by the facility. There is also a nice outdoor spaces on bottom floor to picnic in as well (bring your own food or doordash to the museum!). FYI the cafeteria is not open so you cannot really buy any food here except for some canned sodas and cold sandwiches at the gift shop. Overall expect to spend at least 2 to 3 hours there including lunch time to get the full experience. Highly recommend if you have kids between the ages of 2 to 12 to bring them here!

The Lawrence Hall of Science is always a great place to visit and learn, especially with the rotating exhibits. It feels different taking my own kids here now, and I appreciate many of the kid-friendly activities even more than when I was growing up and visiting. The 3D movie on the life cycle of the T-Rex was awesome. Very engaging, and the effects added to the experience instead of being distracting. Definitely worth the extra $5 to see it! The sun presentation...not so much. I wouldn't recommend that one, but the planetarium is pretty cool and perhaps other programs are better. Other highlights were the outdoor dinosaur exhibit with the moving/screaming dinosaurs, the molecular biology room (great way to introduce kids to vortex machines, centrifuges, bioreactors, and microscopes), and the outdoor exploration area. Other places looked pretty awesome, but we didn't have time to visit. A couple of not-so-great things included the food options. The cafe downstairs was shuttered the whole time we were there. The tiny mini fridge in the gift shop was okay, but didn't have a lot of options, and even less veggies. In addition, how is there not more Lawrence Hall of Science-specific swag??? I asked about a sticker and they said it's been the most requested item for years. Kinda seems like a hint to offer some, right? Parking is easy, but paid. Staff is pretty friendly too.

Took my two year old and he had the most fun playing outside in the ramp, though he kept slipping due to tree acorns and leaves on the pavement. I think this museum is better suited for 4 years - 10 year old kids. The indoor activities require reading and being able to do independent work. The dinos outside in the back scared my fearless kid so that surprised me. The views of Berkeley are photo worthy from these dinos. The few animals were all hiding due to noise. I think it is really pricey for what it is. It is standard museum rates $30 per adult, but given adults just chaperone in an old lecture hall, I feel it should be less. And you have to pay for parking!

Growing up in the East Bay Area I remember making at least a couple different trips with my schools. Just on the other side of the Caldecott, with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay Area, it's got to be the best museum on the planet. We've been making the trek whenever we get a free day from school and this time we lucked into the Dinosaur exhibit. My youngest was just in heaven examining everything. We spent a good amount of time playing with the motorized figures outside, including pretending to run from a dino attack! Inside, we were treated to a globe which displayed the view from space, an earthquake simulator, gravity testing, and the AI lab. I know the museum gift shop is named the "Discovery Store" but really, isn't that what the entire museum is? It's selling scientific discoveries with your ticket right? It's ok, I know I'm a little weird. We saved the whale and DNA structure for last as we were heading home. I insisted on having the kids pose in the DNA for me, cause my DNA in DNA was too funny to resist.

Awesome space for kids to learn and engage with science! I do wish it had more locations! It's tough to get to!

The Lawrence Hall of Science is a fun, hands-on museum designed for little kids to have fun while observing physics in action. It was named after famous Nobel Prize Physics professor Ernst Lawrence from UC Berkeley. He invented the Cyclotron and after he died, two national labs were named after him: Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore. They have paid parking available on two lots. Just pay by License Plate number for a low hourly rate at one of the nearby kiosks. Enjoy the awesome views of the whole Bay Area, fountain, whale, and double helix exhibits outside before going in. Inside the Hall you'll see demos on paper airplanes, sound, basic gears and mechanical toys, and this air hockey table. They have a museum shop with snacks, toys, and books but no onsite restaurant or cafe. Also, no air conditioning so expect to see lots of fans throughout. I had fun while visiting, and I think our 3yo son also had a good time running around everywhere too.

Def more geared for kids but what an amazing view. Parking prices in the area are reasonable but good luck on a weekend. Wow that view is something else.

Stopped by for homecoming weekend. My favorite exhibit, the live animal room, has been updated and we enjoyed touching the snake and learning about different animals in their habitats. There are now two animal rooms. Love all the hands on exhibits that the whole family can enjoy, and the finale was exploring the outdoor exhibits and enjoying the beautiful bay views.

First time visiting Lawrence Hall. Went with my 15 year old twins and my grand daughters, ages 2 & 3. It was not what I was expecting at all. Overall, I found the exhibits underwhelming. The staff consisted of young adults. Some were very attentive and others didn't even look our way. I would have appreciated more interaction from staff. The view of the Bay was amazing for me, but the kids didn't care about that. We didn't pay the up charge for the T-Rex show or the planetarium. I felt that $25 admission was high, especially for a 3 year old. 2 and under were free. For that ticket price, there should not be an up charge to see these exhibits.

I spent $80 for entrance. No free parking. You must download a parking app and enroll with a credit card, password, etc. ripoff for sure!!

What a wonderful place! I brought my preschooler (4 years old) a few weeks ago and we both had a nice time. I think he's just on the precipice of being the perfect age. First, walking in, we had a lot of fun making and launching our paper airplanes. I love that they have the obstacles to try to get your plane to fly through! He also had fun in the "little kids" area with the hands-on activities. This area is probably best designed for small children age 1-5. I think his favorite room was the physics room with all the games, the miniature golf, basketball, etc. I personally LOVED the hands-on pinball activity! This was such a clever idea!!!! We had a lot of fun building our own design. Some of the other exhibits were a little too old for him, which is totally fine. I think the museum is best geared to children in elementary school and middle school. I remember coming here in 7th or 8th grade and seeing demonstrations with liquid nitrogen circa the year 2000. I wish the cafeteria area downstairs was open, but they sell some pre-packaged snacks upstairs in the gift shop. The gift shop has lots of the STEM activities and toys you're probably used to seeing at science museums. Solid afternoon for us. I may think about joining as a member, too!

Great museum for kids but be warned that there is no air conditioning. Animal exhibit closed at 4pm as well.

We got in for free because one of us is a student and the other has an EBT card. Its a nice place for kids, its a wrong use of the building though, lots of empty space, artificial lighting, and just poor cheap layout. The view from outside is awesome though overlooking the bay. I wouldn't recommend spending money to get in- if you want a similar really cool hands on experience check out the Exploratorium in San Francisco!

Excellent place to bring kids or curious adults. Great view of the East Bay and SF. Have some patience with the staff and parking on a busy day. Can't go wrong with a late afternoon here.

Had a great time taking the kiddos here for our son's 2nd birthday! It was a week day so it was a much slower day with a smaller crowd as well. Which, for me, is the perfect time to visit! The only down side to the visit was that because there was a smaller crowd the exhibit attendants weren't as attentive to us. They were either on their phones and seated or only spoke to us when we asked a question. Also, it's been some years since I've been there for a field trip, but the hands on animal experience is not really "hands on". It's more like "eyes only!" lol Overall, we had a good time and will hopefully be back to Check out the exhibits we don't get a chance to see.

PLEASE READ: They are a fully tax-payer funded institution that pays $0 in any state or local taxes and charges community members (children 2+ the same as adults) $20 to enter. They have no awareness for the financial burden their outrageous cost puts on the families of Berkeley. Meanwhile, they are fully funded by city tax dollars that keep their road open and that supports the tens of thousands of college students whose extortionate tuitions are a primary source used to fund their facility. I know they're likely to be like, "Nuh-uh! We don't directly take money from tuition!" But what should you expect? They are funded by the UC Regents as a non-profit. Where do the UC Regents get their funds? Yeah, tuition. And grants... which come from taxes. So... this place is literally 100% paid for by taxes, and then they put a $20 entry fee just to keep the place relatively empty. I mean, can you think of a greater travesty than allowing the children of this city to use their publicly financed museums to learn and grow? I shudder at the thought. At this rate, they should just raise the ticket price to $50/person. Why not? Why not raise it to $60/70/80? They set the price to keep the place empty while pulling in as much money as they can, which I'd guess mostly just goes to administrative staff. As the place has only a handful of staff actually in the museum at any given time. Most of whom appear to be college volunteers. The city of Berkeley should eminent domain this museum and boot the UC out if they don't make it free to the people who actually pay the taxes for the roads they take advantage of. It is beyond me how a city like Berkeley allows UC to bilk the citizens of this community while also calling themselves non-profit.

We took our elementary aged children and they loved it. We were there just over 2 hours but could have easily spent another hour plus. There isn't food sold there but they have tables outside and inside if you want to pack a lunch. The views looking over the bay are amazing! The only negative was that they don't have AC so it was warm inside.

This is a fascinating place to engage student learning! We have a cool instructor Ime (he/him), young Black man that's into science and that's great for our students to see with all that's going on in our world today. He has kept everyone engaged and paying attention to each project we've built. This is a must visit place for schools looking to show their students how important science is to our society and the different facets that involve science that we don't even think about. Bottom line science is COOL kids and COOL people love science!!

Save your money ($20 for adults free for kids 3 and below) and go to the purple museum or OAK zoo. Maybe I had higher expectations but I felt their exhibits were limited (whet germs are, a ball run, build equake proof building are some of them). You also had to pay for parking. Kudos for the bay area view.

Very cool place for kids. Lots to do and friendly staff. And of course the view is breathtaking. Definitely recommend it to all parents with small kids.

The Lawrence Hall of is an amazing place! Perfect place for kids to explore and play. Different aspects of science to appease whatever mood he's in and keep him engaged and curious. I love all of the hands on activities and fun ways to learn science concepts. It's not filled with a bunch of exhibits with reading and pictures only, but actual activities with included supplies or high quality displays to touch. Only thing I would change would the food selection. The cafe has been closed and the snacks in the gift shop are hardly foods that any responsible parent would give their kids (the most nutritious thing is a lunchable or protein pack with almonds and cheese). The rest are chips/candy/cookies. So bring your own lunch.

The Lawrence Hall of Science is awesome! i went with 9 other elderly people and had a great time/ A lot of the major attractions were close due to upgrades but we still had a blast. I HAVE TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO RANDY AT THE FRONT DESK. He made our entry so enjoyable. again thank you to all the staff who supported this visit and making a great one. I have to say this is one of the nicest museums we have visited. I hope by writing this review more people visit this place. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DID. YOU'RE AMAZING!

Nothing but great things about this place! A friend accompanied me and my 8 yr old to this place. We literally spent the whole day there. The kids still were not done by the time it was closing. Even is adults were mesmerised by all the fun exhibits and experiments. We will visit it again for sure. The only negative thing I would say is that there was a cafeteria which was not operating. It should clearly be mentioned on the website. A book store had some snacks so we bought some since the kids were v hungry. And don't forget to bring exact change for parking! Bring quarters and dollar bills. The machines are old and they were not taking my credit card and when I put in a $20 bill, I was supposed to get $17 back but I didn't get anything back. Bummer.

Science museum? Yes please! However, the Lawrence Hall of Science isn't quite a science museum, but more of a science activity centre for children. There wasn't really much for adults to see, although I quite enjoyed the planetarium show about constellations. Admission was $12, so at least it wasn't terribly expensive. Not a terrible place, but unless you have children, I wouldn't recommend visiting the Lawrence Hall of Science. I did buy these awesome wooden blocks in the gift shop, for my niece who'll be born at the end of August (first time being an aunt -- woo hoo!). The blocks have all the elements of the periodic table on them, and they are so cool! [Yelp collections: West Coast 2018]

3-29-2021 7:20p.m. Juss in time for the sunset... Sunsets are stunning from here...I am a softie for a sunset...shhh dont tell anyone unless she's cute luvz sunsets and wanna go to dinner!!! I've been coming up here for bout a year to watch the very unpredictable sunsets...I mean the day can be clear all around and here comes the fog...I still luvit...onna clear nite sit back and watch the city by the bay transform from day to nite...beautiful!!! Blankets seggested Wine & Beer suggested Perfect for a chill date

This is an excellent place to bring the kids for a day of exploring and learning. Tons of activities and toys for the kids to play. And little do the kids know, they are learning tons while playing. Great views of the Bay Area from the museum. Be sure to check out the shows as well. I highly suggest this place as a way to get your littles ones out and get them some knowledge.

Lawrence is the perfect spot for younger kids...up to age 10 or so at least. The science education is essentially play-based, so those looking for a teen or adult experience should look elsewhere. But younger kids will learn many scientific principles without even knowing they're doing it. It's not flashy, just well thought out and we'll executed. We have 8 grandkids and have, for 2 decades now, been maintaining a family membership because the grandkids love it so much. We are, by the way, two retired research scientists, so we have a strong appreciation for science education. Lawrence is a local treasure.

This place is good for being creative and making things on your own. The kids liked making paper airplanes and paper rockets then launching them.

I thought the LHS was going to be more of an educational experience for adults as well as children. But this place is now orientated towards children. Entrance fee is up to $12 and $4 if you want to catch the planetarium 30 min show. It is more of a science play ground for children only. I remember taking my daughter there 23 years ago and it was different. WhenThey had exhibits for adults and children. The LHS is great for children. Not worth it for adults. However, it is better to catch the fantastic view on the outside. Save your money, and just catch the view outside.

It's changed a lot post Covid and not for the better. I used to take my kids here all the time in 2019 when we had a memberships. I loved the exhibits and there was so much to do. We went there recently and I was very disappointed. There were mostly crafts and no real exhibits. There wasn't a ton for my 4 and 6 year old to do. They did love that the reptile area was open and they had fun there. I was able to entertain them somewhat but for the price we paid I expect more then just crafts. When we were there two years ago they said they were going to remodel and I do not see that. Someone needs to step in and revamp this place and bring in better exhibits for the kids. The dinosaur one was so cool, I wish they would bring that back. It's too bad because it has so much potential I will wait to return until they have improved things.

If you're a parent, this place is a true gem. Especially for those working parents who don't have the time to get out on a date, this place is it. You can make a day of it. Its fun, scenic, muy romantico, cool, and both big kid and toddler kid friendly. Lawrence Hall of Science sits atop the hills of Berkley at the UC Berkely campus. Close by is the Japanese garden and Tilden park (also a parental bookmark!) Over the summer they host many summer day camps. There are new hands on exhibits, live animals, friendly staff and even a baby play area. We often come and bring a picnic lunch. One of our most favorite places to take the littles

This is a great place to hang out with your kid, especially if the weather is too cold/hot/windy/rainy for outdoor fun. I've been twice with my son at ages 4 and 5, and it was very engaging for a long period of time. We went a year or so ago with a friend for a few hours and stayed on after our friends left to eat ice cream in the cafeteria and see a couple more things. After 4 or 5 hours, we still hadn't done/seen everything. Then we were just there last weekend. A few exhibits had moved or changed, and we spent a good 3.5 hours inside the museum and could easily have stayed longer if they weren't closing. My kid loves many things in here. In a little kid room they have a vertical wind tunnel that you put lightweight cloths in and watch them go up to the ceiling, a vortex/funnel that balls roll around in until they drop down, and a pin board where you can push pins back and forth and make patterns, handprints, etc. There is a wall board in the main hall where you can press cards into slats to make a ramp for balls. Downstairs there is a row of math/logic puzzles like Tower of Hanoi to sit and play. In the bigger kid room, you can play physics games (currently they have skee ball and pinball), build a track/ramp for balls to roll on, or (one time we were there) make a parachute and try it out in a wind exhibit. In the lobby area, you can build with Keva blocks or test out animation. And there are many, many more things to do. I think this place appeals to a wide range of ages. A toddler can find fun things in the little kid area, and beyond. A five-year-old is in pig heaven. There were plenty of older kids having a ball. But adults and teens wouldn't want to go here expecting an adult museum experience - this is primarily a children's museum with interactive exhibits designed to peak a child's curiosity and show them how playing fun stuff links to science. Some info: 1. If the parking lots look full, go into the closer lot and drive up the driveway to the terraces of parking above. Make sure you know your license plate number for the machine below. 2. Expect to spend a half hour outside on the whale and the DNA model if your kid likes to climb. Expect it to be very, very windy. Parents can enjoy the awesome view on a clear day. 3. The store is within the paid area of the museum, but I asked and was allowed to go into the store only, without paying first. Great place to go holiday or birthday shopping for a kid. 4. The cafeteria has awesome views and you can bring your own food and eat there if you want. The upstairs is remodeled and looks relatively modern, but the downstairs looks like someone forgot to update it -- has that 50s government or school building feel. To me this is great. I never have to worry about my kid tearing up the place, because it's already worn. The two birthday party rooms are downstairs and don't expect them to be cheery or decorated -- they are interior classroom type spaces -- but they are completely functional with tables and chairs. Overall, I really like this children's science museum. It's pricey, but not at all compared to similar places like Chabot, Exploratorium, etc. It's comfortable, and I always feel like it can sit on the floor with my kid or find a place to park my stuff. The coat check area is not attended, but you can easily hang your coat or put some stuff on a shelf -- but beware, anyone can go in there, so don't leave valuables. I always feel safe at this museum, though; it is contained, and not near anything else.

Disappointed to the max. Not only do you pay an outrageous entrance fee but you also have to pay for the extra exhibits and those are NOT WORTH IT. I took my 3 1/2 year old son and it was just so sad. There's NO food. NO AC. & It seemed as if you were at a glorified building with a bunch of nonsense everywhere. I had such high expectations being it was our first time and even my son who loves and enjoys activities did not seem to enjoy anything, I was hoping the "T.REX 3D show" was going to be exciting and captivating but my son fell asleep and it was 20 min ONLY. I really couldn't believe I spent $50 for something that should've been free. Things were closed down or falsely advertised. I really wanted to love it but my son did not love it and he loves to go to museums and explore but there wasn't much to explore. 0/10 highly wouldn't recommend. If they're are going to be charging for admissions fee and extra for exhibits and other activities I would expect them to have more and do better with what they have going on. I wouldn't come here if you want your child to enjoy themselves . He had more fun climbing on the whale outside then he did anything inside.

I hope to never go here again, but my kids like it fine. At 4 and 7, I think they are still younger than peak age for this place. Probably 10 years old is ideal. Pack a lunch to eat outside. It'll be the highlight! What I don't like: Enclosed halls and underutilized hallways Out-of-date exhibits Underutilization of view in the cafeteria Buzzing and humming noises throughout Bathrooms all on bottom floor Weird layout Darkness Animal area not ever open when we are there Feels crowded even when it's not What kids like: Outdoor play area Skee ball Making paper rocket shoot in the air Marble run

Fun Berkeley place to take the kids, and not too big as to make it a pain for the whole family to walk around. Kids loved the outdoor little water play area, and a bonus is the great view of SF. They also have hourly times where they take out the animals. We came for the robotic dinosaur exhibit which wasnt bad. Cheap parking too. Overall a hassle-free, neighborhood kind of place.

Solid place for your kids to explore and play (and hopefully learn a thing or two about science). Great for the preschool to elementary school aged children. The Hall also has an awesome outdoor area in the back for one to just sit and enjoy the views of the Bay Area.

This is a wonderful attraction in a famous city, But be sure to watch out for the big electromagnet out front. If you get close to it, be sure there is no metal in your pockets. Don't forget to check out the Fantastic view right outside the entrance!

The Lawrence Hall of Science rocks! We spent over three wonderful hours here this weekend enjoying the following: The outdoor play sculptures - both the DNA strand and the whale are designed for climbing fun. The kids loved spending time here before we went in. The adults enjoyed the fantastic view of the Bay - we could see both the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate. The main entrance lobby - the kids could not get enough of the pin wall. They also tried out the zoetrope and the "ball fountain." I enjoyed reading about Dr. Lawrence's 1939 Nobel prize and the work he did to earn that honor. The Exhibits --- Insect Investigations: learning about bees from various continents and how insects use camouflage, matching butterfly wing sections under a microscope to the correct species, and seeing live tarantulas, beetles and hissing cockroaches (we keep running into this creature - like at the Lindsey Wildlife Museum a year ago). --- Nano: the kids learned about how nanoscale objects behave very differently - my 6-year was fascinated by the lovely patterns and shapes made by the 10 Nanometer Ferrofluid (liquid that acts like a magnet and is used in car brakes, hard drives and loudspeakers). --- Science on a Sphere: a huge globe that lights up to educate us about things that should matter, like seismic activity and global warming. --- Keva Planks: this table was super-crowded so we didn't spend too much time here. But building towers is always fun! Animal Discovery Room - our two-year old didn't want to step away from Munster the hamster - she must've petted him for over 20 minutes. She also enjoyed watching the chinchillas at play, and other furry creatures like rabbits. The older kids were more into the snakes and dragons and the human anatomy (see pictures!). Ingenuity Lab - we all probably spent the most time here doing all kinds of hands-on activities. Our favorites were: --- Making paper airplanes and launching them. Our daughter built the only pink airplane so she could find and retrieve hers easily amongst all the white ones! --- Building parachutes with paper cups, coffee filters and pipe cleaners and launching them up a tube blowing air. Loads of fun! So if you have young kids, or are a kid at heart, head over to the Lawrence Hall of Science. You won't regret it.

Overall, I'm happy that my family went here. It was good for one visit but I don't see the need to go back multiple times. There was plenty of neat stuff to engage kids and adults alike, for a few minutes each at least. The views from the outdoor area and the front terrace are spectacular. We bought one of the planetary shows which was worth the upcharge. The downside is still being able to hear kids playing outside the planetarium as the host is going through the show. The second (lower) floor is less than spectacular. There was a neat live animal area but felt like a weird joining of a county fair and a high school chemistry lab. We walked by the cafe and I'm glad we ate before arriving here. I would not have wanted to eat in there although the prices appeared to not be gouging. That was about all that was down there. Everything else was restrooms and closed-to-guest educational rooms or reservable party rooms.

The first time we visited this museum was in elementary school on a field trip. I can remember being really amazed by it then and maybe even moreso as an adult! When we recently drove by the front entrance on our way to a hike I had a flashback to taking pictures with the big whale at the entrance as a child. I'm so glad that this local fixture has been so well maintained almost three decades later. What a treat to have just beyond the coliseum where the Bears play. It is so important to be able to share with kids and adults alike just how much science is everywhere in our every day lives and this museum is a testament to that.

The Lawrence Hall of Science is located up on the hills above University of California Berkeley. If you haven't been here before, it's a nice drive depending on which way you come up. I recommend taking the 24 West. There are a couple of lookout points with great views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. Parking is paid prior to entering into museum. Remember your stall number or you will have to go back to your car. The views from the plaza and terrace are breathtaking. The exhibits are more appropriate for older kids. It my be a little too advance for young ones. The ingenuity lab ( hand ons engineering) on level A was cool. The staff was very helpful in explaining and getting you setup. The animal discovery was also fun, but only open from 1:30 to 4pm. The stop motion animation was interesting and popular. Planetarium shows are $4 each. There are different shows depending on when you come. Refer to their website for additional details.

We were visiting Berkeley on a mission to eat and looking for things to do to pass the time. A friend who's a Cal alum recommended this museum. It's definitely geared towards kids but it was surprisingly fun! Everything was very educational but also very interactive. They have little games you can play, a section where you can build your own roller coasters, and even an exhibit where you can use joysticks to fly a mini blimp and try to get it through a hoop! One of my favorite features was the patio outdoors. They have wide unobstructed views of Berkeley and the bay from up high. It was great for taking photos and just taking the view in :) Entry for adults was $12 which was pretty cheap for how much fun we had. It's a good place for kids and kids at heart :) It's paid parking only but it wasn't expensive to park. I would definitely come back again!

Best place for kids to learn new things and also planetarium show was good. You can take your own lunch for picnic or you can use cafeteria. Great view if Bay Area. Staff is very friendly Parking near by is just $1 per hour. Recommended for any weather.