The New Children’s Museum

A great place where children can let their imagination soar and explore their artistic side. The museum has three floors with different activities for children of all ages. There's an outdoor area for making clay figures that you can take home. We visited the Artopia zone (accessible at certain times) where the children can draw and craft; that day they could make their own gingerbread house with lots of accessories and everything needed for the craft. All the walls in the museum have beautiful, positive messages!! On the ground floor, there's a slide that leads down to the next floor. There's also a Sprouts café, which has a healthy and fun variety of food for children and adults. I recommend buying tickets in advance on the website to be able to enter directly. I wish they had some science activities for children.

An unforgettable birthday experience at The New Children’s Museum! We had the most wonderful time celebrating our daughter’s birthday here. Everything was truly exceptional from start to finish. Our party coordinator was incredibly professional, kind, and attentive — she stayed in touch throughout the entire process, helped with every detail, and made sure we felt completely cared for and stress-free. The celebration was beautifully organized — every element was thoughtful, warm, and full of joy. The kids were absolutely thrilled! I loved how seamless the experience was: from the initial online reservation and email communication to the final moments of the party, everything was handled with such care and professionalism. We even received a lovely surprise — a beautiful keepsake book for my daughter to remember her special day. The reserved parking space in the garage was a great touch, and I really appreciated the option to add setup, decoration, and cleanup services for a small extra fee — it made the day truly effortless for us. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. Everything was perfect — joyful, well-organized, and full of heart. Thank you to the entire team for making this day so memorable! 💖🎉

06-14-2025 I was here on Mass Creativity Day (free admission) with my nieces. Because it was a special event, they had fun activities/entertainment and food trucks also. Below are some of the activities in the museum that children can explore: -Wobbleland for children ages 4 and under, limit to 10 ppl at a time, no shoes allowed -Clay Studio, no age limit -Prismopolis where you can explore color and light in your city

Got here close to opening on a Saturday morning- no wait and not super busy. There were some cool things for my two kids to do (ages 2 and 5), but I agree with other reviewers who note the dark vibes and demonic symbols ALL OVER, but especially in a few specific exhibits. WHY is that necessary for a children’s museum? I had seen the reviews and was cautious about going, but wanted to give it a shot. Several exhibits are dark- and one is flat out scary — I think even my kids were feeling the bad vibes. My kids had an okay time but I had a pit in my stomach the whole time

You know... It was an interesting place. Was the staff friendly... Yes. Did our little ones have fun... Yes. But were there creepy paintings on the walls that seemed to not fit with a children's museum... Also, yes. Another issue we had was that most of the rooms and exhibits were in poor condition and borderline dangerous because of it. A lot of fabrics were torn and items that should have cushions were worn down. We did really enjoy the clay exhibit where our older son got to make some cool stuff. For the price... I think you would have more fun and your kids would be safer at one of the many other options in the area. My wife and I even said we could have had more fun with our kids at the park across the street. The kids loved it and interacting with the many kids there.

Very cool place! Kept us busy for 2 hours and we definitely could have stayed longer but my toddler was ready for a nap.

This is a great place to take the kids. They many activities and obstacles for the children. We enjoyed ourselves. It did get a bit overcrowded but that may have been due to the holiday weekend. The only downside is that the Air Conditioner was not working or they don't have an HVAC system. We went for labor weekend and it was very hot and humid. No A/C or good ventilation really sucks in a 3 story building.

I love this place! So sad I hadn’t found it sooner. It has fun/ interactive things to do and see for all ages. My son is 17 months and he had a blast in each area he went to. Admission is fairly priced and is a great place to take your kids when you’ve run out of ideas!

06-14-2025 I was here on Mass Creativity Day (free admission) with my nieces. Because it was a special event, they had fun activities/entertainment and food trucks also. Below are some of the activities in the museum that children can explore: -Wobbleland for children ages 4 and under, limit to 10 ppl at a time, no shoes allowed -Clay Studio, no age limit -Prismopolis where you can explore color and light in your city

Reminds me to a POLLUTED CITY! I am writing this to complain about the museum. First of all I find it too gray and sad for children and adults. I think that the rooms and levels are not creative enough. I think a Children museum should be packed with hundreds of children waiting to get in. Motivated to learn and see interesting new things, Instead this place has so many empty spaces I guess people is not interested. It is not a very nice place to visit, I have been there once and I will probably never go back again. It is BORING and probably the budget is really limited because all the materials you have also look limited. I come from a 3rd world country and they have a much better idea of what a children museum should be. Have you ever heard about "Papalote museo del nino"? You should take a look and learn from them. Guys you should not call yourselves new children museum, not sure who is responsible of this but it should be embarrassing to waste that much space. Where is the creativity? The fun? The bright colors? Your museum reminds me to a polluted city. Additionally I am not sure if the play ground across the street belongs to the museum but that is the worst playground I have ever seen . Only TWO swings? Come on! When there are more than 2 Children and they give the evil eye to each other when one of them is waiting to use a swing. Why is it All gray? not even plants or colors.? Is it designed for all the bumps an homeless people in the area? Did you have children in mind when this was designed? I take my baby every Friday for a walk and we stop by the swing so I notice that the museum is not successful and that the playground is lonely or produces greed among the young visitors. I prefer to drive 15 min and get to the swings in Coronado where everything is green and there are at least 10 swings.

Overall, not my favorite place. Lots of the equipment is disgusting. Snot, food, etc crusted into soft play materials. I suspect the staff only cleans once or twice a day max since I never see anyone cleaning though I've been here a few times due to being local. A few days after we visited, we got norovirus (as did our friends children.) our whole family was out for a week. It's hot. I'm not sure if the few times we went there wasn't A/C or there isn't in general but I overheated like 3 times playing around with my kids. It's stressful bringing multiple kids because it's 3 stories, especially in the theatre room where there's lots of tunnels, entrances and exits and it's dark. Lots of parents also use this as a daycare type situation and don't watch or manage their kids, so keep your little kids close. My son was shoved down on the bus exhibit by an older kid whose parent was nowhere to be found. He's 1. Something else I'm concerned about is the imagery portrayed to the kids. There's a lot of weird or creepy imagery especially in the wooden climbing area. It's very "progressive" and needs to be less of that and more child focused. You can definitely feel an agenda being pushed. Lastly, I'm giving 1/5 stars because it's a good concept. There are lots of great interactive exhibits. The staff is friendly. The structures are fun. But, it needs lots of work.

Another fun experience at the New Children Museum! We arrived just before closing but were able to enjoy a few of my grand daughter's favorite activities. Best to come early so you are able to enjoy the total museum. 2025/11

I had the privilege to check this place out for the first time last year at an Yelp event. This visit was with our grandkiddos. They had a wonderful time needless to say! They had free range to run to each fun obstacle. How I wanted to join them on the tunnel slide and the huge whammock! I find the museum to be quite spacious although it doesn't seem like it when you have excited children running around with the parents following behind everywhere you look. The colors and shapes grabs the childrens attention. A lot of hands on activities for the kiddos too. It is bright and airy and just an overall fun place to bring the kids. Parking could be problematic, but you can find one. They have a small cafe with indoor seating and a few outside as well. No food and beverages are allowed throughout the museum. All strollers are to be parked within the building upon entering. A lot of stairs, but an elevator is available. I would definitely come back with the grandkiddos.

Great indoor spot for curious kids, especially little performers We revisited this children's museum after a few years, and it was still a really fun experience. Our daughter is now four, and there's definitely more for her to get excited about at this age. It's not a high-energy, jungle gym-type place...so if your goal is to wear your kid out with physical activity, this might not be the spot. But there's a full park just across the street if you want to balance the day with some outdoor play. This museum is more about exploration, creativity, and hands-on learning. Our daughter especially loved the play theater on the bottom floor. It has everything: a ticket booth, stage, backstage area, props... you name it. She easily spent an hour down there acting out different scenes and roles. If your kid is into storytelling or theater, this is a great stop. A fun and engaging way to beat the heat!

One of the many crwative places that has the places of the creative natures the joy of art and the wondwrful worls of books for the minds of the creative youth.. There is one thing that you can take away with you the many areas of the Maetin Luther King walk the museum has many areas for the younger kids to have an area that has an area with hobidy hoarse and swings. The Childrens Museum has mus much more to the museum the many art and reading rooms that the museum has for the kids creative minds. From the many art rooms you can get to build and creat statues the walk around the museum you can find many of the art projects. 0ne 0f the best museums you can go to and have the best fun creating art and studyong the many art subjects usibg paints and the creating of the collages the many subjects at the Childrens Museum the many th8ngs they have at the museum for the adults to have some fun with the kids.

"Children's Museums" have become really popular over the past 3ish years and we have been to several in Southern California. I've considered this one in San Diego since it opened, but was always put off by the high admission price, however today we finally decided to stop in. First thing I noticed when walking in was that there was absolutely no A/C. It was very hot out and the museum was extremely muggy and hot. To me, it's unacceptable to charge nearly $100 for a family of 4 (two young kids and two adults) and not have A/C. And then the play areas were dirty, many of the set designs were run down and visibly worn, the clay area did not have nearly enough tools for the number of children it was designed to serve, and the primary mens restroom was out of order leaving only one mens room for all of the males visiting this large facility. What exactly are you charging for if not basic amenities for your guests...? World class museums charge the way this place does and they're clean, air conditioned, and well-maintained. This place should be charging $15/head tops. I give two stars only because some of the play areas were really unique in design and function. But not enough to warrant the price or the discomfort of being there.

What a fun place! It was our first time and the kids had a blast from the little sliding maze area right at the beginning to all the other fun interactive spots. They especially loved the treehouse playground upstairs that even adults can go through! I appreciated the breathing room for anybody that just needs a little quiet breather. Also the fun positive sayings/quotes/encouragement throughout was fantastic. Also the typewriter bus was a fun conversation with the kids. Fun slides, kids able to run around, learn a bit, all a great spot! I just wish the parking wasn't expensive but it is downtown life!

My fist time at the Children's Museum What a great! Time we truly had All the beautiful Yelpers was so nice and some dressed in their color badge it was very cool and to meet new Yelpers too. Having a big museum to go and see all the colors and small child would love and climb in nets and rope's the sensory areas too I think we all became a small children last night I love the face painting She was so kind and give me a hug I love for her come out again next bash or event again. after I noticed more were going over to her A Big Thanks to all the vendors Fish Grill was so perfect and real good in executed their dish the butter sauce was perfect And the South African food I need to good to North Park now I loved the lentils I we had so much love from the vendors Cup cakes were excellent too And of course Donut Bar had a treasure hunt that was perfect happy to see the ones who won And We had the pistachio it was filled with lots filling yum we enjoyed it good flavor I could of had another lol. Topo Chico Thanks for the drink and engraved glass that was so nice But a Big Super Thanks to all who made this possible Hannah your the best!!! Sending you a big big hug I hope you had fun too ya'll

We took the trolley over to this museum and boy, what a disappointment!!! We paid $80 total with a military discount. It wasn't worth it. Save your money and go to the park across the street. I'd been waiting to take my son for a year now.... The only thing that was cool was the long metal slide but beware with the type of shoes your child wears on this metal slide. There is no ventilation nor A/C! There are some swamp coolers around. There's not much to do other than run around in. Not a lot sensory play. Very progressive art displays. As a child's place this should be more fun and less politically driven.

We had the pleasure of visiting the new museum for our 2025 Yelp Elite badge night. In a word, this place is really cool. I can't wait to bring my nephews. There's a lot to take in at the museum. Tons of interactive and just fun stuff. What a great place for an event!!

Disappointing Experience We were really looking forward to our visit, but unfortunately it ended up being a pretty disappointing trip. The big slide -- which is a major attraction for the kids -- was closed, which was already a letdown. To make things worse, we had to quickly evacuate due to a fire alarm while we were in the outdoor clay area. The staff member there just yelled at everyone to get out without offering any direction or explanation. I understand it was an emergency situation, but it felt very disorganized and stressful, especially with young kids in tow. We ended up leaving, only to later find out that guests were allowed back in -- we weren't told anything at the time, nor were we offered a refund or guidance on next steps. The kids were pretty bummed overall, and honestly, so were we. Hoping they improve communication and guest care during situations like this.

The children's museum was a great spot to take my kiddos when we were visiting San Diego. They had a great time and they were even able to play with Clay. The only thing that I found to be an improvement was that I wish they offered more handicap parking spots. Overall, I highly recommend if you're visiting the area.

I didn't have a hard time parking like I seen a lot of these reviews, there was a pay parking lot right next-door, which was very convenient and inexpensive to use. Being in downtown, I can see that it would be difficult, but I had an easy experience. The venue is very large and beautiful, I just don't really see a huge attraction museum wise especially for children. The square footage is really impressive so I do think they can use the space for a lot of different types of events and I would be interested in checking those out in the future. I don't see myself coming back anytime soon, but I am happy that I got to experience it

This museum is not entirely wholesome. The 2nd and 3rd floor are better. The basement floor is rife with occult symbolism. My kid was uncomfortable trying to find her way out of the spooky teatro pinata. In here you'll find copies of a reversible image illustration of two male dancers where from afar, the dancers forms what looks like the goat headed figure that starts with the letter b... At the entrance you walk through a dimly lit replica of an old fashioned living room with a display cabinet typically meant to hold Knick Knacks and heirlooms. This cabinet holds only a pile of small fossils and what looks like 1 small mammal scull. Just me but I think it's cruel for a child who is happy go lucky and full of curiosity to run into something so morbid. Leaves you wondering, is this on purpose? The El Más Allá (the after life) installation has a creepy mural of a naked hairless figure with a horn on it's head, adult musculature, cross eyes, vacant expression like a zombie and paddles shaped hands. The cloud structure kids can climb into has televisions inside showing blurred, static filled, sterile, dystopian imagery on multiple old tv screens. The slide is painted to look like the people sliding down are coming out of another creepy figures mouth. I can see how each installation is an expression of an artists' vision but I'm not sure why the museum would choose to confront kids with such complex topics like death. It's very awkward to be there.

I took my niece here and we had a blast! I loved seeing all the fun exhibits, my favorite was Teatro Piñata! I recommend taking your littles ones here!

This museum was slightly disappointing. Not a lot of stuff to do. In fact for no cost at all, the park across the street was more interactive. There was nothing very educational. More of a big three story center with crafts and indie themed creations that kids could swing or run around. There are lots of words of affirmation and I guess if you needed your kid to see that on repeat, this might be beneficial. But like I mentioned, for no cost (it's 20ish per child and 20ish per adult at this museum), your kid can run around with other kids outside for nothing and have a grand ol time. Would not recommend. They do have reciprocity with other children's museums but even then I don't think the cost of parking and admission at half off matched what the museum had to offer. Also, don't go on a warm day; they don't have a/c

This museum is soo cool! Definitely one of the best children's museum's I've been to. It's 3 floors full of outdoor and indoor activities. Each room is different, based on your child's age group. Theres something for everyone. I believe some of the installations change from time to time too - keeping it fresh and modern for the littles. The cafe inside is also worth mentioning because the food is amazing! Be prepared to wait on busy weekends though. My toddler's favorite room was the reading room with a tree house and lights on the top. It felt dreamy. We'll definitely be back!

I went to a Yelp event here and was really blown away by the experience. There were different food vendors and it was very lively with music and people everywhere. I met two really nice people and hung out with them the whole time. I loved being able to meet different people in the Yelp community and thought it was super fun

I came here with my six-year-old and he absolutely loved it. There was an arts and crafts area. There are several exhibits. There is a lot of interactive play areas for those under two-year-old and a separated one for under four-year-old and then one for a little older kids as well.it is so unique and artistic and their slides and play areas along with their designing tables were really cool. I would highly recommend visiting here with Kids. There's an awesome free public park right across the street and the children's museum does have its own parking so don't park far away and pay for it like I did lol

One of THE coolest places to take a kid that I've ever seen. It's full of art, music, poetry, and tons of play structures for all ages. Loved the artists inspirations for each room. I personally like the sound, wooden room. It was well made and even had some inspiring-ish sounding music. There was a very colorful woven installation that looked like udders. My daughter was into it, but I got the sweats when I peeked my head in to search for her and saw holes to nowhere. its hard to explain, but you'll understand if you go. Definitely a must while downtown with kids. Its not super expensive and you can get hours of play and exploration here. I thought it was pretty well rounded and laid out nicely. They were doing some construction while we were there, but it didn't really effect any of the installations. They had a little cafe with 12 dollar chicken nuggets and some sort of shaped grilled cheese, but we did not partake. Lets be honest we have the best intentions of feeding them this stuff, but its going to have one bite and then I'll have to eat it because I spent 34 dollars on their lunch alone. Would 100 percent come back.

My kids had a blast here. There are three floors of interesting things for the kids to play with. They also had clay art and several other classes that kids can join. Well worth the price of admission and would do it again.

Last night was my first visit here for the Yelp San Diego Badge Bash event, and I was blown away by the museum's unique and creative decor. The space spanned three stories, filled with hidden nooks and surprises. In one room, I even spotted a rope-climbing play area tucked away in a corner--something I would have loved as a child. In one room the ceiling was adorned with hanging spoons, and one slide resembled a fluffy, sweet marshmallow or cloud. This place was truly one-of-a-kind, and I can only imagine how much fun it would be for kids! This museum takes me back to childhood, when having fun meant using your own creativity rather than relying on TV or video games for entertainment.

We've been a few times now and you can easily spend two hours here with a little one. Our two year old loved exploring all of the cool interactive art stations and the slides. There isn't much you can do if you're under 2 though. The food options are limited so I would suggest coming before or after eating so you're not spending $10 on a grilled cheese.

We explored this museum this morning and the kids had a lot of fun! It was a great way to escape the heat of summer by playing inside. Prices are expensive but worth it for the imaginative play spaces. Husband was able to get an educator discount. Kids enjoyed the life size fruits and vegetables space the most. It was walking distance from our hotel so that was awesome.

So the place is great for kids. It's big and plenty of places to play. Has a nice cafe attached which actually has decent food. Try to look for parking in the street as the parking lot they recommend for you to use is $20. Parking on the street is $1 an hour. For the kids free October it's Only in Wednesday Only!! Which is bogus. Even the San Diego allows kids free every day all October. Horrible how children's museum only does Wednesday only.

Stopped in here spontaneously because we happened to be visiting San Diego during a heat wave, so we wanted to find an activity indoors. Some areas of the museum were extremely warm still but they did have "cool zones" that provided some nice relief. This was one of the better children's museums we have gone to. $20 per ticket was reasonable considering all of the different rooms and activities to do! We spent a couple of hours here and probably could've stayed longer if it wasn't naptime! Loved all the structures and different things to explore, although there were a lot of tiny rooms and openings that we couldn't have a view of our kids from which can be worrisome but we were able to hear them easily. They have a cafe inside if you need food and drink and then a cute bookstore with unique books and gifts! It was completely stroller friendly as well and easy to get our double stroller around and up/down the elevators. Definitely worth a stop if you need something indoor to do, and then you can go across the street to the big park also. We parked in a nearby lot by the park for only $15 all day parking.

This place have three floors of fun activities. I felt like a kid with my 3 daughters when I walked in. Staffs are really friendly. If you guys are in a family vacation I would recommend this spot for your kids to check out.

What a fun place for kids to explore. There's a variety of activities and the kids don't want to leave.

No air conditioning Sauna feel at just 82 outside. Wouldn't want to experience any hotter

Fun interactive activities for kids, although I would say the best age is 5 to 7 years. My daughter is nine and a bit old for this place. But we still have fun. We played with Clay to make whatever we wanted, went down the long slide, went through a theater arts area with a stage and costumes, climbed up this structure made of rope and swung on it, climbed a bunch of little rooms with stairs and decorations. Lots of people were there on a Sunday afternoon. There are small classes, up to eight kids, each, but very limited workshops, so I think they could run more of those throughout the day. Great that you get a code to insert for the nearby parking lot so that it is five dollars for two hours, but that parking lot was full. We stayed for about 2 1/2 hours, which I think is the minimum time, although four hours probably would be enough for young kids. $24 for adult regular price. $20 for the kid. Got free tix thru library reading program! Would check it out at least once. Nearby park across the street too.

This was a plan b day.. 3 levels indoor and outdoor of play areas for the kiddos.. I liked how each play area had seating for the grown ups. Some of the play areas had broken or incomplete playing tools not well kept or maintained.. ambiance was nice cause of the different play areas all have activities. Only complaint would be if it was cleaned better and better staff interaction.. I see a staff member just sitting and on their phone. Not even watching out for the safety of the kids.

This place is absolutely magical! From the moment you walk in, you're transported into a world of creativity and fun. The interactive exhibits are not just beautiful but they gave my nephew the freedom to play on an avocado and slide down the cutest little hidden slide in the theater area. The Octavia Butler space had the best book collection and it's really clear that a lot of care has gone into making this space not just educational, but also full of wonder and joy. This is a must-visit when you're in San Diego. I'm glad to be a member so we can come anytime!

First of all... they don't honor the 1/2 off February Museum month in SD if you go on the weekend. Or during Holidays days. They also do not pick up the phone calls as I tried calling before visiting. So tickets are rather pricey, and there isn't much for kids to do other than run around and play. There is also a park right across free for them to do exactly what they're doing inside. Anyways, the museum gets really crowded, and even with exhibits spread out between 3 floors, there are limited areas for kids to play. The museum charges for kids 1 and up but their workshops are for 6 years and up. There were also at least 2 constructions happening during the operating hours as well and one of them was right next to the breathing room lol the vibe wasn't there at all. Overall it was a fun experience for kids. You can bring your stroller, food, water, etc. They also have a cafe inside if you want to buy something to eat or to drink. Wear socks! There are areas where kids and adults have to take off shoes to experience the exhibit.

I've been to my fair share of children's museums now in multiple states. As a child... honestly anywhere you take them they'll have a good time. For the price of admission (a little over $60 I believe for two adults and one toddler), it's a little expensive for what it is. I think I read that it's a non profit, so just something to keep in mind especially if you compare the museums in Balboa Park to this one. Also, I'm assuming a big part of the cost is that it's located in the downtown. Huge space with three floors, but none of the exhibits were that amazing imo. One portion of it was just walking through a maze-like big room with poems? Written in the walls, nothing else. I suppose I don't know the history of this place, but as a child, it wasn't fun (for the adult it wasn't that fun either). There's a theater area, with some cloths for the children to wear. Very theatre-esque, but since it's for children, I would expect more fun options (like Halloween costumes). Sure, it may not quite fit the theme, but you're catering to kids, more specifically the younger ones. The outdoor area with clay was a big hit for children of all ages. One of the biggest downsides is there's no AC inside, so they have a lot of big fans all over. For a museum to be in such a hot location like SD, I would expect more air circulation. We came right when they opened, but already at 12pm a LOT of families were there... make it extra stuffy.

For starters parking is $20 + all the admission fees ($24 for adults, $20 kids). They do not validate parking. Secondly whoever designed this museum missed the plot that it's for kids. Only a select few areas grabbed the attention of my toddler. NOT worth the money.

Be more kid centric. Maybe visit kids museums around Seattle. We just got back from Washington State and the museums there were amazing in comparison to this place. It's sad that I did not check the place out before getting the season pass. I asked my kids would they want to come back and there was a resounding no.

It was cool! With 3 floors of the educational expressions of innovative art installations and little doorways for small children to climb into for their own adventures. I, myself climbed into a once fit type of excursion and found myself feeling quite silly in a tight space not meant for a leggy woman. Other than the creative art, I found this place feeling a little cold and spacious with potentially other opportunities to fill up these areas with more wonder and mystery. Attended for the Elite Yelp Squad and its vendors and event was well designed for this experience.

We took the kids to The New Children's Museum in San Diego over the weekend, and they had a great time. You should arrive early because there is a limit on how many people they allow in, and when we left, there was a line waiting outside. The museum is a haven for young minds, with a wonderful selection of interactive activities for people of all ages. My kids enjoyed the art drawing activities and all of the imaginative play zones; there were plenty that piqued their interest. The design of the museum is kid-friendly, with bright and inviting places that stimulate discovery. The staff was attentive and helpful, offering insights and aid whenever required. We were pretty surprisedwere by how much time our children spent here. There were so many activities that they didn't even notice the small gift shop. It was wonderful to see them eagerly wandering from one exhibit to the next, discovering new things. In addition to the exhibits, the museum included conveniences such as a kid-friendly cafeteria and clean restrooms, making it easier for parents since we were visiting from out of town. Other parents were seen bringing in their own food. Finally, the new Children's Museum in San Diego exceeded my expectations. We've been to several children's museums, and this one is up there with the best.

What a disappointing children's museum! There was hardly anything to do, especially for smaller/younger children. Many of the rooms were super dark and kinda creepy. Nothing educational. The park across the street was free and more fun than this 3 story "museum".

We needed to occupy a few houses before heading to the airport and this was perfect for our 3 year old. Loved the outdoor space!

Save your money. It cost $20 to park there, and a LOT of money to enter. This place is something that is a display of local artist using their creativity for child's play. Nonetheless it's expensive, dirty, HOT, dark, and they make kids take their shoes off and the floor is slippery. Not toddler friendly even if they tell you they have small areas for kids. One area, the rainbow room has itchy, hard, plastic carpet. My son (because he had to have his shoes off) slipped while and landed on his hip. We tried to tell him he was ok, but as the day has progressed, he's still walking a little weird. I DO NOT recommend for toddlers. We go to children's museums often, everywhere we visit and this is by far the worse one. Big let down.

Take my kids all the time I bought a year pass hidden gym. Going to San Diego's best museums. I love it.

Update: with the new price of $350 for a family of 5-6, when it was just $175 last year, PLUS updated parking fees at $20 per day for a non member and $10 for a members, I'm going to say pass. It simply isn't worth it for that price. You can get season passes cheaper at other, larger, places when you include the parking and membership fees. For example, SeaWorld and the Zoo/safari park where there is way more to do.

Such a fun spot for kids! Mine had an awesome time running around and trying all the different activities. There's so much to do -- tons of hands-on stuff that kept them busy and happy the whole visit. It's a great place to let them burn off energy in a unique environment.

We went here for the first time for a 6-year old's birthday party. along with the party room on the bottom floor, everyone had access to the museum for the day. The birthday room had plenty of space for dancing (& the floor is lava) and tables for 20 kids. I don't know if the food and drinks were from the museum. We spent most of the day exploring the museum. There are many exhibits which are more play spaces than exhibits. Kids will trekking through forts with multiple floors and bridges and a rope ladder room. There's a medication room where you can get a hug from giant yarn arms protruding from the wall. Theres a huge rainbow robe "hammock" hanging from the ceiling. Lots of kids crawl around inside. I could go on. They change exibits occasionally. Parking is $20 for non-members. Street parking is a challenge.

Really artsy and interactive fun for all age groups. I love that they have so many age designated and segregated spots so your toddlers and crawlers are not trampled inadvertently. Come early as I only was able to find 4 hour street parking! Side note: order your German Dutch baby pancake ahead of time at Richard's right around the corner and pick up right before you head in. Then you can partake in a lemony and sugary treat during your morning snack break time ;-)

A great way to spend a morning. I took my toddler and infant. Much of it was enjoyable for my toddler. He was too short for the big slide that goes from one floor to another. I think the min height is 40". Two of the rooms were enjoyable for my infant. I felt the price was reasonable for the level of entertainment and activities. In addition to things to look at there was plenty to climb on, kinetic sand to play with, clay to sculpt and a giant bucket of paint outside to paint a sculpture. One room offers activities at certain times for age 6+. There were hand washing stations and sanitizer throughout and play areas seemed clean. Bathrooms were clean too. There was a nursing area available as well as a cafe with reasonably priced lunch and snacks. Wednesdays in October kids are free. There was construction adding a new exhibit while we were there.