Watch your kids play with intriguing interactive displays and learn about community, connections and creativity in this acclaimed science museum.
The Children’s Discovery Museum is a fun and informative center, considered among the best of its kind in the world. The complex has a sleek, modern design with purple walls and is surrounded by parkland. Browse extraordinary exhibits to learn about modern science and community.
Admire the innovative, pointy appearance of the purple building flanked by palm trees. Dating back to 1990, the complex today has a vast range of themes to suit every child. Learn about fruits and vegetables in Rainbow Market and delve into the properties of liquids in WaterWays.
The Wonder Cabinet section contains a laboratory for kids to do experiments. Play with spinning discs and get in a bamboo boat in Secrets of Circles. Capture photos of your kids beside a full-sized mammoth replica.
Attend a live event, such as a theater performance or workshop on artistic techniques. Inspect expressive works on display in the art gallery. Kids can create their own artistic gems in the Art Loft.
Among the highlights is the Discovery Youth service, with programs teaching kids about media and volunteering. Bring your children to the BioSite, where they can learn about ecology around local water streams, such as Los Gatos Creek.
Enjoy a nutritious meal with your family at the FoodShed, where you will find fresh products from local farmers. Outside, the picturesque grounds offer scenic spots for a picnic along the Guadalupe River. Help to water the plants and examine the beehive in the Kids’ Garden.
The museum has an admission fee, with a discount for seniors. Infants can enter the complex for free. The site opens daily from morning until late afternoon, except Mondays. Weekday afternoons are generally quieter than weekends.
The Children’s Discovery Museum is just south of the Central San José area. Ride the light rail system on the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line to the Discovery Museum station or take a bus to a nearby stop. Other attractions in the area include Monopoly in the Park, the San José Center for the Performing Arts and Teatro Visión, a Chicano theater company.
