This museum is truly a place where scientists and kids collide. The entrance foyer immediately entices the kids with beach balls and life-sized hair dryer machines. (yeah, I’m sure there’s a better word for this… did I mention I’m science-impaired?) The balls balance on a stream of air while the machine is pointed up, but you can rotate them and see at what angle the ball is too heavy and falls. This is a great place to wait for friends, as it was hard to pull the kids away. There are several other hands on exhibits in the lobby, but further back is where you hit the jackpot. A very large space is geared just for kindergarteners and younger. There are things to climb on, things to build, computer stations and exhibits that illustrate concepts that even I can explain to my five-year-old. Pictured here is a large wall hanging. You can insert and move the flat slots around the back, making a path for the ping pong balls to roll (or drop or bounce) on. This is an example of many of the exhibits that were perfect for kids of varying ages.

Further in the room is a small planetarium, which wasn’t open during the time we were there. There is a room with animals downstairs which was also closed during our visit. I understand from their website that Lawrence Hall of Science also offers many classes geared toward the younger crowd.  I only wish now we lived closer and could come back more frequently on weekends to visit the exhibits we missed or attend the after school classes that are offered.  Also worth mentioning, the rooms are quite large so it is not impossible to have two kids playing with two different things, and have one eye on each of them.

At the end of the visit, when the kids are a bit wired from running from one contraption to the next, you can find some respite on the outdoor patio. Here is a garden setting with water pools and yes, even a few hands-on science things to play around. The view is gorgeous. You can even get a closer look through a few well-positioned telescopes. We stayed a full two and a half hours. Considering there were still places unexplored, I am mighty impressed with this find. This is worth several future return trips, even for a sciencephobe like me. 

Share / Save / Send

When we exited the freeway heading toward the marina, we easily spotted these colorful 89 foot octopus kites in the sky. Watching them wave to us with their wriggly arms in the wind set us into excited anticipation. The excitement quickly fizzled, though, as we became gridlocked in traffic. The marina seems to be an ideal location for such an event, but once you consider thousands of people converging into an area surrounded by water on most of its sides, the problem becomes apparent. Since parking seemed to be hands down the biggest detraction of this event, let me share some lessons learned: 1) If you want to go and park nearby, shoot for arriving an hour before the event begins. In other words, arrive close to 10am. Parking costs $10. 2) Online there is a map that shows outlying (pay) parking areas where a parking shuttle takes people to the event. 3) Free parking is available off the frontage road. There is a large dirt lot with a pathway to the marina. The trek would probably take you about the same amount of time as sitting in traffic looking for a closer spot would. If you have little ones, bring a wagon or even a bicycle/trailer if possible. Another option is to park east of I 80 and use the foot bridge just south of University Ave.

Though we ended up sitting through traffic on this trip, once we arrived at the marina all the craziness melted away. Even with so many people in attendance, the event itself didn’t feel crowded. You could find a spot to throw out the blanket and unroll a kite without much problem at all. Even if you didn’t bring a kite, there were plenty of activities to entertain the crowd. Competitions and demonstrations ran throughout the weekend. When we arrived there was something like synchronized flying going on. Teams of four were leading their kites through maneuvers simultaneously, it was incredible to watch. For the kids there was a place you could make your own kites and something called a candy drop that we missed.

The day couldn’t have ended for us without at least one whirl at flying our own kite. Jeff brought his stunt kite and helped Ryan try to navigate it through the winds. Poor kid could have easily taken off Mary Poppins style.

All in all, it was a really fun day. I believe we will come back for this one next year, but perhaps take a better approach. I would consult with the online program next time and try to catch the Rokkaku tournament.  (Contestants try to be the last kite flying by cutting the string of opponent’s kites using your own kite’s string.) I’d pack in a lunch. Food was available, but was the typical food-stand variety. I’d be sure to pack kites for the kids and make it more of a full-day event than the one-two hour activity that we had in mind. The effort in getting there makes it more worthwhile to stay a long time. One might consider bringing one of those sit-down training potty seats for the young kids, as there were only five port-o-pottys available for the entire crowd. Needless to say the lines were long!  Also, don’t skimp on the sunscreen. The cool wind may make you forget how strong the sun gets near the water.  Even with all these lessons learned (most of these realizations came in hindsight) we had a great time and look forward to coming back again.

Share / Save / Send

Share / Save / Send

Share / Save / Send

Berkeley is the home of one of my favorite kid stops, particularly if you have kids of different ages. The first great find is Studio Grow. This is an indoor facility that has multiple rooms with endless imagination toys and fun. In one room are tables of wooden figures (on one a farm theme, on another a house theme, etc.) and a dress up area where some of the younger kids tend to congregate. Through that room is another full of climbing type structures. In another room is a dance floor, a huge wall of mirros, a disco ball on the ceiling, and streamers or other things to make dancing irrisistable.  There is an arts and crafts area complete with large sinks for cleanup, and a snack area where you can enjoy lunch.  One of the best qualities of this place is that every thirty minutes they have a scheduled short activity. It could be a multi-lingual guitarist leading everyone in songs or it could be a different staff pulling out a parachute and leading the kids in some parachute play.

Share / Save / Send