Adventure: Kidspace Children’s Museum

Kidspace Children’s Museum, located in Pasadena, CA, is an interactive indoor/outdoor learning play center. There are tons of hands-on exhibits for kids. It’s “where learning and play are one.” My family and our good friends recently spent a Sunday exploring and playing at Kidspace!

The exterior gave me the impression that Kidspace was a small facility but once inside, the exhibits seemed the perfect size for little ones. You enter the museum by way of the Kaleidoscope Tunnel. There’s so much to do at Kidspace and kept us busy for a good chunk of the day. Parents can get involved or sit back since the area is contained, inside and out. Children can explore and learn about the environment, science and art or just be a kid! Tons of activities and displays to promote imagination.

I’d say the museum is geared towards children ages 1-7. That is right up our alley!

Some of our favorites:

• S. Mark Taper Foundation Raindrop Climber: The Raindrop climber is an impressive 40 feet tall tower. All the stairs are translucent so you can see all the way down as you climb to the top. Reaching the top gave you a nice view of the Kidspace. But remember that heat rises. My husband said that it was pretty warm up top.
• InterAntics in the Digging Deeper gallery: The Kids loved crawling all the way to the top and back down just like the ants do. The only downfall is that kids aren’t easily accessible when the structure gets short and narrow at the top. Teagan was a little scared the first time up but she got the hang of it.
• Shaken Zone: Teagan liked the Shake Zone. Why are we shaking? EARTHQUAKE! The fossil area was a cool corner to uncover fossils.
• Trike Tracks: Kids can zoom around on tricycles and unique trikes and quads on the “highway” path. Guests scan bring their own helmets but helmets are provided. The helmets are disinfected daily.
• Kirby’s Kids Corner: This is for kids ages 4 and under. Kids will find colorful slides and water play. There is a good chance that your kids will get wet.

Keep your eyes open because you’ll never know what you’ll find. We found some Matchbox cars permanently embedded in the cement walls of the amphitheater. There is nature and sound all around you. There are plenty of places to climb explore the gardens and water. Most of the children were in the water at The Interpretive Arroyo !

We had lunch at the Nestle Cafe by Wolfgang Puck Catering. They offered hot dogs, hamburgers but also offered healthy options such as a Veggie Burger or Kidspace Chopped Salad. The prices are typical of places of this nature.

The admission can get pricey for large families but maybe a membership is worthwhile if you live close to the museum. We’re definitely going back to check out the areas that we didn’t have time to visit.

Here are some planning tips:

• Bring a change of clothing, towel and water shoes (shoes are required in the water areas). Your kids will get wet while they’re playing in the water area or stone jumping in the stream.
• Sunblock for outdoor areas.
• There are sanitizing stations but I suggest bringing your own.
• Most areas are stroller free. But you can park it outside the exhibit areas.

Kidspace also offers daily activities, monthly events and birthday parties. Check out their calendar for current events. Here are a couple of highlights:

• Caterpillar Adoption Days March 17 through April 17
• Kidspace offer’s a Free Family Night the first Tuesday of every month from 4-8pm. This is a great time to take advantage of Kidspace since it’s easy on your wallet.

Shake Zone

Where are these?

Spider Web Climber

Raindrop Climber

The Kaleidoscope Tunnel

InterAntics

Trike Tracks