Most children’s museums (that we have been to) are indoors. Which is quite a bummer when the weather is nice out! The Kidspace Museum in Pasadena has exhibits indoors and outdoors, which is one of the many reasons we really like visiting. The museum sits on a 3.5 acre lot and next to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. There are over 40 hands-on exhibits for children of all ages, and daily interactive activities and programs offered.

The Kidspace museum was first opened at the California Institute of Technology to address an educational need in the San Gabriel Valley for increased access to the arts, humanities, and sciences for children. The space was created by volunteers at first. Since the first opening it kept moving locations as it grew larger. With community collaborations from NASA and the Art Center College of Design to help grow and improve this learning center for children, the Kidspace museum quickly grew from a small local attraction to a major Southern California cultural and educational destination for families.

The exhibits and programs encourage children’s growth and development through explorations of the environment, investigations in science and artistic expression that captivate the inquisitive and growing minds of children 10 and under.

There is the “Nature Exchange” exhibit outdoors which allows a child to trade and research natural items such as rocks, minerals and plants. “The Dig” allows uncovering of plants and animal fossils native to the arroyo river and discovery of past life forms. The “Arroyo Adventure” is a garden designed by landscape artist Nancy Goslee Power, where kids can discover native plants and climb around. Outdoors there is also the “Water Play” area where kids can splash away (bring a change of clothes!). And the “Trike Tracks” are very popular where kids can learn the rules of the road while having safe fun in various types of trikes and marked roads.

The indoor exhibits are more typical of what you would see at a children’s museum, with a reading area, climbing structures, puppet show, pretend play kitchen, interactive light show and art studio.

Kidspace Children’s Museum

480 North Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena CA 91103
(626) 449-9144
Tuesday – Friday 9.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday & Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm
General Admission: $14 Adults, $14 Children, Infants (under age 1): Free
Check their website for daily events and programs, or to book a birthday party at the Kidspace Children’s Museum, this way!