SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity

This is one of our favorite places to take our grandchildren! So many hands on activities for every age. We are at the riddle and peek stage and they can spend hours trying and learning about new things. Their favorite place is the wooden block area where they try to create a new structure and see how high they can make, then we are off to the blue blocks again creating something new. Currently they are also enjoying the California water section where there is a sand display they can create damns and see the water fill up. Definitely a favorite. Make sure you take the time to see one of the shows in the planetarium. They are fantastic and just the right length of time for the younger ones There is also a wonderful cafe with plenty of choices if you you want to pick up lunch or a snackLastly don't forget to have the city Parking app to pay for your parking before you go inside.

My first visit to the SMUD MOSAC was actually for a MOSAC Mixer (October 2024, themed Monster Mash) which is an adult-only event after regular museum hours (no children), similar to Crocker's ArtMIX monthly mixers. My good friend Rachelle O. had a day off from the kiddos and invited me to the event. Given that it's early October, I didn't immediately have Halloween costumes on my mind but had some options. We decided to match/twin and go as Hogwarts Gryffindors. Paid parking in the MOSAC lot. 18+ event, ID verification, and hand stamp for 21+ at the door, then tickets scanned at the front desk. Special programming for the evening was:6:00 PM NorCal [Live] Bats6:30 PM Live Planetarium Show "October Night Sky"7:15 PM Trivia8:00 PM Costume Contest8:30 PM Live Planetarium Show "Mini-Moons and Bad Omens"They had food and drinks available for purchase. We got a Farm to Fork and a Chicken Caesar Salad, La Croix, and a Truly seltzer. They also had pizza, quesadillas and nachos, cheesecake and brownies, beer, wine, and soda. The live planetarium show at the UCD Multiverse Theater was the best! Seats 100, and has a 40-foot dome, six 4K projectors, and Dolby Digital surround sound -- totally immersive! I learned a lot and even got to take home a star map. They even treated us to a sneak peek at the Laser Show that they debuted for Members, by request we got a Beatles song. The trivia was hosted by Inflatable T-Rex, and there were two teams tied for first place. We did not stick around the main area for the costume contest, instead wandering the second and first-floor exhibits. Some fun costumes I did see though -- Alfredo/Remy from Ratatouille, Hippie Don't Lie, Pikachu, Frida Kahlo, Clark Kent, and various witches/caped creatures. Current Exhibitions: Health Connections (health and wellbeing), Nature Detectives (sensory exploration of the environment), Powering Change (energy and the environment), Design Challenge (hands-on activities), Destination Space (space exploration technologies), Water Challenge (California's water system), Design Lab (maker space workshop), and the Multiverse Theater (planetarium). Loved the interactive exhibits and they would be great for kids! We were able to see just about everything once in about 2 hours. We also didn't stay for the 8:30 showing, but I'm sure it was also a good one. I could tell the person narrating the show was super passionate and knowledgeable. Not sure the pricing for regular admission or membership, but this event was a fun, educational night out.

Finally got to check out the Sacramento MOSAC for a family birthday party today! While there are some cool activities, I left a bit underwhelmed. I think I had a different idea in my head of what the museum entailed. My daughter was entertained and there is a lot to keep kids distracted though - we were there for 4 hours! During the party, one of the employees helped the kids build rockets out of straws, paper and tape and they got to launch them. Pretty fun idea!They have a private room(s) for parties where they fed us pizza, salad and lemonade. They also have a pretty good (cheap) gift shop and café - which we did not check out unfortutately.The different areas included nature, water, space and power. My favorite part was the solar system presentation in the Multiverse Theatre.FYI: they charge $6 in their private parking lot which I find odd since the museum isn't free. The fire alarm also went off 30 minutes into the party and they made everyone go outside and stand in the rain...supposedly a kid pulled it, but it still was slightly inconvenient. Not sure if I would personally come back, but I do like that there is a museum like this in Sacramento. It's also great for field trips!

Oh, my goodness! What an adorable museum, exhibit, date day place this is. And it's right here in the heart of Sacramento. On first glance, the neighborhood seems a little sus, not gonna lie.... but just pull into the defined parking lot and pay for parking!! There's either a machine outside or you can pay inside with the front desk.We don't have kids so it was just my wife and I, but my main reason for visiting here was to watch one of their galaxy viewings in the cinedome room. It's kinda like..... a seated viewing experience that feels like Soarin' Over CA (at Disneyland) but with Science and 3D imagery above your head. Oh, and no dangling feet ;- )I really want to return for another viewing session and highly recommend that everyone go here at least once. Local bucket list!Thank you for reading!

This is a very educational museum with some exhibits that include nature, water, space, design, and multiverse theater. I learned a lot and my kid had a lot of fun while learning. There is a small toddler section to play but overall not much to do for really young kids so ages 4+ would have a better experience here. I went on a weekday and there were a couple schools there for field trips. They left around lunch time so the best time to go would be after 12 pm to avoid the crowds on a school day. The space exhibit and planetarium were my son's favorite. We stopped by the gift shop for a souvenir before leaving. They had a lot of unrelated gifts like a dog stuff animal which my son got for himself and does love it. I do wish they had more items in the gift shop that was related to the museum and the exhibits. There is a small cafe with drinks and food.

We had an unforgettable family day at the Smud Museum of Science and Curiosity! From the moment we stepped in, it was evident that this museum is designed with families in mind. The soft play area for toddlers and babies kept our little ones happily entertained, and the variety of interactive activities engaged our older kids in a way that was both fun and educational.What impressed us the most was the exhibit on water consumption. It provided a unique perspective, showing our children how everyday tasks impact water usage. It's fantastic when learning is seamlessly woven into entertainment.The star show in the UC Davis Multiverse Dome was the highlight of our visit. Being transported to the vastness of space, gazing at stars and planets, left us all in awe. The visual experience was not only breathtaking but also sparked curiosity and questions from our kids.The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, adding to the overall positive experience. The museum's commitment to providing a blend of education and entertainment is commendable. We left with smiles on our faces and a newfound appreciation for science. Highly recommend this gem of a museum for families looking for a day of fun, learning, and exploration!

Very nice place, clean and the staff is very helpful. Lots of interactive exhibits. We'll put together. Great for kids and adults.

Using our ASTC reciprocal membership, we checked out this museum for FREE. Good way to beat the heat. We spent 3 hours, but could've spent more had we watched more of the planetarium shows/talks which I thought was unique. Tons of interactive digital exhibits for all ages to learn about space, energy use, water use, health and construction. $6 parking using an app or kiosk in front of the museum. They also have a cafe to buy meals and snacks. IG: @grace.loves.socal#grace.loves.adventures

So many interesting exhibits, easy to spend a day with grandkids! The astronomy shows were terrific. Reasonably price for a full day of fun!

A fantastic museum for toddlers through to elementary aged kids. I love that they have a dedicated toddler area- complete with a LEGO wall, and LOTS of fun building opportunities for elementary aged kids. My 7 year old loves the pinball machine station, slingshots, and Keva blocks. Planetarium shows are wonderful! There is also a café that serves espresso drinks and organic food. 10/10, we became members at our last visi