Mystery Box Challenge- Success!
Serious work at the Mystery Box Challenge!
Weave us into your plans this weekend!
Build the Change you want to see in the world. Add it to our City of the Future.
Well, of course it is!
Our first floor received a make-over in October '24. New color and new exhibits!
L'il Critter City: Our new space designed with your little critter in mind.
Serious fun in the Music Studio!
Angela M.
Feb 11, 2025
We came for a musical play based on one of my daughter's favorite book series by Mo Willems - Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. It was my 5 yo's first play or musical attended. We arrived early due to the rain and parking. We were able to find a parking spot to the right of Children's Creativity Museum on the side of Yerba Buena Gardens. It was a short walk to the museum from there. She enjoyed walking up the many, many, many sets of stairs Yerba Buena Garden has.Upon arrival, the first thing my daughter saw was the carousel - mommy can I ride? From there, we made our way into the second door entrance of the museum. We checked in with our tickets and she created in the "activity area" designated as the waiting area. Across from the waiting area you can see into the Creativity Museum, which my daughter was staring at the entire wait owwing and awwing.We made our way to the restroom prior to entering the theater. From there we found seats. Since we were the first group entering, she had a choice of any seat - center 3 rows from the stage - her selection. During the play, I visited their website to inquire about the carousel and entry fees into the museum. From my phone, I purchased the $349 membership since it included unlimited carousel rides along with the museum entry and assisted families & organizations with funding to visit for free.The play was very interactive and allowed my daughter to follow along since the play mirrored the series pretty closely. The cast was energetic, silly and engaging with the audience. There was a short intermission - 10 min - then resumed. Upon the conclusion of the play, families were invited to line up and take photos with the Pigeon and cast. My daughter had zero interest, we departed. We went next door, I presented my ID and my daughter was able to explore. She moved from station to station pretty quickly. She engaged in the Lego wall and began constructing at the emoji table only depart immediately after. Not much held her attention. I'm not sure if she was excited for the carousel or the lack of activities to encourage interest. We will visit again and spend more time inside the museum, exploring each section. On this turn, she ran around while I eyed her and finished her unfinished emoji.We made our way to the carousel. Since we purchased the unlimited carousel membership and did so same day, we had to request ride tickets from inside the museum until our digital membership card arrived. My daughter rode the carousel nonstop until its last call - 3:10 to 4:05p. If nothing else, the membership will pay for itself with her engagement of the carousel ride. Carousel rides are $5 per ride, $3 for members (without the unlimited ride membership), $3 with paid museum entry that day or free to children 2 & under. My daughter probably rode 10 times (3-5 min ride) and I participated twice totaling $60 - the play did not count towards the museum entry price. For the carousel and play, I give the Children's Creativity Museum 5 stars. Since I am not certain the level of engagement the museum provides my daughter, I will omit it from the rating provided. Overall, my daughter had a ball. With 5 more visits, I am certain the membership I paid will pay for itself regarding my daughter's fascination with their carousel.
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Denise C.
Dec 26, 2024
I am still not sure about this "children's" museum in SF...I have been to the Randall Museum near Twin Peaks years ago...I found a card handout for the Christmas show...it was a circus camp show called "Reindeer Games" and it was funny and similar to camp...Christmas and juggling and circus camp...my generation would understand it...back then in the 1990s...but they aren't here with me...usually field trips from school or families...it was a nice outing to see the Christmas circus show this year for a few hours...90 minutes...I found all the Christmas shows this year...you have to go around yourself and find it..scavenger hunts.
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Amy D.
Jun 5, 2024
Another great ASTC reciprocal museum! One of the smaller children's museums we've been to but were delighted to find some things we still have not yet seen. We came by on a Sunday morning and were pleasantly surprised with how uncrowded the place was. The downstairs is full of Duplos, painting, story corner, etc. The upstairs was a bit more geared towards older kids. We loved the various different stations where you could really sit and focus and accomplish something.Our 5 year old (with help) made a "song" at the music station and got to save and e-mail the recording. The Lego stop motion animation area was also fantastic - explained well by the staff and was so easy to do. My little ones delighted at making their own "movie" that they also e-mailed home. Lots of room for creativity here. Even the mini golf area was full of creative supplies to create (and decorate) your own mini golf obstacle and courses.
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Kimberly C.
Aug 21, 2023
This was our first visit to the Museum and will not be the last. Wow! We took our 3 and 5 year old grandchildren and there was plenty for them to do. I can see them enjoying this Museum for many years to come.Their favorite activities:a) Rube Goldberg white pipe area with the balls.b) Painting anything they wanted to outside in the canvas and fence area.c) Inside drawing and then posting their drawing onto the wall.d) Lego Stop Animation was the highlight of the trip. The two young gentlemen supervising the room did an excellent job giving us a brief explanation of how to create the video and then locating the specific legos the kids wanted to create with. We stayed in this room until we absolutely had to leave. Only because the kids wanted to ride the carousel and it closes at the same time the Museum closes.Suggestion: More trains needed at the train station so all the kids that want to play are able to.
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Patti F.
Oct 22, 2022
We came here for the first time with our 4-year-old daughter. I was curious about the museum but had never gotten a chance to visit. We parked in a nearby lot and walked over (5-minute walk). The location is nice because you can ride the carousel (with discounted tickets of $3 if you visit the museum) and go to the nearby park at Yerba Buena Gardens. If you're hungry, there is a pedestrian walkway to access the Metreon. Probably due to Covid, exhibits were spread out and it didn't feel crowded at all. The majority of the activities are open-ended, allowing for creativity and expression. My daughter used loose parts (toilet paper rolls, mesh, rubber bands, wax paper) to make an instrument. They provided similar materials to make something you can put in a wind tunnel and see if it flies. Other areas had trains, large blue foam blocks, Legos, books, music instruments, and Magnatiles. The art area had markers and cards to add to a large mural, and an outdoor area where kids could paint anything they wanted - chairs, doors, pumpkins! This section was really fun. I liked the activities at the museum and my daughter enjoyed it. I think they could add a few more things for kids to do, and I do think the museum is more appropriate for 4+ year olds, rather than toddlers.
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Smruti A.
Jul 5, 2022
This place is a LOT of fun for kids! We went there as a group this weekend and the kids in our party had a blast! From lego blocks and train sets to DIY and play with light; the kids loved all the activities. We had varying age groups in the party but the museum is most suited for 4-8 years. The toddlers did enjoy but did not understand 100% of the displays.There are various sections of the museum and one admission ticket lets you navigate through the entire space. Plus, they give a discount at the carousal and that ride is totally worth it! The sections of drawing, writing notes, lego blocks, train sets, fun with light and color, a telephone booth, a see saw, a reading nook and mystery box challenges were the most popular at the museum. $20 per kid is totally worth the experience but they charge the same per adult too. Adults do not have much to do in the museum. It would be a great idea to allow one adult free with a child. The carousal is $5 per person but with an admission to the museum you can get that for $3. Kids below 42 inches height can have a free accompanying adult. The carousal at the museum is amazing and the kiddos did enjoy that a lot. I recommend going early to the museum to get the most of the experience. They have a park adjoining too, and it is pretty amazing. Plus, there are a lot of dining spots around and they are all very nice!
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Grace V.
Feb 4, 2024
It's a great museum with a lot of little stations set up for children to create different projects (make a movie, record a song, hands on projects using a variety of materials to create whatever sparks their imagination and much more). My daughter is just shy of 2 and spent most of the time playing with the legos and train set. We had fun but most of the museum I do feel is geared towards older kids. The lady at the front desk mentioned that to me when we arrived. Note children under 2 are charged the full admission fee of 20 dollars.
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Justin R.
May 13, 2023
What a great place for children ages 2-10! Great sensory stations and a focus on STEM. Entry is very affordable and there are stations for children to create art, music, read, animation or just simply play and have fun. The perfect place to take kids on both a nice or cold rainy day. No to mention, is right next to the carousel in Yerba Buena Gardens.
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Liz J.
Feb 23, 2025
Don't come here with two adults with an EBT card unless you can show IDs with matching addresses. I tried to email them just to ask them to change their website to reflect the policy so folks like me don't end up forced to pay when the website says otherwise. I tried emailing and they wouldn't follow up with me on this reasonable request
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Patrizia A.
Oct 20, 2024
A bit boring according to me as a grown up. My kid who was 6 then thinks good, now 7, she still thinks ok good. It's lacking of activities compared to Sausalito Bay discovery museum. Not feeling it anymore for San Fran. The young staff can be a bit grumpy and not motivated. They should create something new and exciting every now and then.
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