The New Children's Museum / San Diego Children’s Museum
add photosThe New Children's Museum (NCM) is designed for children of all ages, from toddler to teen. Some areas and activities are age specific—like Barn Dance for toddlers and the Teen Studio for teenagers—while other parts of the Museum are designed to engage children of all ages.
Free admission on the second Sunday of each month.
The NCM offers limited parking in our garage, which can be accessed from Union Street. The cost is $10. In addition to our on-site garage, metered parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood and there are numerous public parking lots in the vicinity of the Museum.
11 Reviews for The New Children's Museum / San Diego Children’...
1
00 families found this helpful
"Trash is fun"
Our whole family enjoyed the New San Diego Children's Museum. The space is thoughtfully designed and spacious. It was a trip to an art gallery and interactive museum all rolled up on one. Everything focuses on the central theme of Trash. It was worth the price of admission to play with clay and not have to clean it up. The sound of rain on the play house was so soothing; it was like a spa trip too.
Send a Message 
Send a Compliment
It's helpful
0 families found this helpful
"Loved it!"
I went to the New Children's Museum this past July and I absolutely loved my experience. They had so many activities for kids (or adults!) of all ages. They had a place to go outside and blow bubbles, to paint, to make clay objects, to build blocks, to bounce on the inflatables, to draw, and even a little track where you could ride around in a little cart-like thing that you got to move yourself. The kids LOVED it! The favorite activity of the day was sitting in basket-type things and pushing a lever up and down to move around the room. The moonbounce must have come in second.
0 families found this helpful
"FUN FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES"
This is a FUN place to visit for kids of all ages. Plenty to take in and do. Older kids might enjoy this a lot more than young ones, but nevertheless young ones can run around and just have fun. All in all a great experience for my two kids who didn't want to leave the place.
0 families found this helpful
"Childrens Museum"
My kids loved it! It was their first time going to any sort of museum and I wasn't sure they would enjoy this but they did! Not only did my kids love it but I had so much fun getting to show them and experience it with them. Some of the sections weren't as entertaining for the kids, maybe they just weren't old enough or too old but I would definitely go back. When I went I had a 5 year old and a toddler so I was doing a lot of running around, however, i felt ok. Staff was very friendly and there were so many children there I knew they were used to them. On the other hand having so many children around made me want to keep a close eye. Children seemed to be on field trips and the supervision of experiments around the museum was great. My children definitely gravitated towards the hands on section where they could play with different types of goo, bubbles, and even see themselves on a big screen.
0 families found this helpful
"fun on a rainy day"
My family of 3 visited the Museum. It was summer and crowded with vacationers and camp programs, but the place is large so plenty of room for all. My 4 yr old enjoyed this venture the most. He ran us through the place in just over an hr. That is not really long enough to warrant future trips. My 8 yr old found it mildly amusing and my 10 yr old did not have fun, The store and cafe are fabulous and if you live in the area a great place to pop in for lunch or to pick up a birthday gift. I was so excited when the museum opened, but found myself disappointed.
0 families found this helpful
"mr. binoy"
I Love to see the San Diego Children's Museum with my kids. I looked in the Zoo and liked the children having fun with the animals. but the lions and tigers were a little scared to watch. so I warm them to stay with me and i showed them from a distance.
1 family found this helpful
"Hands-On Educational Fun"
My two year old and I have visited numerous times and he always enjoys it. There is definitely a focus on the arts and children can participate in activities such as painting a car, sculpting clay, bubble-making, drawing on a gigantic chalkboard, and much more. More active activities include the mattress room (which my son loved) and the toddler "forest" downstairs. There are multiple levels to explore and I highly suggest going during the week when it's less crowded. The second Sunday of each month is free but it gets very crowded. The cafe has a selection of healthy food and right outside you'll find a small playground.
1 family found this helpful
"Super Fun"
My kids and I (ages 6 and 7) have been to the Children's Museum several times. There is one room that is full of mattresses. The kids can jump all around. There is also a great cafe nearby - Brickyard cafe - it's great for kids. It's right off the trolly lines and you can sit outside. It's about one block from the Children's Museum
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
“The Muse” re-opened in 2008 after a multi-million-dollar renovation that doubled the space to 50,000 square feet.
Revamped to engage kids of all ages, be sure to bring your toddlers to the Texture Forest and your older teenagers to the Teen Studio
'11
1 family found this helpful
"Fun for toddlers"
We went here with our 20-month old son during museum month in February when admission to most museums in San Diego is 50% off (You have to get your museum month pass at participating San Diego Macy's stores). The museum was just the right size for our busy toddler and not too overwhelming. There are a lot of hands on exhibits for little ones, like the Textured Forest, Rain Room, and an area where you can make things from modeling clay, paint a car, and blow bubbles. Parking for the museum can be expensive, but there is plenty of "pay and display" parking on the street.
3 families found this helpful
"Modern children's museum with lots of hands-on activities"
I think my 15 month old might have enjoyed the New Children's Museum if he were a little older, but nonetheless, he had fun running around the wide open floors. We didn't get to spend too much time there, but a must see/do for kids is the "pillow fight room" upstairs - a room completely padded with bouncy mattresses and tire-shaped pillows where kids can expend a good portion of their energy jumping around and falling without getting hurt. Everything at the museum looked very slick and new, but a few of the exhibits (like the tent city) were closed when we were there. Parking is very limited out front, so be prepared to look for other options downtown.
What's Nearby? Hotels » Activities »
Find Hotels near The New Children's Museum / San Diego Children’s Museum »
Find Activities near The New Children's Museum / San Diego Children’s Museum »
Find Restaurants near The New Children's Museum / San Diego Children’s Museum »
Get the inside scoop from parents who have been there!
