The Tech Museum of Innovation
add photos19 Reviews for The Tech Museum of Innovation
3
00 families found this helpful
"Great"
This is a great place for kids. They will love this place as they learn and have lots of fun. It is both educational and entertianment for both kids and adults. Try to avoid weekends as it gets very busy. It is a fun place to go for all the family
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"techy fun for everyone"
The Tech Museum is by far one of the best museums in Northern California. If your child is even remotely into science and technology, add this to your must do list and push it right to the top.
The super-duper innovative exhibits begin before visitors even walk through the front door. A giant marble run, with twists, turns, drops and lifts wowed us at the museum entrance.
Once we were inside and squared up with admission, we were faced with a tough choice: upstairs or down? We headed upstairs and had a ball learning about how people are catching fog in Africa and turning it into drinking water, how knee and hip replacements occur, why laparoscopic surgery is beneficial, and more. The kids were sucked into the Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery, where microchips and computers are explored, Google Earth became a virtual space ride, and touch screens allowed them to "throw" patterns and colors onto huge digital displays.
After eating lunch in the Primavera Café, a small cafeteria offering fairly typical attraction foods, we headed downstairs to a floor of robots, space toys and a mini city in need of an energy boost. The robotic dog (Sony's AIBO) was a hit with the kids, as were the other robotic toys in the Bots exhibit. As a parent, I loved the Green By Design exhibit, which demonstrated how important renewable energy and energy-efficient products are in every day life.
The staff here was extremely helpful and I was amazed at how patient and kind the docents were. My child was asked questions that were relevant to the exhibits and the docents were genuinely interested in getting the children to come up with an answer on their own.
We could have easily spent the entire day at the Tech. The hands-on exhibits were amazingly designed, allowing a younger child to glean what they could and an older child to really delve into the topic.
'10, '11
1 family found this helpful
"Wonderful"
I do not know why it took me so long to bring my children to the Tech Museum. I went with them (12 and 9) and they just loved it. They could not get enough of learning, making experiences and discoveries and just having plain fun. There is enough to do for hours: it is money well spent.
0 families found this helpful
"I had fun . . ."
I brought my then year old daughter and she didnt like it too much, but maybe kids who are a little older might enjoy the fun technology, and enjoy learning so much. This is a perfect family trip that Im sure everyone will enjoy very much!! My older boy had lots of fun, but maybe thats just because he is a boy . . .
0 families found this helpful
"Great for Elementary school aged kids"
This is great place that is very good at teaching science through interactive activities. There isn't much for toddlers to do but it would be perfect for a family with elementary aged children. A fun part of the museum in where you can create a roller coaster then sit in front of a tv screen and "ride" your coaster.
0 families found this helpful
"Good for older kids"
Hmm, been here with two toddlers and I can't really recommend it for this age group. Most of the exhibits are way over their head of course. And after fiddling around with some of the exhibits trying to get them to work for the kids, we found many to be broken. It's also a little difficult to navigate. But on the plus side there's the IMAX theater...Maybe we'll try again when they're older.
0 families found this helpful
"Science-errific!"
The Tech Museum in San Jose is an absolute blast for kids and adults alike. I have brought both 3rd and 5th grade classes here and they have a ball. On of the kids' favorite exhibits is the earth quake simulator and the exhibit where you can build your own roller coaster on the computer and "ride" it in a simulator afterward. And their I-Max movies are a bargain at $8!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun Science!"
There is so much to do and see at the Tech Museum that you can't do it all at one time. There is the IMAX theater which you can see independently or viewed together with the museum. There are permanent exhibits that are always there and then there are revolving exhibits that come and go. The permanent exhibits include Space and Globe displays that showcase planets on a massive ball in the air, a NetPlanet section where you can delve deep into the internet world by creating webpages, characters, and viewing global webcams, and so many others. Revolving exhibits included the Body Worlds exhibit, DaVinci exhibit, and the Genghis Khan exhibit among others.
Tickets are a bit pricey with general admission at $10 but if you want to see a special exhibit then it's $25/person over 18. Take advantage of group rates and free admission days for students.
0 families found this helpful
"awesome fun"
i love love love this museum. its a great group field trip destination. i live less then 5 minutes away from here and my whole family enjoys this place. my daughter is still a bit young to g=enjoy the whole experience but my nephews and nieces (ranging in ages between 4-15) love making a day of this place. stimulating exibits for the whole family then enjoying a great film in the imax theater is a must for all.
0 families found this helpful
"Senior Prom"
The first time I went to this place was when I attended Silver Creek High's prom night. This place was a blast and not even all of the exhibits were available!
When I went there again with some friends and their children it was still just as fun, not only for the kids, but the adults as well. The Discovery Museum is great for young kids and this is a bit of a step up. Though, both are great!
Also, the IMAX experience here is AMAZING! It was a mind blowing experience for me. I went and saw a Michael Jordan documentary here. The screen is within the large domed ceiling and the chairs are tilted back so that viewers can watch it properly. Not only that, but the screen is so large that you have to move your head side to side to take it all in!
1 family found this helpful
"Leonardo brought us here; the exhibits brought us back"
We had a great time visiting the daVinci exhibit. So many incredible inventions made so long ago with such limited means is inspirational and thought provoking. We returned to the museum to spend more time with the exhibits on the bottom floor. The space exhibit, building your own roller coaster and trying it out, hands on exhibits for little ones. This place is well worth a visit. It may not be for everyone but certainly worth trying.
2 families found this helpful
"A Museum for Boys and Their Dads"
This place is filled to the brim with gadgets, gizmos and things that go. The space exhibits are very interesting and interactive. My son loved the game where you choose from different car models to see which would get the best MPG. He also had a ball at the wall where you touch a button and a note is played. There is typically plenty of room in the exhibits and if one is crowded, it will empty a few minutes later. You can even experience simulated earthquakes which is great fun. The IMAX theater is also a highlight if the film showing is something you are interested in. The price is a bit high for entry but it is a very fun time.
1 family found this helpful
"Techy fun"
The Tech is a great science/tech museum. The exhibits are fun and the kids will enjoy playing and learning. This is an easy way to spend the day with kids in San Jose. They also have the dome IMAX. As far as IMAX movies go, your kids may not like this as much as a standard IMAX theater. I found it a bit awkward/nauseating.
1 family found this helpful
"Cutting Edge Technology Explained"
Families can learn hands-on about cutting edge technology with the creative educational exhibits in this museum. Biotech, medicine, innovations in the heart of Silicon Valley, all at your fingertips. Check out the IMAX theater. Scholar free general admittance every second Sunday of the month.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
Silicon Valley is the birthplace of the personal computer and world headquartersfor technology-oriented businesses. It’s no wonder that their dazzling mango-colored edifice of learning and tech fun is state of the art. More than one hundred exhibits are mostly interactive, including experimenting with the virtual bobsled simulator, piloting a real robot on the ocean floor, floating in a jet pack like the astronauts, designing a roller coaster, making your own movie, and much more—an IMAX thater, a Robot Zoo, computer games, demos of high-tech inventions, and a cafe. For the techie in your family, this could be an all-day affair.
1 family found this helpful
"Better For Older Kids"
I haven't been to the Tech Museum in a while, but I really liked the exhibits the last time I visited with a group of middle school students. One of the most fascinating exhibits is focused on the human body. I'm not sure I would like to take my Kindergarten students to The Tech, but it is great for kids who are a little older and can read about and understand the exhibits. The IMAX is always fun, depending on what is showing, and there is a good exhibit on computers and computer chips and silicon. If you have younger kids, I would go to the Discovery Museum instead.
2 families found this helpful
"Even a toddler"
Although we took our older nephew and nieces (ages 4, 7 and 8) there for some fun, my toddler enjoyed seeing and exploring and touching all the various exhibitis (of course with lots of handholding and supervision). It's perfect if you have children with a wide age span. Bring a couple of extra adults so you can split up.
1 family found this helpful
"Technology is fun!"
Great place to take kids! They can play with the "kid proof" exhibits and learn about how technology fits into everyday life. For example, they can design toy race cars and see how their cars fare against other cars.
My friends works there so I get to see all the new improvements and exhibits that come through there. I have a blaast when I'm there.
2 families found this helpful
"cool place!"
This technology/science museum has cool things for kids of various ages, we recommend it! It's also in a neat part of San Jose, very clean and nice, across the street from a green area & plaza and from nice restaurants. It also has a big IMAX theater inside it which shows cool science-type IMAX movies.
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