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Coyote Point Museum
Rating Details »
1651 Coyote Point Dr
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 342-7755
San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 342-7755
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
31 reviews for Coyote Point Museum
I lived in the Bay Area for a long time, so it's always great to go back and explore the area again. Now that I'm toting my toddler along, it's even more fun to explore all the kid stuff that I never would have done before.
The Coyote Point Museum is such a place.
Located in San Mateo, this place is only minutes away from SF. The museum is inside a huge park complete with a golf course, picnic area, and a playground for the kids. The location is pretty cool since it's practically under the flight path for planes landing at SFO, which means it can also be very loud. Be forewarned.
I was very skeptical about even going to this place. My kid is just a few months shy of 2, so going to a museum is just about the last thing I want to do with him. But this museum is different. This place is geared for kids, even for those that don't even know what a *indoor voice* means yet. That's right. This ain't the MOMA. No shushing is necessary.
The museum is rather small and a bit dated, but it has quite a few fun and very educational activities for little ones. The Discovery Lab includes hands-on exhibits that teach kids about science and nature. The Environmental Hall showcases different ecosystems, including the environmental systems related to the Bay Area. My kid especially loved the fog exhibit. I did, too. It reminded me of how little I miss that stuff!
Directly outside the museum are wildlife exhibits, an aviary, and beautiful gardens. There are snakes, badgers, river otters, frogs, giant turtles, a butterfly garden, and one coyote. I hope he knows how cool it is that the museum is named after him.
In addition to the exhibits, there are programs that kids would probably really enjoy, including art, story-time, a wildlife show, and a zoo keeper talk. This place is great for groups of kids, field trips, or just something to do to keep toddlers entertained for a few hours.
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We went on the FREE First Sun of the Month, Sun 10/4/09. It cost $5 to park though (allow 1 re-enter). If you know the area then you can hike the trail in the back to get to Coyote Point Museum. I need to remember how I did that years ago.
We were late to get to the Museum. They have a 12:30pm feeding of the Otter. Ten minutes later and it's way over. B. saw it poop, I only saw the turd in chunks.
Then you gotta rush to get tickets at 12:40pm for the Wildlife Show for the 1pm show, there's another show at 3pm (didn't see). They only allow 50pp in the small room. They have 5 shows that they rotate, we saw Birds of Prey. Birds of Prey have talons, hook beak, & eat meat.
1. "Tesla" the Falcon. It was a small bird.
2. "Paylay" Red tail hawk. Has soaring wide round wings.
3. "Solo" - Great Horn Owl. Owls eat rats, rodents, skunks (can't smell anything), even rabbits. They can turn their heads 3/4 either directions, eyes can't move side to side.
4. "Scooter" Turkey Vulture - Not a bird of prey. They eat dead animals, nature's janitor. Born bald, 6" wing span.
Saw some other animals in glass cases or cages:
Burrowing Owl
Snakes: Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Calif. Kingsnake, SF Garter snake, Ca. Mtn Kingsnake
Western Toad
Fox - sleeping
Badger - hiding
Common Raven
Porcupine
Calif Newt
2nd Floor: Stuff about the Bay Area's 6 major ecosystems. Bee exhibit is cool.
Didn't check out the Gardens located outside the Wildlife Habitats.. There's a Broadleaf Forest, Nature's Marketplace, & Hummingbird & Butterfly Gardens.
Small gift shop. Plan to spend at least 2 hrs here minimum.
Hrs:
Closed Mon
Tues-Sat 10-5
Sun 12-5
$7 Adult
$5 Seniors (62+) & Students (13-17)
$3 Children (2-12)
FREE under 2
Website:
http://www.coyoteptmus.../
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This place definitely has some charm. And it seems really popular with the kids...
Now, you can't come into this place expecting a super clean and spectacular setting like that you've just received from the deYoung or Academy of Sciences, because this place definitely looks like it needs some remodeling.
But that doesn't really take away from the educational value. This place is jam packed with things to read and take in. There was this cool mural that displayed "A Place Called San Mateo," and right next to it was, "A Place Called Earth." It was a cool juxtaposition to see the "history" and theory of both places...obviously displaying a local versus global feel.
I really enjoyed the indoor see-through beehive...I mean, when does the normal person get to witness honey in the making?
The little mini-zoo is totally fun too. I'm as such a nerd, but I really did enjoy the badger, eagle, and coyote habitats. They even had a big aviary that you could walk through, and then have a picnic in the butterfly garden. Totally cool.
Admission for two adults was only $10.50 for AAA members!! Made the experience even better!
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I wish they would change the name of this place. I thought it was a museum about Coyote Point. I expected to see exhibits about the college that was once located there or the training school for WWII merchant marine officers. Nothing. Sad when one considers how many of those cadets didn't make the long voyage home. .I didn't see anything on the Pacific playland of the 1920s.Call it what it is - a very PC zoo. Animals good, people bad.
Back when I was younger and didnt have wrinkles, I volunteered here. I was called a "bud" and once your got more experience you would progress and become a "twig"..and etc...
So I decided to take my lady here. Shes never been here and I thought it could be fun and the area has a nice view, lots of trees, away from the hustle and bustle of the cars.
The museum has changed a bit from when I was a kid. They have a indoor show and it seems like a lot more kids come here now. The bees are still there and the horrible skunk smelling box. Still see the otters and the banana slug, the badger, fox, hawks.. and they still have the volunteers holding the snakes for the kids to pet.
Its a great place for kids~
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I asked a friend recently if Coyote Point Museum was like the Palo Alto Museum and Zoo... and she said: "similar, but *much* nicer."
So I took my 2 year old in for a visit on Saturday - and I can confirm my friend's assessment. Frankly I was blown away at the size and quality relative to what I would expect in this fairly random location.
We spent most of our time in the zoo area, which was incredibly well maintained and staffed by a bunch friendly, knowledgeable folks. We watched the otter eat, the fox stretch, the heron stretch his legs, the coyote yawn, the rattlesnake warn us away, the hedgehog roll into a ball and the eagle poop. Yes, sadly this latter was the day's highlight and my son's still talking about it. We also saw plenty of other animals (including porcupine, badger and bobcat) sleep.
We also spent some time inside. There are probably a dozen fun hands-on exhibits in the entrance area for little kids. There is also a very large and beautiful looking -- but not particularly coordinated -- set of exhibits about the local ecosystems that stretch over several large rooms.
A great option for your kiddie outing -- though because the zoo outpaces the inside, probably better in nice weather than rain.
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We loved this plays! Great for kids - educational and fun. The indoor area is great for learning and discovery - my 4-year old daughter loved the section about the bees. Very cool! She got even more excited once she found out that there are animals...We got lucky and saw the fox, bobcat and a bunch of other animals. There's a nice sitting and walking area outside; this is were we sat and ate snacks. We left when the place closed at 5pm, went for a walk along the Marina area, watched the boats and headed back to our car. Parking is easy at the adjacent parking lot. Will definitely come back!
Not as awesome as I remembered from when I was a kid, but still pretty cool. Came on a discounted day "bring a friend", $7 for two adults plus $5 parking. Had a few interesting exhibits but I was here to see the animals. Had a good selection of local animals nothing too exotic. Bobcat was not on exhibit that day, but the otters were pretty awesome. They also have animal shows but you can run through the place pretty quickly, but for the price it's worth it. It's more for kids to be honest but I had fun. I think it's free on Sundays. If you get done early the surrounding area is pretty scenic to explore.
One of the first places I started understanding the world around me, became engaged in naturalism, conservationism, and understanding the way science helps you filter your own understanding of how everything works. A real dream of a place for kids, I remember doing summer classes learning about everything from animals to the solar system.
I haven't been back in years, but I must pay a visit.... it made me the little tree hugger I am today!
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This is a small place but packs a lot of educational fun. Learn about environmental and wildlife issues in an interactive way. They also have rescued native animals on display. Very good for groups and children.
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Love coming here: this is one of the best places to bring kids. lots of open space to run around. a playground. a museum with rescued animals. and a marina with lots of boats and a long jetty to walk out on. also stays nice and cool with the breeze off the bay. bring a jacket.
I had always known about the Coyote Point Park and been there for hikes/strolls but never noticed this hidden jewel. I haven't taken a tour of the museum yet, so I won't comment on it. My experience was restricted to throwing my son's first birthday party there. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time before or after the party to see the exhibits but my guests (both children and adults) really enjoyed the museum especially the petting zoo.
We had the party at the classroom adjoining the patio area. The classroom is large enough to accommodate around 30 guests. The patio, which has three round tables with chairs and a picnic table, can accommodate another 10-15 people. However, for some reason the museum has put a limit on the number of guests to 24, though they seem to be pretty flexible about it. They provide four long tables with chairs for the classroom and we brought our own decorations and food for the party. They didn't allow balloons, piñatas and any noisemakers on the premises, which made decorating a challenge. However, we were able to set up the place nicely with cutouts and hanging decorations.
Though my overall experience is positive, I expected a little more professionalism from the museum staff. First off, it was hard to get hold of anybody there both on the phone and in person. I had to get a membership before reserving the room for the party and it took them forever to process it. I had to leave several phone messages before I received any calls back. I understand it's a non-profit and under funded but the laid back nature of the staff doesn't help the business. No wonder there is so little awareness about the place.
On the day of the party, the staff was supposed to clean and set up the table and chairs before we arrived, but that wasn't done. I had to repeatedly ask them to send somebody to do it and they kept delaying saying that the person who did the work wasn't there yet and blah blah blah. This was really annoying as we had very little time to set up the place and the guests started coming in before they could lend a hand. Fortunately, our friends helped us get the party started.
At the end, everything worked out well -- thanks to the picturesque setting and enough activities to keep the guests entertained. However, I would certainly advise careful planning and coordination if you want to do something similar.
This excellent mini-zoo has been a hidden gem of the Peninsula for decades.
Here in this quiet, underappreciated place are noble eagles, exotic birds in a walk-through aviary, frogs, turtles, snakes, a bobcat, a badger, an otter, a ringtail, and many other impressive creatures.
Here you will find a wise old raven, who has many buried treasures hidden carefully in his cage. If you talk to him a little, eventually he'll hop down and take a close look at you through the mesh. He likes to look at shiny things like jewelry and coins, and used to do good business selling people sticks in exchange for quarters, etc. That is no longer possible because the cage is now enclosed with plastic sheeting, but when I showed him a shiny token he jumped down to the floor of his cage and dug up a huge 2" washer from a hiding place, picked it up in his bill to show it to us, then buried it again in a different location.
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This place is a gem hidden in Coyote Point Park, and I finally visited this mini-zoo (perhaps oddly called a museum).
My kid isn't interested in looking at critters or educational displays, so he spent half an hour running around the place (mostly). This is one place where I am not afraid of losing him in the expanse (he bolts) because the museum is small and mostly contained except at the entrance, and I will be back to try Toddler Tuesdays at some point. If your tot is interested in little critters but still has a tendency to run off and wander, then this place is for you. Then you can take him to the Magic Mountain playground and let him run off more energy.
The entertainment value for adults is not as high as the regular zoo, but you don't come here for that; you come for your little kids under 4. If you like otters and foxes, there is a daily feeding. We stayed for the fox feeding, and sure enough, the fox was darn cute and cuddly. (You watch a zookeeper feed the fox in his exhibit from the outside (through the glass window).) The river otter was sleeping on his nest bed of hay, which you could see from a small window in the exhibit. The aviary was a nice stop, and if you're 2, this place is also fun to run around. You can see the entire museum in around 30 minutes when pressed for time.
On a Saturday morning the museum was not crowded at all, and parking was ample. I wished there were more hands-on stuff for toddlers to do, though.
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This place is cool for being a local place. Loved the porcupine, coyote, and the bobcat. They were pretty cool to see. Nice museum which touts environmental education.
Sorry to hear of Bonnie H's experience...if what you say is true they really should have refunded your money. That is ridiculous!
I went here over the weekend with my wife and two children, ages two and four. I found it to be very kid friendly with a lot of the exhibits at "kid height". The aviary was beautiful.
I had not been here for over 25 years and my family and I had a nice experience.
Although the museum is on the small side I think it is a perfect place for children ages 2-4 ish.
I realize that this is of no fault to the museum....only real drawback....the 747's constantly landing at SFO throughout the day!
All in all...a nice place to take kids.
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Attention A$N Cheapne$$ parents!
(note: A$N Cheapne$$ is an influenza that spans across the globe and does not discriminate, much like your right to Vote Obama
[watch the parody about what Obama fans and McCain supporters are like in South Park
http://www.southparkst... and select "About Last Night"]
although the humble origin$ of Cheapne$$ are arguably from and perfected in A$IA somewhere)
Got a San Francisco Zoo annual membership card? Well flash that at the ticketing booth of Coyote Point Museum and receiving a WHOOPING 50% off admi$$ion (adults and kids)! Bet you didn't know SF Zoo also has multiple other affiliates state and nationwide where you can flash that membership card for di$count$. Can't help you with the $5 entrance/parking fee required to just drive through the park to get to the museum up the hill, just pony up the Lincoln.
CPM continues to innovate, retire older exhibits and game type things, and replace them with new ones, such that every once in a while visit, there's still something new and non stale.
The zoo part doesn't really change, same types of criters and creatures as in the first review overview.
As far as the animal shows, on weekends they do two showings. 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. They try to rotate the format and theme of the show to make things more interesting, whether it be "birds of prey", "commonly mistaken creatures" (e.g. toads vs frogs, falcons vs eagles, tortoises vs turtles, country club corrupt non conservative Republicrats vs elitist Marxist Demicans). The shows encourage children participation in answering questions (especially those who choose to sit at the front on the floor and see the action), although the feeling of competition is a bit too fierce at times (when some kids feel the need to raise their hand, yet when prompted to answer, are unable to clearly communicate their answer, versus those who are "regulars", "goody two shoes", perhaps just plain smart kids eager to please, and know the routine stone cold). Kids also have the chance to sit on stage to help the hosts/CPM volunteers so they can pet the creatures and are randomly chosen (so if your kid sees this as a loss of not being picked, be prepared with others means of distractions).
Come back Nov 16 and after for a new Science of Nature exhibit.
Deets at http://www.coyotepoint.../
Cheap @$$ man, you know you love me long time!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2008
Assuming your toddlers or preschooler kids have had enough of Harry Potter type caged owls, rabbits,… Read more »
Kids (9 and 7 yo) were entertained for 2 hours here. Very well maintained, staff is super friendly, good exhibits, . The surrounding lands are really nice too. We went for a hike in the woods along the bay - a bit windy but very scenic.
This isn't the biggest museum, but it is a fun and educational place for children, with the focus on environmentalism, ecosystems and protecting the native species of California.
I had a 50% discount here as part of the reciprocal zoo program to which I was entitled, having joined the San Francisco Zoo as a member a few weeks back. At 50% off, the admission for my mentee and me was $4, so I thought this would definitely be worth checking out. They do also have a $5 parking fee.
We got there in time for the river otter feeding, which is daily at 12:30 p.m. The river otter napped until feeding time, ate, and then went back to napping. During the feeding, a staff member answered questions about river otters, and told the story of Leroy, the particular otter we were watching. He is 14 years old, past the average lifespan of river otters in the wild, and had been orphaned as a baby. He had imprinted upon humans at a young age, and therefore could never survive in the wild. This is the commonality many of the animals here share--they are, for one reason or another, unfit for release into the wild.
Many of the creatures, such as the raccoons, the bobcat and the coyote, are nocturnal creatures and could be seen sleeping the entire time we were there.
Volunteers brought out animals for visitors to touch and to ask questions about--a rabbit, a gopher snake. My favorite, though, was a tortoise, one of a species indigenous to the Palm Desert area, threatened due to habitat loss. This particular tortoise munched down his lunch of cactus paddles before slowly but deliberately making his way to the small gift shop.
As for my mentee and me, we too ate our picnic lunch in the picnic area and also went to the gift shop.
The picnic area is nice, a place where you can watch butterflies and low-flying airplanes at the same time. Please note, though, that no substantial food is sold on the museum premises, so be sure to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds.
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We spent MANY happy hours here. The museum and animal
viewing areas are kid-friendly and fun for the adults too.
Coyote Point Park is a wonderful park to have a large group
gathering or a picnic with your family and friends.
Sweet gift shop with inexpensive items as well as fancier stuff.
They often have a very nice selection of hand puppets. Many
members of our puppet family came from this gift shop, including
Rocky (the raccoon of course) who we adopted years before
we had our natural son.
BONUS: Close to the airport so you can get a too close look at planes! Close to the bay so you can watch boats!
Membership well worth it. Free admission & parking to Coyote Point
Park and Museum and discounted admissions to local zoos and
museums and FREE admissions to state and nation-side museums
and zoos.
MINUS: $6 (?) parking fee to get into Coyote Point Park.
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Coyote Point Museum is an interactive museum with exhibits on conservation and environmentalism geared towared children, combined with several live animal exhibits and wildlife shows. This is great for providing children the "seriousness" of education and the "coolness" of real live animals.
Several mini talks are hosted throughout the week, two of the highlights being the fox feeding and the otter feeding. The otter is the best to watch, as he swims around, snatching up the food and eating it while paddling on his back. In addition to these more informal talks, the wildlife staff put on a show featuring a variety of animals and teaching those in the audience about ways the animals defend themselves. Q & A after the talk gives kids the chance to ask all the questions they want, and there is usually a session of touching one or two of the animals after the show as well. Several volunteers and keepers will bring animals out periodically during the day so that visitors can see them up close, touch most of them, and learn a little bit about their natural histories.
There are picnic tables, great views, several trails, and a beach all within Coyote Point Park, so you can make an entire day of it. For the museum, it's $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for kids (kids under three are free!), so you won't even bust your bank account when you go (there is also a $5 parking fee to get into the park). All in all it's a great trip for a low key family day on a nice, sunny Sunday.
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I had a wonderful time at this cute little museum! Plus it's always easier for me to give extra stars when there are animals around.
No, this is not a real big zoo like San Diego Zoo or SF Zoo. And no, this is not a fancy museum like Tech Museum or MoMA. This place is what it is, a tiny place with some local animals like foxes, eagles and badgers, and some exhibitions on local nature environment. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for kids.
The place maybe small, but you can't deny the fact that the exhibitions were still interesting and very educational. Children were having a great time looking around and interacting by watching the screens, pushing the buttons and pulling the handles on those hands-on displays... I have to admit I was flipping those charts on the quiz displays like a kid myself, and got so excited when I got the answers right.
Animals here are surprisingly friendly compare to the zoos. The 18 year old bobcat was beautiful and mellow. The fox was timid but still willing to eat from human's hands. The otter was swimming in the water and seemed excited when people were around. There might not be hundreds of animals here like a real zoo, but animals here are definitely more personal and totally worth seeing.
There are picnic tables at the outdoor area so you can always take a snack or lunch break during your day visit at the museum. Make sure to check with their animal feeding time so you get to see them more up and personal.
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The museum is a wonderful museum for children, as it promotes ecological awareness which is something that children really don't get enough of these days. The small zoo is wonderful, as it showcases animals local to San Mateo county. Many people do not realize the natural wonders that abound in San Mateo County's wetlands and parks (Edgewood, Sugarloaf Hill, etc).
I went here when I was a child (over 20 years ago) and I still have wonderful and fond memories of going to the museum and playing in the surrounding recreation area. Your children will love it too.
Definitely worth a trip. I love it!
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It's so easy to say good things about this place. It's remarkable to see how much joy is on the faces of the patrons to the museum and park.
First of all, the landscape is outstanding. I'm not too keen on plants most of the time, but I am always impressed by how wonderful the grounds look. Kudos to the gardeners!
Secondly, the few animals they have seem well cared for. The exhibits are maintained well, plenty of water, and the animals seem active most of the time that I've spent here. I know a lot of the people would complain about the variety of animals here....but really, focusing on California native animals is key to the education and respect of our environment.
The one thing I love the most...is the friendly staff. They are ALWAYS willing to stop and answer questions I have about the museum, animals, etc.
I know this place isn't well-funded...so please support Coyote Point Museum in any way you can...they almost closed last year. The Peninsula would lose an incredible place.
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What a wonderful place to go and see the animals and take a look at the past of San Mateo County. I've been coming here since I was a little Johnny boy, and have loved the experience every time.
The staff has many things going on to enthrall any child. And they have feeds for a few of the local animals around the Penn. I love the otter feedings, there soooooo f*@king cute! There is a lot of knowledge here and everyone here seems to be very informed. They make learning fun.
All proceeds go to keeping this gem open, and as of last year we almost lost this shinning spot on the Penn. So PLEASE go and leave a bit of cash in the donation box so that everyone can revel in this bit of family fun.
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I went to this museum on the Smithsonian on Sept 27th. this is my second year going on a museum day visiting museum. Last year experience at another museum was so nice. I m a big fan of museum. and I decided to give this museum a try because I would like to see a coyote and a fox. But when I got there... my first disappointment is the staff. She was very rude when I hand her my paper for museum day. She wasn't really appreciating my visit... and that's fine with me.. since she was the only staff there that was mean... My second disappointment is I didn't get to see a fox OR a coyote... So I guess it's not a guarantee thing...
I would hv to say that the San Mateo National Park is pretty nice though... I find it a bit funny when it said there is a beach in the park.. and I find a very small area with sands on it...! hahaha...
As museums go, this isn't one of the biggest nor is it one of the most fascinating ones around. However, children under the age of 8 will still find this place pretty cool to go to. The museum area is fitting with different themes. Last year it was the earth and atmosphere, this year there is a space-themed exhibit displayed. When that is done, you can walk around their tiny zoo which houses reptiles, amphibians, owls, eagles, seals, and naturally, coyotes. It's a fun way to spend 45 mins to an hour and then have a little picnic in the park area adjoining the museum.
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I didn't know this place existed, and got lost on my first visit.
It is a wonderful weekend getaway and definitely a great place to bring kids. We enjoyed seeing the animals and all the information about them.
Prepare to spend at least two hours to see everything. You can plan the whole day in the park too, with great views of the water, SF, and beach.
Gingerbread house contest, every year. Bakers rejoyce. The rest of us can only dream of sugar plums. This local resource is a great place during the holidays for many reasons. First and true all year long, its close and off the beaten track so you won't find too many crowds. Second its home to a lovely gingerbread house contest which is very fun to visit and probably the most fun to participate in. My best tip, visit 1st for ideas and plan participate the next year. Its a great activity to do with a group or as a family and really gets the creative juices going. You would be amazed to see the many yummy creations people think up. Its worth a visit and the gingerbread house can be viewed till 1/3/06.
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The main appeal here is the animals; it's like a small zoo and it is rarely crowded. Inside there are the usual smattering of exhibits. The kids especially loved the water bottles filled with colored water.
Inside the museum, there are several interactive exhibits, computer games and displays showcasing the Bay Area's ecosystems. Outside, several animals native to the area can be viewed in realistic habitats. This museum is better suited to school-age children (and there are plenty of superior options nearby), but the adjacent playground, picnic area, walking trail and marina can be enjoyed by all.
