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120 reviews for Lawrence Hall of Science
Review Highlights
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"I love the whale, and the double helix even more." In 6 reviews -
"That whale will always hold a special place in my heart." In 20 reviews -
"I can't wait to come back on a super clear day." In 7 reviews
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120 reviews in English
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Review from stefanie m.
Vacaville, CA
4/12/2012
Love to YELP to read real reviews so I can prepare myself for a great adventure and or NOT go.
Directions: Mapquest, Yahoo may not be able to map out to the exact location BUTyou will get as far as you need to see the signs and figure it out. From Vacaville without traffic it was 45-50 minute drive, not bad!
Parking- Plenty of parking, rows of assigned parking, hourly fee not to exceed $7 per day. Today it was $3.50 rain day, not sure why. Remember your stall number and then you can pay when you buy the ticket. Not sure how this works but VERY EASY!
Tickets- $12.00 adult and 6 yr old was $6.00- REASONABLE
1st floor- lots of hands on play areas, specific tot lot area. Kept my 6 yr old grandson plenty occupied and interested
Science Park- OUTSIDE is very nice area on a nice warm day. Was sort of cool today so we decided not to go.
Food- Cafe that you can use Debit or Credit for a $7.00 minimum. Prices are $10.00 and under and I think the hot dog was $4.00. We bought our own lunch in and ate.
One side is for cafe patrons and other side is open seating. Vending machines with snacks and soda/water available.
2d Floor- Not alot to do. Labs and workshops. There was one lab going on from 12-4 which was Rocket Building and very cool. Made a rocket and launched it. LOVED this!
Alot of computer type learning type games but hard if you can't read. So so but all in all we had a good time
Time- We spent 2 hours here. Probably could have spent another hour if we had friend or went outside
Gift Shop- Had more educational and science items versus things you can get at Target or Walmart- low to medium priced
Schools- this is a place that schools go on field trips. Busy but by 1:00 they start to pack up as they have to get back to school by end of day
Planatarium- open only on weekends and special days. would have loved to gone for $4.00. The Science of Academy had an hour long wait. -
Review from Drew P.
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
With all the great museums and places to go in the bay area, the actual museum here is a bit of a disappointment. It seems a little rundown, and old.
Now, the view from this place is AWESOME!!! Save yourself some time.
1.) Buy some takeout delicious food from Montclair or Berkeley Area
2.) Bring yourself and the food to the parking lots of Lawrence Hall of Science
3.) Enjoy the food, company, and gorgeous view, and skip the museum for the kids.
So the view is a must do and the Botanical Gardens next door are also worth the trip.
The museum:
It is definitely catered towards children. There is a few cool things here and there but not enough to justify a visit. The show and tell animal area (reptiles and such) is only open on the weekends. There is a cafe with a awesome view in the museum, I understand that you can just go into the museum and say you are just here to eat at the cafe and you do not need to pay admission.
Parking is not free. It was something like $ 1-1.50 an hour or so... -
Review from Sonia M.
5/6/2012
Well, the view here is really pretty.
Honestly, I found the Lawrence Hall of Science to be pretty underwhelming. I realize I am not in the target age group to visit the place, but I can appreciate museums directed towards younger people, too. It's just that this place felt really, really outdated and lacked a variety of displays.
The most common thing to do on the street-level floor was to play with rubber balls that you could roll through small displays. There was an area where you could create a paper airplane and try to fly it though targets (this exhibit was actually pretty fun), and there were small stations to build things with blocks, etc.
The lower level had some exhibits on fossils (not bad, but there were so few), as well as some animals -mostly reptiles- in glass cages that you could look at.
It was clear that many of the exhibits had not been updated since the 80s (hello turquoise and fuchsia-colored display cases!), and the wear and tear of display cases and the building itself were noticeable. If you've ever been to the Exploratorium, you get this feeling, too, but not as much as you do here.
Redeeming qualities? Again, the view. The front of the building and the back of it offer awesome bay views. Even the cafetaria style restaurant has huge windows offering a great view. And, if you come on the weekend, the animal classroom (and it is about the size of a classroom) is open, so you can check out the various reptiles, aquatic creatures, etc.
BUT I must still give this place three stars (instead of, say, two) because, yes, I think children would totally get a kick out of this place. They tend to have more open-minded, forgiving views of the world, and don't seem to care if something doesn't have a sleek exterior. ;) -
Review from Mollie D.
Oakland, CA
4/17/2012
I teach science in Oakland, and I really appreciate a museum that is completely interactive. This is not a place to wander in and just read about something; the kids can actually MAKE things! They can twist knobs, spin cylinders, make a solar-powered car go! This is an amazing place to take students (and your own children).
Though the admission is reasonable, I still wish it were a little cheaper for adults, since they usually have to accompany the children. However, I really love this museum. It can be a little difficult to get to, but there is public transit, and there's a shuttle from UC Berkeley's campus ($1 per rider). I highly recommend field trips to this wonderful museum. Note that, though there is a cafeteria that serves food, it is a bit over-priced and not the highest quality.
There is a whale "statue" outside that the kids can climb on, as well as a double helix model for the same purpose. The museum also has an outdoor area with grass, pond, and picnic tables that looks out on the Bay. This is an amazing place! -
Review from Don B.
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yayyyyyyyyy SCIENCE!
Science with a view, actually. This quasi-futuristic style building has all sorts of fun for the kiddos and adults alike, including a ton of hands on excitement. It's not the kind of place I'd usually just roll with my adult homies, but if you have some little ones in tow and need to have them burn off an afternoon of steam, Lawrence Hall Of Science is a knowledge-filled place to do it.
The most stunning part of the experience, though, is probably the mind-blowing view of the bay from the back patio. Its location up in the hills makes for a 180-degree sweeping vista of sheer beauty.
Come for the science, stop and stare a while at the earth below. You won't be sorry.Listed in: I Left it in San Francisco
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Review from John G.
Updated - 3/17/2012
Revisited this famed institution yesterday. Still a science marvel for youth and adults alike. Many "hands on" exhibits that are really neat for the kids to try. Nice displays and the center planet room with the large earth projection was a highlight. Fun to push the buttons and see mother earth with different factors such as wind, ice, temps, etc. displayed.
Really great stations in the back exhibit hall for hands on. Range from towers of light with sound to track your pulse, wind tunnels for paper airplanes, block runs, electro-mechanical marvels, computer stations for making digital funny faces from yours, and an "open your mind to design" station with many construction items for kids to make whatever. Good stuff.
Downstairs has labs, large TRex skull (really neat) and many other interesting displays.
Outside has the large blue whale replica and a DNA like structure for kids to play on and in.
Great museum in our Bay Area.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2009
Very interesting museum located up on a hill in a dream location. Going for the view of the entire… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer L.
El Sobrante, CA
12/13/2011
All right, all right, so seeing it at nine is different from seeing it at 29. For one thing it looked a lot bigger, and climbing the outdoor whale was a physical challenge. And I still have fond memories of the python that coiled itself around me when I was 14. Yes, I asked to have it done.
Pros:
-Beautiful views of the Bay
-Friendly, accommodating staff
-The featured exhibit, which happened to be dinosaurs, was fun! Who doesn't like dinosaurs?
Cons:
-A lot of exhibits, services, and machines were either closed or broken, mostly the latter. This included a seismograph machine, animal labs, the planetarium, part of the outdoor exhibit on earthquakes, and the cafeteria.
-Exhibits tend to be small and confined to just one room and a hallway. It was like this not just for the dinosaur exhibit today but the exhibit on race last year.
-The 3-D Dinosaurs Alive! feature film that we saw today is an edited version of the 2-D one. About 15 minutes are lopped off-- yes, I have seen this one before at Chabot. Tickets to the film are not included with admission. Oh well, I guess I got to see it in 3-D.
I can go to Chabot Space and Science Center for roughly the same price and get two feature films included. Plus the parking is free there, the campus is bigger and has more stuff, and it has a livelier feel to it. Or I can go to the Exploratorium, which has more features and a cool after-hours night crawl.
Yeah, we were disappointed, but we took heart: we saw Jurassic, Triassic, AND Cretaceous Park! -
Review from Soyeong P.
Pleasanton, CA
3/14/2012
It has definitely gotten a bit old and dated over the years, but still my kids love it. Good hands on exhibits that the kids can enjoy and the view of the Bay is awesome.
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Review from Karin H.
11/19/2011
I actually prefer this museum over the Exploratorium because it's not as overwhelming for children and it's far easier to keep track of everyone. Most of the exhibits are permanent with the exception of the one in the main hall which rotates every three months or so. By far my favorite exhibit was "Grossology: the Science of Really Gross Things". I also like their outdoor earth science exhibits about changes to the surface of the earth (erosion and earthquakes).
Make sure to bring lunches since their cafe is pricey and can be very busy. Behind the LHS are picnic tables, benches and a grassy area where you can eat.
Try to plan your visit for a clear day and you'll be able to see the GG & Bay Bridges, Angel and Alcatraz islands and SF. -
Review from F F.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/24/2012
The best thing to do is get a membership. Most of it is tax deductible. This place is a must if you have an active toddler. My 3 year old loved to see the dinosaur exhibit and play in the Imaginarium area. During the weekday, we practically have the whole place to ourself. There is a very nice cafeteria on the lower level but it is pricey so you may want to bring your own snacks for the kids at least.
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Review from Lisa T.
We come here so much that we've become members, what more can I say! My 5-year-old practically lives here. Climbing the DNA structure outside is one of his little rituals.
I wish we didn't have to pay the extra $4 for special exhibits (dinosaurs etc.) but I'd rather spend $4 here than at Walmart, know what I'm sayin'.
Tip #1: Always pack a picnic and keep it in the cloakroom (on your right, past the check-in desk) until it's time to nosh; their snack bar is trying to do a good job but it's pricey and not up to the mark.
Tip #2: Bring layered clothing because it gets hot inside and cold and windy outside on that beautiful hill. -
Review from Eric B.
4/22/2011
For all you parents who can't wait to escape from Chuck E Cheese, take your kid and their friends to the Lawrence Hall of Science for his or her Birthday Celebration. You can cater in the food and let them wander around the exhibits upstairs, climb around the Double Helix outside, and enjoy well supervised play with the critters in their own birthday room (and nearby) below. And for this Adult, I still fondly remember a "Havdallah Under the Stars" Event held here years ago and still return and enjoy the highly approachable, often interactive, and well considered displays.
The Lawrence Hall of Science also offers classes/workshops, hosts a summer camp, and in keeping with it's Nuclear pedigree supports science education at all levels. And then there's the view! Nothing this side of the Exploratorium compares. -
Review from Gretchen B.
Daly City, CA
9/16/2011
This place needs a little TLC
I recently went to LHS with a friend, thinking that it would have all the splendor it did from when I was a kid but boy was I wrong. After driving up the lengthy road in the Berkeley Hills, one would expect more from the place but it was desolate and dreary. When we entered the place it was practically empty and didn't feel as joyous as before.
The main exhibit, something about the moon, was closed. Which was a big disappointment because my friend is an astronomy buff and had been so excited to see it. Things got a little better when we walked through the deep ocean exhibit and got to read up on things about the colossal squid. There was an exhibit about roller coasters also that looked like they were from the early 90's and could have used new pictures and maintenance. There was also a play area that looked like it would have taught kids something about architecture, but it was barren so we walked away. The view from outside was magnificent and breathtaking, once we got pass the dated earthquake exhibit.
All in all it was a sad little museum walk through that was salvaged by the pricey trinkets in the gift shop. Then we went downstairs to use the bathroom to find all these old Macs with interactive programs and stations with optical illusions and other mind bending activities. Drawing a labyrinth was the most fun i had in that museum.
I understand and agree that this place is for younger children, but who says that just because I'm older doesn't mean i can't go to an interactive museum and can't have fun? -
Review from Carol K.
Pleasant Hill, CA
1/23/2012
My four year old made me take him here every day for a week, straight, when they had their Dinosaurs exhibit. You know what, if a place can get my youngin' interested in the sciences, I'm all for it! Good thing we have a membership.
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Review from Anita H.
Alameda, CA
1/3/2012
We bought the membership during the dinosaur exhibit, and have gone back 3 times.
It's a pain to get to, but every time we go, we have a great time. There's so much to do there for kids big and small. We especially enjoy the classrooms downstairs where we get to meet different animals, and do different projects.
One time the project was to build a spinning top, and the project last weekend was building a turbine. Very fun! -
Review from Aivy C.
4/12/2011
I'm not even going to lie. Years ago, I used to come here late at night, usually after visiting my sister at Cal or dancing at Blakes, to enjoy the view (which was worthy of 5 stars alone), "chill" with a "friend" (IT WAS COLLEGE, DON'T JUDGE ME), and/or smoke. I had no idea it was a museum, let alone one for kids.
Fast forward 8-9 years. I'm now an educated, responsible, tax-paying, working adult, proud parent of a 3-year-old, and an avid hunter of good deals. I bought a 2 for 1 special for Lawrence Hall of Science on LivingSocial, realizing it sounded vaguely familiar but not knowing why... until I made the familiar drive up. Oh, memories!
Fortunately, as fun as those were, I now have new memories here: the drive up into the hills on a sunny day, watching my son learn about science and physics and ENJOYING it, and the look of wonder on his face while taking in the sweeping view of the Bay Area, a place where I imagine he'll grow up and have as many fond memories as I did.
Including, perhaps, coming here at night. Haha. One day. -
Review from Mr K.
West Hills, CA
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
My kids love places like this. They had a ball. There are lots of hands on type activities. There is also a nice "park" out back where the views are gorgeous.
My biggest gripe is that this place costs more than the Exploratorium in Golden Gate Park - $17 for adults, $14 for kids (7-18), $11 for little ones (4-6). On top of that, the planetarium is extra. We were on vacation, so we spent the money, but I would probably go elsewhere on the next visit. Also, there are a handful of (free) scenic lookouts along the roads up there.
Edit: I see that many people scored deals on groupon, living social, or whatever. I would say that this place is well worth it for maybe $10 for kids and $5 for adults. -
Review from Sean M.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Loved. This. Place.
Awesome place for kids!! Was very age appropriate for 5-10 in my opinion. My 8 year old loved it! Plenty of hands on activities. Plenty of fun things to check out and see. Very spacious inside. Plenty of space outside to run around as well. Went with a large group and they were very accompdating.
Plan on 2-3 hours. Beyond that is a little tedious unless you take a picnic and take a nice break in there. They do have a nice little cafeteria/cafe downstairs which is reasonable and has a variety of snacks for everyone...some vegetarian options too(it is Berkeley right).
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a fun half day out with their kids.
****parent rant***
As opposed to my experience at some other museums and places like this, the other parents here were much better. Seemed like a much higher level of educated people, consequently a lot of the parents were more interactive with the kids and the children were much more well mannered.Listed in: Culture yourself(and your kid)
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Review from S J.
Livermore, CA
7/16/2011
Visited today for the dinosaur exhibit. LHS seems best suited for the under 7 or 8 crowd. While my 9.5 yr old enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit, the cost of admission is pricey considering we explored everything in less than 2 hours. The cafe is overpriced for the quality of food (although the portions are generous). Due to a birthday party, the few cafe seats near the windows were already occupied. Next time we'll bring our lunch and sit outside on the first floor to enjoy the view.
If you purchase the membership, it entitles you to 1/2 price admission at the Exploratorium and the Chabot Observatory. -
Review from Felicia C.
Berkeley, CA
12/20/2010
***NOTE*** I'm reviewing LHS as a wedding venue.
My now-husband and I wanted to get married in Berkeley, as the city is very special to us. We also wanted an outdoor ceremony. We were deciding between the Rose Garden and several picnic areas in Tilden. We took a trip to Tilden and surveyed the larger sized grounds. During the outing, we basically decided on TIlden - then thought to visit LHS since it was nearby. We stepped onto the Lower Lawn (where the weddings are held), and the deal was sealed. This HAD to be our wedding location.
Emma, the event coordinator, was such a pleasure to work with. She was so accommodating, always responsive, let us know when she'd be on vacation, and gave us plenty of information about preferred vendors, can/can'ts, and how to obtain a certificate of insurance (required to rent the venue).
We were able to use the lawn for our rehearsal the day before, stored a portable piano in a classroom overnight, had ample time to set-up, bathrooms were available to our guests (usually such a problem for outdoor weddings!), and the view is one of the best in the bay!
In additional, all of our guests got free admission to the museum, which was so much fun! After the ceremony, the bridal party went to the upper lawn to take fun portraits around the sundial!
Last, but not least, the venue was very affordable. LHS made our wedding so memorable, fun, with just the right amount of nerdiness! :) -
Review from Austin W.
The view from up here is absolutely gorgeous, especially at night. You can see the entire bay area. I've been inside to see the exhibits only a few times but it's a fun place to come with with family. Typically, there aren't very people here wandering around (unless of course you come when there happens to be a school field trip here).
If you're a Berkeley student, you owe it to yourself to come here at least once. Bum up a friend fro a ride up (or take the shuttle). Free admission with your Cal1Card. -
Review from Nora S.
5/15/2011
This is a decent science museum though I must say I've been to better. I do recommend this one for the special view it has. I can't say that I've ever been to a better situated place. Gorgeous and almost worth a fourth star alone. But since this review concerns the content of the museum, I stuck to three stars.
Some nice and creative interactive displays. It seems a bit small, but still a great place to take the kids. This place gets really crowded and that may have been partly due to the size. -
Review from Meenakshi T.
Redwood City, CA
7/2/2011
Breathtaking views, mind stimulating structures (the dna and the sperm whale) that my son (41/2 years) absolutely loved playing on, relaxed young un's walking around....almost makes me wish I were back in college (almost but not quite :) ). We went here for my B'day after a relaxed ethiopian lunch at Addis for the special " Dinosaurs UnEarthed Exhibit" for my son the budding dinosaur hunter who adores all things dinosaur and fossils.
I take a star off for the pricey tickets $17 for Adults and $11 for kids (4-6) and an extra $4 for the planetarium. The life sized moving dinosaurs scared my boy speechless...they looked amazing, there were other science activities for kids that he enjoyed a lot. We spent about an hour and a half there and felt like it was time well spent. If you don't want to cash out the $17/adult and still have the dibs on the dinosaurs - then try the Department of Paleontology in Berkeley where they have the skeletal replicas of a T.Rex, Triceratop and Pteradactus among other dinosaurs - admissions are free....that is a fabulous field trip too. -
Review from Pam S.
12/29/2010
Great place for kids, that's for sure!
I came here with a group so we were able to get a discount. It was free for adults and I only paid $11.50 for both kids. Parking was only $3 for the entire day if you buy thru the front desk.
There was the DNA and the giant whale at the entrance to start off your play. Plenty of fun activities and learning tools inside. Build your own roller coaster, planetarium, the labs, building blocks etc. I can't believe I lasted for 4 hours here. Yep, kids were having so much fun they didn't want to leave. Also, there was a playground outside in the back. Amazing views of San Francisco, Tiburon, Mt. Tam, Angel Island.
Special shout out to Sean M. for mentioning this to me :)Listed in: Kids Entertainment
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Review from Kathleen M.
Hercules, CA
11/19/2011
I went here fore my son's birthday, which was on a Monday, and was disappointed. First, the admission price was expensive, even with the 50% discount I get for being a member at another museum. The dinosaur exhibit was going on so I had to pay an additional $5/each, which I didn't mind until I walked around the museum and was disappointed with what I saw. Overall, even though the museum is 2-stories, the museum is rather small. I was disappointed that most of the exhibits were closed because it was a weekday. I wished the website would have stated that. Bottom line, I probably won't be coming back here. I prefer the Exploratorium or Zeum, which is now Children's Creative Center.
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Review from Melody L.
Irvine, CA
2/5/2011
So, for people who don't have cars, this place is nearly impossible to get to. The first time I went, my boyfriend and I walked all the way there (from Channing and College), and then all the way back home at the end. I strongly disrecommend this strategy - it is tiring walking uphill for a mile, not entirely sure where the Lawrence Hall of Science is, trying to avoid the joggers on the Fire Trail and the cars speeding along on the road. And it's bad for your knees to walk downhill afterwards too. The second time I went, I took the H line bus. The main con though, is that the H line only runs on weekdays, and the Lawrence Hall of Science Animal Room is only open on weekends. Sigh.
Entrance is free for Berkeley students. If you have no kids, Lawrence is not really that much fun. And especially not if you had to walk all the way there. A lot of simple, hands on exhibits randomly placed around. A cool outdoor play area with supposedly moving rocks to show how tectonic plates work. The best part was the view - you could see all of Berkeley and all the way out to San Francisco! So pretty.
Downstairs were a couple more erratically placed "exhibits" along the walls, though the entire downstairs area looked more like a school and less like a museum. There was an interesting dinosaur/reptile exhibit here. The most fun part about Lawrence though, was the Animal Room (and maybe the Innovation Room. In the Animal Room, you could look at a million different kinds of amphibians and reptiles. They also had a section for furry animals, and if you ask the kids in charge, they will take the animals out of their cages for you to pet! They have a really cute and soft chinchilla here. Innovation room is okay - you kind of get a bunch of random materials and you can build stuff.
We also saw the planetarium - it was definitely geared towards young kids, and not that interesting for us. Planetarium costs money! -
Review from Tamra H.
Martinez, CA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great views from the hills, but seriously, save your money and stick to enjoying the views.
It was pretty boring, not to many kids, and the staff looked bored, texting away.
Better for kids on a field trip, but not the day to spend with mom and dad. -
Review from Forest S.
San Francisco, CA
3/22/2011
Great museum for kids with very informative workshops. Really great views of San Francisco, Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. Your kids will love it here, so much to do and so much to learn.
The Bay View Cafe....taria was very EXPENSIVE. I tried the Adobo Chicken Salad Sandwich and there was nothing Adobo about it?! Tasted just like regular Chicken Salad but for $8.95 (thus the minus 1 star). If you can bag a lunch, I'd highly recommend it. Otherwise there's plenty of salads ($10), sandwiches ($9) and vending machines($1.50 chips and $2.50 drinks). -
Review from Charlotte B.
Daly City, CA
5/22/2011
Great views from the hills, but seriously, save your money and stick to enjoying the views.
The decor looks like it hasn't been updated since the 70s, and likewise the exhibits. Nothing worthwhile for anyone over the age of 10 at this museum, and the exhibits seem less than challenging even for the under 10 crowd.
Most of the exhibits were either out of order or fail to explain to the patron how the activity they were engaging in was supposed to teach them anything. For an educational facility it sure fails to educate. -
Review from Susie Q.
Livermore, CA
7/25/2011
PROS:
- dinosaur exhibit was great
- staff members hanging out to help kids with hands on exhibits
- lots of space to run around
CONS:
- expensive cafe - I wish I would have packed lunches
- paying $4 for the planetarium experience of going into space - NOT WORTH IT - especially since the gal leading it (who let us know she had a physics class that morning) didn't seem to like children much... which is unfortunate since the exhibit is directed toward CHILDREN. Afterwards my friend even said "you have to yelp this" - because it was a bit of a rip off and not a great experience. It should be included with admission.
- for a place focused on kids, I was surprised to see that there weren't chains hanging across the many small "staff only" staircases that led down, or that there wasn't a railing of any kind keeping kids from going over the cliff's edge outside where the water area is.
The planetarium disappointment is mainly why this is not 5 stars for me. -
Review from Aimee G.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
Any intelligent 5 year old will have an amazing time here. You cannot go wrong with their exhibits. The whale is so cool.
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Review from Ken T.
1/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Never been inside, but I definitely drove all the way up the path to get here, so I could admire the AMAZING view of the Bay Area from the top of Berkeley's highest point. I know it's a great place many UCB students and locals have come up here to catch the views and just chill with friends (or if you're in high school, to get far enough away from your parents to make out with a new friend...)
The drive up here is a bit confusing, especially at night, when there are no street lights along the road. Be careful of the sharp winds and turns, which are very reminiscent of the drive up to Twin Peaks. There will be lots of stops along the road to park, or you go to the LHS parking lot and walk to the side of the hill.
Don't be an idiot and be distracted while driving up and down the hill, it's not worth the danger! -
Review from Ell P.
Oakland, CA
12/21/2010
Lawrence Hall of Science is a great place for kids and families. We went to the event they hosted for the winter solstice lunar eclipse. I was so impressed!
We were greeted by two very cheerful ladies as we entered the main building. They had a very clear and easy to read one page handout about the events of the evening, including a time schedule. The entire facilities were open to the public. So the children really enjoyed trying the different exhibits. They spent quite a bit of time working at designing a perfect roller coaster, and riding the simulated roller coasters in the "scream machine". Even though the car only provides a light rumble, I found myself getting lost in the visual, and even let out a few squeals of delight. I was nauseous after a stroll through the "whirlivision" tunnel and couple of roller coaster rides. It was done. It would have been totally cool if they added some house music to the strobe room. 80)
They had the planetarium open and were offering up to the the minute informational talks throughout the night. The people outside working the telescopes were excellent at locating the best view through the clouds, and explaining exactly what was happening. Perfect for my budding scientists.
Overall we had a great night, for only $5 per person. The little extras like complimentary hot cocoa were priceless. No matter how many times we go, the kids still enjoy the huge whale and DNA outside. Thankfully it did not rain, so we could really enjoy the festivities of the night. I appreciate LHS for hosting such a lovely evening, Exceptional value for the price of admission. -
Review from Kathleen W.
Albany, CA
9/19/2010
A couple of fellow geeks and I came here on a Wednesday night for the Geek Out featuring Scream Machines (Roller Coasters). Taking after the success of Night Life @ the Cal Academy of Science in SF, they've got snacks and alcohol. A lot more hands on ... and a much younger crowd .. if you can call it a crowd.
$10 per person ... $8 for students or Cal Alumni.
On a clear night - the view is gorgeous ... San Francisco skyline on one side, giant double helix on the other.
I didn't get to play as much as I wanted and roll up my sleeves and explore - so be sure to come with friends who'll geek out with you. The concept is great and the venue has a lot of potential - but you definitely have to and want to be hands on to get the full experience. -
Review from carlo m.
Emeryville, CA
6/24/2010
Maybe because I'm not a kid that I'm not giving this place infinite stars, but I really don't like this museum.. Imma a kid's museum grinch! haha.
Made the museum rounds in the bay area wid wifey who is a science teacher and we were not impressed with mr. lawrence hall of science..
I geneally applaud the educational outreach that the museum does.(God knows we need it since this country does so poorly in the world with science education.)
But I just have issue with the dated facilities. I honestly felt like this place is straight out of the 70's.. Not a lot of modern amenities for a big, bad prestigious Berkeley facility.. Definitely this place needs an upgrade (economy willing, of course). I would be definitely be down to donate to the cause..
We need our museums! -
Review from Geoff D.
Updated - 11/3/2008
I just spent a long rainy Saturday afternoon here at LHS with my two year old. It was awesome. I am hereby upgrading to 5 stars. Why?
- The museum is huge and almost never crowded, so I don't get that muggy, claustrophobic feeling I almost always get on rainy-day museum visits.
- The animal room is chalk full of fun things to see and pet, and is staffed by knowledgeable folk. This weekend my little guy got to pat a snake, dove, chinchilla, tortoise and gecko in about a 40 minute span.
- The mechanized Apatasaurus was a huge draw for my little guy and also seemed to attract a crowd of little people all day long.
- The current Engineering exhibit on the upper floor is really well done and has plenty of entertainment for building-inclined kids from 1 to 92 including a wind-tunnel, sailboat area and several test-your-lego-buildings-on-an-earthquake-board stations.
- They seem to have upgraded a lot of the hallway exhibits throughout the building. For example, we spent about 15 minutes goofing around with a 3D mirror in one section of the lower level hallway.
The LHS seems to cycle through periods of better and worse funding and associated exhibits... but at the moment it is looking great, and again the space layout makes it perfect for the lazy rainy day.
(Insider tip: try to avoid Cal football game-days, when Centennial Drive is closed and it's a hassle getting in and out of here)Listed in: Rainy Day Kids' Activities in…, Zoos & Other Animal Places in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/18/2007
I grew up taking classes and spending rainy afternoons at LHS... and have many many associated fond… Read more »
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Review from Alena M.
3/30/2010
My little family had absolutely nothing to do today, so we decided to check out the Lawrence Hall of Science. My hubby and I went here as kids. He remembered the giant whale and I remembered nothing.
First off, $12 seems like a lot to pay as an adult for a kid's museum. Thankfully both of our boys were free as they are under three years old.
I think grade schoolers get the most out of this museum, but it's also fun for preschoolers.
The view of San Francisco and the Bay is amazing!
I was pleasantly surprised by the food. It seemed almost gourmet for a museum but, this is Berkeley, after all! -
Review from Jaime C.
1/11/2008
I like how on the Google Map's thing, there is only gray surrounding the centennial drive street.
But that is exactly what I like about it. The view is nothing short of breathtaking, overlooking the entire bay area on a hilltop that takes 8 billion times getting lost to get to. I bartended a wedding here in July, and even though it got a tad chilly in the end, it made for a memorable evening.
There were a ton of fun little things to partake in, one being some sort of acrobatic thingie you wished you brought pants to the event (unless you're an exhibitionist, then by all means...) There were also alot of fun little things you don't partake in, such as sculptures and paintings and such. It's a haven for anyone whose inner child is begging them to get out!
There was plenty of area for seating, places for the band, places for the food, the clean-up. My only problem is parking. I got lost...PARKING. Then again, I'm kind of an idiot. So don't take me getting lost in bizerkely hinder your wish to have a wonderful, wonderful event here. :D -
Review from Nicole P.
Oakley, CA
7/5/2010
I visited the LHS for their star-gazing gatherings every first and third Saturday nights. I was pleasantly indifferent.
I used to star gaze with some gnarly locals atop Mount Diablo years ago. That club disbanded or excommunicated me, and I haven't found a decent star party in years. My previous experiences at star parties include dressing up as your favorite star, whether it is a Red Giant, White Dwarf, Marilyn Monroe, or what have you, while looking at constellations and planets. Because I was only 4 feet tall at the time (I'm 69" now), I wrecked havoc in my white dwarf costume, complete with cape.
Fully prepared to come in a Red Giant Costume to the LHS Stargazing, I soon realized that I was one of all 10 people at this event., and that me dressing up as a Red Giant would be really creepy and weird.
The turn-out for the event was small enough to have an intimate experience with the Summer Triangle and Ursa Major. The event, while publicized on the LHS website, is very under rated, and is a scene for the true local. LHS plaza has one of the best views of the city, and has the potential to be very romantical (romantic + magical).
My only recommendation for this event is to extend the invitation to those leisure astronomers to take part, bring a telescope, and let comers-and-goers take a lookie. It would be great to have several telescopes available to look through, versus the one in current attendance.Listed in: Make-Out + Science = Success!
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Review from Wanugee N.
Pleasant Hill, CA
4/6/2008
You know, I have been here several times, as I am a Berkeley Alum and I return to Berkeley periodically, like Salmon to the spawining grounds, or maybe because it is Berzerkeley, like Lemmings to the Ocean.
Through the years, when I lived on the East Bay, I would bring out of town guests up here on a clear day to see the fantastic views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, and the surrounding area so I can point out the highlights. (When I lived in SF or the Peninsula, I would take them to Twin Peaks for the same purpose).
The Lawrence Hall of Science always had a certain egg head like association to it for me, a reverence for the brilliant minds that make Berkeley what it is, the number one public university in the US and famous throughout the world. ( I have travelled to 26 countries, and in every one, if the topic came to colleges, they all knew Berkeley.)
After all, there are fundamental elements on the scientific chart named because they were discovered at Berkeley. Like Berkelium. It's on the same element chart as Oxygen, Hydrogen, Helium! So it is only natural for me to think highly of the Lawrence Hall of Science.
But this last trip, I was disappointed. Yes, there is a cool "Speed" exhibit, with a dozen interactive stations showing things like Power=Speed x Force, or the effects of Drag with magnet objects in a glass case of flowing liquid, and I tested the airplane wing-like object to see the effects. But one exhibit, with 2 mini-race cars, was broken and not working fully.
Many of the exhibits were not as imaginatively interactive as they could be. And in true Berkeley fashion, there was too much to read versus things to try. I think the Exploratorium has better and a larger variety of interactive and fun learning experiences, especially for kids. Here, I think there are a lot fewer exhibits, unless there were some hiding in a secret graduate area and I needed to pass a GMAT test to get in.
The earthquake and water-flow exhibits outside were interesting, but not as good as the theater experience at the old California Academy of Sciences, with the moving chairs.
The double helix DNA in the front before you enter, with the Whale structure are fine to climb on if you are 8, but that is about it.
I would give this last trip a 3 star review, because I was disappointed at the lack of exhibits. The good thing is, that it isn't as crowded, and the views are tremendous. I give it four stars because, well, I am a Berkeley Alum, and I must have got a molecule of Berkelium in me.
TIPS: IF you are coming from the 680 or 24 corridor, instead of going through the tunnel, north on 80 and up to University Avenue, just prior to the Caldecott, take Fish Ranch road. This leads you up to the very scenic Grizzly Peak Road, with incredible views (better than at the Lawrence Hall) into Tilden Park, a great place to go too. When you get to Centennial Road, just head down hill and you will be at the Lawrence Hall of Science. A little farther down is the Botanical Gardens, then Strawberry Canyon and the Football Stadium.
Lawrence Hall of Science: $11 for adults to enter, students $9.
