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Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Museums Active Life Zoos Museums, Zoos [Edit]
1451 Middlefield RdPalo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-2111
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sun 1 pm - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
78 reviews for Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
Review Highlights
"And the biggest perk: IT'S FREE (on a donation basis."
(in 35 reviews)
"Love, the perfect experience for little ones."
(in 11 reviews)
"There's a good variety of animals for a small zoo."
(in 38 reviews)
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78 reviews in English
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Review from Megan O.
Cupertino, CA
1/21/2012
I can only echo what others have said: this is a fantastic place to take your little ones. My 2.5-yr-old son was happy and busy here for almost 3 hours.
I will definitely be going back!
Also, PAY THE $3.00 DONATION. Honestly, after seeing what is actually offered, and the quality thereof, I can't believe there isn't an admission fee. Believe me, you'll want to contribute. -
Review from Mary J.
Castro Valley, CA
Perfect place for some baby & toddler adventure, but the bonus is FREE ADMISSION http://www.yelp.com/bi... Ok, of course when it's free, there's a place where donations are accepted. When you 1st walk in, $3 donation per person is recommended ...drop off bill(s) through the frog statue's mouth ^_^ Private, free, unmetered, non-gated parking lot.
My sister, 2yr old niece, & myself were in Palo Alto area on a Tuesday & found Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo via-Yelp app. Our niece's eyes just lit up with curiosity when we walked in http://www.yelp.com/bi... So much for toddlers to see, touch, & learn...oh, don't forget learning how to share!
Figure this thing out http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Steer the wheel this way to get the water in the box splashing http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Push this button to light up the critter box http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Lean over this bridge for a better view of http://www.yelp.com/bi...
...the goose http://www.yelp.com/bi...
...the ducks & turtle http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Looking at the rabbits nibble on this http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Outside View 1 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Outside View 2 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Outside View 3 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
A great play date area for all toddlers & there's an indoor baby area too. Overall my niece had a wonderful time...so did I http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Yuzu K.
Mountain View, CA
11/20/2011
The perfect playdate.
I think this place is the perfect size for bringing young kids. It is small enough that my 3-yr old son can run around and do everything without me having to act as if he is on an imaginary leash, but large enough that it takes him hours to get through everything.
The inner exhibit has a large interactive tennis-ball contraption, and some wind and water power exhibits. Everything is very hands-on. They also just changed the inner exhibit to a bug exhibit with live bugs: black widow, giant millipedes, stick-bugs, or giant cockroaches, etc.
Outside is a wonderful little zoo with rescued animals and they are constantly upgrading the animal's homes to be bigger and better. You can see bobcats, racoons, a bat family, ferrets, and various birds, reptiles, and rodents.
Very special. Also right outside is a fun wooden stump trail to walk on, it is next door to a park and very close to the Children's library.
Please Donate! -
Review from Brian S.
Foster City, CA
1/22/2012
We discovered this true gem when figuring out where to take my nise. We enjoyed seeing all the different animals including peacocks, bats which scarred my nise but were cool, hedgehogs, and so forth. She especially loved the bobcats which the zoo keeper coaxed out with a few snacks, confined to their habitat of course. She loved the exhibits inside as well. How cool to give her a great day with just a donation. The grounds are very clean and the staff friendly.
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Review from Risa S.
Bay Area
9/27/2011
Is it just me or do you not see everyone donating the $3.00 per person as you walk in through the door? It's really sad. I took my son here earlier today and it seems like as we walked through the door in a big crowd, people who were taking out their wallet (one mother and my self), I saw rest of the adults and their kids just walk by. Yes, the place is "Free," but don't be cheap either.
I placed $6.00 (a combination of $5 and $1) and I was happy.
The place was decent and my son and I had a wonderful time. I was expecting more animals, but nothing like the S.F. Zoo or anything like that. My son, he enjoyed looking at the snakes, rabbits while ferrets were my favorite, which they have outdoors in separate habitats. Indoors, they had different stations where kids can learn and play. Overall, it was an interesting place.
Parking is free although limited around lunch time.
Another pro I liked about this place was there was a playground with trees and picnic table. -
Review from Alberto E.
Chino, CA
If you have little ones this is the place for you. My three boys LOVED it here. With free parking, bug exhibits, and a mini zoo, I'm right with them.
While visiting my wife's family in northern Cali, we needed to entertain the kids. Thanks to Yelp we found the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Do not let this small and quaint museum fool you the little ones will enjoy it.
The bug exhibits kept my boys entertained for about an hour. They were stuck looking at the spiders and being spiders on the spider web. After getting all bugged out we took a stroll through the zoo. We saw snakes, rabbits, ducks, two bob cats, and a tank with fish. The tank had a small shark and star fishes. The boys asked were SpongeBob was, I couldn't find him in the tank.
Next to the museum is a small park for the kids to enjoy a jungle gym and burn some energy. This place has it all. Parking can be scarce but don't worry, you can park on the street and take a walk.
I know this museum is free but be generous and donate your minimum $3 per person. We need to keep places like this open.Listed in: For the Kids
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Review from pero a.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/19/2011
I just went there today with my 3-year old and my husband. We just LOVED it!
Nice cozy size, clean, and it looks relatively new. Museum is small, but it was not that crowded(we went around 3:30) and my son enjoyed both museum and zoo. We will definitely visit there again! -
Review from Stephen E.
Bothell, WA
9/21/2011
Definitely a good choice for younger kids. Mine are 2 & 5 and it was perfect for them. Any older and I doubt it could hold their attention. My kids loved the various energy stations. Who would have guessed a simple machine could keep them busy for over an hour.
The zoo was super small, and my 5 yr old did ask where the zoo was when we were leaving, but for a small donation it is definitely worth the visit. -
Review from Beethoven C.
Palo Alto, CA
8/16/2011
I remember thinking that creating a science museum that appealed to kids as young as one year of age was very difficult. After all, how do you make biology, chemistry or physics appealing to someone who has difficulty telling you that they need to go to the potty!? The key? Add lights, noisemakers, little switches, stuffed animals and tennis balls.
My daughter spent what must have been an hour and a half pointing at the various water bugs ('Fishy!!!") and hissing roaches, turning the switches on the solar panel exhibits on and off, running after tennis balls on the Rube Goldberg like mechanical energy demo, and pointing her fingers at the Van de Graaff generator on the noisy hydropower table. If this place stayed open 24/7, my daughter would never leave. -
Review from Yun C.
8/8/2011
WOW!!! A Zoo in Palo Alto??? and the best of all it's FREE!!! WOW!! They do take $3/person donation :)
We took the nieces on Saturday... I was really excited (even more than the kiddos hahaha!). As we entered, we were greeted by a very friendly staff named Julie, she showed us where the restrooms were and what they had on display and a short briefing about dos and donts :)
The junior museum was up front before the zoo area. There are a small children play area, a spider web where the little rascals can climb on, a hiding cave with stuff animals, a small babies play area and several interactive exhibits for children.
They were having BUGS exhibits when we were there and it was fun to see different bugs :) The kids enjoyed it!
The zoo was small..but it was perfect for small children. They have several types of snakes, lizards, rabbits, ducks, geese, BOB CATS, peacock, leopard shark, etc.... they even have a BAT CAVE... very cool!!
We spent about an hour and a half at the zoo and museum and then we went to the adjacent park and played at the children area.
We had lots of fun!!!!! We look forward to going back in the near future :) -
Review from KissTeL M.
San Mateo, CA
5/13/2011
I love a appreciate this tiny children's museum and zoo! We would take our daughter here and she loves it!
1.) It's FREE ! ! ! there's a suggested donation of $3 per person but I suggest you give a bit more. It'll benefit the animals and the community! Yes, definitely for a good cause. Oh yeah, and it includes free parking! free education! Lots of free free free!
2.) Small museum and very educational. There's science structures for kids and even adults to play with. It's pretty fun!
3.) There's a good variety of animals for a small zoo! They are well taken care of. Some animals include: rabbits, bobcats, bats, fishes, birds, turtles, lizards, snakes... etc.
Bring your kids! Palo alto is a clean, safe place! ;) Have fun! -
Review from Crystal B.
Cupertino, CA
8/9/2011
Love, the perfect experience for little ones.
One thing, I wish they had staff at some stations to guide the kids along. I think kids would get more out of it that way.
It gets chaotic when busy, I went on a friday. -
Review from priscilla M.
San Jose, CA
4/7/2011
The perfect place for small children.
The appeal:
1. Free parking
2. Small zoo: snakes, rabbits, geese, fish, rats, ferrets, turtles, lizards, racoons, etc...
3. $3 optional donation per person
What its all about:
It has the hands on educational activities like the tech museum without the large crowds, it has arts and crafts for the older kids, it has a zoo with benches so you can enjoy the outside and enjoy a snack or light lunch, and a play area in the front of the building. Also, there are playgrounds behind the building to enjoy a little outside sun. Despite the fact that the facility is small, you get what you pay for, ITS FREE!!! So if you are looking for more, than you are going to have to pay more at exploritorium or CDM. This is more of an hour event not to spend the whole day.
I enjoy it because I don't get a headache and it saves me the panic attack fearing to lose track of my daughter and she is able to exert her energy and get an opportunity to play with the exhibit without older and bigger kids pushing her out of the way. I am just glad I have an alternative when the summer days are too hot for the park. -
Review from Johnson c.
Palo Alto, CA
1/9/2011
Too small ? $3 donation?
It is free and yet very educational place for my kids; thus I would not complain like other reviews about the area is small.
This place is great for my 2 kids for an hour of so full of fun. They always love it here even though they have seen all the animals and played with all the fun experimental equipment.
For a great place like this, I would pay for a few dollars per kid; thus let's not complain that they merely ask for $3 'donation'. -
Review from C C.
Mountain View, CA
5/2/2011
We went here on a Saturday afternoon and as some previous reviewers mentioned - the parking lot does get full quickly. We had to find street parking. The museum and zoo are indeed small - very small - but it was perfect for my toddler. He had a great time walking around the zoo. He'd go back and forth on the little bridge, check out the pond, walk over to the bobcats and head back to the bridge. He also really enjoyed the bat cave. Then we headed back inside to play with hands-on exhibits. After about 10 minutes there, a bunch of bigger kids came so it was a bit of a challenge for my little one. Still - there was enough space for him to find other things to do. Overall, this place is great and I highly recommend it to those with little kids.
The one con - there's no changing table in the bathroom which is a bummer. We didn't need it but something to consider.
The good - it's free! And plenty for your little one to do and burn off some energy. We'll be coming back. -
Review from ceana k.
Menlo Park, CA
9/27/2010 ROTD 5/13/2011
I don't know how this place is not getting 5 stars. I mean it's FREE (they do take donations, though) and it's for kids. Yes, it's not the greatest zoo out there but hey - they try and make this a great place for kids.
Now that I'm a momma, I have to find things for my rambunctious little boy to do. He absolutely LOVES animals and I thought this place would be perfect. It houses about 20 or so animals, reptiles and fish. The best exhibit is the bobcat exhibit, when the cats are out. But they also have two bunnies and a duck that LOVES quacking. :D They recently opened up a bat exhibit and also have a racoon and peacock exhibits. Not all the animals are out all the time, but there's still enough to see for a 30min-1 hour trip, especially since the museum has tons of things to do for older toddlers. While my boy is still under 1, he was able to enjoy the animals though I'm sure when he's older he'll enjoy the museum portion more.
But seriously people...knocking a free place that gives out a great service to the people in the community - why?! -
Review from Alena D.
San Jose, CA
5/13/2011
Wonderful place for kids,
inside different activities, outside - little animals,
nice playground near by...
Will come back! -
Review from Joshua H.
Newton, MA
12/26/2010
This place is awesome. It combines a modest indoor space full of science-y activities with a small zoo. We went there twice during our week-long vacation, first by ourselves and then with some friends from Napa.
It's safe for toddlers to run around by themselves and our two-year-old had a great time: sticking tennis balls down tubes, pressing buttons, exploring a cave filled with stuffed animals...
The zoo is pretty skimpy - she didn't care for it but there were lots of other kids enjoying the snakes, lizards, birds, bobcats, and other animals.
Even better, it's in a middle of a huge public park with three separate and well-designed jungle gyms.
Plenty of parking at the attached lot.
The museum/zoo is free, but they do ask for a donation. -
Review from Lindsey A.
San Jose, CA
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wish more places like this existed in the world. This museum is small, but jam packed with things to see! There was a bug exhibit when we stopped off and it occupied my daughter (2) for at least an hour. Outside, there was a wide array of animals to look at, including bats. There were lots of volunteers available to help out. And the biggest perk: IT'S FREE (on a donation basis!!) Love.
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Review from Jen D.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2010
Few places are appropriate for an 18-month old to explore freely, but this one is fantastic.
Free admission, with suggested $3 donation is a small price to pay for two hours of toddler entertainment. There are plenty of places for adults to sit and watch while the tots do their thing in the play area indoors. The place is small enough that you don't have to keep a hand on your child the whole time.
If you have small ones, I suggest going at opening time, as it gets crowded with older and more rambunctious kids around 11:30.
The animals are up close and interesting, and if you're 1 all animals are exotic and fascinating, even ferrets and geese. The bobcats are great! You're less than 10 feet from them. There are little corners in the zoo for taking a break--a gated area with statues of bobcats, and one with stone frogs. The zoo is small but well planned. There is lots of shade and plants everywhere, and the looping paths give the kids a place to run around without getting lost. -
Review from Jessica L.
Palo Alto, CA
3/8/2011
Reasons to go at a glance:
- Cool animals
- It's free (donation if possible)
- Great place to go if you want to kill and hour or so
My boyfriend and I visited today, for me the first time, and I loved it!!
Inside the building has several educational exhibits on clean energy, important of recycling etc. I didn't spend too much time here because there were a fair amount of children, but the exhibits looked fun.
On our way out to the back area we passed by a woman giving a lecture to a group of children about lava rocks.
The backyard-zoo area is wonderful! There are standard children's zoo animals such as rabbits, ducks, geese, etc but there are also leopard sharks, sea anemones, bobcats, golden pheasants, pythons, ferrets, a peacock, and more!
Currently, there are two exhibits being installed, one of which is supposed to be weaver birds, opening in 2012! I didn't catch what the other one was.
I have to say, I loved being an adult in a children's zoo because the exhibits were scaled smaller, and I was able to see the animals closer. Most noticeably being bat cave. There were two groups of bats hanging upside down and I could actually get pretty close. -
Review from Will I A m.
San Francisco, CA
7/23/2011
For what it is, a free museum and "zoo", it's a good place for toddlers. I would say 2-3 yr olds. They ask for a donation of $3. Onsite parking. This place is very small. The museum and zoo can be done in max of 30 mins.
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Review from Jasmine M.
Union City, CA
9/1/2010
It's FREE!!!! So considering we didn't have to pay it wasn't too bad! It's cute and all but the only animal my kids saw was a the peacock who shrieked at us! The science center was in a small area and kept my kids busy for a while. There is a playground for big kids next door.
It's good for the toddlers but those who are older would probably get bored. -
Review from Randell C.
Newark, CA
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great hidden gem in the middle of Palo Alto. If you have a active toddler lots of hands on exhibits and the zoo is quaint. If that isn't enough it's free. Afterwards if the little one still has a ton of energy there's the cool playground next door.
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Review from Craig K.
San Jose, CA
8/19/2010
My only complaint is the size... it's a bit small but other than that my 3 year old had a great time. I mistakenly figured there we would be some way to get change for the donation when we got there but there isn't. The lady at the customer service desk said she was out of change and to catch them the next time... Nice. The zoo portion is cool. There are a few displays still under construction so we didn't get to see everything. The museum portion was a lot of fun... I could see older kids getting bored quickly though. The only way I could get my daughter to leave willingly was to take her to the playground next door.
I'll be back... and next time I'll bring the proper dollar amount. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Belmont, CA
11/1/2008
This is a very accessible place to take little kids to spend a couple hours of engagement with interactive exhibits and running around viewing various animals (ducks, turtles, bats, owl, raccoons, bunnies, etc.) outside.
It reminds me a little of Coyote Point, but it's less expensive, smaller, and the exhibits appear more hands-on. Parking is free and the entrance is a suggested donation of $3 per person. This is a wonderful little museum / zoo for the younger crowd (probably ideal for ages 2-5). There is a playground / park next to the museum, which is also fun, though geared toward older children.Listed in: Places for Toddlers/Kids to…
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Review from mark m.
Mountain View, CA
9/26/2011
What a great place to take the kids and see Bobcats and a cool science play area!!
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Review from Jennifer n.
San Jose, CA
5/26/2009
OMG! What a cute little place to take little ones!
This place is simply darling! So perfect for my little man. There is no cost but $3 donation bin is placed at the door per person. Which is nothing if it makes your little ones smile.
The place reminded me like a miniture exploratorium for toddlers inside and a small zoo outside which is perfect for their tiny attention span. I love how he could run around the whole area and he would not get lost. :D The place had fishes, snakes, rats, lizards, a bob cat, turtles, goose, ducks, bats (yuck), birds, an owl, a peacock and baby sharks. :D
After we left, I got a big hug and a "thank you mommies." ended with a smile, that turned in to a yawn. :) His day was filled with fun. -
Review from Ken K.
3/26/2008
To really appreciate this place, you need to have a budget conscious mindframe (you're already at a huge advantage if you're a mondo A$IAN CHEAPNE$$ CHEAP$TER, whether you are A$IAN or not) and think inside the box; a box that is a child's mind, say between the ages of 2 to 5.
You come here because you 1) have a kid or 2) you've been tasked with caring for one (or more) for the day or afternoon, and you are scratching your head as to where to take them next, other than the local playground, a trip to the tried and true breakfast type joints like Hobee's, and other places like Chuck E Cheese (aka RAT PIZZA with games n' fun). Every self respecting adult only takes their kids to CEC/Rat Pizza for the rides, literally consume the baked dough bread with RAT cheese and tomato sauce at your own risk.
So a search of "where to take the kids" online revealed search results in the form of websites and blogs, many of which point to this hidden gem and lifesaver for parents, at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. Seemingly a non-profit type of place, they do not charge admission like most other museums, theme parks, and zoos.
Word of warning, the parking lot quickly becomes full on weekends, as most parents and caregivers pretty much have the same idea. This misleads parents into thinking the zoo starts in the parking lot (when you actually have to go inside to get there). When the lot is full, try up the block or further away in the residential area.
Donations here are strictly optional, there is a drop box once you pass the entrance. I encourage the a$ian cheapne$$ cheap$ter$ to dig real real real deep into your pocket$ to donate at lea$t two dollar$. This goes back into the care and maintenance of the place, and is well worth that minimum amount, especially if the kids have a blast here (which they usually do).
Once you go past the entrance, the fun and games starts to the right. Various exhibits requiring your kid's involvement one way or another, mostly demonstrating the laws of physics, gravity, motion, geometry. Great educational fun, although it is easy for this area to become chaotic, when out of control kids run around and throw/shuffle stuff around, and copycat kids do the same. Hint: opening scene of Mrs Doubtfire as I said before.
Further in is a door leading outdoors to the animal exhibit area, with some smaller showcases behind glass of smaller creatures, to caged birds (peacock, some sort of funky looking pheasant, and a humongous looking owl that would make Harry Potter want to trade in his). Near the center is a mini pond where you will see two geese looking birds, alongside a giant rabbit or hare. Then further against the wall side is another exhibit of a cross section of a creek, showing the joys of ecology, moss, plankton, little fishies, greenery and the ilk.
Chances are the little ones will enjoy the owl, and the rabbits and geese like birds by the pond, as there is a little bridge for them to cross in between.
An easy way to kill an hour to two with the little ones, or to keep them pre-occupied, rather than them sitting at home watching cartoon Arsenio Hall (whether it be Nick and Junior, Disney, or DVDs) .
Little kids can be like women and certain men. You have to keep them attentive and interested, take them to new places (so they don't think you're a tried and true Johnny who can't learn new tricks) and reward them with little treats like trips to places like this (for the kids only, I doubt you want to take a hot date here). And in return you are rewarded with happy smiles and hopefully preventing near future temper tantrums and emotional and physical meltdowns. -
Review from Michelle W.
Los Altos, CA
2/22/2008
Qualified 5 stars. If you fit the following catgory, this is a 5 star place:
You have children under age 5.
You enjoy smaller less crowded venues
You do not get bored easily
This is not the place for you if
Your children are older
You, or your children, like to explore lots and lots of new things,
The thought of watching yoru child make and remake a stop action video about a dinosaur dance over and over for half an hour would send you wrenching in pain from bordem.
The suggested donation of $2 to enter is a godsend! It has kept us happy and in from the rain and within budget on several occasions. We also like the bat exhibit and the California stream exhibit. They are cool things that would get lost in a larger "zoo." I tend to need to move from exhibit to exhibit a little quicker than my daughter who can enjoy focused play on one exhibit for a longer time than I can. But this place is small enough that I can sit down and watch her from a distance in a way that is not possible at other museums and that keeps me attentive.Listed in: The Kid List, On the Cheap, MUSE see-ums
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Review from Geoff D.
11/20/2007 1 photo
I have to give the Junior Museum and Zoo props just for being here in the heart of Palo Alto. Neither the museum's play area nor the zoo are going to rival the offerings you can find in SF, Oakland or San Jose... but for those of us who live here, it's wonderful to have this local play place & access to animals.
My five year old is now starting to outgrow general playtime at the museum, but we're excited to try some of their cool-sounding science & animal classes for kids of different ages. -
Review from Justin H.
San Jose, CA
5/22/2009
Late one Saturday morning I decided I needed to get the wife and kids out of the house to go do something together. I quick search on Yelp for something kid friendly and this place popped up. One of the reviews mentioned it was uncrowded, kid friendly, FREE (unless you donate), and there was a lot to do. I was sold! Printed the directions and we were off.
As you walk in you see a donation robot. Feed him the money and he eats it. Makes donating fun for the kids.
The first room you enter is a science type room. Machines that make tennis balls travel through the different stages. Each kid can stand at a station and work the ball through his part of the machine. Some exhibits showcased wind power. Some exhibits geared toward younger kids had plastic discs traveling down peg boards. There were some electrical switches they could wire to make sound, fans, and lights work. It was small, but anyone under 5 would think it was Disneyland.
Then there is a zoo outside. They had some reptiles, fish, an owl, bats, ducks, geese, rats, mice, ferrets, racoons, fish, shark, turtles, rabbits, a peacock, and a hawk.
The great part for us was that our son got to see everything in about 2 hours. By then, we were bored, he had seen everything, and we could go. He's 3 years old and if the place was any larger it would have really worn him out, but this was perfect.
The only negative thing I could mention was there is no gate. My son got confused for a second and started out the front door with a group that was leaving. I would prefer there be some type of adult controlled gate. Also, the zoo cages make it a bit hard to actually see the animals.
The suggested donation is $3 per person. -
Review from Sam W.
San Mateo, CA
12/18/2009
A sweet little place for children for FREE! A lot of fun acvtivities for children 2 and up. But I think kids can truly enjoy this museum when they're about 3 (just my personal opiinion). Cute animals in the zoo: fish, mice, rabbits, etc. Don't expect lion and tigers!
Even though my kids and I like the San Jose Discovery Museum better, I'd like to give them 5 stars because it's free. They collect donations whereas the Discovery Museum costs over $10/person. -
Review from Christina L.
San Jose, CA
11/15/2010
Wonderful place to take toddlers!
Small enough so you don't have to worry about the kids wandering off - yet large enough to entertain the little munchkins!
There is also a great park within walking distance along with a community pool - with a designated kids pool area. -
Review from Katharine A.
San Jose, CA
3/20/2007
Who would think that there would be a zoo in the middle of Palo Alto?
The animals are far from exotic (raccoons, owls, bats, peacocks), but it is a great way to spend part of your day if you are a toddler. Inside, rotating exhibits create a large playroom feel. I've been coming here since I was a kid and I continue to bring my niece/nephew. Donation are encouraged, but if you live nearby the family membership is the way to go.Listed in: Places to take my nephew
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Review from rinku i.
Mountain View, CA
2/6/2010
I give it a 5 star because :-
I have an energetic 3 yr old , who loves animals & exploring ...!The sensory gadgets though not many are good .
Its Free !
Its a small place , you can be done with it in 2 hrs ...perfect for a Little ones pre-nap or post -nap entertainment .
There's a wonderful kids playground just next to it , its an added benefit if its not a rainy day ...
Note: Do not compare it with SF , or San Jose children's museums ..
My son loves it & its awesome . -
Review from Don M.
Burlingame, CA
7/18/2006 1 Check-in Here
This is a great neighborhood resource. It consists of an indoor area (which I guess is considered the museum) and an outdoor area with all of the animals. The indoor part really isn't a museum in the usual sense. It's a big play room for the kids. I think it's called a museum because the displays periodically change, but since I've been going with my daughter it hasn't changed.
The museum area is mostly filled with a series of science-oriented props that kids can play with. Typically these are devices that allow the kids to drop and throw balls around or just watch others do it. My daughter loves it. It can get crowded, but all of the areas can accommodate multiple kids so its never been a problem. The kids are always well behaved there too.
The big play room also has a play kitchen area that some kids like to use. The place is good for kids 1 year to 5. There's a couple of displays for older kids (5 to 7?) that allow them to make movies and play with films, but my daughter's still too young for those.
You enter the zoo through the back of the museum. It's not a great collection of animals. They have a couple of bobcats that seem to sleep a lot, some swans, ducks, turtles, rabbits, a raccoon, and a peacock. It's a nice little layout and doesn't take long to see. My daughter loves watching the ducks and turtles swim in the little pond.
There's no charge to enter and it's next to a park with a playground. They do request a small donation (one or two dollars).
It's definitely worth going to if you are heading to downtown Palo Alto and want to distract your kids for a couple of hours or just tire them out.
You can also hold birthday parties there. -
Review from Jeff R.
Half Moon Bay, CA
5/22/2011
Great little zoo for toddlers, Not that many beasts, but small and intimate. Easy parking right near front door, nice way to kill an hour in Palo Alto with your little one .
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Review from Ashlee J.
6/17/2010
This is my go to for a rainy day. I simply adore this place! My son loves playing with all the different educational activities inside. He enjoys the zoo & the big park next door too. It's free with a suggested donation, so if you are outta cash one visit you can always make it up the next time you go.
The zoo area is in mid renovation this summer, but will be even better come fall time. Hopefully they figure out the bathroom problem as it is cramped. Even so I can't get myself to give it anything less than 5 stars! -
Review from April B.
Los Altos, CA
2/15/2007
Warning: Heavily biased review as follows
I love this place especially since I worked at the zoo during the summer of 2003. I got to know the zoo curators quite well and when I was invited into the bobcat cage to play with the kitties, I jumped at the invitation. I had a lot of fun not only with the bobcats, but working with the people and animals there as well. To this day, when I visit, I could still get a rise out of the geese when I call out "Aaaaaaalex!" Gets the gray one all going, which gets Roxie, the white one, all riled up as well. Makes for a very noisy reunion.
Also to this day, I still get asked if I want to come back to help out with their summer camps. I have to graciously decline, though. If there are any Yelpers out there looking to work with kids this summer, give Karen Miel a call.
