Summary
Kidspace Children’s Museum Location and Hours
Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena is one of the area’s top children’s museums, providing a fantastic opportunity for kids to engage in educational activities while having fun. The museum is situated at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103, within Brookside Park, directly across from the Rose Bowl.
Hours: See website
Closed On: July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and select Rose Bowl events.
Cost: $13 for adults and children, infants under 1 are free. Free Family Night from 4-8 pm on the first Tuesday of every month. Discounts available for EBT Card Holders, military personnel, and AAA members.
Contact: (626) 449-9144, www.kidspacemuseum.org
Getting to the Kidspace Museum
Kidspace is fairly well hidden in Brookside Park, across from the Rose Bowl. Fortunately, there is clear signage guiding visitors from nearby streets to Lot 1 and the walkway leading to the museum. Ample free parking is available in Lot 1.
Google Map to Kidspace Museum
This information was accurate at the time of publication. Please check with venues for the most current information.
Highlights of the Kidspace Museum
Thanks to Southern California’s pleasant weather, Kidspace offers numerous outdoor activities year-round. While the museum has a variety of interesting indoor exhibits for inclement weather, children can also enjoy playing outside in the Water Play area and the Interpretive Arroyo during warmer months, and footwear is required.
The Early Childhood Learning Center features padded playground equipment designed for pre-K children, and the museum also offers eight-week Mommy and Me classes. Kirby’s Kid’s Corner provides an enjoyable outdoor playground for younger kids.
In the I-Play Zone, children can build their own worlds using giant Imagination Playground connector blocks, enhancing their creativity through play.
The expanded Arroyo Adventure includes several unique features, such as the Flood and Erosion Plain, The Hawk’s Nest, Pepper Tree Music Jam, hidden forts, and a mud play area.
The Galvin Physics Forest offers 13 interactive physics-inspired exhibits, allowing children to experiment with bottle rockets, tennis ball launchers, and various constructing and rolling activities.
Within the Roberts Pavilion, the Storytellers Studio encourages imaginative play through puppetry, costumes, and storytelling, while The Ant Hole invites kids to crawl through giant ant tunnels. The Climbing Towers provide an opportunity for children to explore various heights, and The Dig lets future archaeologists uncover dinosaur fossils.
Finally, the Imagination Workshop, accessible for ages 4 and up, includes everyday items and real tools for hands-on creation, particularly on Technology Tuesdays, where projects focus on circuits, electronics, and robotics.
In the Wisteria Courtyard, kids will love racing tricycles around the Trike Track.
The Layout of the Kidspace Museum
The Kidspace Museum consists of three main buildings. Visitors enter through Building 1, which contains the Early Childhood Development Center, Busy Bee Learning Store, Kidspace Café, and the Celebration Center, ultimately leading to the Ticket Booth located in the Central Courtyard.
The Partridge Pavilion, located to the left, houses administrative offices as well as the First Aid Station and Lost and Found.
The Central Courtyard features patio dining for the café and additional outdoor tables. Directly across the courtyard is Building 3 (Roberts Pavilion), the primary exhibit hall, which includes the Storyteller Studio, Imagination Workshop, and Climbing Towers.
Notably, outdoor exhibits currently occupy a larger footprint than the indoor space. The Wisteria Courtyard is a paved area directly behind the museum buildings, and beyond is the Stone Hollow Amphitheater. The surrounding hillside is landscaped to resemble a miniature version of Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco, featuring eight distinct activity and learning zones.
Eat, Shop, and Amenities
The Kidspace Café by Modern Art Catering
The Kidspace Café offers an array of classic kid-friendly options, including burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches. Additionally, they provide healthier and more sophisticated offerings for both children and adults. Prices remain reasonable for museum dining.
The Busy Bee Learning Store
This gift shop features a wide selection of educational toys, games, and activities. The store frequently updates its inventory with the latest educational toys and can provide recommendations tailored to specific age groups. While they strive to carry items relevant to the museum’s exhibits, a variety of other products can also be found.
Restrooms and Drinking Fountains
Facilities include three sets of Restrooms equipped with changing tables. Locations include near the café, the Early Childhood Development Center in Building 1, and a separate rest room building located to the left of the Wisteria Courtyard.
Drinking fountains are located in the Central Courtyard and adjacent to the Amphitheater in the Gardens.
