Looking for something new, immersive, and a bit magical to do with your kids on a summer day? The Bubble Planet Experience has arrived in Oakland, and it’s a wild, whimsical walk through a world in which everything is bubble-themed—from rooms filled with floating balloons to giant ball pits, and mirror and light illusions, all adding up to entertaining interactive sensory experiences. It’s part art exhibit, part playground—a perfect combo for young children and Instagram-happy parents.
What to Expect at Bubble Planet Experience in Oakland
As you wander through the 10+ themed rooms, you’ll find light-up floor panels that kids can’t stop hopping on, floating metallic balloons, a massive ball pit, and for an extra fee, a VR hot air balloon ride.
For the four-year-old in my party, The Bubble Planet Experience was an ideal combination of a hands-on museum, a light show, and a dream sequence. She wanted to stay longer in Every Single Room.
The ticket-buying process requires you to choose a timeslot. It was quite empty when we went at midday on a Friday. I didn’t get the feeling they would ask you to leave after any amount of time, so take your time and feel free to revisit a favorite room. I noticed that the adults were getting ready to move on before our preschooler, so I had to remind myself to move at her pace. We spent about an hour and a half on Bubble Planet, but Laila could have played much longer.
The location is close to the Oakland Museum, and a late Friday afternoon timeslot would have enabled us to pair this outing with OMCA’s Friday Nights programming.
Pro tip: Socks are required in the ball pit room. If you’ve come without socks, you can buy them for $5/pair.
Note: Finding the entrance was a bit tricky for us since we parked on 10th Street. The main entrance to the building is actually on East Dr, despite the 10th Street address.
Plan Your Visit to Bubble Planet, Oakland
📍 Location: 10 10th Street in Oakland, inside the Henry J Kaiser Convention Center
⏰ Hours: Open daily with timed-entry tickets starting as early as 9:30 am
💵 Price: $25–$30 per person; kids under 3 are free
🚗 Parking: $15 parking is available in a safe, onsite lot; metered parking on the street will be cheaper.
More info and tickets to Bubble Planet Experience here >
Let us know if you go—tag us in your bubble pics! #510families 💙
