I am very happy to present this cheat sheet for Lawrence Hall of Science for preschoolers, the third in our series: The Three-year olds guide to everything fun in the Bay Area!
My three-year-olds came to LHS ready to play and learn. Our visit was a joyful exploration of chasing one shiny thing after another. They were first captivated by the Playtopia exhibit, running back and forth between the air puffer machine, the installation of plasticky pins, the climbing structure, and the ball tracks.
Wandering around the playful Playtopia Juegolandia, designed for kids aged 0–6, was definitely a highlight. They could have spent the entire day here, climbing, stacking colorful blocks, and launching beach balls with the wind cannon. While some areas of the museum are geared toward older kids, this space was perfect for little ones eager to explore and burn off some energy.
The two main rooms feature rotating exhibits, on our visit Future of Food and Making Music were on display. In general, I find the main exhibits hit-or-miss for preschoolers, depending on the balance between reading and hands-on interaction.
In full explore mode, they ran straight into the Making Music exhibit. They picked up a few items, quickly decided it wasn’t quite their thing, and off they went. This exhibit might be better suited for slightly older kids.
Our next stop was Future of Food, which was a big hit. The robotic farmbots they got to navigate along a track tapped into their love of cars, and the interactive play kitchen and farm setup were perfect for imaginative play. This colorful space is full of hands-on activities to keep energetic toddlers engaged for a while. Don’t miss the hanging bacon, it’s great for a quick game of hide-and-seek.
While The Lawrence is a great indoor option for a rainy day, it also features two large outdoor spaces worth exploring. We ventured out to Dinosaur Lookout first, but the loud noises from the dinos were a bit too scary, and we quickly headed towards the water play area. They had a blast stepping across stones and hunting for rocks and leaves to toss into the stream. I was pleased that no one fell in or got their shoes soaked. Another victory for science!
By this point, we were running short on time, but they insisted on heading downstairs for a bit more exploration. Surprisingly, the stairs themselves became part of the fun as they took turns running up and down the blue and yellow staircases.
The Animal Discovery Zone features reptiles and small creatures in tanks positioned at a child-friendly level. The Bearded Dragon near the front entrance is especially friendly and curious about visitors, my three-year-olds were fascinated by him and would like to keep him. Hours for this exhibit vary, so be sure to check ahead to avoid any disappointment.
Downstairs is also an opportunity for a bathroom and snack break. Bring your own snacks to enjoy in the outdoor nature lab or head downstairs try ‘ammatka Cafe, inspired by traditional Ohlone flavors. Both options include that amazing view of the whole wide world. On our next visit, we’ll start downstairs to explore some of the exhibits and the Outdoor Nature Lab that we didn’t have time for this time around.
As we left, they needed to make stops at the enormous whale and DNA climbing strand, we spent about 25 more minutes climbing on all the parts. Just a heads-up so you can plan your departure time accordingly.
Plan your visit to The Lawrence Hall of Science
Location: 1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720
Getting there: We drive up Centennial past the Rose Garden and park in the lot (additional fee!), On weekdays UC Berkeley runs a shuttle from the Berkeley bart station.
Hours: Open Daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Prices: Your UNDER 3-year old is FREE; $25 Adults; $25 Children 3-17 and Seniors 65+; Free for Members, UC Berkeley students and staff (as of 1/25). See also: LHS Membership, is it worth it?
Stroller-friendly: Yes!
Food: ‘ammatka Cafe, inspired by traditional Ohlone flavors and ingredients, is located in the downstairs and offers family-friendly fare such as sandwiches and Ohlone brownies. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own food and enjoy it outside or in the downstairs cafe. Basic snacks are sold in the gift shop, but be warned before you enter: it’s a full-scale toy store!
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