The Lawrence Hall of Science — Attraction in Berkeley

This has become a total disappointment. From the website you'd think this was amazing, as I remember it being in the 80's. For the price, there was very little to do and there wasn't as much thought put into managing the exhibits, signage for parking,

There are no dinosaurs or anything like that anymore. The whale isn't fun to climb on bc it's burning hot to the touch. The staff appeared to be disinterested college students who probably were forced to do hours. The staff I interacted with seemed bored to death and unhappy being there. The keeper who gave the animal ambassador talk was a lovely lady and I believe her name was Fira. She had the patience of a saint as kids interrupted her left and right! She had good ways of redirecting off topic questions. She was showing... a bearded dragon? We were expecting something that was a bit more unusual I guess.

The AC was off, in August. I was sweating like crazy especially in the main floor. It was stuffy and humid. The 3D movie was shown on a lecture projector screen with some kind of weird blotch in the top right. Oh my god the other people there were so rude. They were coming in and out during the movie, shining flashlights, and calling out for each other, totally disregarding the staff's directions.

The Well Played room was kind of a weird joke. They had several pinball machines, basketball shooting machines, and skeeball machines set up and some inexplicably lousy golf putting areas. This was a big room and it felt very much like a waste of space.

The snack bar was closed. In the gift shop, you could by a Lunchable... for $5.99! Wowza. One of the toys we bought at the gift shop (a kaleidoscope) broke right away. It had 3 sharp long rectangles of mirror in it held in place by thin cardboard and that goes right by your eye... Uh. Not recommended for kids.

I wish that the proprietors of the Hall of Science had been to the San Jose Children's Museum, the Orange County Children's Museum (Discovery Cube), the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the CA Academy of Sciences. These are well done with plenty of well-designed and thought out things for children of all ages and stages to do. The signage helps guide guests and traffic. Parking isn't based on "hmmm uh, I guess we park here?" Films shown are shown on a screen large enough for the 3D to actually like... work. Animals shown aren't ones that people probably have as pets already. There is a dedicated, well stocked area for under 3's to play unimpeded by bigger kids.

All of these would improve the value of the visit. As it is, I paid $100 to get in for 4 people and my kids were continuously frustrated by setup flaws or with activities lacking signage which kind of explains what to do. I really liked the paper airplane shooter though!

All in all, for the price/time, I wish we had gone to SF Academy of Sciences or San Jose Children's Museum. I cannot recommend...

Title: A FantaAs a science enthusiast, I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Laurence Hall of Science in Berkeley, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. The museum, perched atop the beautiful hills of Berkeley, offers a fascinating and interactive experience for visitors of all ages.

Upon entering, I was immediately captivated by the museum's vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. The staff members were friendly and knowledgeable, providing personalized guidance and making me feel right at home. The layout of the museum is well-designed, with clear signage and easy-to-navigate exhibits.

One of the highlights of my visit was the plethora of hands-on exhibits. From the immersive planetarium experience to the interactive physics and biology exhibits, there was something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed the outdoor exhibits that allowed me to explore the wonders of nature firsthand. The interactive displays brought complex scientific concepts to life and engaged me in a way that textbooks or lectures never could.

The Laurence Hall of Science also offers a variety of educational programs and workshops for students of all ages. These programs foster a love for learning and inspire curiosity in young minds. It was heartwarming to see children immersed in the joy of discovery, guided by the passionate educators who nurtured their scientific growth.

The museum's breathtaking views of the Bay Area are an added bonus. The elevated location allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscape while engaging with the exhibits. It truly feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

In terms of amenities, the museum boasts clean and well-maintained facilities. The onsite café offers a variety of refreshments, ensuring that visitors can refuel during their exploration. Additionally, the gift shop offers an array of science-related merchandise, providing a great opportunity to bring a piece of the Laurence Hall of Science home.

Overall, my experience at the Laurence Hall of Science was nothing short of magnificent. It is an excellent destination for families, students, and anyone with an interest in science. The museum's dedication to creating an engaging and educational environment is commendable. I highly recommend a visit to the Laurence Hall of Science in Berkeley; it is an adventure that will delight and inspire curious minds for...

To everyone who wants to visit this exhibition, I really cannot recommend it. Save the money.

The exhibition was a great disappointment. It is absolutely not worth the 20-dollar price if you compare it with other institutions. I am still not sure what the purpose of this exhibition is. The different topics stations are really badly explained or not explained at all. A lot of stations are out of order. Moreover, it feels like the different stations are randomly ordered with no real thought about how to teach science.

I think the worst part is that a lot of parents go there with their children way too young to even understand the background. Then they leave their kids alone, running around and pushing random buttons. It feels like a kindergarten with way too many overexcited children. For the rest of the visitors, there is no possibility to enjoy or learn something about science in this environment.

However, you can not make the parents responsible since the explanations at the different stations are so bad that if they don't have any background in this area they are not able to understand it and teach their children.

I suggest the responsible person for the exhibition make a trip to the Swiss Science Center Technorama to see how this kind of exhibition is done correctly so that everyone can learn something...