CuriOdyssey Museum, San Mateo: wonder of science

One of my favorite Bay area Museums is CuriOdyssey, in San Mateo. CuriOdyssey is a kid-friendly environmental science and wildlife center housing more than 50 non-releasable animals native to the area. Even if you don’t have a child with you when you go, you’ll experience that sense of wonder all kids feel when the see the animal life and landscape presented in just this way. This science museum in the beautiful Coyote Point Recreation Area just does it right.

CuriOdyssey also feature many other creatures and curiosities. Show up Tuesday through Sunday around 1pm and you can watch the young bobcats chow down on bobcat delicacies.

Or watch the otter feeding at 12:30pm any day. No matter when you visit, you can enjoy live animal encounters and cutting-edge hands-on exhibits, a 4,000 square foot aviary, honeybee exhibition, hummingbird garden and butterfly habitat.

The museum is a great place to spend the day with kids when you’re looking for something to do over certain holidays. They also offer science classes for kids, wildlife shows, children’s birthday parties, and group events, which all require a little planning.

My fave: a stroll along a brook for a birds-eye view of the newly refurbished 4,000 square foot aviary, walk through an enlarged honeycomb into a new honeybee exhibition, and enjoy a hummingbird garden and butterfly habitat. Also, the setting of the museum offers an amazing hiking opportunity before or after your visit inside.

What else is there to love? The museum offers a few ways to save on admission, including free community days, free admission for teachers, 50% off days for military, and several other ways to get discounts.

Savvy Savings at CuriOdyssey

Depending on when you go to CuriOdyssey, discounts and free days may be available. Tickets are regularly $6 to $9 per person.

1. Free Admission Days: The museum offers a few free Community Days {see schedule}.
2. Teachers Free: Teachers always get in free with valid Teacher ID.
3. Group Discount — Groups of 10 or more.
4. Military Discount — 50% off regular admission to military families from Memorial Day to Labor Day via the Blue Star Museums program.
5. KQED/KTEH Discount — Members get 25% off regular adult admission.

CuriOdyssey Know Before You Go

• HOURS: Open Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm. Closed Monday.
• HOLIDAYS: Open on: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January), President’s Day (February), Memorial Day (May), Independence Day (July), Labor Day (September), Day after Thanksgiving (November), New Year’s Eve (December), Veterans Day (November).
• Car Entrance Fee: The museum is inside the Coyote Point Recreation Area, and the vehicle entrance fee is $6 per car (for nonmembers). The electronic pay station that accepts credit cards and cash (no change).
• WHERE: CuriOdyssey, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401. (Located in Coyote Point Park off Highway 101.)

Photo credits: Images courtesy of CuriOdyssey.