The Tech Interactive in San Jose: Our Family Review of This Amazing Science Museum
Planning a visit to The Tech Interactive in San Jose? See our family review, favorite hands-on exhibits, age recommendations, current updates, and practical tips for visiting with kids.
Estimated reading time: 37 minutes
If you are looking for one of the best science museums for kids in the San Francisco Bay Area, The Tech Interactive in downtown San Jose absolutely deserves a spot on your list.
We visited back when it was still commonly called The Tech Museum, and even though the official name has changed, I still catch myself calling it the San Jose Tech Museum. Whatever you call it, this place is fantastic.
We spent essentially an entire day here with our six-year-old daughter, and she had an absolute blast.
The easiest way I can describe The Tech Interactive is that it feels more like a traditional hands-on science museum than San Francisco’s Exploratorium. Think along the lines of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia or the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, but planted right in the middle of Silicon Valley.
And you can tell.
There are plenty of classic science museum experiences involving the human body, engineering, building and experimentation. But The Tech takes those concepts several steps further with robotics, biotechnology, digital design and other technology-focused exhibits that feel perfectly at home in San Jose.
Our visit was in 2019, so some of the individual experiences we enjoyed have changed since then. That’s actually part of the nature of this museum. Technology changes, and The Tech changes with it.
I’ve updated this review with information about what families can experience now, but I’m also going to show you some of the things that made our visit so memorable. Some are remarkably still there. Others have been replaced by newer experiences involving artificial intelligence and other emerging technology.
Either way, the basic reason I loved this museum hasn’t changed: kids don’t just learn about science and technology here. They get to mess around with it.
Is The Tech Interactive Worth Visiting With Kids?
Absolutely.
If you have a child who enjoys science, technology, engineering, building, robotics or figuring out how things work, I would put The Tech Interactive very high on your Bay Area list.
I also wouldn’t assume that kids need to be older to appreciate it.
Our daughter was only six when we visited, and I was actually surprised by how much she could do. Some of the scientific concepts were obviously more advanced than anything she understood at that age, but the activities themselves were designed so she could jump right in.
She built things.
Experimented.
Made a robot.
Explored DNA.
Tested engineering designs.
She interacted with digital technology.
And she even participated in a genetics activity where she made her own DNA necklace.
There was very little standing around while adults read display panels.
That’s one of the biggest reasons I would recommend setting aside plenty of time for this museum. You could certainly visit for a few hours, but if your kids get absorbed in hands-on science activities, it is extremely easy to spend most of the day here.
The Tech currently has more than 100 experiences spread across its galleries, and the museum still combines hands-on labs with interactive exhibits and an IMAX Dome Theater.
The Tech Interactive Has Changed Since Our Visit — And That’s a Good Thing
One thing you should know before looking through our photographs is that The Tech Interactive is not frozen in time.
We visited seven years ago, and several experiences have changed.
For example, we loved the Space Exploration Gallery. Our daughter climbed into a jet pack chair that simulated how astronauts maneuver in space, and it was one of those wonderfully immersive science-museum experiences that kids remember.
That gallery finally closed in August 2026 after years at The Tech. So if you see our space photographs and immediately want to try the jet pack chair, unfortunately you just missed it.
On the other hand, other exhibits we experienced in 2019 are still going strong.
And The Tech has added entirely new experiences that didn’t exist when we visited.
The biggest difference now is the museum’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence.
One of the newest exhibits is Dream Garden, an AI-powered immersive environment that responds to visitors’ ideas and movements to create a constantly changing digital ecosystem.
There is also an AI Sandbox, where visitors can explore ways artificial intelligence is being used for everything from environmental research to interactive art.
And Pixel Playground mixes digital technology with physical creativity, including activities involving AI, digital design and hands-on building.
That feels incredibly appropriate for a science museum in Silicon Valley.
Honestly, I would expect The Tech to continue changing. That’s part of what makes this museum interesting. The technology kids encounter here today isn’t necessarily going to be the technology kids encounter five years from now.
Build a Robot at Social Robots
One of the experiences our daughter really enjoyed was Social Robots.
This was such a clever way to introduce young kids to robotics because she didn’t need to sit down at a computer and understand programming before she could participate.
Instead, there were modular blocks that could be connected to create a robot.
Different pieces allowed the robot to respond and interact in different ways, so kids could experiment with how they put everything together and then see what happened.
At six, our daughter didn’t need to understand all of the technology behind what she was doing. She could simply build, connect, test and change things.
And Social Robots is still there.
Today, visitors can continue building robots using sensors and actuators and then customize what their creations can do. The activity is located on the lower level of the museum.
This is exactly what I mean when I say The Tech works for a surprisingly wide range of ages.
A younger child sees blocks that make a robot move.
An older child can begin understanding sensors, inputs, outputs and robotics.
An adult can appreciate the engineering happening behind the whole thing.
Everyone is essentially interacting with the same experience at a different level.
Experiment With Engineering in The Tech Studio
The Tech Studio was another area where we spent quite a bit of time.
This was the part of the museum where our daughter could really get her hands on materials and start building.
During our visit, one challenge involved creating a contraption using simple materials and then testing it on a cable system. There were bins full of pieces she could choose from, and museum educators were there to help kids work through the design process.
What I liked about it was that there wasn’t necessarily one correct answer.
You came up with an idea.
Built something.
And tested it.
And sometimes it worked.
Sometimes it didn’t.
Then you tried something else.
That’s engineering.
The Tech Studio still operates this way today, although the exact challenges change. The museum describes it as a collaborative space where visitors work through hands-on STEAM design activities and also have opportunities for more open-ended building.
We also encountered smaller engineering challenges throughout the museum.
Our daughter built wooden structures, experimented with different materials and constructed pathways using large pipe pieces attached to a wall.
None of these activities necessarily looked flashy on their own. But together, they reinforced the same idea over and over again:
Try something. See what happens. Change it. Try again.
For kids who like building things, The Tech Interactive is basically one giant invitation to experiment.
The BioDesign Studio Was One of My Favorite Areas
The BioDesign Studio was probably one of the most interesting areas of the museum for me because it took subjects that sound incredibly complicated — DNA, genetics and bioengineering — and made them accessible enough for a six-year-old to explore.
And yes, she got to use actual lab equipment.
During our visit, our daughter put on gloves and worked through interactive biology activities involving petri dishes and other laboratory tools.
There were also large digital displays exploring how biological structures work and how characteristics can change.
It felt much more like stepping into a working science lab than walking through a traditional museum exhibit.
And remarkably, the BioDesign Studio is still part of The Tech today.
The current version includes interactive biology displays, digital experiences and activities exploring how scientists can work with and even redesign biological systems. The museum also continues to operate its BioTinkering Lab, where visitors can participate in changing hands-on biotechnology activities and work with scientists, including collaborations with Stanford.
That brings me to one of the coolest things we did during our entire visit.
We Made a DNA Necklace
Yes.
A DNA necklace.
This was so cool.
During our visit, staff from Stanford Genetics were conducting a DNA necklace lab inside the BioDesign Studio.
We sat down at an actual laboratory table and worked through an activity involving test tubes, lab supplies and DNA.
And at the end, we had a necklace.
This was one of those museum activities that worked beautifully for our six-year-old but didn’t feel like it was only designed for small children.
I thought it was fascinating, too.
That’s another quality I really appreciated about The Tech Interactive. The museum doesn’t dumb down the science in order to make it fun for children.
Instead, it creates ways for kids to participate in real scientific ideas at whatever level they’re ready to understand.
The exact BioTinkering Lab activities change, so I wouldn’t arrive expecting the DNA necklace experiment specifically. Current programs can include hands-on activities involving biotechnology, DNA, biomaterials and other areas of biology.
But if you see a BioTinkering activity happening while you’re there, absolutely check it out.
This was one of the highlights of our day.
Body Worlds Decoded Is STILL There
Of everything I researched while updating this article, this surprised me the most.
The preserved human-body exhibit we saw in 2019 is still at The Tech Interactive.
Seven years later.
So I’m going to go ahead and consider this one of the more established experiences at the museum.
Body Worlds Decoded uses real plastinated human bodies and anatomical specimens to show visitors what is actually happening underneath our skin.
And these aren’t vague anatomical models.
You can see muscles.
Nerves.
Internal organs.
Blood vessels.
Entire body systems.
The current exhibition includes eight full-body plastinates and more than 60 individual anatomical specimens covering the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, reproductive, urinary and locomotor systems.
It is fascinating.
It is also very real.
Parents of younger or particularly sensitive children should know that before walking into the gallery.
Our daughter handled it perfectly well at six, but every child is different.
What makes Body Worlds Decoded particularly appropriate for The Tech Interactive is that it doesn’t stop with the physical specimens.
The museum adds interactive technology that allows visitors to explore anatomy digitally as well.
One of our daughter’s favorite experiences involved standing in front of a screen and moving her body while the technology tracked her movements and showed a digital human figure moving along with her.
That experience, called Visualize You, is still part of Body Worlds Decoded today.
Visitors can also explore human-body systems through touchscreen interactives and see demonstrations using Anatomage, a sophisticated 3D virtual dissection table used in medical education.
Once again, that’s The Tech Interactive in a nutshell.
You aren’t just looking at anatomy.
You’re using technology to interact with it.
Animaker Was Another One of Our Favorite Experiences
Another experience our daughter loved was Animaker.
This was such a fun combination of old-fashioned building and newer technology. Kids used colorful building blocks to create their own animal, then placed the finished creation on a scanner.
Once the system recognized it, the animal appeared inside a giant animated environment on the wall.
For a six-year-old, that was pretty magical.
She wasn’t just building something and leaving it on a table. She got to watch something she made become part of a larger digital world.
And this is another experience that is still at The Tech Interactive today.
Animaker is now part of Pixel Playground, and The Tech actually uses it as an introduction to artificial intelligence. The system uses machine learning, visual recognition and scanning technology to identify what kids build.
I love that because it shows how the museum has evolved without necessarily abandoning the experiences that already worked.
When we visited, Animaker felt like an incredibly clever digital building activity.
Now it also gives families a way to start talking about how computers learn to recognize objects.
Pixel Playground Adds Even More Digital Creativity
Animaker isn’t the only reason to spend time in Pixel Playground.
This newer gallery brings together several activities that combine physical play with digital technology.
Kids can experiment with digital art, build and test a roller coaster, and explore different ways technology can respond to things they create with their hands.
That fits perfectly with what we loved about The Tech during our visit.
This museum generally doesn’t ask kids to sit in front of a screen and passively watch technology happen.
Instead, the technology responds to something they build, draw, design, move or change.
That distinction matters.
Even though The Tech is obviously a very technology-heavy museum, our visit never felt like spending the day staring at screens.
There was always something physical to do.
The Tech Is Leaning Even More Into Artificial Intelligence
One of the biggest changes since our visit is the museum’s growing focus on artificial intelligence.
Honestly, that feels inevitable for a museum in Silicon Valley.
The Tech now has several experiences specifically designed to help families understand AI in a way that feels approachable instead of intimidating.
One of the newest is Dream Garden, an immersive gallery where visitors’ movements and ideas influence a constantly changing digital environment.
The technology can respond to people inside the space, alter the landscape and create different visual effects based on how visitors interact with it.
There is also an AI Sandbox that explores how artificial intelligence can be used in the real world, including environmental research, digital art and motion-tracking technology.
If we went back today, this is probably the area I would be most curious to see.
AI wasn’t nearly as visible in everyday life when we visited in 2019. Now kids are growing up surrounded by it.
I like the idea of introducing it through play and experimentation rather than just talking about it as some mysterious technology happening somewhere behind a computer screen.
The Earthquake Simulator Was Awesome
One experience from our visit that I really wish were still there right now was the earthquake simulator.
This was one of the coolest things we did.
You stepped into a recreated room and experienced what it might feel like during an earthquake.
The room shook around you while the exhibit helped explain what happens during seismic activity.
And because we were visiting California, it felt especially appropriate.
Unfortunately, that particular earthquake experience is no longer operating.
But there is very good news.
The Tech is bringing the concept back.
A completely new exhibit called Seismic Valley: The Earthquake Experience is scheduled to open in summer 2027.
The centerpiece will be an immersive earthquake simulator where visitors enter a realistic room and experience simulated earthquakes ranging from smaller tremors to much stronger events.
So if you are reading this after that opens, definitely look for it.
Based on how much we enjoyed the previous version, I would absolutely make the new earthquake simulator a priority.
We Also Loved the Space Exploration Gallery
The Space Exploration Gallery was another major highlight of our visit.
Our daughter got to experience a jet pack chair designed to demonstrate how astronauts move in space.
She strapped herself in, leaned back and got to feel at least a little bit like an astronaut.
The gallery also explored other aspects of space travel and exploration.
Unfortunately, this is another area that has changed.
The Space Exploration Gallery closed in August 2026 as The Tech began making room for newer exhibits.
That is one of the reasons I want to be really upfront about the date of our visit.
Some of the experiences in our photographs are no longer available.
But I still think they are worth including because they show the kind of museum The Tech Interactive has always been.
Exhibits change.
The emphasis on immersive, hands-on science does not.
There Are Plenty of Smaller Science Experiences Too
Not everything at The Tech needs to be a huge marquee exhibit.
Some of our daughter’s favorite moments came from smaller interactive stations scattered throughout the museum.
She experimented with colors.
Used microscopes.
Built structures.
Created pathways with pipes.
Explored how her body moved.
Tested different materials.
She interacted with digital art.
And she spent plenty of time simply tinkering.
That’s part of what makes it easy to spend so much time here.
You aren’t walking from one giant attraction to another.
Instead, you constantly encounter something else your child wants to stop and try.
And if your child is anything like ours, “Let’s just look at this one thing” can easily turn into another twenty minutes.
How Long Should You Spend at The Tech Interactive?
I would plan on at least four hours.
If your kids really enjoy science museums, I would give The Tech most of a day.
We spent essentially an entire day here, and I don’t remember feeling like we were stretching the visit.
There was simply that much to do.
The museum has two main levels of exhibit galleries plus the IMAX Dome Theater, and there are more than 100 individual experiences throughout the museum.
The hands-on nature of the exhibits also slows you down.
A child might walk past a traditional museum display in thirty seconds.
A child building a robot might stay there for fifteen minutes.
Then they want to rebuild it.
Then somebody else in the family wants a turn.
That time adds up quickly.
I would much rather allow too much time here than try to squeeze The Tech into a rushed two-hour window.
Don’t Forget the IMAX Dome Theater
The Tech Interactive also has an IMAX Dome Theater.
General admission currently includes one educational IMAX film, so it is worth checking the schedule when you plan your visit.
The theater is enormous, with wraparound imagery designed to fill your field of vision.
If your kids enjoy giant-screen nature or science films, this can be a nice break in the middle of an otherwise very active museum day.
It can also give everyone a chance to sit down for a while.
We tend to get so focused on hands-on exhibits at science museums that it is easy to forget how tiring several hours of constant building, moving and experimenting can be.
What Ages Are Best for The Tech Interactive?
I would recommend The Tech Interactive most strongly for elementary-age kids through teenagers.
But our experience convinced me not to underestimate younger children.
Our daughter was six and had a fantastic time.
She obviously wasn’t understanding the genetics or engineering concepts at the same level that a middle school student would.
But she really didn’t need to.
She could still build the robot.
And still make the DNA necklace.
She could still test an engineering design.
And use the microscope.
She could still create an animal and watch it come to life on a giant screen.
Older kids will understand more of the science.
Younger kids can still have enormous fun doing it.
And adults who actually enjoy science museums may find plenty here for themselves, too.
This is not one of those children’s museums where parents spend the entire day standing around waiting.
The Tech Interactive vs. the Exploratorium
If you are visiting the Bay Area and trying to decide between The Tech Interactive and the Exploratorium, I would not consider them interchangeable.
They are both excellent.
But they feel very different.
The Exploratorium is more experimental and open-ended. It is filled with individual exhibits exploring perception, physics, light, sound, human behavior and all kinds of scientific phenomena.
The Tech Interactive feels more like a traditional science and technology museum.
There are clearer themed galleries and a stronger focus on engineering, robotics, biotechnology, computing and real-world innovation.
If I had to simplify it:
The Exploratorium is about exploring how the world works.
The Tech Interactive is about exploring what humans can do with science and technology.
That is a very broad distinction, and obviously there is overlap.
But if your child especially loves robots, building, coding, engineering or technology, I would probably give The Tech Interactive the edge.
If possible, though, I would visit both.
They complement each other beautifully.
Practical Tips for Visiting The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive is located in downtown San Jose at 201 South Market Street.
There are several public parking garages nearby, and The Tech currently validates parking at select downtown garages for a discounted rate. If you are driving, check the current parking information before you go because special event pricing can occasionally affect validation.
The museum also has an onsite cafe with kid-friendly options like pizza, burgers and chicken fingers, so you don’t necessarily have to leave the building for lunch.
That is especially useful if you are planning a full-day visit.
One important change for 2026 is that The Tech is now closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays.
During the school year, Wednesday through Friday hours are shorter than weekend hours, so I would definitely check the current schedule before planning your day.
I would also buy tickets in advance, especially if you want a particular IMAX showtime.
Is The Tech Interactive Worth a Trip From San Francisco?
I think so.
San Jose is roughly an hour south of San Francisco without heavy traffic, although Bay Area traffic can obviously change that calculation dramatically.
I wouldn’t necessarily leave San Francisco for The Tech if you only have two days in the city and haven’t seen the major sights yet.
But if you are spending several days around the Bay Area, traveling with science-loving kids, or already planning time in San Jose or the South Bay, this is absolutely worth considering.
And if you are traveling during bad weather, The Tech is an especially good option because you can easily spend most of the day indoors.
For our family, this wasn’t filler between other Bay Area attractions.
It was one of the attractions.
Final Thoughts on Visiting The Tech Interactive With Kids
Seven years after our visit, I still remember how impressed I was by this museum.
Our six-year-old spent the day building robots, experimenting with biotechnology, making a DNA necklace, testing engineering designs, learning about the human body, creating digital art and pretending to maneuver through space.
That is a pretty impressive day for a science museum.
Some of those exact experiences have changed since we visited.
Others are amazingly still there.
And completely new experiences involving AI and other emerging technologies have taken their place alongside them.
That actually makes The Tech Interactive feel even more appropriate for Silicon Valley.
This is a museum about technology.
It should change.
But the thing I hope never changes is the reason we enjoyed it so much in the first place.
Kids aren’t asked to stand back and admire innovation from a distance.
They get to build it, test it, break it, redesign it and try again.
Accessibility and Sensory Considerations at The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive is a very hands-on museum, but it is also a pretty stimulating one.
There are bright screens, dark galleries, moving images, noise, crowds and plenty of exhibits that invite kids to touch, build and move around.
For some families, that is exactly what makes the museum so much fun.
For others, it helps to know what to expect before you arrive.
The Tech has put quite a bit of effort into accessibility. The museum has elevators between its levels, wheelchair-accessible restrooms on every floor, seating throughout the galleries and a limited number of manual wheelchairs available to borrow.
It also offers sensory guides and social stories that families can look through before visiting. Sensory backpacks are available at the museum as well.
I especially like that the sensory guide breaks down individual areas according to things like noise, brightness and crowds. That makes it much easier for parents to anticipate which parts of the museum might work best for their child.
There is also a nursing station on the lower level and changing tables in the restrooms.
A Few Things I Would Do Differently on a Return Visit
Because we spent the entire day here, I don’t feel like we rushed through The Tech.
But if I were planning our visit again now, I would be a little more strategic.
First, I would check the day’s IMAX schedule before we started exploring. Since an educational IMAX film is currently included with general admission, I would build the rest of the day around whichever showing interested us most.
I would also check the schedule for any BioTinkering Lab activities.
The DNA necklace experience was one of the coolest parts of our visit, and those facilitated activities are exactly the sort of thing you don’t want to discover five minutes after they end.
And I would leave plenty of unstructured time.
The temptation at a museum like this is to look at the map and start trying to “complete” everything.
I wouldn’t.
Let your kids linger.
If they want to spend twenty minutes building a robot, let them.
If they want to redesign an engineering project three times because it keeps failing, even better.
That’s where some of the best learning happens here.
Don’t Try to Do The Tech and the Exploratorium on the Same Day
Technically, you could visit both museums during the same Bay Area trip.
I would.
But I absolutely would not put them on the same day.
Both deserve several hours, and both are extremely interactive.
Trying to race through The Tech in the morning and then drive to San Francisco for the Exploratorium in the afternoon would turn two fantastic museums into one exhausting day.
Instead, give each museum its own day or pair it with something much lighter.
The Tech Interactive works especially well as the centerpiece of a San Jose day.
The Tech Interactive Is Also a Great Rainy-Day or Hot-Day Option
One advantage of having such a substantial indoor attraction in your itinerary is that you don’t have to worry much about the weather.
The Bay Area obviously isn’t known for endless stretches of terrible weather, but rainy days do happen.
And San Jose can get hot.
If the forecast isn’t cooperating with whatever outdoor activity you originally planned, The Tech is an easy place to spend several hours indoors without feeling like you’ve settled for a backup plan.
I would happily plan a whole day here even with perfect weather.
Current Admission and Hours
One important thing to know is that The Tech Interactive changed its operating schedule in 2026.
The museum is now closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays.
During the 2026–2027 school year, it is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those shorter weekday hours are another reason I would check the calendar carefully before visiting.
Current general admission is $38 for adults and $28 for children ages 3–17, students and seniors. An educational IMAX film is included with general admission.
Prices and schedules can change, so I would always confirm both before your trip.
Parking at The Tech Interactive
The museum is right in downtown San Jose, so this is not an attraction with a giant dedicated parking lot sitting outside the entrance.
There are several downtown garages nearby.
The Tech currently offers discounted validated parking at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center Garage and the 2nd and San Carlos Garage.
The validated rate is currently $5, although special-event parking can override the normal validation rate.
Definitely bring your parking ticket inside so you can get it validated before leaving.
Is The Tech Interactive Good for Toddlers?
This would not be my first choice in the Bay Area specifically for toddlers.
There is no minimum age to visit, and very young children can certainly enjoy colors, movement, building materials and some of the interactive experiences.
But I think the museum really begins to shine once kids are old enough to engage with the activities a little more intentionally.
Our daughter was six, and that felt like a fantastic age.
She was young enough to approach everything through play but old enough to build, experiment and follow basic instructions.
For preschoolers, I would probably expect a shorter visit.
For elementary-age kids and older, I could easily see this becoming an all-day attraction.
Is Body Worlds Decoded Too Graphic for Kids?
This one is entirely child-dependent.
Body Worlds Decoded contains real preserved human bodies and individual anatomical specimens.
You will see muscles, organs and internal body structures very clearly.
Our daughter was six and wasn’t bothered by it.
Another six-year-old might want absolutely nothing to do with it.
There is no reason to force this gallery if you know your child is sensitive to realistic anatomy.
But for kids who are fascinated by the human body, medicine or biology, it could easily be one of the most memorable parts of the museum.
And because The Tech combines the specimens with digital anatomy experiences like Visualize You, kids don’t have to engage with the gallery only by looking at preserved bodies.
Is The Tech Interactive Good for Teenagers?
Yes, and I actually think this is one of The Tech’s strengths.
A lot of family attractions are wonderful for elementary-age children but start feeling young once kids reach middle school or high school.
The Tech has enough sophisticated science and technology that I don’t think teenagers automatically age out of it.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, engineering, medical technology and environmental innovation are all subjects that can genuinely interest older kids.
A teenager will obviously interact with the museum differently than our six-year-old did.
That’s a good thing.
Many of these experiences have another layer once you understand more of the science behind them.
Is The Tech Interactive Good for Adults Without Kids?
If you genuinely like science and technology museums, yes.
This is definitely family-friendly, but it isn’t simply a children’s museum.
The biotechnology exhibits, Body Worlds Decoded, AI experiences, engineering exhibits and emerging-technology displays all have plenty of adult appeal.
I would particularly recommend it to adults interested in science, medicine, engineering or Silicon Valley technology.
What Is The Best Age for The Tech Interactive?
If I had to pick a sweet spot, I would probably say roughly ages six through fourteen.
But that is definitely not a hard limit.
We know firsthand that six works beautifully.
Older teenagers can still find plenty that is interesting.
And adults can absolutely enjoy the museum too.
The reason the age range is so broad is that many of the exhibits operate on multiple levels.
A younger child can figure out how to make something move.
An older child can figure out why it moves.
An adult may start thinking about how the technology could be used in the real world.
Everyone is doing the same activity.
They’re just getting something different out of it.
What Else Is There to Do Near The Tech Interactive?
Because The Tech is located in downtown San Jose, you don’t have to treat it as an isolated attraction.
You can easily combine it with lunch or dinner downtown and spend some time walking around the area.
But after our experience, I wouldn’t pile too much onto the same day.
If your kids love science and technology, give yourself permission to make The Tech the main event.
That is exactly what we did.
And we never felt like we had wasted a day that could have been spent somewhere else in the Bay Area.
Where The Tech Interactive Fits Into a Bay Area Family Vacation
If you are planning a longer San Francisco Bay Area trip, The Tech adds something very different from the attractions in San Francisco itself.
You can spend one day exploring the California Academy of Sciences.
Another at the Exploratorium.
You can head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods and Sausalito.
You can spend time along the San Francisco waterfront at Pier 39.
And then you can head south to San Jose for a completely different kind of science museum experience.
That variety is one of the things I love about traveling around the Bay Area with kids.
You don’t have to choose between nature, city sightseeing and museums.
You can do all three.
Would We Visit The Tech Interactive Again?
Absolutely.
And I would actually be especially curious to visit again now.
We had such a great experience in 2019, but enough has changed that a return visit wouldn’t feel like simply repeating the same museum.
I would want to see Dream Garden.
Explore the newer AI experiences.
See how Pixel Playground has evolved.
And I would absolutely go back into the BioDesign Studio.
And yes, I would probably walk straight over to Body Worlds Decoded just to marvel at the fact that those same plastinated bodies are still there all these years later.
The exhibits may evolve with the technology, but the basic experience we loved is still very much intact.
The Tech Interactive invites kids to build something, test something, move something, examine something or create something.
That is exactly what I want from a great science museum.
And for families spending time in San Jose or anywhere in the larger San Francisco Bay Area, this one is absolutely worth knowing about.
More Things to Do With Kids in San Francisco and Northern California
If The Tech Interactive is part of a longer Northern California trip, there are plenty of other family-friendly places to add to your itinerary.
Start with my 3 Days in San Francisco With Kids itinerary if you want to combine several of the city’s biggest attractions into one trip.
For more ideas in San Francisco, check out my guides to the California Academy of Sciences, Pier 39 with Kids, riding a San Francisco cable car and visiting Ghirardelli Square, the Golden Gate Bridge with Kids, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
You can also cross the Golden Gate Bridge for an easy day trip to Muir Woods National Monument and Sausalito.
And if your Northern California vacation extends beyond the Bay Area, Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite places to add to the trip. These Yosemite guides can help you get started:
- The Perfect 2 or 3 Day Yosemite Itinerary
- Best Things to Do in Yosemite Valley
- Best Easy Hikes in Yosemite National Park
- Best Scenic Viewpoints in Yosemite National Park
More Amazing Science Museums for Families
If your kids loved The Tech Interactive, these are a few other hands-on science museums that are worth building into future family trips.
The Exploratorium in San Francisco is probably the most obvious comparison, although the two museums feel very different. The Exploratorium is much more focused on experimenting with light, sound, physics, perception and the way the world works, while The Tech Interactive leans more heavily into engineering, biotechnology, robotics and emerging technology.
On the East Coast, the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore is another excellent traditional hands-on science museum with exhibits covering everything from dinosaurs and space to the human body.
And the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is one of the classic American science museums. Its enormous walk-through heart alone is worth the visit, but the museum also covers engineering, space, physics and plenty of other hands-on science.
