In the Spotlight
Sacramento Zoo
Find tips for taking your preschooler to the Sacramento Zoo.
William Land Park
There's more to William Land Park than just the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town and Funderland.
Mother's Support Network
Join the Mother's Support Network Playgroups to meet other preschool parents.
Discovery Museum Science and Space Center
The Discovery Museum’s Science and Space Center is a great place to introduce preschoolers to science and nature. At the Discovery museum your preschooler can watch a planetarium show and see rescued, wild animals. There’s also an outdoor area with plenty of trees, lots of grass, a seating area for classes and a fenced pond with wild turtles, frogs and birds. All the exhibits are clean and in good working order. If you're looking for science and nature experiments for your preschooler, don't miss PreschoolRock's Science and Nature Site.
Advantages for Preschoolers
Planetarium
While Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has a great planetarium, the planetarium at the Discovery Museum is a great place to introduce preschoolers to planetarium shows. The shows run on the weekends (see the website for times) and are short enough and entertaining enough to keep even the youngest preschoolers entertained. 
The Space Area
This area has been set up with preschoolers in mind with lots of fun color activities, computers and other interesting things for preschoolers. There are even costumes so preschoolers can dress up like astronauts.
The Nature Discovery Room
While smaller than the space area, the nature area should not be missed. Here you can see hissing cockroaches (and enquire about taking some home!), snakes, turtles and spiders. When we went there was even a rescued porcupine and a small owl.
Nature Shows
On the weekends, staff will take an animal out to show to an audience. The staff member will lecture about the animal and is available for questions.
Disadvantages for Preschoolers
Built for Older Children
The discovery museum was built for all ages, so some of the science and nature exhibits and experiments may be over the head of your preschooler.
The Lecture of the Nature Shows
Because the nature show is dealing with live animals, preschoolers should be cautioned to remain quiet and still during the show. If your preschooler is especially wiggly or noisy, you may want to skip the nature show.
Leaving
Your preschooler may not want to leave. Our sons threw an increasingly rare temper tantrum when I said it was time to go. I had to promise to go back.
Your preschooler may not want to leave. Our sons threw an increasingly rare temper tantrum when I said it was time to go. I had to promise to go back.
Not Stroller Friendly
While there are no steps to get in the way of a stroller, navigating past some of the exhibits may be difficult, especially if you have a large stroller.
General Information:
For hours, admission and other information, please see the website.
3615 Auburn Blvd.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 575-3941
(916) 575-3941
Hello! I'm Theresa Halvorsen, your Sacramento correspondent for PreschoolRock.com. I've lived in Sacramento most of my life and am enjoying raising my preschool-aged twins in this city. There's so many preschool-friendly places in Sacramento. If you have any preschool-friendly places you'd like me to review, please contact me. And, of course, if you have any questions or concerns about this site, please contact me.