On a wooded hill above the bay in San Mateo’s Coyote Point, CuriOdyssey is part science museum, part small zoo and all childhood. Kids can experiment with physics in hands-on science exhibits, then step outside to meet river otters, bobcats, lemurs and a walk-through aviary of native birds – nearly every animal is a rescued native species that couldn’t return to the wild.
The setting does half the magic: eucalyptus groves, bay breezes and the famous Magic Mountain playground nearby. Science camps and animal programs keep local families coming back season after season, and its smaller scale makes it a gentle first zoo for toddlers.
