SoCal Field Trips

There’s a new children’s museum in LA!  Cayton Children’s Museum has landed on the west side, on the top floor of Santa Monica Place, and SoCal Field Trips got the chance to visit it for our readers.  It was a long time coming, but the dream behind Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica finally came to fruition in June 2019.  The new museum, complete with 21,000 square feet of fun and discovery for children, has many hands-on exhibits, and is be open 7 days per week.

The brand concept behind Cayton Children’s Museum was developed by Greg Nelson, principal/owner of Altitude Design Office.  Greg is responsible for the museum’s vibrant layout and is an expert when it comes to the role color and design play in childhood development.  The museum is meant to be a sort of children’s utopia — a place to learn, explore and practice skills that could lead to success and happiness in adult life.  

Cayton offers wide open play areas where kids can go from one activity to another with ease.  There are a total of 5 different wings titled “Reflect On”, “Together We”, “Reach For”, “Let’s Help” and “Launch Your”.  Each wing has a different emphasis and is meant to inspire vistors to expore core universal values such as kindness, compassion, respect and hospitality.

What To Do at Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica

The first thing you’ll notice, as you enter, is the large Courage Climber, a web of ropes suspended on the ceiling that kids and grown-ups who accompany their children under 5 can climb to. This is most probably be the first thing your children, like mine, will want to try.  Part of the “Reach For” Wing, this colorful spider-web gives a different vantage point to the young visitors and help them reflect on the world around them.

In the “Let’s Help” Wing, right under the web, you will find the ball pit, which is always a favorite of my daughter’s.  This is no ordinary ball pit.  A real-size lifeboat sits in the middle of the lake made out of blue and white balls and there are life jackets, so children can rescue the poor souls in the “water”.

The most impressive part, for me, were the realistic helicopter and firefighter truck. Uniforms, helmets and boots are available for children to wear to immerse themselves in that universe and play the part.  My daughter became an instant NASA technician and my son turned into a pilot.  They had fun touching all the buttons inside the helicopter that would respond with flashing lights.

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From ice cream and pizza to selfies and digital worlds of wonder, interactive, Instagramable pop-up museums and experiential art exhibits are the hottest trend in Los Angeles right now.  These immersive experiences throughout Southern California invite guest participation, interaction and, of course, lots of photos!

Unlike a traditional museum where visitors aren’t allowed to touch the exhibits or encouraged to take photos, newer pop up museums in Los Angeles are designed to be highly photogenic and interactive.  The musems have lots of bright colors, flattering lighting and a variety of fun, interactive displays to play with.  Guest are encouraged to laugh, smile, and have fun, all the while doing crazy things like riding a colorful cookie carousel or diving into a bowl of fruit.  If you agree, here are 10+ Los Angeles Pop Up Museums that are worth a visit!  And investing in a selfie stick!

Best Pop Up Museums Los Angeles

World of Fruit in Los Angeles

Featuring eight fruit-forward rooms, World of Fruit takes guests through an interactive exhibit that is wholly unexpected and unforgettable — swing into our Watermelon Playground and grab a special treat from our watermelon ice cream truck, enjoy the light show in the Pineapple Disco Derby, and jump into our Dragon Fruit Pool before entering the World of Fruit Garden where our fruit specialists hand serve the very best in-season fruits from all over the world like jackfruit, baby pineapples, rambutan, durian, Australian mangos, kiwi berries, strawberry papayas, and more!   Partnering with one of the largest fruit distributors in California, World of Fruit also serves and sells fruits on-site of the highest-quality from regions all over the world.

Museum of Dream Space in Los Angeles

For centuries, artistic expression has been expressed through static media using physical objects, like paint on canvas, clay, and stone.  The Museum of Dream Space explores primarily digital art, inspired by Yayoi Kusama. They display an immersive exhibit of unique art and magical experiences for their guests to explore their imaginations.  Digital animation, movement, and complex designs and patterns allow for complex detail but also change to occur, so each experience is unique.  Get discount tickets to Museum of Dream Space in Los Angeles on Goldstar or Groupon.

Museum of Selfies in H0llywood

At the Museum of Selfies in Hollywood, turn your dreams of being an Instagram celebrity or the next Kim Kardashian into reality!  Perfect for families and influencers alike, the Museum of Selfies immerses guests in the world of selfies and lets visitors take a deep dive into the fascinating history and unseen depths of this popular cultural phenomenon.  Unique, interactive exhibits make YOU the artist and help you create eye-popping selfies: Dangle from one of the tallest buildings in Los Angeles – without the danger!  Melt your brain in our optical illusion bathroom where reflections aren’t real!  Strike a pose and thank all the beautiful people in your life as you accept the award for Best Selfie!  Get discount tickets to Museum of Selfies in Los Angeles on Goldstar and Groupon.

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