Best of 2001: Best Children's Museum In North County

Children's Discovery Museum
300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Suite 103, Carlsbad
760-720-0737

You might have trouble finding the Children's Discovery Museum. Tucked into a mall near the ocean end of Carlsbad Village Drive, the museum blends right in with the bookstores and boutiques that surround the central courtyard's tinkling fountain. Step inside, and you'll find a series of rooms outfitted to keep a house full of bored toddlers and pre-teens busy for a couple hours. An old powerboat occupies the first room. Kids can pretend to take to the ocean and "catch" laminated paper fish with a magnetized fishing pole. In the "Kids' Marketplace," pint-sized shoppers can fill their carts with plastic food while their pals ring them up at a real cash register. After their trip to the store, kids can dress up in the castle or make music on instruments from around the world. Price: $4, adults and children Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, noon-5:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Monday.