Indoor places for a rainy day in San Jose
Updated September 2026
Rainy day in San Jose? You've got 6 places where the weather doesn't matter one bit: a hands-on children’s museum, a science museum with an IMAX dome, actual mummies and a tomb replica, an art museum downtown, a Victorian mansion full of stairs to nowhere, and a bowling and entertainment center with an arcade.
Two floors of hands-on exhibits - water play, a mammoth dig, a cardboard maze - plus the outdoor Bill's Backyard with gardens and live animals. The anchor kid attraction of downtown San Jose; plan three to four hours.
Silicon Valley's hands-on science museum with robotics, VR experiences and an IMAX dome, best for roughly ages 5 and up.
The largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in western North America: mummies, a tomb replica, the works. Kids under 7 free.
A right-sized art museum downtown where kids 17 and under are free and family programs run regularly, across the street from the Tech.
A Victorian mansion of stairs to nowhere and doors that open onto walls, with house tours ($25-40) and a garden tour that works with a stroller. The house tour is all narrow stairs - better for ages 6+ and kids who like spooky.
A 59-lane bowling and entertainment center with an arcade and kid-friendly food, with bumpers and a ramp available.
Stroller friendly
Easy meals