Honest Review of the Museum of Ice Cream

If Willy Wonka had a wet dream about ice cream, it would be this place. The Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) is a vibrant celebration of the most popular aspects of one of my favorite desserts. Every wall, floor and exhibit in this place is inst-worthy and I half-expected an Oompa Loompa to lead our tour group. This place gives you the chance to swim in sprinkles, hug a giant gummi bear and swing in a banana room. So let's just get right down to it. 

Was it fun? Yes.

Was it worth the money? Yes. 

Were the ice cream samples terrible? Yes. The worst was the activated charcoal cookie dough. 

Will you learn any new facts about ice cream? No. This place is not about facts. It's about living your best ice cream dream.

Will you run into insta-obsessed hipsters trying to get that money shot? Yes.

Should you wait for them to capture said photo before taking your turn? Yes. Don't be rude. Offer to take the photo for them.

Will your kid love it? Yes. We had a toddler and a teen with us and they both loved it.

Will you end up with sprinkles in your pants? Definitely, yes. 

Museum of Ice Cream

2018 E 7th Place

Los Angeles, CA 90021

https://www.museumoficecream.com/

Tickets: $29 for adults/$18 for kids age 3-12

Mom tips: 

-Street parking was ample but there is a lot right next to the museum that charges $4 for 2 hours. 

-Try to be in line 15 mins before your group time. 

-There is one restroom towards the end of the tour.

-Don't come thinking you will be tasting delicious samples. The best sample we had was the mint mochi ice cream. Everything else was barely worth the calories.

-If you don't want to keep asking strangers to take your photo, bring friends!

-If you have time, spend the day wandering the Arts District to check out all the amazing murals.

[Scratch and sniff banana wall]

[Hands down the best part of the whole experience.]

[We were able to request a plain scoop of vanilla instead of the gross pancakes and ice cream.]

A Must-See Exhibit for Local Dinosaur Lovers at the SDNHM

The San Diego Natural History Museum is currently hosting an exhibit called Ultimate Dinosaurs which boasts 16 life-size dinosaur skeletons of dinos that lived in the Southern Hemisphere. We visited the exhibit over the weekend and it was a big hit with our dino loving kid. Each station had a panel that provided info about the dinosaur's physical stats, diet and where it roamed and an interactive screen that provided even more information. Parker loved swiping through the screens to see all the photos. He was also really excited to collect all the stamps needed for his "Certified Junior Paleontologist" certificate. We decided to becomes members of the museum since the price of one day admission was almost the same as a Family Membership. Now we can go see the exhibit (and all the other exhibits) anytime!

The exhibit will be open until September 4. For more information visit the SDNHM website.

http://www.sdnhm.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/ultimate-dinosaurs/

Ticket prices vary depending on whether or not you are a member. 

[By scanning over the skeleton, you can see what Giganotosaurus looked like in the flesh!]

[Outside of the exhibit, there was this dinosaur table which P loved.]

After we finished with the dinosaur exhibit, we explored some of the other exhibits in the museum which were also very cool and kid friendly.

San Diego Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

After years of asking Tuan, "Can we go there?" everytime we passed by the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, he finally gave in. Score one for me and Parker! Why not right? It's so close to home, admission is FREE and we get to explore a bit of history. Our little aviation enthusiast was stoked to run around among some very impressive and historic planes. He kept pointing out the "baby airplanes" and "BIIIIGG airplanes" and looking for "Dusty Hopper" aka Dusty Crophopper from Disney's Planes. It was a short, memorable visit and I definitely want to take Parker back for one of the open cockpit days. I would definitely recommend making a quick trip to this museum with your little one.

Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum & Historical Foundation

Open 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM (closed Mondays and Federal Holidays)

Admission is always free for all ages

Located on Miramar Road & Andersen Avenue

https://flyingleathernecks.org/

Mom Tips: 

-Don't forget your sunscreen. There is no shade unless you count standing under airplane wings.

-Bring your own water. There isn't a place to purchase drinks and snacks. 

-Wear closed-toe shoes. The planes are surrounded by rockscaping. You have to walk through the rocks if you want to get up close and personal with them. The docent also told us that there have been snakes spotted among the rocks so watch where you step!

[Parker's reaction every time he saw an airplane he liked. Classic.]

[Soaking in some aviation history.]

[His enthusiasm was infectious.]

[This one looks just like Skipper Riley right? Everything from the colors to the bent wings.]

[He kept asking us if he could touch their noses so we let him walk up to the planes to touch and feel. There are no rules against it.]

[Parker really liked this helicopter because it has teef.]

[A UH-1 Bell Huey, the same type of helicopter used to evacuate Americans and select south Vietnamese from the US Embassy in Saigon 40 years ago. Every time I see/read/hear anything that has to do with the Vietnam War it makes me teary.]

[After exploring all the big planes outside, we went inside the trailer to test our knowledge and check out additional war memorabilia.]