Bill's Backyard, Santa Clara Travel Guide

4.9 (13)

Explore nature in the city! Bill's Backyard offers hands-on fun and learning for kids at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.

Bill's Backyard is a half-acre outdoor learning environment at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, designed to connect kids with nature through climbing, digging, building, and imaginative play. It features a variety of exhibits that encourage hands-on learning and exploration of the natural world.

A brief summary to Bill's Backyard

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Bill's Backyard.

Arrive early to avoid crowds and maximize playtime.
Check the museum's schedule for special events and workshops.
Bring a packed lunch to enjoy in the outdoor picnic area.
Dress kids in comfortable clothes for moving and exploring.
Pack water and snacks, with refills at the museum's hydration stations.

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Explore Bill's Backyard on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Bill's Backyard, mapped for you.

Getting There

Public Transport

Take the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa light rail line to the Discovery Museum station. Alternatively, take county transit bus lines to stops on Almaden Boulevard. A single bus or light rail ride costs $2.50.
Walking

From the Campbell Community Center, walk west on W Campbell Ave, turn left on Central Ave, then continue south to E Campbell Ave. Head east until San Tomas Expressway, then continue to Campbell Park. Follow the path south towards Woz Way, which leads to Bill's Backyard. This is approximately a 45-minute walk.
Parking

There are several public and privately-owned parking lots near the museum on Woz Way, Auzerais Street, and Almaden Boulevard. Public parking starts at $7.00, with increased rates on high-demand days. The Auzerais Parking Lot has an attendant and accepts cash, debit, and credit payments. Limited free parking for people with disabilities is available in the drop-off lane on the museum's west side.

Discover more about Bill's Backyard

Bill's Backyard, located at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, is a unique outdoor exhibit designed to foster a love for nature and the environment in children. This expansive, half-acre space offers a variety of engaging activities that encourage kids to explore, create, and connect with the natural world.Key features include a junior ranger station, a tree climber with sky bridges, a lookout tower and tunnel, and a dig pit filled with stones. Children can also build forts, prepare soil in the garden, plant seeds, and learn about water conservation with a rain-harvest system. The space is designed to provide unstructured play and facilitated activities, promoting both individual exploration and collaborative learning.Bill's Backyard aims to reverse the trend of "nature deficit disorder" by bringing nature to children in an urban setting. The museum hopes to spark an interest in the outdoors, encouraging children to seek out other nature opportunities in their communities. The exhibit is wheelchair accessible and offers multi-sensory experiences for children of varying developmental stages.