by Rachel Wells
Summer will be here before you know it, and if you’re looking for a getaway that blends fun, learning, and a little city exploration, children’s museums are a great way to do it. The US is home to some truly amazing children’s museums filled with hands-on science labs and immersive exhibits ready spark curiosity in kids of all ages.
Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or just looking to make a stop along the way to a longer vacation, these 6 options offer unforgettable experiences for creative and curious kids.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: Indianapolis, Indiana
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest children’s museum with 5 floors of science, history, and fun. Kids can play in the 7.5 acre outdoor athletics wonderland, come face to face with fossils, ride the Wishes and Dreams Carousel, or investigate ancient cultures and mysteries.
The Strong National Museum of Play: Rochester, New York
The Strong National Museum of Play is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, and the incredible 17,000-square-foot, outdoor Hasbro Game Park where you can play a 15-foot-high version of Chutes and Ladders. You can also take a stroll along a colorful path of towering Candy Land candy canes, giant Scrabble tiles spelling “PLAY,” and a 14-foot-long Scottie dog from Monopoly.
Please Touch Museum: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Please Touch Museum is designed for younger kids, and is filled with environments meant to be touched and explored. The space is filled with makers labs, hands on art studios, and an awesome kid sized town.
Exploratorium: San Francisco, California
The Exploratorium is an open-ended learning lab where you don’t look at exhibits – you play with them. Dance with your own shadow, levitate, touch a tornado, mix colors and break light apart, or capture a wave. This museum is filled with unique opportunities to play with science.
City museum: St. Louis, Missouri
Get lost in twists, turns, tunnels, slides and more in this weirdly wonderful museum of play. City Museum is filled with crazy spaces to explore – lose yourself in one of the many multiple floor labyrinths, play on the rooftop slides and Ferris wheel, try some vintage games in pinball hall, or run around in the indoor stateless skate park.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: Chicago, IL
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is all about showing people how things work. The idea factory is full of physics focused activities, but you can also climb aboard the U-505 submarine, see baby chicks in the hatchery, or learn all about the science of storms while standing inside a tornado.
