I was a little worried about this museum before going because, lets be honest Anchorage Museum does not really sound that thrilling for kids! The Griffith Observatory brings the wonder of outer space in a family-friendly, accessible way. As the world's largest art museum and a historical monument in Paris, the Louvre is home to a remarkable collection of artwork, including the famous Mona Lisa. Absent such consent, users of this website, including any third parties accessing the website through automated systems, are prohibited from using any of the content on the website for Artificial Intelligence Purposes. The outdoor garden overlooking a marina is amazing for kids to run around and explore the labyrinth made of hedges, the Dail Wishing Tree (where museum tickets can be recycled), Dali-esque benches to sit and relax, and a Dali mustache photo op. The Best Museums for Kids in Los Angeles by Jennifer O'Brien January 17, 2023 Click to share on Copy (Opens in new window) Cayton Children's Museum These family-favorite museums are some of the best in the world and lucky for us, they're all in Los Angeles Youll see artifacts from many different Asian cultures, displayed in a beautiful setting. Kids Museum of Glass, Shanghai - This self-styled 'coolest place to get smart' opened in January 2016 as a super-modern museum that effortlessly gets children involved; 'try and touch everything' is a motto. There are over 5000 objects in the permanent collection, ranging from the 1800s to the present, and includes painting, sculptures, works on paper, film, photographs, and historical documents. All photos are property of Kids Are A Trip, Inc., unless otherwise noted. From stepping into a simulated helicopter to take a tour of Californias natural resources to a scavenger hunt in a grocery store, the fun and learning never ends at the Discovery Cube. From digging for dinosaur bones in Dinosphere to learning about Ruby Parks, Anne Frank and Ryan White in the Power of Children to trying all the interactive displays in the temporary exhibits, we tried to see and do it all. We love the diversity of their choices and hope you will find some new favorites in this list of the best museums for kids. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Washington DC. The Boston Black exhibit celebrates the history and culture of Bostons diverse black community, while the Japanese House exhibit lets visitors explore the home of a silk merchant from Koyoto, Japan. Younger kids will really enjoy the Discovery Room, where every field of the Museums science and research is represented with age-appropriate interactive displays and craft projects. These children's museums are next-level cool. If you want to add an educational component to your family trip to Hawaii, the Bishop Museum is the best place to do it. If youre up for it, find the entrance to the 10-story slide hidden inside! This hands-on museum brings the beauty of its city to light. It was reported to be the 3rd most visited museum in the world, clocking up 7.5 million visitors in 2016. My 11 year old had a ball. The kids section was incredible with a full-body bubble blowing station, wood block engineering, volcano explosions, and climbing structures. In the Urban Garden, kids might watch Tilapia swim in an aquaponics tank, find worms in the compost area, or feed chickens. The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits is the only consistently active urban Ice Age excavation site in the world and it houses one of the worlds largest and most diverse collections of Late Pleistocene fossils. Outside on 7.5 acres, kids can try their hands at sports ranging from basketball and football to tennis, auto racing, golf and more. The National Museum of Play also includes the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the Dancing Wings butterfly garden, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the Woodbury School, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, and the American Journal of Play. Seasonal exhibits include ice fishing, four golf courses, race car racing, and a 25-foot treehouse. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles protects over 35 million specimens, dating back 4.5 billion years. Trip Advisor reviewers point out that its not the biggest or most interactive museum, but theres daily programming included in the price of admission. Admission: $19, free for kids under 1 and those under 15 on the first Sunday of every month. 01 of 16 Children's Museum Indianapolis Courtesy of Children's Museum Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN This massive facility measures 472,900 square-feet and sits on 29 acres, giving it. The Here We Grow Farm teaches kids about growing food and tending to livestock, and the art studio is fully stocked with supplies for the aspiring Picasso. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Bucharest with Kids (Updated 2023) But, thankfully, the kids ended up loving this place. The Childrens Museum of Houston packs several outings into one. Read our guide! Part art installation, part playground, and part museum, City Museum is full-time fun for kids and families. You can also learn about all types of bears, seals, otters, fish, eagles, and more Alaska wildlife. Kristine at Trekaroo. Parks. The owner of this website does not consent to the content on this website being used or downloaded by any third parties for the purposes of developing, training or operating artificial intelligence or other machine learning systems (Artificial Intelligence Purposes), except as authorized by the owner in writing (including written electronic communication). The highlight for us is the insect zoo. Best Smithsonian Exhibits for Kids (Beyond the Air and Space Museum) Port Discovery Children's Museum. There are live insects to watch and even hold if you dare! There are also childrens activities on specific days. Aimed at six to 12 year olds, the museum allows kids to look back at Dahl's life through quirky mementos and activities, inspiring budding writers that have an avid imagination. Admission: Free for kids under 3 and California public school teachers, $19.95 for kids aged 4-12 $14.95 for seniors, youth, teachers, and people with disabilities, and $29.99 for adults. The J. Paul Getty Trust is a cultural and philanthropic institution dedicated to critical thinking in the presentation, conservation, and interpretation of the worlds artistic legacy. When you need to get out of the house preferably to a place where the occasional tantrum wont earn you a dirty look childrens museums check all the right boxes. I cannot say enough positive things about the New York Hall of Science. The reason visitors are so varied in their interests can be found in the museums six main galleries of exploration. There are live science shows on weekends and various regular shows in the dome theater. Parents say it entertains for hours. Within the museum, youll find interactive childrens exhibits and so much more. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. Visitors can walk below deck to explore the galley, sleeping quarters, chapel, engine room, and more. The World's Best Museums For Kids - Amex Essentials 8 Denver Art Museum The Denver art Museum in Denver, CO has a kids and family program which features family-friendly exhibits. There are live insects to watch and even hold if you dare! Open to the public since 1996, the Skirball Cultural Center has established itself as one of the worlds most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions in Los Angeles. There is even a moon rock you are able to touch, guaranteed to impress every space enthusiast. The best museums for kids in London | CN Traveller We never miss the IMAX theater showings, the Live Science shows, the Giant Heart, and we always make it up to the Observatory to take in the beautiful views of the City. If youre lucky, you might also catch a live tarantula feeding. Check out this map with all 37 awesome Childrens Museums in LA. Located in Griffith Park, Travel Town is a perfect spot to visit for kids who love trains! Kids will certainly enjoy a visit to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Best Museums for Kids After much research and dedication to finding the most kid-friendly museums across the country, I've narrowed it down to 15 awesome options. If youre looking for museum tips, dont miss our piece How to Survive a Museum Visit with Kids! Besides the collections of animals (including real elephants) and plants and reproductions of early humans, the museum features interactive exhibits like a butterfly conservatory, and age-appropriate tours, lectures, drop-in classes, and season-long ones. There are scheduled activities every day, from storytime to arts and crafts, live theater, and an end-of-the-day parade. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. You can find our Privacy Policyhere. And with the new Riley Childrens Health Sports Legends Experience, which opened in 2018, we have more to explore. If youre going to the Anchorage Museum, plan for a full day of learning and fun. 1. For example, try walking underneath Levitated Mass, a giant boulder suspended over a walkway that should make everyone appreciate the engineering required, or get a selfie in front of Urban Light, with dozens of light poles placed in formation possibly one of the most Instagrammable spots in Los Angeles. The Museum of Latin American Art is the only museum within the United States that is dedicated to both modern and contemporary Latin American art. The Autry is considered to be the only museum of its kind that combines Western history and cultures with Native American perspectives. Keryn of Walking on Travels. Part playhouse, part laboratory, San Franciscos Exploratorium is a collection of over 600 interactive exhibits and experiences designed to ignite curiosity and transform learning and all against the gorgeous back drop of the San Francisco Bay. Maryland: Port Discovery Children's Museum, Baltimore. The educational exhibits are interactive and engaging and I love that my children are having fun while learning. It helped them connect to the war on a human level as to where this new generation does not have the direct tie of parents and grandparents who were the everyday heroes serving their country. So its not technically a childrens museum, but with a collection of dinosaur skeletons, a reproduction of the worlds biggest animal, the blue whale, and a movie about the place to boot, the Museum of Natural History has plenty to offer families. Sign up for our free travel guide to help plan your next trip! This Atlanta museum has 75 acres of forest to explore through elevated trails and interactive outdoor exhibits. Check out this map with all 37 awesome Children's Museums in LA. Set on 30 acres of outdoor exhibit space, and with two indoor hangars as well, this museum is sure to keep you busy learning and exploring. The sketch studio allows visitors to populate a virtual city with buildings they draw themselves, while the AR sandbox allows kids to create their own topographic map with kinetic sand. Los Angeles has a wealth of amazing kid-friendly museums with interactive exhibits, cool experiments, live animals and spectacular play spaces. 20. Admission: $15, $12 for seniors or people with disabilities, free for kids under 1. Through the Museums exhibits, visitors will learn about the role Chinese Americans have played throughout history. Be sure to plan a half-day for your visit as it is a large ship it was the first aircraft carrier that couldnt fit through the Panama Canal. When this local favorite opened its doors in 1899, it was the first museum of its kind. 2. Admission: $14.95, free under 1 and for members. It offers you a lot of attractions like the Big Wheel Miramagica, the japanese garden, the Village Museum, the skatep. Bay Area Discovery Museum 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA Just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, you'll find one of the best children's museums in Northern California the Bay Area Discovery Museum.A series of hands-on experiencesfrom discovering how tall you are in apples or pennies to building structures out of foam noodles and . The Museums purpose is to preserve automotive history and to educate the public. You may be here for a while. Kids will have fun learning how movie sound effects are made, panning for gold, sitting on top of a mock-up of a horse (in front of a screen) and pretending to ride along in a western film! We know we cant cover every museum, so we enlisted the help of fellow travel writers to share the best family museums in the United States (look for best museums around the world next week). The real draw is Highmark SportsWorks, which houses 30 interactive sports exhibits demonstrating how physics, anatomy, biology and chemistry control sports performance.This is always our first stop.The center also features the worlds largest permanent robotics exhibit and the Miniature Railroad & Village, which includes detailed miniatures of Pittsburgh area buildings, including Fallingwater. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Getty Center in Los Angeles, CA is one of the most highly regarded museums in the world, and while its collection of art is impressive, its the architecture and outdoor gardens that make this such a special place to explore with kids. The Chinese American Museum is located at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, inside one of the oldest surviving Chinese buildings in Southern California. If youre lucky, you might also catch a live tarantula feeding. Our whole family was so enthralled by the Bishop Museum in Honolulu that we visited twice and considered a third trip! Adjacent to the insect zoo is a live butterfly habitat (must purchase a separate ticket). Dalis art is surreal, whimsical and almost childish which is perfect for exploring with kids. Sadly, we ran out of time, but that just gave us an excuse to return. When I planned my visit to The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis, I was told I should expect to stay the entire day. Corinne from Have Baby Will Travel. The Building Big exhibit lets kids build mega forts, without the cleanup, while the Noodle Forest takes sensory play to the next level. This handy-dandy, portable paperback book is packed full of ideas for FUN all over SoCal! In fact, you can take a private tour inside the cockpit and sit in his chair! 25 Best Museums for Kids in Washington D.C. - ViaTravelers Best Train Museums in New York and Nearby - New York Family Hopefully, this will help you plan your museum visit. In fact, you can take a private tour inside the cockpit and sit in his chair! As the school holidays approach, here are our recommendations of the best museums for kids in the UK. You know your kids better than anyone, so you'll know best whether some of these museums in LA are right for your family. Spotlight Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids Best Children's Museums in NYC for Families to Visit Visiting The Metropolitan Museum with Kids: Exploring NYC's Biggest Art Museum VIDEO Inside the New Bronx Children's Museum Now Open in the South Bronx American Museum of Natural History: Ultimate Guide to Visiting NYC's AMNH with Kids The Physics Forest allows visitors to create their own rollercoasters and launch bottle rockets, while the nature exchange offers an opportunity for kids to bring in treasures theyve found in the outdoors and exchange them for something else cool. Admission: $13 per person, free under 1, pay-as-you-wish on Thursdays from 2-5 pm. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Great Explorations Children's Museum. The Institute offers a wide variety of exhibits and experiences and, no matter how often we stop in, theres always something new and interesting to see. Within the museum, youll find interactive childrens exhibits and so much more. Best Museums for Kids in the US - Kids Are A Trip One of my familys absolute favorite cities to visit is Philadelphia, PA and each time we travel there we make sure to spend an afternoon at the Franklin Institute, one of our favorite Philadelphia museums. Inside, kids can bring their inventions to life at the assembly plant, operate a fire station or veterinary office, or join a cooking class in the teaching kitchen. And you can make a whole day of it by hitting the water park right next door! While many of the exhibits cater to the 6+ crowd, the Little Learner Clubhouse and the Skytykes Ropes Course are designed for younger visitors.Carnegie Science Center is certain to be a favorite for kids of all ages. 15 things to do with kids on Cape Cod in the summer - plus a few more Activities and shows include fun with bubbles, hand-painting . Inside are more than 300 real fossils, and 20 complete dinosaurs and ancient sea creatures. 2023. We never miss the IMAX theater showings, the Live Science shows, the Giant Heart, and we always make it up to the Observatory to take in the beautiful views of the City. The Aquarium houses a large collection of Southern California marine life. 6. Another fun area for kids to enjoy is the sports challenge area. , Danielle Valente & Oliver Strand Tuesday July 26 2022 NYC museums like MoMA, the Museum of Natural History and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum offer programs that make their exhibits. Roald Dahl Museum Calls Author's Racism 'Undeniable and Indelible' 3,401. Heritage Square is made up of eight beautiful buildings, constructed in the Victorian Era, and preserved in order to demonstrate what life was like in the early days of Los Angeles. Theres even a play space called The Idea Factory where kids can splash and play while learning about scientific principles (this area is for ages 10 and under only). The Air Force One Discovery Center is an immersive, educational experience meant to inspire the next generation of student leaders. Sarah of The Wandering Rumpus. The Robert and Mary Galvin Physics Forest is a super fun outdoor interactive experience with 13 different hands-on exhibits to nurture and inspire children to be the innovators and creators of tomorrow. The Museum is a nut-free facility. Children's Museum of Denver. Margie of DQ Family Travel. Its unlike any museum youll find elsewhere in the world! My kids favorite museum in the world is the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.Lucky for them, we are able to visit several times each year and receive free admission through as ASTC travel passport program members. Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, the museum will be dedicated to the art of visual storytelling. The USS Midway was commissioned the week after WWI ended and the second longest serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century who saw battle in Vietnam and the Cold War. Hilarye of Dotting the Map. It is located in Queens, NY and has plenty of exhibits to keep the kids entertained. Everything is fun at MSI, from the hands on Science Storms to touring the U-505 submarine and Coal Mine. Ranging from living systems and observing landscape to tinkering and human phenomena, each gallery offers plenty of opportunity for young minds to explore what interests them and discover new ways to understand how the world works. The Aquarium also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. The childrens creativity museum is now open on the weekends. Snarkitecture is a favorite, featuring The Beach and Funhouse in recent years. Kirsten of Kids Are A Trip. Unusual and eclectic, this museum is packed full of fascinating changing exhibitions, and galleries include Natural history, African Worlds, Anthropology, Music Gallery and much more. Kids who love learning about firefighters will love visiting the L.A. Fire Department Museum in Hollywood. The educational exhibits are interactive and engaging and I love that my children are having fun while learning. Marcie of Marcie in Mommyland. Nursing is allowed throughout the museum, but theres a special area for extra privacy. Of course, the Cape Cod Children's Museum in Mashpee is always a safe bet for some kid-friendly fun. Keep it in the car, your purse, your diaper bag and be ready for fun anytime, anywhere! Permanent exhibits are worth it year round too. The museum houses many aircraft and space items most of which are hanging from the ceiling of the building. Visitors can ogle at a miniature replica of Kansas during the 50s, or check out the Bridging Art and Science exhibit featuring photos from a National Geographic weather photographer. Theres a gallery area for smaller visitors, a four story play area, and tons of rotating exhibits like the recent Hot Wheels: Race to Win. Herstrau Park. The wonders of waters exhibit invite kids to float boats along with the stream table or create human-sized bubbles, while Tinys Diner encourages visitors to work together to take orders, make and serve food and clean up. Families enter for free every third Friday of the month from 5:00-8:00 pm. The Richard Meier designed building, located on a hilltop in the Santa Monica mountains, boasts stunning open spaces and some of the best views of LA, surrounding mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Families will enjoy their permanent collection which includes more than 1,300 works of art, including sculpture, painting, photography, and video, all created by more than 350 Latin American artists from 20 Latin American countries. This 1,700-square-foot exhibit offers age-appropriate activities for the Smithsonian's youngest guests, including a play ship, fun slide and blocks. 15 July 2022 School's out for summer! For aviation enthusiasts, a visit to the Museum of Flying is a must-do. Or fire up the imagination at the play supermarket, police and fire station, construction zone and cruise ship, or learn about glass, the ocean, and how to make your home environmentally friendly. 81-83, High Street . Visitors can put their imagination to work making a stop motion claymation movie, or visit the tech lab to play with robots. At the Children's Creativity Museum, kiddos can bring clay characters to life using stop motion technology in the animation studio, or enter the music studio and record their own hit pop song.There are also plenty of creative activities for the five and under setthink sandboxes, a dress up area, building logs and a storybook space. At the kidtropolis exhibit, kids get to try out being an adult, keeping their city running by working, earning and spending money, and taking on the roles of city leaders, shoppers, business owners, and voters. Top 6 Children-Friendly Activities in Bucharest - TravelMaker This place contains all the basics of a good childrens museum, from a theater, a garden, an art studio, workshop, toddler area, and water room. There are special events held throughout the year, all worth checking out. Admission: $20 for adults, $18 for children, free for members. Inside you can find everything from animal specimens, dinosaur skeletons, precious gems, the Hope Diamond, mummies, a living insect zoo, and an excellent playroom. Carrick of Along for the Trip. There is even a moon rock you are able to touch, guaranteed to impress every space enthusiast. And you can sit in the pilots chair of a FedEx plane, positioned at the actual height. One of our very favorite museums to visit is. The Japanese American National Museum is a one-of-a-kind place, dedicated to the history of Japanese Americans, and to a deeper understanding of cultural diversity. The best part? Youll find a spot to sit and read, musical instruments kids can touch, a Camel kids can sit upon, and more. The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p . They also narrate the audio tour which is included with the ticket price and highly-recommended. Theyre open 364 days of the year (except for Christmas) and there is no admission fee. Kids can pull levers to balance their weight on logs and test out how much force it takes to push objects. At the Star-Spangled Center, kids can practice voting, signing the declaration of independence, and learning about presidents. And its that sense of familiarity that makes exploring all of these hallowed halls less daunting. Youll find over 100 vintage and antique automobiles out on display. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kirsten Maxwell and Kids Are A Trip, Inc. with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Lindsey of Abroad Wife. These childrens museums come highly reviewed by parents, whether for their interactive exhibits, stroller accessibility, toddler accommodations, or the simple fact that they entertain adults as much as kids. Parents warn that there arent too many activities or areas catering to kids under 4. 20 Best Children's Museums in the United States - Mommy Nearest Parking can be a challenge, but kids can roam free on the grounds, which is a not true of every museum. We loved learning about how the indigenous population of Alaska lived and also about how they still live today. This hands-on museum brings the beauty of its city to light. At this indoor museum on the upper west side, kids can drive a NYC firetruck or an MTA bus, splash around in a 22 foot long outdoor water table, or rescue animals with Dora and Diego. Chris, Dr X and Dr Ronx take kids on a journey through the digestive system, and the role each vital organ . The reason visitors are so varied in their interests can be found in the museums six main galleries of exploration. The Treehouse Museum is all about imagination. The best children's museums pique curiosity, encourage imagination, help develop crucial skills, foster creativity and spark a life-long passion for our world. Insiders tip: the butterfly exhibit is free on Tuesdays, get there early to claim your free, timed ticket. The kids absolutely loved the interactive train ride and following the different real life stories of people who fought and served in the war.