Travel ... Not Trouble Series: Children's Museums
Traveling with 2 kids under 10 is a challenge, but I refuse to think that we cannot explore and create family memories.
Ever since the kids have been around 2 we have taken them on road trips. I share what I've learned about family friendly road trips HERE (sorry, no link yet...post is still in the works)
Costs: $7 plus HST. I found coupons online to get us further discounts
Parent's Perspective: We spent so long time here because it is a good museum, but also because the kids participated in a workshop. If you participate in those, that will take a bit chunk of your time. The building where this museum is quite interesting too - i think it used to be a school
Overall, Children's Museums are great places to go to if you have kids from ages 1-8. I think after around 8 the kids might get bored. What makes these places great is that they are designed for young families so if your kid has a melt down, your next door neighbour is probably also having one. There is sanitizers and wipes everywhere. And most displays will have some hands-on component to keep the kids busy and entertained.
...........Coming soon? Science Museums, Other Museums with kids, Animals, Trains....
Ever since the kids have been around 2 we have taken them on road trips. I share what I've learned about family friendly road trips HERE (sorry, no link yet...post is still in the works)
I love museums, and ever since having kids I discovered there is this thing called "kids' museums"...so, for the last few years we have been visiting big and small ones and my impressions on them are based on our experience visiting them with 2 children who usually do not travel well.
General Tips:
One year we purchased a one year membership so that we could visit other children's museums for free or for a fraction of their costs. For about $120 - 150 you can get a year membership (every museum has their own fees). This gives you access to all the ACM (Association of Children's Museums) in the world. I would recommend to purchase a membership of your choice, close to home (I chose to get it from the National Museum of Play) so you can visit there a few times. If you do so, purchase at the beginning of the summer. That way, you could technically enjoy the museum 2 summers in a row :D
Research before you go anywhere - most museums have FREE days or Free days at specific times.
Check for coupons. We had coupons for some of these museums
If you get there and seem to see a huge crowd, walk in the opposite direction. E.g. if they are on the same level as you are, go to the next level etc. Especially in the summer, you see lots of groups so we tend to avoid the crowds...remember, these are KIDS museums...where there are lots of...CHILDREN
Check the admissions fees - I find that the fee will give you a good idea about size and scope in the museum (except for the ones in NYC)
General Tips:
One year we purchased a one year membership so that we could visit other children's museums for free or for a fraction of their costs. For about $120 - 150 you can get a year membership (every museum has their own fees). This gives you access to all the ACM (Association of Children's Museums) in the world. I would recommend to purchase a membership of your choice, close to home (I chose to get it from the National Museum of Play) so you can visit there a few times. If you do so, purchase at the beginning of the summer. That way, you could technically enjoy the museum 2 summers in a row :D
Research before you go anywhere - most museums have FREE days or Free days at specific times.
Check for coupons. We had coupons for some of these museums
If you get there and seem to see a huge crowd, walk in the opposite direction. E.g. if they are on the same level as you are, go to the next level etc. Especially in the summer, you see lots of groups so we tend to avoid the crowds...remember, these are KIDS museums...where there are lots of...CHILDREN
Check the admissions fees - I find that the fee will give you a good idea about size and scope in the museum (except for the ones in NYC)
a) National Museum of Play (Rochester, NY).
Overall Impression: Awesome museum. My all time favourite. Big enough to roam around. Lay out is very clear. Clean and Tidy. We've been here multiple times
Costs: $13.50
Overall Impression: Awesome museum. My all time favourite. Big enough to roam around. Lay out is very clear. Clean and Tidy. We've been here multiple times
Costs: $13.50
How much time will you need: You can easily spend a whole day here. As the kids got older we went from spending 2 hours there to 5+ hours. The last time we were there we stayed until the museum closed at 5PM. The kids' favourites are the train 'ride' (for a small fee after you use up the free vouchers if you get membership), the Supermarket, the Bernstein bears section and the Sesame Street sections. They seem to love the Butterfly conservatory too. It is tiny but I suppose that is all the kids can handle!
Because of where we live, we usually turn this into a 1-2 night trip.
Because of where we live, we usually turn this into a 1-2 night trip.
Parent's Perspective: As a mom what I do love about this place is that it is so clean! There is lots of space so you never feel crammed and hey, let's be honest...it is Rochester! There is a lot of staff and they ensure that the areas are kept cleaned. The supermarket deserves a special mention as staff keep reminding kids to return all their 'purchased items' back on the shelf (I've been to so many museums where food is left on the floor). Sesame Place made me smile and seeing Papa and Mama Bernstein Bears was so much fun
The bonus in this museum (and one of the reasons you can stay here a whole day) is that on the second floor you will find an entire museum of TOYS. Nothing interactive, but surely interesting to the parents and older kids
Getting there: Lots of parking (free) and if you do go on a busy day there are additional parking lots a little further from the building. Check directions, though, as the exit from the freeway could be a little hard to find
What to eat: There is a cafeteria area with a few options. A lot of families bring their own lunches and eat there. We have done both and both have worked for us. The food is reasonably priced for museums. No food inside the museum but you can play, go to eat and go back in to play more.
The bonus in this museum (and one of the reasons you can stay here a whole day) is that on the second floor you will find an entire museum of TOYS. Nothing interactive, but surely interesting to the parents and older kids
Getting there: Lots of parking (free) and if you do go on a busy day there are additional parking lots a little further from the building. Check directions, though, as the exit from the freeway could be a little hard to find
What to eat: There is a cafeteria area with a few options. A lot of families bring their own lunches and eat there. We have done both and both have worked for us. The food is reasonably priced for museums. No food inside the museum but you can play, go to eat and go back in to play more.
b) Children's Museum of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Overall Impression: Very nice. Expected it to be bigger but it was good. Clean and spacious.
Costs: $13-14
How much time will you need: If you go there and join their workshops, you could spend a day (4-5 hours). However, I would conservatively say you need only about 3 hours to explore everything.
Parent's Perspective: We arrived very late so we could not explore everything in detail. However, the water play area seem to be the kids' favourite (anything with water, right?). I was looking forward to the Exhibit on Mr. Rogers but was a little disappointed by it.
Getting there: A little tricky with all the bridges, so prepare before you head there. Parking is expensive, $6 for non-members
What to eat: We went after lunch so I can't attest to the food or its prices. The cafe area looked very nice though
c) Brooklyn Children's Museum (Brooklyn, NY)
Overall Impression: I was expecting a lot more given that this museum has a very good review. But I was not that impressed. Perhaps it didn't help that we got there on a very busy day?
Costs: We didn't pay because we used the membership from Rochester. Regular admissions is $9. We parked on the street.
How much time will you need: We spent perhaps a couple of hours here. Size-wise, this is a mid-size museum.
Parent's Perspective: There was a lot of good information about cultures (being this is Brooklyn and all) and nature. My only problem was that there seemed to be a lack of staff and hence a lot of the exhibits were out of place or misplaced
d) Children's Museum of Manhattan (Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY)
Overall Impression: Very small. Some exhibits didn't feel like exhibits at all. Don't start on the 4th floor like we did - it gave me a bad first impression.
Costs: $11
How much time will you need: I don't think you will need more than 1-2 hours. We breezed through the 3rd and 4th floor. The only exhibit we spent the most time with was their special exhibit about Japan down in the basement
Parent's Perspective: The kids seemed to like the exhibit on the ground floor - it describes the human body and healthy eating and it had the most interactive exhibits. I thought they would like to see Dora and Diego but they did not seem amused. I think my biggest critique of this museum is that it lacks interactive exhibits - something that a children's museum should excel at. I never expected a huge building, this is Manhattan after all.
Getting there: Not hard to get here but if you have a choice, take public transit. If you don't, like us, expect to pay an arm and a leg for closed by parking. There is one across the street - if you park there, expect to pay as much as you pay in admissions for a family of 4 for parking. Remember to validate the ticket to get 15% off.
What to eat: This is Manhattan. Even if you wanted to, there is no cafe here. We ate outside. Lots to eat just within a block or two
e) The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier (Binghamton, NY)
Overall Impression: Cute little museum on our way from point A to point B. Small but well run.
Costs: We didn't pay because we used membership, but if you aren't a member, it's $7 per person
How much time will you need: 1 to 2 hours the most
Parent's Perspective: For the size of the museum, there is quite a bit to do here. There is a small garden outside with a lot of interesting sculptures. We took a quick round but it was a damp day so we didn't stay long. On a good sunny day it would be perfect. If you need a pit stop to give grumpy kids on a road trip a break, this would be a good stop
Getting there: Not hard at all. There is nothing in the vicinity. Just get the GPS to take you there. Lots of free parking
What to eat: There is a lunch room (you have to bring your own) but we at at a McDonalds nearby
f) Explore and More Children's Museum (Buffalo, NY)
Overall Impression: Unimpressed. The saviour? We got there on a special event day so there was a kids' fair out in the parking lot. That part was a lot of fun.
Costs: We didn't pay because of membership. If paying, it's $5 per person
How much time will you need: 1 hour max. There is only 1 floor. We spent another 1.25 hours outside - there was so much more to do outside.
Parent's Perspective: I should have gotten a sense when I read it was $5 per person. But to be fair, it was not all bad. It just felt much more like a play area in a Office building basement than a museum.
Getting there: Very easy to get to the area. In a quiet neighbourhood. Mostly residential. I think there was a school beside it. Just watch for the signs because there are so few of them. Very easily missed. The entrance is a tiny door on the side of the building. Free parking
What to eat: There is a lunch area but I couldn't tell if it's for the museum use or someone else. The day we were there there was a community fair on the parking lot so we ate hot dogs outside.
Overall Impression: Very nice. Expected it to be bigger but it was good. Clean and spacious.
Costs: $13-14
How much time will you need: If you go there and join their workshops, you could spend a day (4-5 hours). However, I would conservatively say you need only about 3 hours to explore everything.
Parent's Perspective: We arrived very late so we could not explore everything in detail. However, the water play area seem to be the kids' favourite (anything with water, right?). I was looking forward to the Exhibit on Mr. Rogers but was a little disappointed by it.
Getting there: A little tricky with all the bridges, so prepare before you head there. Parking is expensive, $6 for non-members
What to eat: We went after lunch so I can't attest to the food or its prices. The cafe area looked very nice though
c) Brooklyn Children's Museum (Brooklyn, NY)
Overall Impression: I was expecting a lot more given that this museum has a very good review. But I was not that impressed. Perhaps it didn't help that we got there on a very busy day?
Costs: We didn't pay because we used the membership from Rochester. Regular admissions is $9. We parked on the street.
How much time will you need: We spent perhaps a couple of hours here. Size-wise, this is a mid-size museum.
Parent's Perspective: There was a lot of good information about cultures (being this is Brooklyn and all) and nature. My only problem was that there seemed to be a lack of staff and hence a lot of the exhibits were out of place or misplaced
Getting there: It is New York City after all, so I won't tell you it's 'easy'. But if you venture out like we do, once in Brooklyn, the neighbourhood is actually quite tranquil. Free parking on the street.
What to eat: A small cafeteria on the top floor. Not much sold though. Good enough if you choose to just grab something simple. We took the kids for Pizza and ice cream by the Brooklyn Bridge afterwards.
d) Children's Museum of Manhattan (Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY)
Overall Impression: Very small. Some exhibits didn't feel like exhibits at all. Don't start on the 4th floor like we did - it gave me a bad first impression.
Costs: $11
How much time will you need: I don't think you will need more than 1-2 hours. We breezed through the 3rd and 4th floor. The only exhibit we spent the most time with was their special exhibit about Japan down in the basement
Getting there: Not hard to get here but if you have a choice, take public transit. If you don't, like us, expect to pay an arm and a leg for closed by parking. There is one across the street - if you park there, expect to pay as much as you pay in admissions for a family of 4 for parking. Remember to validate the ticket to get 15% off.
What to eat: This is Manhattan. Even if you wanted to, there is no cafe here. We ate outside. Lots to eat just within a block or two
Overall Impression: Cute little museum on our way from point A to point B. Small but well run.
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| August 2012 |
How much time will you need: 1 to 2 hours the most
Parent's Perspective: For the size of the museum, there is quite a bit to do here. There is a small garden outside with a lot of interesting sculptures. We took a quick round but it was a damp day so we didn't stay long. On a good sunny day it would be perfect. If you need a pit stop to give grumpy kids on a road trip a break, this would be a good stop
Getting there: Not hard at all. There is nothing in the vicinity. Just get the GPS to take you there. Lots of free parking
What to eat: There is a lunch room (you have to bring your own) but we at at a McDonalds nearby
Overall Impression: Unimpressed. The saviour? We got there on a special event day so there was a kids' fair out in the parking lot. That part was a lot of fun.
Costs: We didn't pay because of membership. If paying, it's $5 per person
How much time will you need: 1 hour max. There is only 1 floor. We spent another 1.25 hours outside - there was so much more to do outside.
Parent's Perspective: I should have gotten a sense when I read it was $5 per person. But to be fair, it was not all bad. It just felt much more like a play area in a Office building basement than a museum.
Getting there: Very easy to get to the area. In a quiet neighbourhood. Mostly residential. I think there was a school beside it. Just watch for the signs because there are so few of them. Very easily missed. The entrance is a tiny door on the side of the building. Free parking
What to eat: There is a lunch area but I couldn't tell if it's for the museum use or someone else. The day we were there there was a community fair on the parking lot so we ate hot dogs outside.
g) London's Children's Museum (London, ON)
Overall Impression: I wasn't expecting much but I was very impressed. I thought it would be another tiny museum. It is not big, but it was clean and well kept. There were workshops available for kids to participate in, and it felt like a museum
Costs: $7 plus HST. I found coupons online to get us further discounts
How much time will you need: We spent 2-3 hours here. Surprisingly, we thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits
Overall, Children's Museums are great places to go to if you have kids from ages 1-8. I think after around 8 the kids might get bored. What makes these places great is that they are designed for young families so if your kid has a melt down, your next door neighbour is probably also having one. There is sanitizers and wipes everywhere. And most displays will have some hands-on component to keep the kids busy and entertained.
...........Coming soon? Science Museums, Other Museums with kids, Animals, Trains....
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