We're working with our readers to provide the best, most comprehensive list of places that are safe to take your bunch. And by safe we mean where you won't lose your kids or your mind.
DC Area (Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland)
Be With Me Playseum
Nice, not oversized, kid play museum. Converted office space with different rooms for kids: salon (dress up/hair styling), pet store (real pets), art room, story hour, science room (experiments), international room, kitchen, grocery store. Kids and adults $5. Ages infants to 7.
Jammin' Java
Coffee house with live kid's music 5 days a week. Each weekday at 10:30 local musical acts perform for 45 minutes. Kids under 2 are free. $5 entrance fee for kids over 2 only. Parents are free. Coffee and snacks are available to purchase. Ages infant to 6.
Meadowlark Bontanical Gardens
Great place for the outdoors. Paved paths are perfect for strollers. Kids sandbox/outdoor tea area. Feed the fish for $1/bag of food. Great for ages infant to adult.FLORIDA
Orlando, FL
Monkey Joe's
18mo - 10 years (or maybe even older). A warehouse full of inflatable toys. There's a section for little ones and also several arcade games. There's also a snack bar if you get hungry and a t.v./lounge area for the parents.
ILLINOIS
Chicago (Wheeling)
Nibbles Play Cafe
Perfect for sitting babies up through preschool, they have lots of play areas for these ages. Also have some art and board games from the older crowd. Really neat place, with great food selection and seating for parents. Downside is an entrance fee per kid.
INDIANA
Indianapolis, IN
Monkey Joes
18mo - 10 years (or maybe even older). A warehouse full of inflatable toys. There's a section for little ones and also several arcade games. There's also a snack bar if you get hungry and a t.v./lounge area for the parents.
Indianapolis Children's Museum
Great for all ages once at least one kid starts walking.
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia, PA
Please Touch Museum
Six months-5 years.
Pittsburgh
Wildwood Highlands
Kiddie City for little ones and mini golf, snow tubing, arcade, go karts for the big kids.
OREGON
Portland, Oregon
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI)
All ages if you use the upstairs exploration area. First Sunday of the month is only $2.
Portland Children's Museum
All ages and there is a "Baby Garden." Free first Friday night of the month.
TaborSpace
Large open area for kiddos to crawl and a play corner. Awesome coffee for moms.
Rhody Garden
Great place to push the double stroller and look at ducks. All ages.
UrbanGrind Coffee House
HUGE play area with rocking chairs. All ages.
Salem, Oregon
Children's Museum (AC Gilbert's Discovery Village)
All ages.
VIRGINIA
Richmond, VA
The Playroom
Great indoor playground for kids. Ball pit, moon bounces, dress up area, separate baby area. Infant to 5 years. Admission fee is $6 for kids
Our favorite in Chicago is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Water room, kids area with slide, tunnels and dress-up areas (and private bathrooms with changing tables!), butterfly room, lots of toads, snakes, turtles to look at.
Small enough that it doesn't feel overwhelming to toddlers with short attention spans (we can see it all in about 2 hours). And not usually crowded at all, so I feel comfortable letting my 2 year old explore on his own while I trail him with the baby.
And if you want more activity (we usually don't - a couple of hours is our limit right now) the Lincoln Park Zoo is right across the street (and free!).
I'd say best age for the museum is 1-5. Older kids would enjoy a single visit, but probably be bored with repeat trips.
Posted by: Amy | Jan 23, 2010 at 02:39 PM
We spent a summer in California and made about 15 trips to the San Jose Children's Museum - LOL. My Bunch was a little older by then (2 1/2 and 4) but if I remember correctly, it would've been OK with younger ones, too.
We've enjoyed the Atlanta Zoo at all ages. Big enough to make it worth the trip but small enough that it is manageable with small children. Plus they have an indoor air-conditioned play area, a petting zoo, a playground, a train and a carousel. Bring your own lunch, though - food is overpriced and not all that good. Cost per person is steep ($17) so get a family pass for like $89 and it'll be worth the investment after 2 visits.
The Houston Children's Museum is great, too - broken into smaller rooms with good flow so it's easier to track your Bunch, plus they have an awesome baby room.
Great tip for Children's Museums - many of them are part of the National Association of Children's Museums and for another $20 or so onto your annual family membership, you can make your pass "reciprocal", which means you can visit any other participating museum in the association for free! We plan a stop at a Children's Museum on every long car drive we take - it's a great free, air-conditioned way to break up the drive and explore new museums.
Posted by: Cara Fox | Jan 24, 2010 at 03:45 PM
Specialists tell that loans help people to live the way they want, because they are able to feel free to buy necessary things. Moreover, banks give consolidation loan for all people.
Posted by: JeanineWarner33 | Nov 17, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Be With Me Playseum is great. I was there when new bunnies were born. It was great.
They proselytize so be warned.
Posted by: lilkunta | Mar 23, 2011 at 12:33 AM
It is really a wonderful list you are sharing with us.These are really some wonderful destinations you have included in this list.
Thanks!
Posted by: Riviera Maya | May 28, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Every one knows that men's life is not very cheap, nevertheless some people need cash for various issues and not every man earns enough money. Hence to receive fast business loans and just short term loan will be a proper solution.
Posted by: loans | Dec 27, 2011 at 12:40 AM