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Top 10 kid-friendly museums
6. Exploratorium
Learning about science has never been more fun than at this interactive playground chock-full of exhibits that get kids up close and personal with the mysteries of Mother Nature. Curiosity is easily satisfied via on-site lab experiments that study stem cells or fruit flies under microscopes and kids who love being grossed-out can sign-up for even wackier exploits (past instances have included drinking from a toilet and dissecting a cow’s eyeball). The littlest explorers shouldn’t miss the Tactile Dome either: This pitch-black labyrinth will really put their sense of touch to the test.
7. Franklin Institute Science Museum
No matter how old you are, the Franklin Institute, one of America’s oldest and foremost science museums, is bound to entertain. Known for its two-story-high walk-through Giant Heart for some 50 years now, the museum’s other exhibits, like Kid Science (which lets tykes save the planet in the name of science) and The Train Factory (where kids are invited to get a working 350-ton train rolling) easily guarantee an action-packed day out. The Planetarium, IMAX theater, and outstanding visiting exhibits (like King Tut and Real Pirates) also make this museum a hit every time.
8. John F. Kennedy Space Center
Why play astronaut at nearby Walt Disney World when you can meet a real one at NASA's launch headquarters in Cape Canaveral, where daily astronaut-hosted lunches are part of the appeal? Indeed, the complex has witnessed some of mankind’s most spectacular technological achievements, and while the full astronomical scope might be lost on the little ones (and even on big ones), exploring a full-size replica of the Explorer space shuttle and touching a moon rock are sure to provide kids with an experience that’s truly out of this world. If your timing’s right, you might even get to watch a live launch, too.
9. National Air and Space Museum
Located on the National Mall, in a cavernous building that resembles an aircraft hangar more than it does a museum, this superb ode to aviation and space flight is loaded with historic propeller planes, high-speed jets, satellites, and spacecraft that are sure to appeal to wanna-be pilots of all ages. Indeed, the sky’s the limit for an informative and fun-filled experience here, whether it’s climbing in the cockpit for a simulated flight, handling moon rocks, or walking through a replica of an airport control tower. Equally appealing, this is one family museum that costs nothing at all to visit.
10. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Baseball fans of all ages make pilgrimages to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the country’s singular mecca to the sport in Cooperstown, New York. And, while displays of bats, mitts, and pennants belonging to legendary teams and players is often enough to enthrall kids (and grown-ups), additional offerings like Sandlot Kids' Clubhouse, which fully immerses youngsters in the sport by allowing them to step up to the plate while learning the game’s storied history, baseball fantasy camps, and frequent appearances by living baseball stars round-out the impressive family-friendly roster.
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