CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Miami Children's Museum
Chicago Children's Museum
OREGON
Portland Children's Museum, Portland, Oregon
Kids can play paleontologist in the dinosaur-themed maze, learn about eco-friendly construction in the recycled arts studio, or join the construction crew for a 17-foot-high house. At the Clay Studio, kids can create masterpieces or try their stage chops by directing a production in the Play It Again Theater. Visit between September 26 and January 19 to take part in a traveling exhibit about Bob the Builder and his crew.
Other area attractions: Washington Park and the Oregon Zoo.
SOUTH CAROLINA
EdVenture children's museum, Columbia, South Carolina
At the biggest children's museum in the South, little ones can check out the world's largest "kid" and learn about the human body by exploring the 40-foot-tall Eddie. They can discover different career paths at the "World of Work"; check out a farm with a full-size tractor next to the "Little Pig Market"; or explore a Volkswagen Beetle at the "AutoWorks" station. In the summer, EdVenture offers "BubbLeoosa," where children can explore the shapes, sizes, and colors of a bubble blower that shoots out 25,000 bubbles per minute. In the winter, visit "Snowville" to learn about the North and South Poles, build an igloo, and discover the science of snow.
Other area attractions: Frankie's Fun Park and the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens.
TENNESSEE
Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga, Tennessee
With more than 12 exhibits to explore, kids can excavate dinosaur bones in a giant sandpit, pretend to be doctors in the Corner Clinic, or become rock stars in the recording studio. Visit from November 22 to February 1, 2009 to take part in the "Helping Hands" exhibit, which aims to teach children how to make a difference in their community.
Other area attractions: Tennessee Aquarium & Imax Theaters and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
TEXAS
Children's Museum of Houston, Houston, Texas
This museum serves more than 750,000 annually, making it the third most frequented children's museum in the country. There are 11 permanent exhibits, including Kid-TV, which lets kids experience life as a TV news anchor, sound booth director, or camera operator.
Other area attractions: Houston Museum District and Hermann Park.
VIRGINA
Children's Museum of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia
At this 44,000-square-foot museum, visitors can do everything from exploring a Virginia limestone cave to preparing and serving a meal—and then trace the food's journey through the human body! This October you can be among the first to play in the museum's new "Town Square" exhibit, where you can find out what it's like to work in six different careers, including a car-repair shop and a TV station.
Other area attractions: Metro Richmond Zoo, Three Lakes Nature Center & Aquarium, and the Science Museum of Virginia.
Amazement Square: The Rightmire Children's Museum, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Science lovers can see science in action in the "Raceways" and "Voltageville" exhibits by connecting circuits and racing balls down a track. For those kids with an artistic side, the Imagination Studio is all about sculpting, quilt- or printmaking, and art history. Each floor of the museum is connected by the Amazement Tower which happens to be the tallest indoor climbing structure in the country.
Other area attractions: Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark and the Riverwalk Trail.
TOP MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD
Imaginosity Dublin, Ireland
Dublin's funky Beacon South Quarter now has an eclectic, eco-friendly museum designed especially for children. Opened in 2007, the museum has
three floors filled with colorful exhibits. The role-playing village helps their math skills (the bank), nutritional awareness (the market), vehicle safety
(the garage), and health awareness (the doctor's office). Little ones can dress up in hard hats and tool belts to wear at the Construction
Company, or wear costumes, props and face paints to create imaginative scenarios in the TV studio and theater. The Nature in the City roof garden is a great spot for budding
environmentalists.
Open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, entry €8.
The Plaza, Beacon South Quarter | Sandyford, Dublin 18 Ireland
Children's City Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai's vast Children's City in Creekside Park was launched in March 2002. The first of its kind in the UAE, this museum is geared to children aged between two and 15. The aptly named "city" has 220 exhibits, 120 computers, 30 touch screens, and maximizes the use of technology to engage children with 3D animation, audio visuals and a planetarium. Interactive exhibits help bring out the astronomer, anthropologist, ecologist and scientist in every child. Special performances and workhops are held in the theater, and there is a special section for kids under 5.
Open daily, family ticket $10.90 (two adults, two children)
Creek Park, Gate 1 | Dubai United Arab Emirates
International Museum of Children's Art Oslo, Norway
Norway's International Museum of Children's Art is instead a cultural institution that collates, conserves and markets a range of artwork created by children from around the world. Founded in 1988, the Barnekunst Museum, as it's called in Norwegian, is one of the biggest of its kind and emphasizes the global disparity of children's emotional, social and cultural awareness through drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculptures, textiles and handcrafts. Housed in an Olso homestead in a low-key residential area, the museum features works from 180 different countries—including pieces made by African children using recycled wire, paper, beads and boxes. Workshops are also available, such as music led by a team of staff musicians from Norway, Argentina, the Ivory Coast and Cuba.
Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, entry €6.25 adults, €3.75 children.
Lille Frøens vei 4 | Oslo 0371 Norway
Eureka! The Museum for Children Halifax, England
Founded in 1992 by Dame Vivien Duffield, Director of Britain's Clore Duffield Foundation, Eureka! has seven galleries filled with more than 400 "must-touch" exhibits and a collection of body and science-oriented programs that younger children in particular will love. Among its highlights are a Desert Discovery habitat for children under five, a SoundGarden with musical plants, and a Town Square with grocery store, bank and post office "role-playing" areas.
Open daily, entry £7.25 (half-price after 3pm Monday-Friday during school term)
Discovery Road | Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2NE England
The Children's Museum Jordan Amman, Jordan
Open since May 2007, CMJ was developed by Jordan's Queen Rania—a passionate supporter of children's causes—and is the largest kids' museum in the Middle East. CMJ promotes a free-thinking approach to learning through hands-on involvement with science, arts, history and the environment. This multi-colored realm of discovery is located in Amman's northwest quarter and is home to more than 150 interactive exhibits. There's also a gift shop, restaurant, birthday room, planetarium, pretend car garage (with a real pink-and-purple Corvette), a hard hat area where a crane shifts foam bricks, and a library that houses books in Arabic and English.
Open daily except Tuesday, entry $4.25
PO Box 386 | Amman 11831 Jordan
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