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CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Miami Children's Museum

Chicago Children's Museum

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INDIANA

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana

The biggest and most popular children's museum in the U.S., there are five floors, a planetarium, and 11 galleries with educational exhibits, including areas about trains, dinosaurs, and family health. Check out the "Dragons Unearthed" exhibit, opening September 19, to find out how these mythical creatures have influenced cultures around the world for centuries. At the "Animation" exhibit, open until January 4, kids can learn about the art, math, science, and technology that goes into creating a cartoon.

Other area attractions: Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens for a wild adventure, including a Dolphin Adventure Show.

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston Children's Museum, Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Children's Museum has been hands-on since its founding in 1913. Now there are 17 exhibits designed to encourage a child's interest in everything from art and culture to math and physics. Take your child through the "Kid Power" exhibit, which encourages healthy living with nutritious foods and fun physical activity. Or go to work in the "Construction Zone," where kids can build, tunnel, demolish, or even ride an authentic Bobcat. Visit before January 4, 2009 to take part in the "Airplay" exhibit, which teaches visitors the laws of motion with pinwheels and handheld fans, as well as letting them make music like the Blue Man Group with PVC instruments.

Other area attractions: Franklin Park Zoo and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

NEW YORK

Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, New York

The world's first museum created expressly for children, this historic institution opened its doors for the first time in 1899. It's been under construction, but the newly expanded attraction will open its doors on September 20 as the first "green" museum in New York City. New exhibits will teach children about environmentally friendly practices and allow them to become scientists with activities based around ecology and conservation. The first traveling exhibit after the opening will be "Living in Space," offered through January 2, where kids can experience sleeping, working, and dressing like astronauts.

Other area attractions: Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Prospect Park Zoo.

Children's Museum of Manhattan, New York City, New York

The Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is a not-for-profit institution, founded in 1973, to engage children and families in a partnership of learning through interactive exhibits and educational programs. CMOM inspires children and families to learn about themselves and our culturally diverse world through the arts, literacy, media & communications, science & the environment and early childhood education.

Other area attractions: Central Park Zoo and The Museum of Natural History

Children's Museum of the Arts, New York City, New York

The Children's Museum of the Arts provides stimulating, interactive exhibitions and programs for children under ten years old, encouraging them to develop their full creative potential through the visual and performing arts. The Museum emphasizes inclusion, with programs geared to integrate special needs children, their families and school into the life of the museum.

Other area attractions: Central Park Zoo and The Museum of Natural History

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York City, New York

This floating museum offers exhibits that let kids climb aboard a British Airways Concorde jet, ride inside an A-6 cockpit simulator, and poke around a space capsule.

Long Island's Children's Museum, Long Island, New York

LICM is a hands-on museum for kids and their grown-ups. You�ll find places to play, learn and have fun.

Other area attractions: Museum Row

New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, New York

Built as a pavilion for the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, the Hall of Science served as a museum from 1966 to 1981. In 1986, an improved museum reopened with 25,000 square feet of exhibition space, new hands-on exhibitions, and a new staff.

Other area attractions: Queens Zoo and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Nitchen Children's Museum of Native America (NCMNA), New York City, NY

The museum is a project of Nitchen, Inc., a non-profit organization serving NYC Native American families in the social, educational, cultural and health areas. This museum will offer a peek into the past, present and future of Native America.

Science Museum of Long Island, Long Island, New York

SMLI is a not-for-profit science activity center located on the Leeds Pond Preserve in Nassau County. The Science Museum offers enrichment workshops for children on weekdays and during school vacations. All activities at the Science Museum are pre-registered hands-on science workshops. To experience the Science Museum, you must register for our programs.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab, New York City, New York

The Sony Wonder Technology Lab is a great place for kids of all ages to learn about technology through interactive exhibits. Children under 8 may need a little help with some of the exhibits. There are several permanent exhibits at the museum.

Staten Island Children's Museum, Staten Island, New York

Collection of interactive exhibits for children to explore and learn about the world around them. Exhibits range from a children's theater where dressup is encouraged to scientific exhibits focusing on the human body and the environment.

Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, New York

Many of the exhibits at the Strong National Museum of Play are based on some of your children's most beloved characters, so you can step into the world of the Berenstain Bears or stroll down Sesame Street. Get close to nature in the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden or Rainbow Reef aquarium, or climb inside a helicopter and man the controls. Visit from September 20 to January 4, 2009, and learn to see the world through a mischievous monkey's eyes in the "Curious George: Let's Get Curious!" exhibit.

Other area attractions: Seabreeze Amusement Park, Rochester Museum & Science Center, or the Seneca Park Zoo.

Child-Friendly Museum & Art Gallery Tours in New York

Based in New York, Art Smart specializes in tailor-made museum and gallery visits for small groups. Kids love the private museum tours with an enthusiastic art historian who knows how to keep kids engaged and get them excited about art. Art Smart also caters to adults, whether they want an in-depth look at the Guggenheim's latest exhibit, or need advice on expanding their contemporary painting collection. Art Smart offers visits to cultural institutions in and around New York City, but custom itineraries and guides can be arranged.

NEW JERSEY

New Jersey Children's Museum, Paramus, New York

The New Jersey Children's Museum was featured as one of the "50 Best Places To Take Kids in New York City" (City and Co 1998). Although they are located in N.J., they are so close (15 minutes from the George Washington Bridge) and so great for little kids that the editors made a geographical exception for them. They have special programs for school groups and are available for birthday parties. Your family will have hours of fun playing and learning together! The Museum has over thirty different exhibits, in 15,000 square feet, each designed for specific groups, from the special Baby Nook and Housekeeping for two's and toddlers, to the challenging Science and Technology for first graders

NORTH CAROLINA

ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

As the first public building in Charlotte to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, ImaginOn is as friendly to the environment as it is to families. Visitors can flex their creative muscles through storytelling exhibits or by designing or performing a play in the Wachovia Playhouse or McColl Family Theatre.

Other area attractions: Levine Museum of the New South, the Mint Museum of Art, and the historic Charlotte Trolley.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina

This museum

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daily scoop

February 07, 2012

Set sail with Mickey Mouse on the new Disney Dream cruise.Features inlcude: children-only pools, clubs, and Goofy's Sports Deck and the first ever on-ship water-coater ride. Boat also stops at Disney's Private Island. More >>

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Citistroller App for the iPhone/iPad offers more than 700 baby-and kid-gear retailers, stroller-friendly public transport, diaper-change stations, and nursing spots. Fully optimized for Boston and NYC.

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