Looking for something to do that's fun, educational and family-friendly? Bring the kids to The Children's Museum in Easton! With a motto of "Helping children and families become lifelong learners," this unique museum housed in an old fire station is sure to bring lots of smiles from the whole family. Here, kids can climb a fire pole, explore the enchanted forest, walk the Prehistoric Pathway and run around outdoors in the Wild Place play area. The museum also offers arts and crafts activities, workshops, birthday parties and even a summer camp. Call the number listed during business hours to inquire about discount passes.
The College Park Aviation Museum is located right next door to the College Park Airport. Staff members are more than happy to help teach customers about the history of aviation. Guided tours and $2 tickets for students and children help keep this museum an affordable option for customers. The gift shop serves all kinds of memorabilia for patrons.
The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is a 12-acre park and petting zoo designed to depict scenes from a family farm at the end of the 19th century. Visitors can see vegetable and flower gardens and nearly 200 farm animals and fowl, plus prairie dogs, longhorn steer, bobcats, bison and birds of prey. There are also several mini-playgrounds throughout the park.
Parking and Public Transportation to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
The farmstead is located just south of the Overland Park Soccer Complex. Enter the complex and travel south past the last soccer field to the Farmstead parking lot. Or, take Switzer south from 135th and turn west past those soccer fields to the entrance to the parking lot. Parking is free.
Admission to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Admission is free Monday through Thursday. Cost is $2 per person Friday through Sunday and holidays. Children younger than age 2 are free. Additional costs for pony rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, fishing, and a bottle of milk to feed baby goats are about $5 or less each. A combo pack for fishing, mining, a bottle of milk for the baby goats, pony and wagon rides is available around $12 at the entrance to the park. No pets.
Best and worst times to go to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Visit on weekdays for free admission. This is an outdoor venue, so check for good weather. Weekends during youth soccer season may make parking challenging. Cow milking demonstrations are held at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Dairy Barn. The schoolhouse and Native American encampment are usually closed for history tours Monday through Thursday mornings.
Must see/do at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Look for the bison in the east end of the park. Sift for "gold" in a mining trough under the windmill just west of the country schoolhouse. (Purchase a bag of sand and genuine gemstones at the site.) Feed and pet the goats and other animals throughout the park. Get a handful of animal feed from small red vending machines throughout the park for 25 cents. (Bring quarters.)
Food at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
No outside food is allowed inside the park, however visitors can picnic in the Community Park at 13700 Switzer Rd., north of the east parking lot. Inside the farmstead, food and snacks are available at the east entrance, Alex & Emily's Ice Cream Parlor, the Dairy Barn and General Store. Lunch specials, including drink, are under $6, sandwiches under $4, snacks, drinks and desserts in the $2 range.
Other places to visit near Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is nearby at 111th and Quivira Rd.
Insiders tip for visitors to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Check for recorded weather delays or cancellations at (913) 895-5020, Option 3.
Author's bio: Mary-Lane Kamberg is a professional writer and native Kansas Citian. She often took her own children to the farmstead and now takes her grandchildren there.
Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum inspires kids to learn and discover through playing. The museum features countless exhibits for all ages to enjoy, including some that grown adults may even remember from their childhood trips to Please Touch Museum. Kids and parents can enjoy hands-on fun on two levels of exciting attractions to explore, with special programs and events also featured throughout the year.
Best and Worst Time to Go to Please Touch Museum
Rainy days tend to draw more guests to the Please Touch Museum, so plan to visit on a sunny or fair day if you are looking for smaller crowds. Visits later in the day, particularly during the afternoon, are usually less crowded due to school trips having already wrapped up their visits. Mondays are another safe bet as groups are not taken that first day of the week.
Must-See and Do at Please Touch Museum
Kids will love to play in the water at the museum's River Adventures exhibit, complete with sailboat races and animals nestled in the nooks of the gigantic winding water table. The Space Station allows families to create and launch foam rockets high into the sky of the space room, aiming for the Ring Tower or other parts of the room. Don't miss the ShopRite Supermarket downstairs in the museum--a must-do for kids who love play food, shopping, and role play.
Admission to Please Touch Museum
Children over the age of 1 and adults will need to pay for admission to the museum. Museum members gain free admission for as many times each year as they would like to visit, and the cost of a family membership is quite reasonable if you live in the area. Discounts are offered for members of the military and AAA members, as well as from 4 - 7 p.m. for all guests on the first Wednesday of the month.
Parking and Public Transportation to Please Touch Museum
Depending on how busy the museum is when you visit, the paid lot can be quite full with finding a parking spot taking a little patience. Members of the museum park in the lot for free, but free parking is available for non-members all along the street outside of the museum. Public transportation options also provide convenient access to the Please Touch Museum, specifically SEPTA buses, Philly PHLASH, Amtrak, and NJ Transit.
Food at Please Touch Museum
Families can enjoy a bite to eat at the museum's Please Taste Cafe, featuring pizzas, salads, sandwiches, beverages, and more. Expect to pay typical prices for this kind of establishment, but gain a 10% discount if you are a member. The room with the Carousel also has tables spaced out if you choose to bring your own snacks or lunch to save some money.
Insider Tip for Visitors to Please Touch Museum
Visit the Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel as a reward toward the end of your visit so that you can make it through all the exhibits. Child riders will need a ticket but one parent can accompany the child for free.
Author's bio: Kathryn M. D'Imperio is a freelance writer and marketing specialist in Pennsylvania. She enjoys taking her toddler daughter to various attractions in and around Philadelphia.
Habitot Children's Museum is a hands-on discovery museum for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The museum operates year-round exhibits, classes and performances as well as a literacy program and toy lending library. For parents, Habitot offers parenting classes, parent support groups, a family resource center and more. For teachers, the museum holds teacher training programs.
Unknown to most tourists outside the Ogden, Utah area, the Treehouse Children's Museum is a great place for kids of all ages to experience hands-on displays and interactive exhibits. Adults will also find the museum an engaging place to spend the afternoon with their families.
Best and Worst Time to Go to the Treehouse Children's Museum
The museum is open every day of the week except Sunday, and while it doesn't get overcrowded very often, it's best to avoid visiting on Saturday mornings during the school year or on rainy days when parents are looking for places to visit with their children. Visiting on school holidays should also be avoided.
Must See/Do at the Treehouse Children's Museum
One of the main focuses of the museum is literacy and the musical story time is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to engage in literary learning. Additionally, the main treehouse is a must-do for your children who are a bit more active. Finally, older kids with a political interest will enjoy getting their picture taken in the Oval Office at the American Dream Gallery.
Admission to the Treehouse Children's Museum
Admission to the museum is around $5 for both children and adults. The museum also offers various discounts on its website. In addition, the museum has memberships available starting at $50 per year.
Parking and Public Transportation to the Treehouse Children's Museum
While there is no dedicated parking lot for the museum, street parking is available for free around the building. In terms of public transportation, the museum is conveniently located only three blocks from the Utah Transit Authority Frontrunner train station. Cross Wall Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Grant Avenue until you see the Solomon Center. Turn north in front of the center until you see the museum.
Food at the Treehouse Children's Museum
There are no food options located directly at the museum. In fact, food is not permitted on the exhibit floor, although snacks are allowed in the lobby. However, there are plenty of food options within walking distance of the museum. Tickets for the museum are valid all day on multiple entries, so you can go for a couple of hours, leave to eat, and then come back.
Insider Tip for Visitors to the Treehouse Children's Museum
While the museum is geared towards providing hours of entertainment for children, it is not very stroller friendly. If you are going to bring a baby, it's best to wear a baby pack instead of trying to navigate the displays and groups of people with a stroller.
Author's bio: Clint T. has lived in Utah on and off for the past 20 years and will never grow tired of the great outdoors.
