8 Uncommonly Cool Children’s Museums

While plenty of adult museums offer specific exhibits with kid appeal, there is a whole genre of museums that take child-friendliness to a much higher level. These institutions are specifically designed to engage the younger set through hands-on, interactive exhibits that literally turn learning into child’s play.

Compared to theme parks, whose admission fees can be pricey, the best children’s museums are typically a relative bargain. And more good news: finding a good children’s museum is pretty easy. The non-profit Association of Children’s Museums includes well over 200 members throughout the United States that together welcome more than 30 million kids and parents annually.

Among the scores of wonderful kid’s museum out there, here are 8 standouts that have wowed us recently with their ability to innovate, engage, and expand their offerings.

Boston Children’s Museum

Give a birthday hat tip to Boston’e s kids' museum, located along Children’s Wharf, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. Of the 20 permanent exhibits here, be sure to check out Construction Zone, which was inspired by Boston’s “Big Dig,” the largest urban infrastructure endeavor in U.S. history. Children can sit in a real Bobcat excavator, balance on “high beam” girders, and feel the power of a jackhammer. Elsewhere, kids can create artworks, blow bubbles, explore an authentic Japanese house (a gift from Kyoto, Boston’s sister city) and much more. Best for: Ages 2-8.

Madison Children’s Museum

This small but first-rate and oh-so-green museum in Madison, Wisconsin, gets high points for its focus on nature and environmental awareness. Get oriented with a fun scavenger hunt using a reusable treasure map, then bring the kids to the rooftop garden where they can collect eggs from chicken coops, learn all about homing pigeons, and get their hands dirty planting in a garden. There’s a nice padded crawling area for babies (made with all-natural local materials, naturally) and a little treehouse for the preschool set. Best for: Ages 6 months to 6 years.

(MORE: Browse real parents’ trip itineraries and create your own.)

Please Touch Museum

The name says it all. Opened in 1976 for the nation’s Bicentennial celebration, this fantastic children’M s museum in Philly invites youngsters to explore eight themed exhibits, including City Capers, a realistic urban environment with buildings from Philadelphia’s skyline, and Wonderland, which you enter by descending down a rabbit hole to find a hall of doors and mirrors, a circular maze, and a pretend tea party. The Flight Fantasy exhibit lets you carefully engineer your spaceship or engage in less lofty pursuits, such as shooting foam rockets at your sister. Best for: Ages 6 months to 10 years.

Strong National Museum of Play

Rochester’ s 150,000-square-foot kid space is the world’s only collections-based museum devoted entirely to play. Highlights include a working Victorian carousel, massive comic book collection, indoor butterfly garden, and brand new America at Play exhibit that invites you to try your hand at video games and jump into the action on oversized versions of iconic board games. A recent update of the incredibly popular Super Kids Market now includes a market café, role-playing stations, and an organic farm for toddlers. Best for: Ages 2-10.