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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 2/1/2008 12:25 AM EST
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Posts: 243
First: 1/9/2007 Last: 5/21/2008 |
I would say that New England has the greatest collection of museums and historical sites in the country, so I would not be able to begin to answer completely. I would say it depends on where you live, since kids don't like long car rides. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 2/13/2008 4:53 PM EST
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Posts: 13
First: 2/13/2008 Last: 4/28/2008 |
Last summer, a friend of mine and I took a trip to the New England Aquarium.� The tickets online were pretty pricey, so I managed to get VERY discounted tickets courtesy of our local library.� And rather than pay the parking fees in the city, we drove to Quincy and took the ferry in.� It was AWESOME...it drops you off right at the pier next to the Aquarium and the kids absolutely loved it.I haven't been to the Children's Museum in a couple years (another one I believe I can get passes to through the Library), I'd like to go again with the kids sometime.South of the city, be sure to check out the Children's museums in Easton, MA (small but a lot of fun for your younger kids) and Providence�RI (sort of in between the Easton and Boston museums in size), both of which give AAA discounts.� Another place I'd like to check out sometime (not exactly a museum but along the same lines) is the Butterfly Place in Westford, MA.� I think the kids would really like that, especially in this winter weather!� It opens back up tomorrow, actually.� http://www.butterflyplace-ma.com/ |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 2/20/2008 7:08 PM EST
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Posts: 6
First: 1/12/2008 Last: 2/20/2008 |
HI! One of my favorite spots is a little out of Boston but it's great! http://www.handsonartmuseum.com/ |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 2/25/2008 5:04 PM EST
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Posts: 18
First: 2/25/2008 Last: 6/9/2009 |
The Museum of Science is an obvious choice.� Going further out into the suburbs, my kids like both the Discovery Museums in Acton and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.� The PEM has a fabulous exhibit on Origami right now, with incredibly complex works of art right next to a room where there are easy-to-follow instructional videos for kids. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/10/2008 4:58 PM EDT
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Posts: 93
First: 1/4/2006 Last: 4/2/2008 |
I went to the Higgins Armory Museum for the first time about a month ago.�It is located in Worcester, MA. �The museum has 100+ suits of armor ranging in age from 2000 BC to�the 20th centruy�AD.� I loved it, and I am 33 years old.�The kids in the musuem went crazy over the suits of armor.� Really cool stuff for�8-12 year old kids.�� |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/12/2008 11:45 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 3/12/2008 Last: 3/12/2008 |
North Shore - Just a half hour�north of Boston is the Wenham Museum.�My kids can't wait to see the model trains and like to pretend to play house and store in the discovery room where the kids dress up in colonial costumes,�churn butter,�shop at the country store.�We liked the 100 years of toys exhibit so much that I brought my friends back to see it and found that they had added new toys. I like the fact that the museum is geared to families and there are a lot of hands-on ways to learn about history. It's the perfect place to introduce children to a real museum; it's just the right size.They have a lot of family and kids programs too. They just had a family disco dance that was fun and we are going to a yo yo program in April.�Wenham is quintesssential New England and there are nice places to eat. Last summer we went and found a playground across the street. Get directions on the website www.wenhammuseum.org . Parking was free. We joined as members a year ago and it's already paid for it'self. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/13/2008 1:16 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 3/6/2008 Last: 3/13/2008 |
That is the Harvard Museum of Natural History http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/13/2008 1:32 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 3/13/2008 Last: 3/13/2008 |
The Harvard Museum of Natural History near Harvard Square has been our family favorite. The kids call it 'The Dinosaur Museum' because of the huge 42 foot-long Kronosaurus 'sea monster' --the only complete mounted skeleton of this pliosaur in the world, the plateosaurus, the triceratops..many more. �Kids of all ages love the literally hundreds of real 'stuffed' animals from all over the world --elephant, giraffe, rhino, tigers--and ancient ones such as the glyptodont..a giant extinct armadillo�relative.� Fodor's new book Around Boston with Kids gave this museum its "High Five" for "Best Museum", and if you haven't been recently, you should definitely check out all the new exhibitions which have opened in the last few years--Nests & Eggs, some great photography shows. The parents can still admire those world famous Glass Flowers --- but meteorites, minerals and so much, much more make this our fave.�� It's also one of just six 'must-see' museums selected for Boston by CityPass.com.�� More at www.hmnh.harvard.edu�-- it's on the campus, an easy walk from Harvard Square, and less than a mile from the Porter Square commuter rail stop.� |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/13/2008 1:35 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 3/13/2008 Last: 3/13/2008 |
I second the nod for the Wenham Museum. We just took our 19 month old to the disco party there and he LOVED it. It is very hands on and interactive and for just the museum admission relatively in expensive. �� |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/14/2008 1:27 PM EDT
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Posts: 5
First: 2/2/2008 Last: 10/30/2008 |
I second the Acton Discovery Museum...there is a giant green dinosaur in the front yard, and the younger kids' converted victorian house has the most incredible rooms....one with tubes running all along the walls that kids roll balls through, then there is the water room, a jungle room, and the top room is a mock ship, complete with captain's wheel. Very sweet and humble. DeCordova museum and sculpture park in Lincoln MA was also a lot of fun. There are sculptures all over the grounds that change periodically. I remember some of them were interactive, but I don't know what they have installed at the moment. They also host an art camp in the summer for children, and offer art courses year round for adults and children, as well. The Museum its self often has very innovative and creative galleries. Nice gift shop. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/17/2008 11:28 AM EDT
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Posts: 8
First: 4/13/2005 Last: 3/17/2008 |
My family LOVES the Childrens Museum.� Seeing the old Milk Bottle brings back memories for me, and still delights kids today (though none of them have ever seen a milk bottle).The activities in the museum are great, and I've noticed that the staff is wonderful.� They do all they can do make our visits enjoyable.There's less bells and whistles than the Museum of Science, but with little kids (and some of us "big" kids), visiting the Childrens Museum is always a promise of a delightful day! |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/18/2008 9:48 AM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: 3/4/2008 Last: 3/18/2008 |
I have a 5 and a 2 year old and i personally can't stand to bring them to the children's museum.� parking is a major hassle and very expensive.� the acoustics are unbelievably bad.� i was disapointed to find that the renovations did not improve the noise level one bit (is it possible it got worse?� maybe i'm just getting older).� the place is chaotic.� the floor of the bubble room is dangerously slippery.� the dining options are poor, and�the seating area for those who have brought their own food is depressing.� plus, my kids get sick after every visit.��i imaging that when my children are a bit older -- maybe 8 to 12 years old -- the trip will be more manageable and rewarding. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/21/2008 9:10 AM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 1/16/2008 Last: 4/11/2008 |
As a newish parent, the toughest thing is finding age-appropriate museums. The Aquarium is great for the youngest of all. Babies seem to enjoy watching the fish go by and colors of the water oscillate. As I'm now into the toddler years, the challenges are different because at this age they want to DO DO DO! That said, the Harvard Natural History Museum was a total bust. But my best suggestion is The Providence Children's Museum! If your active toddler is like mine, he or she will love the toys, structures to navigate, and large water room. They have a fenced-in free lot (that looks like it might fill up) and are about a minute off of 95. |
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Favorite musem to visit with kids?
posted at 3/25/2008 1:24 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 3/25/2008 Last: 3/25/2008 |
Re:� Harvard Museum of Natural History...perhaps you visited during the week when there weren't any volunteers in the galleries with hands on activities? (�Have you had your youngsters try any of the programs� for age 4 and up?� Hope you'll try�the museum�again when they're old enough for dinosaurs, Fossil Fest, and some of the special hands on programs when they can touch real specimens. All best,�Blue� |