Where: 1500 Binz Street, Houston, TX
With more than 90,000 square feet to explore and 14 exhibits, you can easily spend all day at the Children’s Museum of Houston without getting bored, or even seeing the same thing. Rated the number one children’s museum by Parents Magazine in 2011, the greatest challenge of visiting this Houston institution is finding a time that’s not full of families. Lucky for you, this museum is truly Texas-sized, so visitors can spread out and find their favorite activities. Here are a few of our favorites.
Take the rail to get there (if you can)
The Children’s Museum of Houston is conveniently accessible via Houston’s metro rail line! Taking the rail is like an extra adventure before even arriving at the museum, plus the walk from the station is lovely. Just take the Red Line to the Museum District stop. If you prefer to drive, there’s a paid parking lot across the street, or street parking around the Museum District.
Go early or late
We’ve found that if you get there exactly when it opens (10am) you can avoid some of the crowds. We’ve also found that it’s less crowded if you visit in the late afternoon around 3:30 or 4pm. Something to note: Every Thursday the museum has Free Family Night where anyone can visit the museum for free from 5 to 8pm! It’s great for those on a budget, but not so great for those overwhelmed by crowds or looking for a more intimate experience.
Visit the Tot Spot
If you have a baby who is aged 0 to 35 months, one of our very favorite places to visit within the museum is the Tot Spot. It’s easy to overlook this baby and toddler play area amongst all the excitement, but once you step off the elevator, it’s no wonder it’s a favorite place for new parents to spend time with their children. This padded play wonderland includes a ball pit, tunnels to crawl through, padded areas to climb on, and developmentally appropriate toys that are cleaned on a regular basis. Adults are required to take off their shoes upon entry.
Pretend to be a grownup at Kidtropolis
Children can explore this interactive, pint-sized metropolis and pretend to be a bank teller, business owner, shopper, veterinarian and even an emergency technician (just don’t tell them being a grown up is actually pretty boring). Let them learn the basics of spending and saving by getting a “kid card” full of Kidtropolis dollars, which can be spent all over the “city.”
Burn some energy in Power Play
This exhibit is all about active bodies and physical challenges! While our daughter isn’t old enough yet for the Power Tower (the main attraction here), we eye it every time. I always have to pull her away from climbing up the 40-foot tall, vertical maze structure. Kids can also dance, try their hands at the climbing wall, test their strength and try tracking their own health data.
Let your curiosity run wild at How Does It Work?
This hands-on exhibit is an engineer’s dream. Chock full of pulleys, levers and activities for your budding architect, scientist, or engineer, we love that there are gears to turn and levers to pull that are appropriate even for our tiny toddler. If your child has ever wondered how sound travels, how electricity works or had the desire to build his/her own vehicles, this is the exhibit of their dreams.
Bring a change of dry clothes and get wet at Flow Works
This museum is the perfect spot to visit during the hot, summer months, because it’s indoors and air conditioned. When the sun’s beating down in the 100s, we love splashing at Flow Works. This interactive water exhibit helps kids understand the forces and properties of water by requiring them to use their hands to manipulate parts of the exhibit. While it’s not a splashpad and doesn’t require you to get in the water, it’s hard not to get wet, especially when the 18-foot cauldron full of water comes crashing down. We recommend bringing a change of clothes!
Tips for your visit
• There’s space to check your stroller downstairs and outside of Tot Spot
• On top of all those great exhibits, CMH has a calender full of extra events from Mommy Mingle Wedensdays with free breakfast and coffee to museum sleepovers.
• Go for the membership! If you plan on going to the Children’s Museum of Houston at least three times in a year, the membership will pay for itself.
HOURS & ADMISSION
Visit Houston
Location: 1500 Binz Street, Houston, TX
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–6pm; Sunday noon–6pm; Thursday 10am–8pm. Free on Thursdays from 5 to 8pm.
Admission: $12, children 1 and under free. Membership for a family of four is $120 and includes free museum entry. Check out the museum’s website for details about membership levels.
Photo credits: Children’s Museum of Houston, Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Children’s Museum of Houston (2), Visit Houston
