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  • Best U.S. Zoos With Kids

    Best U.S. Zoos With Kids

    Like most kids, my kids love zoos.  We have been regular visitors of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo since my oldest was a few months old and even had an annual membership there for years.  Zoos are generally great for families – they are a stroller paradise, and even the youngest babies are mesmerized by the animal habitats.  They also offer great educational opportunities – my kids learned about many animals by watching them in their habitats.  They could identify armadillos as toddlers and knew that giraffes like to eat lettuce because they’ve had the opportunity to feed them on several different occasions. With zoos in almost every metropolitan area in the U.S., we asked our fellow family travel bloggers for their favorites and came up with this list of the best U.S. zoos with kids:

     

    Bronx Zoo – Bronx, New York

    A trip to New York City conjures up thoughts of big buildings and the urban jungle. But a short subway ride away, up in the borough of the Bronx, is one of the most iconic, world-famous zoos.  The Bronx Zoo is very large with various exhibits and attractions. The Zoo is open year-round and features outdoor animals like bears, sea lions, tigers, and wild dogs along with indoor exhibits such as the aviary, giraffe house, monkey house, world of reptiles and our favorite, the Madagascar exhibit.

    In addition to the animals, my family loves the attractions at the Bronx Zoo – from the newly renovated children’s zoo, to the bug carousel and the World Asia Monorail! We have visited the Bronx Zoo often, and always have trouble seeing everything in one day!

    Recommended by Harmony from Momma To Go.

     

    Dallas Zoo – Dallas, Texas

    The Dallas Zoo includes 100 acres of not only animal exhibits, but educational and interactive exhibits for all ages! This zoo is perfect for kids of all ages! Our family favorites include the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo and the Wilds of Africa Adventure Safari Monorail. We’ve spent hours in the Children’s Zoo playing, exploring, hand feeding birds, splashing in the creek that runs through the nature playground and petting the farm animals – it’s the perfect spot to let the kids explore! The monorail also provides the perfect break for those tired feet as it gives everyone a birds-eye view of five African habitats that visitors can’t visit by foot. This ride provides amazing views of hippos, chimps, crocodiles, penguins, and many more animals, along with a beautiful ride through a waterfall!

    For elephant fans like us, the Giants of the Savannah habitat is a big hit – it’s the only multi-species zoo exhibit in the US to mix elephants with other species like zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, in the same habitat!

    Recommended by Ashley Clark from Timeout in Paradise.

     

    Denver Zoo – Denver, Colorado

    One of our favorite zoos is the Denver Zoo. We love being able to witness the baby animals. Over the past few years, we have seen infant red pandas, gorillas, bongos and zebras. But, one of our favorite experiences has been watching a baby giraffe growing up. Dobby was a surprise birth. He was born during the time when everyone’s focus was on April the giraffe giving birth in 2017. Surprise! Nobody knew that Dobby’s mom was pregnant until she gave birth in February to the reticulated infant giraffe. We have enjoyed watching the little guy (well, big guy now) growing stronger and taller.

    Recommended by Lance Hale from Family Well Traveled.

     

    Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Orlando, Florida

    Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the most unique zoological theme park that we’ve ever experienced! In fact, it is an enriching cultural experience. We have done complete cultural lessons for our “ABCs” (our four children) just by spending intentional time in the themed areas! From admiring the architecture, taking part in cultural traditions, dining on authentic food, and even hearing stories from cast members about their home country, it is full of depth and richness.

    As for the amazing animals, they are relatively free roaming in their natural environments. Visitors meet most of them on an open-air safari tour or on exotic jungle trails woven throughout the park. Kids can also take part in a free Wilderness Explorers program where they can earn badges for attending brief lessons about the animals. It is great for engagement, a special souvenir, and is an awesome learning experience.

    And then, lastly, there are the world-renowned rides and attractions! Each ride is amazing, and a lot of people come just for the rides. However, we encourage visiting families to spend a whole day there and really take their time exploring the details of the park. There is so much depth and richness to uncover.

    Recommended by Danielle Weiden from Traveling ABCs.

     

    Fort Worth Zoo – Fort Worth, Texas

    Among the greatest features of Fort Worth Zoo is the “Wilder Vision,” backed by a $100 million project spanning ten years including an additional ten acres of exhibit space, experiential dining, new ways to observe and interact with animals, and conservation efforts. Our favorites activities at the Zoo include:

    • Eating With Crocodiles: With only a glass barrier separating visitors and the wild, dine in an underwater viewing area at Crocodile Café.
    • Interacting with animals: Feed free-roaming giraffes on the African Savanna, offer cockatiels and parrots birdseed in the walk-through Parrot Paradise Aviary, or cuddle snakes in the award-winning 30,000 square foot indoor/outdoor Herpetarium.
    • Splashing in the wild: Play at the 14,000 square foot animal-themed Safari Splash water park.
    • Untamed Learning: Kids can participate in formal educational classes taught by certified teachers for all ages including preschool, middle school camps, a high school career camp and full day summer camps. Amy Coslik, Fort Worth Zoo Animal Projects Coordinator and mother of two states: “The camps provide opportunity to learn about and work in all areas of the Zoo, including our one-of-a-kind Nutrition Services department…responsible for feeding all 7,000 animals at the Zoo.” Programs highlight enrichment for animals and conservation while using electronic resources and hands-on techniques.

    Recommended by Brandy Morgan from Kid Allergy Travel.

     

    Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium – Omaha, Nebraska

    Omaha’s zoo, the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, is located just off I-80 and is an easy stop for families heading across the country or spending a little time in Nebraska. Kids will love some of the largest displays of their kind, constant development of new exhibits, and a friendly Midwestern vibe. A large aquarium houses jellyfish, penguins, and a shark tank with a tunnel to walk through.

    There’s also a sting ray touch tank for some hands-on time with animals. Another highlight is the new African Grasslands exhibit with elephants and giraffes, part of which is under the “Skyfari” aerial tram that runs across the campus. Then visitors can head over to the world’s largest indoor desert, the Desert Dome, which is an iconic Omaha landmark. There are also cats and apes and sea lions and bugs.  For another reason to go, the team at the zoo conducts world-class research and conservation efforts that are truly unique. Visitors’ patronage supports plant and animal restoration locally and abroad.
    It’s a must see for anyone passing through Omaha!

    Recommended by Joshua from One Good Family Life.

     

    Lincoln Park Zoo – Chicago, Illinois

    The Lincoln Park Zoo is a completely free park. Visitors can walk right in at any of the six gates. There’re no turnstiles, no actual gates and no wristbands. We took the CTA bus route No. 151 from the AC Marriott Hotel near the Magnificent Mile and were dropped off right in front of the Lincoln Park Zoo sign. While the indoor buildings don’t open until 10 a.m., the gates open at 7 a.m., which allows for families to view animals when they are most active. A visit to this zoo during our recent 2-night trip to Chicago was a perfect break from the typical Chicago sights. This is a decent sized zoo, with a variety of animals and an amazing view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Visitors can spend a few hours or pack a picnic and turn it into a full day visit. Pro tip: Don’t miss the climbing structure or the otters, which are located in the building near the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    The Maryland Zoo – Baltimore, Maryland

    While not possessing the grandeur of the National Zoo, Baltimore’s Maryland Zoo is a kid-friendly and logistically easy day out.  Visitors need a car to get to the Zoo, as it is not walkable from downtown Baltimore. Those with young kids should take the shuttle to the main entrance as the walk is long, and kids will tire out. My suggestion is to first head to the Polar Bear Watch, which is near the entrance and gives kids the quick gratification of watching the bears up close, swimming and playing with toys. Afterwards, move on to African Journey, where kids can feed giraffes and watch elephants play in water with one another. Then, on to Maryland Wilderness.

    Kids enjoy the nooks and crannies of the zoo, including oversized bird nests for climbing, lily pads to jump across, tree slides, a bat cave and even a petting zoo area. There is also a small merry-go-round for younger kids.

    The Maryland Zoo does offer a couple of unremarkable food stands with pizza, hot-dogs, salads, burgers and chicken fingers. A nice alternative is to pack a picnic lunch. The Zoo is nicely shaded and plenty of grassy areas beckon a blanket and a relaxing lunch.


    Recommended by Alison Netzer from Five Family Adventurers.


    The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens – Miami, Florida

    The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, or simply Zoo Miami, is one of our favourites. Here are the reasons why we absolutely love it:

    • It is the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. Because of south Florida’s climate, many animals from tropical places feel right at home here.
    • Visitors will be hard pressed to find animals in cages. Because of this zoo’s commitment to animal welfare, the displays are mostly open air, yet very safe for the public.
    • Visitors can explore the zoo on a Safari Cycle (a pedal-powered bicycle/vehicle that can accommodate up to 8 people). This is a perfect way to see this massive zoo.
    • Visitors can watch animal feedings or even feed the giraffes, rhinos, camels, giant tortoises and parrots themselves.
    • The zoo is very large (750 acres) and thorough visitors who wish to come back within ten days of their original visit receive reduced admission.

    Recommended by Bea from Pack Your Bags.

     

    Philadelphia Zoo – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    The Philadelphia Zoo was the first zoo in the U.S. dating from 1859. Despite its history and architecture, there’s nothing old-fashioned about this Zoo. It has a 4-D Migration Theater and research centres as well as see-through mesh walkways that go above the treetops all throughout the 42-acre facility. My kids loved watching animals (mostly monkeys) scamper overhead on the walkways. It’s easy to get to the Philadelphia Zoo – there’s good parking facilities, which are great for a city-centre zoo. Nearby there is also the 2000-acre Fairmount Park which, is wonderful for a roam when the kids need to let off some steam.

    Recommended by Shobha George of Just Go Places.  Find out more from Shobha about visiting Philadelphia.

     

    Riverbanks Zoo & Garden – Columbia, South Carolina

    With over 2,000 animals, eight different gardens, and even a few historical landmarks, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina is one of our favorite zoos! Why? Well, mainly because of a very simple reason: it is so easily walkable. After visiting zoos throughout the United States, we have truly come to appreciate a zoo that has exhibits located close enough together that little feet can walk with ease. Riverbanks Zoo has attractions including train rides, zip lines, and even a splash zone which is always fun for kids of all ages. But, our family favorites are the animal demonstrations like the penguin presentation and feeding the giraffes!

    Recommended by Julie from More than Main Street.  Check out their family friendly guide to Columbia, South Carolina for more ideas of things to do in South Carolina’s state capital.

     

    San Diego Zoo – San Diego, California

    The San Diego Zoo is world famous and for good reason. Not only is this 100-acre zoo huge, but it’s home to more than 3,500 animals representing more than 650 species. The San Diego Zoo offers several options to help visitors see as many animals as possible. For walking, a stroller is a must, and stroller rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To get to the other side of the zoo, there is the Skyfari Aerial Tram, which offers some incredible views at the same time. For tired legs, there’s a double-decker bus that provides guided bus tours that cover most of the zoo, while the Kangaroo Bus is a hop on/hop off bus with four different stops throughout the zoo. Transportation aside, what truly makes the San Diego Zoo exceptional is the host of different animals to see. Not to be missed are the pandas, koalas, orangutans, and polar bears.

    In addition to all that, the San Diego Zoo is located within the beautiful Balboa Park. Though the zoo is likely to take an entire day to visit, there is also plenty more to see nearby.

    Recommended by Celine from Baby Can Travel.  Find out more from Celine about the San Diego Zoo.

     

    Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Washington, D.C.

    The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is a family favorite, and it’s a free admission zoo that is open 364 days per year. The 163-acre large park located in Washington, D.C. offers 18 distinct areas and is home to over 2,000 animals, 25% of which are endangered. Not to be missed animals include the endangered Giant Pandas (follow the panda camera from home), The Great Ape House (see the first orangutan born at the National Zoo in 25 years), the American Trail and the Great Cats. We recommend taking public transportation to the National Zoo and enjoying it in the early morning when the pandas and other large animals are most active. The National Zoo is built on a hill, so take that into consideration when planning a trip with young children. While the zoo is free, food is very costly so plan accordingly and visit around meals or bring a picnic and lots of water. Visitors should plan on a minimum of three hours to enjoy this Zoo, but a full day at the massive National Zoo would not be difficult to imagine.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.  Find out more from Ruth about Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

    We love visiting zoos with kids, and there are so many of these top zoos in the U.S. that we have not yet visited.  Make sure to check out our post on the Best International Zoos With Kids and other zoos we have visited with kids during our travels.

  • Travel Tips: ASTC Passport Program

    Travel Tips: ASTC Passport Program

    Participation in the ASTC Travel Passport Program is an amazing value. Our family membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History comes with perks like reduced parking rates, guest passes and invitation to members-only events in addition to unlimited visits to the Museum and free shows at its Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium & Ralph Mueller Observatory.  Because of the Museum’s affiliation with the ASTC Travel Passport Program, we also receive free reciprocal admission at hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums.   The ability for our family to use the ASTC Passport Program to visit member museums around the country for free is a huge value!

    What does the ASTC Passport Cost?

    Each ASTC Passport member charges its own rate for a membership.  Our family membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History costs us $90 a year.

    ASTC Passport Review

    We have had this membership for approximately two and a half years.  Honestly, we don’t immediately renew when it expires but wait for the next opportunity when we want to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History or one of the other ASTC member museums and sign up for a new membership.   When visiting Los Angeles last Fall, we decided while walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame that we wanted to go to the La Brea Tar Pits next.  I called my husband from our Uber and had him purchase a membership online.  Minutes after he sent me the confirmation email, I used it to get free admission into the Tar Pits.  Since then, we’ve used our current membership for admission for several trips to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, two visits to the Carnegie Science Center and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  The value of those museum visits are about four times of the cost of our membership, and we still have five months left, including summer break.

    Nancy is very fortunate to live in Washington, DC and have the free Smithsonian museums at her doorstep.  She never considered purchasing a museum membership to use solely for travel until this spring.  Her family purchased a membership to a local children’s museum and used it for free admission when visiting Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena and plans to use it to visit more museums when traveling.

    Our family has visited 10 amazing ASTC affiliate museums and always looks forward to our next opportunity to use our membership.

     

    #1:  Adler Planetarium – Chicago, Illinois

    My older son wanted to be an astronaut through pre-school, and both boys had a great time visiting the Adler Planetarium, which was the first planetarium in the western hemisphere.  The beautiful stone building houses many interactive exhibits and three theaters, including the most technologically enhanced planetarium theater and a high-definition 3D theater.  Our boys were aged three and five at the time of our visit and enjoyed the interactive exhibits focusing on the planets, solar system and space exploration, and, of course, the planetarium show.

     

    #2:  Carnegie Science Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Of the dozens of museums my 10 year old has visited, the Carnegie Science Center is his favorite.  He’s probably not alone, as this is Pittsburgh’s most popular museum. The “science” portion of the museum is pretty cool, but the real draw for him is Highmark SportsWorks®, which is housed in an adjacent building and uses more than 30 interactive sports exhibits to show how physics, anatomy, biology and chemistry control sports.  The Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net that culminate in a zip line and is probably my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever, especially the zip line.  Other highlights of the sports complex include the SkyTykes Ropes Course, located under the Ropes Challenge, a 24-foot rock climbing wall (which even my daughter tried out), a batting cage, a 10-meter dash and various challenges for endurance and balance.  This bright complex is a perfect place for kids to burn energy, especially on cold or rainy days.

    Inside the Carnegie Science Center, my boys’ favorite exhibit is Roboworld, which is considered the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition.  Roboworld features more than 30 interactive displays, including a robot who shoots baskets with impressive precision and another who challenges visitors in air hockey.  My kids could spend hours playing air hockey with a robot or comparing basketball precision.

     

    #3:  Center of Science and Industry – Columbus, Ohio

    The Center of Science and Industry, commonly known as “COSI” is a comprehensive science museum with more than 300 interactive exhibits.  We were fortunate to visit several years ago during the week that COSI hosted its annual outdoor Big Machines exhibit.  At the time, our four and six year old boys were at the height of their machinery enthusiasm and absolutely loved “touch a truck” events.  So, it was a bit of a challenge to get them away from the trucks and inside COSI.  Once inside, we discovered that COSI nails the “hands on” aspect of science, particularly with its lab spaces and hallway exhibitions.

     

    #4:  Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    A dream climber for kids

    The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids with great activities and hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages.  The two-story climber attracted my 3.5 year old daughter like a magnet.  She had to make it to the top and then back again.  I was nervous about her exiting at the top until another mom assured me that the entrance and exit were both located at the bottom.  As soon as we arrived, she headed straight for the two-story climber that thankfully has entrance and exit openings only at the bottom.

    My boys happily worked in the MAKESHOP® just opposite the climber while I hung out at the wall dividing the two areas to keep an eye on all three children.  The kids used household boxes to anchor markers in place and then attached motors to make them move on their own.  The project involved tape, hot glue and a lot of trial and error, and this was my boys’ favorite exhibit at the Museum.  The Museum’s Studio also offers hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages.  This multimedia space offers wonderful supplies that allow kids to create paint, sculpt and silkscreen.  The Studio is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire creative juices.

     

    #5:  Cleveland Museum of Natural History – Cleveland, Ohio

    We are members of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, which is located in University Circle, about 15 minutes from our house.  So, this is the ASTC museum we visit the most frequently.  Inexpensive metered parking is usually available on Wade Oval, right outside the Museum.  Because of our membership, I occasionally bring my oldest and youngest for a short visit while my husband accompanies our middle child to his nearby piano lesson.   It’s also a snow day favorite or something we combine with a trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is located around the corner.

    In good weather, we often enjoy the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden, which opened in the Fall of 2016 and features living plants and animals that are native to Ohio.  The dinosaur collection may not compare to those of the National Museum of Natural History – London, the Field Museum or the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, but the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton is still pretty cool, and there is a mastodon skeleton that was found in the region.  Lucy, the reconstructed cast of female hominid who lived over 3 million years ago is the a perennial favorite of my kids.  Lucy’s skeleton was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by Donald Johanson, the curator of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  I have a series of pictures of my two youngest standing next to Lucy at various ages.

    We always try to catch a planetarium show at Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium & Ralph Mueller Observatory.  My daughter is a huge fan of the One World, One Sky:  Big Bird’s Adventure, and even though my boys have seen it more times than we can count, they agreed to accompany her the last time that the timing aligned – albeit after a few eye rolls.

     

    #6:  The Field Museum of Natural History – Chicago, Illinois

    The Field Museum is one of the world’s largest natural history museums.  It opened in 1893 and was named to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field, the founder of the Chicago-based department store who donated $1 million to the Museum in 1894.  It is located on Museum Campus along Lake Michigan and also boasts one of the world’s best dinosaur collections, including Sue, the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, which was prominently displayed in the main hall of the Museum until 2017.  With two young boys aged three and five who were excited about prehistoric creatures, we definitely did not miss the dinosaur exhibit.

    We also explored an Egyptian tomb in the three-story Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit.  This exhibit includes one of the world’s largest collections of human mummies.  This was our boys’ first exposure to Egypt, but they were fascinated and have since enjoyed Egyptian exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

     

    #7:  Great Lakes Science Center – Cleveland, Ohio

    While we cannot use our membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for free reciprocal membership to ASTC member museums within a 90 mile radius of our home, we recently visited the Great Lakes Science Center as part of a NASA Free Evening.  The event feature science-related programming and Astronaut Terry Virts, the author of View from Space.  Our kids thoroughly enjoyed hearing Virts describe his experiences on the space station.  Virts’ presentation and slide show inspired them to thoroughly explore the NASA Glenn’s Visitor’s Center, including the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module.  They also enjoyed trying out all the hands-on exhibits and building with Lego as part of the Science Center’s special exhibit.

     

    #8:  La Brea Tar Pits & George C. Page Museum – Los Angeles, California

    The LaBrea Tar Pits & Museum are dedicated to La Brea’s shallow pools of oil that coagulated into asphalt and trapped Ice Age animals.  The Tar Pits are registered as a National Natural Landmark, and over 3.5 million fossils have been found on the site, with excavation continuing year round at Project 23 and seasonally at Pit 91.  My son was fascinated by the Fossil Lab where you can watch paleontologists working on specimens collected from Project 23.   After viewing the completed fossils, watching Titans of the Ice Age, the 25-minute 3D movie featured in the Museum’s theater, and observing the Fossil Lab, my son had an opportunity to try separating fossils himself.  With all these great hands on opportunities, it’s not surprising that the stop at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum was his favorite of our trip.

     

    #9:  Maryland Science Center – Baltimore, Maryland

    The Maryland Science Center is another phenomenal science museum located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  This was the first science museum we visited as a family.  We were skeptical if our one and three year old boys were old enough for the Science Center, but they had a blast, especially while exploring the Spacelink exhibit and the Kids Room, which includes a large water play area.  We also enjoyed a show at the IMAX theater.

     

    #10:  Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History – Washington, D.C.

    The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is an amazing free admission museum on the National Mall.  It was the world’s most visited natural history museum in 2017.  The Museum’s collection includes over 126 million specimens.  Our favorite is the Hope Diamond, the 45.5 carat grayish-blue pendant surrounded by 16 diamonds that is reportedly insured for $250 million.   The Hall of Fossils includes 46 complete skeletons and is currently undergoing a massive $45 million, five-year renovation and scheduled to reopen in 2019.  The iconic 14-foot tall elephant is the focal point of the entry rotunda.

    For traveling families who enjoy natural history museums, science centers and children’s museums, investing in a membership to the ASTC Travel Passport Program museum can be an amazing value.  Next on our list is the Ontario Science Centre, which was one of my favorite museums that I visited as a child.  Make sure to check out our other posts on other ASTC  museums, including children’s museums, natural history museums and science museums.   

  • Not Too Young for the Art Museum

    Not Too Young for the Art Museum

    My three-year-old daughter and I were recently sitting at the puzzle table of a nearby library while waiting for her story time to begin. I was making small talk with another mom sitting with her young sons, and she came to my rescue and directed me to the ABC books when I could not locate Chica Chica Boom Boom on the shelves.  I explained that my daughter had listened to the book when she attended Art Stories at the Cleveland Museum of Art the day before with her nanny and was desperate to read it with me. The other mom responded with, “my kids are too young for the art museum.”  I was not exactly sure how to respond because the thought of being “too young” to visit any museum had never crossed my mind.

    Not Too Young

    My husband and I really enjoy visiting art museums.  My daughter visited her first art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, when she was two months old.  Since then, she has made a repeat trip to the Art Institute of Chicago and also visited the Cleveland Museum of Art many times as well as the Tate Modern, the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery in D.C.  While she clearly does not remember those early trips, she gained familiarity with art museums in the process.  At the age of three, my daughter now walks around the Cleveland Art Museum, holding my hand and discussing which paintings catch our attention.

    My sons also enjoy art museums and can distinguish a Monet from a Van Gogh (two of my favorites).  Their favorite special exhibition was Cleveland Museum of Art’s “Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse” in the Fall 2015 that included pieces that influenced Monet’s garden painting and reunited CMA’s Water Lilies with the other two panels of the triptych and displayed them together (no photography permitted).  On our first trip, I took all three kids, aged one, five and seven, alone.  We all loved it so much that we came back a few weeks later with my husband.  After going to the exhibit for the second time, my five-year-old son came home, asked for paints and created his own version of water lilies.

    My five-year-old son’s Water Lilies painting

    Kid Moments

    If your children are new to visiting art museums, start with a short trip of about 45-60 minutes.  We play a “game” when we enter a new gallery.  I ask each kid which is their favorite piece.  We then go and specifically examine each of our favorite pieces before moving on to the next room.  Sometimes, we read the plaque on the wall, other times, we briefly discuss color choice or artist technique that made that piece stand out, but we try hard not to dawdle.

    Kid Caution

    While there is no age that is “too young”, it is necessary to be careful when bringing a child into art galleries as some art is accessible to small hands.  The stroller or front carrier is the safest place for infants or toddlers.   Many art museums do not permit backpacks or back carriers because the wearer could accidentally cause damage by brushing up against the art.  Older children need to have enough self-control to understand that they must stay right with an adult and not touch the art work before going into galleries.  However, many art museums have interactive child-friendly exhibits like the ArtLens Gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art that everyone can enjoy.

    Our Favorite Art Museums

    We have visited many art museums with kids, but these are our favorites:

    • Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the US and boasts a permanent collection of over two million works.  The Met is located on Fifth Avenue in New  York City.  We were a few of the Met’s over 7 million visitors in 2016 that made it second to only the Louvre in number of visitors.  Our boys were especially excited to find Seurat’s final study for A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.  Admission to the permanent collection is free, but the suggested donation is $25 for adults.
    Van Gogh’s Irises
    One of two lion statues guarding the Institute’s Michigan Avenue entrance
    Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day
    Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
    • National Gallery (Washington D.C.) is the third largest art museum in the US.  When we are visiting the Mall, we take a quick stop through the impressionist galleries and the outdoor sculpture garden.  On our most recent visit, my husband was holding our daughter, who was then two.  They stopped in front of a Degas, and she looked at the painted ballerinas and commented, “Daddy, I really like this painting” to the shock of the visitors around her who had no idea that she thought she was merely “playing” a familiar game. Admission is free.
    Van Gogh’s Green Wheat Fields, Auvers
    Lime Green Icicle Tower
    Monet’s Water Lilies
    • The National Gallery, London is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually.  It is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all of which are on permanent display.
    The National Gallery, London
    Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
    • Cleveland Museum of Art is the art museum we frequent most often.  CMA is located in Cleveland’s University Circle area on the near east side.  A massive expansion project began in 2005 and was completed at the end of 2013 increased floor space by 65% and included the glass-roofed Ames Family Atrium.  It has a permanent collection of 45,000 works and significant Egyptian and Asian galleries.  We always make sure to spend a few minutes sitting on the bench in front of Monet’s Water Lilies (Agapanthus) and enjoy the Armor Court.  Rodin’s Thinker, which sits outside the front entrance, was partially vandalized by a bomb in 1970, and the statue’s lower legs were destroyed and have not been restored.  Admission to the permanent exhibitions is free, but there are fees for special exhibits.
    Monet’s Water Lilies
    Rodin’s Thinker with damaged legs

    With some precautions and child-centric activities, art museums truly can be enjoyed by all ages.  While infants and toddlers may not have specific memories of the museums they visit, those who go to art museums are more likely to grow into young children who enjoy art and visiting galleries.