When I was five-years-old, my parents took me to my very first museum. It was a magical experience that I have kept in my heart for years. I’ll never forget the sights, smells and things I experienced for the first time. A new door was opened for me and it changed me in ways I couldn’t fully comprehend as a child.
When I became a parent for the first time, I vowed to give my children those same magical experiences at any time I could. Over Labor Day weekend, I had the opportunity to explore the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis with my oldest daughter who is in Kindergarten. Even though I have lived in Indiana my entire life, I have never visited this particular Indianapolis museum. For years, I’ve heard such positive feedback and I wanted to see this amazing facility with my own eyes. Believe me, the experience was so much better than anything I could have anticipated.
One of the first things I noticed was the fact that the museum is clearly marked with signage showing entrances and parking options. As a parent, I’ve been to so many facilities that are a confusing maze, especially for those who are traveling from out-of-town. Everything was clearly marked upon entrance and the free parking was incredibly easy to find and navigate.
When you enter the museum, the butterflies begin with all the beautiful advertisements for upcoming events and exhibits. As we walked down the ramp, an employee started to interact with my daughter and I was so impressed. He took extra time to make her feel special, which was something we discovered with every single (yes, all of them) employee that we encountered. You can tell they have been trained to go above-and-beyond for every adult and child that enters the building.
We were amped up! And, of course, the life-size Bumblebee was awe-inspiring for all of us. Perfect picture spot!
The museum contains 4 levels and a lower lobby where you can spend an entire day exploring. It really is designed for kids of all ages to create, explore and learn. As a state, we should be overly proud of this delightful gem in Indianapolis.
While I could spend hours and hours raving about all the exhibits, I’ll showcase just a few that were our favorites:
1. Dinosphere: Now You’re In THEIR World
Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? Imagine having the opportunity to transport back-in-time to a hands-on experience where your children can learn and interact with dinosaurs. I loved this exhibit because my daughter kept asking lots of questions and had the chance to dig for bones.
2. Take Me There: China
My daughter fell in love with China thanks to this exhibit. She loved cooking in the restaurant, taking the airplane around the world, learning how to say new phrases in Chinese, and learning about the culture. We spent so much time in this area!
3. The Power of Children
This was by far my favorite exhibit as it featured stories about Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White. It was very important for me to explore these exhibits and have a conversation with my daughter. At the end, she had the chance to decide how she would change the world and send it up to the tall tree near the exit.
4. Playscape
Every child (and adult) needs to play and you could spend hours in this section alone. From large water tables to nature climbs, to healthy eating exhibits, there is something for everyone.
5. Carousel
I’ve never met a child who didn’t light up when they see a carousel. For only $1, you can ride the beautiful carousel on the top floor of the museum. The carousel was so unique and the staff member made sure that safety and fun were paramount. We may have ridden this a few extra times because we were addicted!
The museum is built for families and it is an experience worth making. If you are planning a weekend trip to Indianapolis, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a must. We can’t wait to go back! We give it a MacKid thumbs up!
Upcoming Featured Attractions:
From September 26 – April 10, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are taking over the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
From October 10 – 31, get your “Halloween” on with the Museum Guild’s 52nd Annual Haunted House with a pirate theme.
I was provided two complimentary passes to the museum in exchange for this media review. The opinions expressed are my own and honest.
