No “Please Don’t Touch” Signs in Sight
Which is Your Favorite Children's Museum?!
Motherhood Loves Community Awards nominees have been carefully chosen by our team. We may earn a commission if you buy something through links on our site.
As moms, we all know the joy comes from watching your little one safely explore a new environment designed with them in mind, which is why we’ve created a list of some of the best children’s museums across the country. Keep reading to discover hands-on activities your little one can enjoy side-by-side with their older siblings, convenient parent-friendly features like private nursing nooks, and dedicated soft-play spaces for babies and toddlers. A few exhibits even wowed us (hello, real snow sledding on an outdoor playground), so we know your kids will be thrilled!
Our nominees were researched and selected as the top products in their category. We then turned to the experts—the Motherhood Community—to place their votes and determine the best of the best! The votes are in, and the winners are...
- Scott Family Amazeum | Bentonville, AR
- Children’s Museum of Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ
- Kidspace Children's Museum | Pasadena, CA
- Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Atlanta, GA
- The Strong National Museum of Play | Rochester, NY
- Children’s Museum Houston | Houston, TX
- Please Touch Museum | Philadelphia, PA
- The Museum of Life and Science | Durham, NC
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN
- Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus | Denver, CO
Favorite Children’s Museums of 2025 Winners
Scott Family Amazeum | Bentonville, AR
Perks like free entry for kids two and under and complimentary parking make the Scott Family Amazeum an affordable family outing. Parents report having just as much fun as their kids as they watch experiments unfold in the Hershey’s Lab and as they follow behind their curious toddlers in the 1,000-foot Studio Grow exhibit, an open-ended play area just for little ones.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is dedicated to keeping everyone engaged, no matter their age. Its “Baby Zones,” which you’ll find across all three floors, allow tots and older siblings to play and learn simultaneously. Other features parents love are the toddler-sized bathroom fixtures, the Nursing Nook, and a café that features yummy baked goods from Noble Bread.
Kidspace Children’s Museum | Pasadena, CA
If your kids are happiest outside with a few activities to keep them busy, you’ll both love the 3.5-acre outdoor campus at Kidspace Children’s Museum. Kids can experiment with water flow in a man-made creek or plant their own garden at Muddy Boot Farm. There’s also a dedicated play area for babies and early walkers so they also have the chance to safely explore Kidspace.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Atlanta, GA
While not a typical children’s museum, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is ideal for families who gravitate to outdoor educational experiences. Toddlers to teens enjoy the museum’s WildWoods, which starts with an elevated walking path that twists and turns across 10 acres, stopping for interactive experiences and play areas. Even if it’s raining, the NatureQuest exhibit brings the outdoors inside with immersive ecosystems and live animals.
The Strong National Museum of Play | Rochester, NY
At the Strong National Museum of Play, everyone in the family has a chance to have fun! Challenge each other to a game of Chutes and Ladders on a board 15 feet in the air, play retro arcade games, and dance together to popular hits. The indoor train and carousel are the biggest hits with the youngest crowd, and rides cost only $1 per person.
Children’s Museum Houston | Houston, TX
Watch your kids become mini adults as they choose from over two dozen jobs, learn how to use ATMs, and vote on important issues while exploring Kidtropolis, USA at Children’s Museum Houston. Outside, the museum’s interactive water exhibit, FlowWorks, is a popular way to escape the Houston heat. If you’re also trying to escape admission fees for your multiple kids, check out Free Family Night Thursday.
Please Touch Museum | Philadelphia, PA
Let your inner child out to play with your kids at the Please Touch Museum. In the 3,650-square-foot Food & Family exhibit, you’ll work together to shop for groceries, make meals for neighbors, and clean up a kitchen as a team. You can also pretend to camp, explore an enchanted garden, and escape from a maze. Save time to ride the 100-year-old working carousel before you leave.
The Museum of Life and Science | Durham, NC
Start your tour of the Museum of Life and Science with a cup of locally roasted coffee before setting out to see the 84 acres of interactive nature experiences. You can let your kids burn through their energy on the two-acre playground that has big and little treehouses, appealing to all ages, and then treat them to a train ride around the museum’s grounds before heading home.
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN
As the largest museum of its kind in the world, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers endless fun on its 482,950-square-foot campus. If the giant dinosaurs breaking into the building didn’t tip you off, there is a spectacular, immersive dino exhibit for your mini paleontologist. In fact, no matter what interests your kid, this museum has it all: live performances, a sports complex, and even a food court.
Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus | Denver, CO
When families visit the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, moms of toddlers rave about Bloom, a whimsical indoor garden featuring a dedicated space for private nursing with bottle warmers and a sink. Of course, older kids love the 500-foot-long adventure course during warmer months. Cold weather visitors can still get in on the fun since this outdoor space has sledding with real snow during the winter.
