Kids love to spend a day at the museum. The six New England states boast some of the best children’s museums in the country, and almost all are close enough to residents of the region that they can be visited as part of a day trip.
So, for parents looking for a special day of fun and learning with their kids, here are the ten best children’s museums in New England.
When Parents Magazine did a comprehensive survey and ranked the best children’s museums across the country, the Boston Children’s Museum came in third overall.
With a history that dates back to its opening nearly 100 years ago, the museum moved to its present location in 1979. Today, the museum is an especially welcoming place for toddlers and preschoolers, with play areas designed to combine exercise, fun and education.
In the last few years, the Boston Children’s Museum has undergone a major renovation. Old favorites such as the PlaySpace and the Arthur & Friends exhibit – based on the popular PBS series – remain. New exhibits – like the dramatic three-story new balance Climb, located in the glass lobby of the museum – are in place to delight new generations of visitors from all across New England.
Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, Portland ME
The Children’s Museum and theater of Maine, located in downtown Portland, is unique among New England children’s museums by virtue of its focus on both science and the arts.
Younger children will love the themed rooms that allow them to play and learn about fire trucks, farm animals and even the space shuttle. But the museum features a distinct Maine flavor, with a lobster boat area, a working tidal pool where kids can touch live sea creatures, and a climbing wall sponsored by the state’s own outdoor outfitter, L. L. Bean.
The focus here is on participation by the kids who visit. Highlights like the soaring Curvy Climber and the Water Table are designed to get children to interact with the museum exhibits.
Located at Heritage State Park, the children’s museum is conveniently located right next to the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, a historic 1929 carousel.
Providence Children’s Museum, RI
Rhode Island’s entrant on the list of New England’s best children’s museums is the Providence Children’s Museum. Consistently ranked among the Top 20 children’s museums in America, it is a two-story wonderland located right downtown.
The museum features attractions for various age groups. Toddlers will love throwing on a smock and playing in the Water ways exhibit. Kids 6 and up will love the Bone Zone, a fun and informative look at the human skeleton.
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Dover, NH
Formerly located in nearby Portsmouth, the museum recently moved to a brand new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. Kids will love the interactive exhibits like Dino Detective and the Yellow Submarine.
Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, Niantic, CT
In keeping with its coastal location, this top notch museum features a nautical theme in its Seaside Village exhibit. It comes complete with sand and rocks and a model boat, plus bright yellow slickers for the imaginary fishermen to wear.
A recent million-dollar renovation more than doubled the exhibit space at this children’s museum on the western edge of New England, just an hour outside New York City. Among the new attractions is the hands-on Energy lab, where kids will learn about wind, solar and even geothermal energy in fun lab settings.
Acton is the site of one of New England’s most unique children’s museum settings. Two separate buildings designed for different age groups make up the Discovery Museums. The Children’s Museum is geared toward toddlers and preschool kids. The Science Discovery Museum is best suited for somewhat older children.
Around for more than 80 years, the Children’s Museum and science center in quaint West Hartford, CT is the largest children’s museum in the state and among the biggest in New England. A top attraction not to be missed is Conny, the 60-foot long sperm whale replica who sits on the front lawn. Kids can walk inside to experience whale sounds and a working blow hole!
The Children’s Museum in Easton, North Easton, MA
Located inside an old fire station, this children’s museum features New England themed exhibits like the Old Fishing Boat, where kids can haul aboard baskets of lobsters to the top of the deck, and the Woodsy Camp and Cabin, where they can imagine they are roughing it in a hideaway deep in the forest.
