The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Museums are some of my favorite places in the world. Aside from being able to take kids and let them have a great time, adults can go too and enjoy themselves in a child-like way all over again. That very quality that I'm talking about is present in spades at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Take your kids or go by yourself, it even makes a perfect date location.

The first thing you will notice upon arriving at the museum is that there's plenty to do outside. You'll find sculptures that you can touch and climb on. It's like the playground you've always dreamed of, including dinosaur statues, a pond, and colorful murals. Upon entering the museum, you will see two impressive glassworks unlike anything else you've ever seen. The first is a giant water clock filled with brilliant blue water. It works almost like a Rube Goldberg machine. Crowds will gather at the top of the hour to watch the clock empty all of its water and start collecting again. Did I mention that it's about three stories tall? Don't miss this part of the museum. Although, now that I think about, it would be tough to miss. What I mean is, take a break during the day to watch the clock at the changing of the hour. Perhaps on a lunch break.

The second work is a giant four story Dale Chihuly glass sculpture. It resembles hot peppers, is constructed of warm and brightly colored spirals of glass. It's one of a kind and it's truly beautiful. If you're a photographer, bring a good camera to capture this work of art. But that's just the first of the fun and amazing sites you'll see. The museum features difference sections of activities and displays based around specific themes. You'll find an undersea area, an Egyptian tomb, a dinosaur dig, a pioneer area, a science section, a real antique train compartment, a planetarium, a small theater, an international room, and so much more.

Whenever I've taken nieces or nephews (or even friends) there are certain attractions we never miss. There is a fully intact carousel on the top floor. It does cost a big of extra money, but it's definitely worth it to take the ride. It's also an excellent photo opportunity for kids. The science section is extra fun, because it's all hands-on activities. You can play with water, blocks, and all kinds of toys. Also, this museum is very friendly for all age groups. You could even take your teens, as my parents did on a regular basis. They may grumble about it on the way there, but once you arrive, they'll be having a ball. There's so much to see and do that you actually won't be able to do it all in one day. So get there bright and early at the opening to get the best value from your ticket.

There's always a featured exhibit on the second floor, this sometimes also costs extra money. But it will be worth it, because these are travelling exhibits usually put together by unique experts. There have been exhibits based on the Muppets, sharks, comic books, the human body, and more. One of the best parts of any museum is the gift shop, and the Indianapolis Children's Museum is no different. Bring a few extra dollars to give to the kids to let them buy freeze-dried ice cream, optical illusion toys, or science gizmos. (These gift shops are also great places to stock up on stocking stuffers and birthday gifts.)

I would highly recommend visiting this museum. Often I tell people in my travel reviews if this is just something you should do if you live close by, or something worth travelling for. I can honestly say that if you live in the mid-west, this would be worth a trip. It's cheaper than a theme park, by far and away. It's educational, and it gets you out of town for a little bit. Again, I also recommend it for adults. You can find more information on ticket prices and scheduling at the museum's website. I've listed the url at the bottom of the article.

I honestly think this is one of the best museums in the country, especially for kids. I've been on quite the tour of tourist attractions in my day, and have even visited many museums in Europe, and I can still tell you that this is one of the best and most fun I've ever visited!

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/