We’re making our way through Midwest destinations and hoping to expand our list
The other day, I asked myself a big question: “what are my happiest memories?” Among several great contenders, I was surprised to note one day in particular: My daughter’s first visit to the Omaha Children’s Museum. She was almost one at the time, and she was just mobile enough to start exploring more freely and to take in the expanding world around her. Watching her excitement as we set her free to wander and wonder in a new space was a remarkable experience. Though she wasn’t a talker, she was visibly overjoyed. In turn, so was I.
From that point forward, we made it our goal to check out as many children’s museums as possible during our travels. As with my round-up of aquariums, I plan to keep this post updated whenever we visit a new destination. For now, here’s an overview of the children’s museums and science centers in the Midwest that we’ve visited so far.
Omaha Children’s Museum
Parking: There’s a free lot on the south side of the building, and we’ve always found a spot there.
What We Liked: During our first visit to the Omaha Children’s Museum, when our daughter was 11-months-old, we were enamored by the Wiggle Room — an age-appropriate space for little ones who aren’t walking. According to the museum’s website, this room is designed for children at the developmental ages of 0 to 18 months. In our hometown, we’ve had trouble finding attractions that cater specifically to this age group, so we took full advantage. The space features large foam blocks to crawl on, along with interactive toys at just the right height, mirrors, and spots to sit and read. With so many baby-friendly features, we were pleasantly surprised that the museum doesn’t charge admission for visitors younger than two.
What We Didn’t Like: My only complaint is that the museum closes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 5 p.m. on weekends. These hours keep us on our toes when we drive in from Des Moines. An extra hour at the end of the day would make things more comfortable for out-of-towners. That said, the existing hours are doable.
Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: We’ve always found the Omaha Children’s Museum very accommodating for families with young children. There’s a spacious family restroom with a changing table on the first floor that we’ve used more than once. The museum’s website says there are also “restrooms with multiple stalls and changing tables on both floors”, along with a small potty next to the Light Piano on the first floor. When it comes to breastfeeding, there’s a designated space beside the Wiggle Room. During our first visit, I used the family restroom to pump before I discovered this Nurture Room. In the future, I would choose the Nurture Room instead. We brought a stroller during both of our visits, and we’ve never had any trouble navigating or finding places to park it when needed.
Favorite Exhibit: Aside from the Wiggle Room, we really enjoy the Platte River Water Table in the Imagination Playground. Picture a winding water exhibit with plenty of wheels, gears, and buckets for creative play. Yes, our daughter did get soaked. But her fun outweighed the minor inconvenience.
Science City (Kansas City)
Parking: We’ve always found a spot in front of the building, but we usually end up driving around for a minute or two waiting. Beyond this lot, Union Station offers a parking garage. Either way, there is a fee to park.
What We Liked: Science City at Union Station has a lovely space set aside for babies and toddlers. These separate areas are in their own room with nearby stroller parking. Our daughter was roughly 14-months old during our first visit. She had outgrown the baby space, but the toddler space was the perfect fit, with its climbing area, trains and cars, blocks, and other age-appropriate toys. She appreciated the whole museum, but this area was our home base.
What We Didn’t Like: Science City charges full price for children older than 12 months. On one hand, I don’t mind paying for the great toddler amenities. On the other hand, $17 per person (the price when we visited) — plus the cost of parking — adds up, especially for families with multiple children. Union Station members get in for free, and this is a membership we might consider if we lived closer to Kansas City.
Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: Science City offers a spacious family restroom in the toddler area, as well as a nursing space with a chair, sink, and changing table. I was no longer breastfeeding or pumping during our first visit, but the nursing space seemed very well equipped for either purpose. What surprised us most was the small dining area in the toddler room. There were tables, high chairs, and a microwave and sink. We brought a meal for our daughter, and we were able to warm it up, feed her, and clean up right there in the museum! Overall, this spot was very baby- and toddler-friendly.
Our Favorite Exhibit: Our daughter absolutely loved the make-believe cave in the toddler room. She enjoyed crawling around the space, playing with the stuffed animals, and looking through the nearby books. There was also a playhouse with a kitchen right next door where she spent plenty of time.
Peace Pavilion (Independence, MO)
Parking: There’s a large parking lot in front of the museum. Parking was free and easy to find.
What We Liked: As the name suggests, this museum places emphasis on peace, conflict resolution, and taking care of the planet. Their website says they’re “dedicated to building peace by equipping children and adults to learn about peace, cultivate peaceful environments, and take actions that lead to peaceful outcomes.” Before visiting, I worried that a religious vibe might lurk behind this focus, which isn’t our family’s style, but that definitely wasn’t the case. I loved their approach to this philosophy, as well as the focus on music, diversity, and learning. The museum staff were also thorough about tidying each space between visitors, ensuring a consistent experience for everyone. This, in turn, helped encourage my daughter and I to clean up after ourselves.
What We Didn’t Like: Our visit started off with an awkward video presentation about the Peace Pavilion and its values. I love these values, but the unnatural pause didn’t really work for our family. I would rather learn about the museum through exploration, and my 2.5-year-old daughter seemed to feel the same way.
Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: As with other children’s museums, Peace Pavilion offers a separate space designed for toddlers, and we enjoyed that area quite a bit. Beside the toddler area, you’ll find a family restroom with an adjacent infant-care space, including a changing table, toddler toilet, and a rocking chair for nursing and pumping. The staff did a great job making me aware of this restroom. However, we did find several restrooms on-site without changing tables, so you’ll want to locate this one in particular. This museum seemed stroller-friendly, but we didn’t bring ours during this visit.
Favorite Exhibit: My daughter spent the most time in the first room, focused on “Peace for Me”. She enjoyed the healthy food area, and she loved playing the drum in the playhouse. My favorite feature was the flow from exhibit to exhibit, starting with personal peace and advancing to relationships, community, and global peace and sustainability. I’ll also give the final room a shout out for its electric recycling truck exhibit! My daughter had lots of fun here.
Iowa Children’s Museum (Coralville, IA)
Parking: This museum is located in Coral Ridge Mall, which offers plenty of free parking.
What We Liked: As a former resident of the Iowa City metro, I can attest to the fact that Iowa City has character and artistic flair. This carries through at the Iowa Children’s Museum. The space is true to the local vibe, focusing on art, music, and theater. Iowa City’s local personality especially shines through in the Courtyard of Curiosity upstairs.
What We Didn’t Like: This museum seemed to place slightly more emphasis on older children than others we’ve been to, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Our daughter was roughly 2.5 when we visited, so she wasn’t quite ready for several exhibits. But we know she’ll grow into them. The museum did offer a dedicated toddler space that our daughter enjoyed quite a bit. It was also busy during our visit, which may have skewed my assessment. Our daughter gets nervous in crowds. She might have explored some areas more thoroughly on a quiet day.
Baby/Toddler-Friendliness: We did end up finding several exhibits that were just right for toddlers. Our daughter enjoyed the City Grocery area (pretend shopping is always a favorite), Coral Cove, and Imaginacres. Coral Cove features an expansive playhouse, and our daughter loved exploring the imaginary garden in Imagineacres. We located two family restrooms upstairs, as well as a family sanctuary attached to the upstairs toddler space. The sanctuary is a great spot to breastfeed, pump, or take a quiet break. The museum’s website further specifies that every restroom on-site offers a changing table, and that parents are welcome to nurse throughout the museum. Additionally, a nursing room is available in the nearby mall food court area.
Favorite Exhibit: Imagineacres, focused on simulated farming and gardening, was definitely the highlight for us during our most recent visit. But I look forward to watching our daughter grow into the Take Flight exhibit. This feature is pretty unique, with a focus on aviation, several planes to pretend-fly, and a huge, twirly blue slide.
What’s next for us? This year, we’re hoping to return to the Science Center of Iowa here in our hometown and visit the Chicago Children’s Museum for the first time. We’re also keeping an eye on relocation plans for the Des Moines Children’s Museum. Check back for more details as our travels continue!