Spring Break is coming up, and that means you’re probably looking for fun ways to spend the extra days with your family. Instead of lounging in front of the TV all week, let your kids learn while having fun! Check out our list of children’s museums around Texas that are sure to keep you and your kids busy and smiling. Disclaimer: This list isn’t comprehensive, but it will get you started!
Children’s Museum of Houston
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Address: 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004
Website: www.cmhouston.org
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
At the Children’s Museum of Houston, kids can spend the day learning everything from how water works to cyber science in 14 hands-on exhibits. They can visit Kidtropolis, a city replica where they can take on government roles and have whatever career they choose. Kids will have a splash at the museum’s FlowWorks, an interactive exhibit where kids can explore the properties of water by playing with it. At the Matter Factory exhibit, kids can pretend to be scientists and get a glimpse into the future, experimenting with different materials and discovering their properties. Admission to the museum is $12 for children and adults, and every Thursday night from 5-8 p.m. is Free Family Night.
The Thinkery
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Address: 1830 Simond Ave., Austin, TX 78723
Website: www.thinkeryaustin.org
Hours: Tues. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat – Sun. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
At the Thinkery, kids of all ages will have fun learning through art, science, math and more. At Space 8, kids 8 and up can put on their thinking caps to create new inventions, the Kitchen Lab allows kids to learn about food through hands-on experiments, and in Our Backyard, children can climb on an innovative playground or splash around with water toys. Admission is $9 for adults and children, and kids 0-23 months are free.
The DoSeum
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Address: 2800 Broadway St., San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: www.thedoseum.org
Hours: Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. -5 p.m., Sun 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
The DoSeum (pronounced Doo-See-Um) makes entertaining kids of different ages easy. It has a giant outdoor space called Big Outdoors that is zoned into different sections based on age and noise level where kids can explore, climb and discover to their heart’s content. At the Innovation Station, kids are free to use their imaginations to create and solve problems. Kids can channel their inner-spy at the Spy Academy, where they’ll recieve a mission and can use team work to find a solution. Admission is $12 for kids and adults; babies under one are free. Every first and third Tuesday of the month is H-E-B Free Family Night.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
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Address: 1600 Gendy St., Ft. Worth, TX 76107
Website: www.fwmuseum.org
Hours: Mon – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. Noon – 5 p.m.
At the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, kids can explore tons of subjects. At the DinoLabs and DinoDig kids can search for authentic fossils or build their own dinosaur. The Children’s Museum is a place where kids 8 and under can learn about natural science through hands-on exhibits and view live reptiles in their natural habitats. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History also has an IMAX theater where kids can catch an educational show about subjects like tornadoes and the rain forest. Admission for the museum is $11 for kids 2-12 and $15 for adults, and includes a visit to the Planetarium.
Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater
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Address: 2579 S. Loop 289 #250, Lubbock, TX 79423
Website: www.sciencespectrum.org
Hours: Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.
The Science Spectrum in Lubbock, TX has something for everyone on its three floors of exhibits. Kids under 5 can enjoy the Children’s Museum which includes a pretend supermarket, vet clinic and more. At the Physical Science exhibits, kids can learn about momentum, electrical circuits and more through hands-on learning. There’s also a Bubbles room, an exhibit with live reptiles and snakes and the Tinker Counter where kids can build creations. The Science Spectrum also has an OMNI Theater and an aquarium filled with Texas wildlife. Admission is $8 for adults, $6.50 for kids ages 3 – 12 and free for kids under 2.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Picture by The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Address: 2201 N. Field Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Website: www.perotmuseum.org
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
At the Perot Museum, kids will learn about science and the world around them through its 11 permanent exhibits. Children under 5 can explore an indoor nature hike and learn about careers in the Dallas Farmer’s Market at the Moody Family Children’s Museum. At the Lamar Hunt Family Sports Hall, kids will learn about physiology and physics by studying their own body in motion through different sports. The Expanding Universe Hall allows kids to take a trip to the moon by taking a 3D animated journey through space and learn about how light travels through different experiments. There’s also a theater that plays 3D movies. Admission is $12 for kids 2-17 and $19 for adults. The first Thursday of every month the museum stays open late from 5 – 9 p.m.
Discovery Science Place
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Address: 308 N. Broadway Ave., Tyler, TX 75702
Website: www.discoveryscienceplace.org
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.
Kids will have fun fueling their imagination with Discovery Science Place’s hands-on exhibits. At Hometown, USA, kids can pretend in a replica of a town with a bank, grocery store, bank and more. They can learn about broadcast journalism on the “set” of CBS19 Kids TV station with a control room and a working camera. At the Buford Kinetics Gallery, kids use balls and different activities to learn about motion. Admission is $6 for kids 2-12 and $8 for adults ages 13 and up. Children under 2 are free.
McKenna Children’s Museum
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Address: 801 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, TX 78130
Website: www.mckennakids.org
Hours: Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
McKenna Children’s Museum provides children with the opportunity to explore and be creative. In the Art Studio, children become artists creating sand art, painting on canvases and making crafts. At Destination Space, kids can imagine life as an astronaut by getting a chance to pilot their own space ship and trying on space suits. In The Great Outdoors, kids can climb on the playground, build with blocks and enjoy all kinds of water activities. Admission is $7.50.
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
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Address: 1900 N. Chaparral St., Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Website: www.ccmuseum.com
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
This museum has something for everyone. Kids can learn about Corpus Christi’s history and historic shipwrecks. At the Paleontology exhibit, kids will discover more about dinosaurs and young kids can enjoy the Children’s Wharf. Throughout the museum, they’ll also learn about Earth Science and Coastal Ecology. The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History also has a Theater Troupe that performs historical reenactments and demonstrations. Admission is $7 for kids 3-12, $9 for adults and free for children 2 and under.
