Ten Tips for Visiting Museums with Children: Travel Tips Tuesday

Museum visits are a travel staple for our family. It is extremely rare for us to visit a new city and not check out one of the museums in the area. With all the museum visits, you would think I would be an expert, but there is always a simple tip that I forget for easier museum visits with kids. These are my top ten tips for visiting museums with kids, and I promise, every one of them made the list because I learned that lesson the hard way.

1.      Start at the back, or the top, or the basement. If you are arriving at the museum when it opens, there is a good chance that the main floor will be crowded. Avoid the crowds by going to the top floor and working your way down or to the exhibits farthest from the entrance and working your way back.

2.      Call about discounts. Often local businesses offer coupons or specials for discounts on tickets. Don’t miss the savings.

Van de Graaf Generator Show at the Museum of Science, Boston

3.      Check the schedule. Museums often have special programming throughout the day, but you have to check the schedule and plan in advance to make sure you work these into your day. Often, special programs aren’t heavily advertised, so you might misss something without even knowing it.

4.      Buy tickets online. If online tickets are an option, there is often a savings in money, and always a savings in time. There isn’t any reason to stand in line before you ever get inside. Buy the tickets in advance and bypass the line.

Hands on Fun at the Museum 

5.      Ask about special family programming. Many museums now offer activity backpacks, downloadable apps for your phone, or other technology or activities that enhance the museum for families. Again, these aren’t often advertised and you can miss out if you don’t ask.

6.      Have a plan. Large museums offer too much for kids to take in during a single visit. Check out the map ahead of time and know what exhibits are “not to miss” for your crowd. Don’t try to do it all or you will find yourself exhausted.

7.      Have an escape route. Kids have a tendency to get what I call “museum malaise” if they spend too much time in a museum with fairly static exhibits. You might be tempted to call it a day when the kids get whiny, but instead of going home early, see if you can find an outdoor space to clear everyone’s heads. Most museums have gardens or other courtyard areas for letting off steam. Even just a little bit of sun and fresh air can go a long way towards making a pleasant visit.

~Long Day at the Museum~

8.      Check your dining options. Yes, museums have snack shops and dining rooms, but no, they are not always ideal. Food can be expensive and relatively unhealthy, although occasionally museums offer a great dining option.. Check the website so you will know if you need to eat it, bring a picnic, or find a nearby restaurant to feed your crew.

9.      Bring hand sanitizer. I am not a germaphobe…at ALL, but hands-on museums means tons of hands have been all over the exhibits. During school field trip season, the number of germs swapping around is enough to make me break out the sanitizer. Just a quick squirt throughout the day will (hopefully) keep the germs at bay.

~Doing a Little Art Museum Sketching~

10.   Budget for the Extras. So many museums now have traveling exhibits and other installations that are not included in the general admission. These can be lots of fun, but can eat at your budget if you are not prepared. If you want to keep things under control, know what’s available in advance and give your kids a spending limit on extras. 

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