Indianapolis Children's Museum

   Happy Fourth of July!  Our family spent today at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  The museum opened at 10:00 and we arrived around 10:30.  Parking in the facility parking garage is free and abundant.  There is also a pedway connecting the parking garage to the museum.  This is convenient on a freezing cold winter day or a sweltering hot summer day like today.  My son especially loves the dinosaurs outside looking into the museum!  When you arrive, you are welcomed by Bumblebee, the Transformer.

On select days, there is a show where a different (and smaller) Bumblebee "transforms" from a car to the robot.  There are several scheduled activities throughout the museum and in various exhibits throughout the day.  On this visit, the special exhibits included Hot Wheels and Lego.

What I like about the Museum is that there are activities for children of all ages in each exhibit.  Very young children are not left out with various options including a baby play area in the Playscape exhibit.  There is a Carousel on the third floor, a great dinosaur exhibit and a planetarium with a special Sesame Street program for young children.  There are plenty of family restrooms and even a child size potty in the regular restroom.  The baby changing facilities are clean and readily available.  

The food options include pizza, sandwiches, salads and various kid fare including macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, chicken strips, grilled chicken, tater tots and applesauce.  Pricing and portions are separated by toddler, child and adult.  The toddler option includes all meal options cut into toddler sized bites.  It includes a side and a drink for $4.79.  The child portion was priced slightly higher.  The museum allows you to bring your own food if desired.  There were several families taking advantage of this policy, and that would be a great option to keep your total visit cost down.  We did pack our own drinks and snacks, which helped before and after lunch.  

Tickets are $17.50 per adult and $12.50 per child ages 2-17.  It appears that there are occasionally special deals for admission on the Museum's website.  Another good option, if you will visit more than 2 times per year, would be to purchase an annual membership.  Days where admission to the Museum is free include:

Dec. 24, 2012—Christmas Eve (10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
Jan. 21, 2013—Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 18, 2013—Presidents Day
April 28, 2013—El Dia de Los Niños

Target also sponsors free nights at the Museum from 4 p.m.–8 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  

My children had a great time and we will visit again soon.  Check it out at http://www.childrensmuseum.org/