Grand Rapids Children's Museum

The perfect place to be a child! Each thoughtfully prepared space invites wonder and imagination — from the open-ended play stations to the bathrooms that are designed with care for the young child, helping them feel capable and at confident. It was heartwarming to see children of mixed ages playing side by side, each deeply engaged in their own discoveries. The atmosphere, although busy on a weekend, felt welcoming. Staff were quietly tending the environment and restoring order as the children explored. One small hope for the future would be an expanded nursing nook (or room) — perhaps a more sheltered, peaceful room where caregivers and babies can retreat for a moment of calm/quiet. Overall, a truly nurturing space that honors the magic of childhood.

Worst kids museum we've been to compared to (Albion, Kalamazoo, and Lansing). Full price for kids over 1, tiny area for those small kids. Overall very cheap / simple / odd areas with what feels like minimal effort. So many advertisements and product placements that it feels like you're walking around a marketing demo or commercial. One of the real kickers for me was the exposed plug in the "toddler" area. A $2 plug cover is all that is needed, super low effort in regards to safety here. Wouldn't recommend unless you're local and have no way to get to one of the other children's museums around.

A great way to end the Winter holiday break. My son had a blast in the grocery store and bank play area. Staff was friendly. Lots of families. Great place to make memories.

We had such a fantastic time visiting. The staff were so friendly & knowledgeable about EVERYTHING! My FAVORITE part of the museum was the bubble cage and the bubble area! There are just so many fun things to do! I could spend all day there. Our last 3 hours of the museum being open wasn't enough time! Thanks, Children's Museum, for such a wonderful time!

Visited on a Thursday evening with my six year old. I didn't have high expectations that they would have activities to entertain her age but I was happily mistaken. The entire experience was wonderful. There was so much to do from arts & crafts, to bubbles, to an entire pretend Meijer, to a stage, to a dentists office and farm. We were there for two hours without any bit of boredom. Strongly recommend!

We absolutely loved our visit to the Children’s Museum! There are so many hands-on activities that keep little ones engaged, curious, and active. Every section has something new to explore, from sensory play to pretend play and creative learning. The museum is very clean, organized, and designed with kids’ safety in mind. My child didn’t want to leave — always a good sign 😊 The staff was super friendly and helpful, and you can tell they really care about creating a great experience for families. Highly recommend for a fun day out, especially if you’re looking for something both educational and exciting! Would definitely come back! 💛

My son had a blast here! There was lots to do and plenty of stuff for everyone to share. His favorite (and mine) was the meijer market! We thought the bee habitat was really cool too! I wish there was a gate at the entrance and top of the stairs. Of course us parents are supposed to accompany our little one's but it would be a nice safety feature for runners.🏃‍♂️ I saw a baby almost step down the top stair before his mom grabbed him. I also had to constantly block the stairs entrance. I would also love to know if this facility is regularly cleaned and sanitized.

Only downside was the pricing and they wouldn't accept my homeschool teaching as a part of their teacher discount. The museums in our state do but to each their own I suppose. My kids really loved this place! We were visiting from out of state and they loved all the hands on activities available. I would request some balls be placed in the building block area. We made some cool little aquaducts but didn't have any balls to roll down. We ended up buying a lemon from the grocery area and using that. 😂 The separate kids door and bathroom stalls/sinks were awesome!

I don't have kids but I've been to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum several times with friends. (All adults have to have a kid with them to enter.) The museum is a good size with lots of hands on activities. I find the museum to be a bit chaotic and overstimulating, but kids seem to love it. They do have a policy that states grown-ups and children need to stay together at all times but I didn't really see that happening or being enforced while I was there. I get it, kids run fast, but I don't want to have to watch someone else's kid. One person left their toddler unattended while I was with my friends' kids at the bubble table which made me a bit nervous. I love that the museum offers sensory support via tool kits that include noise reduction headphones, a weighted vest and suspenders, emotion recognition flashcards, a Therapy Tangle, a Squigglet bracelet, a copy of the GRCM social story, and a set of three stress balls. This way the museum is more accessible to folks which I think is great. They offer daily programs like art, storytime, toddler time, open painting, sensory environment, and more, as well as member-only times. Membership levels at the museum start at $100 per year but the $150 level is great as it includes entry for one named adult, one rotating adult, all children, and one guest. This allows a family to bring a babysitter or other adult, like me! Parking can be challenging in this area since it's right in the heart of downtown and there is no designated parking garage for the museum. There's plenty of street parking but it's a busy area.

The Grand Rapids Children's Museum is a fantastic destination for families! There's an abundance of activities and exhibits to keep kids entertained and engaged. The rotating exhibits ensure there's always something new to explore, and the special events add an extra layer of fun (currently a Disney's Inside Out Exhibit) The gift shop has a great selection of unique and educational toys- we always end up getting something! One suggestion for improvement would be to add a coffee shop for parents. It would be wonderful to have a place to relax and recharge while the kids play. Overall, it's a must-visit for anyone with young children!

Took our kids here to socialize and play! They were free since they were just under 1; each adult was $12. Their infant play area is pretty small, but they have a lot of play couch pieces in there, and a small ball pit in the back! All of the parents in the area were nice and respectful, and made plenty of room for the babies to crawl around and explore. I appreciate that they have a yuck bucket, because the amount of toys that everyone was putting into their mouths... The babies loved the upstairs area where they had the ring of keys that you could spin and have it hit the bell, and the hanging spoons in the same area were a hit! We got there around 11am and got right in. By the time we left at 12:30, there was a large queue outside, so definitely get there earlier rather than later. If you do end up having to wait, there's a great coffee shop right across the street (Has Heart Coffee). :)

We went to take the kids since the weather has been a drag being rainy and grey. Definitely get there right when they open to get in or else you are stuck outside waiting in a line since they limit how many people are allowed in. The kids had fun. The next display they are doing is Molly of Denali. That part was empty when they were there since the museum just did a huge deep clean. All in all for indoor fun they got some wiggles out.

This place was crazy packed on their last day open of 2022. Hence the place was also a mess. Nevertheless my lil ones had a blast with all the things to see and do. They were also one of the only ones who wore masks as it's not currently required. They were coughing, sneezing, or dripping snot at a time flu and RSV numbers are so high for all ages so it only made sense to keep masks. It would be nice to return when they aren't so busy and when the place is tidy to actually get a better feel of their play/explore space but I'm not sure we'll be back. At the price we paid for two kids two adults, it just might not be worth it. It was worth it to check out at least once though!

I need one of these in my community. Kiddos loved this place street parking just download the app. So much to do. They had Molly of Denali PBS kids show.

Our three-year-old daughter LOVED the Children's Museum. It's a two-story building in downtown Grand Rapids open every day except for Mondays and open late on Thursdays. It cost $9 for people 1-64 (under 1 is free and there's a senior discount). The bottom floor has a small kid area, sandboxes, games, a real store to buy toys, and a fake grocery store for kids to shop in. There's also stuffed animals, race cars, a kitchen, etc. Our daughter spent most of her time here. The top floor has more science like exhibits and a workshop with free daily programs. When we went, our daughter made a little medallion. After two hours, we walked to Two Beards Deli for lunch!

Pretty disappointing as far as children's museums go, but the employees were great!!!

This place is never open, post pandemic! I used to come to this museum multiple times as a child to the museum all the time growing up in the late 90s. The last time I was inside of this museum was 2015. It was such a fun experience in my wife and I have the time could not wait to bring our own children to the museum to learn all about Grand Rapids. But it seems as I've gotten older this day in age post pandemic, it's incredibly hard to visit this museum with my family and I now that my own children are-grown up. There always seems as if there is too many liberal policies in place that don't allow the museum to be open as much anymore. That's pretty sad when I Museum such as this is only open two days a week to nonmembers. This is tough because we visit several museums down in the state of Florida and they're open every day of the week. They don't have problems with wiping down parts of the museum at the end of the day. And have thousands of children go through the museum each and every day. My family has tried to come to this museum each time for the past two years and it's always closed during the middle of the week. My daughter is very bummed because she's heard so much about the place so she wants to go but it's just never open. **Overall, I understand hiring times are tough but we're post Covid and the museum doesn't need to be open just two days a week it's a bit ridiculous you're better off saving your time and your money and going elsewhere just pass this place it's never open anyway!

Toddler heaven! Just got a family annual membership as a Christmas gift and my 2 year old LOVES it...in fact I thought I lost her as soon as I went to check in because she was reveling in all the wonderful stations they have there, the cool yellow car was her 1st wonder (takes after her dad I suppose). She absolutely loved the bubble and sand stations and there's just SO much for kids to do there from toddler up. Can be germ central and I do not recommend for babies, but if you have a baby also, wear them in a carrier and bring hand sanitizer and wipes. I make sure my daughter washes her hands when we leave and change her clothes at home (tis flu season!). I knocked off a star because parking can be a challenge, especially during peak times and winter when you might have to walk a bit. Parking options include paid street parking, I just signed up for the Motu app as I used all my quarters my 1st visit. There are a some paid parking lots in the area including the Main library. It can also get quite chaotic in there when busy. There are 2 levels and it is a relatively small space when you compare to say the GR Public museum John Ball Zoo or Meijer Gardens where we typically have annual memberships. There is plenty of seating for the parents throughout the upstairs area which is nice, especially when you are pregnant and tired. Just be careful not to lose your kid!

My son (21 months) loves it here! They currently have a cool dinosaur exhibit with buttons to push to hear the dinos roar, which he adores. His favorite thing is balls and they have lots of cool ramps to roll balls down in the toddler area. He love riding the glass elevator up to the top and I love checking out the bees in the exhibit on the top floor.

This is a fairly small museum and definitely geared towards the younger set. There seems to be not enough of the activities that appeal to older kids and, from what we saw, half of those activities are taken up by other adults. We spent 2 hours here on a rainy Sunday, having arrived at opening time. By the time we left, the place was in shambles and the decibels were continuously rising.

THE ONE⁣⁣ THE ONLY⁣⁣ Grand Rapids Children's Museum ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ This may arguably be the most fun museum in the city. Kids play and learn in different ways and the museum fully recognizes and embraces it with FUN! ⁣⁣ Different areas of the museum include bubbles, bees, music, forts, dinosaurs, a kidstruction zone and more! They rotate the exhibits regularly so there is always something new! Woohoo! (Check out their website to see what exhibits are currently open). ⁣⁣

A fun small museum, especially for toddlers to preschool age. It's small, but for the most part things seem pretty spread out. I was worried coming on a Saturday morning that it would be too busy, but it was great and not too chaotic. My 8-year-old daughter seemed a bit bored after an hour or so, and in the end we discovered that the GR Public Museum was a better fit. Favorite Activities: The bubble station, bees display, climbing wall, puppet show, and dress as a dinosaur. Social Vibe: The overall feeling was a friendly one, where families seemed to watch their children without being too involved (taking turns, watching for other kids, etc). I know that can vary, but I had a feeling a lot families were regulars. I noted that they have a "safe space" triangle on their front door - really cool. Location: Love that this museum is downtown but that there is park across the street, so it doesn't seem swallowed up by big buildings. Street parking was easy to find.

Wonderful children's museum! Nice 1.5 hr burn for my toddler. So many fun activities to keep his busy mind & hands a go. Great magician for a fun magic show. Neat body bubble. 2 floors! Lots & lots of things to do! Also had a area to hang up your coats!! Score! Next visit back to GR we will take little man again!

I love taking my family here. I remember when the building was first opened back in the 90's. So glad that I get to continue to have a great experience there. It's always clean and organized. The staff are always so friendly and smiling.

Many interesting exhibits and "real-life" set ups (MRI machine & surgery, construction site, etc) made this a great spot to entertain the kiddos for a few hours. Our girls - ages 4 and 2 - enjoyed their time and we found many things age-appropriate. Seems appropriate for ages 1-10 when you include the toddler play area. Probably the most fun for ages 6-9. Note: When we first arrived, there was a school field trip so the museum was overrun with upper elementary age kids. They wreaked havoc on the place and our girls couldn't get near any of the exhibits or toys. Once the field trip left and the staff had a chance to tidy up, it was a completely different and much better experience. HIGHLY recommend checking the GRCM website or calling before planning a visit to make sure a school group will not be there at the time you're planning to go. It could completely ruin it. With the place mostly to ourselves, though, it was awesome

Such a fun place to bring your kids to explore! Lots to play with and experience. Taking into account the clientele and their destructive nature (yes.. children).. it seems a little worn, but what do you expect! Not bad.. just, well loved :) Lots to do for all ages. Our 1 year old loved it.. there were certain things that were too advanced for him, but there is lots for him to do, too. Look forward to many more visits for him to grown and learn.

Our kids a lot of fun here. They have a little: grocery store bank restaurant mechanic shop construction zone doctor's office All with toys and props for that area. The kids also liked the music area, the beehive and exploration tables. We came here on a Saturday, and it appeared to be well staffed. It is a little pricey per visit if not apart of a federal program, but I am sure that is to encourage yearly memberships.

Do you want a fun, educational experience that wears out your small child? Then this is the place you want to be. Fun for hours, covers art, engineering, science, economics, and most importantly, pillow forts. We don't have a membership this year, but we were able to go this month with the reciprocal for GRPM so we were happy to have another chance to bring our little guy to play. He spent time in a Beetle, on a John Deere tractor, and of course the most fun he had was watching the elevator go up and down. Noise level can get excrutiating, but I'm really appreciative of the increase of comfortable seating. Parking is frustrating so I knocked off a star just for the annoyance factor. I was also very sad to see the bees didn't make it!!!

Chicago's children's museums blow this one away BUT it's still awesome. The first time I came here was probably 4 years ago. I will say it feels like some of the features are ready to be replaced but the area with the library, bank, restaurant etc. is so fun. I thought the parking was easy and super cheap, again coming from a Chicago perspective. I think it's not cool that they expect the parents to pay to get in but whatever. The staff is great. The should have a larger snack option or a little area with snacks for kids.

It looks like a fun enough place, but it's really hit or miss if your kid will be able to get in and play anything. On the day that we went, we encountered a number of difficulties even getting to the museum- if you're going to park somewhere, bring lots of silver change for the meters. We ended up parking a block away and having to walk over, which wasn't that fun in a stiff March wind, but honestly, that's part of life in a city. The problems with this place are that there's plenty of staff if you want to enter or buy something, but it seems that nobody's really interested in cleaning up during the day so kids can actually play with things without wondering where all the pieces are. The other problem this place has is that if field trips from nearby schools show up, it becomes absolutely packed with kids and it becomes almost impossible to get your kids any time on the exhibits or play sets. Maybe if the staff had a way that it could tell visitors "hey, we have a field trip incoming/here, maybe it would be better if you came later/another time?", things could be much easier and kids like my niece could get some time on the things they want to do. We managed to hang out for about an hour before the sheer mass of kids got too much to handle and we lit out for the next stop on our list (where we had much better luck). If there's a day when it's less packed, we might be back to give it another go.

Two words: BUBBLE ROOM! I have been going to the Children's Museum with my nephew (now 11) and my own kids for about 9 years. It has a pretty good selection of traveling exhibits that come through. Lots of things to keep kids interested. Did I mention the Bubble Room? A huge soap bubble table with a crazy glycerin bubble solution that works like a charm, also a chance to stand in a bubble when it is being made. Fun times for families.

I love the Grand Rapids Children's Museum! This is a perfect place to bring your kids to keep them occupied and happy for hours. Like the other reviewer said the weekends are busier and holidays can be hectic as well. But if you are able to go in the morning you almost have the place to itself. You can call them in advance to see if there will be large field trips that day. The building is very open and has two big floors. They have a gift shop with some snacks and drinks. The regular exhibits are fun for the kids and there are new ones like, Bob the Builder, Clifford, etc., that come through every few months. You do have to pay for parking so bring some coins. If you want you can park in the library lot, the first hour of parking there is free if you go validate the parking ticket in the library. You can also go to the museum on Thursday night when admission is cheaper and parking is free after 5pm, but this is a busy time as well. This place is worth checking out!!

Coming from DC (where the children museum barely got 1 star) this place is awesome. My Kids loved it and they are 7, 5 and 11 months. A lot to do, not very crowded and everything is put together nicely. Variety off its for the kids. Very interactive. We definitely will be coming back.

I opted to get a membership for my family, knowing that GRCM is a fantastic indoor play option during the loooooonnnggg cold winters in GR. We're so happy we did! From the incredibly diverse exhibits to the dedicated and friendly staff, the perfect downtown location to the wonderful special events, the Grand Rapids Children's Museum provides an awesome educational play experience for kids. I highly recommend visiting for their ArtPrize events and periodic outdoor celebrations on Sheldon Ave. Membership has its privileges, including reciprocal memberships at other museums and centers in and around town that change on a monthly basis. Members also get access to special member events and private play days. The museum is probably best enjoyed by toddlers through early elementary-aged children, but there are certainly some exhibits and experiences for older children as well.

This museum is huge. I loved it. My 1 and 3 year olds both loved it. The only thing missing (in my mind, not the kids) was a climbing/play area for my new walker/climber to improve his climbing skills, something other than stairs. The craft table was so messy it was hard to use. It would be nice if they had someone there to help and also precut shapes for the younger ones to create things with.

Super fun for all. Great way to interact with your kids and to get them to blow off some steam. Great location. One hour is all you need.

Had a good time with my 6 year old. Toys were all over. No bubbles in the big ring bubble thing. Not suggested for any child under the age of 6.

This place is so much fun... Pretty sure I enjoy myself more than my children do! The price is great and the exhibits are continually changing. My kids love the kitchen food and my personal favorite is the bubbles. They recently took measures to make the entrance to the museum a little less accessible to prevent creepers. My only complaint is that the parking is terrible and on a weekday can cost you anywhere from $5-$9.

Love this place for my children. Responsibly priced and they have good exhibits for the 4 and 6 year old to explore. Nice family day out.

Very fun place to take children to play. There's all sorts of adventurous activities for children of all ages, even babies. The bubbles are my favorite. I can get the big on to go all the way to the top. My son is a fan of the sand table and the "construction zone." My only complaint is that I wish the employees would get off the piano and let the kids play on it more often.

We took our 2 year old here for 2-3 hours. That was a perfect amount of time for her age and what the museum had to offer. There are so many different and fun things to do. Friendly greeter and other staff as well. If we are in the area again, we will definitely go back.

One of the best places in the city. I've been there countless times with my son. Frequently changing exhibits, an indoor beehive with plexiglass walls, a giant bubble station, fish tanks, special events, etc. It rocks.

As a mom of two young children living in the Grand Rapids area, there are two venues that our family purchases memberships to: Frederik Meijer Gardens & the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. The children's museum can easily occupy my 2 & 4 year old for a couple of hours and with the exception of weekends and spring break week, it is usually not too crowded. New exhibits come to the museum every few months and my kids love some of the permanent exhibits, including the kitchen, post office & grocery store. The only bummer about going to the museum is having to feed the parking meters--there is no free lot to park in.

I have been to many children's museums in many cities, and I have never been to one this crazy. Visited on a Tuesday morning, and the staff presence is next to nothing. No one picking up, no one watching the crafts area, and it is completely chaotic and crazy. It makes it harder for the kids to play when nothing is where it is supposed to be. I realize parents should watch their kids, but it doesn't always happen and that's where the staff should be able to step in. That being said, it's a great space with a wide variety of exhibits and activities that will keep kids busy. I particularly like the fort area, where the kids use sheets to build forts on chairs and stands. Just wish it was better staffed.

Really just seemed like a large day care. Really out of date, not organized well. Other children's museums are more educational with well organized exhibits. This felt like it was just thrown together with little thought. Not worth the price of admission.

We had a party there today. It was good. The staff was super great. 2 problems 1 solution though: 1 problem: our 2 year olds kept escaping out the room. 2 problem: an old grandpa and his grandson that we dont know came in and proceeded to take a cupcake. Really???? You invited to this party??? 1. Solution: a lock on the inside of door high enough out of reach of kids. Keeps all in and uninvited people out.

Such a great place for kids! We've been here a few times and they keep changing it up. It's nice to have a safe fun place to let the younger ones run around. Pretty cheap and your pass is good for the day. Great for kids 3-8yr old.

Admission is now more expensive ($8 or 8.50 for most), but the GRCM still rocks. My nephew is now 6 and my niece is 3, and they both had a grand time. I love the Little Grand Rapids - with a huge store, a pizzeria, post office, bank, library and even car mechanic and gas pump, and the kids adore this area, too. Lots of other great stuff, too.

I took my 6 year-old grand daughter. She had a great time and enjoyed all the play areas. An hour and 1/2 was plenty of time to see and do everything. This is not a true Children's museum. It is more of a glorified play area, albeit the play areas are innovative and fun for kids 6 and younger, there is not a lot of learning/teaching going on. I will not be taking her back. She was borderline too old, and it was over priced for the quality of the "playtime".

Kids 4 and 8 were entertained for 3 hours. Encourages creativity and problem solving skills. More geared for younger kids.

I love that they mix up the exhibits regularly so it's never the same place twice! 2 things I would love to see here: a public WiFi and a set day where there are no field trips. I love that the museum was full of kids having fun, but there were four busses that pulled in shortly after we arrived. The kids were INSANE and the chaperones weren't super attentive. We left after an hour because my toddler was getting run over.

This place is very deceiving. On there website and advertisements it shows employees working with the kids. No such thing going on. This is just a playground. There is no learning or instruction unless guided by the parent. There is no supervision other than parents and many don't bother. One of the exhibits is just old boxes that kids can play with. Another exhibit had a broken toys. Its very expensive for a playground. No idea how you can call this a museum. Kids would have much more fun outside on a swing set for free.

The GRCM does an awesome job of offering a variety of exhibits for all ages! My son is 2 1/2 and had a great time in all of the areas of the museum, not just the "toddler" area.

Love this children's museum! Have been to several others in MI (Lansing, Ann Arbor, Albion, Traverse City) and this is our favorite. Lots of creative play, but also music and crafts keep kids busy for hours.

Amazing time! We spent the weekend in GR for Mother's Day and we had a blast at the GR Children's Museum. It's small enough where it's not too overwhelming but big enough for plenty of activity. My 4 year old love it and we spent a good 2 hours there on Saturday. We've been to the Indy Children's Museum (5 floors) which is tripple the size and slightly overwhelming for my son who was 3 at the time. However, GR was wonderful and I can't wait to visit again. Great staff, friendly people, and nice city!

We stopped by the Children's Museum with our 3 kids (all 5 and under), and they had a blast! Prices are very reasonable for the hours of entertainment you'll get. We arrived at opening time on a summer Saturday and it was not busy at all. The kids had free reign over most of the first floor. There are tons of activities for kids of all ages, and they are all educational in some way. The little ones are definitely drawn to the construction/rock area and the supermarket/kitchen/bank area on the 1st floor. The upstairs seems better suited for older kids. The staff is very friendly, the whole facility is clean and organized, and again it's a great value even with 3 kids. The location is within walking distance of parking and restaurants so you can make a day of it. We'll swing in again next time we're in GR.

Having been here numerous times over the past three years, with three and now four boys ages 9 down through 2 years, I modestly consider myself a minor expert on the GRCM. Hands down, the GRCM is a family win, with only a couple minor drawbacks. First, the bad news: The first drawback is the lack of parking that can occasionally happen. I almost feel silly bringing this up, as I'm a Chicago transplant who either used public transit or paid a day's salary for parking in the city for comparable attractions. BUT, having moved back to GR, I (perhaps somewhat unrealistically) expect to walk no more than 200 feet from vehicle to entrance at any given place in our small city. Street parking is generally easily available, except on some weekends when college students descend on the GR Public Library Main branch, or when Everyone is downtown for a festival of some sort, or when it's cold or rainy (every time, I swear!). This is often the case in the winter, when it's so cold the kids can't play outdoors, and so now must bundle up for a trek to the entrance, which is invariably 2 miles uphill both ways in the dead of night. I kid you not. The nearby meters have a 2-hour time limit, and so weekday parking is usually a cinch. The sun smiles when I snag a diagonal spot just north of the entrance. The other drawback is also a plus, and will depend on your particular family as to whether it is a drawback or an asset. This is the open layout of the museum, which allows a lot of free movement. (See?? Plus AND minus!) With four boys, this can get tricky because my 9 year old wants to play somewhere, so I turn to talk to him about where he will be, and by the time I turn around, the 2 year old has taken off, and I see the 5 year old disappearing around a corner. Do not count on any corralling here -- there are no boundaries. As far as keeping track of kids, this can be challenging -- but it also lets kids of different ages and interests find their groove so that they are not constantly tugging at your sleeve saying, "I'm bored here! Let's go somewhere else!" (Watch out for this if you visit the Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.) Strategizing on how you'll handle this before arrival will serve you well on your visit. Oh, and the stairs are wide and open, and very hard and solid. Presumably not many kids have fallen down them, as they are still open for any 1 year old to attempt, but they scare me every time. Consider stationing yourself there if you have wee ones. Besides those two concerns, the GRCM is a win. They rotate their exhibits often, so there is usually something new for the boys to explore. Yet there are a few standbys always available, even if their location in the museum has changed. My boys especially love the big blue foam blocks, with which they build forts, bunkers, and obstacle courses. Too big for our house, these are always a huge hit and engage large muscles, as do the construction zones, the bubble tables and the fort-building or balance beams (on rotation). The spinning roundtable upstairs, various stacking blocks, dominoes and magnetic toys work the fine muscles. The grocery store has been a huge hit lately, especially with the addition of some Cozy Coupes, which my 2 year old insists are "Mine cars!" Look out for him -- he's territorial. If at all possible, purchase a membership, or ask for one for your family as a birthday or Christmas gift. This is especially true if you: have more than two children; homeschool, or have your children home with you during the summer; and enjoy getting out of the house. The GRCM membership pays for itself within a few visits depending on family size, and it offers monthly reciprocal memberships at many West Michigan locations. My boys have visited the USS Silversides in Muskegon, and this month we are hitting up the Kroc Center in Grand Rapids as much as we can. This also allows you to plan short-and-sweet visits -- about 90 minutes for my guys -- that let them thoroughly explore one, two or three areas, leave them wanting more, and promise not to leave the accompanying adult totally wiped out by a multi-hour marathon visit "just to get our money's worth!!" Enjoy your visit, and don't smack your head on the child-size door on the way out.