Fun Museum Finds for Kids in Our Area

Stuck on what to do with the kids over the weekend? Consider an educational adventure to the museum! Museum trips allow for a fun learning experience and outing that the whole family can enjoy and take part in. Even better, according to AAM’s Center For The Future Of Museums, “Museums can change the world.”

That being said- we’ve compiled some popular museum finds in the area for you to check out!

Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada in Carson City.

A Carson area favorite, this museum is an interactive-based community where children will learn through playing. Their exhibits include: brickation, a rotating climbing wall, human anatomy, balloon with vertical fan, and a space shuttle with “Magic School Bus Solar System software.” Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada is open every day 10:00a.m.-4:30p.m. It’s free for toddlers (1 & under), $3 for children (2+), $5 for adults (14+), and $4 for seniors (55+). You can also purchase a membership if you plan on going frequently.

The Discovery

Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

Located in Downtown Reno, The Discovery Museum encourages young ones to learn a bit more about their beautiful state of Nevada. You can take them for the day, sign them up for seasonal camps, or even host their next birthday party there. Galleries and exhibits include: Nevada Stories, Cloud Climber, Truckee Connects, Build It!, Da Vinci’s Corner, Little Discoveries, Under the Stars, Spark! Lab Smithsonian and Picnic Place. Admission is $8 per person, under 1 year old is free, Discovery members get in for free, and group rates are available for request. If you take them after 4:00p.m. on a Wednesday, it’s only $4 per person.

Their hours of operation are; Sundays: noon-5:00p.m., Mondays: closed, Tuesdays: 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m., Wednesdays: 10:00a.m.-8:00p.m., and Thursday-Saturdays: 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

Nevada State Railroad Museum

Calling all train enthusiasts!  The museum has various railroad exhibits with an HO-scale of model railroads (1/87^th actual size). It also showcases beautiful Nevada scenery. And, during the holidays, they offer the exciting “Polar Express” train and story rides! It’s in Carson City, open Friday-Monday 9:00a.m-5:00p.m. It’s $6 for adults, museum members and children under 18 are free.

The Nevada Museum of Art

Every “Second Saturday” The Nevada Museum of art, located in Reno, features a “Hands-On” art day. This is a free program offered to northern Nevada families that allows children to explore a sector of art for the whole day! Upcoming “Hands-On” themes include: Pencil Play, Art Rocks, and Barrio Block Party. Museum hours are Wednesday-Sunday 10:00am-8:00p.m., Thursdays 10:00a.m.-8:00p.m., closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s $10 for general admission, $8 for students/seniors (60+), $1 children 6-12 years, free for members, high school students in Washoe and Douglas County School District with school I.D., and children 5 and under.

National Automobile Museum

If you and your kids enjoy fancy and historic cars, visiting the famous National Automobile Museum is a fun afternoon activity. This museum showcases more than 200 antique cars, and is named “One of America’s Five Greatest Automobile Museums.” Exhibits include: Special Delivery (from door-to-door to their museum floor), Even in Africa, celebrity autos, art and collectibles, tools and tales by Henry Ford, 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race, and Bill Harrah the Legendary Collector. The National Automobile Museum is open Monday-Saturday 9:30a.m.-5:30p.m. and Sunday 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. It’s $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+), $4 for juniors (6-18), and children under 5 are free as well as members.

Nevada State Museum

Show your little ones a bit more about the history of our great state! Located in Carson City, This museum focuses on the history of Nevada. The different exhibits include: the Coin Press No. 1, America’s Largest Exhibited Columbian Mammoth, Under One Sky, the USS Nevada Battleship Silver Service, and the State Capitol. Nevada State Museum in Carson City is open Wednesday-Saturday 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, and free for children 17 and under and for museum members.

We hope you’ve been inspired to check out some of the great kid-friendly museums in the area! The best part: they’re open weekends, reasonably priced and allow for some extra learning!  Have you been to any of these? Which would you recommend?