Let's Play: The Please Touch Museum

In case you are a straggler and haven't made it yet to the new location of the Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall, here is my "insider's guide" to this incredible play space.  So, if you haven't been yet, maybe this will convince you to make the trip.  And if you're already a regular visitor, you know how amazing the museum is, but you may find some tips here that will help make your future trips there even better!

My first word of advice is to try your best to go to the Please Touch on a week day morning, as early as possible.  The museum opens at 9am, so aim for as close to then as you can.  There is a huge lot, so parking won't be a problem like it was at the downtown location (it does cost $5, but that's half the cost of parking at the zoo!)  The crowds tend to build as the day goes on, so at least you will be able to move around easily in the beginning to get your bearings.  It is also a good idea to go on nice days; rainy days get very crowded.  The museum site also recommends Mondays since most field trips are not scheduled then and afternoons if you aren't able to make it early in the morning.

Treat the museum like a trip to a theme park; this is not going to be a short trip unless you have a membership and can go often.  So, come prepared, with a stroller if possible to store everything and for exhausted little ones and plenty of snacks and drinks.  

There is an eatery at the museum, the Please Taste Cafe, located to the right of the entrance.  The cafe has plenty of kid-friendly food like pizza, pasta, sandwiches, chips, yogurt, hot dogs, etc.  The pasta is kind of cool; it's a station where you choose a type a pasta, a sauce, and extra ingredients like olives or tomatoes, and cooks will fry it up together right in front of you.  

And, if you are afraid of the germs from all the touching at the Please Touch, you can either use their hand sanitizer pumps or bring some sanitizing wipes of your own if you don't like having that "not quite gone" feeling on your hands from the liquid.

Make sure to grab a map at the front desk; this place is BIG.  Check to see if there are any special shows planned first; there are sometimes puppet shows, magicians, etc.  Then make your way in!  You can start at River Adventures if you are okay with your children getting a bit wet (there are smocks for kids to wear).  Children can race boats up and down the river, experiment with creating rainbows, and changing currents.  There is also a fenced-off space for younger ones to crawl around and explore (as in many locations around the museum).    

Next, you could head over to Roadside Attractions on the opposite side of the lobby.  They can drive race cars, hop on the bus, take a plane ride, fix a car, or stop at the gas station.  Go downstairs to City Capers, a full city where children can shop at the super market, work at the construction site, or assist with the babies in the nursery at the hospital. You could definitely spend all day in this one section; it was my kids' favorite part of the museum.  

Pass through the train station to enter the maze and fantasy of Wonderland where you can have tea with the Mad Hatter and experiment with reflections in the hall of mirrors.  Back upstairs, the older ones will especially love Flight Fantasy, where they can learn how many different ways they can make things fly, twist, and turn.  They can even be a hamster for a moment, turning in the giant hamster wheel.  The room in the back holds the majestic flying machine.  Little minds will be tested as children design their own planes out of pieces of foam and then send them up the flying machine to see how well they soar back down.

And don't forget a ride on the carousel before you leave (if you can still walk, that is).  This is out some doors past River Adventures, a full-size, restored carousel.  Rides will cost you, unless you have a membership.  And, if you dare, stop by the store on your way out.  This is a huge toy store with wonderful and educational toys and books -- definitely worth a look.

So, if you don't have the coveted Please Touch membership (which has gotten more expensive, by the way), add it to your Christmas list.  Winter is almost here and the museum is a great (and warm) way to pass the time.  It's also a wonderful gift for other local parents!

Was that enough information for you?  If you haven't been, go!!  It's worth it.  And remember that you may not be able to see it all the first time.  Take your time.  I know of a couple of moms who even went solo their first time to check it out!  It's a good idea, especially if you want to see the Centennial Exploration (a model of the original exhibition grounds) without being rushed.