If you are setting out for vacation with children in tow, keep in mind that there are a lot of great museums for kids all across the United States. These museums highlight unique interests for the young and the young-at-heart, ranging from educational play to science experiments to the history of toys.  Check out these favorites and plan a visit that will both entertain and educate your children.

Boston Children’s Museum
The Boston Children’s Museum in Boston, MA, houses the award-winning Arthur and Friends exhibit, which uses imaginative settings to take you inside Marc Brown’s cherished books and the popular television series produced by WGBH-TV Boston.  Kids’ favorite characters come to life as they read, write, and role play in storybook scenes such as the Read Family Kitchen, Mr. Ratburn’s Classroom and the Backyard Sleepover. In addition to this popular exhibit, children will be drawn to the authentic two-story silk merchant’s home from Kyoto, Japan.  Check online for special exhibits coming to the museum in the future.

Discovery Center Museum
If your travels bring you near Rockford, IL, then check out the Discovery Center Museum. This museum features more than 250 interactive exhibits for hands-on scientific experiences. In the museum’s backyard, visitors can explore the first community-built outdoor science park, Rock River Discovery Park: a giant, multi-level science park where kids can explore a cave, dig for dinosaur bones, examine a waterway with locks and dams, and test friction by sliding down slides. For indoor fun, check out the WIFR Kids News Studio, where little ones can practice being a news anchor or camera operator.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Travelers to Fort Worth, TX shouldn’t miss the architecturally-interesting Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. This massive museum houses a wide range of activities for children involving Native American history, including a cattle raiser museum and the National Cow Girl Museum and Hall of Fame. They also feature a planetarium, IMAX theater, and 5 Innovation Studios with special exhibits that encourage kids and adults to engage in and explore creativity. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm; with so many amazing activities to experience, you might want to set aside a couple of days to make the most of your museum visit.

A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village
Located in Salem, OR, A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village houses the world’s largest Erector Set! A.C. Gilbert was an inventor who is most famous for creating the Erector Set in 1913. In 1998, over 6000 local volunteers created A.C.’s backyard where kids can climb the world’s largest 52 ft. Erector Set tower, play marimbas in the musical ensemble deck, explore the inside of an animal cell or become the captain of a paddle wheeler. They also feature great party packages to celebrate your child’s birthday or a special occasion.

Strong National Museum of Play
Everyone loves to play, and adults will enjoy this children’s museum as much as kids. The Strong National Museum of Play is located in Rochester, NY, and offers numerous children’s activities from a kids’ supermarket to a butterfly garden to a reading adventureland. But the biggest attraction is the National Toy Hall of Fame. Children and their parents will get a kick out of seeing favorite toys that have inspired creative play and endured through the years. With over 40 hall of famers inducted, popular toys include Big Wheel, LEGO and Slinky. This museum provides a unique opportunity to engage your children in play with the classic toys you loved.

Noah’s Ark at Skirball Cultural Center
The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA, is one of the most impressive Jewish cultural centers in the nation with many activities for families, and the main event is Noah’s Ark. Imagine yourself immersed in a favorite childhood tale inside a floor-to-ceiling wooden ark that occupies an 8,000-square-foot gallery. This amazing structure is filled with whimsical animals that create a space where you and your family can play, build, climb, explore, make music, make friends, and more. It’s a one-of-a-kind adventure that encourages all generations to have fun, connect with one another, learn the value of community, and help build a better world.

Minnesota Children’s Museum
The Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, MN, is always ranked as a favorite among parents and is chock full of installments that allow children to explore a variety of worlds. One of the highlights is a special Habitot with four creative environments that toddlers can explore. The little ones will find endless fun investigating a prairie, cave, pond and forest that all feature hands-on activities. The big kids will enjoy the Rooftop Art Park, where art and nature converge with a great view of St. Paul. Kids can climb up to a 12-foot tree fort and dance under the shadow dome, mimicking tree shapes and shadows.

The Southeastern Railway Museum
The Southeastern Railway Museum is one wild ride of a museum, located just outside of Atlanta, GA. If your children love trains, then this is the place for them. Over 90 pieces of retired railroad equipment are displayed on a 30-acre site. The collection includes diesel locomotives, steam locomotives, passenger and private cars, baggage cars, freight cars and – last, but not least — cabooses. Children learn the ins and outs of railway travel and transportation with interactive exhibits and tons of trains to climb on. All aboard!

Your kids will be grown up before you know it, so make the most of the joys of childhood while visiting these amazing children’s museums.  The toughest activity of all may be choosing your favorite.