McKenna Children's Museum
Monday, February 7, 2011
Update: This post was originally a giveaway. The giveaway is now over, but I wanted to leave the review here for anyone interested. We love the McKenna Children's Museum, but it is not free. Visit the Museum website for admission information.
McKenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels is a perfect mini day trip from Austin. I took my 2 and 4 year old boys last week and we spent a wonderful morning exploring, imagining, building and creating. The museum is not huge, but it is jam-packed with interactive exhibits and clever opportunities to learn through play.
From the moment they entered and saw this fun train table, my boys were sold. In fact, after 20 minutes of play, it still took a bit of encouragement to get them to leave the trains behind. But there was so much more to see and do!
There is even a cave to explore, complete with bat costumes inside!
Around every corner there is a new opportunity for kids to role-play. From ambulance drivers, to doctors to astronauts, little tikes get to try it all.
Outside the Lines Art Studio lets kids unleash their inner Picasso.
In the Town Square, kids can work as bank tellers.
They can even use a real ATM machine. The machine issues play money, which kids can exchange for a prize.
The Grocery Store comes stocked with carts, play food and a conveyor belt for checkout.
There is a house that needs some building assistance too. Velcro siding for the outside, magnetic wallpaper for inside, and plastic pipes that attach to the sink.
Take a peek Under the Comal River and you will find 2 little crocodiles. You can visit for feeding time and see them eat baby mice (eek). This exhibit was designed by Snake Farm Exotic Animal World. Be sure to request your free child's ticket to Snake Farm from the Museum before you leave!
The Museum also offers a wide range of 11 a.m. programs, which change daily. We got to enjoy Bubble Play. Every child had a chance to stand inside a giant bubble!
Make sure to visit the Museum on a sunny day so you can enjoy The Great Outdoors as well. The water table is incredible; my boys couldn't get enough of it. There is also a little rock climbing wall, large animal statues, a rubber pit where kids can dig for buried treasures and... a car to paint! (Update: the car is no longer at the Museum - it will be replaced with a new exhibit).
When you go, don't forget to bring your lunch. There are picnic tables in front of the Museum, with space for kids to run around before you stick them back in the car for the ride home. McKenna Children's Museum is open Monday - Saturday, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. For more information, visit the Museum website.
