This free discovery center across from the Children's Museum was a lot of fun, and educational…read more They have a scavenger hunt for the kids to do to help them learn more about water, and they get a prize once they finish it. They have a small free lot for parking which is nice. Staff was very friendly and helpful when the kids needed a hint about one of the questions on the scavenger hunt.

This place makes a great stop off if you happen to be next door at the Children's Museum or at some…read moreother location nearby. It might be better for older, science oriented kids, but adults will likely find it interesting as well. It's free and all they ask you do is provide some info about how many people are in your party and the zip code you are visiting from. It's a good rainy day activity and can provide some educational moments. There is an interactive scavenger hunt which involves doing 8 tasks and ends with the ability to choose a prize. The maze pen we won is pretty cool. My 10 year old nephew was easily able to complete all the tasks and seemed to enjoy doing it. Some things were like video games, which he seemed to like and maybe it will give him some ideas about career possibilities for the future. It was a good learning opportunity about the importance of saving water and learning about what happens to all the water we waste, etc. I wish I lived in Olympia and was able to trace where the water goes when I flush the toilet. It was nice that they ask you to share what you learn when you go to redeem your prize. I'm not sure if my 8 year old niece would have found it as interesting, but there are places to sit and some kitchen toys to play with if not. It looks like they also have some crafts available. Check it out if you are in the area.

This was a really fun experience. Myself and my wife really enjoyed the two hour Chehalis valley…read morerailroad tour. We were in town for the weekend for other activities, and we decided to do this as a tourist activity as well. We took the last train of the day, so unfortunately we did not get to tour the museum as we were running late, but the train ride was amazing. The steam engine train is not running right now, which was a bummer, but they still run rides on a diesel engine train. We had a very funny conductor that kept us entertained. The ride was very peaceful and tranquil and on an older train so we appreciated the tranquility. There were not many people on the train with us, just two other couples. We were almost running late and the employee met us at the coach to give us our tickets, which was appreciated. The ride included pictures of the Chehalis River, scenery, wildlife, and more. The train and coach were definitely older, so we appreciated that classic vibe. I do know they also have special event dinner rides and such as well that they host several times per year. Overall, I definitely recommend the Chehalis railroad tour. It was a great experience!

Very fun they served hot chocolate and cookies and Santa was there the kids loved it.....I'd…read moredefinitely take the kids back to do it again..

We came in December during a train event without having realized the trains were on display. It was…read morea happy coincidence, as my kids really enjoyed the displays and talking to the hobbyists. The actual history museum had a lot of interesting and well put together displays. The exhibit on native people was very interesting and informative. I grew up in the area and moved away without ever having learned much about the local native tribes and their history, so it was great to learn more as an adult. My kids are 8 and 5 and this place held their attention for over 3 hours. We probably could've stayed longer, but our tummies were growling so it was time to find lunch.

What a wholesome experience for the entire family! 5 floors of different type of Model trains while…read moreyou go through the states history as well. If you are here for the train displays with your kids, you need to cover floor 1 as the last stop. Floor 1 has play area with Legos and Toy train tracks and the toddlers don't want to go anywhere else! Super friendly staff at each display who are eager to interact with the kids and the adults. I missed it last year, now, we might end up coming here every year!

Fun for the whole family. Exhibits like The Dino Dig, The Power of Air, Lego Extreme, a kid-sized…read morepretend Grocery Store, and more. Only $4 a person. Open Weds-Sat 10-5 and Sundays 11-5. In the Twin City Town Center Between Michaels and Maurices. Off I-5 Exit 79 in Chehalis.

From the owner: Discover! Children’s Museum is a hands-on learning space in Downtown Centralia, Washington where…read morekids and families explore, create, play, and learn together through interactive exhibits, imaginative play, science, music, and discovery.

What a great experience and a gem of a place, here in downtown Chehalis! We had driven past it…read moremany times and never really stopped in. Decided to make the plunge a couple of weeks ago and boy am I glad we did! It is an old, renovated train station/depot building - that's now a museum to celebrate and remember the bygone eras of the towns and county. There are multiple displays and exhibits that highlight the many chapters of Lewis County's history and culture, from the time of Native Americans and early pioneers all the way to 1950's. It is filled with actual items from each era (tools, appliances, clothes, maps, merchandise, etc). It really does much to bring history alive and allow visitors to see with their own eyes, and not just in photographs, what people used and lived with. The highlight of the museum, though, is of course the trains! All the way towards the back of the building is a ginormous electric model train set! It's set up to mimic the geography and landscape of Lewis Co. and is so captivating. There are two separate sets and each actually work with the push of a button. There is also a medium sized wooden train set for the kids to enjoy. My two boys absolutely love it!! At just $5 per adult and free for the littles, it's a bargain! I highly recommend the Lewis County Historical Museum for a wonderful time with great fun and learnings for the whole family!!

This is a great 'halfway' stop between Portland and Seattle. Get out, stretch your legs and check…read moreout some very interesting exhibits about all kinds of 'goings on' in Washington's first county! The General Store area, with costumes to try on and stuff to play with, is a big hit with kids!

My family and I had a great time at the 7 Wonders Museum at Mt St. Helens. We loved the visitors…read morecenter and presentation by the staff on Mt St. Helens. We also scheduled a tour of the blast zone and encountered beautiful scenery, landscapes and wildlife. The tour was eye opening on the amount of devistation and change that can take place so quickly in a catastropic event. I definitely recommend a visit along with the tour you will not be disappointed.

This museum was well planned and the exhibits are detailed and engaging. It helps that the staff…read moreall have been part of this community for 50+ years and we were fortunate to have Lisa on location as she knows everything about every detail of this community. The history of this tribe is inspiring and the art is of best quality I've ever seen. Cheers!!

This was a nice find while visiting the area. The museum is very educational about this Native…read moreAmerican people, their history, and their culture. My children enjoyed seeing many of the different tools that were used for catching fish and holding ceremonies. The architecture is intriguing as it is based on the Thunderbird. The museum and grounds are peaceful, allowing one to reflect on the history and culture of this people. The staff were friendly and the admission was reasonable. Visiting the museum was a great experience.