Wow, just...wow! The Madison Children's Museum is floor after floor of both indoor and outdoor activities (all the way up to the roodtop) for kids of all ages, all with a view of the gorgeous Capitol building! The creative play could last all day if you have the time. There's everything from water play (you'll probably get wet!), climbing, interactive play zones of so many themes, art and even small live animals! Even as an adult, it never got boring. My 2.5yo daughter and her friends just couldn't get enough of it. Lots of opportunities for kids to learn while playing. The staff are incredibly friendly and I believe all, if not most, are volunteers. There's a pay-what-you-can food area, which is so thoughtful. Very bright interior with plenty of natural light. Clean and updated play spaces for such a big facility to keep up with! Very clean restrooms. Small area for parents who have babies to sit in to play while their older kids explore. We've been to other children's museums and this is one of my favorites. The cost for anyone over the age of 1yo is currently $18 each (or 10% online) but if you're planning on spending a day here, totally worth it. I do think it would be a little more reasonable for ages 1-8 to be a little less than a full adult ticket price but it is what it is. If you live within an hour or have a larger family, it's definitely worth it to get a season pass' some include guest passes for friends. It's a worthy investment or a great gift! There's nothing more heartwarming seeing your child smile nonstop and exploring while in a learning environment. Stop on by, you'll love it and sleep well afterwards! One staff member said they're expanding so we're looking forward to that in the future. read more

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Super fun place for the littles! It was quite packed on a Saturday and is not a very large establishment compared to other children's museums, so I'd recommend going during a non-peak time to enjoy it to the fullest. They have an awesome outdoor playground which is unique and our toddler loved it. Indoors, there's a great play space for kids under 5 so the smaller kids can enjoy an area without being totally run over by big kids. It's pricey, for a family of 4 (we had to pay for our 15 month old, it's only free for 12 mos and under) it was about $80. With that, if you're going to spend the money, make it worth your while on the time commitment there. Lastly, the staff was very friendly and attentive which was a plus. read more

Madison Children's Museum - Outdoor playground - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Huge museum with several floors to explore and a massive outdoor playground. When you enter they have a small cafe area to eat as well as a pay what you can option for those who may not be able to afford nearby restaurants or forgot to pack a lunch. The lower floor is for small children with a few play houses, water table type room and nursing space. The upper floors are better for older children, with the rooftop having some live animals like chicken, reptiles and fish. Outside is a massive playground with labels indicating what level of climbing experience is needed to navigate. Overall, most kids can explore the majority of it. There's plenty of restrooms on each level and staff around to keep watch on things. They also have lockers as well as free bins to store things while exploring. Keep an eye on Groupon for deals on admission. read more

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Madison Children's Museum is an awesome adventure for young children. Admission fee is $11 per person if you purchase the tickets online. I think the fee is fair and it is less expensive than the other children museums that we have visited. My sister-in-law and I brought our four kids and we couldn't even cover every exhibit within the two hours that we stayed for. The first floor is catered to young children with a treehouse, bone bridge, soft toys, various puzzles, rock climbing wall, slide, and water dome. Our kids really enjoyed running through the bone bridge, conquering the rock climbing wall, and repeatedly going down the slide. When we finally ventured upstairs, there is a huge, two-story Hodge Podge Mahal climber that seemed to have drawn inspirations from a scrap yard. Due to its unique design and height, it can be intimidating and require some creative thinking on how to conquer the conquest. Once our kids figured it out, it was a nonstop cycle of watching them climb up and slide down. After about 30 minutes, they were finally ready to move onto the next exhibit. There is an arts and crafts section with plenty of scissors, drawing paper, and markers. It was standard and nothing particularly stood out but our kids, whom are preschoolers, were easily entertained. So it gave me a little break to sit and watching them color and draw. It looks like they have two outdoor play areas, one on the roof top and the other on ground level. Unfortunately it was too cold during our visit and we did not have the chance to explore those exhibits. read more

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I came here with my nephew and ended up having more than him I think. My nephew is only nine months old so, he cannot fully enjoy a lot of things the museum has to offer. For the most part, we brought him to the water area and then to the infant area where he parallel played with another little baby; so cute! I was so excited to see that they had a cute little rat bakery, as I am a baker. It was interactive where you could turn the lights on. It was wayyyy too cute. Then, I learned there were animals upstairs which got me super excited. I was able to pet a chicken. Best. Day. Ever. read more

Madison Children's Museum - Chicken - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I was really disappointed by this Children's Museum. Ours back home is bigger and cheaper. It was $72 for my family of four to get in, which is ridiculous. Why is a 2 year old the same price as an adult? There was a whole outdoor area we couldn't explore because it was covered in snow. Either clear it off or lower the price. I did appreciate the pay what you can cafe, but for what we paid to get in, that seemed unimportant. read more

I adore a children's museum with free days for accessibility, and the price is otherwise so fair. Brought my 7 and 11 year old here and we definitely could have hung out for more than the three hours we had. The rooftop was a treat (amazing sunset view), the park was a favorite and the pie play area as well. Seems like a genuinely warm and full play of energy and exploration. read more

Madison Children's Museum - Capitol building and sunset in one! - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Definitely a highlight spot for young children. It feels like an absolute wonderland to them with so much to see and explore, surprises around every corner. You get 50% off admission if you're a member of any other children's museum. They don't take Apple Pay, only credit cards. The location is great and hard to miss since it's a stone's throw away from the state capitol building. We came on a Saturday afternoon and they close at 4pm so we weren't able to spend too much time here. Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours. There are 2 stories, plus a newly built outdoor play ground and a rooftop garden with a sandpit and tons of construction vehicles that will easily occupy a car loving toddler for a good hour. The indoor space isn't terribly big but they do manage to pack a ton of activities and displays in an effective way. We didn't have enough time to check out the outdoor playground, which looked like so much fun. They also have a colorful and spacious art area on the second floor. read more

Really great children's museum! My kids had a great time exploring all the different exhibits. There was lots to climb on to get some energy out. I loved the rooftop garden area, but we couldn't stay out too long because it was cold the day we visited. My daughter loved the art area and could have stayed there for hours. All the employees were super friendly and helpful. We went on a Thursday evening when they have free entry from 4-8 so if you just want to check it out for a bit this is a great option for you! read more

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We took a drive out from Rockford to visit this museum and the zoo. We spent more time in the zoo since son was interested in the animals more. I can't blame him since this children's museum was pretty lacking even though it has 2 floors. My son spent most time at the indoor treehouse which was the only thing worth talking about. There is upstairs which had a large craft section and weird historical section. There is outdoor playground but only a few people dared to play on snow covered structures. There was a kitchen but very small. The pizza oven was a highlight for my son but that's pretty much it. ATSC reciprocal membership covered our admission but not worth coming back again. Parking was at garage so paid by the hour. read more

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Madison childrens museum is an awesome adventure for adults as well as children. The LL /lower level has a baby specific area and nursing mothers room as well as some cool stuff for all ages. There's a water fountain a felt garden indoors and real garden outdoors. The amazing tree stairs and the dinosaur bone bridge. LL also offers a small rock climbing wall and a short but super fast tree slide. Watch out!! The main floor offers some souvenirs, elevators, a nook with some hidden fascinations around the corner, a hidden nook under the stairs, a water fascination, and a little cafe. The second level is for the busy bug kid & adult climbers, the block builders, giant logs that look like lincoln logs, hamster wheel for people. A miniature diner for pretend play, and some tech stuff. The rooftop is pretty amazing as well from the ice rink in the winter to the greenery & chickens in the summer. You can't go wrong visiting the children's museum whether it's an adult event, kids birthday celebration, or a normal day with the kids. They offer family memberships for families read more

First of all, I might come back to edit this review later because there is just so much I wanna say about this awesome place If you're a first time parent and your baby is under 18 months, you can get a free membership until they turn 18 months old! We went for the first time when our son was 6 months and since then we have been about 6 times- we will definitely be purchasing a membership when our free one is up. Right now for the summer they're doing a program on Tuesday mornings where the indoor playground is only open for babies under 2, so they're free to crawl around & explore at their own pace. It's also a great way to meet other parents of young kids. The indoor playground is really cool- there are little huts full of baby dolls, stuffed animals, musical instruments, and other fun toys. There is a "veggie garden" where kids can harvest felt and cloth vegetables out of the floor There's a water play room where kids can explore at a sort of water table with see-through pipes of water flowing endlessly down the walls & mist surrounding the whole room- it is right near a large glass wall so sunlight streams in so beautifully through the mist. There's also a small area where crawling babies and non-mobile babies can do some tummy time and practice sitting or moving around- it has a cloth cushion floor and is near a bookshelf and a fishtank. There are little activities on the walls of this area such as photos of babies' faces and some wooden beads on a string attached to the walls. The wonder ground (outdoor playground) is also super cool for kids who are a little older- and kids are encouraged to play in rain or shine. They have hammock swings that I was able to put my baby on & he had fun swinging and spinning gently while looking up at the sky. The rooftop garden had baby chickens, rabbits, and cool sculptures as well as a view of the capitol and the lake. There's also a cozy little hut up there with books and comfy cushions. There was a whole exhibit about Frank Lloyd Wright that taught kids about his childhood inspirations growing up in Wisconsin. There are hands-on activities along with text descriptions of his early life. The art studio is so fun, with art activities held regularly. It is truly a shrine to creativity with collage covering many surfaces, and things painted in bright colors. One wall held a collaborative art piece which the children are encouraged to participate in by adding their own creative vision We love this place and look forward to participating in all the activities as our son grows read more

Madison Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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the play areas are all very dated and old toys and structures, which makes me question cleanliness. not much to do for kids under age 2. baby area has maybe 3 toys to play with. parking is atrocious and insanely priced. the toys in the exhibits are incredibly old and ragged. only one family bathroom per floor, and no private areas designated for nursing moms / newborn babies / quiet rooms. read more

Our children love this place. Fun for hours each time! We highly recommend this place.

We visited using our Reciprocal pass from our hometown museum. If your pass is in network, you receive half off admission for all of your guests. The lady at the counter happily welcomed us! It's Wisconsin so it gets harshly cold... I appreciate the large coat room. It gets a little chaotic in there with sooooo many people unloading their coats and strollers but it's convenient. I guess I'm spoiled from our museum back home because I was just lacking a "wow" factor here. My toddler had fun running around but I feel like she didn't necessarily get anything out of the little exhibits. However, I'm trying to review from an unbiased standpoint, hence the 4 stars. *pretending like this is the only children's museum I've ever been to* On the main floor is a large treehouse for the kiddos to run around in. There's tunnels to go through and bridges to climb. In the back are some cute pods for reading in and a small water section with waterproof vests. Highly recommend for toddlers. The second level is complete with history, technology and creative craft sections. These are appealing to older elementary kids. Some of the technology bits weren't working but that's okay. In the craft area was a huge paint wall which is pretty cool but way too messy for my liking. If you'd like your kids to do that, I'd highly recommend wearing Old clothes that you don't mine being ruined. They try to split it up into stations with bead crafts, sculpting, coloring/cutting/pasting. The best part is the rooftop garden/greenhouse with both step and elevator access. We went in the winter so we didn't reap the benefits of the garden but they did have a small ice skating rink set up with helmets and skates. Inside the green house had a fun sand box to dig for dinosaur bones. There's also a few animals inside. Plus, perfect photo op with the capital building. During the summer, I'd hang out up here all the time. Overall, it was just so chaotic to me. Once we got to the roof where there were less people, we all sighed out of relief. It's got its high and lows, definitely worth checking out for yourself. Keep an eye on your kiddos, it gets insane! read more

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This place is truly magical! It's beautifully decorated and has many fun areas for little ones to explore. There was lots of opportunities for our toddler to interact and get hands on with the exhibit. Our toddler's favorite part was the water room--he spent a solid half hour playing in there and wound up soaking wet. Definitely bring a change of clothes if your little one likes water. Overall, our toddler had an amazing time exploring the museum and so did my husband and I! As a result, we ended up purchasing a membership at the end of our visit. I know we'll be back a lot! read more

Madison Children's Museum - A toddler playing with a measuring cup in a faucet in the water room. - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We visited the Children's this past weekend for the SummerPalooza 2019! There were children everywhere! I always forget about this place, but it is filled with things to do, learn and experience! For the Summer Palooza they gad a wide array of things to do! This event had a face painting, balloon animal making, a full on parade, a magician, all of the things to tire you and your child out! We sat through the magician and he was pretty dope, card tricks, hat tricks, water tricks, egg tricks. He kept the children and adults engaged. It was fun. We were able to experience the second floor as the elevator was broken and we had bags with us that felt full of bricks. The second floor had a human hamster wheel, some slides, some building blocks and farming adventures. We had a ball in this place. read more

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Due to the ever changing Wisconsin weather we were not able to check out the last outdoor farmers market of the season so onto Plan B; which was the Children's Museum. The museum was ok, but only kept our little ones interest for about an hour. Which at $9 for each person was not really worth it in my opinion. The kiddos really enjoyed the water area in the 5 and under area; where we ended spending most of our time. The museum is on the smaller size compared to other kids museums we have been to. It gets super crowded on weekends and with the layout the way it is we had to wait quite a bit to get to the different activists; which anyone who has little kids knows this doesn't go over to well. read more

We are tourists. 2nd time here. + Lots of activities to do for kids of diff ages + Snack shop + Outdoor play area + Rooftop where you can get a view of The Capitol + Free coat hangers + 25cents lockers available + Clean museum + Public parking lot adjacent to the museum for a fee Only gripe: $12 for both adults and kids. I am ok with then charging $12 for kids, but wished they would only charge $3 for adults. There is nothing for adults to do here. A family of 2 adults and 2 kids pays $48 which is a bit steep considering adults just follow around their kids and watch them. Suggestion: Charge $12 per kid, $3 per adult. (We went here in 2018 and back then, I think the price was about $9 per person, a bit more manageable.) read more

I've only been to two other children's museums including Omaha and Des Moines but this one was the best by far. They had so many activities/obstacles to engage my son and keep him entertained. He's five and it kept him entertained for a couple of hours. We likely could have spent another hour or two there but we were all hungry. We really enjoyed the climbing feature, hamster wheel and out door play areas both on the rooftop and on the ground floor. I definitely recommend it! read more

Adults who don't have children don't realize that Madison has one of the best children's museum. When my daughter visited with her two year old, she suggested that we should go. It was gray, cloudy and cold so was the perfect day to be indoors. It was an awesome experience! There was so much frenetic activity going on that 2 year old had more activities than he could possibly have had by staying home with us! The building is broken up into great areas for both learning and play. An added bonus was that they have an open rooftop with a assortment of activities. We probably spent more time on the rooftop than we did elsewhere. Fortunately it was not raining but cloudy. I'm sure on a bright sunny day it may be a little bit overwhelming to be outdoors. For all of those of you who have visiting children, this is a great stop. Highly recommended. read more

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I was visiting family in Rockford, IL and we wanted to take a day trip up to Wisconsin. My cousin searched the web for child-friendly activities to do in Wisconsin and found the Madison Children's Museum. I really loved the urban garden themed outside part. There is something here for every age. Check out the log cabin and ask the staff questions about it. They are informed and eager to tell you the history. All in all, if I find myself in Wisconsin again, I will visit. A great thing about this place is that they honored my St. Louis Science Center membership card and my little one and I were able to enter free! Also, take your child up to the roof. My daughter had the most fun up there holding baby chickens and petting the snake. read more

Madison Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Every time we visit the Madison Children's Museum, I find something new I never noticed, or something they have updated or changed, and it usually makes me love it there even more. Every corner you turn you find something fun and interactive or visually interesting. We have been members for the two years that we have lived back in the Madison area, and I love being able to take our kids for an hour or an entire day, depending on our moods and the busyness of the museum. I have been to many different children's museums around the Midwest, and this one is honestly one of the coolest and best that I've seen. The lower level "Wildernest" is fun for younger kids and is visually stunning. I love the bone bridge, the trees, the huts, the butterflies, and the mosaic floor is gorgeous. My kids are still all young enough to enjoy this area, but I will be sad someday when they have reached the age limit! The upper level "Possible-opolis" has a variety of fun activities for all ages, including the fun art studio that would, in itself, be enough to keep my kids busy for hours. The "Hodgepodge Mahal" climbings structure is a always a popular part of the museum and they made it fun and safe and totally different than any type of play structure I've ever seen before! My favorite parts of the museum, however, are the outdoor portions. We love coming here in the spring, summer, and fall and just hanging out outside in the Funkyard, the gorgeous Rooftop garden and the various other outdoor parts of the museum. I usually find the outdoor sections to be less busy (especially on the weekends) than the rest of the museum. It's a great place to just come and explore for a little bit after the Farmer's Market in the summer. I saw a couple of review that talked about parking being a pain - but I actually think the parking is pretty easy. Most weekdays, and even some weekends we are able to park in the metered parking on the street next to the museum, though those are only 2 hour parking. There are two close ramps (Pinckney street ramp is literally right across the street, and Capitol North ramp is about a block away), and we've never had an issue. The museum is always clean and everything is very safe and kid-friendly. It is one of our favorite places in Madison, and I know they will only continue to evolve and improve in years to come. :) read more

Madison Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Awesome children's museum right here in Madison. Our son loves this place. The last two years we have gotten a membership for Christmas and its so nice come whenever we want. We really enjoy the rooftop and green house with the animals. They have snakes, turtles, insects, rats. They also had baby chickens that are big now. Our son likes that sometimes they take the animals out and you can touch them. The chickens are sometimes let out to roam the rooftop which is exciting for the kids. They have a nice climbing structure with a slide that our son just started climbing and has quickly become one of his favorite spots. We also had our son's birthday party here last year and the staff was super friendly and helpful. It is also much cheaper than other birthday places in Madison. Being a member has lots of extra perks. We just attended their member only PJ party for the second time and we loved it. read more

Madison Children's Museum - Climbing structure - Children's Museums Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Let's be honest - any kid would love a trip to a children's museum. Some of the exhibits at the Madison Children's Museum, though, make this one of our favorites. We recently took a day trip from the Chicago area to this museum and it took us about two and a half hours to get there. Parking is not free at this museum, but that could easily be overlooked because of all the awesome exhibits. There are fun water exhibits and an amazing art studio where kids can paint the windows, but our favorite part of this museum is the Wildernest exhibit. The Wildernest exhibit looks like a giant indoor treehouse - complete with bridges and slides. And, while we loved every minute of it, I will have to say that the slide is a little dangerous. It's a gorgeous tree trunk slide, but the rails are all metal with no padding around them and while we were there a kid hit his head on the metal rail and medical attention had to be called. I hope they fix this ASAP. Another exhibit we really liked was the Rooftop Ramble. There were hay bales to climb, a pirate flag to hoist, and even some animals up there. Visit on a nice day so you don't miss it. You can even see the capitol building from up there! read more

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A very nice museum for children of all ages. Something for all interests. Outdoor activities and mostly indoor. Located near the capital square. From art to blocks to wilderness to animals to electronics to a giant gerbil wheel. More hands on than Betty Brinn but it has been awhile since we have been there. Better than the Chicago children museum. read more

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I have come here 3 times now for the Adult Swim events. What. A. Blast!!! Buy your tickets ahead of time to save a few bucks. They offer a small selection of beer, but it's enough of a variety to appease most beer drinkers in your party. They also offer wine and a specialty cocktail or two (which matches the theme). Some events have add-on crafts, but if you don't want to spend the extra dough, there is more than enough to do without it! Most of the free things are hands-on arts and craft activities. If you're not into that, you can check out the regular children's exhibits! There are some standard exhibits, but it seems they rotate many of the others; so, there's always something new and fun to see. This time, the rooftop was open. WOW. Such a lovely view. From one side you can see the lake.... On the other side you can see the capital.... Add in the sunset and you're in for a treat! I would definitely bring my niece and nephews here for a fun learning experience on a non-adult swim night. I feel they would have a blast. There is so much for them to learn and explore. I look forward to returning... Both with and without the young people in my life in tow. read more

We decided to get a family membership and I do not regret it! Our daughter is still pretty young (16 months) and there's plenty to keep her entertained for hours....the membership has been worth it because we are downtown a bit and can just pop in for any length of time. Right now our favorite room is the water room followed by the gardens - I cannot wait to see how our child's interest change with age and I know there's plenty to keep us coming back! PS - before the kid, we LOVED the adult swim nights. Highly recommend! read more

We were able to visit for free due to our membership in another ASTC Passport museum. It's normally $9 for adults and kids over 1. Charging the same price for a 1 year old as a 5 year old appears to be standard for children's museums, but still annoys me since small kids clearly can't get as much out of it. This museum in particular didn't have a lot for the under 3 set. There's an area called The Wildernest for children 0-5 but I would say it's aimed more at the 3-5 set. My 18 month old enjoyed running around in there but there was a lot of granite and other stone that wasn't terribly friendly to new walkers and made me kind of nervous. Another unique area that my daughter enjoyed was the roof top, which has a garden and some animals like lizards, turtles and rabbits in cages. I was a bit disappointed that the seating in so many areas wasn't toddler-friendly. For example, my daughter was interested in both the art studio and the play pizza kitchen but the seating wasn't good for her (and she's big for her age). At the latter, it was just backless stools several feet off the ground so it wasn't safe for her to sit unless an adult was holding her, and what toddler wants to be held while they play? In sum, for the price of free it was a great way to spend a couple hours. If we'd had to pay almost $10 per person I think I'd be singing a different tune. Value for money will be a lot better if your kid is 3+. read more

Very fun place to keep my little 10 month old busy while we visit the area. Lots of variety. He had a great time. read more

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Visited the museum for the first time this past Saturday. It is a bright, friendly space. We immediately headed downstairs to the Wilderness, an area for children five and under. Our 19 month old twins immediately enjoyed the cozy corner area with the fish tank. The area also has a fun selection of puzzles too. Because it so happened to be National Poop Celebration Day at the museum we then enjoyed a round circle reading of the book "Everyone Poops". After that our girls had fun playing in the little hut with baby dolls. And I went down the slide with one of our kids and it goes fast! The water fountain exhibit was one of our kids favorites, she did not want to leave it. This museum has several different hands on exhibits for all different age ranges which I appreciated. Despite being in a small space and busy it didn't feel overwhelmingly crowded. Two floors of the museum are not exhibits but for staff only. I think it would be fun if they added one of the floors for more exhibit space but they must really need it for administrative purposes. We had lunch at the Roman Candle downstairs in the lobby. It was OK. While I appreciate that their offerings aren't just your typical cafeteria style junk food and there are some healthier options, the customer service was lacking and the pizza was cold and didn't appear very fresh. Some areas of the museum could be cleaner (surfaces etc.) and it seems like a giant germ fest there with all of the kiddos running around, however, I imagine with so many little hands touching everything it would be hard to keep up with that. I also wish the museum was more affordable. I understand the cost that goes into the exhibits and the fact that it is downtown also makes it pricey. But this becomes a special occasion place only for folks like myself due to the cost involved of going as a family. Only children under 1 are free. So we had to pay two full entry fees for both of our children, close to $32 for a family of four, not to include parking. I understand they offer free family nights, however, most small children are in bed by the time of day that it is offered. Evenso, I am thankful the museum is here in town and I hope to be back again with my kiddos. read more

Because I am an adult and not a child (no matter how much I wish the reverse were true), this is a review for Adult Swim. Adult Swim is a great concept. Friday night + booze + puzzles + games + crafts = way too many things I like in one neat little package. They've got some decent beer offerings to boot! Climb on the play structure, construct a giant fort, walk around the rooftop garden, hold a live chicken. That chicken might not be too grateful that you've had too many beers and are contemplating smuggling him out under your jacket, but that's another story. My only qualm with Adult Swim is that I always leave wishing there were just a little bit MORE. Maybe I'm just romanticizing the Children's Museum from my own tottish days, but I think the ratio of cool enticing activities to just standing in a neat space drinking a beer is a bit off. That being said, I like standing in a neat space drinking beer, so I'll be back! read more

We were very impressed with this museum. We have been to children's museums in both big, medium, and small towns and Madison does a really nice job. All the climbing structures were great - a good area for bigger kids (5+) and smaller kids. Creative activities as well. Really a bargain for the price. We will be back! read more

Monday, December 30 was my family's first trip to the Madison Children's Museum. It will probably be the last trip for everyone in our group, made up of three adults and two children under 1 came to visit. We spent all of our time in the 5 and under area. Unfortunately this area was mostly occupied by children much older than 5. Two children at least 7-8 years old jumped into the "baby pit" area while my 9-month old son was crawling in there. Two older boys probably 9 years old were throwing vegetables into the baby area from the skywalk and almost hit myself and my friend's 6-month old baby. Staff in the area didn't make any attempt to discourage this behavior or tell those kids to stop. Meanwhile at the admissions desk 2-3 staff members were chit-chatting about all sorts of personal things while there was a line of people waiting to pay. It was a VERY disappointing and unsafe experience for my family. I don't see the need to ever come back. read more

Tons of fun for kids of all ages. Whether you've got little ones with you or you're there for an after-hours event, you're going to be entertained. First floor: a small cafe withRoman Candle pizza and ice cream, a coat room where you can also store lunches and snacks, and the baby/toddler area. The short wood slide goes faster than you'd think, so be sure to be ready at the bottom to catch the littlest ones you let slide. The Wildernest, as it is officially known, has water play, puppets, little huts, a deluxe playpen with mirrors and soft items, and a quiet room for nursing or kiddos who need a moment away from stimuli. Second floor: the art room, a fake diner, a large climbing structure with a slide that is pretty dope, child-sized Lincoln logs, a building map of Madison, and some interactive/electronics based exhibits. Rooftop: plants and animals inside, plants and sculptures outsides. Great views of Madison. Log cabin: learn some history, carry a yoke and water buckets, play pioneer games, and get dressed up. Years ago they planned on building a science floor specifically but I don't think that's yet come to fruition, if it's still in the plans at all. Their Adult Swim nights are fun and let you eat and drink and play without worry of stepping on tiny kids or knocking them over. We most recently went for a Star Wars theme night and were treated to a Jedi quiz, a lightsaber battle, and some photo booth fun. As an adult without kids you get to know the exhibits pretty quick as they don't tend to change and the novelty wears off, but the special events can put a twist on some of the familiar stops and get you to come back. read more

You can never be too old to act like a kid again, and the Children's Museum will do just that. Their seasonal Adult Swim programs will unleash your inner wild-child, and have you running about this place in utter amusement. The content this place lacks is more than made up by its fun appeal. Giant hamster wheels to run in? Glow in the dark face painting? Slides to climb up and down? Man this place has everything! Oh, and for the icing on the cake, no kids and they sell alcohol! Are you sold yet? Huh? Huh? I thought so :) read more

What a good time ! We were there on a weekday and the museum wasn't very busy. The kids had a blast in the art room. I think it's safe to say that the grandkids could have spent many more hours in the art room. The garden was probably more interesting for us adults than the kids. The kids had fun touching the small animals and we all learned a few things about each animal - Thanks to the great staff. Everything considered, it was a fun day. read more

Came here for Adult Swim nights, where the museum becomes 21 and over after hours. There's a DJ with dance floor on the first floor and a cash bar on the second floor. The event is from 6-10pm, and I would definitely recommend coming at closer to 6pm rather than 10pm. What I loved about the Children's Museum Adult Swim event is that it really brought out the child in me and my guest. We climbed on things, went down slides, finger painted, and ran around pretending to be 8 years old again, while holding a beer in one hand. I liked the Wildnerness section on the first floor. I'm hoping that the Children's Museum will get a chance to expand to several more floors and incorporate more science-y things. You can also rent out space for receptions and weddings and other events at the Children's Museum. The rooftop garden is an especially beautiful spot with a view of the Capitol building. read more

What a wonderful museum! We could have spent days playing in the art room on the second floor. The rooftop garden and greenhouse was a blast - I wish we had allotted more time to spend up there. The staff was so amazing, polite and eager to please. They took animals out for my kids to touch and taught us all a little bit about them. The cafe has local, affordable food and composts as much as possible. Very relaxed, comfortable atmosphere on a weekday. Felt like you could leave your purse on a chair and walk away without worry. We are members of another museum that partners with this one, so we got in free. Consider buying one from your local area museum before you vacation here. Definitely a must visit for families in Madison. read more

I am a bit biased here, I have two kids, so any place that keeps them happy for longer then 20 minutes is going to get a great review from me. :) But, this really is a five star children's museum. I have been to many and this one takes the cake. It is unassuming from the outside but there is so much to do at the museum. Here are the highlights for my kids, things we have not seen at any other children's museum: - The life size gerbil wheel that the kids can spin with their own legs. -The climbing balls that are two stories high - they kind of give me anxiety to see my 6 year old that high off the ground, but she LOVES them. -The flash room. A room where every 10 seconds a light flashes and your shadow is captured on the wall for a brief period of time. I have to admit this is one of my favorite rooms as well. -The art room. My daughter could spend an hour plus in there alone. This past Saturday they had beautiful fresh flowers for the kids to create with. Wonderful! -The garden and "farm" area on the roof. Be careful, you could miss this one since it is on the roof, but you don't want to, it's one of our favorite places. The activities are always changing up there depending on the season. The price is reasonable, less expense then most bouncy house places, and with so much more to offer. On the first floor there is a baby area that is soft and fenced in...great for younger children like my 10 month old. He is able to explore age appropriate objects while only falling on soft surfaces. Love it! I am a fan! read more