The kids (ages 7 & 9) went with my husband and they loved it. They talked for days about how cool it was and it was a good adventure on a cold winter day. read more

This place is a lot of fun for kids. We've been twice now. The prices are reasonable and there are so many different things to interest children from ages 2-10. However, the rooftop level is basically NEVER open (they close it if they feel a rain drop or the winds blow more than 3 mph), it is hot and humid on the second and third floors, the women processing you to enter are extremely slow, and this museum becomes incredibly crowded! I would recommend they sell tickets for two hour blocks or windows in order to keep the crowds down and to avoid lines of kids waiting to play with every single thing in the building read more

See all

I have a neurospicy nearly six year old son. Thanks to recently getting into Blippi and following his adventures to children's museums on the West Coast he was open and interested in going to a children's museum in our area. I did some research and found that this museum was the best children's museum in our area. After an one hour scenic drive in our car we arrived at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Center. My son takes a long time to settle into new places and spaces but he immediately fell in love with the wall of gears by the front door. After about 45 minutes of trying to connect every gear on the wall, he was willing to explore the rest of the museum. There is so much cool stuff to do. For $9 per person it is a phenomenal value. The best thing about this place is that there is something for everyone and enough space to find less crowded areas even when it gets busy. (And if your kiddo/you need to borrow ear defenders the front desk has some you can borro). The only downside to going here was that my son was so elated for the whole three hours that we visited that he couldn't sleep that night from excitement. He loved it so much that for the next week he asked to go back to the museum no less than twenty times a day. We returned about two weeks after our first visit and he had a blast again and still expresses desire to return (I told him we would return at the end of February). read more

Such a cool place to visit! My kids school went there with a million second graders and the two women who were there were so patient and nice. The museum is mostly interactive stuff so kids had a blast. As did I! read more

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

See all

The kids really enjoyed themselves at this museum. Best for kids 4-6 they have soo many different stations to learn things and the 4th floor is outdoors. My kids really enjoyed the apple station, the water play area and the kids reading area. My kids had to be dragged away from this place after 2 and 1/2 hrs, you could easily spend 3hrs here and not even realize it. Really great for rainy cold days in. During the weekend this place was packed, if you're the type that's still really worried about social distancing, and people wearing masks this may not be the best place for you. read more

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum - The museum, parking free sat and Sunday for 3hrs - Children's Museums Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

See all

What a fantastic spot!!! My kids range in age from 6-4 months old and there was something for everyone! We went during a school break so it was pretty busy, but still fun. There was plenty to do. Wish we had more spots like this! read more

We loved this museum/play area for kids. The staff was very friendly and played with the kids, especially Ann. We live in Philly and have a membership to a very large interactive kids museum and felt SVDM had better activities and was much cleaner. We will definitely be back. We felt like the $9 entrance fee was a steal! read more

This is a fantastic place to take the kids when it's too cold or too hot outside. The first floor is body/medical themed with a real live ambulance they can play in. My kids love the Goldberg machine at the entrance, they'll play there for twenty minutes just watching the balls move through the machine. The second floor has the "apple place" with a bunch of foam apples they can toss around and place in buckets, move up pulleys and roll down ramps. There's also a water station, bee station, fish tank, and a roller-coaster-ball creation station. This is my son's favorite floor (he's 3). The third floor has a fun construction area with large foam blocks and a few tables with various magnetic activities. The 4th floor is the roof but there is an indoor area with a music mat, a cool scarf wind tunnel, and some legos. Outdoors there are various musical instruments - lots of fun and you can watch trucks drive by, too. The only negative point I have is that there are a lot of field trips that come here - I wish they would allow field trips only on certain days of the week and at particular times so that individual visitors could plan around them. Especially if you have smaller children. It's note a huge space, although there are four levels, but when you throw a couple dozen 2nd graders in there my 3 year old and 1 year old are ready to leave. Parking is street or lot metered, easy to pay via the Parkmobile App. It's a short walk from the Handley Library or the Walking Mall. read more

See all

Update: The owner Dawn Devine called me early this morning to say she saw my reviews on yelp and asked "did you think you would get a refund after those reviews?" So I called the cops and told them I felt harrassed and told them what happened BOTH times. They deputy told me to hire an attorney and take her to court and to continue to leave the bad reviews. Two terrible experiences. After years of membership and money spent here, my self and my son will not be returning to this unprofessional place of bias. In house management is poor and unprofessional to the point where I felt threatened enough to call the cops. After this incident, all I recieved was an apology email from Mark, the disrespectful manger, to come back to the museum and play. Agaisnt my better judgments, we did. Once again, staff was rude and blatanlty disrespectful towards myself and son. And once I tried to bring attention to its things would escalate and get worse resulting in an embarrassing situation for myself and son again. After months of trying to reach Dawn Devine, the director, she finally calls me back only to offer a refund and to tell me to never come back. Shocked and upset I told her I would never want to return and I would be leaving a review on Yelp about this. She then said if I left a bad review on yelp she would not refund me. Is this black mail? read more

An incredibly place to take the kids. This place has a lot to do. Even though it's directed towards children a lot of it looks really interesting and fun to do for adults. If you are looking for a place to have fun with your kids, our family highly recommends this place! Very affordable and enjoyable for the whole family. read more

So excited to see this newly relocated and redesign museum! Four floors of ultimate fun for all ages. The rooftop was my favorite! My kiddo loved his surprise trip to end our spring break with a blast. Can't wait to go back. (FYI they're normally closed on Mondays) read more

Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum - The rooftop! Great view. - Children's Museums Near Me - Winchester, Virginia

See all

This is the perfect place with grandkids for 2-3 hours. Next to the historic area and pedestrian mall it offers a super outing for family and couples strolling. read more

See all

I think we're going to need a special junior check in badge for my bebe and museums. We were in town visiting family and prior to arriving I had bookmarked the museum. I'd been to Winchester before, but never this area. Well what a quaint little 'hood! The museum is located on the street and has a city owned metered parking lot located to the left. I found the staff to be warm and friendly (that goes a long way with me) and I was particularly happy with a gentleman at the desk on the second floor. He was pleasant while strong and direct (my favorite combination) as he both assisted folks while reminding kids to share or not throw or not run...he reminded my bebe to wait for mum before running in...and was very helpful with a lunch rec. The museum was on a smaller scale than what I expected. That said, it was a lot of fun. The weather was nightmare cold so we weren't able to enjoy the rooftop but my rockstar enjoyed going through the levels of floors and going back and forth between exhibits. The museum was colorful and brightly lit and had nice, distinct stations. The Bee Station was particularly informative and very special. There is no snack/cawfee/some kind of something area which I always think is nice to have. But hey, I'm a Biracial Jew from Brooklyn. Food, Cawfee and Wine on the mind. We will be sure to visit the museum whenever we are around that part of the country! read more

See all

Wow, this museum impressed all of us in our family. We have been several times before but we are always impressed with the activities they have every time we go. The kids love the hands on exhibits, the roof top with the plastic chess and bowling set along with the painting the roof tiles with water, the ambulance on the first floor is also really neat. This is just a snippet of neat hands on things they have in this museum. If you are in Winchester with kids or like acting like a kid, this is the place to be! read more

Post covid this place has been a god send for my kids and I. With limits on how many people can come in and their sanitation procedures I feel very comfortable bringing my children and usually visit once a week. My kids love it here and all of the employees are so helpful and approachable. I would love to see some new exhibits! read more

I cannot say enough good things about this museum! We took our (then) 16 month old daughter for the first time & she had SUCH a blast! There were plenty of things to do on each level of the museum, all of which seem appropriate for all ages. There are 4 levels to the museum, the top of which is mainly outdoors. Having visited during COVID, we were pleased to see the staff wearing masks & doing cleaning. A children's museum like this involves a LOT of hands-on activity, so it was reassuring to see the staff wiping things down & taking care of the exhibits. We are going back tomorrow for a Halloween event & are so excited!! read more

My twins had their 5-year birthday party at this location. The location was fairly priced and you get access to a private party room and time to play around the entire museum. They individuals rooms were very imaginative and interactive. The kids had fun playing in each location with their friends. We were able to bring our our drinks, food, and decorations for the party room. The staff was very helpful and attentive. read more

We loved this museum and it was definitely worth the 50 minute drive. There is so much to do on each level and for children of all ages and interests. Areas for science exploration, literacy, dramatic play, indoor playground, and so much more. Very clean and staff very friendly. read more

See all

This is my kid's new favorite spot! Where do I begin? Loads of hands on fun, educational, creative, beautiful views from the top, and it's perfect for all ages! Seriously cool place that once you leave you immediately start planning your next visit. read more

See all

Even though this place is a hike from the rest of Northern Virginia, we really enjoyed our time there with our daughter. There's 4 floors of activities for kids of all ages. I was a little apprehensive since our daughter is under 2, but she still had plenty of things that she could play with at her level. A couple of things that I really appreciated about the museum: - There are restrooms on each level AND both the men & women's restroom has a changing station in it. - The museum is clean and bright. - Even though they don't have their own parking lot, there's plenty of lots and street parking around. - The staff is really friendly. They have a water station on one of their levels and my daughter got soaked. One of the staff members came by with a towel for her, which we really appreciated. read more

My 5 year old son loved this place! We visited during winter break, so it was understandably more crowded than usual. However, since the exhibits are spread out across 4 floors, this didn't limit our ability to take advantage of all of the activities. My son was particularly fond of the build-a-roller coaster room and apple picking plant. Note: We brought our 10 month old, and there wasn't much for her to do there other than crawl around and attempt to put things in her mouth. Definitely much more of an experience for older kids. read more

5 stars all the way. My 19 month old was so entertained! But I think children up to 6 will really enjoy! 4 levels of interesting and educational stations. Loved the apple harvesting section, foam blocks area, ambulance, maze and Indian hut. Totally worth the day trip from Tyson's Corner. read more

This review is coming from an child-less aunt of a 2.5 year old. First, I think the price is a bit steep ($8) for what was there. I agree with another review that charging that for an adult is a little much, since there wasn't much for adults to partake in. I know the experience is fully dependent on the child, and their companion(s), but my niece was most entertained by the stairs at the apple picking experience, and the bubbles. Both of which we could manage for far less than paying for 4 adults and 1 kid. The different floors was a cool idea, and it seemed like there were a decent amount of activities. I did notice one of the younger workers was on her cell phone quite a bit, and not really paying attention to the kiddos around her. read more

Great for toddlers and preschool kiddos. Not sure I would bring older children here as there isn't much that's not overtaken by the littles. Good variety of exhibits but more so play exhibits rather than scientific discovery. read more

My 2 son-in-laws and husband took our 3 grandsons here for a fun time while their moms and I were busy with a bridal shower and luncheon. They all absolutely loved it! Perfect for all kids with room to explore. With 2 little ones close to 2 and 1 almost 5, it can be hard to keep them simultaneously engaged, but this did the trick. If you visit Winchester, you must go check it out! This plus the splash pad in Old town makes for a perfect fun day! read more

This place is great! Four levels of things for kids to do and play with and most of it is educational as well. I came with 2 friends and we had a kids ranging from 4-8 with plenty to do for all. There was nowhere inside or out that we could eat lunch so we went to a local park that was a mile or 2 away. Other than that, no complaints. We will be back! read more

This was a wonderful place to take children of all ages. Lots of different activities. Everyone was very nice and helpful.

We stopped here before dinner on a Friday. We did arrive late as our previous attraction kept us much longer than we anticipate. We had 1.5 hours to explore it. My boys are 5 and 8 and enjoyed it. The employees were very helpful and explained different areas of the museum or gave us suggestions for parking and eateries. Each floor had different experiences on it and my boys explored everything. I would say we could've spent at least another hour here playing. The loved the apple area and played in the ambulance and climbing zone. They were fascinated by the bees and spent time building ball coasters. We used another science center membership to enter for free so that was nice. I would def visit again if we were in the area. read more

A great time for my 7 yr old and 5 yr old! Our favorite parts of the museum allowed for imaginative play-the apple picking area, the puppet show, make a roller coaster, and the long house. These areas encouraged the children to play cooperatively which was so fun to watch. They also loved the ambulance and crawling through the "digestive system" on the first floor. The fourth floor did not have activities but the kids enjoyed running around and playing tag. Clean bathrooms. I saw water fountains on the first floor but not sure about the others. There is a small gift shop. Please check your receipt. I noticed after I was home that I was charged an additional admission fee on top of the cost of the two items I purchased. From an educational perspective I would have liked the tags on the displays and activity areas to be simplified. I could have used more help explaining the laws of thermodynamics to my kids as they were doing the activities. This would help more strongly connect the educational component to the play component. There is a pedestrian area just north of the museum with several restaurants. We found an ice cream shop with chili, hot dogs and sandwiches for the kids. It looks like this area also has a spray area for the kids in warmer months. There are lots of spots to sit. Bring your water bottle. I didn't see any drinking water fountains outside. read more

Loved this museum! I would do the one hour drive to it again to explore the museum and the old town of Winchester. The staff are extremely friendly and responsive. Alistair is a gem and went out of his way to accommodate and entertain my 2.5 year old. The museum has so much to see and do. We could have spent all day there just on the first floor of this 5 floor museum. Each floor was special and had hands-on activities that really engaged my child and made me feel like he was learning. Only comment to make it better would be to have some light snacks and drinks available. read more

Great fun! Inexpensive, ($8 2 & above), though they do charge for adults. And unfortunately, there isn't anything for adults to do. However, the museum is full of fun hands-on experiences for kids. My kids loved the "intestine" maze, the water table, and had a blast at Roller Coaster Alley, where they got to construct roller coasters. The museum is 4 floors of various play activities, plus a roof with a garden. Don't expect a grand experience akin to the larger museums, but a fun gem to visit in VA! read more

The grandkids loved this place. We stayed for several hours, and they wanted to repeat all four floors! We will definitely go back. The purpose of the museum is to play *with* the children, so I understand why there are no activities for adults. read more

This is a great facility. They did a good job of creating a fun, welcoming, and learning atmosphere for kids of all ages. My son is 2 years old and went there for a daycare field trip and they all had a blast. There's a lot to cover (which is good) but also a little distracting for the younger ones. Overall, they have a lot of activities for the children to really dig into and learn from while having fun. Good price and staff is very helpful. read more

We've visited this museum twice. Great place for small children to explore and play. Each floor feels like a different museum. Staff is friendly. Even had a special science presentation today. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Basically, like a giant 4-level playground for kids. I guess I kind of expected more "discovery" things for my 3 year old to learn from and not a bunch of toys. I did go on a Saturday and there were wall to wall kids and their parents. My daughter did have a good time. I was just expecting more from 4 levels and $8 a head. I used to frequent the Children's Museum in Indianapolis as a child and more recently the museums in D.C. so the Discovery Museum in Winchester had a lot to live up to. I definitely don't understand charging adults full fare as there is virtually nothing for parents to do but chase your kids around this place and participate in their "learning adventure" I left wondering- "what did I get for $8??". Really, it was my kid having a very good time hanging out with other kids her own age and learning values like sharing and taking turns for $24, since my husband came along for the ride. We are moving to the Winchester area in a few months so I would definitely get a family value package if we frequent the museum more often. read more

Impressive science center of four floors. Access ability needs for a person with a wheelchair are good - even in the bathrooms! The events are appropriate for children, including a 23-month-old. Definitely put this one on your list of things to do. Oh, and the restaurant next-door is a pub - but it serves gourmet burgers and french fries that are cooked in canola oil - not soy! Very friendly and accommodating staff at the restaurant as well as the museum. read more

Very enjoyable, especially if you take a moment to read about the exhibits. Our children learned a lot about the human body, our senses and the world around us. They didn't want to leave after several hours. It was a very good afternoon. read more