We just spent 2 full days at the Strong National Museum of play and there was an entire exhibit we…read moremissed! This place is so expansive and so well-done, I can't say it enough. My kids are 6, 4, and 2 and each of them had a genuinely wonderful time. My husband and I did as well. We brought our lunch both days and ate in the cafeteria. We brought our stroller in with us all around which was helpful for toting around all the stuff you need for 5 people. I really can't complain about a thing. There were employees all over the place cleaning up constantly and taking care of the exhibits while also not interfering with the kids and their play at all. On friday and Saturday they have extended hours into the evening which is what lead us to come when we did. We were happy to have extra time each of those days and stayed well beyond 4pm which is the closing time the rest of the days. If you are considering giving this place a go, check it out for sure!!!

We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing…read more.. This place is big! I spent over four hours here, and could've easily spent more. This place reminded me of the Exploratorium in San Francisco, , except instead of interactive exhibits highlighting scientific principles, these interactive exhibits were all about play! Play for both the kids, and the grown-ups. They had a ropes course for the younger kids, and another one for older kids and the grown-ups. For the kids, they had a scale model of a local grocery chain, where the kids could either "work", or "shop", right down to the working checkout lanes. They had a Sesame Street exhibit...., A butterfly habitat, and and All kinds of different indoor and outdoor play areas. I can still hula hoop! (for a whole five seconds...). They also had all of the exhibits on toys, games, and video games. This is the home of the national toy, Hall of Fame, and the national video game Hall of Fame. it was so cool seeing toys from my childhood, and a wide range of video games and pinball machine machines that are playable. The price to get in is very reasonable, and they also offer a military/veterans discount, and memberships to the museum, which offer free museum admission. There is a parking garage attached to the museum, with a small charge for parking, and there is a also a small charge for the ropes course, the butterfly habitat, or to play the video games/pinball machines. (4 tokens for a dollar, and every machine only takes one token...) This is an absolutely fun museum for kids of all ages. Thanks!!!

On our way home to CT from Western NY, we took a pit stop at the All Things Oz Museum, and we're so…read moreglad that we did! My family loves the original movie, especially my mom (who also read some of the books). We did the guided tour, which was super informative and very interesting! The girl who took us around was super friendly, and we enjoyed chatting with her. We were impressed at the memorabilia they had, and it was cool getting to learn more about L. Frank Baum in his hometown. They even had a cute photo op at the end. Definitely worth the stop if you're in the area!

We stumbled across this place and it was an incredible find. If you could take the guided tour,…read morewhich is no additional cost, definitely take it. Mark was our guide and gave a fantastic description of many of the details that we would've just walked by and never understood. I would highly recommend visiting this museum.

This was our first experience here, and it was a positive one. First, check Groupon for discounts…read more We found a great deal that was a significant discount from standard entry cost. The theater shows are... okay. Our kids weren't that impressed. If included in your ticket price (ours were, via the Groupon) it's fun to see, but I wouldn't pay extra for them. There is a lot of hands-on / interactive activities, which was well-received. However there is still a lot of empty floor space, which seems it could benefit from more exhibits or interactive displays. Maybe one day. Overall, if passing through, or visiting Syracuse, it's a great place to pass at least half a day (with kids; without kids it's not that interesting).

Great experience at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology. We went on a Sunday…read moreand it was not crowded, which made it easy to walk around and enjoy the exhibits at our own pace. There are a lot of informative and interactive areas, including exhibits on memory, energy, plate tectonics, Earth science, the geodynamo, chip chemistry, and the Micron memory megafab. I especially liked that the museum had enough depth for adults to actually learn something, while still being very kid-friendly with hands-on displays and play areas for younger children. My only small gripe is that a few of the exhibits and interactive devices felt older or worn, and some were not fully functional during our visit. Given the age of the museum and how much hands-on use these exhibits probably get from younger visitors, it is understandable. Hopefully they continue repairing and refreshing them, because the museum itself is definitely worth supporting and revisiting. The building itself is also pretty cool, with a historic exterior and a spacious multi-level layout inside. Overall, this is a great educational stop for families, kids, and adults who enjoy science, technology, and learning something new. Highly recommended.

Well maintained. Great for rainy days or getting some energy out. I typically take my kids once per…read moretrip visiting the grandparents.

This place is the holy grail for indoor children activities. $5 entrance fee for my daughter and I…read moreto spend as long as we want, and SO much to explore and do! She is 2 years old and everything here is a hit with her, she can spend hours living her best life with all kinds of toys and hands on activities. The little wegmans shopping area is fantastic! Absolutely adore this place. Staff has always been friendly, there seems to always be a bunch of other kids for my daughter to mingle with. Last time my daughter was having a typical toddler meltdown because we had to leave (they close at 1pm) and one of the employees suggested she take a book from the shelf with her to help the transition of leaving. We didn't take one, but that was so thoughtful of her and I really appreciated it. I have nothing but great things to say about this place! :)

Finally made a trip here!!! Kids spring break. Perfect rainy day escape for an energy burn for…read morecurious minds. Our MOST membership got us in free (saved about $60) Free parking on site You can bring a cooler and eat in Community area (tables and plenty of seating) Great outdoor space for kids to run around Area for water play, Lego building and a cool weather and tornado section Reptiles/snakes/fish section & even got to meet a reptile which was a bonus!

We took our kids (3 years old and 11 months) to check this place out. What a find!…read more There's a lot of really cool science concepts that they definitely don't understand yet, but they still had so much fun exploring. We spent hours here! There is a section specifically for little, which they loved! The water table and the pet/vet section especially. In the "big kid" sections our 3 year old loved seeing all the fish and lizards, the little penny black hole and the vacuum tubes with the Pom-poms. Even the outdoor area was a blast! So many cute and clever ways for kids to learn and play. We had the hardest time getting him to leave. I ended up convincing him we could get a stuffy at their gift shop to take with us. Never thought I'd buy a stuffed white blood cell, but here we are! Again, super cool! Lastly, the staff was all so pleasant and nice, which is always extra appreciated in a kid-centered place.

Utica Children's Museum is small and open with plenty of great activities for kids and adults. What…read moreI liked about this one is the activities aren't the same as every other children's museum we've been to. There were a few standards, but a lot of imaginative play areas and some great science stations. We built a tricycle out of large wooden puzzle pieces, played with light refraction and made a stop motion video. I learned about different tree seeds local to the area. My daughter loved driving the rickshaw. There was a story time and a fun rainbow craft with marshmallows. The museum is clean and bright and pleasant. I was a little sad I am too big for the climbing structure. It looked pretty fun!

The new Utica Children's Museum is a great place for kids from tots to young teens to explore,…read morecreate, and play. The museum is two levels, although there is just a multi-story climbing structure on the first level. We brought our two toddlers, who liked the imaginative play area with the world market, stage for performances, musical instruments, car-building and race tracks, builders area, book nook, and weather exploration. I loved that there was such varied hands-on education on STEM, music, colors, world languages and culture, and sensory exploration, appealing to a broad range of youth. We saw much older kids who seemed to still be engaged in the science and engineering activities, like building their own vehicles and testing and racing them. The one area the museum is a little bit lighter on compared to other children's museums we've been to is arts and crafts. There is a classroom for special activities and classes, as well as seasonal programming like gardening. Prices were $15 each for adults and kids, which seemed fair given the overall quality and diversity of the activities. There was at least one staff helping to put away the market toys and building materials to keep the area clean and organized. My kids had a fabulous time, as did even the adults. I could see this attraction being especially popular during very hot and cold weather days. There is a small area on the first floor with tables and seating to eat; vending machines with snacks and beverages are available.

This museum is a treasure, from its exhibits & programs, to its staff it arrives to put the best…read morefoot forward educationally every single day. It contains a wealth of experience, knowledge & unique experience that highlights how valuable to the community it is. And it always has been. I've find childhood memories of frequent visits here with family, and my school. And hope whoever happens upon this humble review takes a chance and pays the RMSC a visit. As a day here, wandering the exhibits is a day well spent. Particularly with family.

What a great museum! New interactive exhibits are pretty cool we especially enjoyed the space…read moreexhibit! The museum interior is definitely beginning to show it's age and some exhibits could use an upgrade for sure but overall the experience was great. I was surprised to see their Cafe was closed on a Saturday afternoon...very bizarre. But it is what it is. The price was a bit steep to be honest as well. On other experiences we've visited the planetarium which is excellent. Unfortunately they didn't have a show for us that day that we could make but it's OK. Definitely a great spot to visit with kids and the family for a nice afternoon.

This is a very small museum. The history is very intresting and the do provide free tours but if…read morefeels like they built a kids museum/attraction around an historic location where the focous is not the pump hpuse itself. While I wont drive especially for this museum if you live in Kingstone or are in the area this is a perfect kids activity for a rainy/snowy day. My kids (9&5) had a really good time here.

My son loves this place. It's got a great little museum with a ton of history and a tug boat you…read morecan board and explore! Great gift shop where my son picked up a couple of very cool titanic pictures.

Poor management! Very unhappy! We came on Wednesday and went on the tour. We were told to come back…read moretoday Friday for the lighthouse tour! The director spoke to us and told us where to park our camper. We drove all the way here from Parish on Friday at noon and we were told they cancelled the tour last minute and we were told told we needed a reservation which the director never told us on Wednesday! We will never be back!

Our visit to Fort Ontario was fantastic. It is clear that the individuals who work there are very…read morededicated and knowledgeable. It is well kept, signage is clear, and the technology available made it very easy to engage with the artifacts there, which I loved! Not only were the information and items very informative and interesting, but there is also a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. A quick trip from Syracuse, and located in an area with many restaurants and cute gift shops, I highly recommend a visit to Fort Ontario - you will not regret it! Make sure you give yourself enough time to really look at everything. Well worth the time.

This place is very cool! Lots of history and well maintained. You can go into most of the…read morebuildings and they did their best to stage the rooms as they were back in their time. You can also walk the upper level of the fort walls. The views are amazing. This is an inexpensive way to spend the day teaching you kids history. Bring them and show them some of the American history available in Oswego!