The Choo Choo Barn

226 Gap Road Strasburg, PA Do you have a train-crazy kid in your family? Planning a family vacation or road trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country? You'll want to stop at the Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700 square foot train-lover's dream featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains! Mara Gorman of Mother of all Trips, says of the Choo Choo Barn: "I knew it was … [Read more...]

The Children’s Museum, Seattle

305 Harrison Street Seattle, WA Visiting Seattle or Vancouver on a family vacation this summer? The Children's Museum, Seattle is a wonderful pit stop which will keep your children entertained for hours! Located on the same campus as the Space Needle, it's simple to access off I-5 and can be added easily to a kid-friendly Seattle sight-seeing itinerary. Eleven (11) exhibits stretch … [Read more...]

Hormel SPAM Museum

1101 N. Main St. Austin, MN If you've ever wondered what exactly is in that famous mystery meat, and you happen to find yourself driving along I-90 through Minnesota, you simply have to stop with your family at Hormel's SPAM Museum in Austin. Opened in 2002 and located directly across the street from Hormel's main meat plant, the 16,500 square foot museum is housed in its own custom … [Read more...]

Umpqua Discovery Center

409 River Front Way Reedsport, Oregon Set along a boardwalk on the Reedsport Riverfront, The Umpqua Discovery Center is a cultural and historical museum designed to teach visitors about daily life in the town back when it revolved around whether the tide was coming in or going out. (This story not only applies to Reedsport but also to any number of river towns along the Oregon Coast.) From the … [Read more...]

Science Center of Iowa

401 West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Des Moines, IA The Science Center of Iowa is an ideal place to stop and play for at least several hours. There are shows and demonstrations scheduled throughout the day, no matter how high the attendance, which is nice on uncrowded weekdays. Visit the IMAX theater as well (currently showing Avatar) and the star theater for night sky demonstrations. From … [Read more...]

Andalo’s Clubhouse

420 High Street Portsmouth, VA The Children's Museum of Virginia is currently closed for renovations, and in the meantime, they're diecting families toward Andalo's Clubhouse in Portsmouth. While not as extensive as a full children's museum, Andalo's does the job as a place for kids to stop and play on a dreary winter day or while traveling. You'll find the usual imaginative play centers, such … [Read more...]

Alameda Historical Museum

2324 Alameda Avenue Alameda, CA Sometimes, you need to find kid-friendly pit stops in the center of urban areas, too! Whether your destination is the San Francisco Bay Area or you're just passing through, The Alameda Historical Museum is a fun place to stop near the Oakland International Airport if your family is learning about Victorian history. Kids can learn about the past by touring living … [Read more...]

ScienceWorks Hands On Museum

1500 East Main Street Ashland, OR Sometimes, I'm guilty of forgetting to feature all the excellent pit stops in my own backyard! ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum sits just west of I-5 in beautiful Ashland, Oregon. With both permanent and limited-time (featured) exhibits, there's always something new (and something for every age, from preschool to adult). Explore the Bubble-ology Room, the … [Read more...]

Naval Aviation Museum

1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL The National Naval Aviation Museum, located within Navel Air Station Pensacola, makes for a wonderful (and free!) pitstop along I-10. Parent reviewer Jen of Two Kids and a Map and Pensacola with Kids has written about this attraction in her hometown numerous times, and gives it her expert seal of approval. In one entry she writes: … [Read more...]

Tallahassee Museum with kids

3945 Museum Drive Tallahassee, FL The Tallahassee Museum is located on I-10 mid-way between Pensacola and Jacksonville. Says Lucia of Dim Sum, Bagels and Crawfish, We drive I-10 between Florida and Louisiana on a pretty regular basis and each time we drive through Tallahassee I see the signs for the Tallahassee Museum. I often wonder about it and make a mental note to stop on a future trip. … [Read more...]