Photo: Justin Stegall
Photo: S Chapirova
Photo: Peter H
Please Touch Museum
★4.6(7,015 reviews)$$Museum
🕑 3-4 hours👶 Best for ages 1-7. Toddlers love the Nursery Rhyme Garden and gentle sensory experiences, while preschoolers and early elementary kids thrive in the role-play exhibits like City Capers and the supermarket. Children over 7 may find the exhibits too young for them.🧡 Saved by 300+ families
About
The Please Touch Museum is a paradise for young children, offering two full floors of interactive, hands-on exhibits designed specifically for ages 7 and under. From a restored 1908 carousel to imaginative play areas where kids can explore a supermarket, construction zone, and water play stations, this museum encourages tactile learning through play in a beautifully maintained historic building.
Highlights
- ✓Restored 1908 Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel with hand-carved animals
- ✓River Adventures water play area with dams, boats, and water wheels
- ✓City Capers construction zone with real construction equipment sized for kids
- ✓Wonderland themed exhibit based on Alice in Wonderland
- ✓Supermarket and café role-play areas where kids can shop and cook
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive right when doors open at 9:00 AM on weekdays to avoid school groups and have the most popular exhibits to yourselves
- 2.Bring a change of clothes for water play areas,kids can get surprisingly wet at the River Adventures exhibit
- 3.The carousel requires separate tickets that sell out quickly; purchase them immediately upon arrival or consider upgrading to a membership if you're local
- 4.Pack snacks and lunch in the designated eating area to save money, as the on-site café options are limited
- 5.Don't miss the Alice in Wonderland exhibit on the second floor,it's less crowded but equally magical
Best Time to Visit
Visit Wednesday through Friday mornings right at 9:00 AM opening for the smallest crowds. Weekends and school holidays get packed, especially afternoons. Avoid Tuesdays when large school groups often visit on field trips during the school year.
What to Know
Admission is approximately $20-25 per person (children under 1 are free). Free parking is available on-site. Outside food is allowed in designated areas, though the museum has a small café. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible.
Seasonal Notes
The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays year-round. Special holiday programs and themed events run during Halloween, winter holidays, and spring break. Summer can be especially crowded with out-of-town visitors. Indoor venue makes it perfect for rainy days or hot summer afternoons.
Nearby Eats
The Trolley Car Café inside Memorial Hall offers basic kid fare like pizza and sandwiches. For a sit-down meal nearby, head to Green Line Café (10 minutes away) for family-friendly American comfort food, or grab cheesesteaks at nearby Dalessandro's Steaks & Hoagies.
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