Children's Museum Of Richmond

05/09/05

A good place to learn and play by Stacy D. at InsiderPages

Contributor at Insider Pages

CMOR offers many fun exhibits and areas for kids, as well as special events (like upcoming Harry Potter and American Girls events) throughout the year.

My daughter (age 5) loves to do arts and crafts in the studio, and is especially fond of the new theatre space where she and her friend put on shows. The grocery store and restaurant play areas are also lots of fun.

When there are school groups, however, I find the place to be a bit overwhelming. I prefer to go around 1 to 2 pm when the groups of big kids have left for the day.

PROS: Many different fun activities

CONS: No fun when crowded; a bit expensive

A place to climb, explore, experiment and play until every surface area is smudged with fingerprints.

by Contributor at Citysearch

Overview
Bright, colorful and crowded, the museum keeps an eye out for a kid's best interest. It's divided into different sections: How it Works, which lets kids experiment with tools, materials and their own endless energy; Feeling Good Neighborhood, featuring a functioning apple orchard and a monster-sized digestive system; Our Great Outdoors, possibly the only cave that's not off-limits to kids and the Art Studio where the paint gets on someone else's walls for a change.

The Appeal
Not only does the atmosphere encourage plenty of child/parent interaction, it also offers parents a quick respite from the action when it becomes exhausting. Check out the benches beside the Great Outdoors area, or slip into Little CMOR, which caters to the youngest visitors to the museum.