Interested in immersing your kids in exotic cultures without risking jet lag and peanut-butter-sandwich scarcities? Houston’s museum provides a unique window into the way other societies live in two of its exhibits. “Yalalag, A Mountain Village in Mexico,” allows children to experience a new culture through the exploration of an actual Oaxacan village. The village centers on the zocalo, or town square, where visitors can barter for fruits and vegetables at the open-air mercado, or visit “La Miscelanea” for a more familiar grocery-shopping experience. In a virtual trip across the globe, they can also dive into the rich West African culture carried to the United States in the 1520s and maintained by the Gullah people of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. “Cum Yah Gullah,” a world-premiere exhibit starting July 1, helps unlock the origins of many American songs, stories and clothes from the Gullah community. Kids have the opportunity, for example, to weave the kind of sweetgrass basket popular on the coast of West Africa. This summer’s featured exhibit: “Everyone Counts!” ("¡Todo el Mundo Cuenta!"), a hands-on collection of everyday math games, brain teasers and other activities. Kids journey back in time to meet famous mathematicians like Archimedes or Sophie Germain, who share the secrets behind their mathematical discoveries. Through Oct. 1.
It’s no coincidence that a nautical-and-water theme distinguishes one of this museum’s most popular exhibits. The museum sits on Navy Pier, a thriving waterfront marketplace on the shores of Lake Michigan. At WaterWays, an interactive exhibit on the third floor, kids can build fountains, construct model dams, sail toy boats and explore a three-story schooner. After closing time on Wednesday and Friday there’s a fireworks display in the pier’s night skies. This summer’s featured exhibit: “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” where kids visit a life-size replica of the classic TV show’s set. The trolley and Mr. Rogers’s famous sweater and shoes are available for viewing. Through Jan. 7.
This museum pioneered the concept that children learn best when they can use all their senses–seeing, smelling, touching, hearing and tasting–to explore their environment. And the emphasis on hands-on activities is still apparent today. In Construction Zone, a kid-size indoor “building” site, youngsters can dig, tunnel, construct (and tear down!) their own creations. At the Japanese House, an actual two-story silk merchant’s home moved to the museum from Kyoto, Japan, they learn how to eat with chopsticks. And across the way in the museum’s Supermercado exhibit, families can shop and learn about Latin American culture and food in an interactive grocery store. Some of the museum’s exhibits were the brainchild of Michael Spock, son of the Dr. Spock, a former BCM director and consultant to the Port Discovery museum in Baltimore. This summer’s featured exhibit: a newly redesigned “Playspace,” aimed at sparking creativity in children 0-3. Opening in early July.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis 317-334-3322 www.childrensmuseum.org Get your teenager to come to a children’s museum? Yeah, sure, you say, right after you get him to take out the garbage and clean his room. But, the Indianapolis Museum, the largest in the country, is one of the few children’ s museums that has successfully pursued the teen market. A big hit right now is “Drumbeats,” celebrating percussion instruments from many different cultures. The exhibit will showcase the personal story of Kenny Aronoff, a former music profes- sor at Indiana University who has played with John Mellencamp and the Smashing Pumpkins. This summer’s featured exhibit: “Theme Park,” a peek into the science and engineering behind wild rides. Through Sept. 10.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose 408-298-5437 www.cdm.org What would a children’s museum in Silicon Valley be without a little high-technology? This museum has its share–including exhibits funded by Apple cofounder Steven Wozniak. One such display, called “Map Your Head,” lets children use a videocamera to scan their noggins and then digitally translate the image into a two-dimensional rendering. Kids watch on a monitor as the computer builds the image frame by frame in the same way the 360-degree planet Earth is translated into maps. This summer’s featured exhibit: “Arthur’s World,” designed by the Children’s Museum of Boston and based on the Marc Brown books and the TV series. Through Jan. 6.
