Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum- http://www.aahom.org/

Ages- 1 and up

Cost- Members: Free!
$11 for Adults and Children
$5 after 5pm on Thursdays only
Free for Babies 0-23 months

Location- 220 E. Ann St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Parking- There are several places to park around the museum.  It is a little tight during the school year.  Here is the parking map.

Other attractions nearby-U of M Museum of Natural History;  U of M Museum of Art; Downtown Ann Arbor Library; and Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market.

Places to eat nearby- Jerusalem Garden (Mediterranean), Washtenaw Dairy (ice cream), Zingerman’s Deli, Kerrytown Market and Shops (several shops/small food places), and Broken Egg (Breakfast).

Why to go there: This is my homebase museum.  We go there three or four times per year.  We get a family pass, so we can use it at reciprocal museums.  Starting from when Chloe was 1, we’ve been going there and working in other museums, attractions, and just the walk around downtown Ann Arbor.  There are several summer festivals to use like Sonic Lunch and  Top of the Park can combine to make a great day out with the kids.

In the museum itself, there is a set aside room, with cool water exhibits, a playhouse, and other sciency little one things to do.  Once they are 3, the whole place is their figurative oyster.  My kids always have enjoyed the ambulance, the funky lights room, and the blocks.  The bigger kid water exhibit and the bubble maker also universally are loved.  If you go on a Saturday, there will be volunteers with little experiments the kids can do. 

The place is easy to navigate and supervise.  The kids, when young, will run from exhibit to exhibit. 

For adults, the place is a former firehouse, and it has several old markings.  It is likely you will learn something about science.  For first timers, grab a map.  The place has many interesting nooks and crannies.

Be careful:  Food is scarce and really a long way off.  Parking is not convenient either. I recommend dropping the kids off and the better in shape parent running back to the museum.

Summary:  This was where my fun with museums started.  Though not really like a big city museum, it is charming and fun.  Good for a good 1 ½ hours of fun for any age.