Our family loves museums, aquariums, science centers–anything where we can learn new things and have fun together! I especially love museums with hands-on activities where kids can learn through play and touch. If you’re going to visit any of these museums, be sure to ask about the reciprocal museum benefits. If you have a membership to one museum you can often use that for free or reduced admission at the others. Here are some of our favorite local children’s museums near Salem, OR.
Four super fun children’s museums near Salem, OR
Gilbert House Children’s Museum in Salem
The Gilbert House has been a family favorite for years. It’s named after AC Gilbert, the inventor of the erector set. He was a strong believer in learning through play, and the museum has definitely succeeded in building a space he’d be proud of. They have loads of hands-on activities for kids to enjoy, including a green screen room, a toddler room, and a fort building room. My kids’ favorites are the stuffed animal vet clinic and the bubble factory.
There’s also a 20,000-square-foot Outdoor Discovery Area where kids can climb and play. We like to bring a picnic lunch to eat outside so the adults can visit while the kids run around. And since the museum is right by Riverfront Park in Salem, we walk over to the park to play and ride the carousel when we’re done at the museum.
In addition to their regular exhibits, the Gilbert House also provides summer camps and special exhibits.
Eugene Science Center
The Eugene Science Center (formerly known as The Science Factory) is another family favorite. It’s smaller than some of the other museums listed here, but still lots of fun. They’ve got a “tot spot” play area for the little ones, and lots of hands-on activities that appeal to elementary-aged kids. They bring in new exhibits often, so it’s worth visiting regularly. Their main hall has exhibits on a variety of science-related topics, and the discovery room features fossils, minerals, skeletons, and meteorites. They also have a fantastic planetarium with a variety of educational and laser shows.
I’ve found the member cost here and the Gilbert House to be the most affordable, so if you’re looking to use the reciprocal memberships they’re great options. Just be sure to ask at the desk before purchasing to make sure they’re still participating.
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville
My kids could spend hours here. There are two buildings. One’s a giant hanger filled with dozens of airplanes to look at and in some cases go inside. This is home to the Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever built. It’s massive!
The other building has loads of exhibits, many of which are hands-on. They explore space exploration, modern aviation, and more. There’s even a piece of the Berlin Wall.
There’s also a giant screen theater and waterpark, but our family hasn’t tried those out yet. If you do, be sure to let me know if you liked them!
OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) in Portland
Okay, so this isn’t strictly a children’s museum. But it’s really family-friendly and they’ve got so many great things for kids of all ages. There are hundreds of permanent exhibits, and the traveling exhibits are phenomenal. From dinosaur bones to human anatomy to a submarine, there’s something for everyone. There’s also a planetarium and outdoor play area.
Children’s Museums Near Salem, OR
Some of my favorite childhood memories are of trips to the Exploratorium–a science museum we’d visit when staying with my grandma in San Francisco. So it’s no surprise that some of my favorite memories as an adult are of experiencing children’s museums with my kids. I hope you’ll explore these children’s museums near Salem, OR. I’m sure you’ll have a great time and make some lasting memories.
Since you’re here looking for fun things to do around Salem, you might be interested in these other kid-related blog posts on my website (links are coming, I promise!)
