INK Children's Museum

Alyssa and Lexie and Grandma Urbanawiz came to stay with us for a week.  We were all happy to have them here...but trying to find things that entertained teenagers and 2 year olds was a bit tricky!  We spent one day at the pool, one at a jumping place, one day we split up and Grandma took the 3 girls to go ice skate while I took the younger boys to a sprayground (playground of fountains).  Their last day we went to Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK). It may not have been the ideal place for 2 teenagers, but the kids loved having them to play with!

This was one of the best children's museums I have seen.  They had a ton of different areas for the kids to play in and each area was completely authentic--costumes, props, etc.  The other really great thing was that it was laid out so that there was only one way in and out--easy to let everyone play in the area they want to, but still not lose anyone!

 Aaron spent most of his time playing with the trains...

and the slide (both conveniently in the center section allowing me to watch all the other kids too!

The soda fountain was a favorite

Despite Alex's fear of dogs, he loved the vet's office

Aaron had a great time as the mailman

And he worked in the beauty Shop

While Carter stopped for a new "do"

Grandma also spent some time here and got one of the mannequin heads completely rolled with curlers--all ready for a perm.

Another favorite spot was the stage

 And Aaron found another Train

I don't even have pictures of the music shop, the courtroom (complete with chairs with faces for the jury), a cow that you could "milk" (water came out), an airplane with all the controls of a real airplane--where you could feel something shift when you moved the throttle (and lots of suitcases to put in the baggage compartment).   We spent 4 hours there and the kids loved it.  Unfortunately it took us an hour each way to get there and back, so it will have to be a once in a while trip rather than an every week trip.

I should mention my big complaint about Children's museums--why do they charge for the adults?  I have to be there to supervise my kids, but I'm not really there for my own enjoyment!