The Children's Museum, West Hartford, CT (3 smiles)

We went to the Children's Museum in West Hartford, CT and here is my review.....

Date:  11/18/2009

Parking:  Plenty behind building.  Click here for directions.

Gate/Admissions:  [$$$$$] Admission info here.  Under 2 years old, free!

Birthday Parties:  Yes.  See info here .

Bathrooms:  There is a men's and a women's room on the main level.  Both are equipped with changing tables.

Cleanliness:  The museum is physically clean, but the building and most of the exhibits are old.  There is some tape on the floor holding the rug together and it looks like it could use an overall spruce up.

Store:  There is a small souvenir store with educational toys and there is a vending area with tables in the Excavation Station area.  You can bring in a lunch and eat at these tables or the many picnic tables outside.

Overall:  I was expecting the museum to be much larger and more up to date.  I was disappointed that some of the exhibits did not work or were just neglected over time.  Some of our favorites were the weather station, where the children can pretend to be a meteorologist on screen, the excavation station and the bubble maker.   The mini golf out back behind the museum needs attention.  When we first went into the animal room I was shocked at the small space the animals had to live in.  I asked a staff member if the animals had other room to roam around and they directed us out back where there is space for them to get outside and stretch there legs.  The animals they have are animals that have been recovered from homes that were illegally raising them or they were orphaned.  We went with two three year olds and were able to keep them busy for a hour and a half mostly because we circled around a few times.  Luckily, we found out that The Lutz Children Museum is only about twenty minutes away, so we did both that day!