Discovery Gateway553

Discovery Gateway (formerly known as the Children's Museum of Utah) is designed to be an interactive discovery center for children of all ages. The exhibits encourage kids to use their imagination, explore, and connect with others and the world around them. In addition to hands-on play, Discovery Gateway has partnered with Junior Achievement to create exhibits that encourage children to consider and explore career possibilities.

The main floor of the museum is packed with things for babies, toddlers, and grade school-aged children. The first exhibit, a huge beehive full of balls, encourages children to work together to send the balls through a labyrinth of tubes and chutes. Beyond the beehive, children can operate a kid-sized crane to build buildings in the Construction Zone, create pretend meals and hang out in the House, head out to the Market where they can fill their shopping carts and operate the cash register, do a little work at the Farm, climb on the Climbing Wall, or play in the sand, create works of art, read, do puzzles, and build things at the Curiosity Shop. While all of these exhibits are fun for the kids, the big draw on the main floor is the Water Play exhibit. Faucets, streams, hoses, rubber duckies, ping-pong balls, waterfalls, buckets, water tubes, and strainers keep kids busy for great lengths of time. Rubber aprons are available if parents are concerned about trying to keep clothing dry, but the kids don't seem to mind a little wet clothing.

Across from the water area is the Hatch, Waddle, and Fly exhibit, a special play area just for children ages three and under. Inside the Hatch, Waddle, and Fly area, kids can play in a little house, rock on rocking horses, dress up like a beaver and hang out in a beaver dam, and play in a little rowboat. A Swan Pond at the back of the exhibit is for children under 18-months old. It is a soft play area with toys just for the very young. Off to the side of the Swan Pond is a comfortable sitting area for parents. A bookshelf near the couch has a selection of parenting books and toys for babies. The sitting area also has a baby bouncer.

In the upper level, kids from toddlers to teens can find fun things to do. At Media Central, kids can sit at a news desk and pretend to anchor the evening news, while hands-on science fun for older kids and teens takes place in the Studio. A story factory at the north end of the building encourages children of all ages to push the limits of their imagination as they create and share stories. The south end of the upper level features traveling exhibits.

On the outdoor terrace of the upper level, kids can get inside a Life Flight helicopter and pretend to fly off on heroic rescue missions. The Saving Lives from the Sky exhibit also has a dress up area and information about the careers of rescue workers. The helicopter terrace is open year round, weather permitting.

Elevators make it easy to move strollers between floors. Stroller parking is available in popular areas of the museum where gridlock is likely to occur. Lockers can be rented on the main level of the museum for $0.25. Changing tables are available in both the men's and the women's restrooms on the main floor, and two family restrooms are offered as well. The upper level restrooms do not currently have baby changing areas, but the museum expects to add them.

Annual memberships are available. Pricing depends on family size and the benefits included. Check the museum's website for complete membership details and prices.

The museum has various birthday party packages to choose from. All parties include museum admission for a set number of children, use of the party room, a party host, and a museum-wide birthday announcement. Themed parties are also available, and can include additional time in the party room, 2-for-1 passes for the party guests to come back and play another time, popcorn, and the use of costumes. Party favors, a layered cake, food, drinks, and additional time in the party room can be added on to any party for additional fees. Complete party descriptions and prices can be found on the museum's website. Call 801.456.5437 ex 124 or email birthdays@discoverygateway.org to reserve a party. Ask about member discounts (available with only certain membership levels).