The Magic House in Saint Louis, MO 63122

What can we say about The Magic House? Well, for starters, it won Best Kids' Museum in our Parents Picks 2009 Awards, and in 2008, it won in four Parents Picks categories: Best Museum for Little Kids, Best Daycamp for Little Kids, Best Indoor Play Space and Party Space for Little Kids, and Best Place for Family Bonding. Wow!

The museum features hundreds of hands-on exhibits for youngsters. In Children's Village, kids can be a newscaster, shop in a grocery store, or catch a "fish." The electrostatic generator brings tons of laughs and a fly-away hairdo after kids touch an electrically charged ball. Science is all about fun in the Observation Center, Air Power Station, and the Bubble Room, while the Lewis and Clark Adventure brings that historic mission to life for children. Mini sleuths can put their crime solving skills to the test in the Can you Sove the Mystery? area. Got a climber? Turn them loose in the Jack and the Beanstalk Climber, a three-story beanstalk!

A couple areas of the museum are set aside specifically for the entertainment of the very young. For Baby and Me is just for those under the age of two and their parents/caregivers. Kids ages one to six can play to their hearts content in the A Little Bit of Magic and WaterWorks exhibits.

Families can easily spend the better part of a day exploring this massive museum space. The museum is divided into two wings, with nooks and crannies everywhere, all filled with interactive discovery opportunities. It's easy to get turned around as you explore the space, so be sure to pick up a map at the front desk.

We really enjoy the fact that The Magic House is truly fun for all ages. We were there with three adults and two children, ages four and six, and we were all kept quite entertained. I can't begin to tell you how many adults we saw playing, learning, exploring, and having fun right alongside their children. While we stuck to exhibits that were geared toward preschoolers or elementary school-aged children, we saw plenty of older children at play as well. Another great thing about this museum is the fact that there is so much to do, both inside and out, that even when it's crowded you don't have to wait around to do most of the activities.

The Magic House offers monthly preschool classes for children and their parents. These typically involve an exploration of music, simple science concepts, and art. Camp Magic House - half-day, week-long camp sessions for kids ages six through nine - and Camp Little Bit, for ages four and five, are offered each summer.

The Magic House also hosts themed birthday parties, starting at $15 per child. Price includes a private room where Magic House staff facilitates one hour of party activities; when the party is over, guests get unlimited play time in the museum.

During the summer, The Magic House offers half-day, week-long sessions at either Camp Magic House (ages 6-9) or Camp Little Bit (ages 4-5); space fills quickly and reservations typically begin in January.