So much fun for while family! Animals to imagination play. The theatre is amazing! Play area and climbing keeps kiddos busy.

Now that we live up north - we're quite spoiled with the quality, quantity, and proximity of our Museums. The Boonshoft is not as great as Indy, Cinci, or Columbus, but being in downtown Dayton and 10 minutes away changes the math for how motivated we have to be to visit. The mini-zoo inside sets it apart. Unfortunately there's really no food service inside and there isn't anything nearby to eat at.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. There was the usual children's museum things like a water table and pretend restaurants. But there was also live animals and a planetarium. My 6 year old science lover really enjoyed the Do Lab with hands on projects. While there was no restaurant, vending machines offered snacks and microwaveable sandwiches, etc.

As an adult, I was captivated by the interactive exhibits, the bird feeders hanging just outside the windows, and the detailed but simply-worded explanations of nature and science. My five-year-old son would have stayed in the Tower all day, though, climbing up net ropes and sliding down twisty slides.

Apart from the Tower, my son's favorite part was the planetarium show we watched, Flying Monsters, which was about pterosaurs. It was about 40 minutes long, and it was produced in such a way that it held my child's attention and mine. We both learned new things, too (which is saying a lot for my dino-loving kid).

We only had a couple of hours here, but I suspect that we'll come back the next time we're in town.