visiting the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center with a toddler

I mentioned a few months ago that we signed up for a museum membership this year at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, and it has been so fun taking Riggs to explore the toddler area and then to bundle him up in his stroller and look through the galleries while he sleeps. It has worked so well! We try to get there right after they open, around 10:30 or 11am, and let Riggs play and get all worn out before eating lunch at Muse. After lunch I tuck him into the stroller for his nap so that I can enjoy the rest of the Museum at my leisure. Sometimes I even sit in one of the galleries (usually upstairs where it's quieter) to read, it's such a treat.

The Tote Kidspace, which is designed for children under 5, has so many different things for kids to do, like puzzles, train sets, coloring areas, marble mazes, a painting wall, and a book nook. I think a 3-5 year old could easily spend two hours in there playing if they weren't tired or hungry. For younger toddlers, like Riggs, there are plenty of fun things too.

Smart Floor

this is one of Riggs' favorites...he loves to crawl back and forth

across it to see the changes. water ripples, plants grow, and

dragon flies fly past as children put pressure 

on different parts of the screen. so cool!

Tree House

this seems to be a big hit for all kids (duh) and it includes an

area for puppet shows, a slide, and plenty of little hiding spaces down below.

Riggs basically just climbs up the stairs, crawls around up there, stands up

to look at kids playing below him, and then crawls down the slide and does

it all over again.

Water Play Area

a river flows around a mountain range and is filled with Orcas 

and boats and splashing kids. they have lots of little waterproof aprons (in three sizes)

to keep clothes dry and a kid sized handwashing/drying station nearby too.

Riggs wasn't getting too crazy so I didn't put the apron on him.

Mountain Playscape

there's another playscape for kids to climb on with a tunnel

and another little slide. Riggs loves this to look in the window

to the little tunnel...so funny!

Snapping Turtle

there's also a snapping turtle named Chomper that kids love to watch

as he s l o w l y roams around him little habitat.

Have you taken your kids to the Imaginarium Discovery Center at the Anchorage Museum? If not, you should go! Better yet, email me [ lifealaskanstyle @ gmail . com ] and we can meet up there!