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Visalia ImagineU Childrens Museum review...

We just went today for the 1st time, and for Visalia, this is a GREAT place for the kiddos if you live in the area.  

Here are my tidbits:

1) it is pricey and bad for the budget.   $8 a person, kids/adults/over 2-- So a family of 4 is looking at $32.  The yearly membership is a good deal @ $150 and you get to add 2 alternate adults to your membership (hello grandma).

**Disclaimer:  We were lucky to be on deployment last year in Maryland and got to play at one of the top 10 kids museums in the country, so please keep in mind that I am comparing ImagineU to a top ranked exhibit.

2) ImagineU is really geared for the 3-4 year old.  My 2 year old was a tad bored, and my 6 year old was only fascinated with the ball/orange fruit exhibit (which is pretty cool, I will talk more about this later).     My 2 year old liked playing with this craft playdoh stuff they had out (they rotate the craft items), but really he could do this at home.

3) Best exhibit is the ball-fruit-picking-work-together- exhibit.    The balls drop into "trees" and kids are able to fill up small crates and wheelbarrows.   They then have to take the balls and drop them into the conveyer belt system where another kid turns the wheel to get the balls up the belt.  They then drop into a turn-style and ANOTHER kid turns that gear to get them sorted onto another belt.  (Very much like packing houses).   Then another kid turns that gear/wheel to get them up to the table.  Another kid then must sort the 3 color balls and put them in the right color BOX.  This is when the magic happens--- the balls are shot up into tubes and tubed back to the TREES!   It's pretty neat!

4) I was very disappointed in the staff, there was absolutely NO interactions between staff and the kids.   All I witnessed them do was put out crafts, clean, and tell me to not let my toddler eat veggie straws on the "floor".  I was also told 2 other things regarding my bored 2 year old.     We expected a kids museum to have staff who were fun and ENGAGING!

5) There is not much movement happening... other than the fruit/ball exhibit, there is a cool treehouse slide (not toddler friendly).    But no other options for running, jumping, being an active boy.    I guess if I had a 3 year old girl who loved crafts, painting, dress-up- this would be the best place ever.
6) Bring food, you can eat it in the small "cafe" if you can find a seat.    Remember, no food on the "floor".   Not even water.

All in all, for Visalia- this is a really cool place to bring the littles.  I doubt I will go back because I have been to a couple TOP notch kids museums and this does not compare at all.    My boys are super active and love Skywalk (fresno), Pump it up, Wild Waters, etc.  If you have very active boys, I suggest you look elsewhere for a fun day.   Spend  your money somewhere they can run!


Ninja Moms- Which kids museums have you been too in Cali?   We also loved the Las Vegas one!  2 stories of awesomeness.

All the best,
Auggie

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