Enjoy hands-on fun, a planetarium, and a wildlife sanctuary at the Children's Museum of West Hartford!

This is a great little museum, best for the younger set - 5 and under. Older kids will enjoy the animal exhibits, but the hands-on parts are most suitable for the younger ones.  The highlight here is usually seeing the animals; we try to time our visits for animal feedings. They have rabbits, chinchillas, a bobcat, snakes, turtles, frogs, lizards, and a wolf in an outdoor enclosure. In the spring the butterfly house is a lovely time. 

There is a small play area for the four-and-under set, which includes a small playhouse, slide, and a play garden. Dinosaur lovers will enjoy their dinosaur room and digging for fossils. 

The planetarium was closed for COVID but seems to have reopened now with limited showtimes. 

The museum offers summer programs and has an attached preschool. During COVID, they developed virtual STEM programming; looks like these are here to stay due to their popularity. 

They currently are requiring reservations for timed entry in advance - check the website for more information. 

Nearby

The museum is in a great location - some of West Hartford’s best dining spots are across the street. Toro Mexican Street Food and Mecha Noodle Bar are not to be missed. 

Mariuchi Japanese Market is the place to go for Japanese goods -both dry and fresh; they also have some prepared foods such as sushi and ramen - grab food here for a picnic! 

For outdoor fun, check out Fernridge Park and Pool for swimming, a playground, and a splash pad.