The Iowa Children's Museum in Coralville is a 28,000-square feet space for learning and playing for newborns to 12-year-old children. A number of permanent and interactive exhibits at the children's museum engage and educate children. The ABC Forest for example, is an interactive mural exhibit that improves alphabet, spelling and observation skills in preschoolers and elementary school kids. Family Museum in Bettendorf is another ideal museum to engage families. Highlights include a 10-foot tornado and 14-foot high human heart and several other interactive and permanent exhibits that educate kids on a variety of topics including agriculture, weather, human anatomy and art. The museum also features a playhouse and outdoor playground where kids can swing, climb and jump.
Iowa has a number of amusement and water parks that promise infinite activities and limitless fun. If you are in Eastern Iowa, head to Michael's Fun World in Davenport or the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark in Dubuque. Michael's Fun features several attractions including go-carts, kid-carts, batting cages and mini-golf and Grand Harbor has many water attractions such as water spouts and chutes, tube rides, rope ladders and whirlpools. Central Iowa has Adventureland Park in Altoona featuring over 100 water rides, roller coasters and other attractions. Visit Travel Iowa website for a detailed listing of all theme parks in all parts of Iowa. In addition, you can visit any of the countless state parks for recreation. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources website has a list of state parks.
Central Iowa is home to a number of conservation centers and gardens. Reiman Gardens in Ames displays 14 acres of garden, a conservatory of seasonal tropical displays and the Butter Wing with over 800 living and flying butterflies. The State Center Rose Garden in State Center features different species of old and new roses. Carl and Evelyn Wilson Nature Preserve in Traer features 75 species of flowers, grasses and a butterfly garden. View the detailed listing of all nature centers in Iowa on Travel Iowa website.
Introduce your kids to the history of Iowa and people who made history. Iowa Hall of Pride in Iowa's capital city of Des Moines provides an insight into the history of Iowa's educational system, extracurricular activities, games and other facts. The 100-year-old historic Iowa State Capitol building features a 275-foot dome with gold leaves, grand woodwork, a five-story law library and doll collected by Iowa's first ladies, among others. In Eastern Iowa, exhibits at The Buffalo Bill Museum in Le Claire pay tribute to Iowa Indian fighter Cody William Fredrick; and the life and times of Professor James Ryan, who invented the "black box."
