My Trip to the Creation Museum

Last week my family got to take a trip to Cincinnati to visit The Creation Museum. I had heard so many wonderful things about the museum so we decided to check it out for ourselves! There are lots of things to do at the museum, and I have several tips for you if you are thinking about taking your family or already in the process of planning your visit. Keep reading….

Choosing What to Do at the Creation Museum

Figuring out what to do at the Creation Museum will depend largely on the ages of your kids. One thing to note is that all items are not included in the price of admission. There are some activities that are add-ons and so if you choose them, you will be charged an additional fee.

Things to Do for Lower Elementary  and Pre-K Children

While we thoroughly enjoyed our visit, I found that the museum is geared more toward upper elementary ages on up. It was difficult finding ways for our five-year-old son to interact. If you are taking younger ones, here are the things they will most enjoy.

• Petting zoo — Lots of different animals, and plenty of hands-on experience.
• Botanical Gardens — More than a mile of paved and accessible trails. Gorgeous!
• Dr. Crawley’s Insectorium — This was a bug exhibit that was truly fascinating. We all loved it!
• Camel Ride

This proves it! I rode a camel! The camel ride is just a couple of minutes long, and it cost about $5 per person. If you’ve ever wanted to say you’ve ridden a camel, this is the way to do it!

If you have very small children, you might want to wait and visit when they get a little older. You’ll get more bang for your buck. There were a lot of things that I wanted to stop and read, but it was not conducive to do so with my active five-year-old. I can see how taking older kids who would enjoy the actual learning process, leisurely reading through everything, would be a truly educational experience for the whole family.

My Tips for Your Trip 

• If you have younger kids, skip the Planetarium.  For serious students of astronomy, you won’t be disappointed with the wealth of information presented here, it was wonderful! We saw “Fires in the Sky” (about comets) with our kids, and frankly, at an extra charge of $12 per person, I wouldn’t take younger kids. I was expecting more of a laser light show, and this was a more serious, studious look at the sky, but so packed full of information.
• Do the main museum tour last with younger kids. I would do all the fun, more active things first, so that the majority of the wiggles are out of the way before you head for the museum tour. The tour takes anywhere from 2-3 hours to walk through. If you have younger kids, you will have to go through this quickly. While there are really great wax figures and things to look at, there is a lot of reading. With younger kids, you will not be able to go  through this at a leisurely pace, but if you save it for last, you may be able to enjoy it more, especially if little ones are ready to nap in the stroller while you go through.
• Stop anywhere you see people talking. There is a wealth of information presented by real people all around the museum.
• What to wear: Be sure to bring a light sweater (it was very cool in the museum) and wear comfortable shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking.
• Pack a lunch: I would recommend packing a lunch to bring and eat in the botanical gardens, it is an easy way to save money. More on that below….

If you’ve ever had questions about evolution, your visit to the Creation Museum will quickly and completely debunk it. The real scientific data that they have collected is irrefutable. And incredible.

Should Our Visit to the Creation Museum Be for One or Two Days?

A lot of people suggested that we take one day at the museum, but just as many people told me that I would need two days to see and do everything. For my young family, however, one day was the best fit. We arrived at 11 o’clock and we were finishing up by 4:00 pm, but I wish we had at least one more hour. If I had older elementary children or teens, or if we had taken a group of all adults, I think two days would have been great. There is so much to read and digest, and lots to do, and to have been able to take advantage of all the offerings in a more focused way and at a relaxed pace sounds like a good idea for getaway in the future.

DID YOU KNOW? The zip lines are a great attraction that many kids look forward to, however, don’t go without knowing the requirements. Requirements for the zip line are that participants must be 8 years old, and a minimum of 80 pounds. See all the zip line requirements HERE.

What are my Dining Options at the Creation Museum?

While there are two restaurants available, one featuring Fruschetta pizzas at $6 each, and the other a full cafeteria, I highly recommend bringing in your own lunch in and eating outside in the botanical gardens. There are lots of pavilions, with beautiful views and plenty of space. If you go on a pretty day like we did, it’s an especially beautiful dining experience.

Be prepared for the enormous bookstore/gift shop at the museum. Your kids (and you!) are sure to find items they will enjoy. This is a great place to have your children bring their allowance or any money they saved up to spend!

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are mind. I was given free admission for my family and me to spend a day at the creation museum. We paid for all of our extras.

Have you thought about making the trip and touring the Creation Museum? Have you ever been? I would love to hear what you think, tell me in the comments below.