Children's Museums

Great Lakes Children's Museum

Name: Great Lakes Children's Museum
Address: 3200 W South Airport Rd Suite 420, Traverse City, MI 49684, Traverse City, MI, US
Telephone: (231) 932-4526
Rating: 3.8

★★★☆☆ 3.8 (181 reviews)

📍 3200 W South Airport Rd Suite 420, Traverse City, MI 49684

📞 (231) 932-4526

🌐 www.greatlakeskids.org

Visit Website 📍 Get Directions

🕐 Hours

Monday	12–4:30 PM
Tuesday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Friday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday	9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Sunday	12–4:30 PM

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About Great Lakes Children's Museum

Interactive education for families. Little ones learn about the Great Lakes & more from hands-on activities, including a water table. The museum operates a second location called 'The Curiosity Place' at Grand Traverse Mall, expanding its reach as an interactive gallery space within a shopping mall environment. Rated 3.8 out of 5 stars by 181 visitors.

Quick Facts

Type: Children's Museum
Best For: All ages, age 1 and up
Main Focus: Play-based learning and hands-on exploration
Admission: $9 per person age 1 and up; Members free
Hours: Sun-Mon 12pm-4:30pm, Tue-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm

💡 Did You Know?

⭐The museum operates a second location called 'The Curiosity Place' at Grand Traverse Mall, expanding its reach as an interactive gallery space within a shopping mall environment
⭐The water table is the most frequently mentioned exhibit element across visitor reviews (16 mentions), indicating it serves as a signature attraction for the museum's hands-on learning approach
⭐The museum offers reserved time slots for the '5toOne Playgroup' on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 9:30am-11:30am, providing dedicated programming for specific community groups
⭐Military families receive discounted admission (Active Duty Military and up to 7 guests with ID), and the museum features dedicated Coast Guard-themed exhibits including helicopter displays

💬 What Visitors Say

💬Make online reservations in advance to guarantee admission and secure your preferred time slot, as the museum has capacity limits and walk-ins are only admitted if space is available.
💬Plan 2 hours for your visit - this is an ideal timeframe to explore all exhibits without rushing, especially for children ages 3-6 who will enjoy rotating between different activity stations.
💡The water table and wooden boat magnet wall are the most popular exhibits based on visitor feedback - arrive early in your time slot to experience these before they get crowded during shared museum time with birthday parties and field trips.
💡This is best suited for children under age 7; families with older children may find the mall-sized space limited and admission less cost-effective - consider membership if you plan multiple visits annually.
💡The museum offers dedicated quiet rooms and lactation spaces - ideal for families with infants and toddlers needing breaks during their visit.