DISCOVERY Children's Museum

360 Promenade Pl., (702) 382-3445. Closed M. $14.50, under 1 & 100+ free.

exterior of DISCOVERY Children's Museum
in Las Vegas, Nevada

Aimed at children up to age 12 and their families, the happy 3-story DISCOVERY Children's Museum has more than 100 interactive hands-on exhibits that mostly are related to Nevada. Water World centers on Hoover Dam. Kids find out how water produces power, operate a kid-generated tornado, plus enjoy some water-play fun. Toddler Town has a padded “crawl zone” for age 18 months and younger and a mining exhibit that encourages two players to cooperate. Fantasy Festival features a two-level pirate ship, a medieval castle, and a stage with props and costumes that encourage dramatic exploration and creative play. And The Summit tower punches through all three floors as well as the roof. Everyone has a blast sliding and climbing through its spaces while painlessly being exposed to interactive science exhibits. And there is way more! Bring a lunch and plan to stay a while. Note that there is no cafe, though vending machines dispense drinks and snacks.