The Strong National Museum of Play has a wealth of interaction for toddlers, school-aged children and adults. Back when my girls were little, One History Place, Wegmans Super Kids Market, Sesame Place and Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden were the main areas we enjoyed. The Wegmans exhibit is exciting because the kids can “shop” for their own products with carts or baskets, weigh their items, pretend to bake bread and pizza, serve sushi and coffee, and then check out their cart at the registers. It is a great exhibit for parents and children to play together.
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Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
The butterfly garden has a separate admission fee, and is the only year-round indoor butterfly garden in upstate New York. With a rain-forest environment it’s the perfect retreat from winter! The tickets used to be timed, but now you can enter at any time and stay for as long as you’d like.
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The Pinball Playfields & Classic Arcade Games
As the girls got older, the amazing collection of video arcade and pinball machines became more of the draw. The Strong rarely has a machine on the floor that is not in perfect condition, with staff present if a machine goes down, or steals a token. They are happy to reimburse you with a replacement token if it does happen.
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Outside the Strong National Museum of Play
Around the entire perimeter, and in the middle of Monroe Ave, there are engaging installations and gardens to enjoy. Make sure to walk across the street to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park at Manhattan Square!
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More information about The Strong National Museum of Play
From a historical perspective, the Toys Hall of Fame and the immense doll collection of Margaret Woodbury Strong are enough to keep anyone occupied for an entire day. It will transport you back into the fun of your childhood! Collections of GI Joe and Barbie, board games, hand-held games, pinball & arcade games, Tinker Toys, Dollhouses, train sets…Rochester is lucky to host such an overwhelming collection!
- Cost: Admission Fee for Museum and Butterfly exhibit
- Located in the City of Rochester (get directions)
- More information: museumofplay.org/
