Children's Museum of New Hampshire, Dover, NH

Children's Museum of Portsmouth recently moved to Dover, NH.  After being washed out at our campground, we decided to check out the museum's new digs.  We visited with children ages 10, 7, 5, and 1.

Located in Downtown Dover, the museum sits along the river in an old mill building.  Parking is tough. There are limited spots close to the museum. The area designated for the museum is also the area designated for the city pool.  Parking is limited to two or three hours, which either limits your stay at the museum or requires you to drag your kids back out to the car and drive around for another spot.

Admission was $7 for guests ages 1 and up.  With limited activities for small toddlers, they need to rethink that admission policy.  

Once inside, the activities are fun and interactive. Everything is touchable.  Many activities, such as the pattern block castle, mail room, and gears  came over from the old museum. New additions include an area that simulates salmon spawning, a sailboat, and a beaver lodge, as well as a green screen video room. 

Some other interesting exhibits were a dinosaur dig, a musical wall, and a mirror/ kaleidoscope room.  

A small snack area allowed visitors to bring their own lunches. With only three tables, however, it got crowded on this rainy day.  

The gift shop was well stocked with educational activities, books, and toys, as well as the infamous "junk" toys that every child must have.

Overall, the museum has some neat exhibits and the children had fun.  It was a great rainy day activity and the older children got their money's worth.  Suggested improvements would include raising the paid admission to age 2, making a bigger lunch room, finding more parking or increasing the amount of time at a parking spot, and incorporating a few more activities for toddlers.

© Cara Parker, 2009.  Photos and text may not be reproduced without the written consent of Cara Parker.