the strong national museum of play

We have a membership and enjoy going frequently. As the kids get older always finding a new section or activity.. There is something for all ages and interests!

My daughter is now 3 and this, 2015, is our second time getting a family pass. This attraction is great for toddles to maybe 6 to 8. I feel that it maybe a bit too young for children over 8. They regularly change certain exhibits so there is almost always something new. They have a great Seasome Street section, an adorable grocery store, a carousel, a riding train (last two cost $1 to ride), a superhero section, storybook section, and a nice small butterfly attraction (I believe the cost for this is $3). It is a great place for moms to go by themselves with their little ones. They do have food and drinks available for purchase. They do have complimentary strollers (first come first serve) and a large coat room. I have found that they keep it plenty warm so you don't need to bundle the kiddos up too much in winter because they will be constantly moving.

We spent a Saturday here with our 3 year old son. He enjoyed it very much. His favorite areas were the train area, post office and Wegman's store. I felt it was a little expensive at $13.50 each. It was crowded, but mostly everyone was polite and took turns. We purchased the punch card thinking our son would want to ride the carousel and train multiple times, but he didn't end up doing so, so I wouldn't purchase that again. It seemed to take a really long time to get each loaded and finally go on the ride. We ate at the Bill Gray's that was inside the museum. It was good, but again took a really long time to get our food and there wasn't enough seating. Overall, it was worth the trip and we are glad we went.

This place is amazing and fabulous! The only thing I wish is it to be closer to Syracuse but definitely worth the trip. Not only does it give my son something to do but he learns so much at the same time. Amazing place.

I stopped by for a short visit of about an hour this weekend while the family was skating at Manhattan Park across the street. This is always a fun place to visit, but as a suggestion, if you are hungry, or plan on eating there, do not go to the Food Court, but eat at the Bill Grey's or bring your own food instead. The Food Court is NOT GOOD.Another hint: if you are going to visit more than three times in a year, consider doing an annual membership instead. Otherwise, you will pay about $13.50 per person for each trip.One more tip: the Butterfly Conservatory is an additional charge even if you've paid for an annual membership.

We been here multiple times; twice in 2014 with my 3 kids & sister in law & niece, & 1 other time back in 2009 with my 2 older kids & sister in law & niece. Such fun times. I personally love the Hall of Fame area upstairs, & the video arcade being a video game enthusiast. My son as well loves the video games especially Fruit Ninja. My youngest REALLY loves the Sesame Street section with Elmo's World, loves the train ride, the Carousel, as well as the Wegman Shopping Store! My niece who was 6 when we went in 2014 loves the Wegman's Store as well & the Train Ride. My oldest, even though she was 15 when we went in 2014, she has a blast at the arcade games, in the Field of Play, & the new Lego section. Her & I built a tunnel out of legos for the toddlers to even crawl through! We visited the Butterfly Garden in 2009, but the little one didnt show much interest so we didnt visit there in 2014. O yea, & the tropical fish tank kid's eyes light up there as well! Watch out for Nemo & Dory there! The only reason we visited twice in 2014 was I won a free family pass (includes 2 adults & up to 4 kids) each time off a local radio station & we went to visit my in-laws in Rochester, so parking was free, & it didnt cost us much at all except $1.00 for the train & $1.00 for the carousel. If you want to save even more, pack yourself a picnic lunch, if you go during nicer months, and/or have a picnic in their outdoor garden, or go after lunch. We rarely buy food here. Much easier eating on the way, & maybe get snacks on occasion. We have been to the gift shop a few times. My little one has a small grover plush, & also a small elmo with a purple shirt on him. :)

Anyone coming to Rochester to visit must see the National Museum of Play at Strong. It has something for everyone, regardless of age. From the Sesame Street area for toddlers, to the mini Wegmans (another Rochester institution!), to the rotating exhibits, butterfly atrium, classic arcade area, it will appeal to all. The best exhibit, in my opinion though, is the classic toy area. A vast collection of dolls throughout the ages is included, with other more recent classic toys such as the Slinky, Legos, GI Joe, etc. You will easily spend all day here and may want to even take two days to really see it all if you aren't going to be back in the area for a while. There are several options for refreshments at the museum, but I suggest visiting the Bill Gray's diner in the old trolley car. Bill Gray's is another Rochester establishment, with great burgers, fries, shakes, etc. Before you leave, be sure to check out one of the two (or both) gift shops. Very unique items are for sale there.

Fun for the kids all day, also, they have a 25 cent arcade area. Toy museum was closed when we were there. The only drawback is that many of the displays/areas have not been updated in years and it seems they could use a rethink and refresh. It can also be very expensive with a family of 5. Worth the trip, certainly, but needs a refresh or better pricing to earn 5 stars. Eat lunch at Bill Gray's at the entrance to the museum the prices are good as is the food.

A huge museum where you can play with everything! It's a kid's dream. Definitely opt for the butterfly garden. In frigid Feb., it was a little piece of tropical heaven.

I've takwn my nephew and many girl scout troops there. Hands down one of the top museums in the world. Something wonderful for ages 2 to 100. Butterfly exhibit was exceptional. Great places to eat near by plus on the museum. Free parking and always new stuff to see inside plus the archives of antique dolls and doll houses.

When I lived in Rochester, I took my nephews to the Museum of Play every chance we got.. The only challenge was keeping an eye on them, and they wanted to dart in every direction the minute we walked through the door!I would recommend paying extra for the butterfly garden... How often do you get to have a butterfly land on your arm and sit a spell?Also - the merry-go-round by the door is a must for all the kiddos.The upper floor is loaded with historical information and more toys than I could ever process in a single day. Of course, the kids ever wanted to spend an awful lot of time upstairs because all the hands-on play things are on the first floor. And honestly, the kid in everyone tends to co out when surrounded by all that laughter and play..It's just a great museum and wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

I would recommend a Visit to the Strong Museum of play. It is a huge facility just loaded with fun things to do. Great for Adults and Kids of any age.

If you are looking for a place to take toddlers to about 12, this is the place!! Your children will have so much fun!!

Strong Museum enamors any age group in any season. My children STILL go to the museum and they're in their 20's! It is a delightful place to learn in the best possible way- by playing!

Our kids love to go to the museum. The vintage arcade area is the absolute best for dads and kids. For smaller kids, the wegmans exhibit is nice. Our older kids have aged out of that but our 8 year old cannot get enough of it.