The Explorium

Oh, Explorium, how I wish that I loved you. I wish so much that there was a great children's museum conveniently located in downtown Lexington. But, it is only really mediocre. It is a bit run-down, it is a bit dirty, it is a bit blah. This is not to say that my 2 year old doesn't enjoy going every once in a while. But, it has a hard time keeping his attention for longer than an hour or so.

First, let me apologize for lack of pictures. We have gone twice in the last 3 weeks, but I stink at remembering to take pictures. So, they are coming. And, apparently the website kind of stinks too, so you can't really get any information on what to expect from it.

The Explorium is located in downtown Lexington in Victorian Square. For parking, I would recommend either street parking on West Short Street or parking in Victorian Square lot off Broadway and West Short Street. The parking meters on West Short Street take coins or credit cards. If you chose the parking garage, the third floor has a covered walkway to Victorian Square. And, if your kids like cars, you can get a good view of them passing underneath you here. My son also loves going this way and running/walking through the halls. This building is pretty cool! Also, if you chose to park there, you can get your parking validated in the Visitor Center that is on the ground floor of the building (you have to go outside to access it). It is next to Pies and Pints. The Explorium is fairly expensive at $8 per person over 1. They often have Groupons though, so you can keep an eye out for these. Memberships are $90 for an annual family membership. They are open every day during the summer and closed Mondays during the fall, spring and winter.

The Explorium has two floors (not great if you have two kids that are going to run in different directions). The downstairs has a play courthouse, a place where you can "milk" a cow (which was broken the last time we went), a plastic food area that you can put in a basket, a veterinarian office, a doctors office, a puppet area, a light-up brain, a toddler area with a water table and small kitchen area (this is under construction), an area with horses they can sit on and groom, and another water river display. Upstairs is a room with a traveling exhibit, a bubble room they can make bubbles and stand in a large bubble, a moon display, a marble vortex, a dinosaur digging area, an area with spiders and bugs on display, an area with different homes around the world, and a fighter jet simulation. I may have forgotten some things, but I think that is gist.

Overall, it isn't a bad way to kill time, but it is hard not to notice that things are often broken down and not repaired for a very, very long time. Things are also not added very often or updated very often at all. There is also a pretty damp, musty smell from the water features and I am not sure how often that is cleaned. The employees don't seem to love their jobs. They do have crafts or activities most days in the hallway by the flight simulator. Sometimes they can be pretty cool.

If you go, bring a change of clothing. Although they do have smocks for the water area, my kiddo always seems to get soaking wet and then covered in bubble solution in the bubble room. They do have an area by the entrance where you can hang a bag, but not sure how safe this is or monitored. There are bathrooms directly outside of the entrance. If your kid is bored before it is time to go home, you can always play in the "people tunnels" that go between the buildings. The one from Victorian Square to the Convention Center is pretty cool for traffic watching.