Jacksonville's "Hands On" Children's Museum — Attraction in Jacksonville

2023 UPDATE: I am absolutely thrilled to share my raving review for Jacksonville's hands-on children's museum! This place is an absolute gem for children and their families, offering an interactive and educational experience like no other. From the moment you step foot inside, you'll be captivated by the wide array of exhibits and play areas designed to stimulate young minds and foster creativity.

One of the highlights of this museum is the puppet castle, where children can let their imaginations run wild as they bring the colorful characters to life. The grocery store is another favorite, complete with carts and checkout lanes, allowing kids to role-play as customers or cashiers, learning about commerce in a fun and engaging way. The theatrical stage with dress-up costumes and seating for an audience is perfect for budding performers, instilling confidence and a love for the arts.

For aspiring chefs, the 50's diner and kitchen area provide an opportunity to whip up delicious imaginary meals, while the climbing structures with slides keep the little ones active and entertained. The bank teller area, complete with fake money and coins, teaches valuable lessons about money management and responsibility. And who wouldn't love the chance to be a veterinarian in the dedicated area with kennels and exam tables?

The fire truck exhibit is a definite crowd-pleaser, where kids can don firefighter coats and hats and slide down the fire pole on a rescue mission. The wooden train station area sparks the imagination of young train enthusiasts, while the wheelchair challenge basketball area promotes inclusivity and empathy.

But wait, there's more! The radio and television broadcasting station, equipped with a teleprompter, allows kids to explore the exciting world of media and communication. And hidden away in the back, beyond the restrooms, lies a hidden treasure—a unique area with a spaceship and an exhibit simulating a moonrock dig. With astronaut gloves on, children can embark on a thrilling adventure to uncover buried treasures, sparking their curiosity about outer space.

The museum also features a small gift shop, perfect for finding unique and educational toys or mementos. Whether you're planning a birthday party or simply want to spend a day of fun and learning, they offer options to purchase daily entry tickets or even a membership for frequent visitors. I must mention that they also provide discounts for first responders, military personnel, and veterans, which is a wonderful way to honor those who serve our community.

One of the best things about this children's museum is its ability to provide a haven for families, regardless of the weather outside. Whether it's seeking refuge from the rain or escaping the harsh sun or heat, this place offers a safe and stimulating environment for children to learn and play.

Affordable and far superior to any play area found in local malls, Jacksonville's hands-on children's museum is a must-visit destination. It not only entertains children but also nourishes their minds, helping them develop essential skills while having an absolute blast. Trust me when I say that this museum will leave a lasting impression on your child's imagination and create cherished memories for the...

Went here to give our 3 year old something to do while being evacuated from hurricane Helene.

My toddler loved it. There were so many things to do and you could get involved with your children’s play which most indoor play companies don’t allow you to do. There is a regular bathroom and a bathroom with a changing table which is amazing since we also brought our 4 month old baby. There is a room that I’m assuming is meant for younger kids (6months-1year) since everything is very low and easy to reach- love that.

I wish there was an area for adults to sit. There were chairs scattered around but as a bigger girl, they just don’t work. There was no area for rest to eat or drink so kids are resorted to eating and drinking in play areas which leaves a gross mess. The place is a little run down but that’s never been an issue for me especially considering for 4 people (baby included) it was under $19. The issue is how dirty it was. If you can’t keep up with the cleaning as children are playing, maybe putting a child cap limit would be a good idea. After 2 hours of playing, my son’s feet were black. There was also a mop bucket in the middle of the floor meant for catching leaking water, a water faucet being held up by a piece of plywood, and multiple areas where the floor was unleveled only being warned by a sign to watch your step.

A big issue I had was how one of the workers spoke to children running around. I tried to keep my child in check and follow the rules but others are not as attentive to their kids as we are I guess. Kids ran around crazy unsupervised which, of course, leads to workers having to reinforce their rules- I 100% understand that. But the way you speak to kids says a lot about your character. The worker, in the nastiest attitude I’ve ever heard a grown adult speak to a child in, says “STOP running NOW. Do you want to meet the big manager of this place?!” Very bad attitude. If you don’t want to work around children, don’t… if it would have been my child she spoke to like that, To put it nicely, I would’ve beat her ass.

To sum it up : 4/5 stars. My kid had fun and we had to force him to leave to get food and drinks after almost 3 hours of straight playing. The place needs a little bit of maintenance and a deep clean but it’s nothing to cause us to up and leave. The main concern was the mop bucket used for leaking water, that could be a huge problem for a young kid. It only takes 2 inches of water for a kid to drown. It’s very affordable and can be a good way to waste a rainy day or tire your...

I took a long time before writing this review, because first I was waiting for a resolution, and then I just had better things to do.

I used to bring my children here all the time. It was 5 minutes away and something indoors to do. It was kind of run down, but I would always defend it to friends against the claims of it being filthy. I never found it terribly dirty. My biggest complaint was that the dress-up clothes were in tatters.

Then, I tried to renew my membership for the 4th year in a row. We had enjoyed a family membership, the first year for the parents and kids in our house, and then the next years including the grandparents as well.

I attempted to renew at the same level (grandparents, parents, children). They processed my payment, and then apparently noticed that both of the parents listed on our form were female. They then attempted to charge me $10 extra for being a lesbian family. They humiliated me in front of the kids.

I attempted to get a resolution right then by speaking to management, only to be met with a brick wall - 'management wasn't there' and they wouldn't give me contact info. I left in tears after getting my money back, after informing them that I would be telling all my friends about this.

Well, my friends weren't impressed, and they actually got media coverage of this issue. The museum staff issued bizarre statements, changed their policy to be "fair" by increasing the prices for everyone, and proceeded to insult my family and accuse me lying and stealing from them.

I have literally never experienced such a fiasco of customer service, much less the kind of backwards bigotry that would convince them that it was fair for my family to be charged an extra $10 because we are Mommy and Mama instead of Mommy and Daddy.

We have found a new place to go across the river, and besides not being homophobic and nasty, the new place has the benefit of the staff actually liking children, which I never realized was missing from the Hands On Children's Museum until I went somewhere that they engage with, play with, and remember the children that visit and value their...