It’s summer! If you’re traveling to one of these cities this year, make sure to stop off at their world-class museums this summer. Each has special qualities you won’t find anywhere else, and offers up creative and unique ways for your kids to learn and imagine.

Photo by Eli Duke via Flickr Creative Commons

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: With more than a third of its employees carrying degrees in early childhood education, how can you go wrong? The Museum in Indianapolis houses some of the largest displayed artifacts in the country, as well as some seriously cool exhibits. Build a human skeleton and walk through a bone, help a paleontologist prepare a fossil for display, and learn how to identify some from your own backyard. 

Photo by MSG Family via Flickr Creative Commons

National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.: I remember the first time I went here as a kid and was blown away by the IMAX experience. My son scoffed, “IMAX? It’s just a big TV, mom.”  Today, the Air and Space Museum still touts some fantastic pieces of aviation history and modern innovation. Giant planes are suspended from the ceilings and the Apollo 11 Command Module is up for perusing. Want something a little more interactive? Jump on a flight simulator or attend a fascinating science demonstration on how those big pieces of metal we call planes stay up in the air. Oh, and the IMAX (aka “The Big TV”) is still there, showing some pretty cool movies, too!

Photo by Lyn Gateley via Flickr Creative Commons

Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts: Check out this living history museum and see what it was like to live as a colonial Pilgrim. For the day, your children will be walking through period homes, talking with docents in period costumes and learning firsthand what life was like for the Pilgrims. Next-door they’ll meet real Native Americans in their traditional clothes and hear stories about how their ancestors once lived. If that isn’t enough, sign up for a traditional Pilgrim sit-down dinner complete with turkey and apple cider!

Photo by Catherine Boley

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles: During the summer, The Getty offers tours for children each day and on the weekend. They also have a special Family Room, story hours, and a games gallery. The architecture is impressive and cool water features are everywhere. The parents always enjoy the fantastic panoramic vistas of LA below, gorgeous walkways and outdoor plant life. Make sure to stroll through the gardens (the giant flower sculptures are fantastic!), and lounge around the courtyard cafe, too!

Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia: It’s the country’s largest living history museum. Williamsburg is an entire town that’s been restored and recreated to depict life during the American Revolution. There are many different museums scattered around the town, parks, restaurants, and interactive presentations. Watch how a wig is made, learn some colonial jargon, and partake in some of the many different kids programs that are offered. There is something for everyone, including games, parades, and music. A multi-day destination for sure!

Here are more kid-friendly museum exhibits for the 2010 summer season in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle.