The only art museum in Charlottesville, "the Bayly" is kid friendly and accessible. In addition to the permanent collection of ancient and modern works from around the world, the museum hosts nearly a dozen temporary exhibits each year, many of which are fascinating to kids. One recent temporary exhibit showed how art historians use science to distinguish real from counterfeit artifacts, with lots of opportunities for young sleuths to do their own investigations on museum samples. Two or three temporary exhibits are brought in every semester, assuring visitors that the Bayly will have a new look each time they visit. Although special programs for kids are not regularly scheduled, when a new exhibit arrives that lends itself particularly well to children, the museum will arrange hands-on adjunct activities to complement the exhibit.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1 PM-5 PM, closed Mondays.  Cost: Free.
Tours: Age-appropriate tours can be arranged with docents.

The Children's Museum, nestled on the first floor of the Medical Center, focuses on the healthy growth and development of little bodies. Helpful assistants weigh visitors using sandbags as counterweights, which helps preschoolers understand what the measurement actually means. Head, hands and feet are measured and the vital statistics recorded on a headband kids can keep. There is also an assortment of toys, which kids enjoy but which unfortunately don't continue the healthy bodies/medical theme.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM.

Wonderful.  The front half of the museum includes a restored log cabin for imaginative play, a toddler room with a wooden ship play structure, a dress-up area, a discovery exhibit, and an activity room with a themed art project. Older kids really like the take-apart table where they can don gloves and goggles and take apart (or reassemble) telephones and other gadgets with screwdrivers and hammers. A new permanent exhibit, Jefferson's Corner, examines Thomas Jefferson, his life at Monticello, and the inventions he collected.   In the rear of the museum, visitors will find a computer lab and working beehive as well as hands-on exhibits that change every few months. Bats, mazes, and camping are just a few of the recent themes. In front, a museum gift shop sells great imagination-driven gifts, many under a dollar or two.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, Sunday 1 PM-5 PM, closed Mondays. Note: The first Sunday of each month is free at the museum, although it can get very busy on those days.
Cost: $3 for children 1-13, $4 for adults, $3 for seniors $50 for families, $45 for grandparents, and $35 for individuals. Memberships: Members receive free admission to this and all ASTC affiliated museums, a bi-monthly newsletter detailing upcoming events, and discounted admission to special programs.

Visitors to the Charlottesville branch of the Virginia Museum of Natural History will get a glimpse into their own backyard, past and present. The museum features a main rotating exhibit, a permanent exhibit of Virginia animals and a toddler room with a rotating exhibit. The small museum is worth a self-guided tour, but if you really want to see the museum at its best, sign up for one of their parent/child classes. Offering an in-depth (and age-appropriate) look at nature topics such as "trees in winter," these classes are well-done and are in hot demand during the winter.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 AM-4 PM but best to call before visiting
Cost: Free, but donations appreciated.  Membership: $35 per year, includes a newsletter detailing upcoming events and other perks