Bellevue Beach

No entry fee means you can wander in for rides, food and games without committing to a full theme park ticket.

The architecture, garden and Finn Juhl house give kids more variety than a straight gallery visit.

Hundreds of deer roam the open landscape, and you can walk or bike as much or as little as the kids can handle.

Kids can explore old fortifications right beside a beach and campground, which makes the history feel incidental to the adventure.

Three floors of hands on science make this one of those places where kids can touch almost everything instead of being shushed.

Old farms, animals and historic buildings spread across huge grounds make this feel more like exploring than museum going.