The Children’s Museum of Richmond is a fantastic spot to spend two hours or an entire day. The museum has a host of exhibits that includes an elaborate indoor climbing tree, a water play feature, a tube that whisks scarves away to the delight of the astonished child, a book reading room, and an area that’s set up like a small town, where kids can buy groceries, send mail in the pretend post office, “dine” at a pretend diner and so forth. Only downside? Extracting your child from this fun spot isn’t a snap.

The Children’s Museum of Richmond has been such a hit in the community since 1977 that they opened two new satellite spots: Children’s Museum of Richmond in Short Pump (11800 West Broad St.) and Children’s Museum of Richmond in Chesterfield (6629 Lake Harbour Dr. Midlothian). Neither are as elaborate as the original location, but they’re both based on the excitement of the parent museum.

Tip: Fifteen-cent child admissions on the 15th happen every month. Each Children’s Museum location is opened seven days a week beginning at 9:30 a.m., but each closes at a different time depending on the season.