Educational Family Day Trips Across the Midwest

Let’s go on a family field trip! We’ve highlighted some of the best destinations in the Midwest for families to visit that incorporate learning and fun. Whether you’re interested in history, science or nature, there are lots of destinations that offer a variety of educational experiences for families to enjoy. 

WonderLab 

wonderlab.org
It can be a little tricky finding a science museum that caters to younger visitors. Fortunately, that isn’t the case with WonderLab, Bloomington’s child-friendly museum that allows guests to get first-hand knowledge of everything from physics to engineering. Presenting each exhibit with approachability and simplicity, the WonderLab excels at boiling advanced scientific topics down to bite-sized lessons fit for the whole family. 

COSI 

cosi.org
Often touted as one of the premier science museums in the country, COSI (also known as the Center of Science and Industry) features a grand total of 300 interactive exhibits throughout its expansive property. Illustrating the profound wonders that lay behind scientific innovation, virtually every subject within the field is on display inside COSI, providing guests a more intimate understanding of technology, engineering, art, math, and everything in between. 

Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village 

in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/spring-mill-state-park
A massive 1,358-acre state park nestled in Mitchell, Indiana, Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village provides a multitude of educational experiences for travelers across the Midwest. Based within a carefully maintained 19th century industrial complex, Spring Mill continues to captivate onlookers over two centuries later, leaving little reason to wonder why it’s so popular today. Whether wandering through authentic log cabins or marveling at the historic Grist Mill from 1817, there’s no shortage of standout points of interest inside this fascinating state park. 

Ohio History Center & Ohio Village 

ohiohistory.org/visit/ohio-history-center
Delivering two great educational experiences in one, the Ohio History Center and nearby Ohio Village serve the flagship property of the Ohio History Connection. Emphasizing the unique power that lay behind the Midwestern state’s historical roots, the Ohio History Center has a rotating lineup of exhibits that break down the state’s eventful past, from its various prehistoric civilizations to Ohio’s integral role in the U.S. Civil War. While the Ohio History Center does a great job explaining the overarching history of the state, the Ohio Village helps bring that history to life in startling detail. Capturing the look and feel of a late 19th century settlement, the Ohio Village allows visitors to actually step into the world of 1800s Ohio, right down to the 1860s-style baseball games occasionally played during the spring and summer. 

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force 

nationalmuseum.af.mil
There are plenty of fantastic military museums throughout the nation, but there’s something uniquely special about Dayton’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The official museum of the eponymous military branch, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Face also has the distinction of remaining the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world. Located in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the museum has over 360 vehicles, missiles, and other aerospace artifacts inside its 19 acres of exhibition space, including the Apollo 15 Command Module and the first-ever Boeing aircraft designated as Air Force One.  

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis 

childrensmuseum.org
It’s hardly surprising that the best place for a family field trip might be found at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. A sprawling museum with five floors of interactive exhibits, the Children’s Museum caters to visitors of every respective age group, ensuring families have an unforgettable time whenever they enter through the property’s front doors. Whether coming face to face with 70-foot-tall dinosaurs or hopping aboard the famed Reuben Wells steam engine (which reopens new and improved this fall!), there’s never a dull moment inside Indianapolis’ Children’s Museum.