Children’s Museum Debuts Two New Exhibits in Downtown Ludington

Open four days a week during the winter season, Sandcastles Children’s Museum is one stop you will not want to miss while visiting Ludington. With over 35 exhibits for personal interaction, this location allows kids to climb, explore, and discover so many educational displays.

New to the museum in 2023 is ¡Hola! exhibit, featuring 10 conversational buttons throughout the museum to help visitors learn Spanish phrases. These phrases will change bi-monthly. The buttons are brightly colored and identified with the ¡Hola! logo. First Saturday Spanish Storytelling will also be held on the first Saturday of every month (11 a.m.). A story will be read in Spanish, and an activity will follow that celebrates Hispanic culture.

A new Michigan Woodlands exhibit is slated to open March 24. This addition will complement the existing exhibit on the third floor called Grandpa’s Farm, just as Michigan farms often blend into wooded areas. Michigan Woodlands will include a realistic maple tree with a view into the worlds above and below ground and an interactive beehive. Children can put on “bee vests” with the velcro stripes and collect the pollen balls that will be located around the room at flower collection points. Many scientific concepts will be incorporated, including pollination, hibernation, metamorphosis, and photosynthesis. 

Michigan Woodlands will foster appreciation for Michigan's beautiful natural resources and help children understand the connections between humans and nature. Planning for this project has brought Sandcastles together with many local organizations also concerned with protecting our environment and natural resources. Ludington State Park, AFFEW and the Scottville Beekeepers have been assisting Sandcastles in the creation of the new exhibit. 

Other interesting exhibits to check out at Sandcastles include a puppet show, Pere Marquette River water table, ice cream shop, SS Badger carferry, an airplane, a newborn nursery, heavy construction exhibit, and musical instrument stage. The museum will be open for two full weeks during spring break, March 24-April 7.

Be sure to ask about special events, family passes and discounted grandparent tickets when you arrive. This is one stop for children that should not go unnoticed!