Provo, UT

Whenever I’m at a loss for a way to entertain my daughter, we head over to Treehouse Children’s Museum in Ogden, where there’s never a shortage of fun things to do. Treehouse is a creative, hands-on children’s museum with something fun and fascinating everywhere you look. Toys, dolls, trains, art, music, learning, adventure, story time, role playing, theater–there’s an endless supply of imaginative entertainment here!

Treehouse is a private, non-profit organization funded by admissions, membership and program fees, donations, and grants. Parents Magazine placed it on their list of Top 50 Children’s Museums. One visit and you’ll see why.

At the heart of the children’s museum is a friendly, welcoming staff–and a huge treehouse with a spiral staircase inside the trunk. A climb to the top will bring you to the second floor where you’ll find creative play areas, such as the Days of the Knights (complete with theater, dress-up, and a giant chess set), Pick Up A Stick and Play music room, a replica of The Oval Office, and the Great American Interactive Map. In the Art Garden, kids can make the weekly themed project, or express their own creativity. On Wednesdays and Saturdays kids can participate in RAMPed-Up art workshops, focused on global art projects in a variety of mediums.

Climb (or slide) back downstairs, where children can discover Utah, explore Dinosaur Discovery Canyon, or visit the One World Village, which features interactive exhibits from China, England, and more. There’s a pint-sized puppet theater, a place for tea parties, and toy animals from the African plain. In the Baby’s Place, little doctors can care for sick dollies. There’s a large area with train tables and large, soft vinyl blocks. My daughter’s favorite areas are the tiny One Room Schoolhouse; Grandma Sophie’s Kitchen, with a cute pink retro kitchen; and the Garden Market, where you “plant” and “pick” oversized flowers and plush fruits and veggies, then ring them up on the cash register (which doesn’t always function well, but is a favorite nonetheless).

Treehouse is a place where children can play and let their imaginations–and skills–grow. In fact, the major theme at Treehouse is “step into a story.” Kids can do just that on Theater Thursdays, during the ParticiPlayHouse program on Saturdays, or at special performances in the Castle Theater. On Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, Treehouse hosts “Toddler Time” with stories, music, active participation, and reduced admission. Friday night’s “Alphabet Soup” program also offers reduced admission, and focuses on a different letter and related them each week. Reduced admission times are a great way to check out Treehouse, and chances are you’ll like it so much you’ll purchase a membership (tax-deductible) so you can go back again and again.

Treehouse Children’s Museum is located at 347 22nd Street in Ogden
(801) 394-9663

Visit the Treehouse website for information on hours, memberships, program information, and upcoming events, such as Treehouse Troupe theater productions, the Family Christmas Party, and Kids’ New Year’s Party.

Click here for the events calendar.

Click here for a $1 discount coupon.

If you go:
– All children must be accompanied by an adult
– Strollers are not permitted in the play areas.
– Free lockers available for members, $1 fee for non-members
– There are restrooms and drinking fountains. Food not permitted in the museum except for the snack table in the lobby.
– There’s a basket in each exhibit area where parents can put toys that have found their way into little mouths.
– There is a small parking lot, otherwise street parking.
– Birthday parties available