The Boston Children's Museum.

School is out and families across North America are feverishly planning summertime activities. So it’s time to look into some family-friendly travel activities, beginning today with a roundup of some of the country's best children’s museums.

Believe it or not, there are more than 200 children’s museums in the United States, and 341 of them in 22 countries around the world. The scope of activities at these museums continues to expand, with children able to learn about space stations, dinosaur fossils, underwater reefs, television shows, and much more.

With so many options to choose from, you'll most certainly be able to find a place for your family to visit that is both fun and nearby. There are, however, several children's museums that have consistently been ranked as among the best in the U.S. by parents and reviewers. Here is a peak at a few of the more interesting and popular children’s museums.

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana, is the largest museum in the world devoted to kids, with more than 400,000 square feet of space and 11 major galleries, many of them with hands-on exhibits. The museum strives to let children explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, and the arts. Highlights include a planetarium theater, interactive dinosaur exhibit, Victorian railway depot, antique carousel, and an actual Indy 500 race car.

Boston Children's Museum

Founded in 1913, the Boston Children's Museum in Massachusetts has long been employing a hands-on method of entertaining and teaching kids. Back then, it meant nature walks and a model of the city's water system.  Today, exhibits include a hands-on art studio, a KidStage staffed by professional actors, a three-story climbing sculpture, a science playground, and an authentic Japanese house where children can learn about Japanese family life and customs.

Brooklyn Children's Museum

The Brooklyn Children's Museum in New York was the first of its kind and has been entertaining children since 1899. The museum was recently expanded and refurbished and is now better than ever. Like other sites, it focuses on exhibitions centered on the arts, culture, science, and the environment. Attractions include Building Brainstorm, where children can learn to design their own buildings; World Brooklyn, with a village full of kids-sized shops representing the city's many cultures; Neighborhood Nature, for experiencing ponds, beaches and gardens; and Global Shoes, where youngsters "step into the shoes" of families in other nations to learn about their lives.

Strong Museum of Play in Rochester

The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, is really several museums in one, as it's home to both the National Toy Hall of Fame and the National Center for the History of Electronic Games. Your kids will no doubt get a kick out of the world's largest collection of toys and games, but the children's museum has numerous other highlights, as well. These include a butterfly garden, a 1,700-gallon coral reef aquarium, a Reading Adventureland with life-sized books and fairy tale characters, and a Field of Play with a climbing wall, giant kaleidoscope and more.

Port Discovery Children's Museum of Baltimore

The Port Discovery Children's Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, has a popular "Wonders of Water" exhibit that includes a large slide, as well as a KidsClub art gallery, realistic 50s-style diner, an Adventure Expedition that takes you back to 1920s Egypt, a three-story treehouse and an indoor soccer field.

Other highly regarded museums include: Children's Museum of Houston (Texas), Discovery Center Museum of Rockford (Illinois), Madison Children's Museum (Wisconsin), Minnesota Children's Museum (St. Paul), and Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose (California).

This is far from a complete list, however, and there isn't nearly enough room to list the fun and educational exhibits at all of the quality children's museums. In order to locate a museum near you, the Association of Children's Museums maintains a detailed list that is divided by state.

Photo credit: HouseofScandal via Wikimedia Commons.