Why Emily Thinks the River Museum Is Great for Families — and Date Night

One of my favorite things about living in Dubuque has always been being right on the beautiful Mississippi River, and it is such a treat to be able to learn more about it at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

This is a fun, kid-friendly, family environment, but I also find it to be a great date destination! Rather than fighting the noise in a crowded bar, or sitting in silence in a dark movie theater, young couples can have the chance to explore and learn something new together while getting interactive with exhibits.

The perfect example of this is the new River of Innovation exhibit, which encourages guests to get hands-on with multiple different activities. They explore themes of energy and motion, vehicles and cargo, tools and machines and how the river itself changes. It incorporates math, science and engineering concepts for kids, but it's not stuffy — to tell the truth, I just had a good time exploring and climbing on things! And I'm an adult!

In keeping with the innovation theme, the projects and programs offered in the exhibit will change from time to time, too. The River Museum hired an innovation and MakerSpace coordinator to develop curriculum and projects, so you can truly have a different experience each time you visit.

River of Innovation is a permanent part of the museum and included in regular admission. To learn more and plan your own visit, see rivermuseum.com. They presently are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and you can save $2 on some tickets by purchasing them ahead online.