Explore and Much More

Explore and Much More is located at 3827 N. Southport.  My older daughter loves this play place and is always begging to go back.  I think it is a great place to play for kids between ages 2 and about 6.  When you first walk in the door there is an area to take off coats and shoes (socks only past the entrance) and the desk where you pay.  There is a little area for strollers but if they run out of room they have another area where they store strollers.  The play space has two levels.  The first level has two climbing/sliding structures - one for toddlers and one for older kids.  It's nice because you can watch two or more kids of different ages at the same time.  Underneath the larger play structure there is a little play kitchen and also a reading nook.  Along the wall is one of my daughters' favorite things, a series of tubes with air blowing through them.  When you put a ball or scarf in the contraption they fly through and shoot out one end.  You see these a lot at museums but not at play places very often.  Downstairs is a bit more spacious for kids to run around.  There is a bounce house, a toddler play area, a place to throw balls, and a couple of things for kids to climb on.  Downstairs is also where the art room is located.  There are drop in art classes on Thursdays at 10:00 AM.  The art class (more like just a project for the kids to do than a class) is included with admission.  They also offer a Creative Movement Class on Wednesdays at 10:30 that is also included with admission. 

This play space does not have a coffee shop, like so many of them do, but they do offer free coffee from 9:30-10:30 Monday through Friday.  You can bring snacks for your kids but can only eat them in a designated room, not within the play area. 

Admission is pricey at $12 for the first kid and $9 for siblings but adults are free, as are children under 1 year of age, and you can play for as long as you like.  Parking can be a bit difficult.  Every time we have gone, we've found free street parking a few blocks away after searching for a couple of minutes.  You can also park at a meter on Southport.  On weekends or days when there is no school you can park in the Blaine school parking lot for $5 but you have to pay inside the play place.  Explore and Much More is open from 9-5 Monday through Friday.  They are also open on weekends as long as they don't have a party scheduled.  Check their website to see a calendar (www.exploreandmuchmore.com) which indicates what hours they are open over the weekend.  Explore and Much More does get quite crowded so I would recommend going when it first opens or in the afternoon when a lot of the kids in the neighborhood are down for their naps.  My girls always have a really good time here but we don't go as often as they may like because of the high admission price.