Five things for families with children to do in Western KY
Brittany Kenner
Experiential learning helps to create real world relevance for children while also giving them a creative outlet. Ranging from minigolf to musicals all under $20, this list is a wall-to-wall guide for your next Saturday afternoon experience in the Paducah, Murray, and Marshall County area!
Photo: Splat Art Play Studio Facebook
Splat – Murray
Splat offers open play hours most days where you can allow your child to play with any and all art supplies for $10 an hour! The best part? No clean-up for you! Paint, color, cut, glue, even glitter–nothing is off limits during open play.
Splat also offers fun classes and can be rented for parties!
Address: 609 S 4th Street Murray, KY 42071
Photo: River Discovery Center Website
River Discovery Center – Paducah
Experience Paducah’s riverfront from a new perspective! The River Discovery center in Paducah, Kentucky is full of fun exhibits for kids of all ages. Learn about the wildlife in and around our rivers, as well as boats, barges and more. Water lovers can see the river in a personal way with the river film or boat simulator. Some exhibits are not yet reopened due to COVID-19, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had at the River Discovery Center. Admission is $5 for children and $8 for adults.
Address: 117 S. Water Street, Paducah, Kentucky, 42001
Photo: Playhouse in the Park Facebook
Playhouse in the Park OR Market House – Paducah or Murray
Want to see a show? Murray’s Playhouse in the Park and Paducah’s Market House Theatre both offer numerous child-friendly shows for affordable prices. Both community theatres feature fantastic local actors and help support the arts for children in the community. Prices vary based on the show and seating.
Playhouse Address: 701 Gil Hopson Dr, Murray, KY 42071
Market House Address: 132 Market House Square, Paducah, KY 42001
Photo: The Arboretum at Murray State Facebook
Arboretum - Murray
Need a place for the kids and dogs to run? The 3 acre Arboretum offers plenty of room for the whole family, including playground equipment. The Arboretum is maintained by the Murray State Agriculture program and offers hands-on experiences to their students. Don’t forget to stop by and check out the local honey or flower sales while you’re there. Sweeter still is the Arboretum’s entry fee: free for everyone!
Address: 300 Hickory Dr, Murray, KY 42071
Photo: Maggie’s Jungle Golf Facebook
Maggie’s Jungle Golf – Marshall County
Maggie’s Jungle Golf in Marshall County is a full-size mini golf course with an added bonus of a Jungle run–perfect for an afternoon of fun! Walk or ride while you visit all the animals–the camels are my personal favorite. Don’t forget to stop by the snow cone booth between golf runs and get a yummy treat! Mini golf is $4 per person and the Jungle Run is $2 per person. You can rent a cart for the Jungle run for an additional $8. Be aware: Maggie’s only accepts cash or checks.
Address: 7301 US-641, Gilbertsville, KY 42044
http://www.maggiesjunglegolf.com/
When children interact with learning activities, those things become real to them. We can’t wait for the beauty of Western Kentucky to become real to you and your children while you learn and create. Finding things to do with young children can be hard, but we hope this list makes that job a little easier.
