Explore & More nominated for nation’s Best Children’s Museum by USA Today

Explore & More – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum is proud to announce that it has been named a finalist for the nation’s best children’s museum by USA Today.

The museum now needs the Western New York community’s support to win USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Award. You can vote once per day at 10best.usatoday.com until 11:59 a.m. on February 9.

Please note, exploreandmore.org/usatoday has been set up to take users directly to our Best Children’s Museum voting page.

The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards is USA Today’s flagship awards program, highlighting the best of the best in various travel and lifestyle categories, including destinations, food and drink, and attractions.

The nominees for Best Children’s Museum were announced on Monday at noon. Now, the public is invited to vote for their favorites over a period of four weeks. The public can vote for one nominee per category, per calendar day, based on Eastern Time. Voting ends at 11:59 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026. The winner is expected to be revealed at noon on February 11.

Recent awards the museum has earned include:

• Best Programming for Kids – 2025 (Buffalo Spree Magazine)
• #1 Place to Take Kids In and Around Buffalo – 2024, 2025 (KidsOutAndAbout.com)
• Best Destination for a Child’s Birthday Party – 2025 (Best of 716)
• Favorite Museum – 2025 (Best of 716)
• Favorite Indoor Attraction – 2025 (Best of 716)
• Best Family Fun in Winter – 2024 (Buffalo Spree Magazine)
• Best Customer Service – 2024 (Best of 716)
• Favorite Destination for a Child’s Birthday Party – 2024 (Best of 716)

Explore & More has been the local leader in child-led and family-friendly play that helps develop the whole child since 1994. The museum opened its brand-new location in the heart of Canalside in 2019, featuring three jaw-dropping exhibit floors that tell the unique story of Buffalo and what makes us proud to be from Western New York in fun and educational ways.

Throughout the year, Explore & More offers camps, classes, rental spaces for birthday parties and other gatherings, professional development opportunities, outreach initiatives, sensory-friendly events, nights just for grown-ups…& more.