A massive attraction that’s both fun and informative, the Museo de Los Niños features interactive exhibits and educational displays describing everything from the rainforest to pre-Columbian village life to the interior of a spaceship (in honor of Costa Rican astronaut Franklin Chang). The simulated earthquake exhibit is always a favorite. It’s housed in a former prison, so if anyone in your family is acting out, you can actually lock them in an old prison cell to set them straight. The museum is also home to the National Auditorium, and often features temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here but you’ll want to take a taxi for transportation, because the museum borders a rather seedy section of the city’s red-light district.