The Children’s Museum of Eau Claire (220 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) welcomes superheroes, princesses, and anyone else your children may pretend to be and is open most days of the week for a small admission fee or with a membership. It was voted Best Place to Take Your Kids for the second straight year. Second place went to Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, the only local zoo, which offers free admission and the chance to see and pet animals of all kinds from around the world between playground stops. Beaver Creek Reserve (S1 County Road K, Fall Creek), the third place winner, provides opportunities to experience nature hands-on and offers a number of special events for families year-round for a small admission fee or with a membership. — Haley Wright