Here parents might observe the first spark of their child’s future career through experiential exhibits that allow them to play at being grown-ups. Interactive displays allow kids to act as a broadcast journalist, dentist, TV cameraperson, construction worker and supermarket clerk among others.

There is also a pint-sized city with a Casa Rosada, Congress building and National Bank. The brightly colored exhibits are all in Spanish but language isn’t a barrier here.

The museum has various official city endorsements including from the Education Minister, and the culture departments of Argentina and the City of Buenos Aires. The Children’s Museum is a non-profit designed with the Declaration of the Rights of a Child in mind. Unfortunately that doesn’t preclude corporate-sponsored exhibits such as a McDonalds and YPF station to ensure early brand recognition, and that is the museum’s biggest drawback.

In the auditorium there are puppet shows, movie projections, storytelling and other events, listed daily by the entrance to the museum. There are two rooms are dedicated to toddlers and babies for those who have a multi-age brood in tow.

For expat parents, this is the perfect place to host a birthday party that is sure to be a hit. Parents will be happy to find that there are spots for them to rest, or better yet send them with the grandparents, who get in free.

If a few hours at the museum doesn’t wear them out there is also the unfortunately named Neverland Theme Park right next door.

Museo de los niños
Av. Corrientes 3247, 2nd floor
Abasto Shopping
Tel: 4861-2325

• Hours: Tue- Sun& holidays 1:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
• Cost: AR$ 30 children
—AR$15 adults
• ½ off from 7:00 p.m.
• Seniors, students and kids under 2 free

The Buenos Aires Zoo in Palermo boasts a wide variety among its 2,500 animals, but typical of many inner-city zoos, there is not a whole lot of space for them to roam around.

Among the 89 mammals here you’ll find the usual bored-looking big cats, giraffes, elephants and bears. For foreigners a lot of the interest will lie in many of the native South American animals. Pumas, llamas and a whole lot of different kinds of monkeys are fun to watch, and the pygmy hippos look like they are enjoying themselves most of all. Emus and kangaroos hang out together in the Australian section, where there’s even a rare albino wallaby. The red panda, when it decides to come out of its special Chinese tree house, thrills onlookers by running and jumping around its pen like some kind of manic Asian video game critter.

A newborn llama is fretted over by the adults

If possible, try to go on a school day, or as early in the morning as you can on weekends and public holidays. In the afternoons the zoo can get extremely crowded with hyperactive kids and their even more irritating parents who shout bizarre things at the animals and ignore zoo rules (such as not feeding certain animals). On such occasions you’ll find your patience severely tested after a couple of hours, so you’re better off going when it’s quieter so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

General admission costs AR$15, but that doesn’t include entry to attractions such as the Reptile House, Rainforest and Boat Ride (all AR$7.50 each), so you’re better off paying AR$22 for a ‘Zoo Passport’ which will get you in to those. Even with a Zoo Passport, some attractions such as the Seal Show still cost extra, and access to the new 3D cinema alone is another AR$22. There are endless other opportunities for you to spend money as you wander around, like bags of feed to give to the animals, or overpriced human-feed such as hamburgers and hotdogs for yourself and your herd.

Buenos Aires Zoo – $$
2827 Sarmiento (at Las Heras, Plaza Italia)
Palermo
Tel: 4011-9900

• Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays: 10am-9pm

If you’re a beginner at golf, have the family in tow or you’re a golf addict on vacation who needs a fix, the Costa Salguero Golf Center and Pitch ‘n’ Putt in Palermo can be a lot of fun.

With the various facilities available, it’s not hard to spend a whole morning or afternoon enjoying the different activities, but be forewarned: the cost does tend to add up.

You could start by hitting 50 balls on the driving range, then work on your putting on the practice green, and finish by playing a round of 9 holes on the little Pitch and Putt course.

To make it more interesting, why not play a game of Skins? Whoever wins the hole outright gets one point, but if there’s no clear winner, the point carries over to the next hole.  This can be fun if you have players of different levels, since everyone is in with a chance.

While at the driving range, you can check out the pro shop,  get a golf lesson or go hang out at the bar. Serious golfer may also want to check out the Campo de Golf, Buenos Aires’ 18-hole public golf course.

Costa Salguero Driving Range and Pitch ‘n’ Putt
(Costanera y Jerónimo Salguero)
Palermo
Tel: 4805-4732/4

• Hours:
Mondays; 12 am- 9:30
Tuesdays—Fridays: 8:30 am – 9:30pm
Weekends: 8 am-8:30pm

• Credit cards accepted