The Family Museum is Bettendorf's standout visitor attraction — a hands-on children's museum at 2900 Learning Campus Drive that does its job exceptionally well. It is aimed at children eight and under, and the exhibits are genuinely interactive rather than look-but-don't-touch: kids can operate a crane, sort mail in a post office, work in a veterinarian's clinic, or splash around a 28-foot Mississippi River water table that replicates the geography of the Quad Cities stretch of the river.
What makes the museum work is its specific connection to the region. The exhibits draw on local industries and local geography rather than generic childhood scenarios. Adults tend to find it more interesting than they expect. Hours are Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday. It is busy on weekends and school holidays, but manageable on weekday mornings.