Meet your favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the Cat in the Hat.

What to Expect at the The Dr. Seuss Experience

The Dr. Seuss Experience highlights nine of Dr. Seuss's books, including such favorites as The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Sneetches, and more. It was exciting to see Seussian elements in person and to take fun, Instagram-worthy pictures.

When you first enter, you're greeted by a festive carousel tied to the book If I Ran the Circus. The carousel is adorable, eye-catching, and perfect for little ones age 4 and under. Older kids and adults can ride too, but may find it a bit slow.

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Get lost in the mirror maze with the Sneetches.

The biggest draw for my kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) was the Mirror Maze inspired by The Sneetches. Guests are encouraged to wear disposable gloves, which was clever—no fingerprints on the mirrors! This made the illusion that much better because you really couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. Several times I thought one of the children was right next to me, only to find them around the corner and down the corridor! My kids enjoyed the Mirror Maze so much that we went back through a second time at the end of our visit.

Can you find all the hidden wockets?

Another family favorite was the silly monsters from There's a Wocket in my Pocket! My kids enjoyed posing with the creatures for pictures and finding them in their hiding places throughout the exhibit's kitchen and family room.

 
Swing among the Truffula trees with the Lorax.

Speaking of awesome pictures, the Truffula Tree Forest from The Lorax was magical. With swings interspersed between colorful Truffula trees and a visit from the Lorax himself, this was a fun room to see.

Kids will also enjoy walking through the Horton Hears a Who! clover field, which is especially cool for those visitors who can barely see over the clovers—they're a lot of fun to hide in and pop out of. Listen closely and see if you can find which clover contains the tiny residents of Whoville.

Finally, my youngest really enjoyed meeting some favorite Dr. Seuss characters. We met the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and the Lorax. All of the employees were friendly and helpful. We felt free to explore at our own pace, going back to things we liked and not feeling rushed at all. Going through the exhibit renewed my 4-year-old's interest in reading our Dr. Seuss books again. As we've re-read them, he has exclaimed, "Oh, we saw that at Dr. Seuss!"

Know Before You Go to The Dr. Seuss Experience

1. Getting To The Dr. Seuss Experience

The Dr. Seuss Experience is located in Tysons Corner Center, right off I-495 in Northern Virginia. You can also get there by Metro on the Silver Line (get off at the Tysons station). The Dr. Seuss Experience is on level two of the mall, right next to Barnes & Noble and directly under AMC Theatres and the food court. Parking is free. The most convenient parking is in garage C (third level) or garage E (fourth level), where pedestrian bridges provide the most direct access to The Dr. Seuss Experience.

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The Cat in the Hat always has tricks up his sleeve.

2. Visiting The Dr. Seuss Experience with Kids

The Dr. Seuss Experience is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, who are at the best age for reading the books. But older kids (and grown-ups!) who have fond memories of Dr. Seuss books will also enjoy it. Nothing is scary or pops out, and there are no disorienting light effects or strobe lights. The Mirror Maze might be somewhat intimidating to little ones, but there are arrows directing you to a quick exit if needed.

All ages are welcome to the exhibit, and children must be accompanied by an adult. The whole exhibit is also wheelchair-accessible. Strollers are not allowed, but there is convenient stroller parking inside.

NOTE: There are no bathrooms—I repeat, no bathrooms—inside the experience, and re-entry is not allowed. So, make sure to visit the bathroom beforehand! There is a restroom on the same level as the experience inside Barnes & Noble.

3. Length of The Dr. Seuss Experience and Gift Shop

The Dr. Seuss Experience estimates that a visit will last approximately 60 minutes, and we found that to be accurate. There is a gift shop at the end of the exhibit, but it is a bit tucked away and can be avoided if you'd rather skip it. The gift shop includes exclusive merchandise from the experience, a big range of Dr. Seuss books, stuffed animals (Grinch, anyone?), and more.

4. Buying Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase online, and you can also buy them in person at the door. Weekday admission prices are slightly cheaper than weekend admission. You can also save money by selecting a specific admission time instead of a flexible anytime pass. Infants 12 months and younger are free. Discounts are available for active military, police, teachers, healthcare workers, and seniors (65+) with a valid ID.

All photos taken by the author