CMOG has a chance for national recognition

After focusing on the nation's coolest small towns, Budget Travel magazine has moved on to can't miss attractions and the Corning Museum of Glass has a chance to make the list. Our Bill Mich went to find out if kids believe it should be.

One of the 15 Places Kids Should Visit Before 15 could be right in our backyard. Budget Travel Magazine is asking for reader's to vote on the master list. There are hundreds of nominations, but right now the Corning Museum of Glass is in the top 35. The CMOG probably won't catch places like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Budget Travel's voting, but it could have enough to offer kids to crack the list.

"Kids love the interactives here. So, you see behind me, our innovation center, which is our hands on area. Kids really love this area. They love the live glass blowing and they are memorized by the fire and the activity, and it is not something they typically see any place else," said CMOG Communications Manager, Yvette Sterbenk.

And while interactive displays certainly draw a crowd, it seems that almost everything in the museum can capture a kids attention.

"We've seen a lot of the other glass exhibits. There is a lot of vases and stuff on display along with paper weights. It's a really cool place," said 9-year-old Nathan Bulger.

And there is an educational factor at the Corning Museum of Glass breaking the stereotype of kids hating to learn anything outside of school.

"When you come here and look at all this art you find out that it's not that easy but it is actually very unique and very interesting," said 11-year-old Savannah Hellinger.

Voting on Budget Travel's list will be ending soon and the museum has some ground to make up but it seems CMOG has an ace in the hole that may garner some votes.

"The hot glass show. That was impressing. It was really cool," Bulger said.

Voting ends at the end of the month for the top 15 Places Kids Should Visit Before 15, so time will tell whether or not the Corning Museum of Glass can capture a national spotlight.