If money is tight and a traditional vacation isn’t in the family budget chances are you’re still searching for ideas to keep the kids happy. A family daytrip could be just what your family needs. A trip to a children’s museum can be an affordable, ideal option, and can be enjoyed even in inclement weather.
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, in North Texas, offers several museums under one roof and has something for every member of the family. The Cattle Raisers Museum celebrates the history of the cattle industry and the accomplishments of Texas and Southwestern cattle raisers over the past 150 years. The Energy Blast Museum is geared towards older children and features interactive energy resource exhibits.
The Children’s Museum
The Fort Worth Children’s Museum is also located inside the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Children can observe and learn about amphibians, play in an outdoor water area, and construct a train in the block-building site. Parents will appreciate the resource room and nursing station.
Digging for dinosaurs
The DinoLab is a 3,700 square foot gallery where children can experiment with dinosaur fossils and bones by using microscopes and other scientific equipment. Visitors can also explore the sandy grounds of DinoDig to search for authentic local fossils of shark teeth, clams, snails and more.
Omni IMAX theatre and Nobel Planetarium
Housed in the same building as the museum is the Omni IMAX Theater. With its innovative, tilted dome and 120 foot wide screen, the Omni puts viewers in the middle of the action. Films featuring underwater sea adventure, twister tornadoes, the Hubble space shuttle and full-length movies treat visitors to engaging cinematic adventure.
The Nobel Planetarium seats 90 guests and incorporates cutting-edge technology. Visitors to the planetarium can choose from star-filled programs, weekend laser nights, monthly star parties and other scheduled special events.
Discounts available
Admission to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is $14 for adults and $10 for children. Generous discounts are available with the purchase of combination tickets and yearly memberships. Consider purchasing a membership if you think your family will visit often because these can be a cost-effective option. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has several family membership levels with fees between $65 and $500.
Locating a children’s museum near you
If you don’t live in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area don’t despair. There are hundreds of children’s museums across the country. Doing a quick search on the Association of Children’s Museum’s website will provide an extensive list of museums organized by state. The accompanying clickable websites make it easy to find information on individual museums.
Children’s museums provide a wealth of fun and educational opportunities for children of all ages. Rather than taking a look-but-don’t-touch approach, like most traditional museums, children’s museums encourage hands-on experience with interactive exhibits, computerized learning, scientific experiments and so much more.
Susan Barton - Susan Barton writes articles, Web content and more. Please visit her at http://www.lovesleftovers.com and ...
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