Museum of Science

Description:

• For the ultimate pain-free educational experience, head to the Museum of Science. The demonstrations, experiments, and interactive displays introduce facts and concepts so effortlessly that everyone winds up learning something. Take a couple of hours or a whole day to explore the permanent and temporary exhibits, most of them hands-on and all of them great fun.

  Among the 500-plus exhibits, you might meet a dinosaur or a live butterfly, find out how much you'd weigh on the moon, battle urban traffic (in a computer model), or climb into a space module. Activity centers and exhibits focus on fields of interest -- natural history (with live animals), computers, the human body -- while others take an interdisciplinary approach. Investigate! teaches visitors to think like scientists, formulating questions, finding evidence, and drawing conclusions through activities such as strapping on a skin sensor to measure reactions to stimuli or sifting through an archaeological site. Beyond the X-Ray explores medical-imaging techniques and allows would-be diagnosticians to try to figure out what's ailing their "patients." The Science in the Park exhibit introduces the concepts of Newtonian physics through familiar objects such as playground equipment and skateboards. Temporary exhibits change regularly, and just about any major touring show (national or international) that focuses on a scientific topic stops here.The separate-admission theaters are worth planning for. Even if you're skipping the exhibits, try to see a show. If you're making a day of it, buy all your tickets at once -- shows sometimes sell out. The Mugar Omni Theater, which shows IMAX movies, is an intense experience, bombarding you with images on a five-story domed screen and digital sound. The engulfing sensations and steep pitch of the seating area will have you hanging on for dear life, whether the film is about Bengal tigers; the Nile; or volcanoes, earthquakes, and tornados. Features change every 4 to 6 months. The Charles Hayden Planetarium takes visitors into space with daily star shows and shows on special topics that change several times a year. On weekends, rock-music laser shows take over. At the entrance is a hands-on astronomy exhibit called Welcome to the Universe.

  The museum has a terrific gift shop, with toys and games that promote learning without lecturing. The ground-floor Galaxy Cafés have spectacular views of the skyline and river. There's a parking garage on the premises, but it's on a busy street, and entering and exiting can be harrowing; take the T.

  Gone Fishing -- The Museum of Science's Virtual FishTank uses 3-D computer graphics and character-animation software that allows visitors to design their own virtual fish. You can even "build" fish on your home computer (visit www.virtualfishtank.com) and launch them at the museum.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2009
•  Very Highly Recommended 2010