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Educational Destinations
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Museum of Science and Industry
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, INDIANAPOLIS STAR AND AP PHOTOS
Musical Instrument Museum
Pursuit of knowledge
5 educational family travel destinations
LYNN O’ROURKE HAYES | FamilyTravel.com
Supercharge your family’s brain power with a visit to these dynamic destinations. Here are five compelling museums and educational locations to consider.
1 U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER
Huntsville, Alabama
Experience the Discovery Shuttle simulator, feel the force of gravity in the G-Force Accelerator and peruse one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia in the world.
Check out the Science of Guinness World Records exhibit, to uncover stories of talent and tenacity behind the longest, farthest, deepest or highest records on the planet. rocketcenter.com
2 MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
Monterey, California
Monterey Bay Aquarium aims to inspire conservation through interactive activities and exhibits designed for families. Learn about the delicate marine balance that exists today and get an upclose look at curious creatures in the touch pool. You’ll all enjoy seeing playful sea otters, learning about wetlands and observing the Giant Pacific Octopus. montereybayaquarium.org
3 MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
Chicago
Encouraging curiosity and celebrating questions, this museum is the place to see a German submarine, understand how tornadoes and avalanches happen and explore the structure of the eye.
Discover the mathematical patterns that surround us every day in the natural world — from the delicate, nested spirals of a sunflower’s seed to the ridges of a majestic mountain range, in a compelling exhibit called Numbers in Nature. Then make your way to the Whispering Gallery to understand how sound travels in different environments. A theater and handson exhibits further enhance the experience. msichicago.org
4 THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis
Spreading 29 acres with more than 472,900 feet of exhibit space on five floors, this extraordinary nonprofit institution has been entertaining and educating families since 1925. Considered the largest children’s museum in the world, kids can learn about the day-to-day duties of astronauts and get inspired by the powerful stories of other children including Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, Ryan White and Malala Yousafzai. Families are charmed by a historic carousel and inspired by exhibits that explain how plant science can help the world by cleaning up oil spills and cultivating healthy food. childrensmuseum.org
5 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
Phoenix
This unique museum enables families to see and experience more than 3,000 instruments and artifacts from around the world. Live performances, family-friendly festivals and a wide array of lectures and classes are available.
See the Steinway piano on which John Lennon composed “Imagine” as well as the instruments of Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and George Benson. Wireless headsets allow guests to see and hear exhibits throughout the museum.
Kids will enjoy the Experience Gallery, where they can touch, play and hear instruments from far away cultures. themim.org
