Have you ever visited a place that you just don’t want to leave? That is what the feeling you will experience at The Natural Science Center in Greensboro, NC. The museum is a great experience for all ages, even adults!
The museum is spread out on two levels with a pendulum in the center of the lobby. There are stairs and an elevator for your convenience. On the top level is the Thessaraus Shop-a gift shop with neat souveniers and gadgets for all ages. You will find a variety of toys and activities that are on display throughout the museum in the gift shop available for purchase. The upper level also has the children’s corner, entrance to the zoo, indoor animals, restrooms, dinosaur exhibit, rock room, traveling exhibit and other great exhibits. The lower level is home to all kinds of critters. From spiders and snakes to turtles and fish, you won’t want to miss seeing them all. There are classrooms on the lower level where volunteers take the snakes out of their cages and show the public. The lower level also has restrooms and a snack room.
For the rock lover, the museum offers a room full of rocks and fossils. There are rocks of every kind and size. You will be able to see everything from diamonds to amethysts. The museum also has a smaller room that is dark with blacklights, and you can see the glowing rocks.
The museum has a traveling exhibit that changes periodically throughout the year. They have previosuly had a monster truck exhibit, an exhibit on huge bugs and other interesting topics. Coming to the museum is never the same experience twice!
Many types of snakes have made their homes at the science center. There is a room with all different kinds of snakes. From big boa constrictors and pythons to king snakes, there is sure to be a snake that suits your fancy! The museum has volunteers that are available to take the snakes out of their cages for you to hold or touch. Hand sanitizer is available, too. Across from the snake room is a dim room with aquariums. The room is very relaxing with sounds of waterfalls and fish.
Upstiars there are classrooms that various programs are held in. Times are listed on the door as to what presentation is going to be given on a particular day.
The dinosaur room is always a favorite. It is not everyday that you come face to face with a real-life dinosaur. Crayons and paper are available for drawings and stencil tracing of the dinosaurs. Fossils , fish bones, snake skeletons and plant impressions are also available for viewing.
As you walk through the hallways, you will find many items from the past. Phonographs, old dental offices and such are just a few of the many interesting antiques the museum has.
Children love the area of play that the museum has set up. Climbing structures allow children to run their steam off! Their is a grocery section with cash registers, pretend food and shopping carts. A house with babies and other pretend items is always fun. How about playing in the water? There is a water play section where you can make different paths for the boats to travel and see what type of current makes your boat travel faster or slower. Concave and convex mirrors always keep young minds wondering why they look so different. A room is reserved for younger children as well. Inside smaller kids will find books, puzzles, age appropriate toys, puppets and other fun activities.
The museum has just opened up an outdoor zoo. There are supposed to be a wide variety of animals available for viewing. Inside you will see little critters like lemurs. Outside, you can help feed the animals or visit the animals inside the barn.
A day at the museum is a fun day for sure. Family season passes are available to save money on subsequent visits.
