The multilevel complexes of Boston’s Museum of Science and New Haven’s Connecticut Science Center are well-known places for family travelers looking to explore technology, engineering, nature and the wonders of the earth and sky. That being said, New England also boasts a number of smaller science centers and museums closer to home that engage children through hands-on exploration.
Massachusetts
- Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (Brewster): Nature trails, hands-on exhibits, an aquarium where kids learn about whales, birds, fish, shellfish, frogs and the Cape’s archaeology and Native American presence
- The EcoTarium (Worcester): Indoor and outdoor activities include permanent and traveling exhibits, a planetarium and wildlife
Vermont
- Montshire Museum of Science (Norwich): More than 150 exhibits and hands-on activities covering all fields of science, nature and technology, including nature trails along the Connecticut River
- ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (Burlington): Interactive spaces explore the lake, showcase frogs from six continents (including the world’s most poisonous frog) and explore the geology of the Champlain Basin; there’s also a hands-on discovery center for younger children
New Hampshire
- Seacoast Science Center (Rye): Located on the Gulf of Maine, with exhibits exploring the world of saltwater creatures, from viewing marine organisms under a microscope to films on undersea exploration
- SEE Science Center (Manchester): Changing immersive exhibits enable kids to explore electricity, light, sound, magnetism, gravity, the solar system and more
- McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (Concord): A museum memorial to Alan Shepard and Christa McAuliffe filled with immersive air and space experiences, including flight simulators and major planetarium shows
Rhode Island
- RIMOSA: Rhode Island Museum of Science & Art (Providence): Hands-on, open-ended exhibits to help kids see the world as scientists and artists do, as well as teaching kids how to engage in creative problem solving
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