One of the really fun things we did during our quick trip to Charlotte a few weeks ago was check out Discovery Place KIDS, a newer spinoff of the Discovery Place science museum that I remember fondly from my own childhood. My mom took the day off work to come along (it was her suggestion in the first place), and my sister-in-law Cindy is still on maternity leave so she and Lucas were able to join us too while baby Thomas stayed home with Cindy’s mom.
Discovery Place KIDS was so cool! We haven’t managed to make it to the Houston Children’s Museum yet, but from what I can tell they are pretty similar places — lots of fun activities for the toddler-to-elementary age group.
This car was parked next to a bank set-up, complete with vacuum tube system that the kids could send from the car to the “teller” station on the other side of the wall. (Please excuse Emma, who was yet again not in the mood to smile for pictures. At least Lucas looks cute!)
Both kids loved the grocery store setup. There was even a conveyor belt as part of the checkout area, so Jose was turning the crank to move the food down the belt as Emma put each item on the counter. She loves to do this when we go to HEB already, so it was fun to have one at her level.
Mom taught her how to climb a ladder — with mixed success — in a room that had a whole “under the sea” theme going on.
And of course no kid’s museum is complete without a lego wall…
…or an airplane!
I didn’t get a ton of photos of Emma and Lucas together because, well, they were often off and running in two entirely different directions! We stayed for a couple hours until naptime beckoned, but I think these two could have been perfectly entertained all day long. We definitely need to check out the Houston equivalent — and hopefully we’ll go again one of the next times we’re in Charlotte!
I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but you may want to buy a membership at your local science center. Most museums have reciprocity with other museums around the country, and the world. We have saved hundreds of dollars each year because we stop a science center or two nearly every time we travel. Many places give you free admission, or at the very least, half off!
I think you mentioned this when we met a few weeks ago, but I haven’t been able to find out whether any Houston museums participate!