The museum at Earlham College has an amazing collection of fossils and artifacts. The museum is…read morefree and open to the public. It is usually only opened in the afternoons. Although small, they have a complete allosaurus, mastodon, giant sloth, giant beaver and much, much more. You can get close up to the exhibits. They also have a great display of Ordovician fossils with descriptions. You can find many birds and other small mammal specimens native to Indiana. The staff is knowledgable and friendly. They offer tours and programs for kids as well. Nicole was our guide and she was engaged and had a passion for the museum. They have a small gift shop with educational items. If you pass through Richmond, Indiana, this needs to be in your to do list. What a great experience and opportunity to see world class specimens.

Absolutely worth the visit! My children were pulled into the portions of the exhibit that are hands…read moreon! It can seem quick at a child's speed of looking through the exhibits. I think every corner is utilized in a learning experience. They have reptiles too! Something worth looking into are the 'trail talks' the museum offers during warmer weather. My kids will not stop talking about the fossils they collected while on a trail talk lead by two Earlham students. So much fun, but worth wearing the right gear and packing water. *Yes, you do need to wear a mask and show your vaccination card to enter the museum. It is on campus, and therefore abides by protocol of trying to keep campus as safe as possible for everyone.

Came to see the solar eclipse and just happened to find out the observatory was hosting a viewing…read more We set up a little place on the lawn and the event was so fun with so many other people. Super informative and made me appreciate what was happening while it was happening. I didn't know what to expect, but there was someone to guide us through the entire experience--letting us know what we were seeing, what to notice, when to keep our glasses on and when it was safe to remove them. 10/10 experience. So cool. There were telescopes to look through and stations set up where kids could color. And assistants to answer questions or tell us more about eclipses. TL;DR i'm starstruck. Super cool stuff happening here & very informative in an accessible way.

This is an amazing place for children and adults alike. Now I still have not mastered parking here…read moreon the Butler campus, but a guess when I park in one of the permit areas, my prayers have been answered and I have not been ticketed or towed (knock on wood). I visited here on one of their open house nights as part of a girl scout troop trip. The staff was very friendly, energetic, enthusiastic and showed a real passion for astronomy. The open house is in 2 parts. The first part is the movie in the planetarium. The theater is very nice, but also very small and fills up quickly. The movie they showed was awesome and gave the background on the US versus Russia space race and some information on the moon landing and space station. It was well put together and very informational. My little and I really enjoyed it. They followed the up with a simulation of the Indiana night sky and an explanation of some constellations and the origins of the Orion constellation. The second part was actually going up to the observatory and look through the huge telescope. It was a line, but moves at a steady pace. I would say I waited about 30 minutes or so. It was nice to look through the telescope and see specific constellations. They moved the telescope to see different stars and planets throughout the moving of the line. Luckily, it was a clear night and we were able to see a lot That is not always the case so I would check it out before I go. Some people would double back in the line, cutting offf some people that have not viewed yet to see the telescope again after it had been moved and out on a new star or planet. I think once you viewed, you should have to go all the way to the back of teh line and get a second viewing after everyone has had attest one. But, that is just my opinion. I highly recommend getting here early because they sell out quick and you may be offered a later showing, at best. Part of my group was a little late and werer told that they could come back at 9PM. They decided to just go home as that was a bit late for them and their little. The inside of the observatory has a lot of symbolism and meaning which was explained during our tour. They had a small telescope set up outside on the front walkway that were are able to see a very clear image of the moon. It was amazing. The place is available to be rented out for groups, at a very reasonable price, but you will not get to see the telescope because available rental times are during the daylight hours. I recommend checking this place out. It is as fun as it is educational. I was like a big kid here.

I've been to two Moonlight events and will go back for future ones as well!…read more Is so nice to see everyone dressed up in themes and having fun like kids again! The food and drinks are always a hit! I love the small bites and samples of food and trying new places I might not have otherwise. The event is a fund raiser for a good cause so that makes it even better! Each year the theme is different. One event was roaring 20s and the next was enchantment. Nice thing is that you can do as little or as much as you want with the theme. I've seen people go all the way into a character and people dress casually. The only sore spot is when a place runs out of food. Especially early in the evening and you didn't get a chance to try. But there are so many spots to sample and also tons of games and activities and photo ops all around.

Everything about this event was easy. Parking was free. There was a slight line to get in but what…read moreelse can you expect when you get there on time. Getting in was great. They had enough people scanning tickets that we flew in. Just in general would recommend. It was nice having a 21+ event since I don't have children and don't really have an excuse to go to a children's museum. There were a lot of people there and we didn't run into a single mean person. So that part was great too! A nice extra thing- all the food vendors giving away samples. I got to try all kinds of food in Indy that I haven't tried yet and some of my old favorites too.

We loved our day trip to the Indy Children's Museum. You could spend hours here. My kids absolutely…read moreloved the "dinosaurs who hit the building." We went on a Sunday so it was not super busy which was great. There are a ton of interactive exhibits. Our favorite part of the museum was the amazing sports complex. It offered every sport you could imagines so my kids got to play basketball, soccer, baseball, peddle cars. There was also a really neat treehouse there as well. It was a great outdoor experience. We did not get to see all the floors but were very impressed by what we did see. I do want to note that they do not offer reciprocity with other museum passes so we did have to pay full price.

This is easily the best children's museum in the country. We live in Georgia and have annual passes…read moreto the Indianapolis Children's Museum just because it is so incredible that it's worth the flight. Inside has intricate, rotating exhibits that are hands-on and informational at a level that all ages can appreciate. Outdoors is a huge sports complex featuring a track, a racecourse, realistic mini fields and courts as well as several putt putt courses for all skill levels. It's a little more weather dependent but truly amazing. The whole museum is so well maintained and staffed by thoughtful, caring people who really seem to enjoy their jobs and are always willing and able to help. Food is relatively affordable but the best food is bar far the tacos outside. My only complaint is that lately the bees (or wasps or whatever) have been really bad near the restaurant, and will literally try to eat anything, even cheese or chicken. They are ruthless. If they're bad when you come, grab food outside and take it indoors to the bee-free cafeteria.

This place is a gem of a find! My friend got tickets from a silent auction and I went along with…read moreher. They do have private parking, but the lot is small and it was surprisingly busy on a Saturday afternoon! We checked in and chose the audio option and also a one page scavenger hunt for each room, which helped to dig into the houses a bit more. I was shocked at the level of detail! So much love and work went into these houses. I was in awe of some of the work completed in them. I definitely had my favorite! You can also buy all sorts of pieces to work on your own house too. My friend is redoing her childhood house for her niece so it was a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Definitely something to check out!

This place was so interesting! Walking in you are immediately greeted by staff who asked if we…read morewanted to do a scavenger hunt between our group of friends or if we just wanted to walk around. We chose scavenger hunt and at the end got a prize of our choosing (something miniature). The entire place is pretty antique. Very detailed mini houses with their own theme are in each room. You really have to come here with time on your hands to be able to really look at each house and the intricacies it has. There are small figurines and some of these houses I know sure took so much time!! Not only to plan but to collect the individual pieces to go along with it. Very cool. If you ever have time to visit- I highly recommend you do.

Filled out their on line request for dates for a home school group to attend the facility, I was…read morecharged twice for their 50$ non refundable deposit, had to go to my bank and fill out forms to get half of that back. I am still out 50$ and nobody has responded to multiple phone calls or email. Still not dates set. Clearly this place is a scam.

Space: The Final Frontier...conveniently brought to you in the comfort of your chair inside Drake…read morePlanetarium. A staple of Cincinnati since 1982, Drake Planetarium puts on weekly galaxy shows and laser shows on the weekend. Tucked away inside the fourth floor of Norwood High School, this large room can accommodate up to 70 visitors per show and is great for science nerds young and old. Galaxy shows take place on Sunday afternoons, but the biggest draw, the laser shows, are offered every Friday and Saturday night. Three, hour-long shows are offered, each of a different theme. - Laser Beatles, Laser Retro, and Laser Vinyl - Holiday Skies, Laser Metallica, and Laser Zeppelin - Laser Pink Floyd "Dark Side" and "The Wall" These combinations rotate frequently, so be sure to check the schedule for your show. Or make an evening of it and watch all three shows back-to-back. http://www.drakeplanetarium.org/Family/spec_events.html Expect more from the laser shows than zig-zagging lights. Animated images are projected onto the dome that move along with the lyrics in the music. Pretty cool! If you're looking for a night out with space and laser geekery, blast off with Drake Planetarium! Cost per person: $10.00

Found this place on Groupon which k always check when I'm in a new place. It was $14 for two people…read moreso why not? I will say if you are a big science lover this one is not for you. There are a lot of kid activities but unless it gets updated one visit will be enough. I think it has potential to be great but there are about half of the items that were broken or stuff out that shouldn't be out, areas not closed off. There were a few cool things but i definitely wouldn't go back unless it was updated.

My kids love this place. There are a lot of things to do and explore. They enjoyed the slides,…read moremotion dancing theater.

This is one cool museum focused on NASA, traveling to the moon and on Neil Armstrong…read more There is a lot to see including the Gemini spacecraft, historical photos, a moon rock, space suits, flight simulators, a movie on the Apollo 11 flight to the moon, Neil Armstrong life, and on & on. It's worth stopping & taking it all in.

We enjoyed our visit to a museum celebrating the life and achievements of astronaut Neil Armstrong…read moreand the times of the "space race" culminating in the Apollo moon missions. This is a very Ohio-centric experience with mentions of the many other Ohioans who have also been in outer space. The museum is thoughtfully laid out, includes a few interactive exhibits, has a big parking lot including a covered picnic area, and is fully handicap accessible. Many fascinating artifacts such as the spacecraft tool kit, space foodstuffs, and even, uh, an article used by the astronauts to go to the bathroom. Also a lovely collection of artwork. And of course, the moon rock. The 30-minute documentary is a must. It plays continuously in a little theatre, so if you come in half way through just stay put and wait for the replay. It is very moving in that it captures the unity of the country in following the amazing mission to the moon as President Kennedy had determined it would happen before the decade was out. If you have any memory of the moon landings you will get a little teary-eyed. The walkway to enter the little theatre gives you the impression you're floating in space surrounded by millions of stars! They also have recordings of the crew of Apollo 8 (commanded by Jim Lovell of Ohio) broadcasting the Bible reading "in the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth..." They were the first human beings to see the earth from that vantage point. This was also thrilling to hear. We took our time to read the various information cards by each exhibit so out visit took about 90 minutes. I wish there was a bit more to see and/or that the film was longer. I feel the admission is a bit on the high side. But nonetheless I'm glad we went. Within a mile of the museum are some local photo ops: a statue of a friendly waving Neil Armstrong, and a giant space helmet reproduction with imprint of the moon footprint and other things. Space-related stuff all over this town. Fun!

This is a fun museum! It's a nice compact building with two floors that cover a variety of topics…read moreto explore and plenty of hands-on activities. I definitely recommend taking note of the program schedule on their social media or when you first arrive, because the programs add a lot of fun to the day, particularly for older elementary kids. Even better, all of these are included in your entrance fee, no nickeling and diming here! We attended a planetarium show with an astronomer who narrated a trip around the universe's moons, hands-on experiments for ages 5+ in the Do Lab on exothermic and endothermic reactions, a science theater show on the fire triangle, and an animal encounter with an opossum on the Discovery Zoo Vet Stage. All of these were really excellent and amongst our favorite parts of the visit. In between shows, we explored the many galleries and spaces available. There are some really nice little kid spaces where they can get hands on and do pretend play, like a play pizza kitchen, working with animals like a vet, and the solid waste exhibit (recycling truck). There's a toy brick area with neat Lego displays and hands-on Duplo building. For the dino fans, there's a paleo lab with fossils on display and paleontologists working in a lab with windows where you can observe what they do. (Note - this was trickier to find - the door is off of the museum restaurant, the Eco Eatery). The Treehouse is a really nice and quieter space, as it encourages birdwatching with binoculars and bird feeders. The water play area was a hit although it was missing a couple of pieces for some of the hands-on activities. For the older kids there are some more reading-heavy informational panels in exhibits on topics like Ancient Egypt (they have a mummy on display), the Sonoran Desert, or the multi-space space rooms around the planetarium on the sun, the universe, and the exoplanets. There's a mini zoo on the second floor, with a lot of neat animals to see. We must have been there at the right time, because a lot of them were very active, such as the river otters, the naked mole rats, and the new toucan. The two story climbing tower immediately catches eyes and offers a fun way to access the different levels. It even has a section that goes up higher than the second floor, plus a number of slides of varying heights to try out. Because of the breadth of areas contained in Boonshoft, they have what may be the most impressive list of reciprocal agreements I think I may have seen at one place. If you have a membership to your local science museum, zoo, or kids museum, it's worth asking when you come in if they have an agreement with them. We got 50% off on the spot through our zoo membership, which was nice. There's a nice sized parking lot out front, and the many staff members we interacted with were very helpful and informative. You can bring in food or utilize the restaurant on-site. In addition to the restaurant seating, there is a good seating area in a room across the hall with some nice windows where you can enjoy a packed meal.

I haven't been here in years! We used to bring the kids here for the playground but the entire…read moremuseum is super cool. Lots of spaces to wander thru, lots of eye catching displays to keep you entertained and elevate use of your brain. The waterway is one of may favorite parts of the museum and glad it's still up and running 20+ years later. We actually went to watch the Mesmerica 360 show in the dome theater. That was rather mundane to me but that's not the fault of the museum. My biggest peeve of the visit was seeing the us flag was still being masted when it is in tatters. I posted in my 'check in' and I will post again here in my review that it's time to retire this flag and replace with a fresh replacement. Whomever is in charge of the grounds here should be embarrassed. Please do better.