When I was invited to bring my family to Boston to visit the Museum of Science, I didn’t hesitate. We had been meaning to take the kids for a long time but kept postponing it. This trip was the perfect opportunity.
I have many fond memories of the Museum of Science in Boston from my own childhood. I used to go with my dad and brother, and I even spent the night there once as a Girl Scout, curled up by the train display and talking with my friend for hours. I also remembered the striking kinetic ball sculpture, officially called the Audiokinetic Sculpture.
Knowing my 10-year-old Nathan is a science enthusiast, I was sure he would love the visit. We live in New Hampshire about 1.5 hours away, so we planned a full day at the museum, which I recommend if you want to see everything.
We chose a Monday hoping to avoid weekend crowds, but I had forgotten about school field trips and the museum was packed with students. That made parts of the visit crowded and a little chaotic, so choose your day carefully if you can.
We began in the Discovery Center, the area designed for younger children. It features hands-on exhibits, a few live animals, and water play. While it was geared toward younger kids than Nathan, our younger children—especially Joshua and Luke—enjoyed it immensely.
Next we explored the Blue Wing, where much of the museum’s main exhibits are located. Although many displays are aimed at older students and adults, the museum includes interactive, moving exhibits that engage younger visitors as well.
A highlight is the Lightning! presentation, which demonstrates indoor lightning bolts while explaining electric charge and storm safety. It’s loud and dramatic, so younger children may be frightened by the thunderous sounds; Nate enjoyed it, but we had to step out with the littlest ones when it got too noisy.
One favorite area for our kids was the dinosaur exhibit. The children were thrilled—having watched dinosaur shows at home—and loved seeing real fossils, a Triceratops skeleton, and a full-scale Tyrannosaurus rex model.
They WERE having fun, I promise. At this point, it was lunch time & the kids were getting tired & hungry.
We ate lunch at the museum café. My tip: bring your own food if possible. The café is convenient but pricey, and the quality was just so-so. After lunch we headed to the Charles Hayden Planetarium.
The planetarium offers many family-friendly shows. We watched Big Bird’s Adventure: One World, One Sky, and the children loved seeing Sesame Street characters explore the stars and moon. The show encourages kids to answer questions and participate, which made it especially engaging for Emily and Joshua.
We didn’t visit the Omni theater this time since available films weren’t suitable for our youngest children, but it’s an excellent experience for older kids and adults when the programming matches your group.
After the planetarium, more school groups were leaving and the museum became less crowded, which made the rest of our visit much more relaxed. Staff and volunteers throughout the museum were friendly and helpful—one volunteer even assisted the kids in assembling a human body puzzle.
There are countless hands-on exhibits spread across the floors. On the Blue Wing’s lower level you’ll find mechanical displays: model trains, piston demonstrations, a helicopter engine, and other engineering exhibits. There’s also space exploration content for budding astronauts.
One of the children’s favorite interactive areas was the Science in the Park exhibit, which demonstrates the physics of playground equipment. Kids can try swings, see-saws, and other activities while learning the science behind them. Emily and Nathan even tried the “bed of nails” demonstration, which was a big hit.
I took nearly a thousand photos, so narrowing them down was difficult. Here are a few more favorites from our visit.
We ended our day relaxing by the Audiokinetic Sculpture, watching the continual movement of the balls through the structure—a peaceful way to finish a busy, exciting visit.
A few practical notes: admission covers many exhibits, but several special experiences—such as the Butterfly Exhibit, 3-D Digital Cinema, Simulator Experience, Omni Theater, and some planetarium shows—require an additional fee. Adult admission and child admission prices may feel steep, especially for younger children, so consider budgeting accordingly or bringing your own snacks and lunch.
Overall, the Museum of Science is an excellent place to spend a day learning, exploring, and making memories. It’s particularly rewarding for children around age 10 and up, though younger kids will find plenty to enjoy as well. Nathan declared it one of the best days of his life—high praise from a budding scientist!
Thanks to the Museum of Science for a memorable family day out.