Museum of Life and Science
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Museum of Life and Science stands out as the premier science museum in the Triangle region, consistently refreshing its offerings with new exhibits and features. It provides a vast array of hands-on indoor science experiences, combined with extensive outdoor exploration areas including wildlife habitats, multiple playgrounds, and water play. This makes it a versatile destination suitable for all ages and all weather conditions, encouraging frequent return visits.
Key Highlights
- ✓Extensive outdoor spaces featuring playgrounds, a music spot, a tree house, live animals (including a black bear observation window), a butterfly house (where butterflies land on kids), a sand pit, mist area, and a water play area.
- ✓Indoor exhibits on both levels focusing on 'think space,' science, building play, and crafts, all described as hands-on.
- ✓Continuously adding new exhibits and features, keeping visits 'fresh and exciting'.
- ✓Staff and volunteers are described as 'the bees knees' (excellent).
- ✓Membership offers significant savings for frequent visitors.
- ✓Large size, 'bigger than I expected', allowing for full-day enjoyment.
Standout Features
- ⭐Constant addition of new exhibits and features, ensuring repeat visits feel fresh.
- ⭐Large and diverse outdoor areas, including a mile of potential walking paths, a tree house/playground, various live animals, and water play.
- ⭐Interactive butterfly house where butterflies are observed landing on children.
- ⭐Specific animal encounters like seeing a black bear at an observation window.
- ⭐Indoor hands-on science exhibits across two levels, including 'think space,' building play, and crafts.
- ⭐Exceptional and helpful staff and volunteers.
- ⭐Membership option provides excellent value for money.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Always check the museum's website prior to visiting to confirm which exhibits are open, especially due to ongoing updates.
- →Consider purchasing a membership if you plan on visiting more than once, as it 'saves a lot of money'.
- →If you're local and just want to get energy out, visiting towards the end of the day (3:30-5 PM) is suggested as a 'good' time.
- →Don't be deterred if the parking lot sign says 'full'; parents are 'in and out', so spots often become available quickly.
- →Be prepared for limited food options; plan accordingly or bring specific 'mommy sneaky snacks' if needed.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Exhibits are currently undergoing updates, so parents should 'check the websites to see what is open' before visiting.
- ⚠Limited snack and food options available both outside and inside the museum. One reviewer wished for 'more snacks/food options' and specifically for 'chocolate and caramel'.
- ⚠On busy days like Saturdays, the parking lot can be full, and there might be a 'short wait to buy tickets'.
Price & Value
Membership is highly recommended as it 'saves a lot of money' for those planning multiple visits, indicating strong value for frequent attendees. General admission pricing is not mentioned, but the membership value is a significant positive.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific mention of accessibility features (e.g., wheelchair ramps, sensory-friendly hours, staff training for special needs) in the provided reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Food options are limited, with reviewers wishing for 'more snacks/food options' both inside and outside.
- •There is a 'good spot for lunch' outside, but the overall variety of food and snacks appears to be a point of concern for some parents.
🚗Parking Info
- •A dedicated parking lot is available.
- •On busy days like Saturdays, the lot can be 'full', but reviewers noted that 'parents are in and out', meaning spots typically become available quickly even if the sign indicates fullness.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Saturdays can lead to a full parking lot and a 'short wait to buy tickets'.
- •The period between 3:30-5 PM is suggested as a 'good' time, possibly implying lower crowd levels or easier flow at the end of the day.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features (e.g., wristbands, monitored play areas, first aid) are explicitly mentioned in the reviews, though the highly praised staff and volunteers would contribute to a safe environment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If specific exhibits are a primary reason for your visit, avoid going without first checking the website during renovation periods.
- • No explicit times or situations to avoid other than being prepared for potential crowds and full parking lots on Saturdays.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Try a New Hobby: Glass Coaster Design
Members $45, General Admission $50Design your own glass coaster. No experience needed.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Pumpkin Patch Express
Weekends in October, beginning September 27
$16 per person
Everyone’s favorite fall event is back! Celebrate Fall with a trip to the Museum’s pumpkin patch. Tickets on sale!
Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 – October 15
Included with admission
Celebrate with us, all month long! Celebrate Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month with us!
Try a New Hobby
September 27
Members $45, General Admission $50
Design your own glass coaster. No experience needed.
Kids Night Out
October 10, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (Check out our new dates!)
$40 for Museum Members, $45 for General Public
Drop your little ones off for a kids-only evening of hands-on fun after hours! A kids-only fun-filled evening of Museum exploration!
AfterHours: Science of Fear
October 30
$45 for General Public, $40 for Museum Members
Don’t be afraid! Grab your friends and celebrate Halloween at the Museum, AfterHours style!
Schools Out Camp
School is closed so Museum Camp is open! We offer day and week long camps.
Durham Community Day
October 7
Free for Durham County residents
On Durham Community Days, Durham County residents get in free with current proof of Durham address.
Teen Science Cafe
Oct. 7, Jan. 15, Mar. 16: 6 – 7 pm
Free!
Explore the wonders of STEM with other teens.
BooFest
October 25, 26, and 31
Included with admission
Wear your costumes and enjoy our Halloween celebration!
Teddy Bear Hospital
November 16
Included with admission
Bring your stuffed friend and learn about healthcare!
📅Booking Policy
- • Tickets on sale for Pumpkin Patch Express.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
S L-V
a week agoI have membership through my son’s book program. I have been a few times and finally went to the back of the museum today where the forestry things are such as the playgrounds and music spot. Check the websites to see what is open as the exhibits are currently being updated! Which is super exciting. There is still a lot to do. The kids really love the outdoor spaces and there is still things to do indoors on both levels in think space/science/ building play /crafts. There is also an exhibit up the hill, but I haven’t been to it yet I believe the food and butterfly exhibit are up there. We have always gotten parking in the parking lot even when the sign says full because parents are in and out. The end of day 3:30-5 seems to be good if you’re close by and you just want them to get energy out and do something different. The staff and volunteers are the bees knees. Just wish there were more snacks/food options in the museum outside and inside. Really needed a mommy sneaky snack chocolate and caramel lol
Nisha Thapa
a week agoWe love life and science museum. It’s our go to when it’s holiday or a weekend. We took Membership because it saves a lot of money. My son loves the sand pit, the mist and the wild life there. Very fun place if you want to enjoy your entire day. My son enjoyed the egg hunt during Easter.
Tori Lauck
a week agoHad a lot of fun here. We came on a Saturday. The parking lot was full. Was a short wait to vuy tickets. The place was bigger than I expected. The butterfly house was the main reason we came to visit. Mostly stuff for young kids to do. I highly recommend coming to visit. 🦋
Dave Cameron
2 months agoExcellent science museum intended primarily for children - yet adults can easily spend a couple of hours there. Several hands-on exhibits to experiment inside. Outside, there's about a mile of potential walking with a tree house/playground, several live animals, a butterfly house, a place to play in the water, and a good spot for lunch. Wide variety to meet all wants.
Francis Ferrell
3 months agoWithout a doubt this is the best science museum in the triangle, maybe even the state. They are always adding new exhibits and features, so coming again and again always feels fresh and exciting. On our most recent trip we saw the black bear right at the observation window and had several butterflies land on the kids at the butterfly house. There is a ton to do and see here for all ages and has indoor and outdoor areas, so you can come even when the weather is bad and still have a great time.