The Tool Box
Vermont is beautiful, but it also has a pretty foul temper when it comes to weather. I’m not talking about the snow. Snow is like a gift of manna from heaven for our state. Yes, it can leave you housebound, but it is always beautiful and it fuels our economy. We know who pays the bills and we welcome it like our crazy aunt, who requires a little bit more attention than most, but slips a fifty dollar bills in our hands when our parents aren’t looking.
Vermonts foul temper is displayed in the months between the last drop of crimson leaves and the first flake of winter. It shows itself again as the snow becomes rain, unrelenting and dark, in the spring and what we call mud season. Some years, Mother Nature finds delight in tricking us into feeling safe before she unleashes her latest prank, but mostly she is a consistently moody and difficult companion during these times.
I’m sure you are wondering what any of this has to do with the title of this post, but the reality is that if you live up here or are even just visiting with kids, it is important to have a really good toolbox for handling her latest tirade, which can stretch for months at a time. The Montshire Museum of Science is just one of those tools.
The Montshire Museum Of Science
The Montshire Museum of Science is located in Norwich, Vermont and nestled right up against the Connecticut River. It’s unassuming entrance leads to a full day of hands on, giggle inspiring, learning for children. This isn’t a museum with carefully curated, untouchable exhibits. The Montshire encourages exploration and touch, as a way to understand the science behind nature and physics. Running, jumping and squealing with delight, are all part of the fun.
Trails
The museum sits on over 100 acres of land, which allows for long trail and nature based exhibits. The Meadow Walk is perfect for young children and even has a hard packed walking surface to allow for strollers. It comes in at a third of a mile. The Planet Walk will take you past all the planets, in order, with fact filled signage at every turn. The Planet Walk comes in at 3 miles and is better suited for older kids and readers. The Ridge Trail, Blood Brooke Trail and Woodland Garden are all perfect options for children that no longer need a stroller and are comfortable walking on varied terrain.
More Outdoor fun
If you are visiting between May and October, you will have the added fun of the David Goudy Science Park. The park sits directly outside the main building and includes a 250 foot long water course that allows children to get hands on while exploring the power of water. Create floods or watch what happens to a ping pong ball as it careens down the course and then try again, while adding large rubber blocks to change the waters flow and direction. The first time I took my children they were two and five. Honestly, they could have spent the whole day playing in the David Goudy Science Park. As they got older, they began to enjoy more of the exhibits inside. Be prepared though. Your kids will be wet. Bring a towel and a change of clothes. They won’t care if its a cool sixty degree day, they WILL get wet.
The Museum
Inside the Montshire, you will find over 150 exhibits and over three stories of exploration. Ranging from bubble science to air flow, music and wildlife. My husband spent over twenty minutes trying to find the queen in the bee exhibit. This is a place for kids, but it is also a place where grown ups get to resume their childhoods and get back in touch with the curiosity of youth.
The Museum even has specific early morning hours that they call sensory friendly, for children who might struggle with too much sound and crowds. Hunter has become more comfortable with stimuli as he has gotten older, but I know many people who take advantage of these early hours. The Montshire is a easily a whole day of fun but keep in mind that there is no restaurant on the property, but now worries… I’ve got you covered.
(click below for a video)
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Norwich, Vermont
For those of you who love to bake or just eat, you will thrilled to discover that not only is Norwich home to the Montshire Museum of Science, but also King Arthur flour. King Arthur Flour, is in my opinion, one of the great exports of this amazing state and it is literally across from The Montshire Museum. Just head out of the drive and take a left, crossing under I 91 and then take your first left and its right there. Yes, you can spend an hour perusing their delicious mixes, (they have a very expansive selection of gluten free mixes) and baking must haves, from sanding sugars to baguette racks, but today you are there for lunch. The Cafe offers some delicious and good for you lunch options that are sure to please anyone. If you happen to be there during warmer weather, go ahead and take your freshly purchased meal to a table outside where your still not tired children can run around. This is localvore eating at its best. And since its so close to the Montshire, you can head right back over and finish your day.
Hanover, New Hampshire
The Connecticut river is the divider that runs between and defines the border of Vermont and New Hampshire. Norwich Vermont and the Montshire Museum of Science sit directly across the river from Hanover, New Hampshire. They are connected by a beautiful bridge that is worth crossing. You see, now that your children have spent a glorious day getting smarter at the Montshire, you can now take them to see one of the oldest and most prestigious Ivy League Colleges in the United States. Dartmouth College was founded in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock prior to the American Revolution. The acceptance rate is only 10% at Dartmouth so you may have to bring the littles to the Montshire a few more times, but even so, the little college town is full of charm and a great place to stroll and grab ice cream or even dinner. As you would expect in a college town there are a few lively pubs but if you have kids with an adventurous palate, Tapas and Thai can be found as well. I promise your kids will sleep like the dead and if you live here, I guarantee this day is the cure for cabin fever for at least a week!
A full day to say the least, but If you feel like you need even more to do in the area, check out my post on the Scott Farm Orchard, nearby in Dummerston, Vermont.
