For family day this March, we went to Discovery Place Science. This is a science and natural history museum in Charlotte. It is very kid friendly, and is often a magnet for school groups.
We arrived around 11:30 in the morning, and went in the top level (where the accessible entrance is). That level is an interactive area where kids can make music and build things. It was WILD! It turns out that the day we went was the most busy we’ve ever seen the museum. I’d estimate there were easily 100 kids there from school groups, if not closer to 150.
Brad got some pictures of us walking across the bridge to the entrance, some of Felix and me in the music section, several of the three of us in front of a colored light panel, and one of Tam, Felix, and me in front of a painting of a robot on the wall.
We went to the middle floor next. That is always a busy floor with a physics area full of practical applications that kids have an amazing time trying out. It was so wild with kids that I got completely overwhelmed. We went down to the end of the floor, where I ended up snapping at Brad I was so overstimulated. As a side note, my new therapist is working with me on getting out of that overwhelmed place without getting mad at Brad (as is my habit).
Brad and Tam went into the rainforest room, which Felix is not allowed into. It’s a room where wild birds and other rainforest animals like turtles etc live in a jungle environment. I love that room, and am sad service dogs are no longer allowed in there. They got some good pictures of Tam on the rope bridge, of the two of them in the jungle, of a parrot, and of Tam telling me about it afterwards. Brad and Tam offered to hold Felix and let me go in, but I didn’t want to be separated from Felix.
While they were in there, I took a little video of Felix walking next to my wheelchair. It’s my last video from the outing to post, and I will post it next week. When I do, I’ll edit this blog entry and put it here. The text in the video talks about not petting or talking to service dogs.
We checked out the space exhibit next. It wasn’t so overrun with kids, so was a bit better. I “rode” in a space elevator, which was fun. I wanted to fly like a bird, but there were too many kids doing it so I couldn’t get a turn. They had lots of cool exhibits about space stuff, which we enjoyed looking at. Brad only got a few pictures in this area, mostly of me riding the space elevator, and one good one of Felix and me.
I also got him to take a video of Felix walking next to my wheelchair around the exhibit. I carried Felix almost the whole time we were there, apart from the videos we took. I like videos of him walking next to me, but really it was too crowded for him to be down the whole time. Here is that video. The text discusses how small dogs can make ideal service dogs.
We found a little section of the museum that was deserted, and devoted to a photography art contest they recently had. It was very cool to see such great art! We had a really nice time in this section, there were zero kids! We all found art we liked, and enjoyed the quiet. Tam took a video of Felix walking next to me, and there are words that explain that psychiatric service dogs are real service dogs.
And here are the pictures Brad took in that part of the museum. They show us posing with various photos of the natural world, including lightning bugs, lizards, and other bugs.
The health hallway was next, where we got pictures of us talking with an AI interface, trying to ask it questions like if it feels love (which it refused to answer!). Also we got pictures of a 3D modeling screen, where I held Felix up to get him modeled, a vein finder, and glass neurons.
From there, we braved the physics section of the museum, which was arguably the most crowded! Kids were EVERYWHERE, screaming, running, doing all the things in the exhibits. It was so wild I can’t even describe it. Tam wanted to walk around and see the exhibits even if we couldn’t do any of them because they were full of kids. I didn’t even get to do the bed of nails which I ALWAYS do at this museum! Brad got some pictures in this section of the museum, but not many. He got a few of Felix and me, and a couple of Tam making a face and smiling.
After braving that mess, we decided to eat a late lunch in the museum cafe. They have a variety of gluten free options there, which is great! Brad had a turkey sandwich, I had a French onion grilled cheese sandwich, and Tam had a Na’an pizza with chicken and pesto sauce. It was all good food, and we enjoyed the break! Brad got pictures of Felix on my wheelchair, and Tam got a good one of Brad and me, and a silly one of Brad and me.
Of course we had to visit the gift shop, which was right next to the cafe! I really wanted some freeze dried space candy, but it was $14 a bag! So that was a big no! We enjoyed looking at all the strange balls, jewelry, geodes, and so on. Brad got a couple pictures of Tam kissing a frog magnet.
Outside of the gift shop, there is an art wall where the space you take up is differently colored. We got several pictures in front of that wall!
The frog exhibit was next. We spent a long time finding the frogs in almost every cage! One frog was not doing too well, but most of the frogs were very happy and fun to watch!
The natural history room was right next to the frogs, with lots of taxidermy and bones. We had fun in there, and then headed next door to the aquarium lab where they have more hands-on aquarium stuff like petting tanks, and grow their jellyfish and other animals for the exhibits. We went back and forth between that room and the natural history room. I really enjoyed the tanks of anemones and jellyfish. They also had turtles and more frogs!
The aquarium proper was up next. We started out in the coastal section, and a sting ray was excitedly begging us for food! We took a quick break to meet a tortoise, and then headed to the tropical section where they had colorful fish and jellyfish. Brad got several good pictures in here! I also got two videos of Felix and me enjoying the jellyfish and the tropical fish with relaxing music.
We ended up at the bottom floor of the rainforest room, which we are separated from by glass so Felix can experience it. This is a nice relaxing spot to watch birds and tortoises, though not quite as good as upstairs when you’re actually in the room. Brad got a picture of Tam and I enjoying looking up into the canopy, and of Felix in front of the rainforest.
Overall it was a very wild day at the museum. It is a great museum, and we had fun and enjoyed ourselves. But it was a LOT with all those kids. Next time we might call ahead and ask when is NOT a field trip day and visit on those days. Because that many kids is just very difficult to deal with for me, and for Felix.
It was a good family day, though, marking 11 months of our life as a family of three. I couldn’t ask for better people (or dogs!) to have in my life and be my family. I love them all so much.