Photo courtesy of the New York Transit Museum
Whether you're looking for somewhere new to go to duck out of a summer rain storm or just want to avoid the summer slide, these hands-on museum exhibits will get his wheels turning.
Cuba! At the Museum of Natural History
Mini-explorers get a thorough lesson on the Caribbean’s largest island at this exhibit that tackles everything from the country’s wildlife to its unique geography. Kids take a trip to the Zapata wetlands (which are home to flamingos and crocodiles) before learning about Cuba’s coral reefs and taking a stroll down Cuban Avenue, complete with bright, 1950s-era cars.
Fire Museum at the Newark Museum
Got a fire truck-obsessed kid? This high-tech exhibit gives kids the chance to climb aboard a real fire truck cab before getting their hands dirty in a demo where they’ll try on all kinds of gear. There’s also a Hazard House (complete with special effects and interactive devices) that teaches visitors how to safely get out of a burning building.
The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection at Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor
Celebrate Father’s Day down the shore by checking out this temporary gallery that features art from “If I Ran a Zoo.” Artists-in-training will get up close and personal with some of their favorite stills, like Oh the Places You’ll Go and King of the Pond. Don’t miss lectures by well-known Seuss expert Jeff Schuffman.
Drones: Is the Sky the Limit? At The Intrepid
This giant exhibit puts everything to do with these flying machines on display. Techies fly drones, learn about some new takes on the “unmanned flying machine,” including the Flying Dress (a drone designed by Lady Gaga) and Amazon’s latest prototype, which delivers packages to your front door. Plus, there are tons of videos, photos and plans from some of the first attempts to make drones.
Dynamic H20 at Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Beat the heat this summer in a new wet ‘n’ wild exhibit that’s equal parts educational and fun. Kids splash around in an 800-square-foot space which has an interactive water table, a rain shower and a giant skyscraper model that lets them pump water all the way to the top. They’ll also get a mini science lesson on everything from the start of precipitation in the clouds to how NYC gets its water.
Maker, Maker at the Children’s Museum of the Arts
Aspiring artists can get inspired by the explosion of DIY culture and art. (Thanks, Etsy!). Kids check out the work of 10 artists who use different types of mediums like crocheting, collaging, woodworking and more.
Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition at Liberty Science Center
Can you really pull a tablecloth off of a fully set table without disturbing a dish? And does walking through a rainstorm really keep you drier than running through it? The Mythbusters crew use scientific observation and experiments to get to the bottom of those and more burning questions. Make sure you check out the backwards driving Porsche and airplane entirely made out of duct tape on your way in!
Next Stop: Second Avenue Subway at the New York Transit Museum
Go back in time (we’re talking 100 years!) and learn how one of NYC’s busiest subway lines came to be. Visitors get a thorough look at the subway’s history dating back to the 1920s to its present day use through photos, maps and artifacts from the museum’s collection.
Sea Turtle Sanctuary at the Turtle Back Zoo
This Essex County mainstay recently got an adorable upgrade: a full-on sea turtle rehab center that nurses these little sea creatures back to health before releasing them into the wild. Look on as expert zoologists treat Kemp’s ridley turtles at this new state-of-the-art facility that’s the only one of its kind in NJ.
Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites at The Please Touch Museum
Road trip to this Philadelphia staple starting June 3 and let your mini-me’s dive into their favorite bedtime stories. Children step into another world (and take on the traits of some of their fave characters) in hands-on spaces made to look like the settings of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom and more beloved tales.