Educational Summer Fun on the Road

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

28 May 2009 12:22 PM

Looking for ways to beat the summertime blues without breaking the bank?

Consider visiting these educational destinations designed to keep your kids' brains from turning into mush while they're on summer break:

NEW HAMPSHIRE

To commemorate the debut of the new "Star Trek" movie, New Hampshire's McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, is boldly going where few educational spaces have gone before. The science center is housing rare items from the "Star Trek" series, including a uniform worn by the character Janice Rand, played by Grace Lee Whitney in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" from 1979. Trekkies will also get to sit in some chairs from the set of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" used by Captain Jean Luc Picard and crew.

The "Star Trek" exhibit is just part of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, which features displays on aviation and astronomy. It also boasts a planetarium and science and engineering programs.

NEW YORK

If you live in or near New York, then consider spending part of your summer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing. The recently renovated wing is home to a collection of American ceramics, sculptures, stained glass, silver, pewter, glass, jewelry and architectural elements. It also includes the museum's balcony galleries, historic rooms and the Charles Engelhard Court.

The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sundays and Tuesdays-Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for students. Children 12 and under get in free.

INDIANA

The Indianapolis Museum of Art is offering a priceless experience for kids of all ages. Among the many attractions families can tour for free are: a permanent collection of more than 54,000 works including African, American, Asian and European pieces and Impressionist and contemporary art. Visitors are also allowed to roam the 152-acre grounds, which includes the former home of a member of the Lilly pharmaceutical family, at no cost.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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