Kids, parents, grandparents, teachers, science and history lovers UNITE at the incredible Discovery Place museum downtown Charlotte.

What’s fun to do at the museum:
Roar with the dinosaurs and dig up fossils, blow-up stuff and sit in the astronauts’ Air Chair at the Little Einstein’s corner, be Leonardo Da Vinci for a day at The Shop Machine, watch little rats play basketball and try your sports skills at the Virtual Reality games.

At the KidsPlace, a self-enclosed room for toddlers and young kids, you can fight like a Jedi get inside the human head and see dinosaurs come to life on paper.

History aficionados can journey back in time to experience everyday life in Pompeii the day before it vanished and marvel at authentic pieces such as marble sculptures, gold coins, exquisite jewelry and room-size frescoes.

Tips to know before you go:
1. Go early morning, and if possible, during the week. The weekend is really crowded especially this month due to the new exhibit “The Day in Pompeii”.

2. The Dinosaurs exhibit runs through August 10 so go see it while you can. Once this is over it’s worth paying the extra $10 to go see The Day in Pompeii; by then most of the excitement should have cooled off and you can enjoy it in peace at your own pace. Even better for $25 you can see Pompeii, all the museum exhibits and a selected IMAX movie (this month is “Greece: secrets of the Past”)

3. Reserve 2-3 hours to enjoy the museum. Plan ahead which exhibits you must attend and go there first. Be realistic, you can’t see and enjoy it all in just one visit.

Here are some suggestions:
• Toddlers and young kids: KidsPlace room, Puppet Show Theater (currently featuring Dinosaurs play with shows at 11 AM, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:45 PM), playing with shadows near Virtual Reality exhibit
• School age kids: All the dinosaurs exhibits (including digging for fossils for extra $2), Virtual Reality games, Little Einstein science, The Shop Machine exhibits
• Teenagers: The Shop Machine, Dark Knight movie at IMAX Theater, and A Day in Pompeii.

4. Parking – There are several options:
• Use the museum garage parking ($7 day flat rate fee) and walk straight into the museum.
• Park in the garage across the street from the museum ($5 day flat rate fee Fri and Sat)
• Use the metered parking spots along the streets.

5. Food – limited options from $3 to $5: Hamburgers, fried and grilled chicken sandwiches and small size pizzas. Also soups, yogurt, pudding and salad boxes. Combo options for about $6 include fries and soda drinks. I’ll go with the pizza and the yogurt.

“Ignite Your Kids Wonder” at the Discovery Place in Charlotte!

Ready for some incredibly fun outdoor with your kids? Then head South to Carolina Adventure World where to ATV, motocross, canopy zip-line and, starting this month, ride the BLACK OPS CHALLENGE obstacle course.

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