18 Things to Do at The Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT

| | | |

On a recent trip to Woodstock, Vermont, one of our first stops was the Montshire Museum of Science, located in nearby Norwich. I had heard many positive things about Montshire from other bloggers, and the museum did not disappoint. The four floors of indoor museum exhibits are light and open and we were shocked to learn that the current space opened in 1989- we swore it must had been recently renovated  because it looked so updated and clean.

Travel Tips:

  • The museum is open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to 4pm; information on updated hours, admission fees, and discounts and promotions here
  • There is plenty of free parking out front.
  • Recently renovated individual restrooms (all with baby changing stations) and a large coat room are located inside the main entrance.
  • The entire museum is stroller and handicap accessible, but we’re doubtful that toddlers will want to sit in a stroller for long!
  • We were impressed by this sensory map and this social narrative guide, both of which can help children prepare for a visit. 
  • There is a gift shop located near the admission desk featuring tons of science related souvenirs. 
  • Check out this calendar for daily and weekly special events and programs.
  • There are no dining facilities on site but check out this index  for suggestions.
  • Plan on two hours to explore the four floors (really two full floors, and two floors with singular, smaller exhibits) of exhibition space, plus more time for the Outdoor Discovery, Nature Trails and David Goudy Science Park (during the summer).

Our Top 10 Favorite Ways to Explore the Indoor Exhibits:

  1. Surround yourself in giant bubbles. Bubbles: Science in Soap (1st floor)
  2. Examine rock and wood specimens under a microscope and have an up close view of native fish, frogs, and turtles. Life in Local Water  (1st floor)
  3. Attempt to count the leafcutter ants (save plenty of time- we predict there are millions!). Discovering the Natural World (1st floor)
  4. Pedal the stationary bike in the hopes of powering the elevator. (1st floor)
  5. Test your puzzle solving skills with 10 different brain teasers like tangrams and algorithms. Solve It! (2nd floor)

6. Experiment with the physics of gravity. Discovery Lab (2nd floor)
7. Keep the beat playing the drums or accordion and learn how they are made. Making Music (2nd floor)
8. Race multicolor poofs in a massive airways display.  Airworks  (2nd floor)
9. Bend lights to Lights Around Us (3rd floor tower room)
10. Take in the views of the Connecticut River from the 5th floor outside observation deck

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

Bonus: The toddler crew will LOVE their own dedicated space, Wonder Woods, filled with smaller, padded climbing structures, and a book nook.

Eight Outdoor Adventures at Montshire Museum of Science:

While we couldn’t explore most of these trails to due cold, icy conditions, we’ve read really good feedback about the fun outdoor trails and summertime activities located throughout the 100 acres of woodlands

  1. The Play Grove, filled with a variety of interactive centers including Ribbon Room, Gnome Homes, Willow House, hammocks, swings, and more!
  2. Meadow Walk, a short .3 mile trail in the Quinn Nature Preserve that is wheelchair and stroller accessible.  
  3. River Loop, which follows the Connecticut River with several viewing points
  4. Planet Walk, a three mile round trip trail that showcases all nine planets with large interactive displays and placards.
  5. Ridge Trail, a one mile trail that explores the geology of the North Woods.
  6. Woodland Gardens, the shortest path and closest to the museum building. The path follows a collection of native plants and has several benches to rest wary feet.
  7. Blood Brook Trail, a  short .4 mile trail that features an exhibit on stonewalls, the Animal Signs kiosk (can you guess the animal tracks?), and a deck overlooking the lagoon entrance.
  8. David Goudy Science Park, with the 250 foot watercourse The Rill and exhibits on light, sound, motion, and natural history. Note: only open May through October.

Looking for more fun in Woodstock? Check out our full Woodstock City Guide, our dining guide to Woodstock, and our post featuring the VINS Nature Center. And follow along on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Our family received a media pass to explore the museum. All opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

Similar Posts

  • | | | | | |

    10 Ways to Explore the Museum of the City of New York in Manhattan

    Located on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and part of “Museum Mile”, the Museum of the City of New York was founded in 1923. Originally housed in Gracie Mansion (now the residence of the mayor of New York City) until the permanent museum was built in 1932, the museum’s collection has over three quarter of a million artifacts including photographs, costumes, paintings, sculptures, toys, and decorative arts. Permanent exhibits showcase New York City’s founding and evolution over four centuries and several rotating exhibits feature influential figures, movements, and seasonal celebrations. When we visited in December 2024, the annual Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake Off was in full swing- the annual event is a must see during the holiday season.

  • | | | | | | | | |

    10 Ways to Explore Coastal Connecticut during the Summer

    Coastal Connecticut is the title often given to the area spanning from Branford to Old Lyme, which includes the towns of Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, Westbrook, Killingsworth, Essex, Deep River, Old Saybrook, Lyme, and Old Lyme. The area is beautiful all times of year, but especially comes to life during warmer summer months. Conveniently located along Interstate 95 (which runs from the New York to Rhode Island state lines), many of the towns border the Connecticut River or Long Island Sound and offer plenty of riverfront and beachfront activities and open spaces. The area is also known for its numerous contributions to the arts and many museums and educational institutions honor the legacy of famous residents.

  • | | | | | |

    10 Ways to Explore Jamestown Settlement

    Opened in 2007 ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to celebrate the Quadricentennial of Jamestown, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that includes a museum, Indian village, three reproduction ships, and a fort, all with interpreters offering stories and experiences from 1607, when 104 colonists created the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown was named to honor King James of England.

  • | | | | | |

    Boone Plantation, South Carolina

    The South is known for numerous plantations: large estates with farms producing a wide variety of crops. One of the most popular and still functioning plantations is the Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant in South Carolina.  Located just 20 minutes outside of historic Charleston, Boone Hall was founded in 1681 on the banks of the Wampacheone Creek by English Major John Boone. For centuries the plantation was known for growing and selling cotton and pecans. Now, the Boone Hall Farms Market also sells various fruits, vegetables, seafood (from the local docks), prepared foods, and gifts. Film buffs will recognize the estate from the film “The Notebook.”

    The plantation offers a wide variety of ways to explore the site and learn from history. All tours are included with the admission fee. I first wrote about Boone Plantation for Kidventurous, but wanted to share some of my favorite parts of our visit and a few nearby bonus stops: (updated for summer 2017) 

  • | | |

    30 Ways to Enjoy the Woodloch Resort this Fall

    Our visit to Woodloch is easily one of our favorite adventures of 2020. We visited in 2012 and vowed to return when the kids were older and could better enjoy all of the amenities. We finally got our chance this past week and enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend in the Poconos. Established in 1958 by the Kiesendahl family, Woodloch Pines is a resort in the northwest section of the Poconos in Pennsylvania. The 350 acre property has grown over the years to now include a lakeside resort with 160 rooms and suites, times shares and private homes, a championship 18 hole golf course, a luxury spa, and a seemingly infinite amount of ways to have fun.

    A visit to Woodloch focuses on family “togetherness”- most activities encourage families to work together, laugh together, and play together. There is a genuine sense of community that the staff brings to every meal, activity, and celebration. Members of the Kiesendahl family visit with guests at every meal (look out for the crazy patterned suits!). Every staff member we encountered greeted us with a warm welcome, an invitation to join in on the fun, and a sincere desire to be inclusive. We witnessed several, multi generational families vacationing together and overheard so many conversations that started with “Last year, when we did this..” or even better, “When I was your age and we played this game….”. It is clear that many, many families return to Woodloch every year to make memories, and we’re hoping to become one of those families.

  • | | |

    Food Trail #7: Bakeries in Milford, Connecticut

    Milford, Connecticut, a small city located on the edge of New Haven County along the Coastal Connecticut I95 corridor, is home to over a dozen named beaches (5 are open to the public), a state park, great shopping and restaurant hubs, and plenty of yummy bakeries. For our seventh food trail (check out #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6), we started on the south side and made our way north, stopping at seven bakeries serving up plenty of homemade pastries, desserts, salads, sandwiches, full meals, and drinks. Here are our top picks:

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *