While traveling through Charlotte, North Carolina, we got another chance to explore an amazing science center and STEM play place, The Discovery Place!
What’s Inside The Discovery Place?
This three-story structure was more than we could explore in just one day! The first area we explored had water tables, pneumatic tubes, and other similar experiences as one could find at other STEM playspaces.
Just outside this area, they had tanks upon tanks of frogs from all over the world, with great information about habitats, conservation, and amphibian biology.
A Rainforest inside!
While the above two items accounted for most of our time spent, the highlight of the trip had to be the indoor rainforest exhibit!
This wasn’t plastic and animatronics! These were real trees, plants, and mosses. But most importantly, to Mom at least, were the birds! They had tropical birds of every feather in this habitat, flying free. There were also signs talking about ways people, through economic choices, can better protect the rainforests. This led to a great conversation with The Girl about short-sighted financial practices and how we, as consumers, can better incentivize better stewardship.
After the rainforest, we took some time as a family re-assembling a medical dummy that had all his organs out. Considering how long it took us, there is not a surgeon among our numbers. At that time, I got to hook up with an old childhood friend, who had moved to the area when I was a little boy.
Ending the day with a fancy meal
We finished the day at The Discovery Place and headed for a meal at a local restaurant, The King’s Kitchen. The King’s Kitchen was way out of our price range, and a little high-brow, but the food was amazing, and the kitchen had a good mission. I wouldn’t recommend it for bringing your littles after a day at The Discovery Place, but if you’re in the Charlotte area and need a date night, it would be just the spot!