Our Favorite Places - Part 1

Recreation... Play.... Wonder... Wellness.

Fog Table Fun

These words are all closely related... Think about a time when you felt really energized and physically whole.  What had you been doing?  Where had you been?  There's a ton of research linking play with wellness and learning.  If you have time for a good read, Stuart Brown's book, Play, is well written and inspiring. 

We pass on the things that are important to us... this includes places.

One of my favorite places in the world is the Montshire Museum in Norwich, VT.  When I was a kid it was just a few rooms in what may have been an office building in Hanover, NH.  Even as a little tiny museum it was a place of wonder for me.  Why... because I could touch things and play with ideas without getting in trouble- you never forget your first time exploring an owl pellet.  While the Montshire has physically changed dramatically, it's philosophy has remained intact.  The Montshire is a state of the art interactive science museum devoted to playful discovery and...

They've just made this experience much more accessible!  Families receiving EBT, Medicaid/Dr. Dynosaur, and Free/Reduced lunch can now get an annual membership for $15/year or pay just $2/person for a day pass.  All families need to do is show their card or letter from their school lunch program at the desk to get this price.  

So consider planning your trip today ... 

Playing with Turbulence

Tips for a great Montshire Trip -

• It's about 2 hours for most of us in the Lamoille Valley. Bathroom Stops - Interstate 91 - Exit 17 Wells River - P&H Truckstop is easy to get in and out and has clean bathrooms.  Interstate 89  Southbound - Rest Area between Exits 5 & 4.  Interstate 89 Northbound - Rest Area between exits 1 & 2.
• Carpooling with a friend makes the time pass.
• You can bring your own lunch or during warmer weather there's a small outside cafe. There are vending machines in a pinch.
• If you're visiting Memorial Day into September bring a towel and bathing suit/change of clothes as there is a really fun water exploration area out back.
• The Montshire has some really nice hiking trails, so think about good shoes/sandals.
• Plan to spend at least a couple of hours. Even when the kids were little we'd leave the Lamoille Valley around 8:00 and get there, have a snack in the car, and be there around 10:00 for opening.  Play/explore for a couple hours, have a picnic lunch, go for a hike, come back and revisit one or two of our favorite exhibits, hit the bathrooms, and the kids would nap as we headed back North.
• Decide in advance if you're going to visit the gift shop. Unlike some museums, you do not have to exit through the giftshop.  You can often find something for a dollar or two if you decide you want to go there.
• There are lots of fun photo opts as your kids play... but don't forget to pack up the camera and have fun too!
• Go up the stairs to the 3rd/4th floor observatory... there are surprises along the way.  We had been going several years before I discovered these gems.  The staff do a great job keeping it exciting. - We still love to go!
• Seek the staff out if you need anything. The staff are very helpful and kid friendly... They didn't make me feel badly when Nate threw up all over the carpet on one of our visits... or the puddle of pee on another visit...
• Check the schedule board when you arrive - they often have great little guided experiments throughout the day.
• Have fun!

Thank you to Lily at the Morrisville District Office of the Agency of Human Services for sharing Montshire's Poster.