A couple of years ago, I put together a list of Day Trips in the area. The Tellus Science Museum was one of the first to go on that list. My friends raved about it, saying how it was their favorite. They told me it was the one place they bought an annual membership. They told me about the wonderful programs, the exhibits and planetarium. They told me it was well worth the hour drive.
And so a couple of weeks ago, after only 7+ years of living in this area, we made it our afternoon destination. The drive on a Saturday afternoon was a breeze. Honestly, it flew by, and before we knew it, we were driving onto the beautiful grounds of the Tellus Museum. I mean, they were gorgeous! Well-kept, manicured rolling hills made up the lawn, the road weaving you around to the parking lot that led to a tree-covered pathway directing you to the front entrance and solar house. Note that you can't walk on the lawn at the museum, but they do have a large pavilion off of the parking lot if you'd like to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery.
Upon entering the museum, my boys (okay, me, too) became mesmerized by the giant swinging pendulum in the lobby. It was slowly and methodically swaying back and forth, moving ever-so-slightly with the rotation of the earth, every ten minutes knocking down a vertical block set in a circle just within reach. Pay close enough attention and you can discover a pattern and make a prediction on whether the block will fall inward or outward.
Once we peeled ourselves away from the lobby, we entered the Great Hall where you can take in a 80 foot-long Apatosaurus before deciding on which exhibit hall to experience first. We were drawn to the Millar Science in Motion Gallery where you could see a replica of the Wright Flyer, learn about plenty of other vehicles and engines, and always a favorite for me, plenty of information about the space program, including replicas of space capsules from the early days of man's space flight.
My boys, ages 6 and 11, wandered next into the Collins Family My Big Backyard exhibit, where we all had fun getting a bit hands-on with interactive exhibits. My boys loved creating a path to send a ball in motion down a magnetic wall, and of course putting gears in motion was a bit hit. The parents were getting into these exhibits just as much as the kids, so jump on in and play with the kids in this gallery!
The Fossil Gallery was next on our journey, this being the exhibit that truly blew me away as far as the detail and setting for huge and amazing creatures. The lighting was spectacular, and you could really get a feel for where each animal lived, whether it be land or water.
Next, we wandered through the Weinman Mineral Gallery which is an outstanding collection of minerals and gems. We learned the difference between the two, got to touch and feel several specimens, and saw a larger-than-life periodic table that brought the elements to life with modern-day materials. And for this chemistry-challenged girl, I appreciate this type of exhibit!
Our last stop on our adventure was in the Bentley Planetarium where we got comfortable in the auditorium to watch one of their highly informative films, this one about planets and stars outside our solar system....or exoplanets. The facilitator of this experience did an excellent job explaining our viewing, even taking the time to slowly dim the lights to help our eyes adjust to the darkness and large screen above our heads. Along with the film was a short tutorial of our night sky, featuring some constellations that you can see at this time of year.
We wandered back outside, read about the solar panels on the property and then peeked inside the West Virginia University Solar House before we started our trek back home.
Our exploration of the Tellus Science Museum, including the Planetarium, only took about two hours, so it's a very manageable day trip for the whole family. Exhibits will appeal to all ages, and I promise, everyone will learn something and have a great time!
The museum is open daily from 10 AM - 5 PM and is located at 100 Tellus Drive in Cartersville, GA, right off of I-75 at exit 293. Rates are: Members: FREE; Adults: $15.95 + tax; Children (3 – 17): $11.95 + tax; Student with ID: $11.95 + tax; Active Military w/ ID: Free (1/2 price admission for active duty dependents with ID); Seniors (65+): $13.95 + tax. If you're a Bank of America cardholder, you can get free admission to Tellus during the first full weekend of each month as part of Museums On Us.
For more information about Tellus Science Museum, visit their website HERE.
Note: I received complimentary admission for myself and my family in exchange for this review, however the thoughts and opinions above are my own.
Welcome to Macaroni Kid Alpharetta-Roswell-Milton!
Do you live in Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, or the surrounding areas? Are you constantly looking for things to do nearby with your kids? We have an event calendar just for families in Alpharetta, Roswell, and Milton, GA! Each week, I find all the local kid and family-friendly events in and around the North Fulton and South Forsyth areas and put them in one place for you to find! I do the work and you go play. Check our calendar of events regularly for events, festivals, fairs, story times, character visits and awesome local family fun. Sign-up HERE.
