North Carolina Museum of Life and Science

As others have said, the butterfly exhibit is amazing. If you go, bring a camera ! (All cameras , including professional ones, are allowed)

There's so much for kids and toddlers to do - and most of it is outside! You can easily spend a full day here and not see every amazing exhibit .

Be sure to find the “Diversity of Life” exhibit on the 2nd floor. The aim is to show you how research is performed in the wild and to get you thinking about what that research means to you.

Nice museum with plenty to see and do. The additional cost train was a little hoaky and not worth the additional expense . Great selection of animals, insects , and butterflies.

You can do experiments at The Lab on the 2nd floor. Experiments change daily during the summer, and if you come 5 times, you get to pick out a prize!

Buy your train tickets as soon as you arrive, or be greatly disappointed. They sell tickets by time, not first come fist serve. We tried to buy tickets, but the next available was 2-1/2 hours later!

Bring your own snacks . Make sure to try the sailboat exhibit outside. You may have to wait for a boat but the kids love it.

Amazing place. Lots to do and see. Perfect for the children and the child in all of us.

Wear your walking shoes !!!!! Cool place for kids, neat exhibits !

Love the dinosaurs and climbing area but don’t miss the experiments and exhibits inside too

This place is awesome. If you're local, definitely buy a membership. It will take several visits to see everything.

There’s a section where you can touch all the things!!

They do a butterfly release in Magic Wings twice a day: 11am and 3pm. Your best chance to get in contact with one.

Spent the day at museum-and its everything people had told me it would be. great variety, plenty of hands-on stuff, indoor & out. Highly recommend if you're new to the area...and have kids of course.

Museum of Life and Science at 15 minutes drive to the northeast of O2 Dental Group of Durham

Perfect weekend destination! This museum has great exhibits and family fun! Learn even more about prehistoric animals, and buy highly detailed dinosaur collectibles by visiting www.FindDinosaurs.com. Read more

Greeting you in front of the Museum is a Mercury Redstone Rocket. On May 5, 1961, a rocket just like this one carried Alan Shepard into space, making him the first American to accomplish the feat. Read more

Worth going if you get a membership. Single entry is over $70 for one adult and three kids.

So many neat things to see!!

Bringing cash for tickets is easier than cards for groups. Multiple cards cancel the group rate.

The Santa Train is a wonderful treat for the little ones during the holiday season.

If you have kids, become a member. It pays for itself really quickly and you can get in early.

If planning to head Into the Mist, have your kid wear something that dries quickly. They can get pretty soaked.

Great place for kids birthday parties . The staff is wonderful and makes it a lot of fun!

You can bring in anyone on a membership, so if you're bringing visiting family or something, you probably just paid for a membership.

Look for blue heron in Wetlands: a red-tailed hawk lives in trees over the red wolf exhibit ; Can you find their four bears ?

Take your children to the outside play area to run off their energy.

Santa's Express is the best Christmas experience of the year!

Durham residents can come for free on Wednesdays from 1-5!

It's best to go to the butterfly house at 11. They do a daily release of butterflies at that time

Butterfly and Insect house

Winter wonderland train exhibit around Christmas is awesome!

Great place! Very interesting!

Great place for a wedding!!!! Ask or Kelly!

Amazing butterfly house :-)

Oh man I so want to see extra pics of Willie James as BIBLE MAN.Do you have that?

The butterfly house is excellent (during the spring and summer, of course). Read more

Play some of the awesome outdoor instruments!

Fantastic!!!!!!!

Butterflies

Free Wi-Fi

Have the kids where old clothing so that they can dig for fossils on the dinosaur trail !

Never stopped!! Just passing through

The farmyard turkey is actually a robotic security device. You've been warned.

The butterfly house here is world class

Mariposas juguetonas!