Museum of Discovery and Science

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Weekend Notes | October 04, 2022

https://www.weekendnotes.com/museum-of-discovery-science-fort-lauderdale/

Approach the doorway of the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to find the largest tinker toy set I’ve ever seen with colorful balls climbing up individual elevators or sliding down curling metal trusses to resume their journey and allow yourself to be captivated by the joy you felt with such toys as a child.

Enter to the sounds of Aquarium life and introduce yourself to any recently rescued sea turtle. During our visit, it was GeGe, short for Georgia, who has nearly completed her recuperation. Traveling to and fro in her personal pond, she provided a show, waving a fin to us on occasion as she completed her daily constitutional.

You can participate in the rescue program or just enjoy the stroll to the beach when it’s time for the turtles to hatch and monitor their way back to the ocean.

Wander back and you might take a look at the recycling initiative they’re actively promoting. From local businesses to families and children, learn which items are compostable and which must go into landfills. It makes you think twice about what you use and what you can reduce or recycle.

For “flat out” fun, especially in good weather, press the panel to create a cloud all your own. Warning: you need two hands to do it. It’s lovely to see the fascinated expression on children’s faces and occasionally a wistful one on their parent’s.

Or jump into the Megaladon, “The Meg,” to have your photo taken. The more the merrier, but stick your head out into the mouth so you can be well viewed.

If you’re feeling particularly brave and haven’t experienced one live and in person in recent history, feel the strength of hurricane winds, up to 150 mph, as we’ve just experienced with Hurricane Ian. It’s much more fun inside the museum.

When you get to the Museum around the sea otters’ lunchtime, you can view their antics. If you reach them at other times, as we did, you may be able to spy them from an outside window after you check out the garden. One was curled in the corner napping. When I returned an hour later, though, he was swimming laps inside their personal habitat.

There’s an adult-size exhibit to Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” which allows children to fall into the grass, hiding as a caterpillar might, and creating messages and stories for the author. It’s an inspired way to get children’s creative juices flowing, as are the pipes that suck scarves in through to be expelled from the ceiling. The more colorful the scarves, the better.

With more than 300 exhibits and multiple films within the museum as well as an IMAX showing movies like “Ireland” and “Jaws,” if you’re in the area for any length of time, you’ll want to become a member, especially if you have children. It’d be easy to spend a day here to really delve into each exhibit, and even easier, with little ones, to come for an hour or two at a time to maximize their joy.

Upstairs, you’ll find a medical exhibit and aeronautical equipment that allows you to Captain your own airliner, with or without Snoopy or Lucy, or even be photographed in a parachute harness. The more interactive, the better.