It’s not uncommon to see adults having even more fun than kids at Syracuse’s Museum of Science and Technology, often referred to as MOST. Dinosaur bones are only the beginning, as the museum offers countless opportunities to learn and play. Visit this huge castle-like building that dominates Armory Square. It is the perfect family destination on one of Syracuse’s frosty winter days.
Shoot up into the sky in the realistic flight simulator that will make you feel like a flying ace or shoot hoops in the virtual reality basketball exhibit.
If it is open, don’t miss the Rothschild Apothecary Shop, a recreation of a turn-of-the-century pharmacy staffed by friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. Try to guess which now-illegal drugs were prescribed for what maladies a hundred years ago.
Walk through the enormous replica of a beating heart. Be awed by the Guinness World Record-holding toothpick display, where a local Syracuse man has built models of the world’s tallest buildings out of nothing but toothpicks and glue, all at 1/164 size.
Watch a movie at a domed IMAX theater, where films displaying the beauty of nature are projected. Study the stars during one of the planetarium shows.
Help your kids burn off some energy and learn about basic physics in the museum’s enormous Science Playhouse, which features a climbing wall and giant foam pieces for kids to use as building blocks.
Relax by bringing picnic food and having a snack as your kids teach you about all they’ve learned.
The MOST is located in Armory Square in central Syracuse. Catch the shuttle bus from Syracuse University’s campus or drive to the square in 20 minutes from the Syracuse Airport. Free parking is available in an adjacent lot and metered street parking is close by.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from mid-morning to late afternoon and is open late on the second Thursday of every month. There is an admission fee, with extra charges for the planetarium and the IMAX theater.