Museum of Science Boston

Along with visiting the museum's rotating exhibits, explore dozens of permanent ones including Investigate! with live science demonstrations; Science in the Park, which uses familiar objects to teach physics; and To the Moon. Book a city sightseeing passes to combine a museum visit with other attractions, or book a duck boat tour that includes museum admission.

The Museum of Science also houses the Charles Hayden Planetarium and Mugar Omni Theater. Get tickets to a planetarium show, including a star show, programs about black holes, and evening laser light shows with music. The theater shows ticketed IMAX movies on its five-story domed screen. The newest addition to the museum, a 4-D theater, lets you experience special effects such as wind and snow along with 3-D films.

• The museum offers an assistive listening system for visitors with hearing loss.

• Adult, bariatric, and pediatric wheelchairs; strollers; and electric scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Admission to the planetarium and theater costs extra.

• This family-friendly attraction is a must-visit for those with kids.

• The Skyline Room cafeteria offers food and skyline views.

The Boston Museum of Science is in Science Park, off O'Brien Highway, alongside the Charles River Bridge between Boston and Cambridge. The museum is accessible via the MBTA subway; take the green line to Science Park station. You can also rent from Blue Bikes, Boston’s bike-sharing system, near the museum’s front entrance.

The museum can get crowded, especially on weekend afternoons and in summer. Saturday and Sunday mornings and weekday afternoons after 2pm are generally quieter, with September the least busy month. Check the museum’s website for planetarium and movie show times.

For more science fun, visit the MIT Museum and get a peek at some of the latest research taking place at the prestigious school. The exhibits, which explore science, technology, and art, are designed for teen and adult audiences. Plus, the museum hosts demonstrations by faculty and students, workshops, and hands-on activities.

Three or four hours gives you enough time to explore the exhibit halls and special exhibitions, see a show, or visit the planetarium. To see a majority of the museum, devote up to seven hours, or even two days. If you’re visiting with young children, half a day is plenty.

Yes, especially for families. Keep kids engaged and entertained for hours with activities, design challenges, science and technology exhibits covering a range of topics, and live presentations. The museum also houses the Charles Hayden Planetarium and Mugar Omni Theater, both of which host a variety of shows throughout the day.

The museum is ideal for kids ages 3-9, but it's a good destination for kids of any age. Some exhibits, such as Lightning!, might not work for toddlers, due to sudden, loud noises. There are workshops for preschoolers, exhibits for infants, and planetarium shows that include Sesame Street characters.

Yes. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for first-come, first-served. Inquire at the museum’s information desk. The museum is also equipped with an assistive listening system to assist visitors with hearing loss. Visitors who are blind or have low vision can download the AIRA app, a visual interpreting service.

In general, the best times to visit are weekdays before 11am and after 4pm (2pm in the school year). Expect crowds on weekends and in summer, although summer brings extended hours. It’s a popular school field trip destination. On busy days, the parking garage may fill up quickly.

Yes. The on-site parking garage charges by the hour and is paid via automated kiosks inside. To score a spot, arrive before 10:30am or after 3pm. The garage is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. There is an additional paid garage parking at nearby CambridgeSide shopping center.