Great Lakes Science Center in Ohio an Excellent Place for a Family Outing

Located at Cleveland, Ohio's North Coast Harbor area, the Great Lakes Science Center is one of the largest interactive science museums in the United States. Offering 165,000 square-feet of space and more than 400 hands-on exhibits, this museum attracts visitors of all ages with its displays, films, demonstrations, and regularly scheduled educational programs.

It is the mission of the Great Lakes Science Center to stimulate interest and increase understanding of the sciences; demonstrate the interrelationship of science, environment and technology; and help people of all ages achieve and maintain greater science literacy in order to sustain and improve the quality of Greater Cleveland, the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Opened in 1997 and located just down the street from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this science center can entertain visitors for a few hours or an entire day, given the scope of its exhibits and other special displays and events.

The Science Phenomena Floor includes exhibits that intrigue even the most avid science fan, including The Bridge of Fire, a static generator that generates some 200,000 volts of electric current, causing hair to stand on end; the Shadow Room, where visitors experiment with photoluminescence and learn how creatures of the deep can see each other; and Bubbles and Bubbles, where guests can become a Bubble-ologist for the day and experiment with bubble making.

The Regional Technologies Floor contains the Transportation Technology Gallery, where museum goers can drive a blimp or try to lift a car. Also on the technologies floor is the Biomedical Technologies Gallery, a place to learn about sophisticated medical imaging (CT, MRI), prosthetics, infectious diseases, stem cell research, and DNA testing. The InfoTech Gallery, also on that floor, provides a look at how information technologies about people's daily lives.

The Great Lakes Environment Floor concentrates of the geography and natural resources of the Great Lakes region. Guests learn about threats to the Great Lakes and what they can do to help preserve these important bodies of water.

The Polymer Fun House is an area of the museum designed for visitors 7 years old and younger. This socks-only play area features 90 interactive exhibits and activities. The accompanying Port Polymer, an outdoor play area, offers a chance to play aboard a paddle-wheel ship that's made almost entirely of recycled polymer materials.

There is also an OMNIMAX theater that shows a variety of films each week, with offerings available that are suitable for all ages. The Great Lakes Science Center also offers a number of classes and workshops for a variety of ages and well as overnights at the museum. Summer science day camps for children in grades K through 8 explore such subjects as astronomy, geology, and even espionage. Camps are also offered during winter and spring breaks.

The Great Lakes Science Center's Science Store sells a huge variety of mostly science-related gifts including games, books, puzzles, DVDs, apparel, and more. There is also a full-service eatery on site as well as a more casual grill and a Pizza Hut outlet.