Yesterday, my daughter and I met friends at the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History. We had previously been to the Halloween Party on October 25, but had not taken a lot of time looking at the exhibits.
I was a bit concerned about the parking situation since it was a day the university was in session. We parked in the visitor parking on Palmer Drive near the Life Sciences Institute. We had no trouble finding a spot. Parking is $1.10/hr which is fairly standard for Ann Arbor. The garage is a bit confusing in how the levels are numbered and which is the exit floor from the garage, so be sure to note which level you are on. If I remember correctly, you will take the elevator up to level P. After exiting the building, it took me a few seconds to orient myself since I am used to walking through the area from the bridge over Washtenaw as my husband works at the medical school. It was a short walk to the museum from the lot. Our friends live near a bus stop, so they took the bus to the museum.
Admission to the museum is free, although they suggest a $6 donation. I love that the museum has a coat room so that you do not have to carry your coats through the museum. We spent about 90 minutes at the museum. The favorite part of the museum for both girls (who are almost 4) was easily the canoe on the fourth floor. They had a great time running back and forth in it, and planning a canoe trip to New York and deciding which supplies to take.
They had a great time at the museum and we will return in the future. However, I do not see us returning to this museum as frequently as we go to the Hands On Museum or the zoo.
