COSI Columbus, Columbus, Ohio

Learning is fun here! You feel more like you're in a theme park or cyber-carnival than a traditional museum.

For parents, the problem with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is it spoils children for more conventional museums. The COSI (pronounced COSE-eye) in Ohio's capital city makes everything that came before seem old-fashioned. The two-story structure is a combination multimedia playground, time machine and computer fantasyland.

One of the largest science centers in the country, the two story structure is dedicated to exploring science and discovering fun.

Any children who've ever said "Science is boring" will change their minds at COSI. Where else can you travel back in time, feel like you're submerged in a submarine, ride a high wire unicycle, see how you'll look when you're 70 and take apart your favorite gadget--all under one roof?

Take Your Time

To experience everything, you should plan to spend more than a day. With six themed areas--exhibition areas--and one giant screen theater, COSI requires more than a quick sampling.

Much of the rest of the museum emphasizes more traditional learning experiences, but not at the expense of fun. In Ocean, visitors can hear how their voices change after inhaling heliox (the helium-oxygen mixture divers use) and stick their heads into deep-sea helmets, as fish dart past.

Those who like to tinker with mechanical things love the Gadgets Cafe, where the menu lists appliances to be taken apart and the "silverware" is a selection of tools. Gadgets also includes a theater in which rockets and liquid nitrogen produce some booms and clatter to accompany the lessons in physics and chemistry.

Hot-Button Issues

Though most of the museum is appropriate for all ages, COSI advises parental caution in the Life learning world. Dealing with topics from birth to death, the area includes a display about fetus development and another exhibition about the aftermath of a fatal car accident. The Life area addresses more controversial issues than anywhere else in the museum.

The rest of the COSI features plenty to engage the interests of younger children, from the Little Kidspace play area designed for preschoolers to the rats that play basketball, COSI is a great place for the entire family to explore science and discover fun!