Discovery Museum in Acton, Massachusetts
Whether you’re an autistic parent, a parent of autistic kids, or both, if you’re like most families you’re always interested in finding fun things to do as a family. One thing that a lot of neurodivergent (and neuro-majority) families love to do is to spend quality time in nature. There are lots of outdoor nature activities available in Acton, Massachusetts, at the Discovery Museum. Here are some of them.
Nature Lovers Love Discovery Woods
Adventure Hill
On Adventure Hill you and your kids can climb up a hill of boulders and take a long slide down.
Da Vinci Outdoors
This play area includes playground equipment based on Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, including a huge lever big enough to lift a child.
Discovery Treehouse
At the top of Adventure Hill you’ll find the Discovery Treehouse, nestled in the trees, and stocked with science activities that will be fun for all ages.
Discovery Woods Nature Playscape
If you look out the treehouse window, you won’t need binoculars to see the nature playscape outside. This is an inclusive and accessible area where families can walk on a wiggle bridge, relax in the nest swing, and climb and bounce on the net. You can enjoy a rain garden, woodland nook, and acres of forest right next door. Adventures in nature await your family.
More Outdoor Fun
That’s not all – you and your kids can:
- meet Bessie, the hat-wearing dinosaur statue on the front lawn;
- climb up and sit on a giant red chair;
- reach out and hug a globe of the earth which is 6 feet in diameter; and
- make their own kind of music on the Slap-a-Phone musical sculpture.
Accessibility
- “Especially for Me” Ask about their free admission hours and special events for families who have autistic family members or those with vision or hearing loss or sensory sensitivities. (Read more about sensory sensitivities here.)
- “Story Guide to Discovery Museum” includes a sensory guide to the outdoor and indoor spaces. It’s available at the Admissions Desk in six languages, as well as online.
- Noise reducing headphones are available at the Admissions Desk.
- A portable step stool can also be requested at the Admission Desk for those who need help accessing higher exhibits.
- Adult-sized wheelchairs which can be self-propelled, and adult-sized transport chairs which must be pushed by an adult are available to borrow at the Admissions Desk.
- If anyone in your family starts to feel overstimulated by noise or crowds, as a staff member to find a good spot for you and your child to escape, regroup, and self-regulate.
Where?
- Discovery Museum
177 Main Street (Route 27)
Acton, MA 01720 - Between Central and Prospect
- If you’re hungry, it’s not far from Benjarong Restaurant, Dunkin, and Sorrento’s Pizzeria
When?
- Advance Reservations Required
- School Year Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- First Friday of each month, October – June, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM FREE ADMISSION
- Summer Hours: Open 7 days, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Summer Friday Open Late to 8:00 PM, Free Admission beginning 4:30 PM
How Much?
- Purchase tickets online in advance.
- Adults $17.00
- Seniors (60+) $16.00
- Children $17.00, under 1 year old Free
- Teachers are always free!
Discovery Museum is a community-supported nonprofit organization.
