Durham Museum of Life and Science

One of the places that Ashley and I have visited and explored on multiple occasions is the Durham Museum of Life and Science. The Durham Museum of Life and Science has a little bit of everything and is a great place to visit for the entire family. It is a place the entire family will enjoy. There are a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor adventures at the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

Directions to Trailhead: The Durham Museum of Life and Science is located at 433 West Murray Avenue Durham, NC 27704. Here are some driving directions. From the East, including Raleigh (via I-40) and Fayetteville Take I-40 west from Raleigh to Highway 147 North (Durham Freeway). Take Highway 147 to downtown Durham and take the Duke Street exit (Exit 12C). Drive north two miles on Duke Street. After crossing over I-85, turn right at the third traffic light onto Murray Avenue. As you proceed on Murray Avenue, turn left into the Museum parking lot just past the Mercury Redstone Rocket.

From Raleigh, Highway 70: Take Highway 70 west from Raleigh. Merge onto I-85 south. Go south on I-85 and look for the Museum signs. Take exit 176 (Highway 501 North/Duke Street). Take a right onto Duke Street, go up the hill, and turn right onto Murray Avenue. As you proceed on Murray Avenue, turn left into the Museum parking lot just past the Mercury Redstone Rocket.

From Chapel Hill: Take 15-501 Bypass north. Merge onto I-85 north. Take exit 176B (Highway 501 North/Duke Street). Go up the hill, and turn right onto Murray Avenue. As you proceed on Murray Avenue, turn left into the Museum parking lot just past the Mercury Redstone Rocket.

From the West, including Greensboro: Take I-85 north to Durham and look for the Museum signs. Take exit 176B (Highway 501 North/Duke Street). Go up the hill, and turn right onto Murray Avenue. As you proceed on Murray Avenue, turn left into the Museum parking lot just past the Mercury Redstone Rocket.

Description of Hike: This is not so much a true hike, but is more of an outdoor adventure in Central North Carolina. There is no cost for parking, but there is a cost for admission into the Durham Museum of Life and Science. Admission prices are as follows: $14.00 Adults, $11.00 Seniors (age 65 and older) and active military with ID, $10.00 Children ages 3-12, and members and children under age 3 are admitted free. There are additional charges for some attractions at the Museum of Life and Science as well as more discounts and group rates available. For more admission charges and ride costs click Here. The neat thing is you can make your walk/hike around this area of the Durham Museum of Life and Science as long or as short as you would like to.

The Durham Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top attractions and is situated on 84 acres of land. The interactive science park includes a science center, a butterfly conservatory which is one of the largest in the world, a beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits which are safe havens for rescued black bears, lemurs, and endangered red wolves. You want to make sure you get a chance to see the red wolf exhibit as well as the other animals that call the Durham Museum of Life and Science home.

The Museum's Dinosaur Trail, which is great for kids, takes visitors on a journey through the late Cretaceous period. Other attractions include a Farmyard, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Contraptions – a hands-on exhibit for older children and adults, a sailboat pond, The Lab, Play to Learn – an exhibit for children under six, more than 60 species of live animals and so much more. For information on daily programs at the Durham Museum of Life and Science click Here. Bottom-line is there are so many exhibits and things that everyone in the family will find something that interests them.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. We had the opportunity to look at the butterfly conservatory which was amazing. It was cool to see so many butterfly's in one room. We also enjoyed the explore the wild trail. This trail goes through the museum's wildlife exhibits. They have black bear, lemurs, the endangered red wolf, and much more. The trail meanders through some beautiful parts of the outdoor property the Museum of Life and Science sits on.

Inside the museum there are even more things to do. They have an exhibit with indoor animals that has snakes, otters, alligators, owls, and other wildlife. Additionally, they have exhibits on space travel, flight, and so much more. There is much to do at the Museum of Life and Science and you would likely need a couple of days to do it all at a pace you would enjoy. If you are interested in information on how to become a member of the Durham Museum of Life and Science click Here. This is fun that the whole family can enjoy together.

For more pictures of animals at the Durham Museum of Life and Science click Here.

Rating: Elevation Gain: Minimal (Very Easy), Distance: 1 - 3 Miles Roundtrip (Easy).

Time to Complete Hike: Variable depending on how many things you look at, from a couple of hours to all day.


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