Maine Discovery Museum

DISCLAIMER: I went here over a year ago.
The only reason why I have not come back here after my first experience is because they charge for adults, to accompany their children to a children’s museum. Even though it would cost the same, I would prefer they double the children’s admission and drop the adult cost altogether. If two parents, want to bring one child, paying for 2 adults just does not settle well for me. Bad execution on the admission front line. I realize this may seem like a silly reason not to go back but I am strongly against children’s places charging for adults, seriously it is not like we are at the Boston Science Museum folks.
We enjoyed the facilities although none of the extra activities were running when we went. My son liked the different rooms and variations. It was pretty crowded when we went and a lot of the toys seemed to be missing components. If you don’t mind paying adult admission this is a good place to visit in the Bangor area for kids to keep busy. Good location and easy access to parking.

Via my 7 year old: It is really fun! They have cool body stuff. I liked the heart. The climbing tree is really fun! Seeing the bearded dragons and the stick insects was awesome.
Via my 5 year old: I liked making finger puppet butterflies. The mouth is scary, but fun to touch. Flying on the hang-​glider was FUN!
My take: A fun place to stop in to. We’d be members if we lived here, but it’s expensive for a one-​stop place. Especially considering the run-​down exhibits and partially broken sections. I was suspicious that it was on its way to closing down.
That said, we spent about two hours doing different activities, including a long stint dancing in one of the booths with the music and lights. I also found the staff very friendly and willing to answer questions. Hopefully it will get a revamp soon because I think it’s a fantastic boon for the Bangor area families.

Excellent place for a rainy day with kids. Keeps everyone busy — even adults with reading all the info around the science exhibits. Art projects, animals, dinosaurs, water, audio/​visual, and climbing activities for the kids too. The dinosaur bone digging exhibit was a big hit!

My kids, ages 3 and 6 have a great time here. There are some arts and crafts and other programmed activities. They made paper, climbed through this safe enclosed structure, and visited with caged creatures (snakes, geckos, etc).
The museum is really impressive for a small town. There is a nearby parking lot with two hours of free parking.

We stopped here on our way out of town and our 1.5 yr old had a blast. I really liked the Maine habitat area and the human body exhibit. He loved the semi-​truck and kept wanting to get in and drive it!
We were here about 2 hrs which was perfect, but older kids could probably spend longer, especially if they did some of the crafts and activities.
Also, this museum is part of the Discovery museum network, so our VA Discovery museum pass actually got us in here for free… but I would pay if it hasn’t because it was so good!

Our summer trip to Maine was marred by three straight days of cool rainy weather. Our 5 year old was tearing the walls apart in our cabin. The bugs were out of control.
Maine Discovery to the rescue!
Small, 3 story, REASONABLY sized place for a kid and a parent to go and break away from the board games and iPad. Not too big, not too small, can do everything in two-​three hours.
Most displays are quick-​action, fast reads for a parent to explain the display. Huge indoor water table, neat raven’s next to climb in, big fake shipping vessel with a crane and horn, a diner, dinosaur dig (sand pit), and big body parts to look at. My son loved it. Place was clean, displays were a ⁹⁄₁₀ in quality and ⁹⁄₁₀ in usage. (some were broken, but most worked).
Physics, Animals, Weather, Science, Transportation, Food, and the Human Body.
Parking is on the main street of Bangor. We went for an hour, grabbed lunch (outside) and then came back in, (hand stamp).
Small REASONABLE gift-​shop. A bag of pretty polished rocked is $ 4, my son was THRILLED. No crazy $ 300 toys… more like $ 3-​$ 10 for most items. Friendly helpful staff. Clean bathrooms. This place was one of the highlights of «his» trip to Maine.
If your stuck near Ellsworth/​Bar Harbor, and the weather is stinky, this place is worth the drive to save your sanity.
Plenty of places to eat near by, we went to a great Irish Pub right down the street. (see that review as well.).

My daughter loves this place! It is a fantastic children’s museum.