Looking for a good way to spend a rainy day in the nation’s capitol? Head over to the Canada Science and Technology Museum and it will not be a day wasted!
During our visit to Ottawa we spent A LOT of time walking around the city, and while we had an absolute blast seeing the hustle and bustle of the city, touring parliament and the market, and rushing about, we eventually just wanted a day to slow down.
Ottawa has a number of amazing museums to take in, including the Canada Science and Technology Museum and they are a perfect way to spend a wet or cold day in the city or like us, just a day to slow things down.
Passes to the Canada Science and Technology Museum were provided at no cost in order to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, so we had a good sleep in, grabbed breakfast and headed over to take in the experience.
We were a little disappointed to see that a lot of the museums and tourist attractions in the city close so early. It would have been nice to have dinner and then check out one of the other museums in the Ingenium trio like the Canada Space and Aviation Museum or the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, but that’s how they roll in the capital.
The Canada Science and Tech Museum is Canada’s largest science and technology museum and has permanent displays of printing presses, antique cars, and steam locomotives, as well as changing exhibits, so there is something new to see on each visit.
The museum showcases the countless ways science and technology connect with our everyday lives and while young and old alike will get something out of the museum there is a lot of reading to fully understand most of the displays and is best for adults to explore the museum with young learners to get the most of it. Even with our older boys who like to take displays in at their own pace, which is far quicker than mom and dad, needed reminders to slow down and read about what they were looking at.
Interactive Displays
While there is plenty of education to be had, it was often presented in an interactive way to keep the kids interested.
Kid favourites were the displays you could get your hands on, climbing on the trains, the Crazy Kitchen and the ZOOOM Kid Zone. The boys might have been a bit old for the kid zone but they loved building cars, watching scarfs whirl in the wind tunnel and getting a chance to climb and play.
Learning is FUN!
Do not miss the live educational shows during your visit, there were two different demos on the day of our visit and both were excellent! Check the board for times and plan your visit around these so you don’t miss out.
They are presented in both English and French, included with your admission cost and are a lot of fun to watch for both adults and kids. We saw the Cyro-Genius and the Pyrotechno demos that explored cold and heat.
Check the Canada Science and Tech Museum website to see all the permanent displays as well as which temporary ones will be available during your visit.
While it was a bit strange seeing everyday devices that we used in our youth (feeling old anyone?) it was really interesting to see when parts of our every day technology was introduced and how it’s evolved over the years in the Technology in Our Lives exhibition. There is even a tiny house to check out!
You can spend as little or as long as you like at the museum, there is so much to see and take in but you are free to go at your own pace and pick and choose where to spend your time.
They recommend allowing between 2 and 4 hours to take in the displays and shows which we did. We took a break for lunch in their cafeteria and made a day of it, they also have a boutique for any gifts or souvenirs you might want to purchase.
Tip: Admission is free daily between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
While your planning your trip to the Ottawa area, consider popping over to Quebec to visit Parc Omega. You’ll love it!
Sounds like a great visit and I do love interactive museums. When my kids were young we visited a science & technology museum in England and they all lapped up every minute of it, they had such fun at the interactive stations that they really didn’t want to leave.
This sound like an awesome museum I would love to visit
This would be a great place to visit with the grandchildren as there would be something of interest for everyone.
oh wow!! I actually have never even heard of this place. would love to check it out with my daughters. i love the interactive displays
Sounds like a fun and very interesting and informative place to visit. We enjoy Museums as well and can spend hours there. We will have to add this one to our list to see the next time we are in Ottawa.
Looks incredible. Do they have a lot of activities for younger children? My son is 4, would this museum hold his interest?
He would enjoy the kids area and the trains but the rest is probably too old for him right now
Just love this museum, when my son was young we used to go here a lot. The highlight was the crazy kitchen and the trains.
yes, the crazy kitchen was so much fun! The boys made us go through too they loved it
This would be an awesome time for my grandkids; if only it were closer to us!
This looks like a great place and kids getting to learn would be fun for them
This looks like a great place to visit, my daughter and I will be up that way early next year so I will add this to the list of places to visit
Cool! I’d love to take my little one!
If ever I go to Ottawa I will check this out.
This sounds like a great museum to go and explore, and I’m sure all ages would love it!
Learning is fun! Thanks for the post, I hope to visit one day.
A great place to visit. Thanks for highlighting it on your blog
This looks like a fun and fascinating place!
That looks like my kids would enjoy it, maybe we need to plan a trip there
I love educational museums like this one. Our kids could really learn to love science here.
This place looks like a blast! Our discovery center here in Halifax is where we usually go to for great science activities! they usually change the theme quite often.
These museums are fascinating. I know it’s for the children’s benefit, but I get so much out of these.
wonderful place. would be so interesting for the whole family
I love going to this type of museum so much fun
This looks fantastic! My hubby and I just spent an afternoon at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller AB. So fascinating.
I would love to visit this museum and see all of the displays. It would be interesting to see the Technology in Our Lives exhibition and how it evolved over the years
This sure sounds like a fun museum
This looks amazing and such fun, next time we are up that way we will have to visit!
It would be so much fun for the children to be able to climb and play.
My son is obsessed with trains. I think my kids would love this place.
too cool, lots of neat things
Its been quite awhile since we have been to Ottawa, I wonder what changes have been made to this museum.
Great museum to visit and I
It would be interesting to watch the shows Cyro-Genius and the Pyrotechno demos that explored cold and heat.
So great that entry is free between 4-5. Makes it a bit more accessible for those with limited budget. My kids would love the trains!
Such a fun place! Perfect destination for a rainy fall day.
I have been to Ottawa several times but never to this museum.
I will put it on the list for the next time I go.
Too bad I am too big to do the rock climbing activity LOL
Great museum, can’t wait to get back there.
This looks like an amazing place to visit. My children would really enjoy it.
Museums are always so educational for kids to adults.
Would definitely check this out the next time we are in the area.
This sounds like a fun place to learn! I’m on the west coast so Ottawa is on our someday list not something we’ll be doing until our across Canada trip when the youngest is 10ish. Our Science World in Vancouver has evening things but they are grownups only
We love taking our grandson to educational interactive museums, so will have to check this out, thx very much for this terrific review!
I would absolutely love the Technology in Our Lives exhibit! Totally fascinating!
This looks like boy a fun and educational family outing spot. If I’m ever close by I will definitely be taking my kids.