(Practically) free fun - what's better than that?

I had a free morning today without scheduled hours to work, so I definitely wanted to get out with CR and do something fun. Last year, we had an annual membership for the NE Aquarium. It was great, and we went a number of times, but after the tenth time seeing the penguins and the touch and explore exhibit, we decided that we best hold off on annual memberships until the little guy got a bit older. So without a membership to anywhere, I phoned a number of our local public library branches, and scored free admission to the Museum of Science. Aside from the parking fee ($9.75 for 2 1/2 hours), and the $3 must-have small bag of colored rocks from the gift shop (he had to have them), I didn't have to take out my wallet.
After handing our free pass to the attendant, we had to get our hand stamped by the automated stamp machine...let me tell you, that thing is an exhibit in and of itself. CR tried out every one of them...repeatedly...every time we passed through the lobby on our way to another part of the museum...

After finally prying him away from the stamp machine, we made our way downstairs to the lower level. Right away he was mesmerized by the Audiokinetic Sculpture - a series of wires, chimes, wheels and chains that moved pool balls around from floor to ceiling, and back again.

From there, we traveled upstairs to the scented animal exhibit...yes, scented. You walk around to each display, and while viewing the poor stuffed animals behind glass, you have the option to not only listen to a recording describing the habitat of said animals, but also the ability to push a button, releasing a scent that helped add olfaction to the list of senses you experience while viewing the display. CR took to the recordings right away...

From there, it was off to the cafeteria (by way of the hand stamping "exhibit"). We sat at a window seat, and enjoyed our packed lunch - the biggest hit was watching the Redline T travel across the Harvard Bridge in the distance.

Across from the lunchroom was a discovery room for little ones - CR put pegs into a giant lite brite type board, took some quiet time to do a shape puzzle...

...and stuck his head out through various portals in a raised playhouse

All in all it was a great outing. My only real downfall was running to the car to keep from getting too cold, driving down four floors of the parking garage, only to realize I hadn't paid my parking fee at the kiosk on the way out of the Museum...grrrr...I had to turn around, park illegally, grab CR, and go back into the museum to pay...eh, what can you do...