Garden State Discovery Museum
2040 Springdale Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 424-1233 (ext. 305 for groups)

"Ooops! Honey, I shrunk South Jersey . . . and put it in Cherry Hill!"

Actually, this neat museum showcases various Southern New Jersey features in child-size, interactive exhibits that youngsters from two to ten years old can explore, play with, and learn from. The one-story, 15,000 square foot building contains eleven exhibit areas that are designed to challenge a child's imagination and natural curiosity.

• Down the Shore explores life by the sea, including activities that simulate fishing, diving, or hanging out at the beach.
• The Farm Stand features New Jersey produce; kids shop for pretend fruits and vegetables, weight them, and take them to the register.
• The Nature Center is a multi-level treehouse with puppet-animals in the branches. Children can also wear animal costumes and crawl through a giant spider web.
• Children can enter a giant bubble in Bubble Trouble, which includes a variety of activities that illustrate surface tension and the science behind the suds.
• Arts and Imagination is a children's studio including a giant spirograph and sand art.
• Vet and Pet is an interactive veterinary office, including real animal X-rays.
• Children build their own sailboats and sail them through fast moving currents in the Stream Table.
• Under Construction is a great area with a workbench for taking things apart or putting them back together, a buildable two-story house, and large sets of giant Legos and Lincoln Logs.
• Kids can "grab a bite" at the friendly Discovery Diner. Junior chefs can "cook" and use an array of standard diner apparatus.
• The basics of rock climbing can be learned on the Rock Climbing Wall.
• And children can develop and direct their own theatrical productions at the Backstage Theater.

Summed up, the Garden State Discovery Museum is a modern, interactive play environment -- the best of our adult world in miniature. Many exhibit areas are backed by beautiful murals.The Museum makes for a great morning or afternoon outing for a family or group.The Museum also maintains a very full calendar of special events and activities, such as cultural activities, performances, storytelling, crafts, and more. Call for a calendar. And remember the Museum for children's birthday parties!