There aren't any animal zoos in Vermont, but this summer, you can bring your kids to the Robot Zoo at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich. The nationally touring exhibit allows visitors to interact with complex mechanical animals. A robot platypus and chameleon show off pistons for muscles, filtering pipes for intestines and computers for brains. Kids can slip on special hand and knee pads and try walking on a sloped surface like a fly, or they can fire the chameleon's "tongue gun." Also new this summer, visitors to the museum's outdoor exhibits can escape the sun — or rain — under the Montshire's open-sided, outdoor Hughes Pavilion, erected in November. New outdoor restrooms allow for quick trip to the loo. Or museumgoers can head over to the pavilion's picnic tables where King Arthur Flour will be offering lunch — another new amenity — beginning June 25.
Robot Zoo Exhibition: Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich. Robot Zoo is on exhibit through Sunday, September 11.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $12 adult, $10 child, free for kids under 2. Info, 649-3673.
