Take the Kids: Magic Tree House Space Mission
My daughter started reading The Magic Tree House book series in the second grade. I was excited to find out that the Morehead Planetarium is now offering a show based on the book. We took all three of our kids ages eight, five and three last weekend.
The Magic Tree House book series features brother and sister named Jack and Annie. They find a tree house that transports them to different times and places. Your child won't need to be familiar with the book series to enjoy this great show.
What is the Magic Tree House Book series?
The show is slated for an hour. The planetarium staff give the audience and introduction about the planetarium before the main show. The Magic Tree House show itself is about 30-40 minutes. It follows Jack and Annie as they try to answer some questions about space. Their adventure takes them to meet an astronomer, an astronaut and event Mary Pope Osborne, the author of the book (and UNC alumna). It is very age-appropriate for kids ages five to twelve. Our three-year-old also enjoyed it and sat mostly still.
The staff then show the North Carolina sky, point out constellations and take questions from the audience. It's just long enough to keep little ones entertained before they get too antsy.
For the best view, opt for the back row toward the middle. Also, if your kid has light-up shoes, opt for different shoes or take them off and set them under the seat during the show.
Where is it?
The Morehead Planetarium also features a great museum area designed for kids to explore. They can learn about ocean currents, bugs, space exploration and even head into a lab to do an activity or participate in design challenge. My kids enjoyed learning about light and wave lengths and watching my husband try out the virtual reality experience.
Where to park
The planetarium is located on Franklin Street in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. Do not expect to park in the lot in front of the planetarium. The planetarium doesn't own the lot and there is a good chance it may be reserved for a university or town event. There is street parking. The closest parking deck is one block away on Rosemary Street.
When does the show run?
The show runs each Saturday now through April 8 at 10:30 a.m.
How much are tickets?
Children under age three are free. Adult tickets for a planetarium show costs $15.95 and include admission to the museum. Kids and seniors can buy tickets for $13.95. (You can visit just the museum for a lower price).
CHAPEL HILL
My husband and I are both Carolina grads, so we love any visit we can have to our alma mater. Since the show ends around 11:30 a.m., I recommend you spend some time at the museum and then plan to grab lunch on Franklin Street. You may want to check to see if there is an afternoon basketball game that may add some extra traffic.
Tara Lynn is a former WRAL reporter and anchor. She lends her 15-plus years in journalism to tell visual stories through love-filled photography for families of all kinds. The mother of three little humans and one senior rescue dog believes in celebrating magic in the little things, the big loves, and the imperfect moments that make the most remarkable memories. Her vision is to help families celebrate and share their love through photography and curated album artwork that become timeless keepsakes connecting multiple generations...because moments often pass in the blink of an eye, and the photographs we take connect us to our memories and our great loves, forever.
You can find Tara Lynn on Instagram at @TaraLynn_andCo and TaraLynnAndCo.com. Learn more about her photography at TaraLynnAndCoPhoto.com.
