The Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Visitor Center is a great place for both kids and adults.  It’s truly interactive which is great for the kids; they can touch, explore, watch, read, and listen.  It’s also enjoyable for adults, the exhibits are well done and informative and the interactive pieces are friendly to both kids and adults.  The exhibits cover a diverse cross-section of the history of their journey with features on technology, nature, medicine, and science.  The addition of hiking trails and an earth lodge complete the center.

The nature of the center means that you can spend as little or as much time there as you have.  If you’re travelling it can be a quick 45-minute pit stop to get the kids out of the car or you can spend all afternoon going through the exhibits and spending time on the trails.

I do have one word of caution about the Lewis and Clark Center, if you have kids beware the gift shop.  There are tons of great books, stuffed animals and other toys that are like catnip to curious children.  So parents steer clear, send them into the gift shop with the grandparents, that’s what they’re for.