If you're looking for something a little different to do this week, it's Meet the Animals Week at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.

Starting today through Friday, the museum will showcase some of the museum's live animals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Bicentenninal Plaza in front of the museum in downtown Raleigh.

Daily programs last about 20 to 30 minutes and offer some opportunities to touch some of the animals. On display will be crowd favorites (at least that's what the press release claims) like  Madagascar Hissing cockroaches, bearded dragons and a blue-tongued skink.

My daughter loves the 10:30 a.m. storytimes at the museum where you can touch some of the animals and read books about them. 

As usual, it's all free.