Sundays were made for sundaes and there's nothing better than a cold, tasty treat on a hot summer day!

That's why the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences presents "Chocolate Sundays" each Sunday during the month of July. Local ice cream vendors will bring their delicious treats to Bicentennial Plaza, just outside the Museum, from noon to 4:30 p.m. starting Sunday, July 5, with Baskin-Robbins, MaggieMoos on July 12, Ben & Jerry's on July 19 and MaggieMoos again on July 26.

With an ice cream purchase, customers will get an ice cream cone stamp on their hand, which guarantees $1 off admission to the museum's newest and most delicious traveling exhibit, "Chocolate: The Exhibition."

Jim Brown of MaggieMoos says that ice cream is the best way to take the heat off a hot day.

"People enjoy ice cream a lot more when it's hot, and we're happy to get out and support the Museum and the community," Brown said.

Along with other vendors, Brown will be featuring his best flavors to cool off visitors.

"Chocolate: The Exhibition" takes its visitors on a journey of chocolate's history. The exhibit runs through Sept. 7. Exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Last tickets sold at 3:30 p.m. daily. Adult tickets are $7, seniors and students, $5 and children ages 5 - 11, $4. General admission into the Museum is free.

For more information, contact Emelia Cowans at (919) 733-7450, extension 305 or Jonathan Pishney at (919) 733-7450, extension 304.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones St., downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming. Visit the Web site, http://www.naturalsciences.org.