The daffodils are starting to peek out of the ground, which means it's time to start planning this summer's family vacation. For families with kids of all ages, a sure-fire option is the Louisville Science Center, in Louisville, Kentucky. This destination is so fun the kids might not realize they are learning while they play!
The Louisville Science Center has a few permanent exhibits that explore science in different ways. One is called "The World Within Us". It teaches about the human body and how it works. Your children can learn how making healthy and unhealthy eating decisions can affect their bodies and how they grew into a person from two tiny little cells. Another fun part of this exhibit is a "time machine" that shows a child what he or she might look like in 20, 30 or 40 years.
The science center has another exhibit that explores the earth and its atmosphere and water called "The World Around Us". Your little adventurers can delve into the terrasphere, atmosphere and aquasphere during your family vacation! This exhibit features local favorites like a mummy and a polar bear.
Then the youngsters can get hands-on in another exhibit called "The World We Create". This portion of the Louisville Science Center focuses on scientific discoveries and creative thinking. Kids love exploring and figuring out things on their own, so in this area they are encouraged to build a bike and try chemistry experiments on their own. You may find out that your midwest vacation has only one stop when your kids want to come back the next day for more!
For children age seven and younger, the science center has a special area called KidZone. This is a special play area where the youngest visitors can get play with science-related toys like building their own boat and then racing it. They can also play with airplanes, space shuttles and construction equipment (toys, of course). The best part is that each of these stations is designed so that parents and their children can play together, so you aren't just dropping your kid off at a glorified playground. It's quality time you can spend together on your family vacation.
If you need a break, there is also an IMAX theater, one of many great tourist attractions, that shows educational films periodically throughout the day, so you can purchase a few tickets to that and let your children marvel at the big screen while you catch your breath.
The Louisville Science Center is a great destination for families, and not far from the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum and the baseball park, where there's a great chance you can catch a baseball game together. It's a great combination of fun and learning for kids and parents alike.