Must-do with kids: SF’s Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is so stinking amazing. Every single station is an interactive STEM activity. I was completely blown away. It's like a year's worth of science lessons in one morning — and FUN! Details on some of the experiments in captions below.

RGB light shadows
Looking at samples from the sediment library through a microscope.
Artist Scott Weaver and his INCREDIBLE art made of toothpicks and Elmer's glue. The organic sculptural form features famous buildings in SF, and it's also a ping pong ball run. The artist said he worked in grocery stores for 30+ years, and toothpicks were always his hobby.
Sat down to take a break, and it turns out the bench is also interactive. Touch the armrests and hold hands to complete the circuit, and it plays a song.
Polarized film that changes color when you spin the wheel.
Cloud making, using a bike pump to create pressure inside a 2-liter soda bottle.
The toilet is new and has the same clean drinking water, but would you take a sip from it?
An interactive art installation, where a million light bulbs form one big cloud. You can turn each light bulb on and off individually.
The big construction lab, where you can play with all kinds of materials. I loved this sign.
Flower dissection
Stop motion spinner

Here's a link to my story for Seattle's Child: family-friendly adventures in San Francisco.

Solar time pieces. An Earth day is 24 hours; a Mercury day is 4,223 hours.

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