Family Fun at Explora

Several weeks ago, when Nathan had a rare extra day off, we took the opportunity to spend a family day in Albuquerque seeing some sights we had not ever before visited.  Of course, with an almost-two-year-old, we specifically looked for fun things to do that a little one would find interesting.  Turns out that Explora Science Center and Children's Museum is the #1 rated attraction according to Trip Advisor.  We spent the majority of the day there and found it to be true to its claim to have something for children all ages!  There was plenty to keep Isaac engaged - especially because so many activities involved either balls or water. :)  Mom and Dad enjoyed it too!

 

At the entrance, there is this giant contraption of "ball tracks" that Isaac was mesmerized by!

 

There is also a giant peg board on which you can build your own marble run.  I took a picture so we could re-create this idea in a future home for our kids...maybe. :)

 

Another fun ball activity - ramps for ping pong balls that you could change the angles on.  Isaac loved them!

 

Watching a variety of items get sucked into the water vortex and seeing what happened to each one.

 

Josiah was happy to watch the world around him from the comforts of his stroller while chewing on one of the straps.

 

Oh wow!  A giant ball!

 

Playing with ping pong balls, nails, and air blowing up through those holes.

 

Drawing with light.

 

One of the activities they had for older kids involved riding a bike suspended on a cable.

 

Isaac was very interested in this whole process.

 

Meanwhile, over at the "puzzle cafe", Dad was trying to mastermind one of the brain puzzles.

 

Explora has one of the coolest fountains I have ever seen.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a very good picture of it, but Isaac enjoyed it tremendously from both the first and second floors.  You could push buttons to make streams of water shoot out in varying arc designs across the fountain.  Every little kid's dream, right?  Buttons and water!

 

Giant bubbles!

 

Giant Tinkertoys!

 

Daddy love.

 

Another brain puzzle.  Not sure what Nathan was trying to accomplish, but Josiah sure enjoyed the puzzle!

 

Not the greatest angle, but this was hands-down, the coolest elevator I have ever been in...

 

It was humongous and had furniture in it for sitting while you rode!

 

Enjoying the ball maze contraption again.

 

The point of this activity was to create race ways for balls to travel down in the water.  Isaac was just happy to play with the balls!

After spending most of the day at Explora, we also toured the International Balloon Museum due to Isaac's fascination with hot air balloons, but I didn't get any pictures of that excursion.

All-in-all, it was a fun family day that I'm so grateful we had the opportunity to enjoy together!