Katelyn Hummel
Staff Writer
Valentines Day is over, but special outings with your significant other don’t have to end. The Pacific Science Center in Seattle is home to an array of exhibits that are both entertaining and awe-inspiring, a perfect fit for a date or an educational adventure.
The Tropical Butterfly House exhibit is a great place to take a significant other for an experience of wonder and beauty. With over 500 imported butterfly species, this exhibit is an enclosed system with a variety of colors and shapes flittering around the habitat. The habitat has been a joy to many ages, and the thrill of a butterfly landing on a shoulder or shoelace is as exciting to adults as it is for little children.
For the brave at heart, visiting the Insect Village can be fun and exciting, but it can also set your teeth on edge. As visitors enter the exhibit, a giant, animatronic bug at its entrance greets them. Visitors are able to touch and hold specified bugs under the careful supervision of the staff at certain times of the day. Holding a plump cockroach or watching a spider crawl over your palm can be a good dare…or the beginning of startling dreams for nights to come.
Another highlight is the mini aquarium where visitors get the opportunity to feel the tingling sensation of a live anemone under water or pet a bulky starfish. For those with kids, the aquarium is a great attraction.
There are many other kid friendly exhibits and attractions. A floor-to-ceiling electronic 3D rubix cube invites many kids to interact with one another to play the oversized puzzling game.
The shadow wall is another highlight that is fun for all ages. Visitors make poses against the shadow wall and wait for a brief flash that leaves a temporary shadow of their outline.
The staff are on hand at all of the exhibits, ready to answer any questions. Each exhibit is filled with facts and information, especially the recent Wellbody Academy exhibit that goes through the importance of bodily health. Visitors learn about playing hard to live long, sleep, healthy foods, and much more.
The Pacific Science Center also hosts laser light shows from Thursday to Sunday. These are 30 minutes long and cost an additional three dollars. Visitors can also purchase a message to be displayed during the light show for 50 dollars.
Watching a movie at the IMAX Theater is a great way to finish off the evening. The six story tall, 80-foot wide screen makes the viewing experience a thrill. The line can be long, but there are a variety of statues and optical illusions for your entertainment while you wait.
