Christmas Eve Morning Visit to COSI (Center of Science and Industry)

So you ask, what should we do on Christmas Eve? What is close to home and full of great entertainment for kids of all ages yet won’t break the bank?  Our answer to this question was … COSI the Center of Science and Industry.

Being COSI members, I always feel we get our money’s worth and more every time we visit.  With lots of membership types, and always new exhibits included in the cost of the membership, we have plenty to see and do every visit.  And depending on your family ages (very young kiddos to much older, teenage years), everyone is pleased with something in their interest.

I have been wanting to see the new exhibit Gunther von Hagen’s Body Worlds & the Brain on display for a limited time.  Being members, our cost was just $6 per person.  Otherwise you could expect to pay $24.95 for an adult and $19.95 for a child ticket.

We decided to head out early Christmas Eve morning to beat the Christmas break rush for the Body World exhibit.  I was taking my seven-year old kiddo to the exhibit as well; I had done my research and felt my child would be okay with the display.  {While the exhibit is about the human body, each parent or guardian should decide for their own family members}.

The exhibit was intense with the awe-inspiring fact these specimens were in fact people, real people, real human beings that donated their bodies through Plastination. {Out of respect for these persons, pictures were not allowed}.

I had seen what a healthy lung should look like and what a smoker’s lung looked like.  I had seen what a brain of a person with Alzheimer’s looked like as well.  And yes, I has also seen what the male and female anatomy looked like without skin attached, as did my seven-year old kiddo.  He did not seem phased one way or another, yet more interested in the smaller specimens {brain and lung cross sections}.  <3 my science guy.

The hallway leading to and from the exhibit was lined with artwork of various cells of the human body, which is just as impressive.

Following the completion of our self-guided tour, I was playing around with the reflection in the window, {notice my kiddo’s bunny ears sneaking into the picture near my hip pocket?} and snapped this image.

Next up, we were headed to the limited time Lego Castle exhibit.  My kiddo was pretty much foaming at the mouth with excitement.  So, he was less than pleased when I asked him for a photo-op moment in front of the snowman and Christmas trees.

We walked in and he headed straight for the self building station.

And I was impressed with the Lego dragon…. but my kiddo was less than pleased {maybe it was more about not wanting his picture taken}.

Overall, I would say I think we hit the motherload.