Kirby Science Discovery Center

11th and Main, downtown Sioux Falls, SD.  877-WashPav.  www.washingtonpavilion.org/ScienceDiscoveryCenter
$6.75 adults, $5.65 seniors, $4.60 children.  ASTC membership reciprocity.  Cinedome admission extra.  Discounted parking available in ramp across the street.  Stroller accessible.  Restrooms available.

For the past two years, my husband and his dad had a conference to attend in Sioux Falls, so his mom and I tagged along and took the kids on outings while the guys were in their meetings. I almost had my room in Sioux Falls booked when I learned that the conference location has been changed and we won’t get our trip to Sioux Falls this winter. The main reason for my disappointment is that we’ll miss a repeat trip to the Kirby Science Discovery Center.

Although technically a science museum, the Kirby museum is really geared to children. It is located in the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in downtown Sioux Falls.  With three floors of fun, the kids don’t even know how much they’re learning while they’re there. While having a good time, they learn about colors of light, earthquakes, sound and music, water, hot air balloons, space ships, crops and crop byproducts, and more. They can build a Lincoln-log type house that they can crawl in, play at the water table, or build with more K’nex than they ever dreamed of. There’s a special area for toddlers, and another room that’s for preschoolers. Even the hallways and stairs are fun, turning colors and playing music as you walk through.

Note to food-allergy families: There’s a popcorn stand next to the gift shop, and when we visited in January 2006, they were popping the popcorn in peanut oil.

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