Our Family Field Expert, Jess Kilbane, recently took a day trip to Johnson City for some hands-on fun at the Science Mill and shares her family’s highlights below to help you plan ahead for a great day trip with your family.
5 Fun Things at the Science Mill
If you’re looking for a unique and educational experience for the whole family, look no further than the Science Mill in Johnson City! The interactive exhibits, games, and programs have something for all ages, even the youngest scientists. We recently took our second trip to the Science Mill, and I think my favorite part was noticing that as my kids grow, their interests and where they wanted to spend most of their time has changed. Based on our most recent trip, here are our five favorites from the Science Mill:
Photo by Jess Kilbane
1. The Colossal Robotic Hand – this thing is MASSIVE! The 30-ft tall stainless steel hand is constructed from over 500 individual triangles and is controlled by a joystick. It is so cool to see the fingers move and wave! A crowd favorite: make it say “i love you” in sign language!
Photo by Jess Kilbane
2. Banana Piano – use real bananas to create a circuit and play music! You can use the want to “play” a piano, guitar, saxophone, or synthesizer!
Photo by Jess Kilbane
3. The Fractalarium – this fascinating room combines math, art, and biology in an epic display of colors and textures. We kept coming back to this one just to stare at its beauty!
Photo by Jess Kilbane
4. Giant Lever – this exhibit is like the best tug-of-war you can imagine! Challenge your brother, sister, mom, dad, or total strangers! The learning comes in when you realize the two sides are not quite equal– can your kiddos figure out why?
Photo by Jess Kilbane
5. Giant Blue Blocks – we spent a good chunk of time building (and knocking down) structures with these giant blue blocks. They’re located outside in the Science and Art park, along with giant bubbles, a labyrinth, and the robotic hand!
Photo by Jess Kilbane
There’s still so much to explore at the Science Mill, both inside and out! Visit www.sciencemill.org for more info and details about hours and admission. Plus, Johnson City is absolutely adorable. We spent the day and ate lunch at Pecan Street Brewing and grabbed coffee from Johnson City Coffee Co. There’s so much to do in Johnson City!
About Our Family Field Expert: Jess Kilbane
Jess is a fitness-loving, coffee-chugging, free spirit who hails from the great state of Ohio. She isn’t sure what “free time” is, but if you ever find some, she’ll probably find a way to fill it. She’s wife to Kyle and mama to McKenna (7) and Owen (5). Her favorite ways to multitask include: training strong moms at FIT4MOM Austin, marketing for Special Olympics Texas, running, supporting local businesses, and drinking cocktails on patios. You can find her on Instagram at @jesskilbane or sharing local love on @aroundgeorgetown.
