Life and Chemistry in Portland

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a fantastic science center that we could have spent a few days. Our favorite part was the chemistry lab where the kids did REAL experiments with our help and supervision. They learned about chemicals and how they burn different colors.

They electroplated a key. 

There were about six different stations set up with new experiments to try. They enjoyed them all.

I was intrigued by this Augmented Reality display. It's basically just a glass box with nothing inside. The object and words that you see are within the front pane of glass, like a computer monitor. We watched demos showing how this can be used for very clever advertising. A jewelry store could have pictures and script running on the glass in their displays, a soda vending machine could have bubbles rising up thru the glass and a little character that runs along the front of the glass, drawing attention to the options inside. It was fascinating. I'm looking forward to seeing these in use in the future.

This is a fun sand filled box with a light above creating a topo map showing mountains when you pile the sand and water when you did deep enough. Very interesting and holds the attention of all four of us.

Their exhibit entitled, Beginning the Journey, is the best I've seen on prenatal development. It shows every stage of fetal development with 40+ actual babies that were miscarried. I looked at every single baby, noticing the changes in each stage, some only days apart. We lost our first baby at around 10 weeks. While looking at the baby closest to that age, I see our baby had fingers, toes and even fingernails already. It's a somber exhibit, but one that teaches so much. Photos are not allowed of the babies. I would encourage anyone going thru Portland to stop and check it out for yourself.

Next they showed models of the birth process, not only vaginal birth, but also cesarean. 

This was the first time I've seen something that explains a cesarean birth for kids. Asher was very interested in this and we talked thru every step.

The next time we went downtown, it was to explore the parks. We first went to the Audubon Society of Portland and hiked the trails that they have. A few rescued birds are on display at the park. This American Kestrel is a favorite of mine.

Other birds live outside in these enclosures, but most were off property at an event.

We discovered orange-colored Roughskin Newts in the pond and a Banana Slug on the trail.

The kids did some dancing. 

Tickles on the trail.

After our hike thru the Audubon's trails, Daddy took the kids to run errands while I set off on a long hike thru Washington Park along the Wildwood trail.

I hiked to the Pittock Mansion, Hoyt Arboretum, the Rose Garden and glimpsed the Japanese Garden from above, before arriving at the Children's Park where my family was playing. It was a fantastic hike, lots of elevation changes and curves and I believe was around 7 miles.

The Pittock Mansion seems to be a gathering place for picnics and the view is outstanding.

 The rose garden is beautiful even when there are no roses blooming.