Awesome Adventures of the Davidson Four: Bubblefest!

Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana, CA

Bubblefest

During our stay in Newport Beach, we decided to head over to the infamous Bubblefest at the Discovery Science Center. We have been in the past, but this year was going to be double the fun because our nephews were to join us! We couldn’t wait to see what Nolan was going to do with all of the bubbles he was going to make.

We began with the Dora Adventure Zone. Nolan loved gathering the plastic balls and pushing them through the sorter and going through Dora’s Jungle Maze. He relished the crocodile that was lurking in there, but he refused to lift the flap where it was hiding! Natalie enjoyed the rock-climbing wall and then we took in a science demonstration explaining the properties of surface tension. I especially appreciated that the demonstration explained the concept in 1^st grade terms; that was helpful once she was outside with the hands on experiment portion of the museum. This year the outside display was not very impressive. There was a carnival type super slide for the older kids and only one bubble display for the kids. Fortunately it was “the BIG one” and all of the kids/adults had a great time creating huge mega bubbles with the wands and bubble stands.

Nolan & Katie making giant bubbles

After a short lunch at the yummy Viking hot dog truck, we hauled the kids out to the cube where they shot off water rockets to their hearts content. This became Nolan’s favorite part of the day and each time we passed by the entrance he would say “rocket, rocket.” He somehow was able to convince my MIL to take him up there several other times that day as well! ;) While Nolan was blasting off, Uncle Noah took the girls on a scavenger hunt in the outdoor Dino Quest Adventure, and then all of the kids played in the small play area.

The best picture we could get of all four kids. Too bad Derenger isn't looking!

It was finally our time to see the amazing Deni Yang perform a special laser light bubble show. We packed onto the metal bleachers inside a ~~small~~ warm tent. Natalie preferred to sit down on the floor in the front in the little kid bubble mosh pit. I have to admit, this was quite the show. Thousands and thousands of bubbles flooded the room while loud music inundated the area. The mosh pit went NUTS! Kids were everywhere, jumping, cheering, and trying to catch the bubbles with their hands. Deni Yang finally made his appearance and you would have though the guy invented juice boxes. The kids LOVED this guy. Even the adults were pretty impressed with his smoke in bubbles tricks and colored laser lights. I have seen this act before, but it never seems to get old. He is an entertaining guy.

After the bubble show, we wandered upstairs and took a look at the Eco Challenge area. This was a new display since I was last here and it was really cute. They have built a very realistic and high tech grocery simulation where kids shop for items in a grocery store while exploring the environmental impact of various items and their packaging.

The shopping carts are high tech and equipped with computer scanners and lists of items for the kids to shop for

After all of our “shopping” was done, we moved to the “Race to Recycle” portion of the Eco Challenge. This was an interesting simulation where kids have to sort through various forms of garbage identifying e-waste, hazardous waster, yard waste, landfill waste, and recyclables, all within a time limit. I double failed this challenge! It was a fun game though!

One display that we missed this time was the Science of Hockey. Earlier this year, the kids went to see a Science of Hockey presentation at the Honda Center, but I missed that as well. I will have to catch it next time we go back.

All in all, this was one of the best days we’ve had there, mostly because we got to do it with family and see it through the fresh eyes of my 2-year-old nephew, Nolan. Can’t wait to take him back!

More pics of our day at the cube: