Photo Courtesy of Discovery Cube Orange County

Last night we attended a special media preview of the newly remodeled and expanded Discovery Cube Orange County which officially opens tomorrow June 11th! The popular destination for school field trips is now 44,000 square-foot of fun interactive science exhibits, themed science-adventures and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) with focus on appreciating the smallest ecosystems on earth to the largest exploration of the cosmos! It features a new 10,000 square-foot Julianne Argyros Showcase Theater and Exhibition Hall with the flexibility to transform from a 500-seat theater into an exhibition space (currently housing the Sherlock Holmes Exhibit) PLUS a new healthy Bean Sprout Café. They have so much to offer that we couldn’t see it all in the two hours that we were there!

Bean Sprouts Café debuts at Grand Opening and offers vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, casein-free, nut-free and egg-free options! You can order from pizzas, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts as well as “Imaginibbles” (a signature line of themed, hand-held foods designed to make eating healthy fun). It will soon be offering kid-friendly cooking classes specializing in healthy foods for all ages! We can’t wait!

NEW EXHIBITS!

• Sherlock Holmes – Want to solve a murder mystery? It’s the first exhibit on display in the Julianne Argyros Showcase Theater and Exhibition Hall. It’s pretty amazing.
• Helicopter Tour – Take a virtual helicopter tour from the mountains to the sea over the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks (a biodiversity hotspot located in the heart of Orange County). Learn about public parks and protected wildlands that serve as a valuable resource to many rare and endangered species of plants and animals that call Orange County “home.”
• Inspector Training Course – Go on an adventure in a backyard to find and eliminate invading vectors using a touch-screen tablet. It will take you through the Inspector Training Course to learn how to coexist with and keep your home free from mosquitos, fleas, and rodents in this competitive scavenger-hunt styled game. This immersive exhibit is presented by the Orange County Vector Control District.
• Petersonville Healthy Kitchen – Learn more about your body’s function in a full, working demonstration kitchen presented by Sheila and Jim Peterson. Children become Chefs creating good-for-them recipes, and they will learn valuable kitchen safety tips as part of this health and wellness exhibit.
• Water Gallery and Water Lab – Learn about nature’s most nourishing elements: Water. From salt water to fresh water, frozen water to water vapor, learn more about the scientific side of the H20 chemical formula in a fun and engaging manner. Presented by Pacific Life.
• Eat Well. Play Well. Sleep Well. – Opening later in 2015 (for guests age 5 and younger) is a play area which focuses on the three aspects of keeping kids healthy. According to children’s health experts, if children eat, play and sleep well, they are more likely to think well. “This area will provide parents with ideas for bedtime stories, structured playtime and healthy snacks.”

In addition to the new exhibitions, Discovery Cube Orange County will have enhanced guest service areas for families and teachers, including:

• Welcome Center and Launch Pad Science Store – Presented by Janet and Walkie Ray, the all-new Welcome Center will be a bustling hub that provides visitor information and hosts lost and found, baby care, first aid, and a retrospective chronicling of Discovery Cube’s history. The Launch Pad Science Store is triple the size of the original and will feature promotional and educational merchandise.
• SchoolsFirst Teacher Resource Center – This special area is dedicated for teachers to check out science kits, lesson plans, and discuss school topics with Discovery Cube trained staff.

NOTE: Entrance to The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes is an additional $10 per person with discounts available for a limited time.

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