Amazeum? Yes. Please!

Check this out:

     THAT my friends is an artist's rendering of the Amazeum. What is that? "An interactive discovery center" for kids that is being planned for right up here in NWA!! I've heard rumors of such a children's museum since moving to the area but this is a really real deal. Sign me up for an annual membership now please and thanks! Bentonville gets all the cool stuff. But, that's ok. That's ok. It will be right up next to the beloved Crystal Bridges as current plans have it.

Go here to read more.

If this turns out anything like the McWane Center in Birmingham, Alabama or the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee then it will be a superb addition to this area.

Toddler Activities

I've been searching all over for ideas to keep my toddler occupied. Color wonder and puzzles are life savers. My toddler loves them. But, this spring and summer I want to be out of the house or outdoors as much as possible. Here is what I've found:


The Splash Park in Rogers (near the recreation center)

The Park on Horsebarn Road (Rogers) -- this is our favorite park all ready 

Crystal Bridges - Art Days (supposed to be offered starting in April)

Storytime at a local library (Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville) -- Check their websites or calendars for details

I've been looking for a not-too-expensive class to enroll my almost-2-year-old in but it look like anything worthwhile will have to wait until she is 3 or 4. All of the above are FREE.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Last year, my husband, N, and I went to downtown Bentonville just for the fun of it on. (If you haven't experienced some of the beautiful downtown areas of NWA then please GO! There are so many fun shops, beautiful park areas, interesting people and so much history.) We stopped in the little art museum on the corner, happy to find a very interesting Mata Ortiz pottery exhibit. In the back, they also had a video and model for the museum that was supposed to open in the area very soon. At that point, they were still working on the foundation and perfecting the plans.

I decided to do some googling to find out what the progress of this new museum. Last I heard it was supposed to open this fall. Lo and behold, there's a website up! It is supposed to hold it's grand opening on November 11th. I am actually very excited. While there is plenty to do in the area for families and children, it's not as easy as living in a big city and going to the local zoo or aquarium. This place looks better than I could've imagined! I'm so looking forward to having this available to us in the next few years. I will definitely be looking to add a membership to the Crystal Bridges Museum to our budget.

Check it out!!

Other museums in the area I'm hoping to check out soon:

Walton's 5&10 (FO' FREE!)

Arkansas Air Museum

Daisy Airgun Museum

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History