Peach Connection

Just a hop and a skip away from the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium lies a non-profit museum that's known to captivate the hearts and minds of children big and small. Imagine It! is Atlanta's premier Children's Museum and  prides itself on being the place where children eight and under can experience the power of imagination and the pure delight of learning with each other and grown-ups in a fun and interactive learning environment. Parents will no doubt leave the museum having discovered something new about their little one(s) as they bounce from one exhibit to the next. In the Fundamentally Food Exhibit, watch as your child explores how food travels from the barnyard to the delivery truck, to the grocery store, and then to your kitchen table. In the Tools for Solutions Exhibit, watch your little Bob or Wendy the Builder get a crash course in physics as they use a kid-sized crane to load and maneuver balls through a giant ball machine. They also will have an opportunity to operate pullies, levers, and wheels. In the Creativity section of the museum, children are encouraged to paint on walls (outfitted with water resistant smocks of course), and dance until their little heart is content while outfitted in a dapper pair of tap shoes or a fabulously fierce tutu.

Log onto their website to take a virtual tour and learn of current and upcoming exhibits and events. Tickets can also be purchased on the website. Exhibits housed in the Morph Gallery are ever changing so there is always something new for your little one(s) to explore. Currently the Museum is hosting a Explore Alice's Wonderland exhibit, a must see for anyone who is a fan of the Lewis Carroll classic. The exhibit runs through January 13, 2008 and uses the Alice in Wonderland theme to help children wrap their minds around various math, science, and reading concepts. Look for a Wild About Plants exhibit in late January and April of 2008.

Eco-savy and community conscious Atlantans will be thrilled to learn that Imagine It! recently launched the eco-friendly Imagine It! Express. Fueled by environmentally-friendly bio-diesel fuel produced from left over cooking oil supplied by Chick-fil-A at Peachtree Center and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy,  the 42-passenger bus will transport families, school children, and community groups to the museum free of charge. Just another example of Imagine It‘s! commitment to serving underserved families and children while making their contribution to the upkeep of the environment.

No visit to the museum is complete without a visit to the Museum Store. Stocked with over 2,000 fun and educational toys and books, you're bound to find that special something for the person eight and under on your gift list.  A Museum favorite, and number one on my list of  favorite gift items, is the Museum's signature Moon Sand. This curious substance will bring out the kid in anyone! A cross between sand and play dough, minus the mess, Moon Sand can be molded into anything from sandcastles to animal figurines. I, on the other hand, found utter contentment in pressing it between my fingers repeatedly while picturing myself on a tropical beach getaway. At $19.95 a tub, all I can say is, "Let the destressing begin!!!"