If I see a bug in my house, chances are within minutes you will find it on the bottom of my shoe. My children on the other hand, like anything and everything creepy and crawly. So when we heard that Giant Bugs had invaded the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science my kids were begging to go see them. 

Upon walking into the museum I quickly summed up the bug situation and figured out there was no way these bugs could be squashed by my shoe. BIG BUGS: The World of Giant Insects features insects which are 60 to 600 times their actual size. I mean these bugs are huge!!! It is amazing to watch these insects move their heads, spread their wings and extend their huge bug bodies toward visitors. My children's laughter filled the room as a huge Praying Mantis reached his arms out toward their unsuspecting little brother. Everyone wanted their picture taken with a different bug. I think I have found our Christmas card photo for next year....all of my kids with a giant bug!

What I love about the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science is the plethora of hands-on activities that they have for the kids. There were plenty of hands-on exhibits in the bug area, like the magnified insect heads of a dragonfly chewing, a bee sucking nectar and a 600 times magnified mosquito head (which I swear sometimes the mosquitoes around my house seem that big!).  Upstairs at the museum there are tons more hands-on activities for kids and parents alike! It is in a small enough area where your children can each be looking and playing with something different but parents are able to keep an eye on each of them. Trust me as a mom of so many kids, I know how important it is to keep an eye on all the kids so you are not as stressed and can enjoy yourself! 

Once you get done trying out all the fun activities on the second floor be sure and take the elevator to the third floor where there is some amazing art work. Currently it is the Baroque Paintings and they are beautiful. I enjoyed spending a little bit of time looking at the work with the children and really hearing their different thoughts on what the painting made them think about and how it made them feel. It was actually a really special time for me because I noticed how beautiful and unique each person is in what they see and feel looking at the same piece of artwork.

Tags: Art, Big bugs, Bugs, Children, Family, Insects, Learning, Mary Brogan, Museum, Science, Tallahassee

Blythe Newsome

Family Expert

Blythe Newsome is a single mother of six children ages 6,8,10,12,14 and 16. While a morning radio show host, her family was featured on an episode of the Supernanny in 2007.  The reality of this single mom who spends her days getting GI Joes out of the toilet, explaining to her girls that you can not cut your hair like you do your Barbie’s, convincing herself that ketchup on a hotdog counts as a vegetable and letting America see what hides underneath her couch cushions made her family one of “America’s Most Asked About Families” from the show according to producers.  ABC came back to film the 100th episode which aired in March 2010.  When not playing the role of nurse, teacher, chef, referee, taxi driver, coach, or housekeeper, she writes a syndicated column called Flirting with Forty.  

“As a Tallahassee native, I am passionate about this city, raising my children here and I am always searching for new adventures for us.  When people think about a vacation, this is the place to come.  The city is rich in history, annual events and provides people of all ages with something to do”.  Each week Blythe and her children will share with you the stories and pictures of the adventures that are waiting for you in Tallahassee!