“Come with me
And you’ll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you’ll see
Into your imagination”

                          -Willy Wonka

Stepping in to the Exploratorium in San Francisco must be at least a little like stepping into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. It’s as if the creators of the marvels within have said to one another, “No holds barred. Let’s just build and create and do whatever comes to mind. It’s as if you’re entering a world of possibility where not only are you allowed to touch and interact with just about everything but you’re given a taste of your own creative intellectual potential. But, it’s super-easy to forget that this is a science museum at its core, after all. It is a place that is all about showing us that the impossible is possible and that we can be part of that un-impossibling and learn and have such great fun in the process.

The sphere above, nothing more than a reflective circle really, a ball mirror or mirror ball, through which my family gazes, is the perfect example of the joy that can come from this magical yet very real and scientifically-focused place.

If you ever find yourself in San Francisco, make sure the Exploratorium is on your list of must-sees and must-do’s.

There probably won’t be any giant blueberries or Oompa-Loompas, though!