THE STUCKER FAMILY: Marbles Museum

The Marbles Museum is located in downtown Raleigh and it is a fairly new museum. There used to be two separate places for kids to go and they combined creating Marbles. These guys really love going there and it is great fun. There are several different sections and the trick is making sure they are both in the same section. It isn't always easy and takes a little bribery, "After this I promise we will go to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and play inside if you follow me to get your brother!" That usually works (smile) Here are some pictures of our time there. The first section of pictures starts inside a real bus (half of it) and has all different types of activities and places to play. The bus, a boat, a car, a firetruck (wooden) but with real firefighter clothes, an ambulance as well as a pretend triage full of baby dolls and baby beds (the kind you see in a maternity ward - clear plastic). There is a post office with actual equipment to weigh the boxes, and a postal truck and dolly ramp to slide the packages on (as well as a lobby complete with lane poles to wait in line. There is a wooden barn (one sided) with huge stuffed animals (some bigger than the kids), a pretend front porch, as well as a pretend stage complete with dress-up costumes and curtain to pull back. There is a three table train set (they all connect) as well as a Jungle tree complete with rain forest stuffed animals. But, I think the thing the kids love most about that area is the food store (complete with all different types of containers and plastic food) as well as the home kitchen (complete with pots and pans). I can't drag them away from that area. Well. here they are:

I was driving the bus but mom is slow getting the camera open, and I don't wait!

You enter the play area from the bus this way... weeee!

She's so alert, she even put on her life vest before getting in. Way to go

Out of my way mom, I've got a fire to put out!

Ain't I a cutie.... I hittin' the streets of a big city.... lookin' for babes (babies that is!)

Here's the ambulance. He just turned on the light! Thank God it doesn't make noise (smile).

Here is doctor Stucker, setting up an IV for a patient

Mommy is now the patient

OH! We LOVE to shop and play cashier!!

When you leave the enclosed play area above, you can head towards the "water park". It's all about water there. For the older kids they can do experiments and there is a room that simulates life under the water (complete with huge stuffed animals that live undersea and many books for read as well).