The Scott Family Amazeum is now open in Bentonville, next door to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Van Pelt and her six-year-old twin girls couldn’t be more excited.

“The girls really love the hands-on exhibits because it keeps them active and helps them to explore and be creative,” Van Pelt said.

A quick look around the Amazeum and it’s easy to see why the Van Pelts are so excited about Northwest Arkansas’ newest attraction. Fun learning experiences await the entire family and are found around every corner in the 50,000-square-foot facility. Interactive exhibits focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

But the fun is not confined to the indoors. Outside is a 1-acre play area that offers children a natural and engaging environment that will enable them to play with, explore, and discover the outside world.

“My girls love it all,” Van Pelt said. “They love the indoor water features, the cabin where you can pick and cook apples, and the climbing canopy. They get so excited they don’t know what to do first.”

More than 1,200 people visited the Amazeum when it officially opened on July 15. In a year’s time, about 160,000 visitors are expected.

As common as it is to see children enjoying the fun activities, Amazeum is a place where adults turn into big kids; rare moments when parent and child can participate in the same wonder, fervor and – well – amazement.

“I'm impressed with the leaders of the museum in how they constructed the Amazeum to blend the features from Northwest Arkansas with all the creativity found inside,” Van Pelt remarked. “This facility will inspire future generations of scientists, engineers and artists like – perhaps – my daughters."