Amazing … That about sums up my feelings about the new Museo del Nino (Children’s Museum) in Carolina. The museum is a fun, hands-on place full of interactive, passive-learning activities. It has over 100 exhibits, each with something to play on, with, in, or around. Kids of all ages are sure to find something interesting and fun to do. I know we did!

If you are at all interested in the workings of the human body, then a trip to Body Worlds: The Cycle of Life & A Trip into the Heart will really intrigue you. This touring exhibition is currently open, for a limited time in Old San Juan. It features a number of whole human bodies, and numerous body parts and organs that have undergone a plastination process. It is an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Puerto Rico is known for its coffee, and the best coffee comes from ripe beans grown high in the cool, moist mountain regions of the Toro Negro mountain range. There are a number of coffee Haciendas in the towns of Jayuya, San Sebastian, Ponce, Adjuntas, Las Marias and Lares. Most of larger coffee plantations are not open to the public, but some of the smaller, specialty/gourmet places are open for tours, and purchases. Our tour at the small, gourmet coffee plantation Hacienda Pomarrosa was informative and enjoyable.

I love it when you explore some place new and you are happily surprised with the outcome. That is what happened to us on a recent visit to the Centro Histórico Turístico del Cibuco (Cibuco Historical Tourist Center) in Corozal. We had heard that they offered a tour of this park, but we had no idea what a gem this place was. There is something for every family member packed into this lovely place, where you can spend a couple hours or the whole day.

On a recent, sunny Sunday, we decided to take a drive down the east coast of Puerto Rico. It is a nice drive if you go along the coast, with some great views along the way. At the south-east corner if the island is the town of Maunabo, in which you can find the Punta Tuna Lighthouse (Faro Punta Tuna) and beach. While you can’t enter the lighthouse itself, the park and beach area are worth a stop.

The minute you make your plans to come to Puerto Rico, you know his name — Luis Muñoz Marín. You might wonder Who was this guy that the airport is named after? Luis Muñoz Marín was the first elected Governor of Puerto Rico, and he changed Puerto Rico forever. A Foundation has been set up to preserve his legacy for future generations. While this is not a must do for most people, his home is an interesting place that deserves some attention.

The HMS Bounty, a beautiful wooden ship, with square-rigged sails is currently docked in Old San Juan for the winter. This ship was used in the movie Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando, and later in the Pirates of the Caribbean. The ship is open for tours daily. So come aboard!

The Ponce Art Musuem (Museo de Arte de Ponce) recently reopened its doors after more than 2 years and LOTS of money in renovations and acquisitions. It is larger and it now has more than 800 art objects on display. I think it is the nicest art museum on the island, that I have visited, and it is a must-visit for anyone who has even a remote interest in the arts.

The new Museo de Vida Silvestre (or Wildlife Museum) in San Juan allows people to see what all sorts of wild animals from around the world look like. It is filled with a variety of mounted animals in displays that depict their natural origin and behavioral habits. It is a great way to learn about animals from far and wide without ever leaving the metro area.

Here is another example of a local historical spot that is way under-visited. The Museo Casa Jesus T. Piñero is located right on Route 3 in Canovanas. Ray and I have passed this place literally hundreds of times and never have stopped in. We finally went for a visit recently and got a special tour of this beautifully restored home that has historical significance for Puerto Ricans.

BRAIN: The World Inside Your Head is a hands-on educational exhibition in Caguas all about our brains, how they work and what can go wrong. Though it is geared toward kids, it is still educational for people of all ages.

Right on the grounds of the UPR Botanical Garden in Rio Piedras is a little-known museum all about insects. Called the the Museum of Entomology and Tropical Biodiversity, it houses the largest collection of insects in Puerto Rico. While I am not a big lover of insects, I understand their place in the world. So while we were visiting the botanical garden, we thought we would check out the "bug museum".

Tutankhamen: The Exhibition is now open in Old San Juan. The show contains replicas of objects associated with Cleopatra, Ramses II, Akhenaten, Tutmosis III and King Tut, including recreations of burial tombs, sarcophagi and King Tut’s burial headpiece. The show will run through March 2011.

The Museum of History, Anthropology and Art on Rio Piedras campus of the University of Puerto Rico contains a diverse collection of fine art, sculptures, Egyptian mummies, and pre-Taino archaeological remains. All in all, it was an interesting way to spend a couple of hours on a hot day in August.

Are you looking for a little quiet culture in the heart of San Juan? Maybe something to do on a rainy or super hot day? The Museum of Art of Puerto Rico and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico are just a few blocks apart, and they are full of interesting objects of art.