TECHNIQUEST is the UK's most visited Science Discovery Centre. Here you will find over 150 hands-on puzzles and exhibits that are impossible to resist. The Techniquest experience, however, does begin before you even enter the front doors.

The Centre sits in the old docks in Cardiff Bay's exciting and progressive waterfront area. The Techniquest building was the first purpose-built discovery Centre of its kind in the UK and one of the first things you'll probably notice will be the Planetarium which resembles a gigantic cyber-style golf ball.

There's a hugely impressive team who are easy to distinguish in their green tops. Collectively they are called Helpers and are there to provide guidance and information in an intelligent and unpretentious way.

The exhibits are amazing, and range from a hot air balloon, hydrogen rocket, giant keyboard that you play with your feet, a mirror maze, whisper dishes, a topsy turvy strange life-sized wendy house - the list almost seems endless. Techniquest is so much fun that you really won't realise that you are learning about seriously scientific concepts. That's the clever bit.

Then there's the planetarium. This is a great opportunity to introduce your children (and perhaps yourself) to the stars and the night sky. The shows are highly entertaining and incredibly visual. Importantly the shows are not too long and the presenters understand their audiences very well. There is a small (75p) charge to see a Planetarium show, but another very nice thing about Techniquest is that there are no hidden costs. You pay one price for admission, 75 pence extra to see a Planetarium show and 50 pence extra to use the Discovery Room, and that is all. (The Discovery Room in an area dedicated to very small children and is constantly supervised by at least two experienced helpers).

This also means that the Science Theatre Shows are completely free of charge. This hi-tech theatre seats 100 people and the shows are imaginative, fun, totally interactive and children love them. This year to date the show titles have included, Party Science, Cool Science, Elastic Fantastic, Amazing Inventions, Risky Business with the theme for the whole summer being - Get The Message.

Get The Message (an ongoing event running to September 9) is all about the many and varied ways we can communicate. A whole range of exhibits will be making a debut appearance on the exhibition floor (including a leaf cutter ant colony). Get The Message affords the whole family an opportunity to brush up on a spot of Morse code, hieroglyphics, text messaging skills, along with a fantastic chance to be part of the world's first human fax machine.

If it seems that all this activity might be a little too much you can visit the TQ Cafe, which sells child friendly meals and light refreshments at affordable prices. The Techniquest shop is also well worth a visit. Not only will you find unrivalled science toys, gifts and books at pocket-money prices, but there's also a new range of disco bangles, Austrian crystal tattoos, mood stones and Celtic earrings.

For further information call 029 20475 475 or visit Techniquest's comprehensive website at: