Science Adventures

Science centers are the most reliably successful indoor outing for children, because they are designed on the assumption that kids touch things. Nobody has to be quiet, nothing is behind glass, and the exhibits reward pulling levers rather than reading labels.

What to look for

A dedicated space for under-fives. Most science centers have one, and it is what makes the difference between a good visit and a long one when you have a toddler and an eight-year-old at the same time. The Thinkery in Austin and Sciencenter in Ithaca are both built around this.

A planetarium or observatory. A dome show is a genuinely different experience from an exhibit floor and a good way to break up the day. Imiloa in Hilo pairs astronomy with Hawaiian navigation, which is a better story than either alone.

Live demonstrations on a schedule. Chemistry shows, liquid nitrogen, high-voltage. Check the times when you arrive and plan around them - these are usually the best thing in the building.

Something specific to the place. Space Center Houston has actual flight hardware and a Saturn V. That is not a generic science exhibit; it is a reason to be in Houston.

Getting the most out of a visit

• Do not try to see all of it. A big science center has more floor than any family can absorb. Two floors done properly beats five floors at a run.
• Follow the child’s interest and stay there. If a kid wants forty minutes at the water table, that is a successful visit. The point is engagement, not coverage.
• Book timed tickets for the popular ones. School holidays sell out, and some venues cap entry.
• Check the membership maths. If you would go twice in a year, a family membership usually pays for itself - and many reciprocate with science centers in other states, which is worth knowing before a trip.
• Bring a water bottle and plan lunch. These are three-hour buildings and the cafes are expensive.

Where they are

New York outside the city has the deepest cluster - MOST in Syracuse, the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the Buffalo Museum of Science, miSci in Schenectady, Sciencenter in Ithaca and the New York Hall of Science. Texas has the Perot in Dallas, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Thinkery in Austin and Space Center Houston. Oklahoma City has Science Museum Oklahoma, and Hilo has Imiloa.

Best time

Year-round and weather-proof. Weekday mornings in term time are dramatically quieter than weekends and holidays. Many centers run late openings once a month, which are often the best-value visit of the year.