Liberty Science Center353

We loved the new Liberty Science Center. It was great for all ages and the kids were active and engaged the whole time. There were few lines and lots of opportunities to go several times on the exhibits. The IMAX was great for the older kids as well.

I will prefix this by saying we are a HUGE science loving family and we really enjoy many of the local museums (i.e. Hall of Science in Queens). We had been to Liberty Science before the renovations on many occasions and thought it was a great place. Both adults/kids were entertained by the exhibits/great shows when it was originally built. I still remember the electricity presentation but sadly that is gone along with too many things. Unfortunately, they shouldn't have bothered with the renovations because the new place is bad. The exhibits don't have the entertainment value and the shows are really all geared for a younger crowd. They made the science center look really pretty but forgot what a science center should do like teach the kids stuff through fun and interactive things. It isn't the same anymore: it has much less to do, things are spread out with a lot of wasted space (far too much wasted space!!), everything is computerized and many don't work, a lot of hands on stuff was taken away, and a lot of reading (because of the computers) and not much learning value. It's now probably my least favorite place to visit. Sadly but true --- there is no need for us to EVER return. Honestly wish I asked for a refund but after a 1 hour drive with 4 kids and already paying for parking, I thought well maybe it will get better. I was wrong. The 1st floor has one exhibit hall with some interactive stuff ... the kids ages 10,10, 13, 15 thought the Curtain Wall was going to be so cool --- unfortunately it was not that entertaining and probably not worth the headache of returning to get a time slot. The construction site worker thing had some excitement value but we did have to return 2x before we got in which was inconvenient. In general the extremely limited exhibits on this floor were lame. The 2nd floor the movies and a cafeteria with pretty bad and expensive food. For instance, the hamburger my daughter got was burnt. BAG LUNCH. We saw a presentation about liquids/gases that was good but pretty much replicated a show we saw at the Boston Museum of Science. Actually the one in Boston was far better. 3rd floor has three exhibits. The kids all participated in the infection connection lab which they enjoyed however the older ones felt the experiment ended a little too soon and they should have been able to see their DNA under a microscope. The younger ones didn't care. We saw the surgeon presentation on this floor which was mildly entertaining ... the older ones tuned it out. It was geared to a younger audience. The animal show too was geared for a VERY young audience. The 3rd floor has 3 exhibits. The Hudson one has a lab and the kids did all three experiments (which we had to return 1 hour later to complete because the staff messed up) ... the younger ones enjoyed them. The older ones were a little more critical. The plastic one was beat and the mussel dissection would have been good if the microscope could zoom. The one on salt water marshes the younger ones enjoyed. The exhibits on this floor were beat except for the few older machines that they kept in one area and one was broken. Overall ... I will never return. Parking was $7, exhibit hall cost $70ish for 5 (3 adult, 2 jrs). We were there from 10:30 till 3:30 (5 hours) and we saw and did everything. Very disappointed ... the old place was awesome and the new place well it really stinks!

...younger kids. Even on busy days kids still seem to get a chance to try everything