As a mom, finding educational and entertaining activities for your kids can sometimes feel like an impossible task. However, the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, is a hidden gem that offers a large variety of benefits for families with kids. This blog post will explore why the Liberty Science Center is a must-visit destination for families and their children. We’ll also provide information on how you can find Liberty Science Center discounts tips, making it a budget-friendly adventure.
The Liberty Science Center is not your typical museum; it’s an interactive science playground. Kids get to touch, explore, and experiment with various exhibits that cover a wide range of scientific topics. From the touch tank exhibit to the hands-on activities in the “Energy Quest” section, children can engage their curiosity and learn through play.
Here’s our guide to help you make the most of your day at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ.
How much is admission at the Liberty Science Center?
During our visit, the same-day admission for adults was $32.99 and $27.99 for kids. With this price, we could explore most of the exhibits at the Science Center and any other exhibits we had to pay extra for, like the Planetarium.
In the beginning, we were not sure if we would have time to see all of the exhibits the museum had to offer, but we found out you can purchase special exhibit tickets throughout the museum.
Does the Liberty Science Center offer discounts?
There are, in fact, a couple of ways to save money on your tickets for your visit.
- The Liberty Science Center has a Membership program that offers various benefits, including unlimited free admission, discounts on special events and programs, and exclusive members-only events. It’s a cost-effective way for families who plan to visit frequently. The cost of 2 family trips is almost the price of a Family Membership pass.
- The Liberty Science Center participates in Bank of America’s on-US program. This program gives one free general admission to an active Bank of America cardholder.
Free admission days are on the first full weekend day of each month. Check out our article Bank of America on US to find out what other museums participate in this program.
- Another way for families to save money is by having a library card. Some libraries will give discounts or free passes for active card members. We were about to receive a $3 discount on each ticket by presenting our library card at guest services.
- If you buy your tickets online, you can also save money. General admission for adults online is $30. 99, and the price for kids is $25.99. Every little bit helps.
Is there a fee for parking?
Parking is still a reasonable price at the Liberty Science Center. Cars are $7. We visited the Science Center in December, so parking in the parking lot was my only option. If it was a lovely spring or summer day, there is close parking that is close by where you can find parking for free.
What are the hours of the Liberty Science Center?
The Science Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but those days can vary throughout the year, so I would check the website before you plan your visit.
All of the other day, the museum opens at 10 am and closes at 4 pm or 5 pm, depending on the day.
When is the best time to visit?
This is our 2nd time visiting the Liberty Science Center over the past years, and I strongly recommend you visit the museum as early as possible. The museum is enormous and has a lot of exhibits and shows that are great for all ages to enjoy.
We arrived at the museum about 2 ½ hours before closing, and I felt that that was not enough time for our family to explore everything the museum had to offer.
Can I bring Food?
The museum has a cafe where you can purchase lunch during your visit, but if you would instead bring your snacks or lunch, the museum allows outside food.
Where should I start my visit?
The Liberty Science Center is over 300,000 square feet of science and fun. To make the most of your experience, it’s best to visit the site and view the map from your phone to see all there is to explore.
There are also maps on each floor that will let you know what is on each floor.
Here’s a list of some Exhibits we visited at the museum.
Skyscraper
This exhibit explores the science and engineering behind some of the world’s tallest buildings. Where explorers can learn about the architecture, construction, and innovations that make skyscrapers possible, our kids got a chance to make buildings and see how they could withstand different earth elements.
Infinity Climber
The Infinity Climber is a suspended multi-story play structure that challenges visitors to climb, explore, and test their balance. This is an eye-catching activity that makes everyone who sees it.
My children couldn’t wait to climb through this chamber of suspense while traveling across the second story of the Liberty Science Center. I have to admit, I wanted to climb this too.
Our Hudson Home
This exhibit focuses on the local environment and ecosystem of the Hudson River. Visitors can interact with creatures from the Hudson River estuary in a touch tank and learn about the importance of preserving this vital ecosystem.
Touch Tunnel
Crawl through an entirely dark tunnel using only your sense of touch. I must admit this tunnel was dark, and you must use your hands to make your way through.
I bumped my head several times because I forgot to feel through the side wall to navigate the tunnel. My children started but wanted no part of it, so they opted out.
There are cameras in the tunnel so LSC staff can make sure everything is going okay during your journey. If you want to avoid completing the crawl through the dark tunnel, you can alert the staff by doing the hand signal instructed to you by LSC staff before you enter the tunnel.
The Great Train Set
This was my favorite exhibit to visit at LSC. The Great Train Set exhibit was crafted in so much detail that the model was fascinating. In this exhibit, a train runs through an active community, including a car dealership, church, stores, houses, and schools.
Watch this train’s journey as it rides through the day and nighttime life cycle. During the day, the town’s people are up with their lights on, hustling and bustling through their day, and at night, all of the lights go off, and the town goes to sleep.
My favorite part of watching the train travel through its adventure was looking inside the train as it passed to see what the passengers were doing.
Live Demonstrations
The Liberty Science Center often hosts live science demonstrations and experiments throughout the day, allowing visitors to witness scientific principles in action. These demonstrations cover various topics, from chemistry to physics.
We watched scientists make vanilla nitrogen ice cream during our live event. This was a very fun and, at the same time, educational experience great for all ages to enjoy. The best part was at the end of the demonstration. Everyone got a chance to sample the nitrogen ice cream.
Special Exhibits
For some time, the LSC usually has a special exhibit for visitors. While we were there, we got to see an exhibition about buildings. This exhibit gave the illusion of guests hanging from the side of the building, climbing a fire escape, or looking out of a window.
This was an incredible exhibit that had everyone excited to try it.
Dino Dig
Returning to historic times with Dino Ding located on the second floor of LSC. This exhibit allows you to become a paleontologist for the day. You get to dig in the sand and find the undiscovered world of dinosaur fossils.
Special note
The Liberty Science Center frequently updates its exhibits and may have special temporary exhibitions or seasonal displays in addition to the ones mentioned above. It’s a dynamic and educational destination that continues to inspire curiosity and learning in visitors of all ages. Check their website or contact them for the most up-to-date information on current exhibits and special events.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our family had a great time visiting the Liberty Science Center. If we could do it all over again, we would have arrived earlier and given ourselves more time to visit all of the exhibits.
