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Play & Learn at Kid-Friendly Liberty Science Center

12/17/2018

14 Comments

 
US Japan Fam reviews the family-favorite Liberty Science Center in Jersey City
This post was sponsored by Liberty Science Center through a Momtrends blogger campaign, however all thoughts and opinions are my own (cuz... I'm no sell out!!)!

Little by little we're making our way through my list of the best day trips & weekend getaways from NYC, as well as the best kid-friendly spots within the 5 boroughs, and this past Saturday brought us to a new one which is now one of my all-time favorites: Liberty Science Center!! In a nutshell, the entire facility and all of the exhibitions were immaculate, there were endless hands-on activities for everyone from toddlers through adults, and it's relatively easily accessible for NYC dwellers despite it being "all the way over" in New Jersey LOL!! Watch my video highlights here and keep reading below for more details about the center in general as well as some brand new exhibits!

​DOC MCSTUFFINS EXHIBIT:
Open from October 6, 2018 - January 27, 2019, this exhibit is based on Disney Jr.'s award winning children's TV series, Doc McStuffins. Children can feed newborns in the nursery, complete check-ups in the ER, care for animals in the Pet Vet, tune-up toys, and more! My kids loved every nook and cranny of this exhibit, and my girls were specially fascinated with the pretend hand washing stations, haha!! 
Doc McStuffins Exhibit at Liberty Science Center


SHERLOCK HOLMES EXHIBIT:
Walking through this interactive adventure, you could really find yourself carried away to another time and place. Each center is meticulously decorated with forensic clues to read and examine - see first hand how blood splatter analysis works, how foot prints differ going forward and backward​, and much more!! Do note that this is a premium exhibit, meaning it's not included in general admission. You can pay an extra $6 or so to go the planetarium OR a premium exhibit, or about $10 extra to do both. Don't expect to follow along and actually solve the crime if you have little ankle biters in tow like we did (though it's still enjoyable to walk through and take it all in), but if you have older kids or adults only, spend an hour in here and have an exciting crime-solving adventure!
Sherlock Holmes Exhibit at Liberty Science Center

PLANETARIUM:
I could not believe my eyes when walking into this room, and seeing on their website that it's the "Biggest Planetarium in the Western Hemisphere", yep, I believe it!! It's massive!!!!! When sitting down, it's overwhelming and absolutely breathtaking!! When seated you pretty much had a 180 degree view from left to right, and the screen and images even wrap up and behind you a bit. We saw the "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure" Sesame Street Show and it was really adorable - we learned some of the basic constellations and even traveled to China and the Moon!! Currently playing, they also have "Black Holes" and "Wonders of the Night Sky". It's not included in the standard admission fee, it's an add-on just like the "premium" Sherlock Holmes exhibit mentioned above.
Biggest Planetarium in the Western Hemisphere - Liberty Science Center

OTHER NOTABLE ACTIVITIES & EXHIBITS:
  • It's quite a sight to behold - a huge jungle gym hanging 35 feet in the air!!! Our 5 year old had a blast navigating through the Infinity Climber (though our younger ones cried when they found out they were too short to go in, I'm not 100% sure but it looked like the measurement stick was set at about 42" or so), you might want to let younger children know ahead of time they won't be able to go on it. (pictured below, bottom right)
  • I Explore is the little toddler room, for kids ages 5 and under. If (when??) we move to New Jersey, I envision myself buying the annual family membership and bringing my kids here at least once a week (several times a week if we decide not to send the twins to preschool). They can climb, sift around in the rice sensory bin, paint with water, build, explore; it's so fun!! (pictured below, top left & right, and bottom center)
  • Block Party is another fun one with younger kids - they can build massive structures, or roads, or whatever their little minds can imagine, with these huge blue foam blocks! We enjoyed making a little "igloo" (pictured below, bottom left).
  • Be sure to check out their list of other exhibitions and activities here - there are just too many to go into and we didn't even get close to seeing them all during our trip there last weekend!!
US Japan Fam reviews Liberty Science Center - great family-friendly day out in New Jersey
Liberty Science Center is just a 40 minute drive from Bay Ridge Brooklyn (about 1 hour 15 minutes by bus / Path / NJ Light Rail), so totally doable if you plan to spend half a day there or so - great for a cold or rainy Saturday or Sunday!! They're open 9am - 4pm on Tuesdays - Fridays and 9am - 5:30pm on weekends (closed Mondays). Parking is $7. Admission is $23.75 per adult ($19.75 for ages 2 - 12), plus $6 for a combo pass (1 planetarium show OR 1 premium exhibit) or plus $10 for a Premium Pass (1 planetarium show AND 1 premium exhibit).

But here's where you can get a great deal... the FAMILY MEMBERSHIP!!! At just $175, basically the same price as 2 visits with a family of 4! It includes unlimited admission for 2 adults and 4 kids, 6 single-use passes (which can be exchanged for theater show tickets), member-only events (including member mornings and nights), and discounted theater/planetarium shows, premium exhibits, science camp, gift shop & cafe! Membership also grants you free admission to over 340 science & technology centers around the world as part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program (they must be at least 90 miles from your residence or science center where you are a member).

US Japan Fam at Momtrends' blogger event at Liberty Science Center
Thanks again to Momtrends and Liberty Science Center for hosting all of us bloggers and our families - we had a blast (above pix from our private party that included breakfast, learning about Bernoulli's Principle of Flight via 9 rolls of toilet paper, and making ice cream with liquid nitrogen - SO FUN!!)
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14 Comments
Julie link
12/18/2018 02:07:57 pm

Oh wow, this looks like so much fun!

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Nate
12/18/2018 03:55:39 pm

Great insight in this blog. I think I would love to check out the Sherlock Holmes exhibit!

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Mimi link
12/18/2018 03:58:10 pm

It sounds like a lot of fun, I'd have loved it as a kid

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Paula link
12/18/2018 03:59:04 pm

I bet kids love it! It looks like such a fun experience

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Roamy link
12/18/2018 06:47:23 pm

I do find that kids can learn so much at day trips, unfortunately, most parents do not send kids to enough day trips for whatever reason.thanks for sharing

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Tiffany link
12/18/2018 09:02:20 pm

This sounds like a great place to visit, when my daughter was younger she would have loved it!

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Tina A link
12/18/2018 09:41:28 pm

What a cool place, I loved taking my kids to the science museum. I wish this one was closer to me, I would take my grandson and I think he would love it.

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Cynthia Nicoletti link
12/18/2018 10:12:53 pm

I have been to the center quite a few times. My entire family loves to visit.

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Jori link
12/18/2018 10:52:07 pm

Thanks for sharing this! I never heard of this place. Being so close to the New York Hall of Science, that's been our spot and we love it. This looks worth the trip all. the. way. to. NJ. :)

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fely link
12/19/2018 09:27:23 am

looks like so much fun. We have a similar one around here and we never get board of it. science is just so much fun.

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Brittany Vantrease link
12/19/2018 10:10:58 am

My kids would absolutely love this! It looks like a great time.

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Linda link
12/20/2018 11:27:11 am

This is so cool! I want this in an adult version too and my favorite would be Sherlock Holmes exhibit.

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Katie Beck link
12/20/2018 11:53:11 am

This place looks so cute. ANd I love that there is exhibits for all ages of kids, making a great place for families.

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Shauna@Video Monitor link
12/27/2018 06:52:40 am

Great post! I have bookmarked this post for my kids. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

Reply



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    I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1).  This blog is chock full of product reviews, family travel guides, and giveaways galore! It's also home to Bay Ridge Families, and several guides focused on kid-friendly activities and guides to South Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, as well as family-friendly destinations beyond the NYC area (check the menu bar!)

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