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Arizona Science Center
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
600 E Washington StPhoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 716-2000
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 10 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
76 reviews for Arizona Science Center
Review Highlights
"Will definitely be back, perhaps for the Adults Night Out."
(in 8 reviews)
"Body Worlds & The Brain was so interesting."
(in 12 reviews)
"The Forces of Nature exhibit is fantastic."
(in 5 reviews)
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76 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie F.
1/14/2012 1 photo
The 5 stars are for the Real Pirates exhibit, in one word, AWESOME. They bring us top quality exhibits :)
If I was just rating the museum I'd give it 4 stars. They've got a great variety of hands on activities, but I do get strange looks when I get in line to try them,,,,, & everyone else is of elementary school age :D For this reason, if you are NOT in elementary school & you will not be taking young kids, I would recommend trying to go during school hours. That way you get to try all the hands on activities :) & they are fun!!
There is an IMAX theater & Planetarium on the first floor.
On the second floor (I'm pretty sure of the location) there is a SKY CYCLE.... sooo cool! I'm afraid of heights and have yet to take the ride, but one day soon, it's gonna happen! lol! If you or your kids want to do it you have to meet the height requirements, fit into the harness & you need to wear tennis shoes. No high heels or flip flops ladies :)
There's a rock climbing wall,,, but for the life of me I can't recall what floor it's on,,, but it's there.
I would recommend grabbing a bite before or after the museum. They have a little cafe on the first floor, but I would leave that for emergencies, like your blood sugar dropping or a toddler who must have a cookie :)
All in all, great place to spend the day! -
Review from DestinationFamilyVacation M.
Phoenix, AZ
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
We visited the Arizona Science Center for the National Geographic's Real Pirates. Grabbed their Groupon, our family friends, who were in town and headed downtown!
Make sure you download the Groupon to your device before you enter the building, our AT&T coverage ceased to exist inside all the cement walls. No problem we walked back out the front and downloaded it. Get your parking validated too, it reduces the price from $12.00, to only $3.00.
We got our Pirate tickets affixed our wristbands and took the elevator straight to the third floor exhibit. It all starts with a intro movie and a great entry into the actual exhibit. There were so many artifacts from the Whydah (whee-duh)! My favorite was all the booty the pirates had plundered! One liked the pistols, cannons, cannon shot and replica ship. The younger boys liked all the items they could touch and pick up!! Our daughter loved the ship's bell and all the gold artifacts, especially the jewelry! The oldest of the kiddos liked the gift shop at the end of the exhibit. There were lots great pirate trinkets for all ages! I felt like a kid again, reading "Treasure Island"!
The science center had other great exhibits on the other floors as well. The youngest boys liked the Monster Stomach! If you've been to the science center you know why, if you haven't, you'll just have to make a visit and find out for yourself.
The Freeman exhibit was also great! Our kids enjoyed the pipes & valves, but had trouble putting them together. Not a plumber in the bunch! The adults tried to stack wooden blocks to create standing masterpieces, not an architect in our group either.
Another draw was the SkyCycle! A bicycle suspended above the first floor along a thick cable. Each adventurous ride will cost you $5.00 as a non-member, $3.00 for members. We enjoyed watching everyone ride across the sky.
Everyone really enjoyed the MindBall challenge! Two people put on the connectors and try to relax. The person who relaxes most moves the ball till it reaches the other end. I was able to out relax them all, even with my two kids trying to distract me!
We didn't go to the IMAX theater/Planetarium, we had reservations at Rustler's Rooste! -
Review from Jennifer P.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/16/2011
First off, I am not a science person. Unless social sciences counts, in which case, I have a bachelors degree. My boyfriend on the other hand was raised by two Phd holding physicists and studied electrical engineering in college. He has weird accelerometer-type machines in his garage and has conversations that would make the cast of the Big Bang Theory proud. Kudos to the Arizona Science Center for offering exhibits that appealed to the both of us.
We started on the 4th floor at the Solarville exhibit which focused on energy, the environment, and conservation. It talked about individual household energy usage, and ways to reduce environmental impact. The 3rd floor had the Forces of Nature and Technology exhibits, which both offered interactive and informative displays. The 2nd floor was all about electricity, so naturally my electrical engineer bf showed off his knowledge. The coolest part of the museum for me was the first floor at the "All About Me" exhibit. It covers the systems of the human body and even has a stomach you can walk through and a giant nose that blows out objects. The neuroscience portion was very interesting, and I enjoyed taking the interactive memory tests.
Admission was $14, not including special exhibits or films. We had a limited amount of time and didn't get to check out any of the extras (IMAX film, planetarium, pirate exhibit). We saw almost all of the museum in 2 and half hours. We were there in the early afternoon on a weekday, and it seemed like most of the school groups had cleared out by then.
Will definitely be back, perhaps for the Adults Night Out. Nothing against kids, but I can only handle so many middle schoolers at time before I want to scream. -
Review from Mike C.
Wow, for a "kids" museum, I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of the stuff can also be applied to adults as well. And it was a great experience too.
Regular price is $14, but they have a military discount of $2 off. So it was a great deal coming here. They also offer a planetarium and an IMAX film at an additional cost.
They have four floors of exhibits to explore, to get your hands on stuff, and to learn at your own pace.
The first floor has the WONDER Center or the Walton Optimal Neurological Discovery Education and Research Center. Here, anything and everything you wanted to know about the human brain can be found here. They have several videos. On the other end of the floor is an exhibit all about the human body. My favorite portion here is an actual video showing an open heart surgery. Also, you can get on a wheel chair and burn some calories.
On the second floor, there's an exhibit related to electricity and magnets. Most of the stuff here are have some sort of personal interaction so you can actually see the electricity as how you produced. My favorite here is the bed of nails. You get to actually lie on a bed of nails.
My favorite of the whole museum itself is on the third floor with the Forces of Nature exhibit. They have a simulator right in the middle where you can get to experience a tornado, hurricane, rain, volcanos and other natural disasters in 4D. Yes, you'll get wet. They also have a globe where it shows the most recent weather patterns, earthquakes, active volcanos and fault lines. So you're seeing real data as it happens for people to see and interact.
Finally on the fourth floor, is the "Solarville" exhibit. Basically it has everything to do with energy, sources of energy, alternative energy and conservation. Again, you can touch, play, and learn things and how a typical person can save on electricity.
Overall, this was an awesome experience. The staff were super friendly and were willing to actually give you some personal attention. They demonstrated all of their gadgets and gizmos. Again super friendly. So even though this museum is designed for kids, everyone learns and has a good time learning too.Listed in: Cultured Club, Military Appreciation
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Review from Liz L.
Phoenix, AZ
12/23/2011
Just came back from the Pirate Exhibit! Loved it! I had purchased a bogo free ticket from Groupon a month or so ago so wanted to wait for the crowds to die down before going. So glad I purchased those. The exhibit is truly amazing! I really lived out my childhood fantasy since seeing the Goonies when I turned around the corner and saw a pirate chest full of coins just sitting there. My eyes lit up as if I were five. So cool! Right by that show stopper they had an exhibit display where you could actually touch the coins. They had many artifacts from this lost sunken pirate ship on display and gave a great overall view of life for the pirates spread throughout. A++
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Review from Alex L.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Learning = can be boring
Museums = can be boring
The AZ Science Center = not boring, but fun fun fun!
Though aimed at kids and tweens, this place is hella fun and I'm not a kid nor a tween, nor am I a parent of either.
From the telescope where you can see your own eye looking into it, to the stomach/slide that you can go into so you can see how digestion works, this place is nothing but fun, and you learn as you have fun!
Notable Exhibits that I saw:
1) The Human Anatomy and Physiology exhibits. For those of you who don't speak science, that's the human body and how it works. Love the Brain/Neuro exhibit, explaining how the brain works. One of the exhibits shows how the brain gets addicted to something. One of them was a test to see if you're predisposed (I'm a potential gambling addict). Keep me away from casinos!
2) The Immersion Theatre, where you get rained at, shook, blown and stuck inside a toaster oven, all to simulate how nature bombards the Earth with its raw strength of the elements. You will get wet! Dont' say I didn't warn you! Plays every 15 mins so make sure you time your trip to this awesome exhibit!
3) The exhibits on the topmost floor discussing energy conservation and how alternative forms of energy, and how it trumps the traditional petroleum sources of energy. Very very cool.
4) A video within a "cockpit" of a plane, explaining takeoff, flight and landing of a commercial airplane, with a real captain as a host! Very very cool!
Kid or no, this is an interesting place to go to. Nice place to learn stuff and have fun at the same time. I'm not a kid anymore, but I found this place entertaining. It was a lot better than those other places I've been to in my travels. Go go go!
Only complaint: Some of the exhibits are broken. Due to the interactive nature of a lot of the exhibits, plus the presence of kids, this is bound to happen. You'd think the museum people would fix them. Oh well.
Did you know?: ASU students, minors and seniors get discounts to be admitted. Try and remember that as you go in. -
Review from Joanna L.
8/27/2011
Well first of all the $14 dollar admission fee is ridiculous...but what's more ridiculous is the $14 admission fee plus $3 dollars extra if you want to go in a maze.....
Well since it's my bf's bday and there really isn't much to do in AZ, I decided what the heck and went for the $17 fee...just to kill time before dinner at POSH. So it has 4 levels....the first level was about building houses, and the human body...i admit some of the interactive displays were kinda cool but some where kinda boring. the second level consist of science on electricity, weigh, magnets, and light. The only thing i thought was cool was the nail bed. The third level was where the maze was and also where you learn about clouds, grand canyon and environmental sciences. The maze was a rip off really...don't understand why they charged $3 for the entrance...it was filled with optical illusion posters that I've already seen before online....so yeah really not worth the extra $3 bucks. -_-"
we didn't get to see the 4th level unfortunately because we needed to leave before our two hour meter runs out...oh yeah parking is like $12 bucks in the garage....so yeah just park on the street if you can.
So $17 dollars i killed an hour and half at most. This place is really meant for kids....children....under 12...because I even think any kid above 12 would find this place a little boring. I can't believe they even have a membership program...who would want to come here more than once? -
Review from Mike F.
Phoenix, AZ
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
The location deserves 5 stars alone! Next door to amazing pizza, an epic wine bar, a hell'ofa good time pub and NooooooBoooooooo (thats how i say it, i like to sing or over pronounce everything i do except while in the shower. i have dislexia). The building is cool; you will find this to be my bunker once the zombies invade. its all concrete. i have my pirate bandana ready. the exhibtis are cool....for kids. if your an adult, you may want to only go for certain things. pirate exhibt? body art? maybe a model railroad convention or a "build a science project style volcano and come blow it up here" event. But if you love science, and http://howthingswork.com, you'll never leave (and at $23 per adult for admission and $18 for a kid, you may be like me and DEMAND a sleep over; the seattle science center does this for kid field trips, it was legend...airy). lots of cool things to check out like a bike on a rope, and you pedal over the 1st floor from the 2nd floor and the people below you walk under you (yup, you guessed it, i had to look up and mess with a person on a bike). electircity, cameras, HD and different rock things from all over arizona. the coolest part though, was it is really all about AZ which, not being a native, i know nohting abour AZ other than the local bar's (um, big up's to all the Yelpers out there!). all in all, if you go for a specifc thing (like i did for hte pirate exhibt which is a 5 star event), my tip would be to make an afternoon of it. Hit Rose and crown for an app and a drink. then SC for a bit. then Bianco for pizza and wine. then get the hell out of my down town you freaking tourist driving the wrong way on a 1 way street (the other tip; READ THE STREET SIGNS or pay the price). Dueces.
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Review from Chris S.
9/14/2011 3 photos
Every time I come here I am somewhat reminded of the South Park episode where the class takes a field trip to the planetarium, but Cartman sneaks off to try out for a Cheesy Poofs commercial. Yes, they have a planetarium, the Dorrance Planetarium that is. Being only one of five of its kind in the world, it is here where you can learn about Arizona skies, black holes, the stars and the planets.
Ever wonder what it's like to be inside a nose or how your boogers are made? Well this is the place where you can find out. You can learn all about your body, technology and the world around you through interactive exhibits and live demonstrations taking place throughout the day. Adults are general $14, kids (3-17) $11 and seniors (62+) are $12. The IMAX theater and the Dorrance planetarium are both extra to the general admission fee.
If you are hungry they have a Fabulous Food cafe that has mostly deli food options and yes, there are some vegetarian options! They do not offer strollers or lockers at the center. They also have a fun little gift shop with everything science (of course) related called Awesome Atoms. If you hate learning in a fun manner, this probably isn't the best place for you. -
Review from Christine K.
Phoenix, AZ
9/3/2011
The admission price is expensive; when you add the planetarium, the IMAX theatre, and any special exhibits going on, it really can add up.
Many of the exhibits are geared toward little kids (10 and under). Be warned, there is usually a TON of kids here. And although this is a science center, it feels more like an advertisement for the local hospitals than a true science center.
The Forces of Nature exhibit is fantastic. I was bummed out when it was closed for the Body Worlds exhibit.
The planetarium is fun, I highly recommend it.
Great access to the light rail, which can be a fun addition (especially during the cooler months when you don't mind taking your time walking to and from the station).
I always leave the Arizona Science Center feeling a little underwhelmed, but I keep returning. -
Review from The T.
Scottsdale, AZ
6/20/2011
Vastly improved since our last visit 2 years ago!
Most all exhibits are not hand-on, and they finally got the message, build everything like a tank! And, they now have staff members roving the different galleries who actually tell misbehaving brats to stop trying to break everything. I even saw one kid removed from an exhibit he was intentionally trying to destroy and his mother was told he needs to behave or leave. FINALLY!
There are many exhibits and tables now manned with employees who are eager and patient to show the kids details they just won't get playing with the exhibits. Optical illusions: excellent. Liquid nitrogen experiments: stellar. Van de Graff Generator: awesome. Ham radio operators: very cool. Several staff with ipad and apps relevant to the gallery: booyah!
I'll leave the website and other reviews to relay the details.
Pro tip: don't just let your kids bang away on all the equipment, take time and explain to them why things work the way they do and try to relate it to something they are familiar with in their own environment.
Pro tip 2: don't forget to bring your parking garage ticket for a stamp at customer service and save $$!
-1 star because... hey, it's not at the level of the Museum of Science and Industry (5 stars), but getting closer, and... guys, you forgot the 4th state of matter: plasma. -
Review from Brittanie M.
Phoenix, AZ
5/22/2011
Went to the Body Worlds exhibit yesterday at 10am. It was interesting but I was a little disappointed. I think the first run of this might have been more relevant to my interests. This time, it focused mainly on parts of people rather than whole bodies. Also, it says it focuses on the brain in the ads but there was only a small case of brain-related things.
As far as the rest of the Center goes, I think that if you don't have kids and/or are over the age of 10, nothing here will interest you. It seemed to all be for ignoramus or children. I was bored.Listed in: Miscellaneous Non-Food
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Review from Susan D.
Review #799
"There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist."
Mark Twain
I don't mind getting older but, I wanna have fun and stay young (at heart) forever. That's why I love places like the Arizona Science Center. It's a great place for kids to learn and play, and adults to... learn and play... and watch their kids having fun while learning. Sure, a lot of the exhibits are geared towards kids but unless you're the next Einstein, an adult will learn a lot too. You just have to open your mind to the fun.
Or go on 'adult night' for kid-free fun. keke
I went for the the elite event a few weeks ago so I didn't get to explore the whole museum but, I'll definitely be back. In the meantime, my favorite exhibit is the Bed of Nails (dadadummmmm). The only note is that, while most of the exhibits were awesome, a few could use a lil maintenance. They probably just get a lot of harsh kid use! haha
Next time I go... I wanna do the bicycle on a high wire thing! Wootwoot!
See ya there! -
Review from Jessica S.
Phoenix, AZ
4/6/2011
Simply the best! I was there for the yelp event but could have spent the night I just couldnt get enough.
There is so much to explore and learn! I enjoyed laying on the bed of nails, and moving the ball with my mind. I have recommened this for people that live here and people from out of town on vacation.
Staff is incredably fun and happy to help and assist you.
I just cant say enough but , Ill simply say GO!!.. thats all I feel I can say wthout rambing about how amazing this place is. -
Review from Jessica s.
Mesa, AZ
5/9/2011
I love this place! Good for all ages and relatively cheap, a win-win!!
If you park in the heritage parking lot they win discount your parking ticket to only $3 bucks and its usually $12! another win!
We went and checked out bodyworlds and the brain, and if you have never been here, YOU have to go and check it out. Even if you have gone and you know someone who might enjoy it, i think it is the type of place you can go again and see/learn things that you missed your first time through.
We ended up on level two playing in the kids area( don't be fooled they have pretty cool stuff in there). plus, its o.k to let your inner kid out sometimes. :)
A definite must see, and i won't be surprised if i end up back here again.
Very cool! -
Review from Sharon G.
Phoenix, AZ
5/3/2011
I rode the light rail with a friend and met another friend at the Arizona Science Center for a http://meetin.org event. We had Groupons for the planetarium and exhibits. We watched the planetarium show on planets first. I was a little disappointed in the planetarium show because the narrator (who was VERY good with the kids!) went into detail about the planets. I had hoped to learn about constellations, so obviously I had chosen the wrong show. My bad. I liked how interactive the show was, allowing us to push buttons to vote.
I enjoyed the exhibits, especially the four seasons. That was cool having the wind blow in our faces one second, and standing there getting sprinkled in the rain during the storm the next second.
My friends went through the exhibits much faster than I would have liked, so I will be back a second and possibly third time. I'm waiting for the next Groupon before I buy my ticket. -
Review from Al P.
Mesa, AZ
10/20/2011
Thus is a great museum. We kept finding more and more things to do and explore. The exhibits are well done, interactive, and highly informative. The designers kept multiple age groups and audiences in mind when they built the exhibits. We could not see everything in one day, which makes it a good museum. The price is the only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars. I think the entrance admission is too high for most people. We joined as members to save on entry fees and exhibits. We also like the added benefit that the member ship includes admission to over 250 museums around the country.
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Review from Eli H.
Peoria, AZ
11/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Just went to the pirate exhibit this weekend and I want to write a review because it was by far the coolest one yet. I have been to the body exhibit, the titanic exhibit and others there. Of course there is more to do there than just that for the kids, they blow stuff up at the lab, they have tons of cool little sections with things to do. It is not cheap but we got the annual pass for the exhibits this year since we did the maze and we wanted to come back for the pirate and the Van Gogh exhibit coming next. Now back to the pirate exhibit, holy cow they had a real life pirates treasure at the end that was valued at 400 million dollars! The have tons of real "pieces of 8" they also recovered the bell from the original ship they found off the cost of Cape Cod. There was their silverware, belt buckles, guns, cannons, gold, silver, rope, and I can go on forever. It was just super cool to hear the story and see all the real life stuff. This is not just a kid exhibit and in fact I spent much more time reading things and my kids blew right through it.
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Review from Jessica L.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2011
A very cool museum in downtown Phoenix. I was surprised and pleased to see them host an exhibit on race. It was fairly well done and very interesting. I was mostly surprised because in a state full of bullshit racist policies against Latinos, there was discussion of institutional racism, white privilege, and the costs of both issues on a society.
The other exhibits were fun, but large parts of the museum were closed for renovation, which was disappointing. I'd be interested to see what exhibits they have next time I'm in town. -
Review from Tina M.
Phoenix, AZ
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fabulous exhibit in a beautiful building at a museum that is a non-profit organization adding so much to our downtown Phoenix!!! What more can I say....I went to the BodyWorld exhibit early one morning during the week because I heard they can have a long line. No line and it wasn't overly crowded. (They only allow so many people in at once.)
I found the exhibit a true art form. I watched the 5 minute video of how they preserve the bodies and what goes into the poses and am amazed. I think the audio is a must for $5 more. I learned a lot and would go back. Oh, that's right.... I am...for the Annual Yelp Party!
I have to say if I had children I would definitely take them to expose them to this amazing insight to our bodies. A young Mom was there with a 4 year old & was explaining to her daughter what she was seeing, I have great admiration for parents that expose our youth to the arts and sciences, you go MOM! -
Review from Yanira S.
Chandler, AZ
4/10/2011 1 photo
Oh, the science center. I've been coming to this museum in downtown Phoenix since I was 16 years old. It's a fun place for all ages and I remember various activities such as walking through a giant nose, lying on a bed of nails, and searching for gold. My favorite memory of the Science Center is taking my little sister to see a Chronicles of Narnia exhibit where they made it snow! A close second would be seeing the Body Works exhibit and seeing how organs develop inside our bodies. They even had a little lamb on display and you can see the thousands of blood vessels that are inside of it! Most recently Yelp had an event here so major thanks for bringing out such great restaurants! I had blast a blast viewing a presentation inside the awesome planetarium for the first time!
If you are looking to beat the heat the Science Center is the place to be. -
Review from Lindsey B.
Phoenix, AZ
4/10/2011
My husband and I brought my nephew here for something fun to do. What I really enjoyed about the place is that it's pretty hands-on and caters to kids (but is still pretty fun for us adults too). I came in here thinking that my husband would love it but my nephew and I would be bored.... but I was also under the impression that it was museum-esque with a lot of "look but don't touch" exhibits. I was very happy that this wasn't the case :)
At the end of the day my nephew even wanted to stay longer which was awesome. It's fun for everyone :) -
Review from Chrysty C.
Phoenix, AZ
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved coming here for a recent Yelp event! I haven't been here in a few years. It's definitely a museum for older kids, so my little ones won't be visiting here for a few years.
I was able to finally visit Body Works. What an interesting exhibit!! I have only heard good things about it. I, personally, had a bit of a reaction to it, but it was very interesting. I just couldn't get over the fact that these bodies once were mothers and fathers or children. It was particularly hard for me to see the babies and development of a fetus. I'm glad I went, but I don't know if I would go again. It was a bit sad for me to see.
I think this is a good museum, but since I grew up in Chicago, I am used to bigger and better museums. I wish we had more here, but it is a good place for older kids. -
Review from Lindsey F.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/24/2010 9 Check-ins Here
Don't be fooled into thinking the Arizona Science Center is just for kids. I've been both with my nephew and with fellow "big kids" aka adults. Every time I go, I have a blast and it's not necessary to borrow your friend's child in order to find an excuse to go. The Science Center is equivalent to some of finest science centers across the nation with their state of the art technology, interactive exhibits and activities for all ages.
During past visits, I've enjoyed traveling exhibits like the Titanic exhibit years ago. As you entered, they gave you a piece of paper with a name on it. As you walked through the exhibit you looked for the name and learned about who the person was. Then at the very end, there was a wall full of names and you got to see if the name they gave you survived or not. Even though I was a history major in college, I learned several new facts in this exhibit and it was extremely interactive and educational with fun mixed in!
Currently, they have an exhibit called "Forces of Nature" where you can learn about different weather patterns, climates and how weather happens. In the middle of the exhibit you can walk up onto a stage-like area where you experience different weather patterns interactively. I won't give it away, but you could get stuck in some rainy weather!
Just recently, I was giving a super secret sneak peak into the brand new exhibit launching on 9/27 called "All About Me." They've been working on this exhibit for at least a year if not longer and it certainly shows! The amount of thought and energy they put into each exhibit is incredible and it's an extremely dynamic experience. Throughout the exhibit, I "x-rayed" a body and learned about different body parts, I entered a stomach and discovered the ins and outs of the digestive system (no pun intended) and there was even an intestine slide to take a ride down. I placed my hands hands on a censored area and a drum beat to the rate of my heart! Needless to say, the exhibit excited me and while I definitely am still a kid at heart, it was the adult in me who couldn't wait to come back and explore some more.
Before I go, I want to share some other favorites that the Science Center offers...the Imax and Adults Night Out! They have a state of the art, full size Imax theater on site and they show movies like Under the Sea. I am a big fan of the Imax and have been swept away into different worlds many times here. Adults Night Out is just that, where you can explore the exhibits, attend an Imax show and have a fun night out sans any children! I also heard a rumor that they might be bringing alcohol back during these nights! Let's wait and see. :)Listed in: I Like Phoenix., Visitor Musts, Family Fun In Phoenix, Procrastination, Shopoholic
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Review from Rand H.
9/30/2010
I thought this museum was good, not great. I'd say it's mostly for kids, for one thing. Also, some demonstrations were not working & there was an extra charge of $5 for the current featured exhibit. The IMAX theatre also costs extra.
If you can only visit one museum right now, I'd send you to the Arizona Museum of Natural History instead. It's pretty awesome! :-))
Arizona Science Center is open 10-5 except Christmas & Thanksgiving.
Adults: $12
Seniors 62+: $10
Children 3-17: $10 -
Review from Andrew L.
Houston, TX
12/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
The exhibits were standard science material.
The few unique exhibits were very underwhelming. The Race exhibit seemed like a huge waste of space. The Digital world might have been interesting in 1999 .
How will America jump to the forefront of science and techonology when our science centers produce this kind of fodder.
I believe they were under construction on the facade so maybe something better will come on the horizon. -
Review from Meghan T.
Glendale, AZ
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Body Worlds! Definitely worth seeing if you have the chance. The way they have preserved and displayed these bodies is pretty much dumbfounding. If you haven't attended med school, you'll learn something about your body without being grossed out.
I went at noon on a Saturday and it was a bit crowded, though not really a bit deal. Some exhibits I didn't have the opportunity to scrutinize as much as I would have liked. Most were fine though. My favorite part: seeing the suspended artery networks! -
Review from Jeremiah K.
Tempe, AZ
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very cool venue for the Yelp event. Such a good time playing with the exhibits and savoring the tasty bites!
Well done yelp! -
Review from cassandra s.
Phoenix, AZ
3/7/2011
We used to have a membership here, and we loved it then. We would bring the kids, and although they don't have a TON of stuff for little ones, it was a very happy medium for us fact-hungry parents. We had passes and would bring friends with us all the time who loved it.
We went again, just the two of us, for the Yelp event. And it was amazing. I loved the little hands on exhibit that they had, and the way they have the exhibits set up is just so perfect. We are now DYING to try out the bike ride, cable thing. And the planetarium is just... breathtaking. Loved it. The staff is always great, and they are so knowledgeable!
The one downside is that not only are they kinda pricey for the whole family, but then they charge for the extra exhibits on top of it. If me and my little family of 4 wanted to check out everything, it would easily cost us a hundred bucks.
But even with that, the planetarium and staff pull my rating all the way up to 5 stars. You can see the prices online, and it's not geared to very small children. But if you want something specifically for them, try the children's museum. All in all, what a great addition to our blossoming city! -
Review from Becky M.
1/30/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I will be upfront in saying that I have worked for the Arizona Science Center as a Summer Camp Instructor, so my review may be biased.
The ASC has a beautiful facility. True, some of the exhibits are better than others, but each exhibit has a goal of education in mind. I've found that children get the most out of the ASC when their accompanying adult takes the time to talk to them about what they are experiencing (even if it means reading the sign next to the display), rather than just letting the kid run around like a maniac. The ASC also has an awesome planetarium which is definitely worth checking out, along with the IMAX theater.
I most recently visited the ASC for their educator preview of Body Worlds. The Body Worlds exhibit alone is worth visiting the Arizona Science Center, if only to open your mind to the complexity of your body. (Don't be ignorant! Learn something for a change!)
What makes the ASC so great in my opinion is what they do for continuing science education. Have you ever had the opportunity to take a course at the ASC? Or a summer camp? The Arizona Science Center goes out of its way to make it an incredible learning experience for you or your child. They have rooms in their basement packed full with science equipment, alongside other enormous rooms where they build the next exhibit. ASC's goal is to educate Phoenix (children and adults) about science and nature. This means that the Arizona Science Center will continue to grow and prosper as Phoenix does - therefore we can only look forward to bigger and better things! -
Review from Mark H.
Phoenix, AZ
3/3/2011
I love this place. It had been a while since my wife and I visited the Arizona Science Center, but we had to go when the Body Worlds and The Brain exhibit came to Phoenix. Fascinating and amazingly preserved human bodies. This is the first time my wife has encouraged me to look at naked women. Honestly, if you have a chance to visit before the exhibit leaves town, go. Soon. Now would be good. This special engagement will be gone after May 31, 2011.
There are a number of regular exhibits that are geared toward kids, many of them hands-on. Several school bus loads of kids were there when we visited. We did not spend much time near those areas. You might try the late afternoon/evening, especially if you have your own young ones. We returned again at a special event for adults only. The "kid" zones can be entertaining for adults too. Though, to a lesser degree.
The Dorrance Planetarium was oh, so cool. Literally. After rubbing shoulders with the mobs of people it was nice to just sit and "chill" in this well conditioned room. I highly recommend the "Black Holes" presentation. Unless....like my wife, you experience MoTiOn SiCkNeSs. In which case it's a nice cool place to shut your eyes for a spell. Though we did not see the Roller Coaster presentation I would expect that to have a similar effect.
The special exhibits are what draws us back to the Arizona Science Center. From the Titanic to Body Worlds, the diversity of scientific topics and the creative ways they are presented continues to fascinate. -
Review from Sarah C.
11/15/2010 2 photos
After visiting the Detroit Science Center this place really wasn't a huge draw. This place also offers IMAX and a planetarium but its more money on top of the already 12 dollar ticket price. At the Detroit Science Center it was 13 dollars for everything.
They had an interesting exhibit on race but I feel like it wasn't hands on enough to get the little kiddies interested. I was with my mom and she was bored to death. Too much reading and the videos they had of those scientist talking um can you say boring if you aren't in class.
I felt like the other exhibits on the 3rd floor wasn't too interactive but the other floors had interesting stuff and I would bring my future kids here. They have exhibits on being green, music, the earth, physics, biology, building houses, etc. I like the little lectures they offer. The people who work here are really friendly/bored. -
Review from Melissa W.
Chandler, AZ
10/30/2010
You'll notice a huge age discrepency, really young kids and then there are the adults of all ages. So I give credz to any insitution that tries to keep kids engaged in using their minds vs getting their game on in the mall.
I love science museums, making a point to attend in any big city I travel to. The exhibits seem lacking (even in simple terms) of the magic behind the science... hence probably why the feedback this place is so kids orientated. -
Review from Amanda C.
Phoenix, AZ
2/20/2011
I hadn't been to the Science Center in probably 4 1/2 years, the last time Bodyworlds came to town. Yesterday, I experienced it again with my now-five-year-old son.
Since we went for the reduced evening fee, we were only able to get an 8:15 pm entrance into the exhibit, giving us more than two hours to explore the rest of the center. My son was pumped, and we spent nearly that whole time on the first floor. He is a Lego fanatic, so 30 minutes with Legos, building an intricate house with a backyard nearly killed me...but I digress. After herding him into the rest of the first floor, the fun began. Luckily, my son is very bright and inquisitive, so he did more than just push buttons on interactive exhibits. He learned.
It took a bit of effort to pull my son from the rest of the activities into Bodyworlds, but he got there and was very good in the crowded, hot, and close spaces. We looked at everything, and I gave him a little instruction at each piece. Thankfully, I had prepped him prior, so he had cursory knowledge of body parts and how things work together. Also, his father is a nurse, so I'm sure he'd heard a few things there as well.
One of the things I like so much about the AZ Science Center is the interactivity. I've taken my son to the Children's Museum of Phoenix a number of times and that just feels like playing. Here, it feels like learning disguised as playing. And, to me, that's the best way to get a child to learn. I'm thinking a membership is in our future. -
Review from Cameo S.
Bowie, MD
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome. So much fun for the kids!
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Review from Candace R.
Tempe, AZ
10/17/2010
After living in Arizona for close to five years, I finally made my way to the AZ Science Center. A friend was visiting from out of town and had to decide between here and the DBG.
Once we found our way to DTPHX, we got a parking spot and headed in. I guess they're doing construction or something because there's a temporary entrance, but it wasn't difficult to find. We paid our way and cruised around the current exhibit which is called "Races". While there were quite a few families there, I wouldn't say it's solely for children. My friend and I had a pretty good time and there are a lot of interesting exhibits and demonstrations. We spent probably a good two hours there, and we didn't visit the IMAX or planetarium (which is an extra cost).
I'm not sure if I would come back, not because it was bad, but I'm sure things don't change too drastically. But it is a fun place to get out of the sun for an afternoon if you've never been. -
Review from Heather C.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/10/2008 ROTD 10/25/2008
What the hell happened to beer and wine and free appetizers at Adults' Night Out?!! Although I didn't always partake, it was nice to know it was there if I needed it.
Adults' Night Out is offered the first Friday night of each month after closing. It's free to visit the exhibits and attend a lecture. There's also an IMAX showing or Planetarium presentation that you pay extra for. And the best part-it's child free!!!!!
This last week was the first time my husband and visited the new Dorrance Planetarium. It's state-of-the-art and a great show. Neal was our presenter, and I have to say, he is absolutely hilarious. Although we did watch a recorded film on black holes, part of the presentation was history and stories related to various constellations. Neal catered the lecture somewhat to the fact it was Adults' Night, and there was some more adult material. I felt like I was at a comedy show with special effects.
Now, if only they can do something about the beverage situation.Listed in: Fun for the Un-Fit
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Review from Deb L.
2/11/2009 1 Check-in Here
Wow , this place has just revamped many of their exhibits and boy are they fun. It is time to get busy and learn science principles at the same time. From the new exhibit Digital world, to Forces of Nature and the Planetarium , the Science Center is packed with hands on displays for kids of all ages to explore. You have to try the bed of nails!! Really a bed of nails.
I just spent the evening a free teacher's workshop to learn more about what the museum has to offer and it seems like they have more than ever to explore. Teachers if you go to the workshop you can get a free teacher's membership for the year! Sweet Deal.
The Planetarium just upgraded to a special screen that is state of the art and is found only in 4 other places in the world. You can observe galaxies, planets, learn about the position of stars in the night sky .It was very impressive. They also have an Imax theater with several choices of movies. And for you Trekkies out there , they just opened up a Trekkie exhibit. Live Long and Prosper!Listed in: Fun for Kids of all ages
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Review from Lorena L.
Mesa, AZ
6/6/2009
We went for Adults' Night Out. They have it every First Friday from 5:30-9. It's free and there are no kids. Woo hoo! It was fun getting to play with everything without having to be the nice mature adult and let the kids at it first. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try this out when there was alcohol and apps, but we still had a great time. The weather area was pretty cool and they have a Lego play area right now for that small exhibit . The dancing metal shavings were awesome. I want one of those things! The lecture is free, but the planetarium is not.
There's a light rail stop a couple of blocks west of the Science Center if your riding t west if you don't want to drive here and look for parking.Listed in: Places to Visit in AZ
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Review from Amy D.
8/2/2008
I've been here a few times and went again last night for Adults' Night Out. I thought the weather exhibit was pretty cool, except for the rain part. I mean, it was Friday night and MY HAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing I picked up The New Times to cover my head with.
I also went for Body World about a year an a half ago.
I love the set-up of the museum. It's easy to navigate. The people who work there *really* dig their jobs. I ran into the projectionist after the exhibit at the Rose and Crown. He seemed pretty happy!
I live so close, I should get a membership, but I'm afraid of commitment.
