Space Center Houston
add photosDiscounts available for purchasing your tickets online.
Be sure to check the website for special events.
Extended hours available during the summer and some holidays.
16 Reviews for Space Center Houston
25
30 families found this helpful
"Great Day"
We had heard so many mixed reviews about Space Center Houston and after 2 years of living in the area, we finally decided to go. It was a lot of fun and was very educational. I would highly recommend for all ages. There is so much for kids to do and adults will love it just as much. I think the highlight for me was laying on a bed of nails. I never would have thought I would get to do something like that. Worth the trip! Do it!!
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0 families found this helpful
"Too amazing!"
Our family absolutely loved visiting the Nasa Space Center. I must warn that there is so much to do, that it probably could not be covered in one day. There is an Imax, a guided tour through the actual space center itself, where you can watch the agents at Nasa work. You cannot miss it!
0 families found this helpful
"Wowsers"
If you go see anything with your kids in the Houston are, make this the one thing. Absolutely phenomenal displays. Take advantage of the interactive exhibits. Book your tour early to see the Saturn 5 rocket. It fills up fast. Make sure to arrive early, because this museum closes earlier in the day than expected.
0 families found this helpful
"Space Center Houston "
Our trip to the Space Center in Houston was a little dissappointing. There not as much space history as we had hoped.
The Space Center was largely dissappointing due to the cost. Many of the exhibits require additional cost to enter. The food was pricely, but that was expected.
The Space Center is Houston is sponsored by Nasa. The Space Center frequently has guest appearances by astronauts!!
The Space Center frequently has special guest and special events-make sure you check the Space Center website before planning your trip.
I am glad that I went to the Space Center, but probably will not go back in the future.
0 families found this helpful
"Neat place"
Wish we would have had more time to look around there. It was cool to see the rockets and space stuff. Didn't have little kids with us but think that they would have liked it. Took a long time to get there and we got lost a few times as the road signage wasn't great.
2 families found this helpful
"Worth the price!"
My nephews came down recently and really wanted to do something fun that they could only do here in the Houston area. We were going to some ballgames later in the week so I thought I'd take them here for a quiet afternoon of fun. They absolutely loved Space Center Houston and it brought back memories of when I used to go there on field trips. At first we just walked through the museum part and I let them look around at all the space ships and astronaut gear. Then we took the tram around NASA that shows you mission control, rockets and more. We ended the day with watching an IMAX movie of space exploration. Overall it was a great day and the kids enjoyed it.
Look around at local McDonald's for discount ticket coupons because they'll save you some extra cash which you can use in the gift shop for some "astronaut ice cream."
On a related note about souvenirs, there are a few local businesses in the Clear Lake/Space Center area that sell Space City souvenirs including items for Houston, Space Center Houston, and other local landmarks. They are a bit cheaper but personally I'd buy things from the giftshops on site because it's just more convenient.
0 families found this helpful
"Not for toddlers."
We were recommended to jump on the tram ride as soon as we walked in the door. BIg mistake, the tour was much too long for our toddlers. They didn't find it interesting at all, and honestly, I didn't find it too interesting myself. It was neat to see an actual rocket that had been sent in to space, but the tour could have ended there for us! There is a huge play structure inside and we thought that would be great for the kids, but it was too overwhelming and hard to keep an eye on the kids. Older kids were in there too and they were being pretty rough. Lego had an exhibit at the time, and really that was the highlight and what drew us to the Space Center. It was a temporary exhibit though, and over with now. I would not recommend this unless you have older school aged children that are really into space exploration.
0 families found this helpful
"Great for kids!"
This museum is a really fun place to take the kids, but don't expect to get a lot of history out of it. The Space Center is more of an arcade/theme park than a museum. The kids love it, but we took the kids and grandparents and it was a little disappointing. The food is very overpriced, and most of the cool exhibits charge extra to get in.
'11
0 families found this helpful
"Could use some improvements"
Went here over Spring Break with 3 boys who are all interested in planets, rocket ships and space. The kids were bored after a couple of hours but luckily enjoyed playing on the playscape for hours afterwards. We felt as though the center could've used some improvements and updating. We could definitely sense the age of the center without much recent updates. Everything felt older but there were still some things that kept our attention for a few hours. They enjoyed the astronaut ice cream and playscape the most.
0 families found this helpful
"Great place but..."
looks to be less than clean. The large climbing equitment seemed dirty (especially toward the top when I limbed up with my kids). Its also less than ideal for young children because the play structure is so big that small kids can get lost or stuck up there (which is why I was climbing up there in the first place).
It gets three stars because older kids may really enjoy the large scale of this indoor playground as long as they are independent enought to play without a parent near buy.
0 families found this helpful
"1/2 price tickets until 5/31/10"
We just visited the Space Center Houston with our 4 year-old son and 6 year-old daughter. Much fun had by all! We arrived pretty early in the day (10:45am or so) and there was plenty to do until 4pm when we left (hours are 10am-5pm). I had read the review to do the Tram Tour first, which was great advice.
The hour-long movie on the International Space Station in the big theatre was interesting for adults, but my daughter thought it was too loud. Also, in the movie it showed a simulation of what would happen if another meteoroid hit the earth and devastated our cities . . . needless to say a little scary! Our children loved the Flight Simulator where you could sit in a little honeycomb of flight stations and try to land/dock the Shuttle, and our daughter went down the enclosed 3 story-high slide in the kids play area about 8 times!
I would suggest packing a lunch if you can since food and drink is expensive, and no one glared at us as we broke out our sack lunches. You can leave it in the car in a cooler, as they stamp your hand for "re-entry" (we thought this was a great term, given the space environment!).
Last but not least, if you buy your tickets online, through the end of May, they are half off. The ticket you buy online can be used for entry into the Space Center for up to one year from date of purchase (not over and over, just as single entry). So that means you could buy your tickets now and then go during the summer, etc. whenever you are headed for your Space Center family adventure. Have a blast!
1 family found this helpful
"Loved the tram tour.."
We visited here during spring break. There are a bunch of activities for all ages, kid maze play structure for the little ones, interactive exhibits, etc.
Our favorite was the tram tour that took you onto the grounds of Johnson Space Center, next door. We got a commentary of all the different buildings and we actually got to go into the viewing area of the real Mission Control room. There was a longtime employee that talked about NASA, the shuttles, the astronauts (many of which were/are his personal friends), and the work that is done specifically from that room.
It was VERY interesting and we all really enjoyed it.
The only bummer was the cafe, the lunch options were typically overpriced and not very good at all, and there weren't many healthy choices at all.
Overall, it was an enjoyable family outing
2 families found this helpful
"Lots to do and see"
It's easy to spend all day here if you do all the shows and tours.
There are two tram tours--one goes to Mission Control and the other to the training facility. Both stop in Rocket Park on the way back, where you can see a huge rocket inside a building. The Mission Control tour was our favorite. Take your tours as soon as you get there before it gets too crowded.
Shows include two IMAX movies about various space topics as well as other films and live talks by NASA personnel. The museum part has lots of hands-on activities. You can touch a real moon rock, and see real and mock-up spacecraft.
Kids will love the huge climbing area and ball pit.
We visited in the winter when only a few of the food lines in the cafeteria were open. Prices were like amusement parks but portions were pretty generous.
I think the 4+ age recommendation is right on. Our almost-four-year-old did fine, but a lot of littler kids had trouble sitting through the tours and movies.
There are also several simulators, etc., that you can pay extra for, but there's plenty to do with the regular things.
Parking is $5 per car.
Space Center Houston is both fun and educational and was our favorite stop on our trip. The admission price is well worth it.
1 family found this helpful
"Hours of fun"
I could spend days upon days in this place. It's a child's dream to be an astronaut and going to the space center gives not only your children but the kid in you a chance to get a taste of what astraunauts do ....
They have a simulator you sit in, tours of the launch sites, control rooms etc. Fun games, entertainment, snacks etc. I highly recommend this not only for educational purposes but for a fun all day outing. Talk about a great time had for all involved!
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
Space Center Houston is at the entrance to the Johnson Space Center. Your entire family will be fascinated by the exhibits and displays here, which track the past, present, and future of the U.S. manned-spacecraft program.
Interactive exhibits, multimedia programs, shows, an IMAX film, and participation on several devices make space flight come alive. Visitors may also take tours of the Manned Spacecraft Center and visit Rocket Park, where some of the first rockets used in the space program are on display.
1 family found this helpful
"Fun for all ages"
Great for young and teen children. Even adults will learn a thing or two. Not very close to Houston proper though.
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