Top Tips
The Science Center is brand-spanking new, but we're already seeing some trends from visitors in the question-asking department. So here's a list of the Top 12 things on most visitors' minds. Hopefully, reading through them will take a load off your mind.
Hours & Prices
Here are the basics everyone wants to know. We're pretty much open most days from 10 AM – 5 PM, and prices are pretty reasonable when you stack them against other attractions.
Getting Here
How do you like to travel? Car? Bus? Train? Bike? Segway? Your own two feet? Whatever your method, there's an easy route to get to the Science Center. Heck, there's even an airfield nearby.
Parking
If you live in New York City or Boston and want to complain about parking, you've got a case. In Hartford, not so much. There are thousands of parking spaces nearby - and they're a lot cheaper than NYC or Boston.
Floor Plans
If you're one of those folks who needs to know exactly where to go and how to get there, this section is for you. It's jam-packed with everything you need to know to navigate yourself up, down, in and out of the Science Center.
Top Tips
Cold & Flu Season
Touch and experiment with all the exhibits without fear. Just remember in this cold and flu season to wash your hands thoroughly and often. Restrooms are located in each gallery. Hand sanitizers are located on the glass bridges near the elevators for your convenience. Working with our partners at St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center, the Connecticut Science Center follows the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommendations for the seasonal flu, and the H1N1 virus. The health and safety of our visitors and staff is our first priority.
More 4 Less - Combo Tickets (General Admission + 1 movie)
If you're visiting the Science Center, you want the full experience, right? Then make sure you go Combo with your tickets. Not only do you get your hands on all our interactive exhibits, you also get to see one of our amazing 3D films at a significant savings. Cha-ching!
Red Shirts - Science Center Staff
While plenty of destinations and attractions are making you talk to machines to get answers to your questions, this is one area we admit where technology ends up being a little frustrating. So, for the moment, we're sticking with whole live human thing. Just look for the folks in the red shirts. They're ready to help. And unlike self-serve kiosks, they'll actually smile at you.
Come & Go - Wristbands
Okay, you've just spent a mind-blowing couple of hours experimenting, researching and inventing at the Science Center. You're ready for break. You were thinking about taking a walk around Constitution Plaza or across the Founder's Bridge. But can you get back into the building? Yes you can if you're wearing one of our fashionable wristbands. As long as you flash that wristband, you can enter and leave all day long. (Until we close, of course.)
A Water Park of Wonder
Inside our KidSpace Gallery, we have all sorts of swirling, whooshing and cascading water play areas. Please note that little ones can get pretty wet in their excitement to learn and discover. The Science Center offers aprons that can prevent some of the wetness. For maximum fun – that is, if you are open to the kids getting pretty wet – we highly recommend bringing a full change of clothes (including socks).
Locavores Rejoice - The Science Center Café
All you folks who are into trying to source your food from a 100-mile radius of where you live will be psyched to hear this. Our Café is putting a special emphasis on menu items featuring fresh, seasonal, and local foods. Yum.
Members Beat The Crowds - Early Entry for Members on Saturday
How would it be to have the Connecticut Science Center almost exclusively to yourself? On Saturdays, that's exactly what our members enjoy as we open the Center to them a full hour earlier than the general public. That means you can get your hands on your fav exhibits before the lines and crowds start to materialize.
Day Trading - Same Day Trade Up Tickets for Premier Members
Visit for the day, become a member for the year. We’ll apply the cost of the general admission portion of your ticket toward the price of a Premier Membership. The offer’s only good for the day, so make your move
Adult Supervision
Children under the age of 18 must be supervised by an accompanying adult at all times during their visit. Please report missing children at the Security kiosk on the Lobby Level of the Science Center, or contact any staff member for immediate assistance. If appropriate, teach young children how to identify staff members and encourage them to find us if they can't find you.
The More, The Merrier - Group Rates
Come with your group of 15 or more and get some serious perks. You'll receive special rates on general admission to our galleries, savings on tickets to the Hoffman Foundation 3D Theater, and a whole range of other "bennies," including your own personal bus greeter.
Park It Right Here - Parking in Hartford
No matter what your curmudgeonly uncle (who probably hasn't been to Hartford in a decade) might tell, there is plenty of parking available in the city. In fact, there are more than 2,400 parking spaces in the vicinity of the Science Center alone. So stop with the excuses already.
Cuddle Up - Leave the Stollers at Home
Strollers are hard to navigate around many of our exhibits, especially given how interactive they are. Our recommendation would be to leave the strollers at home and use slings and carriers instead. Besides, they leave your hands free to play with those awesomely interactive exhibits.
Fresh Air - Smoking Free Science Center Experience
Everyone coming to the Science Center can breathe easy. Not only is our entire building smoke-free, we've gone the extra step of creating a smoke-free zone that encompasses a 25-foot perimeter around the building, too. It's our way of creating the healthiest environment possible for all our visitors.
Last Call - 4:00 PM Last Tickets Sold
The Connecticut Science Center is open pretty much every day until around 5 PM. However, we do close our ticketing area about an hour prior to closing. You don't have to go home, but you can't buy a ticket here after 4 PM.