Prepare to Takeoff: 6 Tips for Visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL

Ready…set…blast off! There are many tips for visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL. But the biggest one is that YOU SHOULD GO. It is awesome. There is so much to do for families, including kids of all ages. You don’t have to be a NASA buff or a space nut to be excited about this place. Everyone can find something they will like to do.

6 Tips for Visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL

1. Take a sweater.
2. Bring the whole family.
3. Be prepared to split up if you have kids of different ages.
4. Get there early.
5. Buy discount tickets.
6. Buy a kid’s meal.

Last month, I visited the US Space Center for a weekend with my family. My boys and husband were attending a Boy Scout-sponsored overnight NASA Space Camp. They were so excited. I didn’t want my five-year-old and my daughter to feel left out, so I planned a visit to the Space Center ourselves. I’m so glad we did!

Before we visited the US Space Center I wondered if a five-year-old would have fun there. He did! I wasn’t sure we could spend a whole day there. We could! I thought I might be bored to death, but I totally wasn’t. I went in pretty blind, not having the time to do my usual due diligence beforehand. However, I came away with 6 useful tips for visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL and wanted to share with you!

 1. Take a sweater.

One of the tips for visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL is that I wished I would have known about beforehand is that there are a lot of things outside. The museum simulators like G-Force and Space Shot Accelerator are both outside, as is Shuttle Park and the Cosmos Kids Area.

It was rainy and a little chilly that day I was there. I wish I had brought a warmer sweater or a coat. Luckily I had an umbrella. If there are any clouds on the horizon, be sure to grab one for yourself.

 2. Bring the whole family.

Even the smallest children will have fun at the US Space Center. I wasn’t sure if there would be things my five-year-old would enjoy but he totally did.

I loved that there were two indoor soft play areas. The first, the Mars Play Station, is located in the Mars Grill area and is specifically for kids ages 2-6 years old (and under 54 inches). The second one is KidSpace in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration and is for kids under 46 inches. They give little ones some safe opportunities to run and play while the big kids are perhaps riding the simulators.

Also check out the Kids Cosmos Energy Depletion Zone, which is like a giant covered play area.

 3. Be prepared to split up if you have kids of different ages.

While kids of all ages will discover plenty of things to do at the US Space and Rocket Center, not everyone can do everything. My husband and I split up at times so our older ones could do the things they wanted to do, like spend time in the hands-on learning areas or the outdoor simulators, while my little ones wanted to just play. It’s totally doable but just know that you may have to negotiate the different things the kids may want to do.

 4. Get there early.

The US Space Center closes each day at 5 pm unless there is a special event. This means that if you get a late start and don’t get there until after lunch, you’ll have a hard time seeing and doing everything you want to do. Try to get there when it opens at 9 am to give you as much time as possible to explore. This also means you won’t feel pressured and can really take your time reading all the plaques and experiencing every exhibit. You may even have time for lunch!

 5. Buy discount tickets.

With a big family, the cost to any museum can sometimes be substantial.  I always look for discount tickets to see if I can save a few dollars. I found out that the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau has a passport coupon book which gives you savings on many attractions in Huntsville, including the US Space and Rocket Center.

The catch is that you have to physically go to the Visitor’s Center in downtown Huntsville pick up the passport book. We didn’t get in early enough to do this so I had to just pay full price. (Insert *Gasp*) If you plan on spending the weekend (or more) in Huntsville, allow for time to pick up this coupon book — and save money.

 6. Buy a kid’s meal.

This might sound silly, but the kids’ meals are the best deal at the Mars Grill, the on-site cafe. This is one of my tips for visiting the US Space Center in Huntsville AL solely because it comes with a super cool astronaut-shaped cup. It is the most affordable souvenir plus it comes with some delicious food. The fries alone are worth it! While the gift shop has tons of options, they can be expensive.

Interested in spending more than a day at the US Space and Rocket Center? You should check out the NASA Space Camp for families programs there. Catherine Parker visited the overnight Space Camp and has some fantastic tips for families. If you want some other fun weekend getaways in the South, Sue Rodman has awesome ideas. She won’t steer you wrong.

Have you ever considered going to Space Camp or visiting the US Space and Rocket Center?