Visiting the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in NYC with Kids
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum just opened up again this weekend after a five year renovation. A lifelong New Yorker, I admit I had never been to the Intrepid before. Roaming around a big ship and looking at airplanes had never appealed to me. But since they took the trouble to redo it, and I now have a five year old son, I figured it was worth going to check it out and I'm glad we did.
The people at the Intrepid Museum obviously took families into consideration in their planning because they've created a whole new kid-friendly section called the Exploreum. In the Exploreum kids play their way through exhibits that teach them about the inner workings of the ship and life on the ship, plus the Intrepid's role in the Space program.
Highlights of the Exploreum are:
The flight simulator where kids can climb in a real cockpit of a fighter plane and use a computer simulation program to see if they can land the pla ne on the deck of the Intrepid.
Kids can practice climbing the cargo net up the side of a ship (kind of like being a pirate).
Sit inside a life sized model of the Gemini-3 space capsule and image what it was like to travel into space in that tiny little capsule.
Sink (or save) the Intrepid in a computer simulation that teaches kids about ballast and let's them try it out.
The bunks look plenty big if you're only 3 feet tall.
Kid can practice and pretend they're the captain here and then see the real captain's deck upstairs.
At the back of the Exploreum there is a full flight simulator ride that you must pay extra for, but gives you one of those woozy, stomach turning doing the loop de loops in a fighter plane rides. And a 3D theater which is also an extra cost.
Outside of the Exploreum, there's plenty more for kids to enjoy at the Intrepid Museum. Head to the flight deck to see dozens of aircraft. Then climb further up to see the captain's deck and quarters. Kids can play with all the controls and sit in the captains chair to get the full experience.
There was lots to do and we didn't even have time to visit every part of the museum. I'm looking forward to going back this Spring when the Growler Submarine will be open to explore more.
In the meantime the only thing that I didn't like about the visit is that when you are about ten feet from the outdoor exit, they direct you to exit through the gift shop. Walk quickly and hope for the best.
Where do you eat after your Intrepid visit? Walk directly away from the water on 46th street and at the corner of 46th and 11th Avenue you'll find Daisy Mae's BBQ. I love their pulled pork sandwiches. Otherwise head south a couple of blocks on 11th Ave and you'll find the Market Diner.
Experience a little of the Museum on the Intrepid website in their online Kid Zone where kids can explore a virtual ship and learn about life aboard the ship and its history.
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum is at 46th Street and the Hudson River. Take any subway to 42nd St and then the M42 cross town bus to get there easily. Find out more, see hours and ticket prices at: www.intrepidmuseum.org.
Find more great activities like this in our Indoor Activities Guide.
Find more must-see museums and hot spots in our Culture Guide.
Dear "Mommy". I was at the
Dear "Mommy".
I was at the kids week at the intrepid today (Thursday Feb19th) and I thought I should alert perhaps other parents through your service of a dangerous accident I witnessed. A teenage girl screamed "oh my god" then fell straight down about 15 feet from the top of the popular climbing net. I don't know how or why the safety harness or guide rope didn't stop this. Hopefully from the look of it she just broke her arm (and perhaps a mild concussion) but she was taken away to hospital on a gurney with her head strapped down. The fact that my six year was up next has obviously left me feeling a little like we dodged a bullet and maybe I shouldn't be so gung-ho about putting him up on these I-beams and climbing walls and wotnot. However the actions of the staff have left me perturbed about the whole incident. They were evasive in my follow up questions about what happened through-out the rest of the afternoon, some even saying they were oblivious to the event. Which is probably just usual security guard pig-headed-ness. However in the minutes just prior to the event I heard one the handlers' superiors berating the staff to "pick up the pace" and the staff practically whipping back the rope to pull people down off the net once they'd pressed the red button at the top. They also re-opened the net after a couple of hours on one side where the only safety-check I saw was one of the albeit hefty red-shirted staff climb up and back down the net. Whether the girl or her family will have any recompense having signed the strict I -absolve you of any blame whatsoever in event of injury to my child since it's my own stupid fault in thinking you'd care a jot for their safety once you have my signature- waiver I don't know. I just thought maybe your readers might like to at least be made aware of the dangers that the form they're signing pertains to. Obviously this may have been a one-in-a million freak event (like the bronx zoo skyfari break-down or the roosevelt island tram or the playland whatever) but I would feel terrible if I were to hear of a worse accident and I didn't speak out.
Chauncey.
Post new comment