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Kids are mesmerized by the interactive displays at Mercer Labs.

Is Mercer Labs Kid-Friendly?

At first, I was a little apprehensive about whether Mercer Labs would be kid-friendly, after all, the experience starts with fitting shoe booties on your feet to preserve the sterile environment. However, my apprehension was soon lifted by the friendly staff who were inviting and informative. They explained which rooms could be a bit intense for my 3 year old.

The entire exhibit consists of 10 different immersive rooms to explore. Each offers a different mood and feeling. The first room you walk into is massive and allows guests to become totally immersed in sound and visuals as different displays hit you in 4D. Without giving away too many spoilers, guests can explore a 4D sound room, a digital chess room, an immersive art room, and a spaced-out ball pit.

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The immersive technology at Mercer Labs is unlike any other immersive experience in NYC.

Best Things To See with Kids at Mercer Labs

Let your kids explore the spaces in Mercer Labs and see what draws their attention. While some aspects of the exhibit should not be touched, for the most part, you won’t be running around to make sure the little ones aren’t getting into mischief.

Seeing is truly believing during a visit to Mercer Labs. Some highlights during our visit were sending a wish digitally in the pneumatic tube room and feeling dinosaurs and various beasts “walk” right over us in the 4D sound room. By the end of the experience, my little ones’ imaginations were on fire! Weeks later, they still ask me to play the videos we took.

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There's plenty to explore at Mercer Labs, and the changing scenery in each room keeps kids interested and engaged.

Know Before You Go to Mercer Labs

• At first, I thought the price point was a little steep ($52 for adults; $46 for kids under 17), but the experience is worth the price of admission.
• Allow 60-90 minutes to explore the various rooms, but know you won't be rushed out. You can linger longer if you want.
• There are concessions in one of the exhibits, though options are limited. You can also grab mochi or lychee blossom beverages in the gift shop after you finish touring the exhibit.
• Strollers are allowed but you navigate through the exhibits slightly differently—though you won’t skip anything.
• There is one bathroom on-site.
• It is possible the experience may be too intense for very young children. However, my 3-year-old loved it!
• Mercer Labs is located at the corner of Church Street and Dey Street in Manhattan’s Financial District.

I cannot recommend a visit to Mercer Labs with kids enough. The educational and experiential benefits were worth the price of admission, so I recommend getting your art and science on at Mercer Labs for a memorable outing you and your family won't soon forget.

Photos by the author