Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque
4.8(4,237)4.8 out of 5 stars, 4237 reviews Albuquerque, NM
About Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque
Explora Science Center and Children's Museum is a highly interactive, hands-on learning environment consistently praised for its engaging exhibits that allow children (and adults) to explore science through play. It offers a wide variety of activities, from manipulating water and electricity to physical challenges and sensory play, ensuring curious minds are constantly stimulated and families leave having learned something new.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a highly interactive and educational outing.Children with curious minds who enjoy learning through play.Parents looking for activities that engage both young children (including crawlers) and adults.Birthday parties for children.Locals and visitors to Albuquerque looking for a 'must-visit' family destination.
Why families love it
- Engaging, interactive, hands-on exhibits perfect for curious minds.
- Friendly and helpful staff maintain a clean, well-maintained facility.
- Unique exhibits include instruments for 'miraculous' water manipulation, electricity experiments, and creative physics builds.
- Features a cable bike ride, bubble area, rollercoaster for balls, and a sand and water play area.
- Dedicated room for crawling children and a bubble room specifically great for smaller children.
- All activities are designed to engage a child's sensory experience throughout various displays.
Insider tips
- Just walk in to pay; no need for prior reservations mentioned.
- Try the cable bike ride for a fun and educational experience.
- Be extra vigilant with younger children, especially near exits, as supervision of doorways by staff is not guaranteed.
- Consider a membership if you plan multiple visits, as the price for membership is considered great value.
Good to know before you go
- No specific times or situations to avoid were mentioned directly. Review 1 states it's fun regardless of peak or off-peak hours, but Review 5's safety concern implies it can get busy enough that close parental supervision is critical.
- One parent expressed concern over the lack of family tracking or staff monitoring exits, suggesting it would be easy for a child to wander off or exit unsupervised due to high crowd levels.
- Crowds
- Can be busy, with 'a number of people inside,' but one reviewer noted that kids 'always have a blast' regardless of visiting during peak or off-peak hours, suggesting crowds do not detract from the experience for most.
- Value
- Individual adult admission is approximately $11. Prices are considered reasonable for the high quality of the experience. Membership is available and deemed 'great' value, with one reviewer receiving it through Lovelace (a potential perk from specific organizations). No hidden costs were mentioned.
- Food
- There is a little cafe on-site, though its operating hours are not known. No explicit policy on outside food was mentioned.
- Accessibility
- Features hidden nursing stations for mothers and babies.
- Safety
- A concern was raised regarding the lack of staff monitoring exits, which could pose a safety risk for young children wandering off. No positive safety features were explicitly mentioned, implying primary child supervision falls on parents.
What parents say
"Explora is the best! We've lost count of how many times we've visited Explora, but one thing remains the same - it's a consistent favorite for our family! As a mom, I love watching my kids' faces light up as they explore and learn through play. The hands-on exhibits and activities are engaging, interactive, and perfect for curious minds. The staff is always friendly and helpful, and the facility is well-maintained and clean. Prices are reasonable for how high quality Explora is. We've visited during peak hours and off-peak hours, and regardless of the crowd, our kids always have a blast! I"
a month ago
"This is a super interactive museum center. Almost every station requires some kind of participation. There are instruments that I’ve never seen before that persuade water to do miraculous things. There’s a section where you can influence electricity to turn a lightbulb on or see how magnets and physics works with creative builds. Yes, if you’re an adult, you will still have fun here. There are hidden nursing stations for mothers and babies, just in case you have to feed. There is a little cafe that is there although I do not know the hours. The elevator is super cool and is a huge room with a "
2 months ago
"Hey try the cable bike ride. Fun and educational, all of your child's sensory is engaged throughout every stage of the various displays. The same is said for a child at heart. Parents could host a child's birthday party here if they so desire."
4 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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