The St. Louis Science Center's Planetarium is one of the nation's leading space education facilities, focusing on astronomy, space sciences and aviation. This ticketed experience takes you on board the Boeing Space Station where you learn what it's like to live, work and play in space. Planetarium tickets are $5 -$6 per person.

The Discovery Room provides hands-on experiences for children ages 2-8. They can dress-up like surgeons, go back in time and imagine life as a Mississippian Native American, or explore fossils and a cave. There is also an an area featuring a Velcro wall, plastic mirrored walls, a gym mat floor and age-appropriate toys and books. Also there is marble highways, a car ramp, computers, a camera and monitor, magnets, optics, microscopes and activity boxes to help children focus on the fundamentals of science and technology. Sessions are 45 minutes long, including a brief introduction to the room by staff on duty. Space is limited to 45 people (one adult is required for every four children). Ticket Prices General session admission is $3 per person.

A really cool part of the center the kids will love is the glass enclosed bridge that spans the interstate beside the center. When standing on the bridge above the road, everyone can use the radar guns that are permanently installed to see how fast the cars are going below. Just aim and check out the speed reading...what's the speed limit again?!

Inside the center there are many hands on activities which encourage imagination and learning. There's one exhibit which has large foam cushioned blocks and you work together to form an arch (how appropriate considering the city we're in) approximately 7-8' high. There's no way to hook the blocks together, just start building from both sides and meet at the top and the arch is formed and free standing (there is a scientific reason for this). After building, it's twice as fun to knock it down! There's a room that uses optical illusions such as your head appearing atop a table and looking as if you have no body. There's a room devoted just for the younger group of kids under 8 to try their own type of activities. Be sure to look for the 2 large-as-life dinosaurs that move - you can't miss them because they are huge and loud. They are robotic and are built based on fossil information. The 2 dinosaurs are a T-Rex and Triceratops. There's also a section devoted to flight - you can peddle, use air, many activities here. Throughout the center, there are volunteers on duty to assist you in your activities or provide more detailed information to help you understand the theories behind what you're doing. It's nice having them around to ask questions of for those of us parents that aren't scientists.

There's much more to do and see at the St. Louis Science Center. This is another adventure that requires many hours, probably an entire day, in order to see and do it all. Kids and adults both will enjoy learning in this fun and educational environment.

The Omnimax theater is four stories tall and shows 2 shows throughout the day. It has a state-of-the-art wraparound dome. The sound system is awesome.

A section of the Center is devoted to DNA study--The DNA Zone. Hands-on exhibits teach children and adults how each person's strand is unique.

The planetarium was just rennovated so you can learn about astronomy, space sciences, aviation and environment.

The Science Center also has a gift shop, so pick up a goodie on your way out.