Adventure Science Center
Kinetic, educational and entertaining, this attraction is the perfect way to introduce kids of all ages to the wonders of science and space.
The family-friendly Adventure Science Center is the perfect workout for young minds and imaginations. The center’s highly interactive exhibits are arranged around the five senses, dinosaurs and outer space, making it a breeze to navigate.
The building’s centerpiece is the Adventure Tower. Climb the four-story-high science playground and learn as you go. The tower features a piano you can walk on, a shadow-freezing wall, Parachute Drop and Vertebrae Ladder. Encourage the kids to burn off some energy on the bicycle-powered elevator. At the tower’s pinnacle, a 14-foot (four-meter) diameter walk-in globe awaits, as well as some of the best views of Nashville.
Learn more about your body in the BodyQuest exhibit on the second floor. Youngsters can get behind the wheel of an ambulance or take a ride down a larger-than-life digestive tract. Climb through the ventricles of a gigantic beating heart and examine your insides with the X-ray machine.
In the Space Chase wing, see how much you would weigh on each planet in our solar system; however, you may want to avoid Jupiter! Experience the feeling of weightlessness in Moonwalker, and explore the universe in the Cosmic Ray’s interactive game. The center is also home to the Sudekum Planetarium, which explores the heavens above Tennessee and beyond.
Visitors on a tight schedule could easily make it through the entire facility in half a day. Those wishing to spend more time can refuel at the restaurant on the second floor or bring a picnic lunch.
The center is open daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. During weekday mornings in school term, the center can get busy with visiting school groups, so consider timing your visit after 1 p.m. The center is opposite Fort Negley Park in the midtown area and is easily accessible via MTA bus. Free parking is available.