Expand your family’s horizons with other-worldly adventures. Here are five to consider:
1. Sphere, Las Vegas, Nev.
Head to Las Vegas for a mind-bending, next generation entertainment experience. Opened on Sept. 29, the instantly iconic landmark, standing at more than 360 feet tall, is the world’s largest spherical structure. The architectural wonder, with a fully programmable LED exterior, is powered by cutting-edge technologies that enable audiences to share experiences at a never-before-seen scale. Aura the Spokesbot, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, will welcome you as your Sphere Experience gets underway. Developed using the most advanced technology in robotic mechanics and artificial intelligence, Aura is among the most expressive and life-like humanoid robots in the world. Five Aura robots will greet guests from the moment they enter Sphere, displaying life-like facial expressions and mobility. An expert on Sphere, Aura can answer complex questions about the ground-breaking engineering, layers of custom-designed technology and the creative mission at the core of venue, as well as queries for directions within the venue and details on each day’s performances. She’ll even sing happy birthday if you ask.
Up next is “Postcard from Earth,” a specially commissioned film by director Darren Aronofsky. The immersive portrait of our planet offers a re-imagined sci-fi experience, putting all of Sphere’s experiential technologies on full display. Recommended for children 6 and older. For easy access to Sphere via a pedestrian bridge, consider a stay at The Venetian Resort.
In the future, Sphere will host a wide variety of entertainment events, including original immersive experiences, concert residencies, marquee sporting and corporate events.
For more: www.thesphere vegas.com; www.Venetian LasVegas.com
2. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
With more than 472,900 feet of exhibit space on five floors and covering 29 acres, this extraordinary nonprofit institution has been entertaining and educating families since 1925.
Considered the largest children’s museum in the world, it’s a place where kids can learn all about space in an immersive exhibit that tells the dynamic story of exploration from NASA’s Project Mercury program, which sent the first Americans into space, to the International Space Station.
In Beyond Spaceship Earth, your clan can check out astronaut artifacts, learn space-travel history and discover how astronauts conduct experiments in space. Videos depict an astronaut’s real day in space and kids can try on space gear and try out space tasks themselves. Families will also be charmed by an historic carousel and inspired by exhibits that explain how plant science can help the world by cleaning up oil spills and cultivating healthy food.
For more: www.childrens museum.org/
3. U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Do you have what it takes to be a space explorer? Visit this other-worldly technology center to experience the Discovery Shuttle simulator, where you can feel three times the force of gravity in the G-Force Accelerator. You can also peruse one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia on display anywhere in the world.
For those who want to up their game and train like an astronaut, a visit to Space Camp may be a good fit. The internationally known program has been inspiring future explorers for more than 32 years and boasts more than 700,000 alumni. The camps offer space, aviation and robotics instruction for children between the ages of 9 to 18 and adults of all ages.
For more: https://www.rocketcenter.com
4. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Gather the clan and climb aboard the Space Express for an out-of-this-world tour, departing from Gates Planetarium.
During the live show Destination Solar System, you’ll travel hundreds of millions of miles in just seconds with Jesse, an enthusiastic, knowledgeable — but inexperienced — tour guide, and Max, a highly advanced, fully integrated onboard computer. Tours of the hottest hot spots and the coldest, stormiest, and most spectacular sights in the solar system await curious space explorers of all ages. During your visit you can also gain a greater understanding of Native American cultures. Plus, discover how precious gems are recovered from mines and the role they play in various cultures. All this, plus a permanent discovery zone where hands-on fun provides interactive educational opportunities for the youngest explorers.
For more: www.dmns. org.
5. Arizona’s dark skies
Expect stellar stargazing as well as the chance to tour the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, the first city to be designated a Dark Sky City by the International Dark-Sky Association. See the telescope via which Pluto was discovered in the 1930s and peer through the century-old Clark Telescope. Head south to Tucson, often noted as the astronomy capital of the world. Check in to the Westin La Paloma, where families can learn about the celestial world in the foothills of Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains. A “cosmic concierge” may be available to provide an educational preamble while you enjoy fireside s’mores.
Bolstered by your new information and the fresh night air, go forth to identify the sea of constellations above.
For more: lowell.edu; flag staffarizona.org; westinla palomaresort.com
Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LO Hayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer.
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