What to Know Before You Visit Intrepid Sea Air + Space with Kids
When we walked across the street and stood next to the towering Intrepid all I could think was “wow.” Visiting the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum had been on my to-go list since we arrived in New York. My kids love all things sea, air, and space so it was an obvious choice, but it was more than that.
There is something so cool about a museum ON a ship and something incredibly awesome about the Intrepid itself.
It is inspiring.
There are absolutely some things I wish I had known before we went – so keep reading and you will be far more prepared than I was.
Things to Know Before You Visit the Intrepid
1. It is huge.
Huge. You can easily spend a whole day here. We were on board the Intrepid from 10 am until 4 pm and there was a ton we didn’t see.
Plan at least a few hours.
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2. It is expensive.
If this is something your kids will love then I would argue it is worth the money, but this is one of the most expensive things we have done in New York City. See #3 for more.
3. And there are hidden costs that make it more expensive.
My one compaint about the Intrepid Museum is that everything is extra.
Want to see the Space Shuttle? Extra and admission to the museum is not included in that ticket.
Want to go on the submarine? Extra.
I get that some things, like eating lunch, are always going to be extra but it borders on ridiculous how many times I had to reach for my VISA on this trip.
Bottom line: figure out what you want to do and pay for those things at the start. Then don’t do the others.
4. The Space Shuttle Exhibit is limited.
Again I have mixed feelings about the Space Shuttle Exhibit.
On one hand it was extra money and since we didn’t know this beforehand I had to trapse all the way through the museum to buy tickets – which weren’t cheap. It was expensive and inconvenient and since it was 100 degrees I was a little crabby.
This didn’t set me up to have a great experience. The exhibit itself was not as interactive as much of the museum and I was disappointed you couldn’t get a closer look at the Space Shuttle.
On the other hand, the Space Shuttle is awesome. You basically walk around and under it and that should be boring. However, something about its size and existence is impressive.
It was very cool. If your child likes space I would definitely recommend this additional area.
5. There is a lot to do without spending extra money.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune, you will still find a lot to do on the Intrepid itself.
Our kids love the Explorem Hall the most.
They got to try out helicopters and sit in a space shuttle.
We learned about the living quarters for sailors on board Navy ships.
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6. Avoid Peak Times
Despite being a massive ship, it can easily start to feel crowded.
We went during the week and go there when the museum opened. Despite school being out for the summer, this worked fine.
By lunch time the museum definitely starts to pick up. It is still doable but your child will wait more to try things and been urged to move along more.
7. Consider the Weather.
When I think Museum I think air conditioning or heating. Most of the Intrepid is air conditioned, but not all of the corridors circulate the air well and the upper deck is completely exposed to the elements.
We visited on an unusually hot day for New York City and had to take several water breaks just while touring the top deck.
More Good Things to Know:
- There is a paid parking lot a couple of blocks from the museum if you don’t want to take public transportation.
- A stroller would be possible in some places, but also difficult to maneuver in parts.
- Cafe had some decent variety and options for kids.