Looking for something to do with the kiddos in central Arkansas? The Aerospace Education Center is a great option.
We went a few weeks ago when my friend came to visit. It had been about 3 years since my last visit and I was surprised by a few things.
For one, I didn’t remember the great grounds. It sits at the end of the runway for the Little Rock Airport. We got to see jets coming and going very close and the kids were amazed. Unfortunately the only picture we got of this was a low quality one through the windows of the building.
There’s a great big open space for the kids to run. Y’all, if nothing else, this place is an awesome spot for a picnic in the shade while the kids run even if you don’t go inside the museum.
Speaking of the museum, one of the other surprises was how run-down the facility looked since the last time I was there. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still vibrant and full of fun learning opportunities, but the gift shop was closed and it needed a good cleaning. Maybe if we send enough business their way we can help keep the doors open to this neat place.
Inside there is a permanent aviation hall of fame. Life-sized planes captured my kids’ imaginations and brought back memories and many discussions of our study on Amelia Earhart.
There are cases of little replica planes with labels. Great if you’re studying aviation history.
Look at how that kid points – cracks me up!
In the center of the building there is a life-sized replica of a shuttle with an astronaut attached to it. Pretty cool, if not a little creepy for the younger ones! I had to keep explaining to the 3 year old that it was not really a person in there!
My kids liked to watch out the windows for the planes from the airport and pretend they too were planes.
They also loved the penny donation thing. Really? It was one of the highlights of the trip, what can I say?
I should mention here the museum is free to walk through. So, looking for free afternoon fun in the city? Pack a picnic, play chase outside, watch the jets overhead, and check out some replicas inside (not to mention indoor bathrooms – I know, it’s important to mention these things when you have several little ones to consider!)
If you’re planning on seeing the shows there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
They have group rates. Check here and make reservations ahead of time. It will save you a dollar per kid and $3 per adult if you can get together a group of 15 or more (hello, homeschoool groups?).
For the family they have Friday Family Nights. You can see the show for $5.75 per person. That’s the same rate for kids as normal show times, but $2 less for each adult and you get a soda and bag of popcorn for each person for the show included in the price. Pretty good deal.
The shows are on the large screens and make you feel like you’re there. That’s important to note for little ones. We watched Thrill Rides: The Science of Fun and I had to leave early with my 3 younger ones (5 and 3 year olds and the 10 month old baby didn’t like the loud sounds). It was a little much – the feeling of the roller coasters and there were a couple of creepy dragon things in one part that did us in. However, the 7 and 8 year old boys LOVED it. There are usually nature shows to see as well. Check on their website and be sure to call ahead in case fees change and to see what shows are available.
Looking for more to do in Arkansas with little ones in tow? Check out the other places I’ve reviewed in my Central Arkansas {Kid-Friendly} Showcase.
