Despite my attempts to slow my 6-year-old son down, he ran through a maze of kelp and mirrors. My 11-year-old daughter carried my 2-year-old behind me while my outstretched arm reached for my son. Every time I stuck my arm out, my hand bumped into a mirror. This was all part of the wonderful time my kids and I had at the National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey in Times Square.
Oscar and Emmy winners teamed up with scientists from National Geographic to provide an amazing underwater experience for wannabe oceanographers of all ages. And you don’t even have to get wet! Three of my four kids went with me to check out the National Geographic Encounter and we each had a great time. The Ocean Odyssey interactive videos kept my 2-year-old entertained while my studious 6-year-old enjoyed seeing sharks, squid, and whales up close. My 11-year-old loved everything from learning about sharks to watching a whale swim right next to her while wearing 3D glasses.
For me though, anytime I can take my kids to a place where they are entertained and informed is a winning situation. I loved watching my kids get excited at seeing a shark swim around them as it attempted at catching an unaware dolphin and helping them find out new information about sharks and squids gratified my hopes of watching their intellectual lives take off. The National Geographic Encounter indeed has it all.
Kids under 3 are free, so if you have a kid in that age group, go now. It is recommended that you purchase your tickets online because tickets are timed. To buy tickets, click here.
Check out these other posts about museums in NYC:
National Museum of the American Indian
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square
We visited the Body Worlds Exhibit and my kids (6 and 10) loved it. Like you, they were both entertained and educated. Something that’s not easy to do in this day and age. What a great way to explore sharks without getting eaten by one!
Good fun & learning at the same time.