Family Science Days

About this place

With exhibits to touch, virtual reality to experience, films to see and fun to be had, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is an educational, entertaining experience for visitors of all ages.

The Science Center features more than 100 interactive science exhibits in five galleries, as well as major traveling exhibitions. Visitors can create colored shadows, design images with a sand pendulum, examine the vibration of guitar strings and get their hands on a variety of intriguing scientific phenomena. The Virtual Zone is perfect for adventurous and inquisitive visitors alike. A 23-passenger motion simulator ride offers white-knuckle thrills, while Do-Undo makes visitors the main attraction, recording and instantly replaying your every move forward (as executed) and backwards (in time reversal), faster and faster. The Virtual Zone also features TryScience!, a multi-person science exploration station, with games and experiments on topics like dinosaurs and dolphins.

While most exhibits are suitable for ages seven to 107, younger children will enjoy Kid City, a vibrant exhibition aimed at children ages six and younger. Kid City is complete with a Book Nook, several Young Explorer Computers, a child-sized Grocery Store, a kids’ Factory and much more.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is also home to the world's first IMAX Dome Theater, presenting the biggest films on the planet. Its unique configuration wraps the audience in images and provides the illusion of being suspended in space. Film topics take audiences from outer space to under water and every place in between, and are generally suitable for all ages. The IMAX Dome Theater also plays host to planetarium shows, including the monthly Sky Tonight show, which is led by an astronomer and followed by outdoor telescope viewing, courtesy of the San Diego Astronomy Association (weather permitting).

During your visit, look for the Demo Cart, where Interpreters provide demonstrations of scientific principles. On weekends, scheduled programs such as Family Science Day and the Weekend Programs Series provide additional opportunities for educational fun. Top off your visit to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center with souvenirs from the North Star Science Store or snacks at Galileo’s Café.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is open daily at 9:30 a.m. and is open in the evenings during summertime, holidays and on weekends. Since its opening, The Fleet has been the best-attended museum in the city and a Top 10 attraction in San Diego. It is located in beautiful Balboa Park, home to many of the city’s museums, as well as attractive gardens, intriguing architecture and picturesque fountains.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center offers:

* San Diego’s only giant IMAX Dome Theater showing fantastic IMAX films and stimulating Planetarium Shows
* Five world-class exhibit galleries with more than 100 exhibits
* The motion simulator ride, Escape From Dino Island . . . it’s a blast!
* TryScience!, where up to six people can go on a learning adventure simultaneously
* Kid City, an exhibition just for kids up to age 6
* Simulated space missions in the Nierman Challenger Learning Center
* Lectures, classes, workshops and more
* Plus Galileo’s Café and the North Star Science Store