Connecticut Science Center

The Connecticut Science Center is one of Hartford's best rainy-day answers and one of the most distinctive buildings on the riverfront. Designed by the architect Cesar Pelli and opened in 2009, the tilting glass and metal structure rises from Front Street beside the river and Adriaen's Landing, and it houses several floors of hands-on exhibits covering space, energy, the human body, water, the natural world and the physics of everyday life. The approach is interactive rather than lecture-driven: visitors build, test, pedal, lift and experiment, and the exhibits are pitched at school-age children without leaving adults bored. A 3D theater shows educational films, and the museum runs a changing lineup of special exhibitions and live demonstrations through the day. Staff presenters give short science shows on topics such as electricity or chemistry, which are a good way to break up a longer visit and which children often remember best.

The building is part of the story. The museum stands on a site that was reclaimed from an old riverfront district, and its design uses a sunlit atrium and an observation deck to frame views of the river, the downtown skyline and the green landscape around it. A rooftop area incorporates solar panels, a nod to the center's emphasis on energy and sustainability, and floor-to-ceiling glass gives the museum a bright, modern feel that is very different from the brick and stone of Hartford's older museums.

Plan on two to four hours. Younger children usually spend more time at the early-learning spaces and the large water and motion exhibits, while older children and adults gravitate to the engineering challenges and the body and brain displays. Weekday visits are quieter, especially outside school-holiday weeks; weekends and holidays are busy, and school groups cluster in the late morning. Food is available on site, and there is a museum shop with science toys and kits. Check the schedule for live demonstrations and 3D film times when you arrive, because those fill up first.

The center sits on the riverfront within walking distance of downtown hotels, the convention center and Bushnell Park, so it combines easily with other stops. A family day might begin with the Science Center, continue with lunch along Front Street, and finish with a walk on the riverfront or a ride on the Bushnell Park Carousel. Parking is available in nearby garages, and the center is also easy to reach by train or bus to downtown.

Admission arrangements, including family memberships and combination tickets, change from time to time, so check the website before you go. Adults traveling without children should not feel out of place, as the museum often hosts adult evenings and special events that treat the exhibits as a playground for grown-ups.

For first-time visitors the best strategy is to head to the top floor first and work down, since the upper exhibits draw the longest lines later in the day. A quick stop at the information desk will tell you which demonstrations are scheduled, and the staff are very good at suggesting activities for mixed-age groups, so that a six-year-old and a twelve-year-old can both stay busy. Strollers are welcome, elevators are plentiful, and the museum is designed for easy movement between levels.