8/10😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 Mommy Approved Smiling Faces
222 Harrington Way Worcester, MA 01604
EcoTarium is a very cool location. It has both an indoor and outdoor presence. Outdoors, there was a train ride that shows the grounds, and passed by the play area that is vast and has a fox enclosure. There are numerous hands-on displays setup to learn about electricity, bubbles, fog, wind, materials in architecture, ecosystems, the environment, animals, nature and astrology! There are also shows available in the planetarium that run about a half hour long each.
There we watched “The Mystery of The Cardboard Box”. Which cost $6 per person. It was educational, and quirky, but my kids lost interest pretty fast. ( they were also tired and cranky because it was midday and we didn’t nap or eat yet – maybe it was that? ) The story was about 2 kids that had a refrigerator box that they pretended was a rocket ship. The kids then had a guided tour from their Astrology book that they traveled through the solar system exploring each planet. It had a cartoon element, but gave a lot of details, probably best for an 8 year old in my opinion.
At the EcoTarium there was a pretty talented face painter that takes credit cards ( $5/ kid ). Snack kiosks, and tables setup selling hot dogs / hamburgers / ice cream / popcorn and canned beverages. The prices were reasonable BUT the burger I got was horrible! It was not hot but room temperature, and was over-cooked and dry. I was so hungry, so I just gobbled it down. My kids each ate a hot dog without a complaint. I would say the biggest downfall of the EcoTarium is that the food was no good! On the flip side, they do permit patrons to take in their own food / beverage in coolers. Plus, they have indoor as well as outdoor locations with tables setup for food consumption. ( I would highly recommend sitting outdoors if the weather permits so you can enjoy good food in this relaxing setting ). There are also vending machines as an option for snacks.
Slice of a Great Red wood tree of California
The Skinny:
Inside : Various hands-on activities to demonstrate whatever the display is trying to explain, for example-energy with over-the -top displays for the senses with hopes to engage kids and show that science IS cool. There are also numerous small animals such as parrots, guinea pigs, frogs and turtles in enclosures. Also a small rock wall. Great for anyone interested in space, the planet and life in general.
Duration : We spent from noon-5 which included eating a lunch and another picnic table snack break
Outside : A large green area mostly shaded from trees, set up with play stations for every kid’s interest and a train ride as well as a fox enclosure. They now have 2 mountain lions and a large enclosure for them.
Cost : Adults: $19, children under 2: FREE, and kids 2-14, seniors 65 + and college students with IDs:$14
Weather : Because this has a very nice and large outdoor area, I would not go if it were raining as half this activity would be missing
Hours : Open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. Closed most Mondays. Open on all holiday and vacation-week Mondays.
Jewel Approved 👍🏼 Jamison Approved 👍🏼
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