Explore at St. Louis Science Center

WANT TO GO?

St. Louis Science Center

Address: 5050 Oakland Ave.; St. Louis, Mo.

Phone: (314) 289-4400.

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, though the planetarium is closed on Friday nights; Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ON THE NET

www.slsc.org

I remember many years ago going to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and seeing for the first time, the I-Max movie. It was projected onto a flat screen that was 70 feet by 50 feet. It was awesome.

But then sometime later I was at the St. Louis Science Center and saw the movie, "The Blue Planet," which was projected onto the round screen over your head. It is like you are in the movie. Since then we have been to several Omni Max movies there and they are all amazing. If you have never seen one, you owe it to yourself.

And the Omni Max movie is just one of many attractions at the St. Louis Science Center. Admission is free, but the movie ticket will cost. Parking is $7 for the day.

You might want to consider buying a yearly membership to the center if you plan to visit frequently.

Memberships cost around $45 and will give you a couple of free movie tickets and free parking for the year. So, if you buy a membership and go more then two times you are ahead of the game. The membership also gives you discounts on tickets and on gifts from the gift shop.

There are many things to do at the Science Center. You can walk across the bridge over the interstate and visit the planetarium. It is an awesome place and you can easily spend the day there. They have a restaurant, and the food is good and reasonable.

To get to the Science Center, go north on Interstate 55 to St. Louis, exit onto Interstate 44 West and watch for the signs near Forest Park.

You can call the center for movie show times and prices at (800) 456-SLSC.

Send your suggestions or ideas to Bill Coomer at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or e-mail him at bcoomer@semissourian.com.