The Lowell Observatory and Discovery Center in Flagstaff is a great place for curious kids. Once you wind your way up the little wooded road to the top of the hill, a whole campus of buildings and telescopes awaits. Some are historic, others state of the art and modern but they all have something interesting and unique to share.
The observatory can be enjoyed during daylight and at night. During the day there are the historic telescopes to explore, including the very one that was used to discover Pluto! The Discovery Center has a wonderful kids section that has tons of hands-on stations and exhibits. Plan to spend a good amount of time there as there are activities and play places suited for a wide range of children!
Nearby is another area that’s geared for adults and teens. There’s a theater running interesting and informative science and astronomy related short presentations. You can walk in and walk out at your own pace. On the outdoor decks they have very powerful telescopes that allow you to see planets even in the broad light of day as well as solar flares on the sun. As you walk around to the different buildings and telescopes, there are informational signs and pretty views of the city below and the San Francisco Peaks above.
Go back into town, have dinner, then head back up to the observatory. Once the sun sets, a whole new array of options become available and the outdoor walkways literally glow to help you find your way. It’s pretty fun (although in the winter it’s also quite cold out at night so bring jackets, mittens…to keep everyone comfortable). The public access telescopes you enjoyed during the day are re-focused on other objects in the night sky. The informational signs glow colorfully.
There’s an outdoor star gazing presentation that you don’t want to miss. (Remember that cold I just mentioned? The seats for this outdoor presentation are heated. Genius!) Indoor spaces can still be explored if you did not get a chance earlier in the day. And, of course, you can just step outside, look up and enjoy the scenery of a few planets, millions of little stars, and a handful of satellites, all twinkling overhead.
A few tips and suggestions to help you plan your visit!
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast and moon cycle as you plan your trip. Cloudy weather, bad weather, and full moons that rise early will detract from the outdoor portions of the experience.
- While all ages will enjoy the visit, it’s probably fair to say kids 8 and older will get the most from it.
- To see the outdoor nighttime presentation, order your tickets online and pay the extra $5 per person. It’s worth it. (You can also walk in and purchase tickets but online tickets get preference for the seats at the presentation.)
- Historic Downtown Flagstaff is about 6 minutes away so it makes a nice place to go eat dinner after you have seen the observatory by day and are waiting for nightfall. The shops and restaurants are all quirky and unique so it’s a fun place to walk around and explore a bit. Take a second look at the “math” clock that is there!
- Taking the time to see all the night time sights will have you wrapping things up between 9 and 10 pm. Plan on having a nearby hotel or campsite or having a driver willing and alert enough to make the 2-2 1/2 hour drive back home on dark, sometimes winding highways.
- Websites: https://lowell.edu/ for the Observatory and https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/plan-your-trip/visitor-center/ for Flagstaff.
Flagstaff and the Lowell Observatory have lots to offer your family! If you are heading north to beat the heat, see if you can work a visit into your plans. Have a great time!
