Blast Off to Habitot’s Space Station Experience in Bay Street

August 1, 2023
by Maureen Burke
One Comment

Habitot Children’s Museum, a long-time {510} Families partner, has launched a special exhibit: Space Station Experience. Located in Bay Street Emeryville and open through April 2024, it’s filled with STEM-embedded stations for hands-on discovery play and crafts.

Thanks to Habitot Children’s Museum for sponsoring this article.

Children play in pretend spaceship — Steer the spacecraft to the moon and planets | Photo: Maureen Burke

Space Station Experience

The Space Station Experience is divided into two spaces. The front area features a spaceship that’s perfect for imaginative play. Kids can dress up in space suits and pretend to be astronauts steering the rocket. There are plenty of buttons and an interactive screen to display a rocket launch from the pilots’ seats.

Habitot Space Station Bay Street — photo courtesy of Habitot Children’s Museum

At the rear of the spacecraft, children can see a map of the solar system or step on a space scale to learn how gravitational pull is different on various celestial bodies. Outside the rocket, kids can engage with a space command area, complete with dozens of switches to flip and a biometric reader to display little ones’ heart rates. A small infant/non-walker area is blocked off in the corner and includes a ball area, mirrors, and a padded floor mat.

In the back room, children can make a craft, sculpt with play dough, color on the chalk wall, or construct and launch paper rockets. Kids are invited to float around and move from station to station. The rocket launch area is especially fun. Abundant materials enable kids to personalize a rocket and launch it into the sky with a little turn of a crank and a push of a button.

{510} Families Visits the Space Station Experience

I brought my two kids, 4 and 7, to the space experience on a weekday evening after dinner. My kids enjoy dramatic play and were impressed by the detail of the rocket ship. They spent the bulk of the time pretending to be astronauts and traveling to various planets.

Child launches paper rocket — Construct, decorate, and launch your own paper rocket | Photo: Maureen Burke

Later, we moved to the play dough area and rocket launcher. All in all, we spent an hour there but they could have easily played for 90 minutes or more. I appreciated the evening hours and enjoyed being one of two families in the space at that time of day.

Children playing with play dough — Crafting and play dough stations are inviting | Photo: Maureen Burke

The space isn’t too large, so keeping a stroller at home or in the car is probably best. Bench seating is spotted around the rooms to allow caregivers a little rest. There are smocks and an accessible hand-washing station to keep everyone clean. The staff is exceptional! They are extremely friendly and helpful — demonstrating the various activities at the stations and entertaining kids.

Note: The Space Station Experience can be rented for birthdays and other private parties on Sundays through January 2024. Info is available on Habitot’s website or contact [email protected]

The Bottom Line

This interactive space-themed experience is a wonderful option for kids who love dramatic play, arts & crafts, or spaceships. It’s small enough for one parent to manage with multiple kids. (Though, there aren’t windows or ways beyond standing in the doorway to have a clear line or sight if kids are in both areas at the same time). It’s best for the toddler and preschool age group, but my 7-year-old also had a great time playing with her younger sister. A variety of open hours work well with schedules. My kids closed down the building and have been asking to return — I’d say that’s high praise!

Child dressed in space suit at play — Buttons and switches galore for fine motor development | Photo: Maureen Burke

Discover more outings for kids in Emeryville >

Plan Your Visit to Habitot’s Space Station Experience

Location: 5689 Bay Street Emeryville, CA 94608

Hours: Monday – Friday 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Open through January 31, 2024.

Tickets: $13 per child with Eventbrite timed session ticket, $15 per child at the door with space available. $3 per child for EBT cardholders at the door. Please show EBT card and ID. Accompanying adults free with purchase of a child ticket. Children under 12 mos old are free when accompanied with a paying sibling.

This is a timed-session event; walk-ups with space available. Credit card/ATM only for walk-ups. If you register less than 24 hours of your event, please bring Eventbrite tickets with you.

Parking: There is ample parking in the multi-tiered garage, but it is kinda complicated to pay for it. Either remember your parking stall number and use the pay station machine before you shop -OR- use the proprietary payment app on your smartphone.

Public Transportation: Easy access from BART via Emery Go-Round stops at Ohlone Way and Christie Ave. AC Transit bus lines run along Shellmond and Hollis streets.

Nearby Food and Playground: Bay Street Emeryville is filled with family-friendly food and play options, including Tipsy Putt, Humphrey Slocombe, Barnes & Noble and Shake Shake. The Emeryville Public Market and Christie Park (aka Whale Park) are also a short distance away. Read more about kid-friendly fun at Bay Street >

Thanks to Habitot Children’s Museum for creating great spaces for our kids and for sponsoring {510} Families. Visit their website for more info >>