Thinkery
Thinkery
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Thinkery is an evolution of Austin Children's Museum. It's Austin's sparkling new home for "why" and "how." A place where science and families play side by side. Where people connect with ideas by doing, making and experiencing. It's a foundry for a new generation of innovators and creative problem solvers. And it's a heck of a good time.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
433 reviews
Excellent
255
Very good
113
Average
43
Poor
15
Terrible
7
Erollis
Houston, TX52 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
It’s expensive for what you get. Tickets are $18 no matter the age. A family of 3 (2 adults and 1 child) will pay the same amount as a parent bringing their 2 kids. It would make sense if the adult ticket was significantly less or a flat fee for 2 guests and each additional child/guest is about $7. Adults aren’t just wandering in to have fun on their own. Adults are escorting and supervising their child.
I did notice some places need attention (items missing or damaged). No one employee was regularly tiding things up. The children’s museums were used to someone is making sure everything is up to par.
What is nice is the place is quite large! There is so much to do for all age levels. Best for preschoolers to late elementary. There is a large baby specific area upstairs too.
Another plus is you can arrive early, leave for food, and come back. At least I was told this and will do this next time we visit. My 3 1/2 year old could have spent the entire day there! We didn’t even get to do everything in our 2 hour visit.
You can validate your parking at a kiosk for a couple of hours which is nice. Garage parking is free on Sunday so no validation is needed.
I did notice some places need attention (items missing or damaged). No one employee was regularly tiding things up. The children’s museums were used to someone is making sure everything is up to par.
What is nice is the place is quite large! There is so much to do for all age levels. Best for preschoolers to late elementary. There is a large baby specific area upstairs too.
Another plus is you can arrive early, leave for food, and come back. At least I was told this and will do this next time we visit. My 3 1/2 year old could have spent the entire day there! We didn’t even get to do everything in our 2 hour visit.
You can validate your parking at a kiosk for a couple of hours which is nice. Garage parking is free on Sunday so no validation is needed.
Written July 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liztravelsandeats
Haarlem, The Netherlands1,070 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
The Thinkery: A children's museum with a special program on Saturdays for ages 0-3, featuring storytime and play activities.
The website is a bit confusing to know when things are. They also mention a Monday and then dont.
But apparently it has been changed to Saturday.
The website is a bit confusing to know when things are. They also mention a Monday and then dont.
But apparently it has been changed to Saturday.
Written September 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oliver T
Atlanta, GA872 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
Came with our 10 year old son and he really enjoyed it. Lots of hands-on activities and even may parents were playing with things. One tip I wished we knew ahead of time is if you park in the parking deck, you can get your ticket validated. Unfortunately, the outdoor playground was under renovation while we were there.
Written April 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vibeke Thorsen
6 contributions
Nov 2020
My 9 year old and I went here expecting something interesting for all ages. He noticed that all of the other kids waiting to enter with us were half his height, so we asked if it was just for toddlers, and the employee said no, it's for kids through 12. I don't think she knows many 12 year olds.
Because of COVID19, they allowed people to enter in small groups, and we had to spend 15 minutes at each exhibit. My son ready to move on within 5 minutes at each one. The exhibits are really geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, and many of the exhibits are identical to other museums we've seen in Seattle, Cincinnati, and Palo Alto, such as the ball that floats over a fan, and giant Lite Brite. After 3 exhibits, we left. It wasn't worth waiting around to see whether there would be more interesting exhibits upstairs, and we weren't allowed to go to the next one until the bell rang.
If you have an elementary schooler or older, skip this one. If you have a toddler, it may be worth checking out.
Because of COVID19, they allowed people to enter in small groups, and we had to spend 15 minutes at each exhibit. My son ready to move on within 5 minutes at each one. The exhibits are really geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, and many of the exhibits are identical to other museums we've seen in Seattle, Cincinnati, and Palo Alto, such as the ball that floats over a fan, and giant Lite Brite. After 3 exhibits, we left. It wasn't worth waiting around to see whether there would be more interesting exhibits upstairs, and we weren't allowed to go to the next one until the bell rang.
If you have an elementary schooler or older, skip this one. If you have a toddler, it may be worth checking out.
Written November 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg D
Wellington, New Zealand20 contributions
Dec 2022
Booked and paid for tickets for the family including the one-year old. Unfortunately, weather turned terrible, torrential rain, thunder and lightening, with flooded roads so decided the safest approach was to go back home.
We contacted the Thinkery asking to transfer to another day. "No" was the short answer. Note: We weren't asking for a refund, just switch the days. How big a deal is that in this day and age? I naively thought it was trivial. To be fair to me, it has been trivial for every other business I've asked in my 50 years of life.
For the Thinkery, it was impossible. How impossible you ask? Completely impossible. Inconceivable I tell you!
Change the date? You might as well ask us to change gravity!That level of impossible! You're asking us to change the course of galaxies! It's against the laws of the Universe! It's so hard it's impossible to the power of infinity!
The level of "we don't really give a stuff about your safety or your child's safety" was incredibly disappointing.
We contacted the Thinkery asking to transfer to another day. "No" was the short answer. Note: We weren't asking for a refund, just switch the days. How big a deal is that in this day and age? I naively thought it was trivial. To be fair to me, it has been trivial for every other business I've asked in my 50 years of life.
For the Thinkery, it was impossible. How impossible you ask? Completely impossible. Inconceivable I tell you!
Change the date? You might as well ask us to change gravity!That level of impossible! You're asking us to change the course of galaxies! It's against the laws of the Universe! It's so hard it's impossible to the power of infinity!
The level of "we don't really give a stuff about your safety or your child's safety" was incredibly disappointing.
Written December 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy G
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We had a great time. We had a two and a nine year old in our group. Our nine year old loved the animation maker, sand wheel and the microscope. As for our two year old, she loved it all. But if we had to say there was a favorite part it was probably the water room. All had a great time watching them as they explored through the building.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paulette V
Austin, TX62 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Surprised at the reviews of older children not enjoying it. I took my 11-year-old grandson not sure he would enjoy it, and he wasn't ready to leave after 5 hours. He loves science and especially enjoyed the Light Lab and Notion of Motion where we spent most of our time. Took a break and went next door to Lick ice cream. The ticket is good for all day, even if you leave and return
Written June 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John Paul
Dallas, TX23 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Boys had a lot of fun. It’s like a museum but you get to play with everything there. Lots of science practical exhibits.
They enjoyed the motion room and room with lights.
I wouldn’t say it’s something you’d want to come back right away.
They enjoyed the motion room and room with lights.
I wouldn’t say it’s something you’d want to come back right away.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Courtney C
Lampasas, TX6 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
The thinkery was really cute with lots of hands on activities for young children. My six year old really enjoyed it. But my almost 10 year old was bored. It is advertised as being fun for his age too, but there just wasn’t much for older elementary age group.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fearless Rabbit
Killeen, TX491 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
Our son is 10 who loves science and he seemed a little bored. Nothing special about a place or scientifically amusing. But worth checking out. It designed for kids ages 4-6. It is a nice place to take a little children to. For us it was ok as a one time thing.
Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the recommended ages? My grandson is 2 1/2 and he is very inquisitive.
Written November 15, 2018
A wide variety of ages with a great water table and colored blocks/ lights area younger kids love. My 2 year old grandson enjoyed it.
Written November 18, 2018
Yes. Outdoor lot north of museum near lake and playground. Indoor garage about one block south near Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Written September 28, 2018
If we only have 3 hours, is that enough time for the museum?
Written October 21, 2017
Yes, three hours would be plenty sufficient.
Written October 21, 2017
There is an admission fee, but it is nominal. If you check their website it will tell you. We bought our grandson a season pass, because he loves it so muc.
Written April 17, 2015
9$ US for adults and kids...... little ones (little) free, and alittle off for seniors and military
well worth it
Written April 18, 2015
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