Fernbank's NatureQuest Brings Museum New Life

When you hear the words “Natural History” or “Museum,” what comes to mind?  Maybe something old, or dusty? Maybe something like a fossil or some kind of old ceramic bowl kept in a glass box so you can't touch it? Yawn. Those were my first thoughts, but I'm sure I'm not alone, right?

Now try this one. If you hear, “The Fernbank Museum of Natural History,” what do you think? For me, it would probably be salsa dancing under a giant dinosaur and sipping a Martini. I don’t recall if I ever made it inside for the IMAX part of that night, but I do know I had fun!

If someone even whispers “Fernbank” around my four-year old, prepare to cover your ears.  My kid loves this place. After the shrieking ends, the begging will soon begin. “Can we go, Momma, can we?  Can we pleeeeeease go?  Pleeeeeeeeease?” she says in the sweetest of voices, eyelashes batting at me like crazy. 

Of course I usually give in. I mean, after all, it must be a pretty amazing museum if they can make a subject like “Natural History” so interesting that kids are begging to go there. For the record, I have a much stronger will power when the destination she has in mind is something like “Chuckie Cheese.”

Well, this year my little one wants to have her birthday party at Fernbank because she loves the new play area they have opened called “Nature Quest.” And I can’t say that I blame her. This place is really pretty cool. As it turns out, booking a child’s birthday party at Fernbank is actually cheaper if you have a membership. So, we decided to splurge and buy the family membership as an "early birthday gift" for my little palentologist.

To view the press release from the grand opening of NatureQuest, click here.

Once I realized what a great deal I was getting, I wished I would have thought becoming a member a lot sooner. It is going to be well worth the price of only $95. For an entire year, my daughter and I can visit this learning environment that has been cleverly and convincingly disguised as a big “funland” as many times as we would like. And, now we will not have to try to visit every exhibit in a single trip. 

We can even bring friends along for no extra charge. Two adults and four children are part of the package. But, I might not tell her exactly how many friends of hers they will allow at one time. In large open spaces, I try to set my personal limit at one child per eyeball just to be on the safe side! 

It will be fun for her to celebrate her birthday in one of her favorite places. Allison Fry, the event coordinator, has been very helpful. In fact, everyone at Fernbank is usually very nice, so that really did not surprise me. And, with all the discounts and perks, and the frequently changing exhibits, I think the Fernbank folks will be seeing us a lot more often. That is assuming that 20 kindergarten students, a huge birthay cake, a legless lizard and a hardshell turtle do not do anything in the treehouse that might get us kicked out. What could possibly go wrong? 

And even though we enjoy almost everything we have seen at Fernbank so far, there is one little thing that does not meet my daughter's approval. She refuses to throw a coin into the large wishing fountain out front. “Look at all the coins in there!” she tells me with a look of shock. "Do you want Mommy to give you some pennies to throw in so you can make a wish?"  I ask. “No way, Mom!" she replies. "That is just a waste of money.” 

It's so nice when you get that kind of reassurance that you are raising a smart kid! So, even though she may be right and you do throw a little money away at the fountain, you will definitely not be wasting your money on a Fernbank membership. We think it is among the best in family attractions in metro Atlanta. 

And, the Martinis are great, too!

Thanks Fernbank. You are fun for all ages, from little tykes to prehistoric relics.