Fernbank Museum of Natural History

If you are in the Atlanta area Fernbank Museum is a great place to take the kids. Both of our girls love it -which given their varying ages and abilities is rare. It's a surprisingly good place to take kids with disabilities. While we were there today we noticed three other families with children with special needs so this isn't a big secret - or if it is, it shouldn't be.

The Museum is very accessible. There is excellent disabled parking as well as curb cuts and ramps around the exterior. The only failing I've found is the lack of an automatic door so maneuvering a wheelchair actually into the building is tricky.

The museum is three stories tall, focused around a soaring central atrium which is filled with dinosaur skeletons. There are stairs between the floors and a (very slow) elevator for visitors with strollers or mobility impairments.

The permanent exhibits are interesting and include plenty of hands on exploration for kids in the super-cool new NatureQuest and the older Sensing Nature gallery, both on the third floor.

I'm particularly impressed with how accessible they made NatureQuest. The former children's exploration rooms had very little for a child with physical limitations to do. The new center, while it does have inaccessible areas like a crawling tunnel and a tree house, is well thought out including a ramp up to the "archaeological dig site" and pathways wide enough for a wheelchair. The exhibits are intended for young children so they are also at an ideal height for wheelchair viewing.

As funny as it sounds, the nicest bathrooms are also on the third floor. While I can't vouch for the Men's Rooms, the third floor Women's Room near NatureQuest has a nice private area for nursing, including a comfortable glider chair and a curtain for privacy. There are also good single bathrooms at the other end of the floor - perfect for families or companion use.

NatureQuest

The girls playing together in the Sensing Nature gallery

Danielle can spend hours looking at the exhibits, playing at NatureQuest or on the outside patio, running on the front lawn...Fernbank has an IMAX movie theater which, while it makes me nauseous, Amanda loves. Fortunately if she gets restless exploring the museum Kevin is usually willing to sit through the movie with her.  

Admission isn't cheap - a family of four will pay $66 to get in. However, annual membership is under $100 and, from our perspective well worth it. One of the nicest features of being members is not only can we go as often as we like for free, the membership is good for 2 adults and 4 children. If I go alone with the girls I can invite a friend and her children to come along as our guests for free. This gives me one more adult to watch the kids as well as a companion for one or both of them. And I look really generous in the process!

 

Seriously, who wouldn't want to stand under a T-Rex?