Fernbank Museum

Fernbank - my favorite museum in Atlanta.

New Exhibit at Fernbank - Geckos!

Geckos: Tails to Toepads is Fernbank's latest special exhibit, and it's a great one. There is something so endearing about these big-eyed, harmless reptiles, and you'll see all different kinds at Fernbank. Much of the fun is finding them - many are experts of camouflage. Interspersed among the habitats are hands-on educational kiosks and displays, including a really interesting one about "designer" leopard geckos. You'll exit through the gift store, so be prepared!

Even though Fernbank is a natural history museum, I always like their "life science" exhibitions the best. And their reptile habitats put Zoo Atlanta's Reptile House to shame!

You may want to visit on Saturday, July 10, for Reptile Day. You can meet a variety of live reptiles and make a blue tongued skink hat to take home.

Good to know: The exhibit runs through September 6, and the price is included with admission. Remember that Fernbank's family dual membership is great: for $85, you can take 2 adults and four children, even if they are not part of your family. Just don't include a second name on the membership. You'll get lots of great discounts and a reciprocal program with science museums around the country.

Fernbank has a cafeteria, but you can also bring a lunch bags and leave them in a locker until you are ready to eat.

The IMAX movie through September 30 is Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure. My boys loved this, of course! It was a fascinating overview of bugs in Malaysia's rainforest, with a special focus on a caterpillar and a praying mantis. Very sensitive children might not like it - should be rated PG-13 for mild mating situations and graphic carnivorous violence. Overheard from the preschool teacher behind us: "If that boy beetle defeats the other boy beetle in their wrestling match, then he gets to have the girl beetle as his girlfriend." Overheard from the child sitting next to me: "Wow! That butterfly has two heads!".