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Georgia (GA)
Atlanta
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Fernbank Museum

Fernbank Museum, Atlanta: Hours, Address, Fernbank Museum Reviews: 4/5

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Fernbank Museum

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Fernbank Museum
4
1,104
#38 of 295 things to do in Atlanta
Natural History Museums
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
Discover a World of Wow at Fernbank, Atlanta's Science and Nature Experience. Come in, go out, and see what's new with three stories of indoor museum exhibits; multiple indoor and outdoor dinosaur displays; 75 acres of outdoor nature adventures and play areas; and amazing 25-minute movies on a four-story giant screen theater. Experiences include fresh air outdoor explorations, natural history exhibits, science programs, cultural discoveries, prehistoric dinosaurs and more. Fernbank has implemented safety precautions that allow guests to safely spread out over 75 acres and three museum levels, including limited capacity, frequent cleanings, hand sanitizer stations, no- and low-contact sales, and more. Learn more at https://fernbankmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/guest-health-safety/.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,104 reviews
Excellent
425
Very good
381
Average
192
Poor
77
Terrible
29
Funtraveler2014
Mansfield, TX4,895 contributions
Great
Family
Good activity for the entire family. I recommend being there when it opens if you want to get parking nearby. Two adults and one child will set you back $83.00 for the museum and a 3D movie. I would plan three to four hours as you can go at your own pace. There are many exhibits and you can also do a half mile nature walk. Make sure to do the top floor if you have children under 8. I can recommend this activity and will return again.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
FernbankMuseum
This is a very informative review! Thanks for sharing your experience, tips and, of course, for visiting.
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kates5283
Cincinnati, OH116 contributions
It's ok...
We have a dinosaur enthusiast in our family so we thought this would be a fun place for him. It is impressive when you pull up to the dinosaurs outside and then walking in, the sheer size of the replica fossils is enough to impress anyone. However, the rest of the museum was just okay. Some parts felt really dated and our son was disappointed in the dinosaur area, saying they didn't look real. Now, for reference, he has been to COSI and Indianapolis Children's Museum, both knowns for their dinosaur exhibits so his expectations were probably a little high. Now, the outdoor walking area that leads to the hiking trail was lovely and a wonderful unexpected part of our trip. Did we enjoy the museum? Of course. Would we visit again? Probably not unless we were in Atlanta for more than a few days, just for something to do. Make sure you go early because there isn't a lot of parking. The lot was full when we came out. Overall, it was an okay place to tack on to our trip.
Written June 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mariellen Edinburg
Claymont, DE136 contributions
Nice Trip for a Rainy Morning
Couples
My husband and I went to the museum on a rainy Sunday morning before hopping over to a sports bar for an afternoon of football games. This museum was just right for what we were looking for - a nice way to spend an hour or two on a rainy day. We have been to the Natural History Museum in NYC and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This is not comparable to those but it was interesting and well done with exhibits that were clean and in good repair. The admission would be a bit steep for the time spent if you were a larger family but it was just right for the two of us.
Written September 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Melissa
Knoxville, TN27 contributions
Great for families!
Family
We visited Fernbank Museum as a last minute choice between that or the Atlanta Zoo. I am so glad we did! Our kids, 6&8, loved it! The volunteers who greeted us after we entered were so kind to our children, explaining the scavenger hunt activity. We first explored Wildwoods and Fernbank Forest. Our daughter has mild cerebral palsy and wears legs braces and uses a stroller occasionally. She was able to do the entire walk through Wildwoods, which was decorated for Halloween! The scavenger hunt had two sides: indoor and outdoor. Both kids had such a good time playing, exploring, and finding the items on the hunt. We walked/hiked for awhile in Fernbank Forest as well. The paths were easy, even for my daughter and her disability. There were informative signs and maps all over the Forest area.
After the outdoor activities, we headed indoors and kept on with the scavenger hunt. Even though some of the indoor exhibits were a bit too old for our kids to appreciate, the scavenger hunt kept them motivated and interested while my husband and I read more of the mature information the museum has to offer.
Most everyone has a mask on, definitely all employees, and the museum was very clean. There were hand sanitizer stations all around as well.
We were very pleased with our visit and intend to return on our next trip to Atlanta!
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ELKW
United States11,507 contributions
good
This is one of the city pass attraction, we buy the city pass, so we go there. We think that it's better than expected, the outdoor section “Wild Woods" is amazing with the flower shaped made up with wood, very beautiful, also there are natural-liked playground for the kids. There is also trail if you have time, can walk the Fernbank forest. for the indoor portion, there are different exhibits. The indoor playground is also vert attractive. There are some animal encounter shows, you can attend, the staff will show some real animals for you to see, just like those in zoo. We have good experience in this museum.
Written May 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Nicola H
Uderns, Austria8 contributions
A firm skip
Friends
Highlight of the trip was the outside walk and the special exhibit. The other exhibits are tired at best. The kids enjoyed the exhibits aimed at kids despite parts being broken or things missing. The movies at the exhibits probably haven’t been re recorded since the place opened.
Written April 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jwdonten
Englewood, FL198 contributions
Great Urban Oasis
The museum has some great exhibits on the natural history of Georgia from the different ecosystem to the dinosaurs. But the true gem of the museum is the outdoor oasis. The walking trails in the forest are a great place to get outside and enjoy the nature. They offer guided nature walks but unfortunately they did not have one while we were there. Take your time on the walk and enjoy the beauty of nature from colorful flowers to the little critters that live in the forest.
Written May 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hannah T
4 contributions
Great indoor and outdoor activities
Family
It’s a great place to visit with your little ones. They have a long walking trail with a lot of interesting activities and a lot of unique trees and flowers. I also enjoyed different indoor exhibits. We were lucky to be able to watch a dancing porcupine; it was the cutest thing ever. I think they could make a lot more money if they offered better food and drink options in their cafe; they only had cold sandwiches in the cafe. Also if you decide to walk into the forest, don’t forget to bring insect repellent or you gonna to get a lot mosquito bites.
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
David S
Savannah, GA44 contributions
Average at best
Couples
While the draw of Fernbank is the dinosaurs that's probably the least interesting part. There's a few replica skeletons scattered across several floors and some information about them but not much else. We went expecting a full dino experience and this wasn't it.
The outdoor walks and special exhibits are very interesting and will keep your attention for awhile. The movies were great while giving us a chance to relax and cool off. The pizza from the cafe was horrible and we both took one bite and threw it in the trash can. Save your money and don't eat there. Fernbank is a decent attraction for 3 hours or so but keep your expectations low.
Written May 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jessica S
Roswell, GA48 contributions
Fernbank Forest is Awesome
Family
Fernbank is a great way for people visiting, or people who live in Atlanta, to experience Atlanta and visit a science museum all in one trip. For me, the forest at Fernbank is really the gem. There is so much to explore outdoors and there is a lot of signage to learn about what you are seeing. If you are looking to combine your visit with a hike, there are 2 miles of trails! We spent the entire morning outside before lunch and visited the museum afterwards. Bring some bug spray if you are visiting in the summer because there are a lot of mosquitos in Georgia!

My son likes the interactive science exhibit the best and really enjoyed the sensory exhibit, too. I like the Georgia exhibit, but my 7 year old son and friend breezed through and didn’t want to read about the pre-historic periods.

Fernbank is located in a very pretty neighborhood of Atlanta and is close to downtown Decatur. We went to Decatur afterwards for ice cream at Jeni’s Splendid. The cafe was closed and they are only selling a few pre-made sandwiches, so you might want to bring lunch or plan to go somewhere. My son has a nut allergy and the only kids item was a PBJ, so we split a turkey sandwich that he did not like.

Overall, it was a very fun day!
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fernbank Museum
Fernbank Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Fernbank Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Fernbank Museum tours on Tripadvisor
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