PACIFIC GROVE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

If the thought of an afternoon at a museum brings on a yawn, you haven't been to Pacific Grove's Museum of Natural History. The name doesn't do justice to all that this museum encompasses. Though the Madagascar exhibit was what drew us to the museum, we were overjoyed to find so much more. The Museum of Natural History has done a tremendous job of celebrating the ecological diversity we enjoy here in the Monterey Bay area.

Highlights:
Paul speaks: "I really enjoyed the fact that the animals were posed in natural positions. No fierce mountain lions, no alarmed deer. Just the animals as they probably actually were in life. 'How did they die?' is always tenderhearted Jenna's first question. It was easy to explain about natural causes and lifecycles, and this left no fear in the children, only curiosity. I noticed that there is a good mix to the exhibits. Something to appeal to everyone. And that explains the wide range of patrons in the museum: parents with their children, college students, older adults. Of course, the fact that it's absolutely FREE certainly adds appeal to an already enjoyable trip."

Julie recommends: "When you first enter, the children's hands-on area is directly in front of you. Considering the small amount of space allocated for this area, there is an awful lot to see and do. From the wall mural with moving parts to the stuffed bobcat, there are sufficient activities to keep your children interested for several trips. David, 6, and I were amazed at the amount of bird species in the area! And they are all here, stuffed and categorized. There are enough that he recognized from his bird book to draw us in, and enough that we'll have to look for to keep us glued to the glass cases, trying to pick out the differences.

Other things not to be missed include:

· The whale section. The whale songs were a big hit, with Elizabeth, 3, and Jenna, 8, "serenading" each other, pushing the different whale song buttons. The Orca skeleton with life-sized mural behind it gives the kids a good visual for size.
· The BioDiversity of Madagascar exhibit is full of incredible photographs, and set up like an art gallery. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of the photographs grace the cover of National Geographic. Jenna thought the Elephant Bird egg was amazing, "even bigger than my head!" Well said ;-).
· The exhibits upstairs. Though Mom thought it "icky", the boys were thrilled to see the giant squid encased in a glass tube, and seemed never to tire of "ooh"ing and "aah"ing over it. The phosphorescent rock exhibit was a big hit, especially since the light turns on automatically when you step into the darkened booth.
· The courtyard. Fossilized wood, a huge piece of jade, a giant pine tree, various flowers, trees and over 100 plant species and varieties of California plants are tastefully arranged in rustic splendor. It's also a great place to shake out the wigglies.

There are just enough "touch me" sections in the exhibits to keep the children interested, and enough "look and study" areas for the grownups. Thanks to the generosity of the community and museum members, the Museum of Natural History has remained admission-free since its inception."

Out & About Helpful Hint: There isn't a lot of seating anywhere inside the museum, so you might want to plan to visit the courtyard when your little ones begin to tire.

Kid Safety Considerations: Considering their location one would expect tight quarters, but the museum is full of wide open spaces, and anything that might be potentially dangerous is out of reach (the stuffed coyote with teeth and the wild boar's head, for example).

(c) 1999 Paul and Julie Gentry. Note: this article first appeared in Monterey County Family Magazine.