FunKidsActivities

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

2201 N Field St, Dallas, TX 75201, USA

Overview

Category:New Year's Eve Kids Activities
Location:Dallas, TX

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science offers a deeply interactive and educational experience, blending stunning architecture with diverse hands-on exhibits across multiple floors. It uniquely provides a 'walk back in time' journey through natural history and science, from dinosaurs to engineering, captivating both children and adults with its immersive displays and engaging activities.

Key Highlights

  • Dinosaur exhibit with impressive fossils, artifacts, and interactive, hands-on activities.
  • Gems and Minerals exhibit showcasing sparkling crystals and precious stones.
  • 3D Theater featuring fascinating films about the natural world and specific subjects like T-Rex.
  • Engineering zone with simulated earthquake experiences, paper rocket design/launch, and robot racing.
  • Human anatomy exhibits including walking through a human heart and brain.
  • Ubiquitous interactive stations across all themed floors (space, earth sciences, robotics, energy).
  • Staff and docents are consistently described as friendly, helpful, informed, patient, and passionate.
  • The museum's architecture is visually stunning and contributes to the overall wonder.
  • Opportunities for kids to dig for fossils and build cars to race on custom tracks.

Standout Features

  • Highly interactive and hands-on exhibits that keep children deeply engaged and learning.
  • Diverse thematic floors covering a wide range of scientific fields: dinosaurs, space exploration, earth sciences, robotics, human anatomy, energy, and engineering.
  • Dedicated 3D theater offering immersive educational films.
  • Exceptional, attentive, and knowledgeable staff and docents who enhance the learning experience.
  • Well-designed layout with plenty of space, designated areas for lunch/breaks, and well-labeled exhibits.
  • Availability of quiet zones, sensory-friendly tools, and rest spots for comfort.
  • Reasonably priced gift shop with options like take-home gems.

Perfect For

Perfect for all ages, from young children (preschool/elementary for hands-on activities, dinosaur digs) to teens and adults (engineering, robotics, deeper scientific concepts).
Specifically designed to engage and entertain both children and adults simultaneously, making it ideal for family outings.
Field trip reviews highlight its suitability for elementary and middle school students, fostering curiosity and active learning.

Ideal For

Families with children of varying ages looking for a stimulating and educational outing.
School field trips and educational group visits seeking hands-on science and nature exploration.
Science enthusiasts and curious learners of all ages.
Multi-generational family visits where everyone can find engaging activities.
Rainy day activities that offer a full day's worth of entertainment and learning.
Parents looking to spark interest in STEM fields like engineering and physics in their children.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Book tickets in advance, especially for popular times or specific events, as they can sell out.
  • If driving, specifically look for Parking Lot B and ensure you show your tickets for entry/parking benefits.
  • Plan for a full day to explore all exhibits thoroughly, as there is a vast amount to see and do.
  • If visiting as an adult or couple without children and seeking a quieter experience, consider avoiding peak times when school groups or many families are present.
  • Engage with the staff and docents; they are helpful and add value to the learning experience.

Things to Consider

  • Tickets can sell out, requiring advance booking.
  • At specific events (e.g., 'Thursdays on Tap'), food truck availability may be limited, with some trucks running out of items early.

Price & Value

While no specific entrance fees were mentioned, the overall experience is described as 'world-class,' 'unforgettable,' and a 'gem,' suggesting excellent value for the engaging, educational, and immersive content. The gift shop is noted as 'reasonably priced.'

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • Features quiet zones, sensory-friendly tools, and designated rest spots for children and parents, indicating consideration for diverse needs.
  • Staff are described as incredibly patient and helpful, suggesting they are accommodating to visitors with various requirements.
  • Layout and logistics are well thought out, with plenty of space, which generally aids accessibility.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Designated areas for lunch and breaks are available, suggesting capacity for visitors to bring or purchase food.
  • Food trucks (including options like Mi Cocina tacos and Community Brewery beer) are present at specific events like 'Thursdays on Tap,' but one review noted limited availability during the event.
  • No explicit policy on outside food for general admission was detailed.

🚗Parking Info

  • Specific instruction to look for Parking Lot B and show tickets, suggesting a designated or preferred parking area for museum visitors.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Tickets can sell out, indicating popularity and potential for crowds.
  • Review 3 implies that during peak times, there can be 'a lot of running around kids.'
  • Review 5, despite a large group of students, noted 'plenty of space to explore' and that no one felt rushed, suggesting good crowd management.

🛡️Safety Features

  • The presence of numerous friendly, organized, helpful, and patient staff and docents throughout the museum contributes significantly to a safe and supervised environment.
  • Well-thought-out layout and logistics, including designated areas, contribute to safe exploration.

When to Avoid

  • No specific times or situations for families to *avoid* were mentioned as problematic in the reviews. However, adults seeking a quieter experience might wish to avoid times when school groups are numerous.

What People Say

What's Great

  • Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 6 reviews)
  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

  • Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Mike

Mike

a month ago

I recently visited the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas and was blown away by the incredible exhibits and interactive displays. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the stunning architecture of the building and the friendly staff. The museum is divided into several floors, each with its own unique theme and exhibits. The dinosaur exhibit was a highlight, with an impressive collection of fossils and artifacts that gave us a glimpse into the lives of these prehistoric creatures. The hands-on activities and interactive displays were a hit with the kids, who loved learning about science and nature in a fun and engaging way. The gems and minerals exhibit was also a standout, with a stunning collection of sparkling crystals and precious stones. The 3D theater was another highlight, with a fascinating film about the natural world that left us all in awe. What really impressed me, though, was the attention to detail and the obvious care that the museum staff had put into creating an immersive and educational experience. The exhibits were well-labeled and easy to follow, and the staff were always on hand to answer questions and provide additional information. Overall, I would highly recommend the Perot Museum of Nature and Science to anyone visiting Dallas. It's a must-visit attraction for families, science enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a fun and educational experience. With its unique exhibits, interactive displays, and stunning architecture, it's an experience you won't soon forget.

Sunshine

Sunshine

3 weeks ago

Great museum; lots of interesting and interactive activities there. We had a blast. Definitely a great place for date night. We did the Thursdays on tap. Fantastic live music that they piped through the museum. It was the right amount of people. They had three food trucks, but by the time we wanted to eat, one of the trucks was already gone. Definitely look for Lot B for parking and show your tickets. Also, don't wait to get tickets. They were sold out. We had a group, which made it fun. We did enjoy the Community Brewery beer and the Mi Cocina tacos. The brisket was delicious.

George Farris

George Farris

2 months ago

The museum was a lot of fun! I enjoy how you "walk back in time" and travel throughout all of history to present day. There are a lot of interactive stations in the museum which is cool. Designed for both children and adults. (I would recommend if you're doing an adult day/date: try to avoid time(s) where there will be a lot of running around kids). Reasonably priced gift shop as well (especially if you want to take some gems home).

Steven J

Steven J

a month ago

The Perot Museum is a fantastic experience for all ages. The 3D movie about the T-Rex was exceptional—really brought the prehistoric world to life. The accompanying exhibit was just as impressive, with incredible dinosaur bones that captivated everyone. We loved how interactive it was for kids, with hands-on activities that kept them engaged, while still offering plenty of interesting displays for adults. It’s a well-rounded museum that appeals to everyone, and we had a great time exploring it. Highly recommend a visit!

Devin Sarolia

Devin Sarolia

a week ago

An Unforgettable Day at the Perot Museum – A Field Trip for the Ages! I had the absolute joy of spending a full day at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas, alongside my son and dozens of bright, curious students from a handful of different schools—and let me just say, it was nothing short of mind-blowing! From the second we walked through those doors, the energy was electric. The architecture alone set the tone: bold, modern, and full of wonder. The staff greeted us with smiles and enthusiasm that never wavered all day. They were organized, prepared, and clearly passionate about making science accessible and fun for all ages. The museum itself? It’s like stepping into a world where curiosity rules and everything is a hands-on adventure. Each floor offered something new—dinosaurs, space exploration, earth sciences, robotics, human anatomy, energy, engineering—you name it. Every exhibit was interactive, beautifully designed, and bursting with opportunities for the kids to touch, play, build, and learn. One of the most magical things about this day was seeing so many students from different schools come together in a shared experience of learning and discovery. They weren’t just looking at things—they were engaging, experimenting, asking questions, making connections, and encouraging one another. It was a beautiful thing to witness as a parent and as a member of the community. I loved seeing my son light up when we hit the engineering and physics sections. Watching him try the earthquake simulator, design and launch paper rockets, and race robots with other kids had me grinning ear to ear. As an electrician and someone who works in a technical trade, it was powerful to see that spark of interest ignited in such a cool, dynamic environment. The museum staff and docents deserve a special shout-out—they were helpful, informed, and incredibly patient. Whether it was answering a hundred questions from curious little minds or helping kids get the most out of the exhibits, they went above and beyond to make sure the learning never stopped. Even the layout and logistics were well thought out. We had plenty of space to explore, designated areas for lunch and breaks, and no one ever felt rushed. There were quiet zones, sensory-friendly tools, and rest spots for kids (and parents!) who needed a breather. Highlights of the day: • Digging for fossils in the dinosaur hall • Experiencing a simulated earthquake • Walking through a human heart and brain exhibit • Watching a high-definition short film in the 3D theater • Kids building cars and racing them down custom tracks in the engineering zone By the end of the day, the kids were tired—but in that good way, like they had used their brains, challenged their imaginations, and had the time of their lives. And honestly? So did we adults. To the Perot Museum team—thank you for delivering a world-class experience that fused science, technology, imagination, and education so seamlessly. This place is a gem for the city of Dallas and a must-visit for every family, educator, and young learner. This wasn’t just a field trip. It was a launchpad for dreams. Already looking forward to coming back!

Contact Information

2201 N Field St, Dallas, TX 75201, USA

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Opening Hours

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: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.7
Total Reviews18981
Recent Reviews5