San Diego Natural History Museum
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) offers a rich and extensive natural history experience, particularly strong in paleontology with dinosaur and California-native extinct species fossils, and exhibits featuring local wildlife, including a notably large living frog (12-15 inches). It's highly educational with exhibits highlighting ongoing research and knowledgeable staff at the help desk who share fun facts. While the reviews indicate it's engaging for adults and that 'kids would love this place,' specific 'New Year's Eve Kids Activities' or detailed kid-centric programming beyond general museum appeal are not described. The venue also appears to host various intimate musical performances that cater to an adult audience, which parents should be aware of when choosing activities.
Key Highlights
- ✓Extensive collection of fossils, including dinosaurs and extinct species native to California.
- ✓Features a very large living frog exhibit (estimated 12-15 inches long) that kids might find captivating.
- ✓Exhibits are nicely laid out and include specific mentions of the scientific research conducted at the museum.
- ✓Help desk employees are highly knowledgeable and provide 'great fun facts.'
- ✓Strong focus on local wildlife, offering educational insights into the region's natural history.
- ✓The venue (or at least its performance spaces) can offer a 'small intimate setting' for events.
Standout Features
- ⭐Diverse and comprehensive exhibits covering natural history, paleontology, and local wildlife.
- ⭐Emphasis on scientific research, offering an educational layer to the displays.
- ⭐Knowledgeable and engaging staff at the help desk who enhance the learning experience with fun facts.
- ⭐Well-organized and nicely laid out exhibits, making for an enjoyable 'strolling around' experience.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Plan for more than a single day if you wish to fully explore all attractions, as one reviewer found 'one day is not enough'.
- →Engage with the employees at the help desk to learn interesting 'fun facts' and enhance your visit.
- →If attending for 'kids activities,' verify the specific nature of the event beforehand, as the venue also hosts adult-oriented concerts.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Reviews indicate 'one day is not enough' to fully experience the museum, suggesting it might be challenging for families with limited time or shorter attention spans.
- ⚠While the museum is recommended for kids, the provided reviews do not offer specific details about dedicated 'New Year's Eve Kids Activities' or other specific kid-focused programs.
- ⚠A significant portion of the reviews describes adult-oriented musical concerts (e.g., Pink Floyd covers, 90s unplugged, string quartets), not typical children's activities or general museum exhibits, indicating parents should verify event specifics if seeking kid-friendly entertainment.
Price & Value
Not mentioned in the provided reviews. There is no information about ticket costs, value compared to alternatives, or hidden costs.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility features or accommodations are mentioned in the provided reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No information about food and drink rules, outside food policy, or on-site dining options is mentioned in the provided reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information regarding parking availability, cost, or ease of access is mentioned in the provided reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •One review describes a musical event as a 'small intimate venue' and 'intimate setting', but this refers to specific performance spaces rather than the general museum crowd level. No information about general museum crowd levels (weekends, weekdays, peak times) is provided.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety measures or features are mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Avoid rushing your visit if you want to see everything, as the museum's offerings are too extensive for a single brief trip.
- • Do not assume all events hosted at The Nat are kid-friendly; reviews indicate specific adult-oriented musical concerts are also held there.
- • If you are specifically looking for New Year's Eve kids activities, the reviews do not provide any direct information to confirm their suitability or existence.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
🛡️Safety Policy
- • All visitors are expected to treat others with respect and dignity.
- • Anyone whose conduct is disruptive, abusive, harassing, or soliciting may be asked to leave.
📅Booking Policy
- • Online ticket purchasing is currently unavailable due to Microsoft CrowdStrike outage.
- • Tickets may be purchased in person.
- • When available, online tickets may be purchased up to one month in advance.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
juan v
a month agoThere so many attractions to visit that around this place that one day is not enough, as an adult i enjoyed visiting with my significant other and had a blast learning and admiring so many things about animals, they have fossils from dinosaurs to extinct species that were native from California. What i was amazed is that they have a huge living frog that I think it's about 12-15 inches long. Kids would love this place.
Rachel Summers
a week agoI liked how it was a small intimate venue as well and how they talked to us. It was one's FIRST show ever, another orchestrated (?) (figured out which of the 4 instruments could do what) 4 of the songs himself. It was fun trying to figure out which piece was doing what sound as well. I would even get chills when the two were in PERFECT harmony (insane!!!) And of course cried at times. Chef's kiss 👌
C SK
2 months agoThe Nat is a great museum and the exhibits are laid out very nicely. I love that there are specific mentions to the research that is done there. The employees at the help desk are very knowledgeable and have lots of great fun facts. I really enjoyed strolling around and learning about local wildlife as well as seeing so many fossils and bone structures. What a cool place!!
Jana Hartwell
2 weeks agoWhat an amazing way to honor & cover Pink Floyd songs! The string quartet was not only talented musically, but each had an outgoing, upbeat and humorous personality. It was a very cool, "comfortably numb" and intimate setting for enjoying awesome music. I want to see what they do with Coldplay and Imagine Dragons next month!
Stacey Troop
2 months agoMy husband and I had a date night and went to the 90s unplugged night. It was an absolutely amazing experience!!! The musicians are so unbelievably talented and did a great job of keeping the audience in it. We will be returning to several other shows.