Fall Family Fun at the Perot Museum in Dallas
Thanks Perot Museum for hosting our family museum visit. All opinions are my own.
We have been wanting to visit the Perot Museum in Dallas since it opened in 2012. The building is so unique and fascinating, we were sure we'd love exploring the exhibits inside as well. When my friend Michelle, who blogs at Travel With My Family, invited us to the Perot Museum blogger event, I jumped at the chance. Our family loved getting a sneak peak of the fall and winter features at the museum. Michelle and I have also teamed up to host a homeschool family sized giveaway of 8 VIP tickets to take your family to the Perot this year. Make sure and read to the end so you can enter to win!
We arrived at the museum early, and if you're going, you'll want to too. With four floors of exhibits, make sure you give yourself time to enjoy it all!
Football-sized gems, show-stopping birds who strut their stuff, dry ice, liquid nitrogen, acorn dissecting, dancing corn and “blubber” gloves are among the Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s festive lineup of holiday happenings. At the pinnacle is the groundbreaking Birds of Paradise exhibition, where the adventures and stories behind the first survey of all 39 birds-of-paradise are documented and brilliantly displayed. Also adding sparkle to the season are 29 magnificent gems, never before seen together, in Giant Gems of the Smithsonian. Other holiday happenings include extreme 3D films, a “winter wonderland” sleepover, free cocoa with any dessert purchase in the Café (Dec. 1-31), Discovery Camps, special activities and family programming, plus extended hours during the Thanksgiving and winter breaks (at select times).
We were excited to get inside the museum, and the Perot hosted us with fun crafts and cookies!
Even the big kids loved exploring the museum. We checked out the Extreme Weather 3D movie, and it was fascinating. We were amazed by the glaciers. They were beautiful!
Special Exhibit: Birds of Paradise
BIRDS OF PARADISE (through Jan. 8, 2017) is a story of nature’s most fascinating feathered flirts – the extravagant birds that have inspired a recent social media craze. A science exhibition, art show and natural history display in one, Birds of Paradise, co-produced by National Geographic and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes visitors on an expedition to a New Guinea rainforest to witness the spectacular plumage and dazzling dance moves of the family of birds known as birds-of-paradise. Through beautiful National Geographic photography, follow the adventures of two determined researchers who made 18 trips to New Guinea over eight years to complete the first survey of all 39 known species of birds-of-paradise. Birds of Paradise, a National Geographic exhibition presented locally by Highland Capital Management, requires a surcharge for members and non-members.
This exhibit is absolutely worth the extra fee. While the photography is stunning and fascinating for adults and kids alike, the interactive way that it is set up draws in even the most reluctant learner. You can dance with the birds, watch a film on the way the information was collected, and see how indigenous tribes mimic these incredible birds.
Perot Museum Features
Even if you don't make it to the special exhibit, there is so much to the Perot Museum that you'll have plenty to keep you occupied and engaged in learning.
Lamar Hunt Family Sports Hall
My kids loved racing the cheetah and whale down the stretch.
Expanding Universe Hall
My CC loving kids found this area fascinating. There is a timeline of space discovery on the wall that my Challenge II student wanted to add to his timeline he's working on. Our Challenge B friend loved looking at the various famous scientists featured that she's been studying. All of the Foundations kids loved that this area featured a lot of their memory work from Cycle 2.
Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall
GIANT GEMS OF THE SMITHSONIAN (through Jan. 17, 2017). Never before seen together, nearly 30 magnificent, Texas-sized gems from the Smithsonian’s world-renowned National Gem Collection are on display in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall on Level 3. The mineral masterpieces, many weighing 1,000-plus carats, include an “American Golden” topaz that tips the scales at almost 23,000 carats (more than 10 pounds), a blue topaz “football” of nearly 7,000 carats, a kunzite Tiffany necklace, a Mogul emerald diamond necklace and more. This temporary installation marks the first time such a large collection of Smithsonian gems, some of which have never been displayed in any museum, are on exhibit outside the famed Washington museum complex. Giant Gems of the Smithsonian is free with Museum general admission.
Life Then and Now Hall
FAMILY-FUN EVENTS. There are plenty of reasons for a repeat visit this holiday season! Folks looking to visit after dark will enjoy First Thursday Late Nights on Dec. 1 (themed Space) and Jan. 5 (themed Robotics) when the Museum stays open until 9 p.m. with inventive and edgy experiences. On Dec. 10, the family-fun Discovery Days: Birds will feature feathered-fun activities on every floor from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. After 2016 is put to rest, kids and their adult chaperones can snore and explore during the Museum’s “winter wonderland” sleepover on Jan. 7, complete with exciting animals, science experiments, a screening of the holiday film Elf, a Fire & Ice demo, a dance party plus a winter wonderland-themed photo to take home. Discovery Days and Late Nights are free to members and included with general admission for non-members. The Winter Wonderland Sleepover is $50 per youth and $40 per adult chaperone.
A museum visit isn't complete without a tour of the dinosaur fossils. This exhibit was one of my favorites.
TICKETS. Museum general admission is $19 for adults (18-64), $12 for youth (2-17) and $13 for seniors (65+). Museum general admission is free for members. Admission to the theater is $6 for a short film (20-25 minutes) and $8 for a long film (40 minutes). For members, admission to the theater is $5 (short film) and $6 (long film). Films and general admission for children under 2 are free. For groups of 10 or more, call for special rates at 214-428-5555 ext. 8. All prices are subject to change.
Birds of Paradise requires a surcharge for a total admission cost of $27 for adults (18-64), $19 for youth (2-17), $20 for seniors (65+), and free for children under 2. Member tickets are $6 for adults (18-64) and $5 for youth (2-17) and seniors (65+).
The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit perotmuseum.org or call 214-428-5555.
Make sure to enter to win the 8 VIP Perot Museum tickets which include general admission and admission to the Birds of Paradise special exhibit. Contest ends November 25, 2016.
Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.
I teach a Bird Identification class at a local homeschool co-op, so I and my family would love to see the bird exhibit. We’ve never been to the Perot (sounds expensive! but awesome!) and we would love the opportunity to go!
We’ve never been to the Perot but have it on our list of places to go. I think my 6 year old would love the Birds of Paradise exhibit. We’ve been going through the Apologia Science book of flying creatures and her interest in birds has grown!
I don’t have a twitter account and I’m not on pinterest, but I did all the other options! So excited!! Thanks Betsy for hosting this giveaway!
You’re welcome!