Dinosaurs in New York City: A Trip to the Museum of Natural History

Not all attractions are created equal in the minds of adults and kids – but there is one place in New York City that satisfies visitors of all ages. The American Museum of Natural History exhibits everything from dinosaur fossils to films on the solar system to exhibits featuring the complex workings of the  brain. A day spent at this museum will be packed with stimulation, from  seeing tiny dinosaur bones to a giant blue whale. Neither kids nor adults will be ready to leave when closing time comes too soon.

When it comes to visiting this museum, it is best to have a strategy. First of all, day of the week is important. I once made the mistake of visiting on the weekend, and the museum was filled with kids, girl scout troops, and birthday parties. I suspect that even families would prefer to find the exhibits less crowded and tickets available to the audio-visual presentations. If at all possible, visit during the week. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm. If traveling on a budget, my advice would be have a substantial breakfast, enjoy a snack at the museum, and head straight for dinner when the museum closes.

After deciding which day to visit, the next important part of strategy is to prioritize between exhibits. Whether you’re usually intrigued by wildlife or not, the exhibits at the Museum of Natural History will make your inner scientist emerge. Everyone has a soft spot for one exhibit in the museum, whether it’s the solar system, evolution, or even the expansive rock collection (which is actually more interesting than it sounds). Before arriving at the museum, check out the website and focus in on a few major exhibits.

Every visitor will have their own favorite exhibit, but here are a few of mine:

• 
  Fossil Halls: If you only see one exhibit in the entire museum, it must be Fossil Halls, where fossils from a wide range of dinosaurs can be found on display. To stand next to the bones of a T-Rex was one of the most  outrageous moments of my life. The tedious work of archeologists has resulted in one fantastic representation of the most famous dinosaur to have ever walked the planet Earth. The rest of the dinosaur exhibit is equally as fascinating.
• Journey to the Stars: Part of the fun of the Natural History Museum is interactive experiences. Journey to the Stars is a thrilling audio-visual presentation narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. From the seat of a theater you will feel as if you’ve traveled 13 billion years into the past when the stars were born. This movie makes it easy to leave more educated about the stars and planets than when you arrived.
• The Hall of Human Origins: While evolution remains a controversial topic, the Hall of Human Origins presents a compelling, and difficult to argue with, presentation of evolution. Both kids and adults will learn about our earliest ancestors and how modern homo sapiens evolved over millions of years.

The Museum of Natural History is home to both permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions. This fact means that even if you have been to the museum before to see the T-Rex skeleton and the evolution exhibit, there is always another reason to return. For example, current exhibitions include ‘Brain: The Inside Story‘ which seeks to illuminate the mysteries behind the functions of the brain. From a film on the Hubble Telescope narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio to the Butterfly Conservatory (a recreated tropical forest filled with 500 live butterflies) there is always more to learn at the Museum of Natural History.

If you arrived at Central Park West and 79th Street with a strategy, then hopefully by the time 5:45 pm rolls around, you will have seen all of the exhibits at the top of your list. During a recent visit to this museum, I was captivated from the moment I walked in and set eyes on the dinosaur skeletons in the lobby until the final moments where I was ushered out of the evolution exhibit. If you don’t see everything – you can always return for another half day.

All of that learning and stimulation is bound to work up an appetite. Exiting the museum, walk north to 81st street and head west, across Columbus Ave, until you reach Amsterdam. Here between 81st and 82nd Streets there is a wide variety of dining options – from Irish pubs to wine bars. One of my favorites is a tiny Thai restaurant called Land. I first heard about this Thai kitchen for their incredible value (such as a 2-course lunch for only $8) but I was impressed by the quality of the food and the variety as well.

If you leave the museum at 5:45 pm, you won’t have any trouble getting a table at this long and narrow restaurant. A few nibbles might be in order as you check over the menu, so go ahead and order some root vegetable spring rolls and chicken curry puffs to satisfy your hunger. The long list of main courses will be difficult to choose from, but one of my favorites is the red Thai curry with shrimp. If you’re in the mood for something substantial, duck breast with sweet potato and parsnip looked especially inviting on a recent visit. For a touch of sweetness at the end of the meal, choose the Thai coffee creme brulee.

Details:

• The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, New York. (map)
• Suggested general admission is $16 for adults and $9 for kids, but technically, you are allowed to pay as you wish. The only frustration with this is that you must wait in the sometimes lengthy ticket counter line to pay as you wish, while if you choose to pay the suggested price, you can purchase tickets from a machine in the lobby. Donations do go to support the spectacular work of the Museum, so it won’t be money ill spent.
• Land Thai Kitchen, 450 Amsterdam Ave, between 81st and 82nd Street, New York (map). 2 course lunch deal is $8, for dinner appetizers are $5.50 – $8 and main courses are $12 – $20.

Photo Credit: External museum from pavdw on Flickr, T-Rex from alexcastella on Flickr, Solar system from evilthomthai on Flickr, red Thai curry by stevendepolo on Flickr.