If you haven’t been to Fernbank for an adults-only experience, you may be surprised by exploring it from a different perspective. Whether you grew up visiting on a field trip or brought your own children years ago, adult-centric experiences – such as an afternoon movie, after-hours events, or a guided hike – can ignite your sense of wonder.
Visit the museum in the afternoons, when the audience skews more toward adults, and catch a film in the Giant Screen Theater. Now showing, Superpower Dogs takes viewers on a global adventure with six canine heroes and their human partners – like Halo, a puppy training to serve on the Miami disaster response team. Another film, Coral Sea, dives into the cultural significance and conservation efforts around green sea turtles in the waters off the northeast coast of Australia.
“We saw the Coral Sea movie first and decided to get a membership,” said a Decatur retiree at Superpower Dogs with her friend and daughter who works a flexible job. “Now we’re here for all of the movies.”
They laughed and cried as they learned about each dog’s exceptional skill, including Bloodhound brothers Tipper and Tony who can track animal poachers in Africa from a footprint. Upcoming movies include: October 11 opening of Wild Rescue, which shows the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wild animals (replacing Coral Sea) and November opening of Secrets of the Great Salt Lake (replacing Superpower Dogs).
More of a night owl? Come to Fernbank After Dark from 7:00–11:00 p.m. every second Friday for drinks, bites, live music, science-based activities, and full access to the museum and WildWoods. It’s the perfect destination for a date night, birthday celebration, or fun Friday with friends.
“My daughters surprised me,” said a glowing Mom in a birthday tiara. After touring the museum for a potential wedding venue, the future bride, dinosaur-enthusiast groom and several of the bridal party decided to check out the 21+ event. Three buddies, one just in from Seattle, headed outside to WildWoods. “I came every year for fieldtrips,” said the Atlanta-based friend. “I haven’t been back in 20 years!”
Each Fernbank After Dark also offers interactive science programming. Activity stations in August included survival skills like tasting roasted crickets and meal worms, and making your own birdseed bomb solidified in gelatin with liquid nitrogen.
“I’m going to put my seed bomb on my patio and see which birds come,” a guest said. Two friends tried the insect snacks, agreeing they were actually pretty good.
“There’s something for everybody,” said Miranda Shealy, volunteer manager. “Some want a party, science activities, a quiet walk through WildWoods [now showing the photo exhibit Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril] or all of the above.”
Beyond WildWoods lies the 65-acre old-growth Fernbank Forest, beckoning you to a explore it on a weekend guided hike (primarily adults attend), private tour or self-guided stroll.
“This amazing forest is actually the reason for the museum,” said Heather Waringa, Forest Manager at Fernbank Museum. Protected since 1939, as a “school in the woods”, the forest is accessible to museum visitors.
Traverse a one-mile roundtrip, from the terrace doors through Elephant Rock Loop to encounter the largest Eastern Hemlock in Atlanta, Huntemann Pond, an active spot for fish, tadpoles and frogs, and soil doors that reveal layers beneath the surface. Explore additional trails as time allows. TIP: Use the restroom before your walk and bring a water bottle. Trails include unpaved sections with some moderately steep terrain.
“We have visitors who are members just to walk these trails regularly,” Waringa said.
No matter the time of day, rediscover your inner child this fall with a visit to Fernbank Museum. Check the website’s calendar of events to find after-hours events and programs with a grown-up appeal, including WildWoods: AGLOW, opening November 14.
