Justin M.
Yelp
Museums contain a plethora of material on the present, past or distant past; educating and entertaining us. But let's face it, some are subjectively boring while others can be exhilarating. Can it be fun for the whole family? It depends on the diversity of exhibits at the facility. So, when my kids came down to Texas, they wanted to visit a museum with more to offer than current prairie life or what existed 3 centuries ago. After a little research and the prospect of DINASOURS we settled on the Witte Museum in San Antonio. I highly suggest checking out the website first to reserve what package is right for you. Be warned though, the website is a little hard to navigate as all the features aren't clearly defined and what they entail. More on that later.
Driving from Austin was relatively easy as the traffic wasn't bad at 10am on a Monday. Parking is free, conveniently located within 100 yards of the museum and somewhat of a scenic route on foot to get there. I believe they also have a lot of outdoor activities but in 105-degree weather, my girls and I were in no mood to walk on the surface of the sun so we hustled inside with the modern wonders of air conditioning. Please note Witte seems to be in a relatively safe part of town as I always am concerned about the surroundings.
Once inside the imagination runs wild as a huge Pterodactyl (big dinosaur bird) hangs overhead with a CG video of them flying above. A gift shop is to the immediate left and the desk to check in is straight ahead. The attendants are very friendly and can answer any questions you may have. Although I did stump them by asking how Dinosaurs could have lived millions of years ago when in 2005, Mary Schweitzer found soft tissue, not fossilized remains. I realize they're just helping customers but I like to make people think. Back to an earlier point they were able to sort out which bundles we wanted and updated our online tickets.
We chose to go to the left and explore indigenous Texas area wildlife. All sorts of models, dioramas, scenes etc. are spread out allowing crowds to move unencumbered to each exhibit. I learned a lot reading about the wildlife and honestly, I felt I was back in school making that exploding volcano "we" (or our parents) we all had for science class. There's a lot to take in and I like the plaques with info describing natural processes, animal behaviors and diet and early humans, basically anything informative you can think of, the museum has already done. Don't be afraid to mosey off the path as there are little rooms with drawers you can open to reveal lots of things including poop. Yes, they have droppings there too. The one thing I didn't understand is they had an area of for India containing clothing and airline info. I believe it might be a sponsor but it seemed sorely out of place. Finally, there are plenty of water fountains and even a small café with coffee, drinks and even portable food.
We made our way back to the lobby were an allosaur was eyeballing me. Luckily, he's dead so I didn't have to protect the family from his hand sized teeth. The next stop was a small wing containing local art and dignitaries. We went through this section quickly as it wasn't very interesting to us. Now time for the main attraction!
Flowing into the main "Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family" wing was the most exciting. A clerk checks your ticket and your off to seeing all sorts of ancient lizards and birds. I'll admit this, I've watched a lot of movies but until you get in front of a mold of Tyrannosaurus Rex one can't fully appreciate how big these creatures were! We wondered around and took a lot of pictures while somewhat reading the materials that are provided. Also, fun fact they won't tell you, but these aren't actually bones rather casts made of fossilized remains. Which explains how so many places are able to make displays. After a good 15 minutes the guests are funneled through the gift some so the museum can capitalize on impulse buying.
Overall, the experience was rich and rewarding; a wonderful day to spend wit the family. All the displays are interactive with models, quick reading plaques and audio to simulate "the wild." It's not a rushed experience either, you walk at your own pace and can prioritize what you want to see first. I highly suggest visiting the museum as anything to bond with the family and learn is something that lasts a lifetime.