In honor of FREE Museum Day, an event sponsored by Smithsonian Media with over 1300 museums from across the country participating, we took a trip to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. It was awesome, educational, and frugal!! I printed out a pass for Mark and I to have free tickets, Clara is under 3 (so also free), and we paid just $10 for Emily’s admission plus $6 so all four of us could see the special Butterflies exhibit.
There is so much to see, and we easily spent almost the entire day there! There is a fantastic children’s exhibit called “Outside In”, lots of dinosaur skeletons, and even a live animal center. The highlight for our trip was definitely the Butterflies exhibit. Several butterflies took to Emily. This one landed on her finger!
….and this one landed right on her face!!! Keep your eyes closed, Em! She thought this was hilarious!
*phew* Fortunately, a woman came over to help gently take the butterfly away!
Shortly after that, another butterfly landed on Emily’s hand, and she very generously (and ever so gently) passed it along to another little girl — who, by the way, was beyond happy to hold a butterfly of her own!
Afterwards, we even had time for an impromptu dip in the fountain!! So much fun!!!!
Emily declared this was the most fun museum day EVER!!
….and I have to agree!
By the way, if you don’t already follow us on Twitter, or “Like” us on Facebook, now would be a good time to do so — I posted about this and a few other fun and free events going on this weekend. Don’t miss out!
Target also sponsors several FREE museum days in cities across the country, click here for more information.
Wishing you and your family a fun (and frugal) weekend!!!
September 25th, 2010 on 6:11 pm
Love the photos, the butterflys are priceless
September 28th, 2010 on 3:17 pm
Thanks, Renee! We are big butterfly fans here.
September 25th, 2010 on 6:12 pm
Dear Valerie,
I like how we noticed that it said “NO SWIMMING” on the bottom of the fountain after we got in. To be fair, there were a bunch of people in the fountain already, and we were wading.
I’m going to pretend that it said “buıɯɯıʍs ou”
Love,
Mark
September 28th, 2010 on 3:17 pm
LOL …. oops!
Seriously, what’s the point of a fountain if you can’t swim in it????
September 25th, 2010 on 7:19 pm
You got some amazing butterfly pictures!
September 28th, 2010 on 3:18 pm
Thanks, Maryanne!!
September 25th, 2010 on 9:04 pm
Abby is sitting here and is so excited that a Blue Morpho landed on Emily’s face! Those are her favorite!
What a fun day!
September 28th, 2010 on 3:18 pm
It was really amazing!!! She thought it was so funny!
September 25th, 2010 on 9:43 pm
Beautiful pictures. What a great day!
September 28th, 2010 on 3:18 pm
September 25th, 2010 on 11:20 pm
Salaam and peace. I have to say, butterflies creep me out; I am super-impressed at Emily’s apparent nonchalance about that MASSIVE insect on her face.
It looks like you guys had a great day…
September 28th, 2010 on 3:19 pm
Hahahahahhaa! You are so funny!!! It was a fun day, massive insects and all!
September 26th, 2010 on 6:13 am
Your girls really have the most joyful smiles ever! So cute! Looks like a fun day!
September 28th, 2010 on 3:19 pm
Thanks so much, Brooke!
September 26th, 2010 on 8:00 am
oo what a fun day! I love that Emily didn’t freak out about the butterfly!
September 28th, 2010 on 3:19 pm
I know!!! I was surprised she didn’t freak out, and just laughed and laughed!!
October 1st, 2010 on 3:55 pm
What a great post with pictures! I also partook of Free Museum Day in San Francisco!
October 1st, 2010 on 9:55 pm
Wonderful! I love how people from all over the country took part in such a fun, educational event!!