Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Reviews

Reasonably priced and I love all the art and craft things they provide the children to engage in. The grounds are so calm and serene. It is a great place to visit if your in the area.
The girls got to enjoy the special interactive program of the humpback whales on this visit. The scavenger hunt is fun and keeps the kids interested in all they have to see and learn about.
Definitely go for a walk around the trails in the back to the flats. Bring proper footwear and sunblock, the trail has some shaded areas, but for the most part in the open air.
Beautiful flora and fauna!

We went to this museum and found it to be very interesting. The volunteers were very pleasant and informative and made the whole experience better! The hike outdoors to the ocean was great! The aquarium was small but nice. It is geared to have something of interest for all ages.

We enjoyed the Cape Cod Natural History Museum, learning about the indigenous peoples of Cape Cod, seeing the variety of sea creatures in the region, the live Osprey video feed, and going into the butterfly house. Afterwards we went on a scenic hike on the trail behind the museum that goes across the salt marsh. Very nice outing, a change of pace from going to the beach.

Definitely worth it if you have a few hours and younger kids. Nature walk is about 1.5 miles and the tanks contain the local animals you’d see at the beach.

We enjoyed our visit to the museum. There are displays of different animals that are native to Cape Cod. The honeybee display was awesome. You can see turtles, snakes, frogs, fish, sea horses, and jellyfish. We were there when they were feeding the fish, which was great to see. The butterfly exhibit was closed since we were there in October, and the garden was not very nice. There are hiking trails, from short to longer that visitors can explore. They have hands on activities for children. Definitely worth the visit.

This was a great way to have some fun and learn a bit too. We loved the aquarium area, seeing the live look into the osprey nest, and tons of hands on activities. It was very windy and a bit cool so the nature walk went out to the beach but not along the beach but it was still neat to hear about the nature of the area. They had a check list for the kids to answer questions and check off things that they saw to get a "prize". I think we spent about 4 hours there. Would highly recommend.

Great place to take the grand kids. Walked thru an inflatable whale, puzzles, games, live birds, frogs, turtles, fish to see. Ran out of time to walk the trails, but that will be on the list when we go back.

I have visited the museum since it first started. I raised my four sons coming there every year to learn more about the environment of the Cape, since it has been my wonderful second home for 60 years, and I like to share that with following generations. My grandchildren have also enjoyed the museum and Wing Island Trail. It is a great testimony to early life on the Cape before it became so complicated, when early settlers used the land and its marvelous resources sustainably. Our favorite trail is the Wing Island Trail, and I've taken it with my children, grands and dogs. We've cherished our times there, and I've taught the children much about the natural history of the Cape there, as well as about the creatures, plants and water that make it so precious. However, now that dogs are not allowed, even when leashed and properly cleaned up after, we will no longer be coming here. As with many things on the Cape, it is the end of an era. How sad to see it go.

Checked out on an overcast day and glad we did. Something for the entire family. The attractions outside are also worth a visit.

We enjoyed our visit and did a great deal of exploring. Highlight was the butterfly house and the craft section. Good for folks with kids in multiple age ranges - something for everyone.

Take your time to go through here! Fun time!! Employees and volunteers are incredible in their knowledge. Well worth the cover charge and for a good cause!!

This is a great place to come either the whole family or for coupes and singles. You'll see lots of wildlife and pristine Cape Cod vistas

This museum feels like an active learning hub. Lots of kids involved in camps, volunteers sharing excellent information about bees, ospreys, and tide pools. They have beautiful gardens and trails. Their exhibits are a bit weathered, but still engaging.

The star of this show - the gift shop. It’s like a museum all by itself. You really should stop in.

If you like to go for Nature walks this is a must on Cape Cod. The trails are very well marked and Cleared. It is located in Brewster MA We went for the walk known as "Wing's Island" And you
can only do this walk when it is Low Tide. They will have signs posted indicating when you can walk. Because the walkway will be covered over by water.
Enjoy! the walk, the views, and the chirping birds.

My kids did a week of camp here this summer and it was the best - the hours were great for a half day camp, the procedures for drop off and pick up were clean, and my kids really enjoyed the activities and staff. Thank you!!

My kids love this museum. The place is small but just right for kids. It always has a project or two for kids to do (last time was make a frog from clothes pin). The butterfly garden outside is a must!

What can I say about the best hidden educational tool and FUN experience on the Cape? This is a WONDERFUL museum that was the "child" of John Hay, a Cape Cod lover and grandson to Abraham Lincoln's assistant. It was created by people who love, want to preserve and educate all Cape Cod lovers about nature. There is an admission charge which some might find high for such a small attraction, but you get "bang for the buck" AND help nature. The exhibits are high quality: activebee hive, butterfly garden, prehistoric bone exhibit (from the local areas), indian tools exhibit, and many fish and amphibian exhibits. We actually had a volunteer find us and tell us which tanks she was going to feed the fish in! Have you ever see a seahorse eat?? And there were WONDERUL children's hands on exhibits - making a frog out of clothespins??? and butterfly wands? There is a live camera on a osprey nest, an area with easy chairs, binoculars and birdfeeders to watch (complete with reference books) birds, a shark cage for little ones to stand in and a WONDERFUL gift shop. Have you ever played with sand that molds, moves like sand, but always stays on the surface and off your hands (i,e. IT STAYS TOGETHER and doesn't make a mess!). And then there are the walking trails - breathtaking...but some are long. They even provide feet washing stations and picnic tables. This wonderful place also offers kid day camps. You really need to check this place out! . We (hesitantly) brought a 3 year old and 30-somethings, and 60 somethings and all had to RELUCTANTLY go home.

Dropped by during the off season. Displays are very informative. Lots of things for school age children to do. We have been there several times so for us it was hum drum for lack of a better term. A worthwhile visit for new visitors to Cape.

Plenty to see and staff happy to chat and show things. Web cam on the osprey nest is great and there are two good trails for waking

Whether you want to know more about the Cape's wildlife or have a family friendly option for the children and adults in your group this one is great. We visit every time we are in town, there's always something interesting to see and do.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History @ 869 Main Street (MA-6A) in Brewster has a remarkably interesting biomimicry exhibit, showing how products we take for granted were inspired by nature (in the case of Velcro, by the burrs that annoyingly cling to one’s socks!). There is also a wildflower garden and a butterfly pavilion, but the highlight of our visit was a 1½ hour walk (at low tide) to Wing Island, passing an osprey nest and a Native American Sachemus Field solar calendar.

I enjoyed the talk on whales, although it might be difficult for younger children to sit through. I would have loved to walk the trails behind the museum, but it was pouring rain and would not have been too enjoyable at that time!

Tiny but informative museum - the hall of birds is amazing, as is the apiary and the aquarium. Only downside was we were there at high tide and couldn't walk out to Wing Isle - next time we will be sure to check the tide schedule!

Took our two grandchildren ages 4 and 6 to the Mud Flats tour. So much fun to watch them discover "sea life." There were over 100 children and adults and the Museum had more then enough volunteers to give everyone attention and answer questions. Definitely worth the price and you can purchase the museum entrance with it, too. The museum is excellent w/ activities for all ages. Be aware of the Scavenger Hunt that is on your map - lots of fun. And don't miss the Butterfly House - long line but worth the wait.

We were looking for a fun activity for our 6 year old and almost 2 year old, and spent nearly 3 hours here... both had a blast! The museum is small, but it was just the right amount for young kids. Our 6 year old loved the different exhibits and the craft room, and our toddler enjoyed the bird hall and the aquarium. Both loved the butterfly exhibit and pollination garden. We took a hike (about 1.5 miles) on a relatively clear trail through the woods and marsh to the tidal flats, which was a lot of fun. Bring water and sunscreen if you trek out! For $36 (two adults, one child, under 2 free) it was such a great afternoon and we'll definitely return!

Indoor and outdoor exhibits, including lots of information about whaling, and some skeletons. Staff are friendly and helpful.

It's a lively small museum with great displays. A good alternative to the beach! They also have lots of special activities during the summer. Mud Flat mania, of of my favorites!

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is a great place to visit, especially for kids. There are loads of special programs during the summer, superb walking trails, and very nice indoor displays and aquarium facilities. The Osprey Cam is a great way to see these majestic birds up close and you can also watch live online from home.

Museum membership is very reasonable and the best way to visit if you plan to go more than once.

The only caveat is that the place will be mobbed on a rainy summer day when everyone is looking for indoor activities!

Beautifully maintained with fascinating and unusual exhibits. Lovely combination of new talent and established artists. Very helpful staff as well.

We visited on a rainy day and found it a fun family day. Lots of interactive things to do and well worth a visit if you have young ones.

We were too late to go to the museum due to shorter fall hours open.
We decided to take the Wing Trail.
The entrance is beside the museum.
Please read the sign that suggests you check the tides. Depending upon the date, the high and low tides are listed for each day. Low tide is best as you will walk over boards to cross the marshes and the will be a little water ubderfoot.
At the end there is a nice beach and dunes with a fantastic view. But the ocean itself is still a ways off. And you have to cross muddy areas.
The trail is mostly flat but some areas have a mildly steep pitch and steps of granite that are tall.
We found a solar calendar made of stone very interesting

I have an 8 year old. We did normal admission and also a trip for him to feed the butterflies which was totally worth the $6 for each of us to enter. The woman maintaining the butterfly exhibit was wonderful - hands down just great. Gave us so much information about monarchs, painted ladies, swallowtails and plants that my son just loved it. I think he used the word "fascinating"! He had no trouble getting butterflies to land on his sponge. We also managed to find the queen bee - it took us a while but the excitement was awesome. He loved the aquarium on the lower level and the bird exhibit too. We also watched the live osprey cam. What I found - every person working there was more than willing to spend time with us to answer questions or even give us information about what we were looking at and were incredibly patient. Worth the trip! I've only been going to Brewster for about 7 years and finally made it there!

We have been to the museum a bunch of times now since someone bought us a year membership. You can't compare this to any of the big city museums, but that is what makes it so nice for those of us with young children. There are a nice selection of aquatic life in the aquarium area. Having gone a few times in a row, my children have gotten to know the names of some of the animals. That makes it fun for them. The trails are awesome, but you do need to pay attention to the tide. Walking out to the water on the trail is one of the hidden gems on the Cape. It makes you feel like you have gone to some rural location, even in the midst of summer and all the tourists around.

First of all, I must confess we didn't visit the museum. We even went when the museum was closed, although that wasn't intentional. I don't know if you should park in the museum lot but there is another lot across the street just in case. We went in early May so bugs weren't an issue but you may need insect spray at other times of the year. Follow the path behind the museum, it is very well marked and has signs explaining some flora and points of interest. After walking through some woods you come to a boardwalk over a salt marsh. Actually the it is more like the boardwalk is lying on the marsh. Look in the middle of the marsh to see if the osprey are on their platform nest. The trail takes you from the salt marsh to some woods before emerging into a meadow with marsh and Cape Cod Bay views. Spectacular! There are benches at strategic points, I urge you to sit a bit and take it all in. We even saw a blue bird! Follow the trail through the mud flats to the beach. You can spend hours just exploring it. The trail follows the shoreline then loops back through the flats to a staircase bringing you up a bank back into the woods. The trail follows along above Paine's Creek bringing you back to the boardwalk over the salt marsh. I have read that the trails includes examples of all the different types of terrain on Cape Cod. It is a very cool place, it is our favorite trail, I urge you to visit it!

Okay, it's small, but inside is a great aquarium for learning about aquatic life (marine and freshwater) in the Cape area. And the best element of all is the open-top tank with all kinds of creatures and shells to be found on the Brewster Mudflats nearby and elsewhere along the Cape's beaches. We already had explored several beach areas and, with help of a very knwledgeable museum volunteer named Paul, were able to identify many things we had seen. The museum also has produced a wonderful guide called "Mudflat Mania!" that we found helpful.

We also enjoyed the trail out to the beach across museum property and the native plant garden.

All-in-all, well worth the modest admission fee.

Have been wanting to check out this museum for a while and finally did. Was not disappointed! The Mud Flat Tour was really fun. Learned a ton from the very knowledgable guides. This tour is great for all ages.
The museum has some really neat displays and the staff was great at answering questions and engaging us in the exhibits. Would recommend to all.

Small museum, great for younger children. Many hiking trails and the Osprey CAM was very impressive. Great bird viewing

not that much to see. It was nice, but understand it is very small. Good to do on a cloudy day. Bring your mud boots if you go on the tour.

Whether it’s the butterfly garden, the mud flats, walk, or beekeeping demonstration. This is a great place for adults, as well as children. Inside is a small aquarium with fluorescent jellyfish and a blue lobster. Also, a touching tank for the kids. Lots more exciting things to learn about in your visit. Put it on your A-list for your vacation on the Cape.

My 3.5 year old daughter enjoyed the bees, the fish, the turtles, looking at the birds. We also really appreciated the art activities that were set up - was a great break for my daughter. We saw the butterflies from the outside of the new butterfly exhibit. Can't wait to go back and see the butterflies up close.
In the past we have walked through the marsh out back, which is really great and shaded.

Good for adults and kids. A must are any of the guided trail walks thru the marsh to the beach. it's not a difficult walk and very much work it.

Check the website for date and time. It varies based on the tides. Reasonably priced and entertained a 10 year old who normally doesn't appreciate edu-tainment. Very hands-on exploration of small sea creatures like hermit crabs, moon snails, and green crabs. The volunteer guides are knowledgeable and accessible. Bring water shoes.

This museum is a nice size for families with small children. There is plenty to see without being overwhelming. There is an outdoor walk which crosses a marsh which was fun. We didn't go the full length of the walk because of time constraints. There is a display of carved birds which is remarkable. On the lower level there are live animals you can watch in their tanks.

While not a large museum, you will leave with a new appreciation of your surroundings. We really enjoyed the trail behind the museum. If you can make the hike during low tide, it is particularly interesting.

Absolutely loved the bird tour! The tour guide was so knowledgeable and really took the time to explain the different kinds of birds we were seeing. She was lovely and my family would go back there in a heartbeat to go on the bird tour again!

Overall, my family had a great day at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. If you are visiting the area, I highly recommend coming to the museum and going on the bird tour!

Highly enjoyed the trails behind the museum to the beach. And best yet there is no cost to use the trails.

On a rainy day this place is packed. The exhibits are well done, but much of it will be above small children. However they do have several activities for children. Small, but interesting aquarium. I have not been on the trails, but I suspect it would be interesting.

Excellent museum has a bit of everything. Local ecology and history, aquarium with unique lobsters and other fish, space exploration lab. I was fascinated by the osprey livecam and the bird feeders. However the best part was then taking that knowledge outside to Wing Island. The walk to across the marsh to the sand dunes was so rewarding. Would recommend the museum to families with toddlers and strollers, and the hike to kids that can have a bit more stamina.

This tiny museum packs a punch--geological, natural, and human history of the area. And there's a gorgeous walking trail through salt marsh and forest all the way to the bay where you can find tide pools at low tide. Wonderful bird viewing and an osprey nest with a breeding pair right now.

We walked through the paths and enjoyed seeing the birds. Then it opened up to a beach area and we enjoyed the little sand bar over there to swim to.

Loved visiting here. The nature walk to the bay beach was wonderful. The fish and sea creatures in the pool were very cool to learn about. Staff is very friendly and ensures everyone has an understanding of what they are viewing. Love the live cam on the osprey nest.

bring your kid and spend a day there. there's lots of activities (such as walks and workshops) to do both indoor and outdoor. make sure you check their calendar and see what kind of event is going on.

We went off season to the cape and most things are closed. Our family of four spent an hour there. We enjoyed the bee exhibit and the shark exhibit. It is small town museum and not a Boston or NYC museum, but it was nice for the off season!

Great museum, lots of info and hands-on stuff for kids. Well worth your time, and some nice walks out the back.

This was our second time going there. My children really enjoyed the bees. The children are given a scavenger hunt, which was really fun. There is a great little gift shop, too.

So much to see, so much to do, so much to learn. Our ten year old would not leave. Nice trail to walk.

For the last four or five years I have trying to get my family to go on the Mudflat Mania tour at the Natural HIstory Museum. It never worked out for a number of reasons until this year. Low tide was at a good time and we went. It was terrific! We all enjoyed it and our ages spanned from 8-67. It was a hot day and the walk through the woods was sweaty, but once out on the tidal flat it was delightful. There were more than enough guides to answer all your questions and to help you dig for interesting creatures. All those things you see at low tide--and all those things that remain hidder--were yours for the digging with great explanations.

The rest of museum was also very nice. Lots of kid friendly exhibits and activities. You should check the schedule as soon as you get to the Cape, bring water, bug repellent and a hat. You will not be sorry you went.

On a bit of a whim, we four retirees visited the Museum because we had never been there before. We were pleasantly surprised by the Museum with its ability to both educate and entertain. Don't wait for a rain day to go. There is plenty to both inside and outside on the grounds. Should be on everyone's "to-do" list.

As science teacher & scientist with grandkids, it is the most well executed natural history museum we've been to. The inside bird and marine displays are top-notch, and the gift shop is smart, with no fluff. The salt flat hike is breathtaking and perfect for kids who need to burn up energy. We will definitely be back.

The museum has something for everyone...it is a must stop for families with children who love nature! My favorite walk is behind the museum...taking the path to Wing Island across the marsh...you get a great view of the osprey nest. You are in for a nice surprise when you reach the bay beach! Shhh...don't tell anyone!

Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Great programs for adults and children alike. I revisit the museum and trails every time I am on the Cape. Trail network is fabulous.

We visited in October 2015. It was a beautiful day, and we walked out to the beach, through the meadows and boardwalk through the salt marshes. Interesting exhibits and small aquarium inside staffed by local, knowledgeable and friendly volunteers

While this museum will never compare with some of its more well-known and much larger brethren, I have always enjoyed my visits there (throughout the year).

Most notable are the outdoor walking trails, particularly those heading down to the tidal flats, and the Osprey-Cam (which is focused directly on the Osprey nest located in the marsh outside the museum. From the time that the Ospreys return in the spring, to the laying of their eggs, to the hatching and then subsequent growth of the chicks into beautiful birds ready to fly off on their own in late summer, this is a must-see.

This view is also available online so, if you can't view it from the museum, you can watch the birds' progress from the comfort of your own living room. But, be careful…checking in to see how they're doing can be habit forming!!

Also available in the lower level is a nice tidal pool which is manned by docents who are extremely knowledgeable about the sea life in this area.

Overall, though, I think some of the more stationary exhibits are a bit lackluster as they are obviously geared more towards children. Which is fine, it's a great way to get the little ones interested in local wildlife. In fact, beware of rainy days during the summer as the place is packed with families and lots of young children.

But aside from what's mentioned above, there isn't much for the average adult. Even still, I always learn something new. There are also lectures and special events throughout the year that are extremely informative as well.

The museum also has a great gift shop, particularly if you're looking for a more unique or informative gift for the nature lover on your list.

If you are in the area and have a couple of extra hours, I recommend a visit to the museum and exploring their trails. The museum is nice and informative. The trails, offer some pretty views.

I had wanted to sketch/draw on my quiet Cape Cod nature journaling vacation. Turns out that was practical only from 2:00 to 3:00, and I had driven to Brewster at 11:00.

The museum's main weekday occupation this time of year is hosting school classes. Four different groups were there today, ranging from second grade through eighth. All those kids needing to see it all, eat, ask questions in two or three intense hours before reboarding their buses to be back at school for dismissal. No misbehavior. Just LOTS of students I certainly want kids to see the museum without inconvenience. I would have presented an obstacle or would have had very jagged and interrupted drawing times.

Sigh. I had been so excited to do this. I could have saved disappointment by calling, and was advised to try early May next time.

My 3 rating reflects an apparently well-oiled operation where I myself was received brusquely even though I was deferent in my asking whether I could draw, whether I could picnic.

We had one morning of rain and decided to try the museum after coming to the area for 5 years.
Our kids are 10, 7 and 4 and they loved the museum. We got to listen to a talk from a whale expert and learned so much about the whales we see from the beaches in P-Town.
They have a camera on the ospreys and a neat area to look at some sea life. A great bird watching area with binoculars.

The best part is the walk...we got to the beach area - which is left of Paine's Creek beach and ended up staying two hours while the kids played in the mud flats and swam in the warm water as the tide came in.
A great day. Make sure you take the walk to the water.

My children and I had a very nice time at this Museum. They had a lot of great hands on activities (scavenger hunt, nature hike, arts, jelly fish feeding). It is small but lots of great learning opportunities. We also loved loved loved the butterfly house.

This place is a gem. Lots of wonderful exhibits inside for looking at all kinds of creatures up close. They have wonderful trails through marshes and out to the beach on Cape Cod Bay. The staff is friendly and knowledgable and the gift shop is great - lots of fun things for kids at reasonable prices. We love bringing our grandchildren every year.

i'm not so sure about the museum itself, but the walk on the wing island is very very nice.Great trail in the tress / seashore, perfect for photos.

First of all, I have to admit I am not a "museum" person. Most of the time, I can whip through a museum in 10 minutes, taking a quick glance at the displays. While this was a small museum, I found it quite interesting. There was a great bird display, interesting fish to observe in tanks, and more. Unfortunately, it was raining the day we visited, so we were not able to to enjoy the outdoor walking trails. The people working here were very friendly and helpful. If I was back in the area, I would definitely visit again.

Great place for young and old. Lots of hands on activities for the young ones...made us wish we had grandchildren. A must visit for those with young ones!

The museum is pleasant, relaxing, and a good place to learn about the natural history of the Cape. The museum seemed to be especially kid-friendly.

The Wing Island Trail start at the building, goes out though the woods, across the marsh to Wing's Island, and eventually to the bay.

The building and the area immediately around have worthwhile exhibits. If you stop there I strongly recommend that you take the trail to the bay. When I got to the bay I found a 1943 penny in the sand, so I'm pretty sure that people have been walking the trail for a while.

The admission fee seemed a little high, but not outrageously so. I would go again.

This small and well run place is a great stop on the cape get a great little history lesson and see some wild life. The walk to the marsh is fun but wear long pants as its full of ticks

Everything about the museum - from Nature Walks and Mudflat Mania to the beekeeping experience and the butterfly house, as well as the informative and interesting museum exhibits, - is engaging for a variety of ages. The programming is interesting and informative. Even the gift shop is exceptional! Go often to enjoy all the activities!

Enjoyed our visit to this small gem on the Cape, loved the trails and some neat exhibits as well, good for kids, like the interactive exhibits and crafts

First the pros:
Storytime and accompanying art project was great. The museum has great info on the Cape, bay and ocean.

Cons: lots to look at, but quite a lot of “don’t touch” including the open tank in the aquarium. The butterfly house is great, but has a max capacity so there can be a wait.

Seems perfect for kids age 6-10, especially on a rainy day.

Well worth the trip. Perfects for a kids outing. The Wing Island hike is easy enough for your kids and te walk through the oaks was a respite from the August heat.
The Museum it self is an awesome place to learn about the natural history of the Cape.

The Whale exhibit seemed like a big hit for the kids.

The butterfly exhibit was also great for little kids. The Monarchs were especially colorful and the staff were a dedicated and pleasant bunch.

We love this place because it's the perfect 3 hour diversion from anything you need a diversion from... either too much sun, or not enough! Our three and six year old boys love it because there's always a craft and something alive to get really close to and maybe touch, and my husband I appreciate learning about all the creatures that live locally. We stay in Brewster so it's very close and we usually pack a lunch to eat at the picnic tables outside (even though there's some easy and delicious places to eat nearby). The walking paths are easy for kids and beautiful for adults... although sunscreen and a little bug spray are never a bad idea! The staff is friendly and seem to all be local because they never failt to know everything about the local wildlife, tours, whale watches, and beaches. This museum is not huge and the building isn't too modern (but very clean and well maintained), but it's a fun local treasure that will educate you and your kids about the local environment. Watch their website for special programs and shows... there's always something fun going on. We love it and go every year.

Referred by Ocean Edge on a rainy afternoon. Better than we expected and we received free admission by being a hotel guest of Ocean Edge.

We went to the museum with our teenagers and we all enjoyed it. From the history of the Cape to the Aquarium, there is something for everyone. The staff was GREAT; friendly and helpful. They engaged our kids, talking to them about the exhibits.

The hike to the dunes was perfect. We went on a cloudy but warm day, no bugs and just the right temperature. It was beautiful.

Will be going back to explore more.

I remember visiting the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History as a child and remembered it being a pretty cool place. Now as a parent with a young child and as adult this place is awesome! Situated along 6A in Brewster towards Dennis CCMNH is a gem of a find. Admission is free for kids under 3, to learn more about the natural history of Cape Cod, $8 for kids 3-12, $15 for ages 13-64, and $12 for 65+. You get so much for your admission (although there is a slight upcharge of $5 to be able to enter the butterfly enclosure) and it is only a few dollars more to purchase a membership.

You can explore the physical museum and learn about the natural history of Cape Cod and the local Native Americans, see the live honey bee hive, read and see exhibits that display native birds and species to Cape Cod, bring the kiddos to the interactive kids section (which does include live reptiles), and head downstairs where there is an impressive aquatic collection of local sea creatures, which includes turtles, fish, horseshoe crabs, seahorses, jelly fish, and more. The museum itself is well maintained and clean.

Beyond the museum is the preservation of protected land. There are multiple walking trails (that yes we have easily used our jogger stroller on, but of course do not walk outside of the trail out of respect for wildlife preservation) to explore. The trails are well labeled and many display the names of native fauna. If the tide is low you can even take the walk down to Wing Island through marshland. Wing Island is beautiful and offers two walking trail points to the beach. The views are pristine and a perfect representation of the Brewster flats and classic Cape Cod beaches. You do not need to be a active athlete to enjoy the trails and apart from the stairs down to the beach everything else is relatively flat. CCMNH also offers guided tours of the area with insights regarding Cape Cod nature and history should you be interested.

Although we have not taken advantage of all the programming that CCMNH has to offer there is a calendar during the busier tourist season that is full of different conservation, family, and camp events. You can easily spend half a day here if you explored the full museum and nature trails. This is a place where there is something for everyone and the payment in admission is a worthy investment in the preservation of what makes Cape Cod so remarkable. We look forward to our next visit!

Great little aquarium and exhibits! We were short on time so did not get to walk out and take advantage of the trails, I will definitely go back another time.

This was a nice museum along with some beautiful walking trails to the ocean. Once there you were able to gaze out on to the Bay that stretched for miles. We were lucky to be at the Museum when they were presenting a short program on Rescue Dogs. Wonderful work they do and the presenters did a fabulous job also all the dogs were pretty neat. Well laid out and find Myles, he was a wonderful guide. We appreciated his tips and suggestions for dining in the area.

Can't say enough wonderful things about this amazing museum. Fascinating facts creatively presented (e.g. check out what humans are learning from termite mounds about natural cooling systems in hot climates), and a fun aquarium. Just one example: Teeny tiny baby horseshoe crabs barely larger than a poppy seed in one tank, a two-year-old horseshow crab in another, and a chart showing the growth timeline of this ancient species. Outdoors, informative trails to the beautiful shore.

A great small museum. Closes at 3 PM so schedule accordingly. Doesn't take a ton of time but gives a great intro to the area. Lots of hands on stuff for kids but enough adult things to keep you entertained if you don't had kids (or grandkids) with you. Save time (at least an hour) for a hike around the trails out back. Goes past an osprey nest and through a salt marsh (check for high tide as trail may be closed). Nice small beach which was deserted (and cold) when I went. Gives you a sample of beach, salt marsh and woods all on one trail. There is a long series of stair at the return portion from the beach so be warned. If you want to avoid a climb take the right leg of the trail first (for a decent) or just return by the left leg out and back and skip the stairs altogether. There was also a wildflower garden but it was a little early this time of year.

This is a fantastic little museum! I have lived only a couple miles away for 16 years and only finally went this past summer! I was so impressed. With how much there is inside and out that I went back a couple of months later when my sister came to visit. There is something for every age here and a lovely walk down in back to the Brewster flats.

Sorry, my kids were excited because they love the natural history museum in NYC, but they really should call this place a nature center, the building is so small, you're done in 30 min, 45 tops. It was a disappointment. I would've loved this place if it was free and called a nature center, but calling this a museum and charging museum admission fees was not worth it for us. We didn't do the tour, which reviews say are good - but nature centers also do great guided tours too. We did the beehive opening, you had to walk on a very narrow dirt path to get there that was strewn with poison ivy. If they're going to charge extra, at least cut away the poison ivy across the path so your feet don't sweep past the leaves as you're walking. My son brushed against some, it is hard to avoid, luckily with no reaction. Considering the price of this visit, I was not impressed.

My husband and I went to this museum and were surprised at some of the interesting things we learned there. Coming from New York you would think a museum was big but this is not. Great place to take the kids for a few hours if it is raining. Lots of hands on activities for little ones. We still had fun and the staff were extremely pleasant.

It was very nice museu with cool little exhibits with a great nature walk behind the building through the marshes and further to the beach

This is a small museum right in Brewster, but it is worthy. Mostly relating to archaeology and the natural history of the area. One doesn't need a lot of time to visit and enjoy their offerings.

We walked the trails surrounding the property and visited the butterfly garden. If you follow the paths out to the back, you will get a good view of the Osprey nest, which has a camera that live streams. We will return in future to further explore the trails which lead out to the shore.

The highlight of the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is the aquarium. There are so many varieties of fish and shellfish. The blue lobster is amazing. There are jellyfish, crabs and all sorts of sea life. There are also a number of animal exhibits, as well as a very active bee hive. See if you can spot the Queen Bee! Several pair of binoculars are provided to view the osprey nest (which contained 3 young ospreys) out in the marsh. Bird feeders outside the large windows offered wonderful bird watching opportunities. There are several craft activites for the kids, and nobody was bored. The admission fee is quite reasonable.

I have to say I was disappointed when I finally made it to this Museum. I had tried to go many times before and was unable so I checked the Website to familiarize myself with it.
I read something about 'what to do before you go' and off we went.
It unfortunately was high tide and none of the trails were open. Not one. The exhibits inside are ok. We went for an Anniversary Hike and were very disappointed.

We vacation in Brewster every year and the museum is on our agenda every time. The kids still love it. There is something to keep the interest of all ages with a good deal of hands on activities.

This kid friendly is awesome. Interactive activities occupied the children for about 2 hours. Beautiful location in historic Brewster on Cape Cod.

Beautiful nature trail and 1.5 mile walk. Grand views and a stroll along the beach. The museum was very interesting and the aquarium on the first level was well done. The young lady in the aquarium was extremely knowledgeable and extremely excited to share her knowledge. It was a pleasant way to spend a few hours on a beautiful September day.

We try to hit the Natural History Museum at least a few times a summer. We LOVE the trails and the marsh. This time, an added bonus was that they have totally updated the indoor exhibits. Same osprey cam as before, bit all the other displays have been dramatically improved. I was especially fascinated by an exhibit of bio-similar inventions...things that were developed to imitate animal and insect capabilities (see photos of the displays). An old favorite gets even better than before!

We enjoyed our short visit to this museum. The butterfly exhibit was very special. The Aquarium was small. We enjoyed the scavenger hunt to explore on our own. We were slightly annoyed by a couple of the volunteers, though. They were a bit condescending -- even toward adults. That made our experience just OK.

Very cute. Good for families with little kids. The aquarium was cool. Saw many different colored lobsters. Didn’t do the butterfly house. Might do it next time

Saved during today's cold weather on the Cape by a visit to the Museum of Natural History. Great exhibits, including lots of tanks downstairs, and a marvelous marsh viewing window that also has a live cam of an osprey sitting on her chicks at a nest out in the marsh. Don't miss the beautiful hike out to the beach -- lovely scenery.

The English explorer Bartholomew gave Cape Cod its name in 1602. Codfish figured prominently in Cape Cod's history and fortunes.

But, the history of Cape Cod goes back even further to 70,000 years ago when glaciers from the Canadian Laurentians shaped the area. See large boulders called glacial erratics that were transported by the glacier and laid down here. They are on the grounds of the museum and all throughout the town of Brewster.

Explore many different habitats and the factors that affect life in each of them. Especially see the salt marsh, the coastal nursery ground for almost every commercial and sport fish in nearshore waters. Only tropical rain forests and coastal mangrove ecosystems are more productive!

Learn what they didn't teach you in school about the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Colonists made their living from the Eastern White Pine because of its excellent woodworking properties. However, King George I laid claim to the pines because Great Britain had depleted theirs. The Eastern White Pine played a major role in events that led to the Revolutionary War. (Take a look at the flag of Bunker Hill.)

See how people preserved food before refrigeration and learn what one of the first acts of the Continental Congress was to counter the impact of the British blockade cutting off our supply of necessities.

Went on a rainy day - big mistake. Found out it's a hot spot on rainy days.
Great place for young kids. We purchased a combo ticket for the museum and an animal show. Quite costly for 6 people for such a small museum.
The museum is clean and obviously has displays for animal life in Cape Cod. My teenagers liked to see all the living animals in the lower level, bit this building is definitely geared for classroom museum field trips for primary school aged children. The animal show was the best. The person brought animals from Africa and Australia.

We visited here with our kids (ages 12, 9 and 3) and there was a little something for everyone. It is a little bit small for the price but there is a lot of variety. My son liked doing the scavenger hunt and even my little one was trying to look through binoculars to see the osprey's nest. I'm sure the walking trails through the gardens are nice when they are in bloom. Our favorite part was taking the walk out across the marsh and to the beach. What a peaceful little trip and chance to push our toes in the sand and look out at the water. We had no idea there was anything like that there, as we were first time visitors. I recommend it!

Outdoor exhibits were closed during our visit, but the staff had activities to make up for it inside. The children were invited to take place in a seek and find activity throughout the museum. They also enjoyed the crafts in the craft room. Docents and volunteers were available to help them throughout the museum. The touch tank was not available when we were there, but the docent was eager to share facts about the specimens in the tank. My grandchildren were very excited by the history and science facts they learned. They enjoyed the birds at the multiple bird feeders. We even saw robins eating the fruit on a crabapple tree.

We had a really nice time here. Of course a rainy day on Cape Cod leads to many visitors but it was spread out. Great little activities for kids but also educational. The staff was lovely and had lots of patience. The aquarium surprised me and especially Myrtle the turtle taking her daily walk down the hallway. Nice way to spend several hours.

When our grandchildren visit, we take their parents and the children to this wonderful museum. Depending on what activities you wish to do, it takes about 1 1/2-3 hours to enjoy. It has great exhibits, aquariums, crafts, butterfly house and much more. If you are prepared, you can even take a hike out to the marsh and mudflats. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

The museum is small child centric and kind of rinky-dink. But the grounds and paths out to the bay behind the museum are wonderful!

Great for the kids, close by and educational. The Jellyfish tank was the coolest!! We also loved the low-tide pool with all of the marine creatures, as well as the useful tidbits of wisdom from the employees.

As always things "Look better on the internet"....for the 10.00 admission price there is barely a floor and 1/2 to see. Not so great for adults, maybe for Kids. Was very crowded and loud and don't expect an elevator should you have trouble with stairs...the downstairs aquarium was the best, as were the wall of windows overlooking the bird feeders, but other than that...not as expected.

Besides having a beach there are many artifacts that are very interesting especially for the younger guests and nature Trails to hike on.

I wasn't too enthusiastic when my husband suggested this museum. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. The museum is well maintained and contains a wide variety of animal and plant exhibits. There were docents in every room eager, but not overwhelmingly so, to share their knowledge. The grounds feature a mile long walk through the marsh to Cape Cod Bay. I could have spent the whole day there.

One of those muyst see attrractions for the whole family. All llevels of education - exhibits and trails - wonderful, interpersonal staff to explain the origins of the Cape and ways to keep her safe!

Would not spent more than a few hours, but certainly worth a trip to fill in some time.

Was a nice very little museum. 1 of the few good spots on the cape for young kids. But it was very small with good aquarium section but we saw it all in under 30 minutes. We did not go on the walking path because it was too hot. Great for little kids. Teens should skip IMO

The CCMoNH is a very pleasant family experience. The rooms were packed with children having a good time. It's a godsend for parents and grandparents with young kids.

Staff is extraordinarily pleasant and helpful. Best of all, we had a wonderful trail walk to the beach on Wing Island.

Just a heads-up though, your older teenager will be bored.

Visit this museum each year with the kids. They have a live sea animal exhibit that is kid touch friendly.

Great trail to walk, incredible how it leads to a beach where you can drive your can onto
Beautiful butterflies - great staff - very clean facility

SWEEPING meadow vistas, scrub forest, bayside marsh & tide pools...all that, plus a delightful little museum with friendly staff, interesting, child-accessible exhibits and a sweet little gift shop. What better introduction to Cape Cod, to summer, and to nature could you ask for? There's a trail behind the museum that affords you an excellent view of a bird feeder that has an active and diverse population going after it (quite a show!)...and on the trail leading out to the bay, look to the right just after you reach the boardwalk and you'll see their eagle's nest. A guaranteed great time.

my child attended a summer camp here while visiting grammy for the summer. she had a blast and they had brought in a special artist from somewhere else that shred her expertise with the kids. also wonderful to visit any time of year as the grounds are wonderful for seeing all the great creatures on the cape

The exhibits are informative and interesting and some are "hands on". The staff are visible and happy to answer questions - they are knowledgeable and in tune to younger children. The nature trail behind the Museum is my favorite. It is a tradition in our family to take the trail to the end and then walk along the beach for a bit before returning, sometimes by a slightly different route. I also enjoy watching the osprey in the spring. There is a video camera pointing at the nest so one can see the chicks and the parents feeding them. Totally a worthwhile experience!

We went here just to do the Wing's Island walk, as I read in hiking guides about how good it is. The museum folks let anyone do the walking trails at no cost, but the catch is that you can't park in the museum lot (unless you are paying to go the museum). So you can park for free at the Drummer Boy Park, just a few hundred yards away, and walk to the trailhead at the museum parking lot to make it a free experience. I don't want to malign the museum at all, it was less fitting for our three year old than the walking paths. The walk was great, on a well marked trail across the marsh, uplands, and to the beach.

Our children loved the petting tank and looking at the fish i the aquarium. You could tell the people that worked there really loved what they did.

This museum has a study of the excavation at a local farm resulting in a picture of how the original settlers lived. Also there is a display of native American culture from the area. A short film about conservation of fishing resources runs continuously.

Great spot for families--enjoy the walks through woods and wet lands for free. There are good eucational offerings inside, too.

YOU MUST JOIN THE BUTTERFLY 🦋 garden 🪴
Staffs in there was very nice and friendly. I love the atmosphere of it, everything was nice and lovely. We’re from Boston so the museum is small for us but everything was a good new experience for us
My daughter loved it so much especially the butterflies 🦋 😅
Overall is nice experience

A small museum that is best suited for a family with young kids.

Explains most of the local wildlife and has a guided tour of the marshland that the museum overlooks.

Live video of the osprey nest would be really cool once the eggs hatch.

Had a great day and picnic lunch. Was a great family fun day and educational. We enjoyed the walk and the sights were beautiful and amazing!

This is a very small museum, suitable for younger children. We got through the museum itself in about 20 minutes (hard to keep the attention of a 2 ½ year old). We also took the hike in back of the museum. The tide was in so we did get our feet very wet walking across the marsh but it was a nice way to see some of the Cape.

We enjoyed this museum. We were fortunate enough to be the only ones there at the time. My 9 year old liked all the exhibits and the trails.

A must see Cape Cod museum for families with children toddlers and older, though it is not accessible (no elevator, uneven paths, narrow hallways and exhibition spaces). The museum includes indoor and outdoor experiences, including the hands on “mud kitchen,” science room, and the butterfly house (at an additional cost). Learn about native inhabitants and wildlife. Reserve in advance if you can and arrive right when it opens

To pay $15/adult for such a small museum is why I scored it "average." We walked through it with our kids pretty quickly, and yes, we did take time at each station to read the information. The highlight was the live tank where the kids can really get close to many of the creatures that live on the bottom of the ocean.

The butterfly exhibit was pretty cool. But you can't touch anything, so after a short time, we had seen all the butterflies we wanted to see.

We really enjoyed the Wing Island walking trail behind the museum. We had great weather, and it was low tide, which may be a requirement to get across the marsh. Low tide also provides a number of tide pools on the other side of Wing Island that you can explore. This was our favorite part of the museum visit.

Note: we did the walking trail loop clockwise, and walked all the way out to the beach. The entrance from the beach back to the trail is not marked. There is a small opening in the sand dune that you need to look out for, which will lead you to the stairs back up to Wing island. LUCKILY, the trail is noted in Google Maps, so you can use your GPS to see when you get to the trail entrance from the beach.

This place is one of our must-do places while we're on the Cape (every summer for 50+ years. Magnificent hikes through woods, meadows, and to the Bay...a nice little gift shop, a great place to birdwatching air-conditioned comfort. Of you're hiking to the Bay, be mine dful of the tides, since part of the trail gets submerged in high tide. As I've become mobility challenged, Oi've increasingly mourned the Muaeum's lack of alternative paths that don't require steps which place an impenetrable barrier for my assisting devices.

We visited with our teenage daughter and thoroughly enjoyed everything the museum had to offer. Shortly after arriving they announced a guided walk was starting, so we decided to go. The walk was wonderful and the tour guide Sam was very knowledgeable taking time to point out many antidotes about the wildlife, history of the area and stories. It was a fun walk through cool woods, wet boardwalks and beach. When we returned we went to a room with a beautiful view of where we had walked and saw the live web cam of the osprey and beautiful birds at the bird feeder. The aquarium downstairs was great. My only suggestion is to allow plenty of time to visit before they close at 4pm.

I was a bit annoyed that we paid for a bird tour that I would have done a better job narrating. The tour guide was quite young and barely knew even common birds, saying things like "I THINK that's a..." or "it's some kind of oriole but not sure which one..." etc. I was interested in an actual bird tour, finding rare and hard-to-find birds. Oh well.

The museum itself is pretty great, lots of informative and hands-on exhibits. The trails are nice and one leads to a lovely beach. Just go birding on your own!

Excellent take for all ages. Great exhibits and also outdoor walking trails, informative and interactive talks etc. particularly good for kids ages 6-16 and adults. I've visited many times over many years and it is always enjoyable and educational!

Nice museum and a great walk through the marsh to a private beach (though it can't be done at high tide.

We had read reviews for this small museum and so stopped in. The staff members really enhance the experience as they clearly love the museum and want to convey their enthusiasm. We especially enjoyed talking to Bruce who was in the room dedicated to the beautiful, intricate wood carvings done of birds. The artist's workspace and studio has been moved in to the museum and was wonderful to have the chance to view. The exhibits on the wildlife, including the nesting osprey, were well done. The hiking trails through the marsh are not to be missed. I would definitely recommend this museum.

This is a great place to bring the kids! The staff knows how to educate and keep it fun! A must for all families visiting the Cape!

This place has a beautiful view, but the staff is absolutely horrible. I heard multiple children crying during the camp begging to go home. It’s a small time museum trying to be bigger than they actually are. I feel so sorry for the families duped into thinking their child is receiving a positive camp experience. So awful.

All of Cape Cod is going through a drought (I'm writing this on Aug 5, 2016), so the trails are a lot drier, dustier and brown than usual. Also, the section of the Wing Island Trail where you emerge from the woods and it opens up to views of the meadow and Bay has been pared back with a controlled burn, so a lot of things look scorched. But the trail itself is still a wonder; the bay and dunes are as wonderful as always. They've added a large birdcage-like area for butterflies, and, when I went, their camps for children were in full force. The indoor exhibits are perfect for young children: just interactive enough; just small enough; not swept up in efforts to be high-tech; but also just high-tech enough to show eagles in their nest in real time. A perennial favorite. A personal note for anyone who, like me, struggles with mobility: in years past, I took my seat-equipped Segway, which did great all the way to the aforementioned area of the controlled burn. This year, I took a rollator which enabled me to get all the way to the beach for the first time in nearly half a decade. It wasn't simple, and I was TOTALLY wiped out by the time I got back. But it can be done!

This museum was right by the water, and had a lot to offer. It was a short walk away from a great beach!

For a small place, we spent a good chunk of our day. It is totally worthwhile to get the guided walking tour through the various habitats our back. The tour is about 1.5 hours but the guides are great and you will learn a lot. Ideally, have some water shoes or something you do not mind getting wet as some sections can be wet and mucky and it is much more fun to enjoy the beach and marsh areas this way. The trail is easy to walk, just be sure to stay on the trail to avoid the poison ivy that was quite plentiful.
Inside are some great displays, all on a small scale but intended for maximum entertainment and information. So many Greta people on hand to answers questions. Several hand son crafts for younger kids, excellent viewing aquariums, live bees, a bird app am on the osprey nest is fascinating. We did watch a movie on clash of two species about the horseshoe crab and red knot bird that was very interesting, but a bit lengthy at 45 minutes so it would be nice if they post the length of the movie as it is tough for some to sit through, but my 11 year old wanted to stay til the end and wanted to do further research when we got home. The gift shop is well priced and has a great variety of items that few will go home empty handed. Outside there is plenty of eating areas if you bring a lunch as no food was available on sight that I noticed. It was a great day for our family.

We found this museum on a rainy day. The staff and volunteers were extremely kind and knowledgeable. The exhibits were well done and there were many interactive exhibits and opportunities for kids to make things and see aquarium animals up close. The aquarium itself was small but the information was presented in an ideal way for all.

The museum is full to the brim with whale bones, live turtles, and taxidermied birds of all kinds! They host a number of learning experiences throughout the year and have a great camp for kids in summer. There is also a fantastic walking trail to the beach, just be cautious of the tides.

This was suggested to us by the locals on a day that was not beach weather. It was an ideal way to spend our day and very very interactive. The staff were very involved and so informative. I encourage first time visitors to go check this out.

If you are in the Brewster area this is a great start. The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable and the aquarium is a must - especially the shore-life tank. Since going we have been able to identify so much more on our beach walks. The walk to the sea shore is easy and is a wonderful place in itself. Great for both kids and adults.

Our visit to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History was quite enjoyable and added a lot to our stay in Cape Cod. The exhibits were quite interesting and very educational. We had a lot of fund. Thanks to the staff who answered our numerous questions.

Wonderful little museum with lots to do for kids, including a young toddler. Highly recommend for families, especially on a rainy day!

Two things made stopping here worthwhile for us. First was the 1.5- mile roundtrip hike to the beach on Wing Island on the museum property, and second was volunteer Lynn Adams, who answered questions and talked about denizens of the shallow tidepool display in the museum’s basement, which was mostly filled with aquariums featuring native aquatic wildlife.
The Wing Island hike took us through a variety of habitats, from forest to marshland – which we crossed on a narrow plank boardwalk, to the beach. We didn’t know about this hike or the museum's 400 acres at the site when we arrived, and were told about it by the ladies at the admissions counter. Knowledgeable and patient, Adams answered our questions and talked with us for 45 minutes to an hour. We visited in late morning on a weekday, so there's weren't a lot of other visitors around.
To be honest, a lot of the rest of the museum seemed kinda kiddish to us. Guess 60-somethings like us weren’t necessarily the museum’s main target audience. Seems like this place could have easily been called a nature center rather than a museum, but it did not go over our heads that in addition to local ecosystems and art-related activities for kids, this place also included displays about early human residents of the area, space travel and astronauts, and nature-related artworks by a local artist. We did think adult admission of $16 was a little high, but we did spend over two hours here, and are still glad we visited.

This is a well laid out museum with interesting exhibitions and attractions for kids. The aquarium was a hit and the regular feedings were enjoyed and appreciated by the kids. We have been to many aquariums before but this one managed to capture the attention and the imagination of our kids (8&6boys) despite the lack of major creatures such as sharks, octopus, etc. The butterfly exhibition was fun for them as well. I learned a lot about monarchs from the knowledgeable attendants. For an extra fee you get to feed the butterflies which is again fun for the kids. We finished the visit with a long hike to the beach which is well worth it as well.

With two preschoolers we had a wonderfully full morning of Cape Cod nature learning. From the Osprey nest cam to the honeybee exhibits, to the Monarch displays to the the many aquariums full of local sea life, this museum provide several hours of fun learning for the kids and the adults. The wonderful docents were so helpful and patient with the kids. When the kids get weary of learning they have a library with toys and games to give the kids a play area to explore.

In addition to the museum they also have wonderful programs, nature walks and hiking trails through the nature preserve. We were so impressed we purchased a membership to the museum as members, it is very cost effective if you are going to go more than once a year.

Fascinating and educational exhibits for all ages. We also made time to hike the Wing Island trail out to the mud flats and dunes. They have a gift shop with well-chosen items.

This place was a nice surprise. A bit expensive for the size, but it held our 5 and 8 year olds' interest. Little aquarium, bird viewing area with crafts, and the Wing Island walk was amazing. Would recommend.

We visited here with our toddler, infant and parents and would definitely come again. The staff are very helpful and the set up allows groups of people to flow easily through the exhibits. There were a couple of school groups in attendance but we never had to wait too long to see anything. The butterfly house was particularly fascinating and well managed to keep groups and the safety of the insects at bay. For families with young children, the nature walk is not easily accessible and cannot accommodate a stroller so I’d skip that and just view the nest from the live feed camera inside.

offering books like Birdtalk, whose author I heard speak here, introduced by NOVA kayaker and explorer Richard Wheeler. In the next month, many returnee birds on their way North. Fun, and fairly long, boardwalk over the marsh to the island.

It was only $25 for us and the kids. Lots of fun as there are several interactive areas of the kids to create things. There is a beehive that comes indoors (contained) and you can view the bees and the queen at work. There was an Osprey nest being watched by the mother while we were there and the aquarium was cool as well. Worth your time if you have a couple of hours!

It was something to do with the kids during a rainy afternoon. Learned a little bit about the natural history of Cape Cod. Very informative.

We went there a week age and really enjoyed. It is both kid friendly and appealing for adults. The bird exhibit was awesome and there were lots of staff members to explain things or answer questions.

The trail in the back is a must do. Great views of the flats.

The museum is a great place, lots of stuff for kids and I look forward to brining my grand children here sometime. This trip, the best part for my husband and me were our 4 hikes out to the bay via the Wing Island trail. We usually parked down the road at Drummer Boy park, where there is no fee. On a couple of our hikes out we timed it exactly with low tide, and wow, we have never seen anything like that landscape/seascape before! We walked about a mile out before reaching the waves. So, so interesting and beautiful. Lots of small swimming critters, warm rivulets to wade through, soft sand under your feet, sea birds and incredible sky and water. Wear crocks or flip flops.

I was there last year and I had to come back this year. I love the great film presentations and the live bird watching. The aquarium and other exhibits are very interesting. Great place to take children and great for all naturalists.

Wonderful, small, museum to learn the history of the area, and about the current local wild life. Lots of well informed and helpful docents to answer any questions. Many activity rooms for the kids, and the live Osprey camera on a nest a 100 yds away in the near-by marsh. Don’t miss the beautiful nature path behind the museum that takes you through the marsh, wooded areas and and the beach!

We really enjoyed our visit to this place. Exhibits are well designed and explained. Of special interest to us was the museum's focus on biomimicry, which opened our eyes to how humans can learn, and have learned, from nature's creatures to develop products and techniques to improve the way we live. A must see! We were also fascinated by the exhibits of underwater life, and happened to be there when a docent was able to spot and talk about various living creatures moving about in one of the water tanks. There is a modest entry charge (currently $15+/-) which is well worth your stopping and which, I'm sure, doesn't begin to cover the expense of maintaining and improving the facility. But, for that modest fee you'll get several hours of education for yourself and the kids. When you compare a visit at a museum like this to a visit at a larger institutional / urban museum (where you get to walk in silence and observe various unexplained artifacts), we think we prefer CCMNH.

Had a bored 15 year old on a non-beach day and staring into the phone wasn't an option for her. Took a drive to CCMNH and they had a butterfly house open. Well the phone went into her pocket and she had a blast. They have a beehive, small aquarium, tidal pool, and bird feeders as well as various whale bones and a shark cage. There is plenty for younger kids - but there was just enough for this 15 yo.

I really enjoyed this museum and it was one of my highlights when I visited Cape Cod. There is only about two floors of information with the first floor being informational about specific Cape Cod archaeology and species and the second floor being an aquarium; the aquarium was awesome--the animals were extremity active and healthy and the volunteers on hand gave a lot of information. I also LOVED the hiking trails that are apart of the museum; along the trail there are signs that give you information about the different environments where the trail opens beautifully to the ocean; a must see!

Went on a beautiful Saturday and hike the island to the ocean and must say it might one of the most pleasant things I've done on the cape. Absolutely gorgeous - do keep in mind we love to hike and the outdoors so the change up from beach and ice cream all day was very welcome. We don't vacation there much, but have been to a number of beaches and this was a great change up. We did not go into the museum, but it did look interesting.

The hike is very easy, flat and we had 6 kids in tow with us and they all made it very easily. BEWARE for poison ivy and ticks. We didn't find any ticks on us but one of the kids managed to pick up some poison ivy..although if you stay on the trail you should be fine. I think the boy ran off trail a bit.

You do have to pay for parking and the museum. But if you only want to do the hile you can park at Drummer Boy park that is about a tenth of a mile down the road and hike to the museum to pick up the trail head. Keep in mind that you have to hike along the road between Drummer park and the museum. We didn't find any trail that connected them, and we looked - the one that seems like it would take you there on the north side of the park does not lead you there!!!

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History consists of a 17,000-square-foot main building with exhibit and office space and an additional 400 acres of town and conservation land that covers a wide range of habitats, including pitch pine woodlands, salt marshes, a barrier beach, beech forests, walking trails and a small river, Stony Brook, which functions as a herring run during the spring. The museum, which was established in 1954, constructed its first permanent building, now the Summer Pavilion, in 1960, then finally dedicated its current museum space in 1968 at 869 Main Street on Route 6A in Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. The museum focuses on local natural history and archeology and includes a small aquarium featuring over 80 different species of local freshwater and saltwater marine life, a butterfly house, several beehives, a collection of taxidermied birds and a collection of wooden birds carver by Eldridge Arnold. The museum's Marshview Room provides a view over conservation lands with binoculars for birdwatching and a monitor displaying a livestream of the osprey next in the marsh. The Stony Brook Valley has been inhabited for 10,000 years and the museum's archeological exhibit offers information about the area's settlement by indigenous people such as the Wampanoags, the subsequent arrival of English settlers in the 17th century and the rise of industry in the 19th century. One of the museum's most interesting and unique exhibits, a special delight for kids, is a 44-foot inflatable humpback whale and a walk-through inflatable what that is used to teach visitors about whales.

This is a great place for young and old. On a clear day there is much to do outside and many trails. On a rainy day it is a place you can spend most of the day. So much history and current information about Cape Cod. We ll worth the trip.

We decided to visit the museum because I have two teens who love biology. We spent about 1.5 hours there and enjoyed watching the beehive and the birds. There were docents to provide some additional information. We were mostly interested in the nature trails and enjoyed those quite a bit. The museum was a little pricey for what it provides - about $60 for four adults. There wasn't a AAA discount either. But it was a nice way to spend a few hours. The trail to the beach was great and went through a salt marsh. You can't hike it if the tide is high. The path is also very narrow and includes sections that are on board walks that are really narrow and go through the marsh. Someone tried doing it with a stroller and found it to not be stroller friendly. They turned around. Wasn't sure what to expect when we got to the beach, but with low tide, the tide pools were a lot of fun to explore. We should have gone back to our car and gotten our beach chairs or a blanket to enjoy it for a little bit longer. Probably would have brought a picnic lunch if I'd thought about it. Not sure you really need to pay to visit the museum if you just want to do the trail. There wasn't anyone stopping you from getting on the outdoor trail - just the fact that you can't park at the start of the trail unless you're visiting the museum. But if you parked somewhere else you could get to the trail easily.

The young lady in the aquarium was very knowledgable about sea creatures. I learned a lot. I wish we could have walked some of the trails but it was just too cold and windy that day. The observation room provided great views of the marsh. I recommend this place for young and old alike.

We enjoyed this museum very much, so much to see & learn. Joan was outstanding in telling us about the animals in the large tank she was in charge of. We enjoyed seeing all the animals & watching them. A visit to the Marsh room is a must if you are a bird watcher.There are comfortable chairs to just sit & watch the birds at the feeders. So much in such a small place.

Very awesome museum to visit! There are a lot of local animals and some special sea animals! One of the lobsters has three claws on the left, this is very rare and this is my first time seeing it!

If you visit just one aquarium on the cape, this should be it. Clean, modern facility with ample free parking which makes up for the $8 per adult charge. The admission fee is worth it! Modern, interesting exhibits on Native Americans, and local nature. Beautiful large windows for birdwatching in the same room where there are many kids' activities. Aquarium tanks are clean and beautiful, full of fascinating creatures. My favorite is the tide pool tank where the little skate flaps his wing at you if he's hungry. The staff are incredibly helpful and full of information. Check the tides before you come if you want to hike because the boardwalk through the marsh to the island gets covered with water at high tide. (The marsh is beautiful!) Even if you don't have kids, I would recommend this museum. Oh, yes, really nice gift shop.

Excellent museum. Highlight was a walk with a very knowledgeable volunteer guide.
In a relatively short walk, you can see several land environments. Once we got to the beach, the variety of living things was amazing, and the view was beautiful. The guide was great--pointing out a lot of different marsh life that you might miss. The guided walk was not "canned" but rather was very personalized to our interests. If you are interested in learning more about the natural environment of Cape Cod, this is a great place to spend a few hours.

We finally went and it was GREAT! I was worried it would just be a kids thing but I WAS WRONG. We looked all through the museum. I really enjoyed all the displays, artifacts and informational plaques. It was interesting and educational. The docents were helpful and informative. The aquarium was small but wonderful and I learned some things I didn't know about some of the water wildlife. We went for the full walk around the dunes/flats. On our walk we were lucky enough to see the osprey feeding two young. I missed the butterfly counting date and just might plan next year's trip around that. There are so many interesting programs it might behoove you to check out the dates at the start of your visit to the Cape.. We spent quite a while there and even more surprising is that my husband who is not outdoorsy even enjoyed it! THAT speaks volumes.

We were looking for a rainy day activity and decided on the museum. It was informative and the people that worked there were great. It is worth going to on a rainy day but only once.

It was a nice find on scenic route 6A. Interesting musueum with both stuffed animals, and a small acquarium. I found the tidal pool especially fascinating. They have guided tours for children.
Also special events such as watching them work on an actual beehive. I understand they have fascinating paths down to the marsh, but I didn't have time. This would be perfect for family on a rainy day. I enjoyed it immensely on a sunny day.

It located on 6a, we were on the way to Provincetown and stopped in to see. So glad we did there is very nice displays. do see the Aquariums down stairs the tide pool is very neat. We did not have time to enjoy the trails outside but will on our next stop.

We liked this museum as an activity on a rainy day. Our kids were a little too old for it, though. At 15 and 12, there wasn’t quite enough to hold their interest. We would’ve liked a touch tank where you could actually touch things, not just look. They liked the huge windows to watch the birds. Binoculars were provided and fun to have there. The aquarium was cool as well. We were done looking around in about 1 1/2 hours and that was stretching it. The gift shop was nice as well. We loved the butterfly exhibit. And if it hadn’t been a rainy day, the hike to the beach would’ve been great. The employees were very good all the way around—helpful and knowledgeable. If you have little kids it’s a perfect spot.

Nice walk with lots in interesting info. Beautiful view of the bay.
Helpful guide. Nice displays inside too.

Very interesting first floor of geographical info about the ice-age development of the area, but downstairs is an amazing aquarium!

Wonderful museum to spend a couple of hours with the family. Something for everyone.we loved the aquarium, the exhibit of ducks, geese and birds, outside walking trails and my favorite butterfly aviary. A butterfly landed on my shoulder, on my granddaughter's headband and my 3 year old's tee shirt ! Worth the price of admission.

They have a great summer camp program for children. While it is very educational it is also a lot of fun Very hands on with great supervision.

Open year round. Butterfly house, bee hives, aquarium, walking trails, guest speaker talks and various classes and activities for adults and children

Our main purpose for visiting this Museum was to walk the John Wing Trail to the beach. We enjoyed crossing the foot bridge and taking a short walk through nature. We were not sure how interested we would be in the various exhibits, which we thought may be geared more towards kids, but we discovered we are kids at heart who really enjoyed the aquarium and trying to locate the various types of fish, frogs, turtles, crabs and other creatures within the glass tanks. One young female staff member was particularly engaging in her interactions with the children surrounding her, as she drew their attention to some of the smallest or most hidden creatures in the water. This is a great place to spend a couple hours.

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is simply wonderful. Our family has been visiting for many years, and while the museum is a bit "static" in terms of change, it delivers the goods it promises in an authentic and personal manner. You do not have to pay admission to use their terrific marsh walk or wander the shoreline. There is no charge for parking (take THAT, Boston Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, etc). If you do pay the very reasonable entrance fee, you will have a delightful, low-key experience that comprises nicely rendered exhibits of endemic wildlife and a beautiful view of the shoreline with binoculars and bird field guides. Don't miss it!

If you are looking something to do other than go to the beach, this is a winner. The trails are well kept and you and the kids can actually learn something!

We had a lovely visit enjoying the birds, watching the Osprey nest and my sons favorite is the lower level fish tanks. We have to walk out side to get his wheelchair down there. We can’t do any of the nature walks because wheelchairs don’t do well on the gravel they have. But I got him into the butterfly house and within seconds he had butterflies land on his hand and wheelchair. That was enchanting, as were the lovely ladies who chatted with us. I am very grateful for any degree of accessibility on Cape Cod, it has not been historically the most wheelchair friendly place. So when people are kind and go out of their way to help, I am grateful. I will be doing a video and podcast episode about this museum soon. Thank you Cape Cod Museum of Natural History!

If you're in the mid Cape Cod area, you should make an effort to visit this attraction. The museum exhibits of history and nature are just the beginning. There are a myriad of hands-on opportunities for kids of all ages -- STEM/STEAM activities, trail walks, aquarium, birding, butterfly house (and feeding), education, kid summer camp program, and more.

We have experienced well maintained trails, enthusiastic caring volunteers, well done displays of both history and aquatic life each time we've visited. Its not a flashy urban museum and doesn't try to be. It has a relaxed homey vibe. It is a museum with live bees in a hive, a great view of the salt marsh and birds just outside the window, multiple fish & other creature tanks, a tidal pool and staff who are happy to talk. Its a great place to spend a few hours with or with out kids. Outside the building there are loop trails across the street and behind the building. The trails have well done signage. If you are interested in walking around outside, the Wing Island trail is easier to access at low tide.

The museum is a great place to visit and spend a day! Admission is $10/adults, $5/children and there are yearly memberships and senior discounts. There are many rooms with many exhibits, we learned so much! There is a beautiful view of the marsh, osprey cam and bird feeding area where tons of birds can be seen. There is an aquarium downstairs with whale bones, sea creatures and much more. The are trails that you can walk from the property into the marsh and forest alone or guided where you can learn about the area and wildlife. We took a guided tour of the marsh and beach, it was wonderful and beautiful. There is a picnic area to enjoy lunch.

Great museum with bird viewing area, osprey nest (and webcam), excellent aquarium and loads of information on Cape Cod. Highly recommend the Wing Island walk. $10 for adults. Osprey cam: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ospreycam/theater

We started inside, natural history exhibits. Aquarium with many exhibits. We saw a preserved fisher for the first time! Live cam views of 3 young osprey. No time to see butterfly exhibits-some feeding times were available as well. Family field walk was 90 minutes, led by 2 knowledgeable volunteers. Hot day but we enjoyed learning about the local plants- rose hips, beach plums, reindeer and another lichen. Ate some wild blueberries & sea pickle. The marsh and Wing Island were interesting- even for older kids. Volunteers were all very friendly!

Located on Route 6A in West Brewster, this is a nice stop on a rainy day, particularly with small children. Some hands-on displays make it more fun, and developing an interest in wildlife is always worthwhile. The highlight for us was the wonderful path from the museum tot the bay shoreline. Perhaps half a mile in length each way, it offers gentle terrain, an island stop, a beautiful vista of a grassy meadow and stops at a nice beach. High tide will stop you short of the beach. A second, smaller trail across the road from the museum parking lot is a nice surprise, with marsh and woods.

We spent a rainy afternoon at the museum, and we're pleased by its many informative exhibits. The cutaway view of a working beehive was fascinating, as was the aquarium downstairs. My only cavil is that they close at 3 on Saturday in October, and we could have used more time.

My husband and I were looking for something to do towards the end of our trip and stumbled upon this hidden gem! I just wished we came earlier to hike the trail to the beach. The bee hive was really cool and staff was very knowledgeable about them. Downstairs is the aquarium and again the staff knew his stuff! They have a BLUE Lobster! We really loved the large tanks to see all sorts of sea creatures too! This place is a must for kids and adults. I would give it at least 2 hours!

The first day we (two seniors) spent hours in the exhibits and butterfly house. (We had to wait in line for the latter, as capacity is limited by the town fire code. Some visitors were too impatient to wait.) The sections on precolonial history, and on technology gleaned from the natural world (such as fog harvesting or antimicrobial coatings) were absorbing, and the Rube Goldberg device, reminiscent of the opening scene from the TV show "Elementary" was fun. The lifelike carvings of birds were just astounding. The cordial staff (volunteers, by the way) informed us upon entry that the Wing Island walk is actually owned by the town and that we might get our feet wet at high tide. We decided to do it the next day when I had my water shoes (not needed) by parking at Drummer Boy Park and walking over to the museum, where the trail starts. (Parking at the museum is included with admission, but only for the day. It is otherwise restricted.) We also walked the Stony Brook Valley trail, which has an easily accessed observation deck and also did not require a second admission. Both trails had much less poison ivy than the town trails in Eastham. Since we had missed the gift shop on our previous day's visit, the staff allowed us in to that area without paying a second admission.

My wife, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren visited the museum in the morning, July 3. The kids and adults thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The hands on, close and personal time spent here was great. The kids especially liked the butterfly habitat and the excellent docent telling about butterflies. I want to come back without the kids and spend more time.

Here with grandsons, 10 and 8, daughter and son-in-law. The museum itself had very good exhibits of various sea life including video of ospreys in nest. Had an excellent guide for the great nature walk and learned a lot about various plants and trees as well as the marsh . We were the only ones on the nature walk. Definitely worth while.

This is a great place to take children to see sea creatures and butterflies. Alos, there are walking trails down to the bay.

This museum is a great break from the beaches and eateries. It is very well maintained and informative. The aquarium and butterfly encounter were both very good. Also the hike out to the bay on Wing Island is totally worth it if you can manage a mile hike. Great little gift shop, too!

Ideal for kids age 5 and over who can eagerly keep up on the boardwalk “adventure walk” to the beach from the main entrance. Plus great “natural history” displays in the main entrance area. Absolutely worth a family visit. Or “couples” visits.

The museum is small but you can learn a lot from it in a day. I understand there is kayaking around it and the beach that you can get to behind the museum is a beautiful walk. It requires going down a steep set of beach stairs so be prepared and bring food from a local place. You will be there for awhile and want to be. The best thing to do is go to the museum during the day and learn about the sea etc. This way you are supporting the museum. Then go to the beach by their trails and enjoy the sunset. Cape Cod is beautiful and this is one of the least crowded places during the spring and summertime.

The museum has the full package, indoor exhibits and interactive learning combined with a great walk across the salt marsh to a beautiful beach. They will be adding a butterfly house for this summer that will build on their focus of bringing nature close.

Awesome place !
You can walk out to the Bay to explore and then check ou the museum & Butterfly room.
Great place to bring kids.
Staff is very helpful & informative.

The museums exhibits, galleries, aquarium and even the gift shop have so much to offer for all age groups. However for us our absolute favorite is going on the Trails to the open ocean. You walk along the wood planks through the marsh and see beautiful vistas of grasses, singing birds to the sandy pathways with fragrant cedar trees with benches along the way to sit and enjoy coastal nature at it's best! Then once you reach the shoreline it stretches far and wide on both sides as far as you can see. They do have naturalist guided family field walks that are free with admission.

Check out their website - plan your day it's well worth it!

We visited the museum and enjoyed the displays and the creatures etc. They had a live camera on the Osprey bird family, which was nice. There were puzzles to build and neat things here and there. We had a fun day. On Tues and Thurs. they open the beehives and they allow 8 people to go ($3.00 fee). You put on the head gear and go across the street, where they open up the hives. It was really cool to see the bees. My 8y r old son loved it. Drone bees were walking on his arms.. they don't sting.

This is a wonderful museum that is very informative and is a great stop to learn appreciate the variety of flora and fauna of the Cape. Exhibits are kid friendly and the staff members are helpful.

We loved this museum! Interesting exhibits. Hands on exsperiences were equally interesting. It’s small and easy to navigate. We enjoyed the knowledgeable people that we encountered here . The butterfly house was a bonus! The real treasure here though, is the magnificent beach trail behind the museum! It brings you across a scenic boardwalk fitted over marshlands, through a woodland adventure, up and over grassy dunes to one of the most beautiful beaches we have seen here! A hidden gem for sure!

this museum is quite small but had a lot for the kids to do in the couple of hours that we were there one rainy morning

What a delightful spot! Quite small but packed with interactive stuff for the kiddos. Our 2 and 4 year olds lasted two full hours, which is a record. Everyone that works there is super kind - we are so glad we stopped by!

Loved this museum! Great info about the history of the island with respect to the Indians. Great display of birds. Took their first tour of the season, which gave us first-hand info about the land, the salt marsh and the dunes. Really a wonderful excursion with lots to learn. Great place for kids. They even have a butterfly exhibit.

I've taken visitors and visited myself when the museum has a special exhibit. The staff is very well versed and knowledgable and most of all very friendly. It is not a big museum but one can learn an awful lot about the Cape and nature while there. Most recently I had the pleasure of watching ma & pa Osprey tend to 3 eggs; watched from the museum on my last visit and then signed up for Ospreycam to keep an eye on the hatching. There are a lot of events for children during the summer so do check this place out.

This is a wonderful small museum with a great feel for the Cape and its sea denizens. Excellent for children of all ages and thoughtful displays which are readily accessible and understandable. A serious and friendly staff which reflects a real commitment to marine education and environmental responsibility.

We have gone to Cape Cod so many times that we have done everything you can imagine. But we found something new to us.
The museum was geared towards all ages, and would take all day with small children with all the projects that they have available. As adults, we enjoyed the facts of the creating of modern day Cape Cod, the bee exhibit, the butterflies, and the aquariums throughout the basement. There was a 1.3 mile hike to the marsh that we opted not to walk as well.
My wife was thrilled that they waived the $15 admission charge for her being a NTA member, as the sign stated that teachers were free.

Great for kids, good hiking trails. There are always rescued animals to see and a picture window with bird feeders to admire. You can walk out to Cape Cod Bay, examine the stuffed birds, and see small snakes and other critters. There's an indoor tide pool too. Busy when it rains.

Nice small museum. Had a little bit of everything though. My 3yo especially liked the sea animals and hiking in the woods. There was lots of hands on stuff and art projects for kids, my son wasn't interested though, too interested in getting to the next thing. Probably wouldn't go again, as once you've seen it, you've seen it. Worth at least one trip though!

Went on a hike to the sea, passed by an osprey nest with chicks in it. Saw other birds and chipmunks. Went inside and made turtles and put wooden puzzles together. Saw the aquariums. Natural history exhibits as well. It was awesome for the kids.

This afternoon my husband, 2 year old and I decidedly to spend a rainy afternoon at the museum. We got there late (3:15) but with an active 2 year old's attention span we decided to pay the $22 for our admission and let him explore for the 45 min until closing. Why were we disappointed?? When we asked how to get to the butterflies, we were told the door had been closed early due to the number of visitors (it was now only 3:30). If we'd been told 15 min earlier that we wouldn't have access to everything I doubt we'd have paid for entrance. Perhaps if exhibits are going to be closed, visitors should be made aware prior to paying or be charged a lesser fee.

I was impressed with the Volunteer Staff who went out of their way to be helpful. This little museum gives the visitor a nice picture of the geologic history of the Cape and how the human and animal inhabitants have adapted over the ages. They have a video camera showing an osprey nest which is active with a pair of parent osprey attending to eggs which were soon to hatch. The downstairs aquarium is well done, but on a much smaller scale as the large aquariums. We took the Wings Island nature walk and it is well worth the time, although we did have to remove our shoes to get back across the boardwalk at high tide.

Very nice place. We would like to return. So much to see and do. My ten year old daughter didn't want to go. Then we couldn't get her to leave.

Instead of entering the Museum of Natural History, we decided to walk along the board walk across Wing's Island and out to the beach. Each one of the eight different areas along the nature trail captured our interest, and as the weather was beautiful, we had a very pleasant morning. If we had had more time, we would have gone into the museum as well.

Three generations visited this terrific museum and all found it to be both educational and fun. Staffed by several volunteers to give you information and answer questions, you can visit the aquarium with local sea creatures in tanks and an open water table, a reptile and amphibian room, a display of a well known bird carver's studio, a video cam of osprey in their nest (now departed for warmer climates), and much more. On many days, there are arts and crafts activities with all materials supplied. Besides the indoor museum, there are guided or self guided walks out to the marshes, dunes, and beautiful Cape Cod Bay beaches. On the way back, be sure to take a photo of your group in the mouth of a large (wooden) shark! Great gift shop with educational toys and books, too.

A great place to take the children for an afternoon. We did the "Mudflat Mania" with a 5 year old and we enjoyed it as much as he did. The hike out to the ocean was something we would do on our own. There is plenty of free parking. Inside the museum there is also a lot to see.
Enjoy a taste of the ocean life on Cape Cod right here at the museum.

Love this place. Go as often as I can. The museum is nice, but nothing truly extravagant. I used to come up from RI for frequent visits. Loved the walk to the ocean. That's always serene, and you can see lots of wild birds. The beach is extraordinary. There is a sandbar across the way that fills with partying folks, but that's part of the charm of summer in New England :-)

There is so much more to this museum than initially meets the eye. Loved the trails and the walk to Wing Island and the dunes. The museum itself is perfect for families with children of all ages. The aquarium area was interesting, as was the bird exhibit. I would love to return in the warm weather to see the flower and butterfly gardens. Well worth visiting. Be aware, cash is not accepted. Great place to let the children explore.

The Natural History Museum is a great place for adults, families and kids. The museum is cozy, has lots of kid-friendly activities, a small gift shop, and my grandsons in age range from 4 to 15 all enjoyed it. They all liked the aquarium downstairs, and various Cape Cod antique artifacts.

You can take a nice round trip hike through some woods to the beach out back, and in the spring you can watch the osprey build their nest, cradle the eggs and watch the osprey hatch from a remote tv or live online. We like it so much we buy the membership every year!

Great place to spend the afternoon either with the family, solo or as a couple. Be careful of ticks and poison ivy on the hiking trails.

There was plenty to keep our niece's 4 and 2year old busy. Aquarium area with turtles, rays, fish was a big hit. Many crafts for the kids to do. Butterfly garden was hard with active kids, but it worked out as there is no touching anything but the sponges. Lots of trails not all are accessible with a stroller.

We had no intention of going here, but the children saw the butterfly feeding area and instantly wanted to go. I am extremely glad that we chose to stay. The displays were informative and the staff was very helpful. There were plenty of crafts for the kids to do along with excellent displays for the adults. The aquariums were fun as was walking through the butterfly exhibit. My favorite part however was the hiking trails down to the dunes. If you have little explorers I would plan on at least two hours. If you take the hike, make sure to bring some water and perhaps even a snack. We were there during low tide and the kids got to walk what seemed like forever and still not meet the ocean edge. Exploring the tidal pools along the way. I wish we had had more time, I would definitely like to go back again. Our children were ages 6, 7, 8, 11 and 13 and all enjoyed.

What a great hidden gem, but not really so hidden. We have driven past this small museum on route 6A many times. Finally got the chance to stop by. The staff a volunteers are all amazing. the walking trails out to Wing's Island are amazing and when we went in early April, very peaceful! The Osprey nest was so cool. Watching them land and then fly out again in search of their next meal was amazing.
We just wanted some peace and quiet for a while and sitting on this beach before the summer got crazy on the cape, this spot was just perfect!

My husband and I went here being we were staying at a place down the road and thought this was more for kids . Had a small butterfly house and aquarium with fish from the area. Had activities for kids. Decided to walk to the beach which was nice but make sure your wearing sneakers ( have to walk through marshy area on wooden boards).

Weekend getaway with the hubby in February and decided to visit. This is a small and informative museum that displays the history and evolution of the land and also has a mini aquarium of the sea animals that live in the areas.

This was a great find. The exhibits were done very well. They had a nice aquarium area downstairs that was very educational. There was also a butterfly pavilion outside that was worth the wait to get in (they only allow 9 people in at a time). The volunteers were very helpful.

There’s barely anything to see here. We went on a rainy day primarily for the butterflies. We went through the museum pretty quickly and went to go see the butterflies and someone said they were closed for rain. The rain was light enough to go on a walk on the trails (meh) and soon had basically stopped and one of the signs blocking the pollinator path and butterfly house had been moved so we thought we could go in. There were people inside for a feeding (which are private) and we went to come in and the woman working there said we couldn’t. I tried to ask questions like can we come back in a little bit, she didn’t come to the door or acknowledge me more than telling me to go away and read the sign. The sign said it was closed for 15 minutes so I asked if they’d be reopening in 15 mins and she again said “we’re closed for feedings you can’t come in.” That was the same sign that was up at least 15 mins before when we went down the trail. I wouldn’t have paid to go in had I known the main reason we were there - the butterflies - was closed. Anyways. Tough explaining to a 5 year old that she’s not allowed in when there were people there. I still don’t know if they are reopening or what the policy is on the butterfly house. But if you care to go ask before you pay to make sure it’s open.

If you are looking for a family friendly indoor and outdoor excursion, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is the place to go. Engaging exhibits, activities, and aquariums attract any nature enthusiast, young and old. During the summer months friendly naturalists will lead you through 5 different ecosystems and explain some of the history and ecology of the areas.

I would say the ideal ages are 3-7 years old. Our 2 year old liked it but has a short attention span. Her favorite thing was the donation funnel — see picture. Lol. They had really neat exhibits — the bees were a highlight. And the aquarium was nice as was well. The butterflies were neat too but they kind of have to rush you through if there is a long line.

Visited with our granddaughters (ages 7 & 9) during the holidays. There was an inflatable full size whale which allowed walking through, complete with signs explaining the various components of the whale.

Extensive collection of birds on display that are native to Cape Cod and its environs. Lots of children activities that are entertaining and educational. Were able to catch feeding time for the snapping turtle!

Live fish and turtle exhibits, as well as fossils. Several walking trails provide further insight into the coastal environment. Fun walk down to the beach area, which provides extensive shallow areas away from the beach for exploring aquatic cultures.

Repeat trip to the CC natural history museum didn't disappoint!!
Took part in their Mudflat Mania-great way to see nature, walk the tidal basins and catch crabs. Love the new butterfly house. The aquarium is quaint. Volunteers were very helpful. A fun cape cod outing for all ages

We walked the trails behind the museum - relaxing, beautiful, all the way out to the bay. Then explored the gift shop.

Don't let the smallish building (or high admission cost) stop you from going to this museum. It is only open 4 hours this time of year, and we could have easily been there the whole time. The bird and aquarium exhibits are clearly labeled. There are so many displays - everywhere you look! Loved the osprey cam, bee colony, tidal marine display table. The displays are child friendly, and there are many activities to interest the kids. We were there in the off season; I expect it could get crowded in peak season. Cost was $15 adult, $10 senior, which gave us pause, but we were glad we did pay. Plan for at least 2 hours inside. The nature trails (up to 2+ miles) can be walked before or after the museum's open hours.

This is not a large museum, but all the exhibits were interesting and the docents very knowledgeable. While we were there, there were shark and honeybee exhibits, along with permanent exhibits of local birds and the aquarium. Take some time to spend looking at the tidal pool exhibit and all the creatures. We also walked the trail down to the water's edge. This is a nice way to spend an hour or two.

The nature trail goes to Wing’s Island. Thankfully there was very little foot traffic. Passing was not easy! The blue boxes trap hundreds of thousands of Greenhead flies in a season.

Great place to learn about wildlife on the Cape. Lots of tanks, great exhibits. Fun viewing out of the windows and a path to the beach.

This was our second time to tour the museum and aquarium. Very informative staff and museum. A must-see to understand the area.

After a deal of time in the museum looking at exhibits, we decided to take it outside. The trails around the museum are awesome. First we did the John Wing Trail out to the island and along the tidal pools and beach, what fun!
Then we did the Lee Baldwin Trail, also lot of fun.
When you visit the museum, don't forget about these trails!

This is a great place to take kids. When we visited, there were several elementary students. The down-side was that they were only open 11-3. They do allow use of trails after closing though. The museum had some fine exhibits of strange fish including the only live seahorse I had ever seen. Bird feeders to sit in comfy recliners and watch. Nice walking trails, wildflower garden.

Since hubby and I had a day to kill we went here. When we walked in the 2 people behind the desk seemed to be thrilled we were there.(we ended up having the place to ourselves) We walked through and took are time....spent probably 25 minutes looking for the queen bee,the shark area was interesting and informative.We went downstairs, the birds on both sides of the wall where neat to look at. The women downstairs answered all the questions we had about the creatures in the tank. Some of the fish were down right ugly be interesting to look at. After our visit we walked outside hoping to walk the loop around the marsh,but no such luck the tide had come in very high and we were only able to go so far,but we did get to see some gorgeous views.

this is a great mostly free visit to make when in the area. Behind the main museum is a fantastic nature walk that takes you by an active Osprey next, salt water marsh, high medow and to the bay.

I really enjoyed the museum--as small as it is, they offer a nice number of exhibits, their staff is well-organized, and the have expert guest speakers who fly in from all over to do a presentation on their material. I learned so much. The live bird-watching station is fantastic. I was able to see Osprey in the nest guarding their newborn chicks. I saw birds of all colors and their ground-dwelling neighbors that share the same habitat. They even have an amazing library--I sat and read a book because these are books not likely found anywhere else. They have exhibits on archeology to birds to mammals, to whales to bees. There is a very cool little gift shop on the premises. The grounds are great for nature walking. You will see school field trips every day because it is the ideal place for impressionable young minds. At any age, this is quite an interesting museum.

Not massive but enough to keep you busy for a while.
Liked the fact that there were little question sheets for kids to find various things in the museum and in this way retain more information linked to the visual instead of just the visual memory alone. Also liked the fact that there were helpers at various stations giving information at these stations.

I think the boy I was with probably enjoyed the aquarium area most as the creatures are alive and perhaps keep attention a bit longer. The bees for some reason also appeared to be quite a hit for him (e.g. trying to find the queen bee). The marsh-view room had binoculars to try find specific birds flying outside. It was however far too cold to take a walk outside.

All in all I am happy we made the trip to Brewster to come learn a bit more about the Cape Cod area and have some educational fun.

The museum was absolutely wonderful. All three grandsons ages 2 1/2, 7 and 9 found special things they were interested in observing or participating in. We spent about 3 hours there and the boys were busy the entire time. I was especially impressed with the room with activities for the children to do. The aquarium was such an appropriate size. We plan on returning.

Museum was excellent - great for kids - highly recommend. Many hiking trails through woods and on beach/dunes. Try to visit CCMNH when on the cape.

Our visit was a last minute decision, please learn from my lack of preparation. Local camps were visiting, the parking attendant suggested we return after 1:15 when it may be less crowded.

Second mistake, we sat and had our lunch before buying tickets. Two of the exhibits require an entry time. We registered for one of them.
There wasn’t enough to occupy a 4 and 6yo and their tired mother for 50 minutes. Mind you, the exhibits are very well done, but this wasn’t my grandchildren’s first visit, so they moved very quickly through them.

This small natural history museum is a gem. The place is small, so it fits the attention span of the younger set. In addition they always have fun projects for the kids. The aquarium is great for its size. The also run a series of 1 week camps in the summer and the grandkids loved it. We went back this year and one of them was pointing out the fish by name and showing us where they hide. When I asked her how she knew so much she told me, from camp. A great experience.

This museum offers something for everyone. We went with three generations and all of us enjoyed the visit. Not too many things you can do where the grandparents, parents and kids all learn something but this fits the bill! The aquarium room is small but interesting with a real tidal pool as well as lots of fish, turtles, etc. The museum has a room with hands on activities for the kids (geared towards preschool-little kids), binoculars to look out the window and a web cam of a near by osprey nest.

The guided nature trail is not to be missed. It is not stroller friendly. If you have a little one that can't walk the whole 1.3 miles route, make sure you bring along a carrier. The trail goes through the woods (generally shady and flat), a boardwalk (about 2 feet wide over a marsh in full sun) and a sandy path to the beach that can be muddy or deep sand. Kids will want to explore on the beach so be prepared with proper foot gear. You can separate from the guided tour if you want to go ahead or stay behind to check out the beach longer.

The museum offers a family membership which is worth it if you plan to go back more than once. It's good for a year from the purchase date. The staff was friendly and the place was clean. Check their calendar on their website for the programs being offered on the day you want to go. They seem to have something going on every day of the summer! The gift shop is worth a stop with cute things and books to take home for when you are exploring the Cape. I didn't notice any place to buy food within the museum. It's a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. It's not just for rainy days.. the view from the beach on the sunny day we were there was beautiful! We can't wait to go back.

CCM is a terrific place that has matured over the years. It is a wonderful place to bring children and adults visiting the area to learn about the Cape Cod ecosystem.
The walk to the mud flats never disappoints. This is a wonderful institution that shows visitors the fragility of this special place. It is a must see for all who want to experience what makes Cape Cod, Cape Cod

We came to the museum on a rainy day. Great interactive activities and lots
To learn for kids and adults. I was disappointed we didn't get to walk the trail out back or see the butterflies- next time for sure and not just on a rainy day.

A great location to enjoy both outside and inside. We started our visit with a walk into the nearby marshland. The walk is easy and natural surrounds great for viewing some wildlife especially birds. Inside we learned a great deal of local history. A wonderful aquarium area exist on the bottom floor. We are an older couple however find this location satisfying to our interest in history and climate change. It is a fun location for children of all ages.

We had a wonderful time at the Museum recently, especially enjoyed the tide pool and carved bird exhibits. Also the Biomimicry.

Visit the museum and then head out through the trails across the marsh to the tidal Flats. Make sure you check the tides and go out at lowest tide. Absolutely beautiful

Been to the museum many times. Great exhibits inside, and gift shop full of gifts. But the best experience was taking the guided tour to the beach. Learned so much and witnessed beautiful aspects of nature. There are many hikes from museum.

We visited on a rainy day and were very impressed! This small museum has a lot to offer for all ages but certainly a lot for kids. It is worthwhile if only of access to the trails through the salt marsh, barrier beach and tidal pools. We spent quite a bit of time out there, it is amazing! The aquarium is nice, and the bird display is great too. The staff was very friendly and helpful even on a busy day. Highly recommend.

Very nice experience. You should call for a reservation. Can go in for free (and not feed) if you buy a ticket into the main museum but still $5.00 to feed at specific feeding times!
10am, 12 noon and 2 pm. Museum open til 4 pm. You may just go for the feeding and not pay to go into museum for $5.00 also. Child must be attended by an adult who also has to pay. Knowledgeable butterfly keeper. small venue outdoors, 9 allowed in at a time. Juice soaked sponge painter's brushes given out to feed.
Lots of Monarchs and Painted Ladies. Nice experience. Granddaughter was thrilled when she broke the youth record so far this summer for catching the most on her feeder at once! 12 !!! Maybe a 15 min. experience. But something different.
Go into museum too and walk the trail down to the small beach area.

The Museum is small but has some interesting exhibits. There is a new butterfly house full of Monarchs and the staff do informational talks geared more toward children.
The highlight for our trip was the trail to the bay. They have placed planks strategically through the marshy area and the walk is very worthwhile.
There are other trails across the road which we didn't take, but next time we'll head out in the opposite direction.
Definitely stop in!

There was something for everyone. An excellent film about aquanauts. Games and exhibits. Fabulous aquarium with very knowledgable volunteers who kept our boys and our parents and indeed ourselves highly interested and educated.
Because it was raining they made special provision for us to eat our sandwiches indoors.
We finished it off with a blowy walk to the beach and back.

A great place to bring the family including the kids. Mud flat mania is a delight and the exhibits throughout are set up for easy viewing. Ample parking. Come prepared to spend a few hours strolling the building and grounds.

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History is a nice little museum that focuses on the natural environment of Cape Cod. Much of the museum is geared towards kids, though nature lovers of all ages will enjoy it.

There s a room with a big window with bird feeders outside, which allows visitors to see native birds. There are also aquariums and terrariums with native wildlife among the exhibits.

Behind the museum are hiking trails that lead to Cape Cod Bay. Occasionally, volunteers lead tours through the trails in the back, I went on one and it as very informative.

My boys loved the topographical map of sand that computer generated water and map levels.... we also enjoyed the walk to the beautiful beach and marsh area. We will come back in the summer.

I LOVE small museums and this place is one of the reasons why. Every exhibit was signed well. The birds were exceptional.

this place is a good place for the kids.
The persons who work there are very gentle .
They have a lot to see and to do.
Is not very big but when is raining this place is just good.
Not too expensive.

Everything you want to know about Cape Cod can be found here. The aquarium has many different fish. The Osprey cam is also fascinating. One can walk the path to the bay beach. Easy to
Spend almost the whole day here. Gift shop has very nice item.

On Rt 6a in Brewster. Hours 9:30-4:00PM

We passed by so many times and the only reason that I decided to stop was to find out about the osprey nest at the back of the marsh. What a wonderful surprise to see the great trail at the back! The osprey nest was another bonus! We didn't have time to go into the museum but this is definitely on our list at the end of summer.

The museum of natural history is a great museum but I what i love more than going into the museum is going hiking down one of the trails. It has a nice loop which takes you through the marshes and woods and also down to the beach as well. However, one minor issue is that you have to pay to park in their parking lot during certain times/seasons. But going hiking on their trails is completely free and totally worth doing!

This is a great place to take children to introduce them to nature and nature's creatures. Adjacent to the parking lot is a trail out to Wing's Neck. This walk is wonderful, make sure you go when the tide is flowing as you will need to walk through a marsh.

A must visit to take the kids/grandkids.....ours never get tired of it

This was the area where the herring begin their run in from the ocean. On the inland side across the road they have nice signs about why, where, who, and how it all works. You can see lots of birds as they troll for a meal around the stream. They have a small gift shop, a long boardwalk over the marsh, and then a stroll through the trees before you come out on a beach. You can pay a fee and go into the History museum. But this is a nice free stop if you just wanted to wonder on your own.

This is a hidden gem. I loved the butterfly house -- the docents were great explaining how it all came together. This is the place for family visits -- lots of activities for children, little craft projects to remember the trip. I even felt like a child playing in the sandbox to learn how the Cape was formed and trying to find the Queen bee. Plan at least 1/2 day to explore everything.

If you like to hike, observe nature, and be around the water then this is a stop for you and your family. My kids love to go into the museum and look at the indoor exhibits and they also love the hiking, guided tours. There is a minimal charge and its so worth it. You walk in a large group (dependent on how many people show up) through marsh land and trails, spotting birds and wild life along the way. At the end of the walk, when you reach the ocean the tour guides point out the little sea urchins, etc. for the children. Definitely bring water shoes, plastic pails and a small shovel. I have done this tour with my grandchildren for the past eight years. They LOVE it and so do I! It's so much fun to dig up all the little creatures and important to learn (as we empty our pails) that all little creatures must eventually stay in their natural habitat.

A wonderful museum with experiences not to be missed! Small appearance on the outside is deceiving and we weren't dissappointed in any way. Just wished we'd had allowed more time!

We loved the museum and its features, displays, and very knowledgeable staff. The trails through the forest, wetlands, and to the beaches were wonderful.

We had heard that this museum was fun for small children, so we were wondering about 4 adults (ages 38-63) visiting. Well, we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and were very pleased with the amount of things to see. We wanted to to the walk outside to the Bay, but one of our party had some mobility issues (sore hip) that day, so we will do it another time. Great time, thank you!!

this is a long time favorite place to visit, great on a rainy day for kids, parents/grandparents.
they also have good walking trails to the beach, or to follow a native garden pathway, and in the summer the new attraction of the outdoors butterfly tent.
there is also an osprey nest on the property with a web cam available on line.

Very good small museum. Nice walking path to Cape Cod Bay. Small gardens. Other walking paths. Very friendly staff. There was a nice area for small children and a gift shop

When you pull up first impression this won'y take long. Wrong! This wonderful museum has EVERYTHING you need to know about the marine and shore animal kingdom. The inside displays are both interactive and educational and the outdoor trails are both beautifully breathtaking and fun. We were looking for something to do with our small grandchildren and this museum did not disappoint.

When our kids were little we would take them to this museum, now we just park a little ways down the road and walk up to the path behind the building. I think the views are some of the most gorgeous on the cape, the beach seems to go out for a mile. This is a must see.

We went on the Mudflats Mania! excursion and it was a lot of fun. The museum itself is pretty small (especially since my kids are used to the American Museum of Natural History in NY), but has a bunch of activities for little children (crafts, scavenger hunt) which were free and fun. It would probably be a great activity on a rainy day.

We came here to do the mudflat mania but decided to go ahead and tour the museum while we were there. We were pleasantly surprised, for it being a small museum it had a lot of neat things inside. The kids enjoyed the crafts, the riddles, and the aquarium. They have a scavenger hunt for kids were they fill out information on a sheet throughout the museum and get a small prize. My parents really liked the video about hummingbirds. The stuffed birds and ducks were neat to see along with their nests. We spent 2 and half hours here. The mudflat mania was a special activity they do a few times during the summer. It was OK but you can find the same crabs on the beach if you go during low tide. The path to get to the mud flat has tons of poison ivy plants growing on both sides of the path. Try to wear beach shoes that cover your feet and bring bug spray. There are lots of warnings about ticks and you do put your feet in muddy sand to explore. The guides are knowledgeable and everyone that worked here was friendly, especially the older gentleman that explained the bee hive and helped the kids with the crafts.

Besides being able to track Cape Cod geography and life style going back to about 12,000 years and more, there are wonderful exhibits about marsh wildlife (right next to large window of glass overlooking the marsh), an aquarium with all the fishes, turtles, etc that thrive in the local streams and coastal seas, and subject movies and lectures. They also have a wonderful live butterflies area that one can walk through. Summer classes and camp type activities are available for children.

There are lovely trails to walk. Friendly naturalists to educate you.the scenery is the way the Cape originally looked.Salt march,tidal flats. Very good for children. Fish and sea creatures in the downstairs aquarium.

Lot's of fun to learn about what you might find at the beach, the ecosystem. There are lot's of critters to see up close in the aquariums. Perfect for a rainy day but the guided tour/walks to the beach are fun on sunny days, They often have crafts or activities aimed at pre-school through elementary aged kids.

Given the cost for two adults and a senior, there should have been a whole lot more. And since there wasn't ... there should have been a minimal charge and that's it. It was a wee bit confusing the various activities that were available to us, and I think we enjoyed the nature walk to the bay the most, although I don't think we would have had to pay for that part of our afternoon there. Most (if not all) of the exhibitions were aimed at kids, not adults. I think the museum should be re-named and give visitors some indication that it really is a Children's museum. The "aquarium" downstairs was kind of a joke if you come it to other aquariums elsewhere in the U.S. Come on guys ... be honest about what's there and don't gorge your visitors.

Small but fun for kids, enough for two hours,no need for stroller because its a small place, we had so Much fun with play the puzzle games, and to watch butterflies

This museum offers many ways to explore Cape Cod with walks and talks, great displays. There are books and animals and birds and bees and flowers and herbs and trees. I highly recommend a half day with kids inside the buildings and on the trails to experience the Cape.

We stopped on a rainy day. Displays were really interesting and the museum employees interacted with everyone pointing out highlights. The aquarium was interesting. Highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.

Wonderful speakers and children's programs and classes, hands-on sea life, walking beach trails, outstanding gift shop, excellebt docents... I can't say enough good things about The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History!

I Found the place had really been upgraded since the last time we were there in the 1960's. It has 2 floors the bottom is essentially an aquarium and an array of stuffed birds and the ist floor has many exhibits that one has to stop and read and take in that are very educational such as how the cape was formed and still changing, live bee hives with the queen marked so you can see her being catered to ,the medicinal contribution of flowers and plants is very interesting , the original Indian tribes indigenous to the area, milkweed plants and why the butterflies love them and so on . Slide shows are also presented during the day. They have people that strike me as volunteers walking around to help explain all the exhibits on both floors which proved to be very helpful. They have several walking trails around the museum one as long as a mile and a half. This indeed is a quality stop for families .It can get a bit pricey however but since we were seniors we got in for $10 dollars each adults are $15 each ! Kids are less but check it out .

The nature walk was very worthwhile. More so than seeing the museum itself. The museum is rather small and can be seen within an hour. The two outstanding points for the museum were the butterflies and the rather small aquarium.

This is a wonderful introduction to Cape Cod. The museum has very interesting and kid friendly exhibits, aquarium, hands-on activities for kids, and informative trails. We enjoyed the hike through the Salt Marsh to the Mud Flats. Especially interesting was the live feed from the web cam of the ospreys and their nest. (If you are enjoying an extended stay on the Cape, you may want to look into the Day Camp for kids.)

This has a small aquarium which is interesting enough for young kids. There is also a large display of stuffed birds. A hands-on room for children is available which includes the showing of a movie. I'm sure the movie changes but on the day we were there, it was about an island clear around the world; we thought the movies would be about the Massachusetts coast. IF you want to do the trail, be sure to check the tide first. We were going to walk it but the boardwalk was completely covered with water. People were walking back with their pant legs rolled up above their knees.

I have been here several times with young children but it is certainly a place for all ages to visit. It is fairly small, but there is an extensive library and walking trails. Scattered throughout the museum are free arts and crafts activities for children.