Top Things to do in Ontario
Top Hotels in Ontario
6 Natural History Museums in Ontario That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Ontario, United States including Prehistoria Natural History Centre & Skull Store Oddity Shop, Crystal Cave, Canadian Museum of Nature, Museum of Classical Antiquities, Pelee Island Heritage Centre, Ottawa Insectarium.
Restaurants in Ontario
1. Prehistoria Natural History Centre & Skull Store Oddity Shop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Prehistoria is a FREE admission natural history museum! Their artifact collection includes a bit of everything, including dinosaur eggs, Egyptian amulets, Viking axes, a whale skeleton, and even a duck-billed platypus taxidermy mount. They even have a reptile zoo on-site! They are breeding endangered tortoises, but also have frilled dragons, poison dart frogs, and a bunch of other cool critters. SkullStore is the giftshop, and one of the world's biggest oddity shops. They sell sustainably-sourced crystals, fossils, skulls, butterflies, taxidermy mounts, ancient artifacts, and salvaged furs. There's no other destination like this in Canada!
2. Crystal Cave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
Crystal Cave Mineral, Crystal and Fossil Exhibit Crystal Shoppe Gallery Learning Centre Artisan Village
Reviewed By RandJtrips
Two of us on our day off from work stopped by on a Friday after taking the old convertible out for a autumn drive. Jane gave us a tour of her favourite rock and fossil specimens after we had looked around for about an hour on our own. What a collection! You can really sense the passion behind this place, from the thoughtful groupings or minerals by type or colour or interest, to the ‘augmented reality’ add-ones, and the whimsical gift shop/art space. Am going to recommend this to a few people who want to take a drive out by south river. Will have to stop in again once the newer projects begin to be realized fully - was given a taste of some fluorescent mineral exhibits that they were working on, and boy did I ever feel transported back to my 5th grade self on a school trip,to,science north! I was really impressed. And they only ask a 5 dollar donation to enter - what a deal, we left our gift shop change in addition to the entry fee because it was really just that cool.
3. Canadian Museum of Nature
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,138 reviews
TEMPORARILY CLOSED. In accordance with current Government of Ontario directives during this pandemic, the museum is temporarily closed until further notice.
Reviewed By L971AWronb - Cobourg, Canada
The Museum of Nature building seamlessly blended the fort-like stone work with towering glass to make the experiance interesting for all ages. The butterfly exhibit was well worth the additional $5. You could spend a whole day viewing the tastefully arranged and informative displays of mamals, animals, birds and fish. They have created thought provoking interactive displays that entertain, educate and entice the viewer to get involved. This is a great family experiance.
4. Museum of Classical Antiquities
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
University of Ottawa presents a permanent exhibit of antiques from the Greco-Roman ages in the Mediterranean region.
5. Pelee Island Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Established in 1988, our museum houses a superb collection of island treasures. Focusing on Pelee Island's human and natural history, exhibits include geology, early Paleo-Indian culture, crossing the ice, wine history, fishing, quarrying, the pheasant hunt, shipwrecks, and much more. Open daily from May 1 through to Thanksgiving weekend.
Reviewed By ruthnicholsonue - Waterdown, Canada
This is where you will get a sense of the history and geology of Pelee Island. You can read newspaper stories of teachers. skating across the lake either coming or going across the 40 mile distance. There are stories about sleighs of produce hitting a hole in the ice and the disaster that ensues. You can read all the names of the island's lighthouse keepers and learn about the one who received a gold watch from Ottawa for his bravery in saving two ships that went aground between the island and the mainland. This centre tells about the ship wrecks, the flora and the fauna - just about every topic. There are lots of displays. It's a place you must visit.
6. Ottawa Insectarium
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
We have an amazing collection of insects from all over the world for nature lovers of all ages: Butterflies, scorpions, praying mantis, cockroaches, cicadas, beetles and many others. We also have live tarantulas, scorpions, giant African millipedes, stick insects, praying mantis and more. Be prepared to be fascinated!
