This Flying-Reptile Exhibit In Ottawa Needs To Be On Your Summer Bucket List

It's only happening until September 2!

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If you’re looking to take off on an awesome (and educational!) excursion this summer, look no further than the special pterosaur exhibit that’s on right now at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN). Load up the car—it’s time for an adventure that Ms. Frizzle would approve of!

On loan from the American Museum of Natural History in NYC, this special exhibition: Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs has been the main attraction at the CMN since June 15 and continues until September 2. Located in Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Nature is just a two-hour drive from downtown Montreal. It’s the perfect opportunity to take off for a day on a road trip with friends or family. After all, who doesn’t love learning about and imagining the creatures that ruled the earth millions of years ago? 

Canadian Museum of Nature, pterosaur
Canadian Museum of Nature

Pterosaurs existed at the same time as dinosaurs, but they dominated the skies, whereas dinosaurs never flew. While you may never have heard of pterosaurs until now, you likely are familiar with pterodactyls, which were a type of pterosaur. And the biggest pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus—with a wing-span of up to 13 metres (over 40 feet)—was the size of a fighter jet. How wild is that?!  

From their popular “Fly Like A Pterosaur” station (where you swoop through the air to catch a fish or a bug) to fossils and models of the first animals other than insects to master flight, Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs is a unique exhibit that’ll whisk you away to an unbelievable world where reptilian predators were king of the world.

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What a great day flying around Ottawa with our pterosaurs. We will be back out on Wednesday. Until then, enjoy these great pics. Big as a fighter jet, or small as a sparrow, they lived for 150 million years—the original fear in flight. Visit Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs. This summer only, until Sept 2. . . . #myottawa #monottawa #pterosaurs #pterosaur #ottawa #ottevents #ottawadowntown #downtownottawa #museumofnature #fun #silly #inflatables #inflatable @bywardmarket @thelordelginhotel @ncc_ccn @ottawatourism @outaouais @bytownmuseum @cityofottawa @library.parl.biblio @o_canadiana @fairmontlaurier @tavernonthehillottawa beavertails_official @igersottawa

A post shared by Canadian Museum of Nature (@museumofnature) on Jul 7, 2019 at 10:32am PDT

If you’re looking to explore the wonders of our natural world, including the creatures that lived millions of years ago, there’s no better place to visit than the Canadian Museum of Nature. Canada’s national museum of natural history and natural sciences is a highly popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

And, sometimes, the museum creatures even take to the streets to interact with the public! Yup, recently 12 inflatable pterosaurs could actually be seen swooping through Ottawa, visiting Parliament Hill, and riding an open-top double-decker bus as part of the CMN’s experiential marketing campaign—just to give you an idea of how hyped up this exhibit is. You don’t want to miss it!

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Another Pterrific day exploring Ottawa with our Pterosaurs! We had a lot of fun touring more iconic Ottawa spots and meeting a lot of new friends on @sparks_street ! The day was capped off with some fun sightseeing on the @ladydiveottawa bus by Parliament Hill and through the @bywardmarket. Big as a fighter jet, or small as a sparrow, they lived for 150 million years—the original fear in flight. Visit Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs, on until Sept 2. . . . #pterosaur #pterosaurs #pterosaursexhibit #museumofnature #myottawa #igersottawa #ottawa #ottevents

A post shared by Canadian Museum of Nature (@museumofnature) on Jul 10, 2019 at 6:04pm PDT

Tickets for the pterosaur exhibit start at $7 plus admission fees for children, students, and seniors, and $10 plus admission fees for adults (toddlers get in for free!). This limited-time exhibit has got something for the whole family, so make sure that you’re able to fit it into your schedule this summer! You can purchase tickets here.

There are also loads of other fun activities to do at this exhibit. Jurassic Flight, an immersive virtual reality experience unlike any other, allows you to basically soar through Jurassic skies. If you're into amazing 3D movies, kick back and relax in the theatre while pterosaurs come alive on the big screen in the award-winning Flying Monsters 3D.

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Peace, Love, and Nature Nocturne!!! #naturenocturne #flowerpower #ottawa

A post shared by Devon Gale (@savagemudder) on Jun 1, 2019 at 9:43am PDT

Looking to reconnect with nature and fill up your IG feed with incredible pictures? Check out hundreds of gorgeous live butterflies in a warm, tropical environment with flowering plants. Talk about pretty! And when you feel like meeting new people and partaking in fun activities, the Nature Nocturne (19+) events are the perfect way to mingle, let loose, and explore the galleries after hours while listening to great music.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is located at 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario.

Want to learn more about the Pterosaur: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit? Check out nature.ca, and follow the Canadian Museum of Nature on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for more information!