Aquariums, museums, observatories and zoos provide some structure to enjoying and interacting with the natural world. Visiting these places is highly encouraged as the money recieved not only supports the facility itself but also provides funds for research activities.
If you prefer to explore the natural world on your own in a less structured environment you can always visit a park or wildlife refuge. One way to explore these places is to pick up a field guide. Books can cost $10 - $50 depending on the size and subject matter but you don't have to start there. Search the internet for a guide that's free. See the link below for a list. Armed with your field guid and a camera, binoculars, tweezers or magnifying lens, visit the site and see how many different species you can find. Or if you're into geology or astonomy, see how many rocks and minerals or constellations you can identify.
It all starts with making initial observations then find a citizen science project to report what you saw. Overtime you may notice differences in what you observe. Formulate a hypothesis about this change and begin the scientific method.
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