Children's Museum, Science Center, Zoo Memberships - Opinions?

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Hi there,

For G's birthday we would like to purchase a membership for the Children's Museum, Science Center or Zoo. Any strong opinions on one over the other? I'm leaning towards Children's Museum and/or Science Center since weather would rarely deter us from taking advantage of it.

G (and Casey and I) is pale as pale can be, so I'm not sure if many trips to the zoo in the better weather would be very wise for him and us. 

 

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After reviewing all the information, it looks like G is free until age 2 or 3 at these places. Hmmm. Not sure if it's worth the membership - but then again, Casey and I may be more motivated to take him if we have the membership.

rona118

Now I would have said for his age the zoo would be the best fit (in my opinion). The zoo membership is nice too at that age because if you went for just a few hours it wouldn't be like you paid for a whole day pass and only used for a few hours. There are nice days even in Fall and winter that you could go for a few hours pack a lunch etc. I took DD to the Children's Museum at 15 months and I felt there were some things for her to do but not nearly as much as now. And could get through the whole place in a few hours. Again just my 2 cents.

lala5507

rona118:

Now I would have said for his age the zoo would be the best fit (in my opinion). The zoo membership is nice too at that age because if you went for just a few hours it wouldn't be like you paid for a whole day pass and only used for a few hours. There are nice days even in Fall and winter that you could go for a few hours pack a lunch etc. I took DD to the Children's Museum at 15 months and I felt there were some things for her to do but not nearly as much as now. And could get through the whole place in a few hours. Again just my 2 cents.

Totally agree with this.  I think he's a little below the prime age for the Children's musuem. 

Also, with the zoo membership you can get in for free or discounted at other zoos.  You only have to go a couple of times to make it worth the cost of the membership.

amyjoy18

I was going to vote for zoo.  We were able to take trips to the zoo in Feb/March last year (for the penguin parade!) on relatively warm days.  Then a few short trips during the summer and a few longer trips in the spring and fall when the weather was more forgiving. 

I like the more relaxed feeling when you have a membership and not needing to "get my money's worth" out of every trip.

waltsgirl102503

We have the zoo membership.  (and have since Noah was about a year old).  Like other said, we don't feel bad if we just go for a quick visit to the aquarium and that' it in the winter.  We usually go in the morning, before the sun is at it's full potential, so it's usually not terrible being outside.   

egpitt22

I would also vote for the zoo (and this is coming from another pale family!!) I think it's the cheapest option of all the choices you've listed, and I think it's the one he'd get the most out of right now.  My MIL got us a membership for the Children's Museum for Christmas, and we took the boys a few weeks ago....they had a great time, but I think had Liam been any younger, we would have been much more limited (as it was, there was stuff he still can't do at 20 months)  Also, you have to pay to park at the Children's Museum (zoo parking is free)

Like Amber, we normally get there right when it opens, get through whatever we can before it gets too hot & crowded, eat our packed lunches, then head home after that (the boys usually fall asleep in the car on the ride home, so it works out well!)

4EvR&4AlWz

lala5507:

rona118:

Now I would have said for his age the zoo would be the best fit (in my opinion). The zoo membership is nice too at that age because if you went for just a few hours it wouldn't be like you paid for a whole day pass and only used for a few hours. There are nice days even in Fall and winter that you could go for a few hours pack a lunch etc. I took DD to the Children's Museum at 15 months and I felt there were some things for her to do but not nearly as much as now. And could get through the whole place in a few hours. Again just my 2 cents.

Totally agree with this.  I think he's a little below the prime age for the Children's musuem. 

Also, with the zoo membership you can get in for free or discounted at other zoos.  You only have to go a couple of times to make it worth the cost of the membership.

 

Ditto zoo!  4 trips over a year pays for itself.  I don't think Childrens Museum until he is a good walker.  If you're looking for it as gifts, people can always get you gift cards (at Giant Eagle) and then buy when you're ready (probably closer to 18 months).  My other favorites are Idlewild for like 16-18months++

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Thanks everyone! All very good points! I think maybe we will go with the Zoo. I forgot about the aquarium, so that's a great way to use it in the winter months.

I also have to keep in mind that as much as *I* love the Science Center and Children's Museum, there isn't much there for him to do at this age.

Much appreciated! 

6307bride

Another vote for zoo!! We got it last year with Robbie and we got a family plus membership(the 10 pass one)...so we got to take my nieces and nephews a couple times with us,plus grandma and pap, along with close family friends!! So worth the money... We are hoping to do it again this year, but I may have it "lapse" a couple weeks before I can buy it;) we loved it though...another fair skinned family who go earlier in the day to try to avoid the high sun hours!

Jefsnickerdodle

we bought a member ship to the zoo with first birthday money- we went once it was not worth it. We go maybe once a year and the last 2 times we had had tickets from somewhere anyway. Last year we didnt go at all.

I know some people that are there all the time and I think you only need like 3 trips to make it worth while which is why we bought it but- for us it just didn't happen.

We have gone to the childrens museum twice in 4 1/2 years.  as well as the sience center.  I dunno although we have fun- to an extent most of it is always the same....we just don't do those things that often...

Maybe that is just us.

AmandaJLewis

we did the zoo membership two years in a row and went enough to make it worth while.  Like Amber and Emmy, we go when it opens. And are out around lunch time. We let our membership lapse last year because with selling the house and my broken foot it was hard to get out there. We were just talking about renewing it for this year.

MandyMilller

We just had Wes at the Science Center yesterday. While he had fun, there was pretty much nothing for him to do beyond the top floor. He liked the train and the planetarium movie, but the top floor kept calling him back. It was fun, but I can't see taking him more than once a year. And, yes, he was free. We only usually go to the zoo once too, but I think at his age that's the best b/c you can see the animals, plus there are slides, a playground and a couple of rides he can go on (although I guess you still have to pay for those w/ a membership).