Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Arizona Science Center - Why a membership is really worth the money

You hear about memberships to museums and you wonder if the membership is a good fit for your family, would you get your money's worth?  Currently there is a Groupon deal for the Arizona Science Center.  $55 for a 4 person membership!  Here are a few things you may not have known about with a membership to the Arizona Science Center:

Bed of nails!

1 - A membership to the Arizona Science Center also gets you admission into 250 other science museums world wide, including Arizona's Lowell Observatory (for those making a fall or winter trip up north) and Tucson's International Wildlife Museum (my big cat lover would love the November 15th big cat up close and personal activity).  Marily used this perk when traveling to Texas last summer and was able to get entrance into a few Texas museums.  This site here has a list of other participating science centers and more information on the 90 mile rule.  As always, it is best to call a science center ahead of time to make sure your membership is accepted there as well.  But, it is nice to know that a local membership can save you money on future family vacations.

2 - Share your membership perks with friends.  The Arizona Science Center website states that with each membership you can name a maximum of two adults per membership and that, "The Science Center requires one of the named adults to be present each visit. That adult can bring any combination of adults and children that their 'Admit Number' allows."  Meaning, if my older kids are in school and therefore are not able to go to the museum with me, I can take my sister and her at home children with me to the museum to get in for free with my membership.   Or take your 4 person membership and go on a double date with friends.  Many options for sharing here.

3 - Members get reduced admission to the traveling exhibits, the planetarium, and IMAX.  Think paying $24 to see the newest exhibit is pricey?  Yep, me too.  But, with a membership, if you want to check out a featured exhibit the cost is $5.  The planetarium and IMAX are between $5 and $6 as well.

4 - We just made it through summer, but think about SUMMER!  It is hot in the summer.  Everyone is always asking us "what can I do?!"  Purchase a membership now at this discounted rate and it is good for a year.  The Arizona Science Center will keep you cool and entertained all. year. long.

5 - Purchase this Groupon as a gift.  The holidays are right around the corner.  I'm always trying to think of gifts that are useful, creative, and don't just add the the clutter of a home.  If you purchase the Groupon now, the membership does not need to be activated until January 1st, 2015.

6 - But Wait!  There's More.  (Do I sound like a QVC saleman yet?)  If you purchase by October 21st from Groupon, you can use the code local15 making the membership $46.75. (Don't worry, if you miss the 15% off, this is still an awesome deal!)

What if a four person membership is not large enough?

I verified this morning that you can add up to two children on your membership for $10 each.  I have a family of 7.  To remedy this I can purchase the $55 Groupon offer, add two more children for $10 more each, and then ages 2 and under (one of my 7 is a baby) get in free.

Last year my friend e-mailed me a link to a deal on a membership to the Arizona Science Center.  At the time life was crazy and I let the deal pass me by.  This last month my friend had extra guest passes so she invited us to tag along with her to the science center . It had been years since I last took my kiddos so we were all super excited to go.  Even just a few minutes into our explorations of the Arizona Science Center, I knew I shouldn't let another deal on a membership pass me up.  

So what do we think about the Arizona Science Center?

See for yourselves!


Demos

Interactive technology.

Workers who teach.

Each exhibit kept my kids engaged.  We stayed for several hours, but still felt like we had so much to explore.  There were demonstrations that we could have sat and watched.  We could have spent more time understanding the science behind some of the exhibits.  I'm a certified teacher, so my mind was spinning with lessons I could teach at home and then explore more at the museum.  For instance, there is the exhibit on the body.  I would love to teach more about the body at home so that when we return, the exhibits are much more relevant.

Basically this is an awesome deal, but even if you wait and pay full price, I'd say it is still worth it.

Buy the Groupon here.

text and images by Kathryn

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