Family memberships at Central Illinois attractions are worth the money. Besides visiting the attraction many times over, the reciprocal program is a great benefit.
With the Peoria Zoo Family Membership, a family of four visiting the animals three times pays for itself. Plus, the family membership gets your family FREE into 130 other zoos through the reciprocal program. Zoos included are in the Bloomington, Springfield, Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Louis areas.
The Family Membership Plus at the Children’s Discovery Museum of Normal is a favorite. The museum is only 45 minutes away from Peoria, and is a great way to spend the day. All kids love interacting with the exhibits. Their reciprocal program is the best because it is allows you to get in FREE to several science and children’s museums (ASTC & ACM). The family membership allows you to get into several Chicago attractions for FREE including the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Children’s Museum, DuPage Children’s Museum, and much more. Then, there’s a whole list for St. Louis as well. Click on their webpage for a complete list. This membership is great, especially if you visit relatives who live in other areas with reciprocal museums.
The Family Membership at Lakeview Museum allows you to view traveling special exhibits locally. Kids always enjoy the Discovery Center. The Family Membership at Lakeview Museum allows you to get into FREE to several other science museums as well through the reciprocal program. But you do not get into as many children’s museums as the Normal Children’s Museum, since it is not a member of the Association of Children’s Museums(ACM). Visit the Lakeview Museum’s webpage for a complete list of reciprocal museums.
Be aware that Lakeview Museum and the Normal Children’s Museum do NOT offer free reciprocal admission to each other. You do receive discount admission, though.
Although Wildlife Prairie State Park does not offer a reciprocal program with its family membership, it is a great attraction to admire the scenery and visit animals not found at the zoo.
Here is an idea. Instead of relatives purchasing “stuff” for Christmas, request a family membership to an area attraction as a present for the whole family. The family will definitely enjoy it, and it supports a Central Illinois non-profit.