For members only: Deals at local museums great for families
With the cost of admission, parking, activities and food, a typical family outing can easily creep up into the $100s. An annual membership to a local museum or attraction may not seem attainable, but it might actually save you money in the long run.
Memberships provide free admission all year, and many also offer discounted summer camps and special events for members only. A few even include free or discounted admission to museums, zoos and parks in the U.S. and other continents. And many memberships are tax deductible.
Here are some local museums, attractions, parks and historic landmarks with great membership benefits:
Frost Science Museum
1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Memberships: $109 Individual Plus (member + one free guest per visit); $189 Family (2 adults + up to 4 children 18 and under); $229 Family Plus (same as family + two free guests); Family Plus Premier (3 adults + up to 4 children 18 and under + two free guests).
Perks:
▪ Free museum admission + one planetarium show per visit
▪ Free or discounted admission to more than 360 partner science centers via the ASTC Passport Travel Program (exclusions apply, visit astc.org/passport)
▪ First-look of new exhibitions during member previews
▪ Second hour of parking free on every visit
▪ Special evening hours and programming, including sleepovers at the museum
▪ 10% discount at Food@Science and the Science Store
▪ 20% discount on all laser evening shows
▪ Discounts on classes and camps
Upcoming member events: Engineer This! and a special preview of SUE: The T. rex Experience special exhibition in May
Museum of Discovery and Science
401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale
Memberships: Teacher Individual $10; Teacher Family $100 (2 adults + up to 4 children 18 and under; $140 Manatee Family (2 adults + up to 4 children 18 and under); $240 Sea Turtle Membership (2 adults + up to 6 children); $340 Angelfish Family (4 adults + 6 children)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Special movie screenings + free popcorn
▪ 20% discount on camps and birthday parties
▪ Members-only breakfast programming
▪ Discounts on Turtle Walks, Otter Encounters and Discovery After Dark, and more
▪ Free or discounted admission to more than 360 partner science centers via the ASTC Passport Travel Program* (exclusions apply, visit astc.org/passport)
*ASTC Passport Travel Program benefits not applicable to a science center within 90 miles of where you have membership.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables
Memberships: $95 individual; $120 Dual (2 adults); $140 Family (2 adults + children 17 and under); $130 Grandparents (2 adults + grandchildren 17 and under)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Free admission to art exhibitions and other special events, including its annual three-day Chocolate Garden; Mango Festival and new Roar and Explore: Dinosaurs at Fairchild taking place from May – July
▪ Member discount on select events, such as the Valentine’s Day concert Feb. 14
▪ Discounted and priority registrations to classes and seminars
▪ Free or discounted admission at 300 gardens throughout North America and the Cayman Islands through the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocity Admissions Program (exclusion apply, visit https://ahsgardening.org/wp-content/pdfs/2019_RAP_Members.pdf)
▪ Early admission to the garden
▪ 10% off at The Shop at Fairchild
▪ Subscription to The Tropical Garden magazine
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami
Memberships: $35 student (must show proof of enrollment); $50 individual; $75 dual (can bring different guest each time with “unnamed guest” option); $100 family (2 adults and up to 4 children 17 and under)
Perks:
▪ Free admission to the Main House, gardens and special tours of the Vizcaya Village
▪ Complimentary audio and guided tours
▪ Discounted daily admission for guests
▪ 10% discount at the café and shop
▪ Access to exclusive member events, such as yoga and meditation classes
▪ Member discount on community programs and events, such as the Valentine’s Remix on Feb. 14 and Seersucker Social: A 1920s Game Night on March 25
Miami Beach Botanical Garden
200 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach
Memberships: $50 Individual; $75 Family
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Special member pricing on garden events, such as the 15th Annual Taste of the Garden on Feb. 6 featuring fine wines, cocktails and bites from local restaurants. Proceeds benefit the garden’s cultural arts programs.
▪ 10% discount at the Botanical Boutique and Garden Center
▪ Free or discounted admission at more than 300 gardens throughout North America and the Cayman Islands through the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program (exclusions apply, visit https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/)
▪ Subscription to Edible South Florida magazine
▪ Native wildflower seed packet
Zoo Miami
12400 SW 152nd St., Miami
Memberships: $69 Individual (ages 18 – 64); $89 Dual (2 adults, or 1 adult + 1 child, or 1 adult + unnamed guest); $169 Family (2 adults + up to 4 children ages 3 – 17 living in same household); $64 Senior Individual; (65+); $84 Senior Dual (2 adults or 1 adult + 1 child)
Upgrade ticket option: You may present tickets purchased within 14 days and amount paid will be subtracted from annual membership cost.
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission (excluding special events)
▪ Six “Buddy Passes” per visit, valid for $4 off admission for guests accompanying member
▪ 20% off education programs, such as Wild Nights and Zoo Camp
▪ 10% off food and beverage at select concession
▪ 10% off at gift shop
Free or discounted admission to more than 140 zoos, aquariums and wildlife centers in the U.S. and Canada, plus discounted admission at Butterfly World, Everglades Safari Park, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, and Jungle Island Miami as part of the Members Reciprocal agreement. View the complete list at: https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2440/2019_reciprocal_list_9172019.pdf.
Deering Estate
16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami
Memberships: $50 Individual; $75 Dual (2 adults in the same household); $105 Family (2 adults + up to 4 children); $15 Student (ages 18 – 26)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Discounted admission to special events, such as the Moonlight & Music Valentine’s Day concert Friday, Feb. 14.
▪ Free admission to select events, including the annual Deering Seafood Festival on the Bay on March 29, the Vintage Auto Show in November, and Moonrise Viewings throughout the year.
▪ Members-only cocktail reception May 7.
▪ Free access to specialty tours, such as Bird Walks, Butterfly Walks and Night Hike & Campfires
▪ 25% discount on Personal Portrait and Scenic Photography
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
1 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Memberships: $80 Individual; $160 Family (2 adults + children ages 13 – 17 in the same household)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Two complimentary museum guest passes
▪ Invitations to members-only opening receptions
▪ Free or discounted admission to museum programs
▪ 10% discount at the Museum Store and Café
▪ Free or discounted admission to more than 1,000 museums and cultural institutions across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, El Salvador and Mexico through the North American Reciprocal Museum Association. View a complete list of participating museums at https://narmassociation.org/.
Pérez Art Museum Miami
1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
Memberships: $65 Individual; $90 Dual/Family (2 adults + up to 4 children living in the same household + 1 guest pass)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Invitations to member-only events, including Fourth of July celebration, breakfast and conversation with PAMM curators and Member Appreciation Weekend
▪ 10% discount at PAMM Shop, Verde restaurant and Cucuyó Café
▪ Discounted parking
▪ Free or discounted admission to more than 1,000 museums and cultural institutions across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, El Salvador and Mexico through the North American Reciprocal Museum Association. View a complete list of participating museums at https://narmassociation.org/.
Miami Children’s Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami
Memberships: $125 Grandparents (2 grandparents + up to 6 children in the same household); $150 Family (2 adults + up to four children in the same household); $175 Family Plus (same as Family + one guest per visit)
Perks:
▪ Free daily admission
▪ Monthly member events and previews
▪ Discounted tickets to special events
▪ Two complimentary one-day guest passes
▪ 10% discount at the gift shop
▪ 10% discount on classes, camps and birthday parties
▪ 25% discount on MiChiMu rock wall passes
▪ 50% off admission for up to six at more than 200 children’s museums in the U.S. and Canada through the Association of Children’s Museums (visit www.childrensmuseums.org)
Jungle Island
1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami
Annual Pass: “Buy 1 Day, Get the Rest of The Year for FREE.” By purchasing regular park admission, guests will be automatically upgraded to a 2020 Annual Pass, which is valid through Dec. 31, 2020. Admission cost is $49.95 for ages 10 and up; $35.95 for ages 3 - 10.
Perks:
▪ Free admission through Dec. 31, 2020
▪ Access to more than 350 rare animals and birds, and educational exhibits
▪ Two entertaining animal shows: Wing Wonders and Wild Adventures
▪ Australian red kangaroos in the Kangaroo Walkabout
▪ Variety of farm animals at the petting farm
▪ New thematic playground for kids
