Childhood is all about exploring a wide range of experiences before we get "set" in our adult ways. I try to bring my kids to as many museums as I can so they can see the world openly.
When purchasing memberships at museums and gardens, there may be an option to be part of a larger reciprocal network where admission at sister sites is discounted or flat out free. This makes the value of the membership worth much more. These networks make it possible for families to experience more art, nature and science. Children are like sponges!
Association of Children's Museum (ACM) Reciprocal Network is a voluntary group of museums open across the U.S. and Canada that reciprocate discounted admission to each other’s members. 200 museums participate in the network and reciprocate 50% off general admission for up to six (6) people. The card holder must be present for discounted admission.
Sonoma County Local Agency: Children's Museum of Sonoma County - Fun Four Level, $140
Examples of Nearby Reciprocal Partners: Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito), Chabot Space (Oakland), Children's Creativity Museum (San Francisco), Children's Discovery Museum (San Jose), KidZone (Truckee), Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley), Lindsay Wildlife (Walnut Creek), M Y Museum (Monterey), The New Children's Museum (San Diego), Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, Sacramento Children's Museum, San Diego Children's Museum, San Luis Obispo Children's Museum, Santa Cruz Children's Museum, and much more. Total list here.
- NARM - https://narmassociation.org
The North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM) is an extensive network of hundreds of cultural institutions across Bermuda, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States, connecting their memberships for access to Arts, science, history, botanical gardens, and more.
Sonoma County Local Agency: Charles Schultz Museum - Fan Level $115
Examples of Nearby Reciprocal Partners: Di Rosa (Napa), The Junior Center of Art and Science (Oakland), California State Railroad Museum (Sacramento), Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento), San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego History Center, Asian Art Museum (San Francisco), de Young (SF), Legion of Honor (SF) and many small art institutions. Total list here. This is great way to expose young children to art museums! You can do short visits instead of trying to see everything at once.
- ROAM - https://sites.google.com/site/roammuseums
Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM) was created to fill a need amount museums and their members, a free reciprocal network that connects world class institutions.
Sonoma County Local Agency: Charles Schultz Museum - Fan Level $115
Examples of Nearby Reciprocal Partners: UC Berkeley Art Museum, UC Botanical Garden, Cartoon Art Museum (San Francisco), Children's Creativity Museum (SF), Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco, Walt Disney Museum (SF), San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, CuriOdyssey (San Mateo), UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, Palo Alto History Museum, Fowler Museum of UCLA and much more. Total list here. Like NARM, this list is extensive and is a unique opportunity to introduce young minds to art museums.
A current membership card entitles you to special admission privileges and discounts at 345+ gardens throughout North America.
Sonoma County Local Agency: Sonoma Botanical Garden - $75 for household
Examples of Nearby Reciprocal Partners: Gardens of Golden Gate Park - Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Styling Arboretum (San Francisco), Humboldt Botanical Garden, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Regional Parks Botanical Gardens (Berkeley), San Diego Botanic Garden, Turtle Bay Exploration Park (Redding), all the UC Botanical Gardens and many more. Total list here. Similar to the museums, this program allows families to take a break at wonderful gardens that they may not normally explore.
Other Networks with no Local Sonoma County agency, but may be in San Francisco, Oakland or San Mateo
The Sonoma County Library also offers free admission to local museums and activity centers through their Discover and Go Program. Popular sites like the Bay Area Discovery Museum or the California Academy of Sciences are only allowed once a year and need to be reserved much in advance.
