With gas prices dropping, I am contemplating leaving the house again with my kids to explore Portland. And honestly, I need to get out of the house during the winter. In the past, we have had family memberships to both the Portland Children’s Museum and the Oregon Zoo. I would definitely consider CM2 again; the Zoo is cool, but not more than once a year for our family.
This year, I was thinking of asking for membership to OMSI for Christmas or forking over the cash myself. I have heard great things about their exhibits for preschoolers. I just received a promotional mailing from OMSI, offering a $20 off any membership. We would have to get the Family/Grandparent membership, regularly $90. With the promotional code, we would pay $70. I know there are cheaper ways to get out of the house (McDonald’s, IKEA & Fred Meyer Kids club, Clackamas Towne Center fishing pond and play area, Portland Parks & Rec Indoor Parks), but my daughter (4.5 years) is growing bored with some of these options.
Here’s a question for our readers: Would you consider an annual membership to OMSI (or CM2 or the Zoo for that matter) a frugal way to spend time with the family? Why or why not?
**Edit: Here’s the OMSI code, in case you’re interested: A09PBK. It isn’t a code assigned just to me, so I don’t have a problem sharing it.
photo by eddie awad
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Zoo for sure! OMSI was great when the kids played in the little kid area. But now they are in between that area and the rest of the museum so it isn’t as useful. On these rainy days, however, I kinda wish we still had that membership.
Even at my most thriftiest, I saw family memberships as crucial to my sanity!! Had one from one of the various Seattle offerings from ’98 till ’06. I always used them often. And, I have many fond OMSI memories from my childhood!
Definitely go the Christmas gift angle though – I always tried to have memberships given to me, but, alas, I didn’t get my first membership gift until my sister’s gift to me in ’06! (Thanks, B)
teresa has a membership and LOVES it. From what she has said, they change their exhibits often. She also felt it was a better deal than children’s museum. It was also closer and better parking. I think they go 3-4 times a month.
She said that it’s really fun for kids and dads to do b/c it has alot of cool dad stuff.
I saw the mailer too and thought about doing it. Sounds good to me!
I would want to know how many times do you have to go to make it worth your money for the year? And also, how often do they change their exhibits? Just another idea, what about swimming lessions at an indoor pool at a community center during winter time?
Ashley