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| - Been here a number of times. A good day for anyone, to include grandchildren.
Exhibits are regularly changed as they have a lot of stuff stored for later showing. There is usually a special exhibit, usually at an additional premium. It is a well maintained facility, clean convenient rest rooms and helpful staff.
The check-in personnel are especially helpful. As there are a lot of versions to admission fees please don't hesitate to ask questions. I am former/retired military and we ended up getting our admissions complemented for all of us, wife and three grandchildren. Known as Blue Star admissions. How very nice.
Military veterans enjoy complementary admission through August. I am not certain if this is a special for 2017 or is it is common, so ask.
We had some games or focus items for our grandchildren so they would slow down and look at the exhibits. One was to identify any animals they found. Another was to have each of them select three postcards in the gift shop and then see if they could find those items. The kids did enjoy it and got into the hunts.
The gift shop is singularly outstanding. An amazing collection of hand crafted items, especially pottery, from local artists. And everything was in the exceptional category of art, beauty and craftsmanship. There is also a wide selection of books, many related to the artists being displayed upstairs. A great gift shopping opportunity.
Most enjoyed is the children's center downstairs. There are opportunities to draw, to create collages from paper, wire and items and a mock-up kitchen complete with plates and bowls and plastic food items, fruits and vegetables. Even mops to play at cleaning up. On the walls are interesting educational posters.
We went in before and after lunch as the kids enjoyed it so much. Wife and I switched off so that each of us could revisit areas upstairs while the other played with the grandchildren.
The admission tickets are good for that day and the next, including the Mint Museum on Randolph Road.
A great day trip for the family.You can park across the street and around the corner, so the walk inside is easy. And ask at the admissions desk for the card which gives you $10 off of your parking fee when you exit in your car.
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