I'm a big fan of free things. Free food? Yes. Free clothes? Sure, why not! Free candy? Absolutely.
Free passes to local museums? Um, where do I sign up?
The Museum Adventure Pass is a program at Hennepin County Libraries where you can use your library card to "check out" free admission to various museums in the Twin Cities area. It's been around for a few years now, and is super popular. Each pass is good for two people (those of you with multiple kids, just have your children use their cards to get more passes). There are a limited number of passes available each week, so you should try to get them as soon as possible. Each pass is good for one week after you get it.
There are a lot of museums (and zoos) to choose from. As of this writing, there are 17 different institutions that take part in the program, from the Minnesota Zoo to the American Swedish Institute to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Some of the places listed are already free, but the passes might give you discounts at the gift shops or restaurants.
The Museum Adventure Pass could also be a cheap date for you and your spouse! You're probably paying for a babysitter, dinner, parking...why not take a stroll through the Walker or get a chance to look out from the Foshay Observation Deck for free?
The cool thing about this program is that it's funded by local companies. Without their support, this kind of thing just wouldn't be possible. Minnesota is a great place to live if you love the arts. There's so much support not just from individuals, but corporations as well. The fact that we have a major art museum with free general admission (I'm talking about the MIA) is just unheard of these days. The Chicago Art Institute's admission for one kid is $12! Take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts. I'm sure there's at least one place on the Adventure Pass list that your child would love to visit.
