Zoo Memberships and Reciprocity: A Great Family Friendly Idea

Zoo memberships that come with reciprocity is an idea that is already a hit for many families. Zoo membership with reciprocity have been out there for awhile but seem to be growing in participation on the part of zoos and improving in the way they are managed with each passing season. If you have a zoo loving family and you know you will be at your own local zoo more than once or twice this summer you may want to check to see if your local zoo offers zoo memberships with reciprocity.

If you are a grandparent you might be unfamiliar with the zoo membership with reciprocity arrangements offered by many large zoos. Basically it breaks down to purchasing your fun in advance. It can prove to be a great money saver or perhaps like money in the bank . You buy a family membership which ranges in price depending upon the size and offerings of your zoo. With that membership generally comes an annual pass that will allow you admission and sometimes free parking each and every time you come. Some passes also come with offers that will allow you to include additional friends in your package.

The reciprocity angle is what will intrigue you if you have been away from zoo visitations for a while. Today with many zoo passes you have the luxury of taking the pass you use to enter you local zoo and using it for free admission to zoos all over the country. Sounds impossible doesn't it. Well with today's technology it is as easy as paying your membership fee and not losing your pass.

In all, some 140 zoos across the nation offer this kind of reciprocity. So you can use your pass all summer at your home city zoo but then pack it up and take it along when you go away for the weekend or on summer vacation to a more distant location. Having the pass along means that if you decide you want to go to a participating zoo along the way, you don't have to begin to alter your financial planning to come up with admissions for a day at the zoo. You have it covered.

Many participating zoos across the country will give you totally free admission while others will allow you a 50% discount on the cost of admission, either way you save. For example in Massachusetts, Franklin Park Zoo ordinarily charges adults $14 and kids $8 admission. but with a pass from a zoo participating in the reciprocity program instead of paying $44 for your family of 4 to visit the zoo while you are in Boston, you can go in for free.
In suburban North Attleboro, MA you can visit Capron Park for half the regular price for out of town visitors which is listed at $5.50 for adults and $3.75 for kids.

Reciprocity programs are not an east cost phenomenon. From the Buffalo Zoo in New York to the Miami Metro Zoo in Florida and from the Brandywine Zoo in Delaware to the Woodland Park Zoo in the state of Washington the deal is on and waiting for you.

Those in my family who have enjoyed the reciprocity program have of course loved the idea of going some place they know their kids will enjoy and not having to pay. But several have also mentioned that having the zoo pass with the reciprocity means that they go to the zoo more often and in different locations than otherwise would be possible for one simple reason. When you go to a zoo where you have to pay full price you feel obliged to stay as long as you can, sometimes even when common sense dictates it's time to go. With a membership pass and its reciprocity deal you can visit the zoo and stay for an hour and leave without feeling you haven't really gotten the value out of your stay. You know with the pass you can come back another day or as many days as you wish throughout the year.

My only question, where was this sensational idea when I was raising 3 kids who always wanted to go to the zoo. Oh well, there's always those 5 grandkids waiting.

Sources : www.zoonewengland.org