The Best ASTC Passport Museums in the Northeast. ASTC Passport is a Museum Reciprocity Program that allows you to purchase a museum membership to one museum and use it at museums around the country. Even around the world. It can save you a lot of money and easily make your money back on the first or second visit.
If you are looking at the latest ASTC Museum list, it can show you all the ASTC passport program participants’ museums. First, let’s see how this pass will save you and learn about some of the best museums in the program.
The ASTC Reciprocal Museum Admission Costs and Savings
Visiting the best ASTC Passport Museums in the Northeast can be fun and affordable. An ASTC Passport can save you hundreds of dollars in entrance fees. We were able to purchase a membership for $100 to the MiSci Schenectady, our kid’s favorite local science museum. We used the museum passes during our trip to Boston for the Boston Science museum ($29A/$25C= $108 for a family of 4) and the Boston Children’s Museum ($18 1+= $72 for a family of 4).
There’re so many great museums included. I decided to collaborate with a handful of bloggers to compile a summary of some of the many museums. Here’s a full list of museums.
ASTC Passport Museums in New York
There are many Museums in NYS that are part of the ASTC Passport Museum Reciprocity program. Here are some of our favorites.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street. www.amnh.org While overnight stay requires a separately prices experience, you can enjoy all the exciting displays at the American Museum of Natural History as seen in the move a Night at the Museum. From Dinosaurs to tiny insects there so much to see and learn about as well as special exhibits.
MiSci (Museum of Innovation and Science)
15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady, NY 12308 (518) 382-7890 www.misci.org F: Two adults and all dependent children under 18 living in the same household.
The Misci is a great museum for Children. Highlights are the bubbles, water table, and grocery store areas. My kids can spend half a day here and never tire of it. They have rotating displays that include trains, dinosaurs, and toys. I highly recommend a visit to this museum. It’s our favorite in the area. ~AffordableFamilyTravel.com
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368 (718) 699-0005 www.nysci.org F: Two adults and up to four children in the household
The NY Hall of Science, located in Queens, NY is an awesome (and educational) way to spend an NYC day. From a pre-school place for the little ones to hands-on science and math exhibits, there is something for kids of all ages at this museum. Visit in the summer to visit their outdoor science playground as well as to play a round of rocket mini-golf. ~Momma To Go
New York Transit Museum
99 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 694-1600 www.nytransitmuseum.org F: Two adults and two children under 17. Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal (Shuttle Passage, next to the Station Master’s Office) is free
For families visiting New York City, a trip to the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn is a must. The museum, housed in an old subway station, contains interactive and kid-friendly exhibits showcasing the history of New York City’s transportation system, including buses, trams, and subways. The highlight of the museum is the old subway cars, some of them dating back to the early 1900s. ~Astrid@ TheWanderingDaughter.com
The Corning Museum of Glass
One Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830 (800) 732-6845 www.cmog.org F: Two adults and all children 17 and under. Passport visitors receive 15% off regularly priced items in museum shops; the discount excludes online purchases, Make Your Own Glass, and café purchases.
The Corning Museum of Glass is a hybrid museum featuring science exhibits, modern art, and historic glass pieces. The museum even offers live glass-making demonstrations as well as the opportunity for visitors to make their own glass. ~wildkidswander.com
Wild Center
45 Museum Dr, Tupper Lake, NY. (518) 359-7800. The Wild Center in Tupper Lake is a nice day trips from Lake Placid. The Wild Center has a great out door raised platform called Wild Walk. Its a lot of fun for the kids. However, what surprised us the most was how great their indoor nature center is. The kids love seeing the otters and the glacier changing landscape. As well as the little reptiles they have on display.
ASTC Passport Museums in Massachusetts
There are several Museums in Massachusetts that are part of the ASTC Passport Museum Reciprocity program. Here are some of our favorites.
Berkshire Museum
39 South Street, Route 7, Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 443-7171 www.berkshiremuseum.org F: Two adults named on card (photo ID required) and up to four children under 18.
The Berkshire Museum is a small museum in the cute little town of Pittsfield, Ma with many great restaurants, great for a day visit. The museum has a small dinosaur dig area the kids really liked when they were little. Children also like the tiny basement aquarium and watching the turtles being fed. ~AffordableFamilyTravel.com
Boston Children’s Museum
308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 (617) 426-6500 www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org F: Children and the adults who care for them, up to four people.
Boston Children’s Museum is a fun place you can easily spend 3 or more hours here. There’s a whole room for bubbles, and the energy area was a big hit. This museum is recommended for 6 and under but older kids will be entertained as well. ~AffordableFamilyTravel.com
Museum of Science with the ASTC Passport
1 Science Park, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 723-2500 www.mos.org F: Up to four people depending on the level of membership. One of the people must be named on the membership card. Children under 3 are always free. Exhibit halls admission only; no other discounts apply.
The Boston Museum of Science is the best Science museum we have been to. You can spend a full day and not see everything. Highlights include the Park like science area. ~AffordableFamilyTravel.
Springfield Museums
21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA 01103 (800) 625-7738 www.springfieldmuseums.org F: Two adults and two children under 18. Free general admission only; does not include special exhibit or planetarium fees
Springfield Museums are several museums housed in separate buildings. The most popular is the Dr Seuss Museum. You can spend about an hour or so in each museum and there are several to choose from. Keep an eye out for special exhibits our favorite was Toytopia. We have never spent more than 3 hours at this museum but we usually only visit 2-3 museums in a visit. There is definitely enough to fill a full day between the multiple museums. ~ AffordableFamilyTravel.com
ASTC Passport Museums in Ohio
COSI
333 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 228-2674 www.cosi.org F: Two adults and up to four children 18 and under living in one household, or two grandparents and up to four grandchildren 18 and under. Surcharge may be assessed for select American Museum of Natural History exhibitions and/or other experiences.
The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is an awesome children’s science museum located in Columbus, Ohio. My favorite areas are the dinosaur exhibit and the Little Kidspace. The dinosaur exhibit has so many cool things, including a life-size T-rex model. The Little Kidspace is an area designed for children in 2nd grade and under. It has water play, shadow play, a play barn, market, house, doctor’s office, and more! ~Natalie @Blissmersion.com
ASTC Passport Museums in Pennsylvania
Carnegie Science Center
One Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 237-3400 www.carnegiesciencecenter.org F: Two adults and four children ages 3 to 17. Does not include ticketed exhibits or films at The Rangos Giant Cinema.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is packed with museums for all ages and interests. The Carnegie Science Center is a hands-on museum that aims to build an interest in science and other STEM concepts for even the littlest learners. With exhibits about the human body, robotics, and various opportunities to build new things, there’s something for every interest at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh ~ToddlingTraveler.com
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 322-5058 www.pittsburghkids.org F: Up to two adults and up to three children in one immediate family who are listed on the reciprocal institution’s membership. Not reciprocal with Carnegie Science Center or McKinley Presidential Library & Museum memberships.
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh aims to spark creativity with a variety of hands-on displays encouraging children to learn, build and create throughout the entire experience. The Carnegie Science Center is another hands-on museum that aims to build an interest in science and other STEM concepts for even the littlest learners. With exhibits about the human body, robotics, and various opportunities to build new things, there’s something for every interest at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. ~ToddlingTraveler.com
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 299-1000 www.ansp.org F: General admission for up to two named adults and up to five children under 18 listed on the reciprocal institution’s membership. Does not include special exhibits or events.
The Academy of Natural Sciences is perfect for families! Its smaller size makes it easy to visit in the morning before the lunch rush. Visitors can dig for dinosaur bones, learn about various mammals from all over the world, and have hands-on experience with butterflies and insects. ~ WildKidsWander.com
Check out some of the places we have visited that have ASTC Museums
The Best ASTC Passport Museums in the Northeast Summary
The Best ASTC Passport Museums in the Northeast can provide year-long entertainment for 1 low membership price.
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This came out great! Have so many more places I want to visit now – that membership is a gem, I have been to a few others (dont have dedicated posts on them though)
I agree I need to get moving. I was hoping to visit 12 total in the 1yr membership the. Again 10 visits would be only $10 per visit for our family of 4.