Museum visits
With March break around the corner, I thought it a good idea to revisit some useful tips and hints about our not too far away museums. For those of us staying . . .
home for the week lucky enough to get to spend it with our little ones you may want to check out the awesome museums we have access to. Here are a few things to try to keep in mind when visiting museums in the future.
My first museum lesson that I learned after I had children was to be strategic when packing for our outing. Trying to navigate some of the space with a stroller and large diaper bag was awful. Then trying to find an easy spot to leave our stroller when the kids wanted to explore wasn’t always practical. I have learned that with a young child to use our baby carrier and leave the stroller at home. This also meant we left the bulky diaper bag in the car and brought a small bag with us for the essentials.
Planning your visit beforehand can also make your visit much more pleasant. Taking a quick peek at the museum’s website can let you know if there is special programming. With special programming, you will generally get more bang for your buck but keep in mind this can also mean the museum will be much busier and can make parking harder. Day to day many museums will also offer demonstrations which you can check out on their website or you can pick up a map and handout for the day when going through the admission.
One of my biggest tips is don’t assume there is food. Whether you are visiting with kids, other adults or by yourself sometimes your visit may last longer than expected and there isn’t always somewhere for you to buy food. My suggestion is to pack some snacks. If you do stop for a snack break check your map or ask an employee where the best place to eat is. When planning your visit you can also search for nearby restaurants to make things easier after your visit if needed.
Involve older kids with deciding which museum to visit. We have a large selection in the Ottawa area and it pays to look at what each museum offers and to discuss what they are most interested in seeing.
When visiting museums with older children you want to make sure you choose something of interest to them so you are there long enough to make your city visit worthwhile.
In case you aren’t aware, this is a list of museums in Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, National Gallery of Canada, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum and the Diefenbunker Museum.
With little kids, dress your child in bright coloured clothing so they are very visible. Take a photo of them before hand in case you lose track of each other, you could show museum workers what your child looks like and is wearing. Discuss with your child what they should do if ever you are separated and the rules you expect them to follow (stay with mommy, hold your hand, ask before visiting a different exhibit).
Know the museum, do a washroom check in case you need one right away, locate picnic rooms/cafeterias so you can make your way there when the kids get hungry. Bring snacks and water for the visit to tide them over while looking and follow their lead – expect that you wont get to see the whole museum in one visit.
Admission to museums can add up quickly if you visit often and pay for each visit independently. A few things to do to keep to keep the cost down if you plan on visiting multiple times are:
Buy a membership to your favourite museum. If you already have a membership to one museum other museums will often give you a discount for their museum membership.
Keep an eye out for coupons – sometimes you can get 50 per cent off or a two for one deal.
Check your local library – many libraries will have day passes for the museums in and around Ottawa. Parking is not always included so watch out. Another parking tip is to take a photo of your license plate or have it memorized, chances are you will get to the parking pay meter and need to enter it – you want to avoid a trip back to the car.
Museums are a great place to explore, especially in the winter, so take the time this year to check out what the Ottawa area has to offer.
by Shelley Heaphy
