Many families have been making a move toward experience gifts for holidays and birthdays (or asking grandparents to consider these as gifts!) An annual membership to a local museum or attraction offers endless opportunities for fun and memory-making as a family. An added perk of membership gifts is that many of them offer reciprocity at other museums/zoos/gardens so when you take your next family trip to places like Omaha, St. Louis, and Wichita you can get discounted admission at family attractions in those cities! We’ve broken down the list by category to make it easier to sort through the long list of options!
Indoor Play & Trampoline Parks
Get Air Trampoline Park in Independence, MO
Annual memberships are available at different price points depending on the height of your child (46 inches and shorter, and above 46 inches). The basic membership offers two hours of jump time, Monday through Thursday. The Ultimate Annual Membership also includes Friday through Sunday and throws in a pair of jump socks and access to Toddler Time and Club Air events.
RoKC in Olathe, North Kansas City, and Underground
You can rock climb as well as take yoga and fitness classes at RoKC. The membership is similar to a gym membership and is billed monthly or weekly. Youth memberships are available for kids six and older and younger kids can climb if their parent has a membership. The membership gives you access to all three of their locations and each offers something a little bit different. Ten punch passes are also an option if you don’t want to commit to a membership just yet.
SuperKidz Club in Shawnee, KS (new location in 2022)
You will find the most amazing indoor playground at SuperKidz Club. They offer a monthly membership (six months minimum) at different price points depending on the age of your child. Kids under one are free. The memberships are only good Monday through Friday but there are also discounts included for weekend visits as well as other perks.
Urban Air Adventure Park in Lenexa, KS and Urban Air Adventure Park in Overland Park, KS
Monthly memberships are available at different price points and include different benefits. A basic memberships gives access to the trampolines but the higher level memberships include other attractions like the indoor playground, warrior course, and the ropes course. Visits are unlimited and there are no blackout dates. The membership can only be used at the park where you purchase it. Check out our inside look at the Urban Air location in Lenexa.
Sky Zone in Lee’s Summit, MO and Sky Zone in Shawnee, KS
Memberships are specific to each location as they have different attractions in addition to the trampolines. The memberships are monthly and come at different price points offering more benefits for the higher level memberships. Learn all about what Sky Zone has to offer in this post.
Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
Busy Bean Play Cafe in Liberty, MO
Northland moms rejoice! There is finally a play cafe north of the river. Monthly and annual memberships are available as well as punch passes.
Inspired Play Cafe in Leawood, KS
This business is geared toward young children and offers monthly and six-month memberships for open play as well as access to classes and discounts on special events (and some free drinks!) Grandparents and nannies/sitters are welcome to use the membership as well and don’t have to have their own. Second location coming to the Northland in 2023!
KidScape inside the Johnson County Museum in Overland Park, KS
A membership to the Johnson County Museum gets your family access to their main exhibits as well as the KidScape area. If you haven’t been before, it’s like a mini town for kids to explore with a hospital, cafe, school, theater, an old farmhouse, and more. Best of all it’s all in one large room so you can sit in the middle and easily keep an eye on your kids. Check out our KidScape guide to learn more.
My Play Cafe in Lee’s Summit, MO and Gardner, KS
Northland location coming in 2024
This fun indoor playground and cafe is designed for parents and active toddlers. They offer monthly memberships as well as six-month memberships. This gives you access to open play time as well as discounts on birthday parties and monthly gift credits on your account to use on classes or cafe items.
Nana’s Tiny Town in Spring Hill, KS
This spot opened in late 2023 and is a great indoor play option geared towards kids from 6 months – 8 years old. There is a special toddler area for the littlest ones and a separate Kid Zone for kids older than 8 in case you want to bring the whole family. This is a great place for kids with big imaginations. Memberships are offered at different levels and they also offer punch passes. Members get unlimited play as well as extra benefits like discounts on parties, buddy passes, and other goodies.
Rough and Bumble in Bonnor Springs, KS
This spot is perfect for moms of littles looking for indoor play and they also have special memberships for coworking moms that include access to a tech station and other extras. Regular memberships include unlimited open play, a credit toward birthday parties, early registration for classes, and special event pricing.
Note: Science City and Wonderscope also have separate areas that are perfect for babies, toddlers, and young children. See below for details on those memberships.
Museums
Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, KS
A family membership at the Museum at Prairiefire gets you unlimited access to their rotating exhibits, virtual reality experiences, and the hands-on discovery room. You also get discounts for special events, camps, and for other businesses in the Prairiefire district.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO
The family membership covers two adults and up to three kids 13 and under. Members get free admission to exhibits, early registration for events and classes, early access to new exhibits, and reciprocal privileges at over 500 other museums.
Union Station/Science City in Kansas City, MO
Union Station members get admission to Science City, discounts on traveling exhibits and visits to the planetarium, and free/discounted admission at other ASTC museums. There are also discounts on camps and parties at Science City and holiday benefits like free mini-train rides. The list of perks is long, including discounts at Union Station businesses and restaurants. The membership website is a bit confusing but if you want a family membership select the Dual + membership and list the number of kids you have. This page better outlines the total cost for each family size. I’ve seen deals offered on the membership the last two years around Black Friday so keep an eye out for that. See our full guide to Union Station here.
Wonderscope Children’s Museum in South Kansas City, MO
The new Wonderscope is packed with fun stuff for kids (and grown-ups too honestly). Memberships include admission as well as access to the weekday programming and invitations to member-only events. You also get a discount on birthday parties and nearby businesses. Be aware that if you want the reciprocal benefits at other children’s museums you need a Wonderful or Sustaining level membership.
Outdoors/Seasonal
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park, KS
The Farmstead is open April 1 – October 31 and you can currently buy gift memberships online. Overland Park residents get a discounted rate so be sure to note that if you live there. Members get admission for the whole family for the entire season. Check out some of the hidden gems you can find when you visit the farm!
Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium in Kansas City, MO
Members get unlimited visits and discounts on retail, concessions, and zoo events. There a different levels of membership and if you want the rides included you’ll want to get the Premier Family membership as it’s the best bang for your buck. Residents of Jackson and Clay counties get a significant discount. Your membership also gets you free or discounted tickets to reciprocal zoos and aquariums.
Overland Park Arboretum in Overland Park, KS
Membership at the Arboretum offers free admission during regular business hours and special member previews of events and plant sales. Your membership also has reciprocal benefits at other arboretums and gardens.
Powell Gardens in Kingsville, MO
Along with free admission to Powell Gardens, membership also includes free trolley rides, admission to festivals, members-only events, and reciprocal benefits at other arboretums and gardens.
Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City, MO
Did you know that kids age three to five can get a free preschool pass to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun? This can make trips to the parks much more affordable for the whole family! The regular memberships are available at a gold and platinum level (platinum gives you access to all Cedar Fair parks). You can also add on drink and dining plans to save money on food and drinks during your visits. After doing the math, it only takes three visits to justify the cost of a season pass, and really less than that when you factor in the cost for parking since that is included with your season pass.
Summer Pool Passes
These usually can’t be purchased until late spring or summer, but they are a great investment in summer fun. We buy one for the Olathe city pools every summer and they also have an add-on now that includes the Lake Olathe beach.
Other Attractions
LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium in Kansas City, MO
While you can buy separate annual passes for Legoland and Sea Life, it’s a better value to get the combo pass if you think you’ll enjoy visiting both. There are different passes depending on your needs, some for weekdays that have blackout dates and some that include weekends and no blackout dates. Pass holders can also purchase discounted tickets for friends and family members that visit with you and get discounts in the gift shop/cafe and invitations to members-only events.
YMCA/Community Centers
A membership to the local YMCA or city community center is a great way to give your kids year-round access to a swimming pool and many times members get a discount on swimming lessons and summer camps. Some also offer punch cards for a certain number of visits.
Pogo Pass
If you don’t want to settle on just one fun location to visit year-round, consider the Pogo Pass and get access to many of the spots I’ve mentioned above, like Science City, the Kansas City Zoo, Wonderscope, and lots more! There are often sales on the Pogo Pass so keep an eye out for those and remember that the adult taking the kids will also need a pass of their own!
Punch Cards
These spots don’t offer monthly or annual memberships but they do offer punch cards that you can purchase to save on multiple visits. These would also make great gifts/stocking stuffers.
Kanga’s Indoor Play Center in Independence, MO
This new indoor play place offers 10 visit punch passes for toddlers (1-2) and for big kids (3+). There are giant slides, a ball pit, a climbing wall, and a special area just for toddlers.
Rainbow of the Heartland in Olathe, KS
The showroom floor is available for open play on weekdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The 5 and 10 punch cards are a great deal and your kids get access to all of they play structures, trampolines, and the basketball court.
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