Friday, April 9, 2010

Big Bugs!


Our family, along with my sister and her family, attended the Public Museum of Grand Rapid's "Big Bug Nights!". This is a special offer that they are promoting on the radio and through mailings, online, etc. Here is a little blurb off the website:

     "Big Bug Nights! - No reservations necessary! Enjoy special evening packages March 1-5, April 1-3 & 5-9 and May 10-14. 5-9 pm. Package includes Museum admission, BUGS! admission, a planetarium show, unlimited carousel rides and a kid-friendly meal for just $10 per person. (a $15-$20 value). Members pay just $5. Meal includes hotdog or bratwurst, fruit, chips, cookie & drink."

My sister and I think, "Oh, this is a great little deal. Plus, since it's only at night, the boys can come along too!". We made plans to go last night and to get there by 5:45pm, which we did. There was a line...a big line. When we got up the counter, we were told that they were already sold out of the Planetarium Shows but paying the $10 rate was still cheaper than purchasing everything ala carte so we paid our money and moved on. 


We rode the carousel, to the girls delight, and then realized how hungry we were. So, we moved on up to the second level where there was another very long line, which we assumed was for the upcoming Planetarium Show. Ahhh...nope. That's the line to get your food. Seriously. And, it was right in the middle of the "Musical Instruments" demonstration area, just to add a little intensity to our waiting pleasure. Anna and I stood in line while the boys took the girls to explore elsewhere. The guy in front of us was irritated. The couple behind us was fed up. The tons of kids that were "in-line" were going bonkers! It must have taken us over 30min. just to get up to the food area, which was congested and cumbersome. To be fair, the food was good and we all enjoyed the meal once we got it and found a space for us eat it at.  



The "BUG" exhibit was fun and the big bugs were neat to look at but there wasn't a lot to do there. They had many little stations set up but many of them were too advanced for the girls or already filled up with other kids. The Museum was open until 9pm but by 8 o'clock, the staff were already cleaning, sweeping and basically making us feel very uncomfortable about being there. How rude...

Overall, it was a hectic experience that did not seem to be very well organized. I think that maybe we'll try to go again during the week when it's not as busy and finally get that Planetarium show in...it was always one of my favorite parts!

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