The Boomers are aging, and as they do, their interests change. Other studies of travel trends indicate that people are spending less money than they did in the 1980s, moving away from escapism and toward enrichment. They are looking for something different yet affordable. With reasonable or nonexistent admission fees, convenient locations, excellent facilities and educational programs, museums are attracting these Baby Boomers now more than ever. Despite a recent article in Grain's Chicago Business which reported attendance at Chicago's major museums down, nationally museum attendance still outranks sporting events.
Entire families can find something of interest in a museum during a single visit.
At Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm, visitors to its exhibit on the history of barns in Kane County peruse the displays while younger members of the family sit and play to their hearts content with a miniature barn and animals. Besides acting as resources and repositories, museums also contribute to a sense of community, linking the past with the present and the future. More and more, residents are seeking a range of activities that are both active and passive. As their leisure time diminishes, quality leisure choices become a bigger issue. Special facilities such as these give the public an alternative that is be both fun and educational.