Some institutions offer a grandparent membership, which costs a little less than a family one, so grandparents can bring the kids. Members enter free as often as they want. Good museums change exhibits often, but kids love to view the same exhibits, finding different objects to focus on each time. Most museum activities involve hands-on experiences, or viewing actual objects. For most people, this beats reading about something, as in traditional schools.
Museums are great places for inter-generational learning.
Kids can share their knowledge with parents or grandparents, and the elders can share knowledge they've gained through experience. Museum boards are working to overcome their historical image as temples honoring achievements of dead white men of Western European culture. Many museums have advisory boards to solicit feedback and cooperation from local minorities. People of diverse ethnic backgrounds may be pleasantly surprised at how museums have changed since they last visited with their fifth grade class. According to the American Association of Museums, more people attended museum exhibits in 1997 than sporting events.