Perks and benefits of joining LI museums, attractions

Reap the benefits of unlimited admission with a membership or season pass to a museum or family-friendly attraction.

ART MUSEUMS

The NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART offers memberships that include unlimited visits and exhibition previews, $60 individual or $85 for a family (two adults and four children); new this year: gift memberships purchased through December get a logo mug, 516-484-9338, ext. 23, nassaumuseum.org.

The PARRISH ART MUSEUM in Water Mill rewards museum members with free admission, $6 guest entry, discounts in the cafe and shop and invitations to member-only events such as member previews for new exhibitions. $65 individual, $100 dual, with discounts for seniors, artists, and educators. 631-283-2118, ext. 149, parrishart.org.

Stony Brook's LONG ISLAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART memberships start at $26 for ages 62 and older and $40 for individual, $60 family (2 adults and any children 18 and younger) includes a pair of single visit guest passes, 1200 Route 25A, 631-751-0066, longislandmuseum.org.

The HECKSHER MUSEUM OF ART in Huntington also has various membership levels including $35 for seniors ages 62 and older; $40 individual, $65 for dual and $75 for family that includes two adults and any children ages 18 and younger, 631-380-3230, heckscher.org.

ACTIVITIES

AMERICAN AIRPOWER MUSEUM Whether you want to be a "wingman," "flight lead" or "cadet,' depending on the membership you choose, you'll get free unlimited admission, a subscription to "Flight Line" magazine, membership pricing on American Airpower Museum flight experiences and more. Prices are $50 for students; $75 individual; $100 for two adults and $175 for family membership, 1230 New Hwy., Farmingdale, americanairpowermuseum.com, 631-293-6398.

BALLET LONG ISLAND Membership fee $350 per month for unlimited classes and performances for one person; family membership fee $700 per month for family of up to 6 people for unlimited classes and performances, 1863 Pond Rd., Ronkonkoma, balletlongisland.com, 631-737-1964.

CINEMA ARTS CENTRE Movie buffs will appreciate the indie film house’s range of programming. Individual memberships ($60) include perks such as a free ticket, discounts on regular ticket prices and members-only film previews. A young film lovers’ membership for those under 25 ($35) includes a monthly free screening and periodic bring-a-friend-for-free invitations. There are also memberships for ages 65 and older and for military veterans; both are $45, 631-423-7610, cinemaartscentre.org.

CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM Visit galleries that cover the history of flight, space exploration and astronomy with a membership to the Garden City museum situated among the country's earliest airfields and aircraft manufacturers. Memberships: $50 (one-year), $85 (two-year) individual; $75 (one-year), $135 (two-year) for two people; $150 (one-year); $250 (two-year) family of 6, include unlimited admission and member appreciation events besides discounted tickets to the on-site planetarium and museum store, 516-572-4111, cradleofaviation.org.

GOLD COAST ARTS FILM SOCIETY Membership gives discounts when you purchase a film ticket, $85 for individual; $135 dual membership; $70 for ages 63 and older for individual and $120 for ages 63 and older for dual membership, Manhasset Cinemas, 430 Plandome Rd., Manhasset, goldcoastarts.org, 516-829-2570.

THE JAZZ LOFT Friends Circle memberships includes VIP presale access to events, 10% discount on performances, invitation-only events, Friends Circle reception and more. Fees run $75-$1,000, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook, thejazzloft.org, 631-751-1895.

FUN FOR KIDS

LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM The Riverhead attraction offers a range of memberships tailored to students and seniors ($55), adults ($60), couples ($100) and families (two children: $160). The base pass grants access to the aquarium only, unless you opt for the combination pass that starts at $70 and includes the butterfly habitat. If you want to gift a membership, buy a gift card and or a certificate online and let the person redeem it on their first visit to the aquarium so they get the benefit of the entire 12 months, 631-208-9200, longislandaquarium.com.

LONG ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM A range of permanent, temporary and seasonal exhibits and activities practically guarantees something different to experience each visit. Coming in January 2022, you'll find an animatronic dinosaur exhibit, "Age of Dinosaurs." Basic $85 memberships cover unlimited admission for two designated people for the year — or $160 for a family of four. Your membership includes free admission to dozens of other science and children's museums across the country as part of ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers). Museum gift certificates are available. 516-224-5800, licm.org.

LONG ISLAND MARITIME MUSEUM All memberships include free admission to the museum, one free sail aboard the Priscilla with the purchase of one sail, one free admission to four museum events, 10% discount in museum shop, access to digital archives, 10% off educational programs and free access to the Winter Lecture Series. Family Memberships receive two membership cards which enables them to one free admission to eight museum events and a CAMM (Council of American Maritime Museums) membership, which provides discounted or free admission to over 80 maritime museums across North America. $40 students and seniors, $55 individual, $105 family; $25 digital, 88 West Ave., West Sayville, 631-854-4974, limaritime.org.

THE WHALING MUSEUM Membership are $25 for teachers and students with school ID; $75 for family; $40 for fellow, $50 for partner; two-year memberships also available, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor, cshwhalingmuseum.org, 631-367-3418.

NATURE EXPERIENCES

OLD WESTBURY GARDENS Members are invited to enjoy the grounds of the historic Gold Coast estate as often as they’d like and get first dibs on registration for programs, annual plant sales and reciprocal admission to several other gardens and arboretums. Some discounts apply for members. Memberships cost $50 individually or $80 for two adults and children. 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org.

PLANTING FIELDS Membership includes free admission to the arboretum, historic Coe Hall and parking. Discounts on Planting Fields events and programming, access to member-only events and discounts in the cafe, $60 individual, $85 dual; $100 family of four, plantingfields.org/membership,1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay, 516-922-8678.

QUOGUE WILDLIFE REFUGE A quarterly newsletter mailed to you with upcoming events and interesting wildlife articles; free and discounted admissions to various programs, including priority sign up for the Summer Ecology Program; free use of cross country skis and snowshoes to use on seven miles of trails; 10% discount on gift shop purchases and select birthday programs for children; $25 individual, $50 family, quoguewildlifepreserve.org, 3 Old Country Rd., Quogue, 631-653-4771.

SANDS POINT PRESERVE Discounted rates on admission, programs, seasonal celebrations, parking, longer hours to visit, $45 students ages 18-25; $85 ages 65 and older; $120 individual, couple and family memberships, Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, 127 Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point, sandspointpreserve.org, 516-571-7901.

VANDERBILT MUSEUM, MANSION AND PLANETARIUM Family members receive unlimited grounds admission, mansion tour tickets and Planetarium shows for two adults and four children under the age of 18. Additional benefits include discounts on museum programs and events, a 10% discount at the Gift Shop, and an invitation to the annual Members’ reception.In the case of individual memberships, the person receives unlimited planetarium shows for just themselves. Membership support enables the museum to expand and enhance its education programs and to maintain and restore the collections, grounds and historic buildings. Memberships are $45 students; $60 individual; $70 dual; $95 family, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport, vanderbiltmuseum.org, 631-854-5579.

FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Membership fee includes a free tower climb and then $2 climb after; 10% discount in the gift shop except for books; $20 ages 65 and older and students; $25 individual; $40 family, Fire Island Lighthouse, park at Robert Moses State Park, field 5 and then walk east, fireislandlighthouse.com, 631-583-5901.

AND MORE

MONTAUK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Funds help to develop current programs and to work toward educating future generations. Membership gets you free admission to all of the society's museums, 10% off in gift shops, presale tickets to special events, email notification for all events, free admission to the annual Montauk Lighthouse holiday event, $40 individual; $60 couple; $80 family, two adults and four children, montaukhistoricalsociety.org, 631-668-2544.

MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARMOR Annual Commander membership offers a chance for members to participate in an "armor experience" that immerses an individual in a WWII re-enactment while riding inside an armor vehicle, year-round admission to the museum and its various events and a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum's restoration efforts, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, $225, museumofamericanarmor.com, 516-454-8265.

SUFFOLK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY ARCHIVES Memberships run $35 individual, $40 family, $500 sustaining member, $100 and up for corporate membership and $1,000 for lifetime member, 300 West Main St. Riverhead, suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org, 631-727-2881.

THREE VILLAGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY All members are entitled to basic benefits that include a 10% discount on all gift shop purchases; biannual newsletter: "The Historian"; e-newsletter; nine monthly member meetings; discount and advance purchase on all Society’s programs and access to extensive archival collection, $40 individual, $50 family, 93 N. Country Rd., Setauket, tvhs.org, 631-751-3730.