Curious Kids' Museum — Attraction in Saint Joseph

The woman at the front desk was extremely rude, extremely loud, and extremely abrasive. As soon as I showed my reciprocal membership, she took a completely unprovoked accusatory tone and spent the next 15 minutes on an absurd quest to find out how much I paid for my membership. She googled the museum my membership was from and then spent several minutes on the phone (and mostly on hold) with multiple people from my home museum—all while my 4yo and 1yo waited eagerly to enter the museum and a line of people grew behind us.

She ultimately decided that since I “didn’t pay enough” for my membership, that I needed to pay $90 to upgrade my membership so I could get a 50% discount (the total admission was only $18 anyway, so that suggestion was absurd). She then tried to shove the phone in my face so I could talk to this woman she had called—again, completely unprovoked, as I never even pressed an argument in the first place. I calmly tried to explain to her that my museum offers free admission for teachers, so that’s why my membership was less expensive, but she insisted that the $119 I paid was not enough, and that I needed to have paid at least $139. The worst part was the smug, almost evil, smile that crept across her face when she decided that she was right—once again, I never even pushed about the price in the first place—it was only $18, so I honestly didn’t care.

The museum was fun for the kids, but unfortunately, the completely inappropriate and unnecessary confrontation left a sour taste and kind of ruined the whole afternoon. I hope the museum reconsiders the type of people skills they value in their employees and has a chat with the rude and LOUD woman in the front! (Btw, the young gentleman cleaning and helping guests in the actual museum...

“Welcome to the Cold Shoulder Museum”

We were visiting St. Joe for the first time with our 15-month-old and another couple with their 13-month-old—clearly wide-eyed tourists with literal babies in arms. But the second we walked into the museum, the welcome was about as warm as a Lake Michigan breeze in January.

Not a smile, not a “Hi,” not even a glance at the kids. Just a flat, robotic “Do you have a reservation?” before they promptly brushed us off like crumbs on a display case. We were told to “go online” and that they were sold out until 4pm—again, all delivered with the enthusiasm of a parking ticket. No offer to help. No acknowledgment of our two toddlers. Meanwhile, someone else strolls in behind us and they’re greeted like long-lost cousins. Huh.

The website? A digital fossil. Trying to buy tickets on it was like playing Minesweeper blindfolded. Multiple families were awkwardly clustered around the lobby doing the same frantic “we-didn’t-know-we-needed-a-reservation” shuffle. The front desk staff? Still ice cold. Honestly, they should put up a sign: “Bring your ticket, not your expectations.”

To be clear: the museum itself was great. Our toddler had a blast once we finally got in. But the two women up front really put a bad taste in our mouths before we even stepped foot past the lobby. It’s a shame when the most outdated thing in the building isn’t an exhibit, but the customer service.

Ironically, we popped into the Discovery Zone afterward and were treated like actual humans. Warm, helpful, knowledgeable—basically the opposite experience in every way. Next time, we’ll start there.

Pro tip: 100% buy your tickets in advance. And 100% buy the sweatshirts—they’re the only thing in that building that left us feeling...

Disappointed in that my family has a Grand Rapids Children's Museum membership which is part of the ACM program - and it was not honored at this location because I couldn't find the little red "R" on my membership card. They said I could call the GRCM for help but there was a line behind me and my kids waiting to go play.. so I ended up having to pay more and my ACM wasn't honored.

Also, the receptionist started listing off all the rules before any pleasantries which came off as rude.

Lastly, they do not allow you to leave and come back. This was not stated on their website (unless I missed it somewhere which in that case it isn't clearly explained) so we had purchased entrance tickets online for 11am thinking we could go grab lunch when the kids got hungry and then come back. Nope. The explanation I was given is that even though you purchase tickets for the entire day they don't allow space for the number of tickets purchased each day (they assume people will only stay for 1.5 hours and leave) hence the no re-entry. Very frustrating.

The place in general is run-down and doesn't have enough activity for what they charge, in my opinion. We have been to many...