Wouldn’t it be nice to explore Arizona without taking out your wallet? Well it’s feasible if you have a library card. Whether you’re in Phoenix, Mesa, or Chandler, cities around the Valley offer Culture Passes to get you into all sorts of places for free!
Visit the Desert Botanical Garden but instead of paying $25 for general admission, use the Culture Pass for two free admissions. You can also visit the Japanese Friendship Garden -- get two general admissions for free to save you $5 per person.
If you’d prefer to stay inside, head to the Phoenix Art Museum, another destination that you can attend for free.
Regular admission would normally cost you $18 each.
Other places you can visit for free using the Culture Pass Program include the Heard Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Arizona Science Center, and Arcosanti in Cordes Junction.
So now that I’ve teased you with all of the free activities, how does it work? The Culture Pass Program is at libraries all over the Valley and it's on a first come, first served basis. Just find a card for the destination you want to visit and check it out at the desk. You'll have a week before the pass expires. You're limited to one pass per family at any one time and up to two passes per month.
You can't put the passes on hold but if your venue isn't available, don't give up. Many of these places offer free admission deals. For example, Desert Botanical Garden has free admission the second Tuesday of each month. So if you know where you want to go, do a little research to figure out the easiest way to save the most.
