I felt obligated to leave a review after seeing two negative reviews that have really misrepresented the FIG. To address the detractors about unfriendly staff. I would argue that this is Bellingham; no one here is really all that friendly! But that factor aside, I have found the staff to be mostly warm and helpful. There was one instance with an employee who was running the music hour. She left some expensive looking maracas out with the rest of her musical instruments and then proceeded to admonish my son when he grabbed them and started tapping them on surfaces in an exploratory way, just like any other 2 year old boy would do. (Umm, probably shouldn't have expensive equipment lying around 2 year olds?) She also got visibly disappointed when she started strumming a slow tune on the guitar and the kids were having none of it, no one wanted to come sit and listen. I wanted to tell her to play to the audience: this was a room full of toddlers, not a crowd of 50 y/o women waiting for a Melissa Etheridge acoustic set. But I digress. This person aside, the staff is friendly and accommodating. As for the amenities. Again I'm baffled by the negative reviews. There are a ton of engaging, creative and interactive exhibits for the kiddos to play with, including a separate area for smaller babes and an entire arts and crafts room with a sensory box and a water color station. The museum also hosts several interactive sessions throughout the week, science, art, and music (Melissa Etheridge wannabe notwithstanding). I'm not really sure what the detractors were hoping for-- a mani/pedi bar? While I love Perch and Play just down the road, it can get a little too Lord of the Flies with the bigger kids and sometimes I just want a quieter place to let my tot run amok. Bottom line: this is a great place to bring your kiddos! read more
