Thank you to Cedar Point for hosting our family’s visit. All opinions are my own.
We are so lucky to have Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. Cedar Point in Sandusky is consistently recognized as one of the world’s best amusement parks and always winning awards for its roller coasters. It is the only amusement park with six roller coaster that are taller than 200 feet and the only park that features coasters in all four height classifications. On top of that, the classifications of giga and strata were coined during the development of the Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, respectively. When Cedar Point constructs a new coaster, it seems to always break at least one world record. It’s no surprise that Cedar Point, which is located on Lake Erie, is known as “America’s Roller Coast.”
Cedar Point Amusement Park Awards
Cedar Point received Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for “Best Amusement Park in the World” every year from 1997-2013. It’s the most visited seasonal amusement park in the nation and boasted about 3.6 million visitors in 2017. And, its historic, too. Cedar Point is the second oldest continuously operated amusement park in the U.S. behind only Lake Compounce in my husband’s former hometown of Bristol, Connecticut. My husband was pleased to know he’s visited the two oldest amusement parks in the U.S., especially considering Cedar Point and Lake Compounce are two of the only seasonal amusement parks he’s visited. Cedar Point also has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cedar Point Theme Park – An Ideal Vacation Destination
Cedar Point is a vacation destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. The Sandusky area has many options for accommodation to support Cedar Point, including three hotels with indoor water parks and Cedar Point’s Hotel Breakers. We met one family who was visiting on a five day pass with dining plan. While we generally have to travel to see top tourist spots, we’re able to make a day trip to Cedar Point from the eastern suburbs of Cleveland on about a half a tank of gas. Before school starts each year, we ask the kids about their favorite parts of summer, and Cedar Point always ranks at the top of the list, even the year we took an amazing trip to Iceland.
We scheduled our visit to Cedar Point on what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer. Meteorologists warned of the dangers of the high heat index throughout the entire region. We were glad we planned to visit later in the day, and the souvenir cup with unlimited refills was a non-negotiable necessity. We stayed hydrated and avoided any attractions with long lines and made sure to visit air-conditioned buildings whenever we felt hot. Much to my daughter’s dismay, we also decided to skip one of her favorites, Snoopy Bounce, because it required too much physical exertion on this hot day.
Cedar Point Weather
It’s important to check the weather and be prepared before visiting Cedar Point. Even though rain was not in the forecast when we headed to Cedar Point, we threw a few umbrellas under our stroller to use as shade during this day of extreme heat. We had been fortunate during our recent trips to Cedar Point and visited on only dry days, but at about 9 p.m., an unexpected and ominous storm cloud appeared overhead and significantly darkened the beautiful blue sky we enjoyed the entire day. It brought with it a cooling breeze and then a downpour of rain and consistent lightning. When the unexpected rain shower began, we felt very lucky that we were some of the few prepared Cedar Point visitors. We stopped for dinner hoping the storm would pass, and the rides would reopen, but due to safety concerns and ongoing lightning, most of the rides understandably closed early. Only a few fixed to the ground remained open.
Unexpected storm clouds rolling in behind Maverick, Cedar Point’s steepest roller coaster
Cedar PointNights
From July 12 through August 18, the Cedar Point Nights event offers an ultimate nighttime beach party with five hours of live entertainment from local bands at the Lakeside Beach Musical Festival. Visitors can take advantage of Cedar Point’s low priced admission after 5 p.m. and enter the park for only $25 per person. We unfortunately missed the Musical Festival because of the unexpected storm but have enjoyed the evening live entertainment during visits in prior years. In addition to the nightly beach party, the Cedar Point theme park lights up after dark. Giant Wheel, Cedar Point’s Ferris wheel illuminates against the skyline and has more lights than any other ride in the park. While the boys waited in line for the Dodgem cars, we were totally transfixed by the light show. My daughter’s favorite parts were the heart and smiley face.
The illuminated Giant Wheel
The dodgem cars were brightly lit at night, which added to the smash up fun.
Dodgem cars at night
Cedar Point Best Rides
Cedar Point Thrill Rides
Cedar Point’s roller coasters constructed since 2000 are for serious thrill seekers. They include:
Millennium Force, which debuted in 2000 as the original giga roller coaster by exceeding 300 feet;
Top Thrill Dragster, the steel accelerator coaster completed in 2004 as the original strata coaster remains one of only two roller coasters, in the world that exceeds 400 feet;
Maverick; which was completed in 2007 as Cedar Point’s steepest roller coaster;
GateKeeper, which was constructed in 2013 as the world’s highest, fastest and longest wing coaster;
Valravn, which opened in 2016 as the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster; and
Steel Venegance, which was completed in 2018 as a partial reconstruction of the Mean Streak and opened as a hybrid hypercoaster setting 10 world records.
Our boys have yet to attempt any of these these, but maybe next year.
While we did not ride any of Cedar Point’s newest roller coasters on this visit, my boys and husband enjoyed some of the thrill rides, including MaXair, Skyhawk and Ocean Motion. I get nauseous when there’s too much spinning or swaying, so I am happy to wait with my daughter and take pictures, amazed that my family is flying through the air. Skyhawk, the world’s highest swinging thrill ride, had a model seat outside the entrance for riders to test out, and my daughter thought that was the coolest thing ever. She spent a solid 10 minutes opening and closing the lap bar.
Skyhawk, the world’s highest swinging thrill ride
My favorite “thrill ride” is the Wave Swinger, a classic swing ride that is far more mellow than the others in this category. I stored my flip flops in the bin and let my feet dangle in the wind. It was a glorious ride, dampened only slightly by the storm clouds that appeared.
Cedar Point’s Classic Roller Coasters
In my teens and 20s, I was a roller coaster enthusiast. I regularly visited Cedar Point on a May weekday when the park was practically empty and the coasters all had minimal waits. I loved the thrill of my stomach dropping and raced from coaster to coaster trying to ride them all in a single day. I’m not so brave in my “old age” and have been happy to settle for the record-breaking coasters from many years ago. The roller coasters I remember most fondly from childhood are from Cedar Fair’s now defunct Geauga Lake: Double Loop, Big Dipper and Corkscrew. At Cedar Point, Gemini, the Blue Streak, Corkscrew and Iron Dragon fit into this category. We’ve ridden all as a family but didn’t get to all of them on this trip due to the unexpected storm. The great thing about Cedar Point is that the newest coasters draw the biggest crowds, and our wait time for the coasters we wanted to ride rarely exceeded five minutes.
I still have a soft spot for Gemini, the 1978 steel hybrid was one of the tallest, fastest and steepest roller coasters in the world when it was constructed. Two cars run on side by side tracks, which makes this one of the highest capacity rides in the park. There is one main hill and a bunch of smaller hills and various twists and turns, but the highlight for me is the dual tracks and experiencing the coaster as a race with a large group of excited visitors. While steel roller coasters seem to be much more popular, this hybrid wooden coaster with a steel track seems like the perfect compromise. I rode the Gemini with my two sons, and my oldest agreed that it was his favorite, too, which was a proud mama moment.
The Gemini against the bright blue sky
Cedar Point Junior Roller Coasters
Cedar Point truly caters to visitors of all ages and interests and features two junior roller coasters. We decided to ride the Woodstock Express. My four year old daughter wasn’t 100% convinced that she wanted to try a roller coaster, but we encouraged her because the boys both overcame mild fear to ride at about her age. Unfortunately, her least favorite ride turned out to be the Woodstock Express junior roller coaster. This roller coaster is 38 feet high and 25 miles per hour and was a bit too much for her. In hindsight, the Wilderness Run, which was formerly known as the Junior Gemini and has a 19 feet drop and top speed of 6 miles per hour would have probably been a better bet. Even though the Woodstock Express was not even a little bit fun for her, I think she’ll try the Wilderness Run next year.
Waiting for the Woodstock Express
Cedar Point Family Rides
With kids in all three major height categories – under 48 inches, under 54 inches and over 54 inches, we appreciate that there are a number of fun rides that we can enjoy as a family. We typically start and end each day at Cedar Point with a ride on the Midway Carousel. While I took my sons on the Cedar Creek Mine Ride, my husband and daughter rode the Antique Cars together. There are also many rides in Cedar Points three children’s areas that the whole family can ride together. We always make sure to ride the Kiddie Kingdom Carousel and also enjoy the 4x4s, Camp Bus, Snoopy’s Express Railroad and Charlie Brown’s Wind Up. Peanuts 500 was my daughter’s favorite ride.
The Midway Carousel is the perfect way to start and end a day at Cedar Point
Cedar Point Kid Rides
Over the years, many parents have told me that they are putting off a trip to Cedar Point until their kids are older. Even if Cedar Point has a roller coaster reputation, it really does not disappoint when it comes to the youngest visitors. There are three areas with kiddie rides – Kiddie Kingdom, Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy, which consists of rides relocated from Geauga Lake after it closed. In most of these kiddie rides, kids spin around an axis on some mode of transportation. The Mustangs, police and motorcycles may seem really similar for adults, but my four year old daughter was delighted running from ride to ride, wanting to try them all. We may not miss the kiddie areas when our daughter outgrows them, but we’re glad that Cedar Point offers so many options for its youngest visitors.
Cedar Point’s Town Hall Museum
My proudest mama moment of our visit may have been when my daughter pointed to the Town Hall Museum and said she wanted to check it out. My kids really appreciate and enjoy museums, but I wouldn’t have expected her to notice the museum at Cedar Point and want to explore when it was surrounded by rides. We not only appreciated the air conditioning but learned about the history of Cedar Point’s roller coasters during our short visit. The model replica of Steel Vengeance was impressive, and we compared the redesigned coaster to the nearby Mean Streak model.
Where to Eat when Visiting Cedar Point
Cedar Point Restaurants
Cedar Point offers many dining options. We often opt for Chick-fil-A or Panda Express and also make sure to purchase a souvenir cup with unlimited refills. It’s so important to stay hydrated.
Restaurants Near Cedar Point
On our way to and from Cedar Point, we regularly stop for a meal at Costa Azul at the Rye Beach Road exit off of OH-2 in Huron, Ohio. Costa Azul serves authentic Mexican cuisine and even accommodated my older son’s entire soccer team after a state championship tournament game at the nearby Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center.
Cedar Point Vacation Logistics
Cedar Point Tickets: As of July 2019, Cedar Point admission is available online starting at $49.99 for adults for weekday passes and $45 for children under 48 inches. Guests who love roller coasters and dislike lines should consider purchasing the Cedar Point fast pass. Tickets for entry after 5:00 p.m. costs $25. Cedar Point discount tickets are available from a number of vendors, including Groupon.
Cedar Point Hours: Check the Cedar Point schedule.
Cedar Point Height Requirements: Each ride has its own posted height requirements.
Cedar Point Park Map: Don’t forget to pick up a map before setting off to explore Cedar Point. Even though we visit almost every year, we always find ourselves referring to the map for important location information.
Cedar Point ParentSwap: We requested a Parent Swap authorization at Guest Services by the Main Entrance. After I rode Iron Dragon with the boys while my husband waited with our daughter, I showed the authorization to the operator. After we reunited, my husband and younger son walked up the exit ramp and got on the next train.
Cedar Point Kidtrack: At Guest Services, we signed up for a Kidtrack wristband for my daughter. I wrote my name and phone number on the inside. If we were ever separated, the contact information would help us reunite faster.
Cedar Point Pre-K Pass: Cedar Point offered free season passes for children ages three to five for the entire 2019 season. Registration closed on June 3, 2019, but make sure to look out for the program in 2020.
A Family Day at Cedar Point
Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio is the perfect location for a family outing because it blends classic carnival rides with world record thrill rides. Our annual trip to Cedar Point is a highlight of the summer because we all love riding rides and sharing quality family time together.
Thank you to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for hosting our family’s visits and to the Inn on Boltwood for providing a media rate. All opinions are my own.
My aunt and uncle live near Amherst, Massachusetts, and I’ve visited them many times over the years since my early childhood. I love the rural beauty of Western Massachusetts and particularly their farm, which abuts Bull Hill in Leverett. While I made solo trips in 2017 and 2018 to visit them, the kids have not been to Western Massachusetts since 2016 when we took a fall getaway trip to New England. With a few days off around the Fourth of July holiday, we decided to plan a trip to Amherst. Unfortunately, my husband was not able to join us due to work conflicts. Because our kids are now 11, 9 and 4, I felt more comfortable taking on the long car journey as a solo parent. In addition to visiting my aunt and uncle, there are many amazing things to do in Western Massachusetts with kids that made the long drive well worth it.
Visit the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
A year ago, I flew into Hartford to visit my aunt and uncle and on my drive between Hartford and Leverett, I passed through the center of Springfield, Massachusetts where a building with a large spherical dome caught my attention. I later discovered that the nine-story dome was the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. I couldn’t fit in a visit during that quick one-night trip, but I knew that my two sons would absolutely love to visit the next time we came to Western Massachusetts as a family. When I started planning our 2019 trip to Amherst, the Basketball Hall of Fame was at the top of our must-see list.
Basketball Hall of Fame Dome, currently under renovation
We had started the 575 mile drive the previous day, explored Rochester and stopped for the night near Oneida, New York. We woke up on the Fourth of July and had a three-hour drive to Springfield. Luckily, the Basketball Hall of Fame does not close for Independence Day, and we arrived at about 11 a.m. ready to stretch our legs and check out sports memorabilia. The main lobby had one of our favorite exhibits with players’ favorite quotes and plaques depicting shoe sizes. Shaquille O’Neal, who wore a size 22, had the biggest feet. Here’s the comparison from my daughter’s youth size 11.
Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes compared to my daughter’s
At the information desk, we collected our tickets and learned that the Basketball Hall of Fame was hosting a free throw contest at 2:00 p.m. on Center Court to commemorate the Fourth of July holiday. My two boys immediately looked at me and asked if they could participate. I sent a message to my uncle to let him know we would leave after the contest as we entered the Basketball Hall of Fame theater to watch a 12-minute introductory film that provided an overview of basketball history and highlights, including our favorite basketball memory, the Cavaliers’ 2016 national championship win.
Basketball Hall of Fame theater
As we boarded the elevator, the guide told the kids to look for two gold medals and a golden sneaker. While my boys were most excited to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame, read the mini biographies of the Basketball Hall of Fame inductees and check out basketball memorabilia, my daughter was a bit bored with the Honors Ring, despite the scavenger hunt assignment. She was more interested in what was happening on the court below.
Bob Lainer’s golden sneaker
In the Players’ Gallery on the second level, the boys continued spending time reading and exploring the exhibits, particularly those embedded in a locker room display. They learned a great deal of basketball history.
Checking out the Michael Jordan exhibit
But, all three kids really enjoyed all the interactive exhibits on the second floor. They tested how high they could jump, grab a rebound and tried out a pop-a-shot not unlike the one in our basement.
Pop-a-shot at the Basketball Hall of Fame is so much better than in our basement
My younger son loved the virtual hoops game and took eighth place on the leader board. My older son was wearing a royal blue shirt that was almost the identical color to the game’s green screen. As a result, much of his body was invisible on the television screen. He wasn’t able to dribble or shoot and gave up on the game before his turn was over. Our lesson was not to wear royal blue clothes to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Virtual Hoops leader board
The Media Center was also a big hit. The kids were able to record a live sports news cast and watch it back and also check out the view of Center Court from a sky box. Those are definitely the best seats in the house.
View from the half court sky box at the Basketball Hall of Fame
We finished our tour on Center Court where the kids all shot hoops, tried dunks and checked out the historic hoops, including a peach basket. We decided to eat lunch before the free throw contest. We returned to Center Court about 10 minutes before the contest began. The largest crowd we had seen on Center Court gathered for the contest, and there was a lot of excitement from the participants. The boys took a few warm up shots and lined up.
As the contest began, I turned to the woman next to me and said, “Every one of them thinks they might win.” In round one, each of the 30-40 contestants took a single regulation free throw. Only five made it on to the second round, including my older son. Round two included another single free throw attempt, and my son was one of two contestants who made it to the third and final round. The other finalist was an adult who seemed about twice my son’s height and definitely had basketball experience and skills. It was clear that my son was the underdog but exciting that he made it this far. The host announced that each finalist would take three shots in the final round. The other finalist went first and made one of his three shots. My son missed his first and swished the next two, winning the contest. Check out the video clip of his winning shot below.
His prizes included the basketball used in the contest and a drawstring backpack filled with Basketball Hall of Fame swag, including a t-shirt, hat, basketball cards, net and a miniature basketball. He was elated, and I have to admit that I was both surprised and excited for him. All those hours shooting hoops in the driveway really paid off.
On the way back to our car, we stopped at the Coaches’ Circle Monument, which was sculpted by Brian Hanson and unveiled during the 2015 Hall of Fame Enshrinement. My son was especially excited to be leaving the Hoop Hall with souvenirs.
The Coaches’ Circle Monument at the Basketball Hall of Fame
The Basketball Hall of Fame was all we hoped for and more. Even though the Hall of Fame is currently undergoing a major $22 million renovation that is expected to be completed next year, our visit was truly unforgettable. The boys want to come back every time we visit Western Mass. We definitely recommend a visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts for any basketball enthusiast.
Basketball Hall of Fame Hours: The hours for the Basketball Hall of Fame vary by season, but it is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Basketball Hall of Fame Tickets: As of July 2019, Basketball Hall of Fame admission costs $25 for adults age 16 to 65, $20 for seniors age 65+ and $16 for children age 5 to 15. Children age four and under are free.
Basketball Hall of Fame Parking: Free parking is available in a lot adjacent to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Eat at the Basketball Hall of Fame Restaurants
After we explored the exhibits and did a bit of hoop shooting, we worked up an appetite for lunch. Luckily, the Basketball Hall of Fame includes six restaurants on site that are each open to the public as well as visitors to the Hall of Fame. We headed to the entrance and chose to eat at Max’s Tavern for lunch.
Max’s Tavern served typical American fare and offered a kids’ meal that included several vegetables and reminded me of the food pyramid advocated by Michelle Obama.
My oldest ordered the cheeseburger off of the regular menu, and the burger was at least six inches tall. He has a pretty incredible appetite and polished off the entire burger with no problem. He was completely fueled and ready to compete in the free throw contest. We loved the atmosphere, sports memorabilia and classic tavern decor.
Things to Do in the Amherst Area
We headed from Springfield to the Amherst, Massachusetts area. Amherst is a quintessential Colonial town known as Emily Dickinson’s hometown and the home of Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to visiting my aunt and uncle, we checked out a few of the area’s best attractions as well.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has been on my list of attractions to visit in Amherst for several years. Eric Carle is an award winning author and illustrator of picture books who is best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which is one of our family’s favorite picture books and has been rated the #2 best picture book ever by the School Library Journal.
Four large murals painted by Eric Carle for this Museum dominate the entry way. These murals reminded us of Monet’s large scale paintings but with bolder colors and more abstract style. The paintings were my oldest son’s favorite part of the entire collection.
Eric Carle’s wall murals
Eric Carle lived nearby in Northampton, Massachusetts for over 30 years and founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art with his wife in 2002 to celebrate picture book art. Carle is now 90 years old and resides in Key West, Florida, but continues to collaborate on projects and visits The Carle several times each year. We learned about Eric Carle’s life and his bold, graphic artistic style that unexpectedly led him to picture books.
The Carle’s West, Central and East Galleries all house rotating exhibits that include works both from the Museum’s permanent collection and some that are on loan. The West Gallery currently holds Eric Carle Makes a Book, which explores Carle’s story inspirations. The kids explored this exhibit by completing a scavenger hunt and then working on their own mini-books.
The Central Gallery housed an exhibition honoring the 50th anniversary of William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. My two youngest set to work preparing the most delicious picnic lunch. We weren’t as familiar with William Steig’s books but have already reserved a few from our library.
The East Gallery featured the works of Peter Sis, an author and illustrator who we were also not particularly familiar with but now plan to read his collection. I read Fire Truck to my daughter in the gallery, and the kids used rubbing plates to make labyrinths and also did some maze drawing.
Our favorite part of The Carle was probably the Art Studio. Like many moms, I’m ecstatic when my kids have the opportunity to create art in a bright studio with all the materials already prepared and ready to go. We worked on animal collages. As we worked on our projects, five or six other families came into the studio, and there was plenty of room for everyone.
The Carle’s art studio
For younger kids not yet ready to do cutting and gluing, there were magnets, bright blocks and a host of switches and knobs to explore while other family members worked on their projects.
We are so glad we finally made it to The Carle. With so much of its actual collection rotating and many interactive art projects, we would definitely enjoy returning on our next trip to Western Massachusetts.
The Eric Carle Museum Hours: The Carle is generally open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Carle is also open on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in July and August.
The Carle Tickets: As of July 2019, admission to The Carle costs $9 for adults and $6 for youth ages 1-18, students, teachers and seniors. Families can take advantage of a special for admission for two adults and two youth for $22.50.
The Carle Parking: Free parking is available in a lot adjacent to The Carle.
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens
Magic Wings in South Deerfield, Massachusetts is a truly magical place for families to visit and an ideal way to follow up a visit to The Carle. Magic Wings includes an 8,000 square foot, climate-controlled, glass conservatory filled with about 5,000 absolutely beautiful butterflies. In addition to the conservatory, there are a number of educational exhibits and a cafeteria.
While we often visit butterfly exhibits in botanical gardens and zoos, Magic Wings stands out as exemplary. It is both larger than the average butterfly exhibit and there are so many more butterflies. Visitors are asked not to touch butterflies or hold leaves or twigs as butterfly landing grounds, but those who are patient and stand still are likely to have one of the butterflies land on them at some point.
We purchased a $1 guide to the butterflies in Magic Wings before we left and wish we would have had it with us to help identify the different butterfly species during our visit. We ate lunch at the on site food court and air conditioned eating area. We ordered sandwiches and hot dogs and got soft serve ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect break to butterfly observing, and we were ready to head back into the conservatory for a second visit after our meal.
Magic Wings Hours: Magic Wings is generally open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Magic Wings Tickets: As of July 2019, admission to Magic Wings costs $16 for adults, $14 for seniors age 62 and over and $10 for youth age 3-17 and through 22 with a valid student identification. Children under age three are free.
Magic Wings Parking: Free parking is available adjacent to Magic Wings.
Time Spent at Magic Wings: We spent about two and a half hours at Magic Wings, including lunch.
Yankee Candle Village
Yankee Candle is a scented candle manufacturer and retailer that started in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The flagship store opened in 1982 in South Deerfield, and Yankee Candle Village developed around that store to offer New England crafts, toys, a Bavarian Christmas Village and other gifts and collectibles in addition to scented candles.
We last visited the Yankee Candle Village in 2008 and noticed my oldest’s first tooth while he was laughing at the enormous stuffed animals. It’s no surprise that we spent all of our time in the Yankee Candle Village during this visit in the toy shop and viewing the Christmas display. The kids wanted everything but settled for gumballs from the coolest gumball machine we had ever seen.
Yankee Candle Village Hours: Yankee Candle Village is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but hours may vary during holidays.
Yankee Candle Village Parking: Free parking is available adjacent to Yankee Candle Village.
Time Spent at Yankee Candle Village: We spent about 20 minutes in the toy, candy and Christmas sections of the Village.
Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation
I always enjoy going to the highest point in a city or region and getting a birds-eye view of the area. Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield is the perfect location for viewing the Connecticut River. Because it is possible to drive to the summit, it is easily accessible for families with young children. Our trip there in 2008 had added excitement as Mel Gibson just finished filming Edge of Darkness at the summit of Mount Sugarloaf. The observation tower had been temporarily renovated and had not yet been returned to its pre-filming state, and the Fall colors were brilliant.
The view from summit is stunning, and the vantage from the top of the observation tower is even better.
Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Hours: The Reservation is open from 9 a.m. to sunset. Summit Road is open from mid-May through mid-October.
Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Admission: There is no admission fee to visit Mount Sugarloaf.
Mount Sugarloaf Reservation Parking: Parking permits can be purchased at the entrance to Mount Sugarloaf. The parking fee is $5 for cars with Massachusetts license plates and $10 for cars with all other license plates.
Time Spent at Mount Sugarloaf: We spent about a half hour at Mount Sugarloaf Reservation.
Hiking in Western Massachusetts
There are also many opportunities for hiking in Western Massachusetts. On our last trip in 2016, my aunt and uncle suggested a family hike at Rattlesnake Gutter, which was a perfect location for us to hike with the kids. It was mostly flat with a clear path and beautiful wooded scenery. We found some of the best Fall colors there and collected a few leaves to iron flat to preserve. My daughter enjoyed the hike from the comfort of her carrier and even took a nap.
Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking.
Experience Farm Life
There are many working farms in the Amherst area, and my kids were delighted that my aunt and uncle live on one of them. We took a hike around their pond, through their barn and circling their fields and got up close and personal with the Belted Galloway cows living on their land. We affectionately call these “oreo cows” because of the white belt at their middle flanked by black sides.
While my aunt and uncle don’t often have young visitors, they diligently pointed out bull frogs in the pond, explained the hay baling process and many other special features on the farm. My kids loved exploring the farm.
We visited as hay harvesting was being finished up on my uncle’s farm. On the first day of our visit, the hay was neatly arranged into rows. When the work was completed, my kids were offered short ATV rides, which they very willingly accepted.
On the second day, the hay was baled and harvested. I found the harvesting process fascinating. The hay baler was connected to a tractor and created compressed bales that were catapulted into the flatbed trailer for easy transportation. There was something artistic about watching the hay bales gracefully fly through the air.
My aunt and uncle’s farm is not open to the public, and every day is definitely not a harvest day. However, there are many farms to visit in the Amherst area.
Places to Eat in the Amherst Area
Atkins Farms
Nancy went to college in Amherst and suggested that we stop at Atkins Farms. It turned out to be the perfect breakfast stop before our visit to The Carle, which is just down the street. The bakery offers so many options of delicious donuts. We each chose our favorites and then ate at a table in the cafe. My daughter enjoyed her chocolate covered donut so much that much of it ended up on her face. We picked up some staples for our long car ride home before heading to The Carle.
BridgeSide Grille
We eat at the BridgeSide Grille almost every visit. It’s a lovely family restaurant with locally sourced meals. I love the homey atmosphere and tasty meals.
BridgeSide Grille Hours: BridgeSide Grille is generally open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sundays.
BridgeSide Grille Parking: Free parking is available in an adjacent parking lot.
Sugarloaf Frostie
On Independence Day, many area restaurants were closed; however, Sugarloaf Frostie was open. It was the perfect night for outdoor dining, and the sandwiches were surprisingly good. Of course, we followed up our meal with ice cream for dessert.
Western Massachusetts Itinerary
We packed many activities into our two days in Western Massachusetts and still had plenty of time left for exploring my aunt and uncle’s farm.
Day 1:
Basketball Hall of Fame
Fun on my aunt and uncle’s farm
Dinner at the Sugarloaf Frostie
Check in at the Inn on Boltwood
Day 2:
Breakfast at Atkins Farm
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Watching hay baling
Magic Wings
Mount Sugarloaf
Yankee Candle Village
Dinner at BridgeSide Grille
There are so many fun things to do in Western Massachusetts that we recommend this area as an ideal weekend destination. Even though it’s a long drive for us, we’ll most certainly be back sooner rather than later. Planning a trip to Western Massachusetts? Check out our entire series of posts relating to New England.
Thank you to Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, COSI, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay for hosting our family’s visits. All opinions are my own.
Columbus, Ohio is near and dear to my heart because I lived there for three years as a law student at the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. Nancy and I both studied at Moritz and lived in the same apartment complex five years apart. While traveling and blogging may be two of my favorite pastimes, I’m a public finance attorney in the Cleveland office of Bricker & Eckler by day. Because Columbus is the state capital of Ohio and Bricker’s headquarters, I make the journey from our house in the Cleveland suburbs down I-71 to Columbus every few weeks on business. Columbus has grown exponentially since my college and law school years (now the 14th largest city in the U.S.) and is a great family destination. It has been several years since we visited as a family, so I took advantage of an unusually quiet summer weekend while my husband was attending a family wedding in Australia to take the kids (and my daughter’s stuffed monkey, Coconut) on a weekend getaway. Columbus is a city that offers more than meets the eye, and we made sure to pack many of the highlights into our weekend trip.
Where to Stay in Columbus, Ohio
A Review of Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection
We spent two nights at the Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection, which is ideally located at the corner of Broad and Front, just one block from the Capitol Square. We did not need our car between check-in on Friday night and check out on Sunday morning because everything on our itinerary was within walking distance of the Hotel LeVeque. We walked to the Ohio Statehouse, the Bricker & Eckler building, Columbus Commons, COSI, Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral and dinner at Condado. We parked in the adjacent garage and were wowed by the elegant marquee at the entryway before proceeding to the lobby. We immediately noticed the Hotel’s astronomical theme and starry decor. My husband does not yet know that I spent a lot of time coveting the lobby chandelier and wondering if we could find something like it for our front hallway.
Check-in was a breeze with absolutely no wait. Throughout our stay, the entire staff was extremely helpful and attentive, especially to the kids. After we collected our room keys, we headed to our classic double queen room on the eighth floor.
The room was decorated in gray tones. The entryway had laminate wood flooring that was perfect for kicking off our shoes. The closet included the usual hanging space, safe and ironing board and also a large golf umbrella and a coffee maker. The queen beds were dreamily comfortable with plenty of pillows. Gold framed mirrors were a beautiful touch. The kids were ecstatic to find a welcome gift on the desk and immediately set to work with their coloring books.
The luxurious bathroom included a humongous, subway-tiled shower with a rainfall nozzle and separate handheld shower head. I loved the sleek white on white decor and took some notes for my dream bathroom makeover. There was also a separate room for the toilet, which worked great for our family.
The window wells were the perfect vantage point for watching the street below, and the biggest excitement was when the boys spotted a Lamborghini and Ferrari on Broad Street.
The starry decor extends to the guest rooms. The most unique feature was the star projector, which we used both nights so that we felt like we were sleeping under the stars with this view. My son wants a similar projector for his room.
After unpacking and settling into our room, the kids were ready to go explore the hotel. We set off to the Fitness Center on the sixth floor. The Center was equipped with high-end machines and weights and provided earplugs, granola bars and water. The Fitness Center was not designed for kids’ use, but these two jumped on the treadmills for a few seconds before we headed to the lobby to continue our exploring.
There are so many beautiful artworks in the Hotel’s common areas that we felt as if we were in an art gallery.
There is a Starbucks located right outside the lobby lounge and so many comfortable spots to relax with a morning coffee.
Because I travel to Columbus regularly, I’ve stayed in at least a dozen other Columbus-area hotels, including about six other downtown hotels. Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection is easily my new favorite because of its location and amenities.
Best Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio
We could easily spend a week exploring museums and parks in Columbus, but we packed the sights that most appealed to us into our weekend. Here’s our overview of the best things to do in Columbus, Ohio in the order we visited and also a few that are on our family’s list for next time.
Our Weekend in Columbus
#1: LEGOLAND Discovery Center Columbus
Easton’s LEGOLAND is a Discovery Centers that serves as a miniature amusement park. This 36,000 square foot entertainment center opened in September 2018. At LEGOLAND, there are LEGO-themed rides, opportunities to build with LEGO, LEGO-themed play areas and a 4D movie theater. My kids love LEGO and were especially excited that my friend and her 10-year-old daughter were able to join us. We planned to arrive in Columbus in the late afternoon when most of the museums are closing and were pleased to find that LEGOLAND Discovery Center stays open until 7:00 p.m. We arrived at about 4:30 p.m. and explored this amazing indoor amusement park until closing time.
The kids were excited to ride the Kingdom Quest laser ride located immediately inside the entrance. Each rider has their own laser to zap beastly trolls and sneaky skeletons while collecting points and saving a princess. This ride reminded me of the Toy Story ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – just without the long line. The kids rode on Kingdom Quest several times with absolutely no wait.
Because our kids love to build with LEGO, they were excited about the police car building project in the Creative Workshop. Workshops are held throughout the day, and visitors get the chance to create different models using LEGO kits. The leader provided step by step directions projected onto a big screen. My four year old and I worked together, but she handled the lion’s share of construction.
It was so much fun watching a pile of LEGO bricks take shape into the police car. After playing with our cars for a few minutes, we disassembled our creations and put them back in the kits for the next visitors.
My four-year-old daughter declared the LEGO pool to be her favorite part of the Discovery Center. This tear-dropped shaped “pool” is filled with thousands of LEGO bricks. And, yes, she did dive into the middle.
Miniland was also a big hit. We’ve seen many LEGO exhibits, including Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick at the Carnegie Science Center last summer. The scale of Miniland’s recreations of Ohio landmarks, including the Ohio Stadium was beyond impressive. And, this room made my heart swell with O-H-I-O pride.
After playing in the LEGO City Play Area and the DUPLO Farm and riding the Merlin’s Apprentice Ride, we finished our visit to LEGOLAND in the 4D movie theater. The kids laughed nonstop throughout the short film, and they thought the 4D special effects were cool (especially the flying hot dog), even if we did get a bit wet. The LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the “ultimate indoor LEGO Playground.”
LEGOLAND Discovery CenterHours: The LEGOLAND Discovery Center is open every day, and hours vary by day of the week and season. The last entry is two hours before closing.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Admission: Walk up general admission to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center varies by date but generally costs between $24 and $34. Savings are available for visitors who book online in advance.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Parking: The West Parking Garage at Easton is adjacent to LEGOLAND Discovery Center. I parked in a surface lot with a three-hour limit and had to move my car before dinner.
Time Spent at LEGOLAND DiscoveryCenter: We spent about two and a half hours at LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
#2: Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center is an indoor and outdoor shopping complex that opened in the summer of 1999, right before I moved to Columbus to start law school. Easton started as a development by Les Wexner, the owner of Limited Brands, and has had multiple expansions and renovation projects since its opening.
Easton Station includes The Rooms at Easton, presented by COSI. These are themed rooms where visitors can explore science concepts. Our favorite was Community Creations, a room inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s The obliteration room, which we saw in Cleveland last year. We each added a strip of stickers.
Easton is a wonderful family destination, particularly in the summer when it hosts numerous events like the Easton Art Affair, a fine art craft show that was going on during our visit. It reminded me of New Orleans‘ Jackson Park with so many amazing artists exhibiting their pieces. There is also a fountain for kids under eight to splash around in. It was a bit chilly, and our youngest did not have her bathing suit, but she asked many times if she could try out the fountain.
Easton Towne Center Hours: Most retailers are open Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Easton Towne Center Parking: Parking garages at Easton are free, surface lots provide free parking for up to three hours, and metered parking is available throughout the Center.
Time Spent at Easton TowneCenter: After finishing at LEGOLAND, we spent about two hours eating dinner and checking out the Easton Art Affair.
#3: Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio Statehouse is located in the center of downtown Columbus at Capitol Square. Unlike many state capitols inspired by the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the Ohio Statehouse’s Greek revival architecture was influenced by the Parthenon and completed before the Capitol. I am fortunate to attend an annual event inside the Ohio Statehouse, but, unfortunately, we did not have time for a guided tour on this particular visit.
The William McKinley Monument honors the Ohio native who served as the Ohio Governor and 25th President of the United States. The monument was completed in 1906, five years after McKinley’s assassination.
Ohio Statehouse Hours: The Ohio Statehouse is open to the public on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Ohio Statehouse is closed on public holidays.
Ohio Statehouse Parking: Underground parking is available 24 hours a day.
Time Spent at the Statehouse: We passed by the Ohio Statehouse several times during our weekend and spent about 30 minutes total. The guided tour is definitely on our list for our next visit.
#4: Bricker & Eckler Building
The law firm of Bricker & Eckler purchased the old, old post office in 1984 and restored and renovated the building to use as its headquarters. This is one of the few downtown buildings dating from the 19th century and is located across from Capitol Square at the intersection of South Third and State Street. It was my favorite building in downtown Columbus long before I became an employee. While the Bricker & Eckler building is not open to the public, we were fortunate to be able to stop in and take a break to relax in the lobby before continuing our Saturday morning walking tour.
Bricker & Eckler Building
#5: The John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons
The John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons is a six-acre park in the middle of downtown Columbus that opened in 2011 on the site of the former Columbus City Center mall. I remember when City Center opened as a premier shopping destination and witnessed its decline over my college and law school years as competing malls opened in the suburbs of Columbus. The Columbus Commons utilized the extensive underground parking constructed for City Center and features green space, Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion, a carousel, 12 gardens and open play. The Commons hosts over 200 events each year, and many of the events are free to the public.
Columbus Commons Hours: The Columbus Commons is generally open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily.
Columbus Commons Parking: The Main Garage is located at 55 East Rich Street, and the Underground Garage is located at 191 South Third Street.
Time Spent at Columbus Commons: We spent only a few minutes in the Commons due to our packed schedule and ticketed events occurring both nights.
#6: COSI Columbus
The Center of Science and Industry or COSI, as it is commonly known, is a science museum and research center. COSI opened in its current space in November 1999, just a few months after I started law school. My first visit was five years ago in 2014 when I was eight months pregnant with my daughter. Our family loves science museums, so we were ecstatic to go back to COSI. Just like our first visit (which I coincidentally discovered occurred exactly five years before this visit when I looked at the previous pictures), our visit coincided with the Science of Big Machines event in front of COSI. This is an epic touch a truck opportunity that gives kids the chance to try out operating stationary construction vehicles. This hands-on learning opportunity was a huge hit five years ago when my boys were four and six. This year, my four and nine year olds each tried out a truck before heading back across the bridge to our hotel.
In the entryway, we were greeted by an enormous Foucault pendulum that demonstrates that the Earth is spinning. This may be the largest and most beautiful Foucault pendulum we’ve ever seen.
COSI is much more than a typical science museum. Of course, it has live shows, hands-on science experiments, a planetarium, and permanent and special exhibits. But, it also includes the American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery, which is larger than dinosaur exhibits at many natural history museums. The full cast of a T-Rex is certainly the highlight here. There is also an outdoor park that is open to the public. In 2017, COSI completed the construction of an underground parking garage to replace its surface lot. Moving parking underground opened up eight acres that are now used as a park, complete with a playground and fountains. This park space is heavily used by families, especially on beautiful summer days.
The exhibit that I was most excited about was The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited, which explored Henson’s groundbreaking work and more than 20 historic puppets. Henson died almost 30 years ago at age 53, but his impact on puppetry was unparalleled. It was a thrill to see some of my childhood “friends” up close and personal.
We also explored the Mythic Creatures special exhibit. Unicorns seem to be as popular as princesses these days, and my daughter especially enjoyed this exhibit, but the boys preferred the rat basketball live show. Our visit to COSI was cut short because my oldest wasn’t feeling well, but my friend offered to watch my younger two kids while I took my oldest to the hotel. They made flubber, explored the Ocean exhibit and watched the high-wire unicycle.
Families can easily spend an entire day at COSI exploring the exhibits. Luckily, the Atomic Cafe provides a wide variety of kids’ meals and some healthy options for when kids need refueling. Our kids are already talking about the next trip and plan to prioritize the Planetarium and Giant Screen Theater.
COSI Hours: COSI is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the last Friday of each month.
COSI Admission: COSI general admission costs $25 for everyone 13 and over and $20 for kids 2-12. Add on experiences such as the Planetarium, National Geographic Giant Screen Theater films, Motion Simulator rides and some special exhibits are available for additional fees.
COSI Parking: The closest parking is available at the Scioto Peninsula Underground Garage. Visitor parking costs $6 with the discount stamp available at the COSI Box Office.
Time Spent at COSI: My oldest and I spent about two hours at COSI, and my younger two children stayed on with my friend and spent four hours exploring.
#7: Franklin Park Conservatory
Franklin Park Conservatory is a botanical garden located on Broad Street a few miles from Capitol Square. We always enjoy conservatories, but the big draw for us was its signature collection of Dale Chihuly artworks. We have a fondness for Chihuly and have seen his works at the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh and even MudBugs Cajun Kitchen in Sanibel. None of those exhibits comes close to Franklin Park Conservatory’s Chihuly: Celebrating Nature, the largest Chihuly collection in a botanical garden. This current exhibit, which is on display through March 29, 2020, includes 13 Chihuly works that are part of the Conservatory’s permanent collection, four pieces of the Conservatory’s collection that have been reconfigured and five pieces on loan from Chihuly.
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor who uses vibrant colors in his sculptures that often resemble flowers. The exhibit guide gets high marks for including art label descriptions for each piece and using color-coding to indicate which pieces are from the permanent collection, reconfigured or on loan. After being wowed by Chihuly’s Persian Window, we passed under the Persian Ceiling with layered glass forms.
My oldest son has color vision deficiency and only sees a fraction of the colors that the rest of the family can see. To him, many of Chihuly’s selections do not seem bold or vivid, but he likes the forms. However, this Garden Fiori, on loan for this exhibit, was an exception and looked brilliant to him and easily became his favorite of the exhibition.
The Lime Green Icicle Tower, also on loan, was the focal point of the Sculpture Garden. It reminded me of the taller and skinnier version exhibited in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
There is something magical about butterflies, and it is always exciting to see one up close. The Conservatory’s Blooms & Butterflies exhibit is located in the Pacific Island Water Garden.
The Kids Can Design Glass Art Studio gives kids the chance to make their own Chihuly-inspired creations.
Scott’s Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden offers active experiences in nature for children. My daughter splashed in the Headwaters and Sandstone Creek, which were inspired by the nearby Hocking Hills before all three kids headed to the Canopy Walk and Nature Play Zone.
It’s no surprise that the Franklin Park Conservatory was recently named by USA Today as #5 on the 10 most beautiful places list. The combination of Chihuly sculptures and nature exhibited here is nothing short of breathtaking.
Franklin Park Conservatory Hours: The Franklin Park Conservatory is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Franklin Park Conservatory Admission: Franklin Park Conservatory general admission costs $19 for visitors age 13-59, $16 for visitors over age 59 and $12 for children age 3-12.
Franklin Park Conservatory Parking: A free adjacent parking lot is available for visitors.
Time Spent at Franklin Park Conservatory: We spent only about an hour and a half at the Franklin Park Conservatory because our visit was postponed due to my son’s illness. However, we could have easily spent two to three hours exploring the Conservatory and playing in the Children’s Garden.
#8: The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has been nationally recognized among the best zoos in the U.S. and was recently named as the country’s #5 zoo by USA Today. The enormous Zoo is organized by regions. As soon as we entered, we hopped on the shuttle to the Heart of Africa exhibit and then weaved our way back to the entrance, saving us a lot of steps. My four year old rarely uses a stroller, but after a few hours in the Franklin Park Conservatory, I was glad that we brought the stroller and comfortable walking shoes. We saw so many animals up close, but those little legs would have struggled with the long walk on a hot day.
The large enclosure housing at least a dozen giraffe and also zebras in the Heart of Africa was so realistic that we felt as if we were on safari in Africa.
As a special treat, our kids took turns feeding a giraffe. They liked getting up close and personal with the giraffe.
The Polar Frontier exhibit features polar bears. My nine-year-old son recently completed a research project on polar bears, and we learned that they can close their ears underwater and many other fascinating facts. The enclosure features a large, chilled pool, and we were excited to see one close up.
The Shores & Aquarium, which featured manatees, sea turtles, stingrays and many other aquatic creatures, was my 11-year-old son’s favorite part of the Zoo.
Elephants are another family favorite. We noticed that the Asian elephants at the Columbus Zoo have much smaller ears than the African elephants at the Cleveland Zoo.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the largest zoos in the United States and offers many shaded areas perfect for viewing animals on sunny days. My daughter liked the dozens of animal sculptures around the zoo for photo opportunities, and we had to take pictures at almost everyone. There is so much to see and do that it’s possible to spend an entire day exploring all the regions and combine a visit to the Zoombezi Bay water park or Jungle Jack’s Landing amusement area.
Columbus ZooHours: The hours of the Columbus Zoo vary by day of the week and season but are typically 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the summer months.
Columbus Zoo Admission: Admission to the Columbus Zoo costs $21.99 for visitors ages 10-59 and $16.99 for visitors ages three to nine and over 59. The Columbus Zoo-It-All experience includes Zoo admission as well as Jungle Jack’s Landing, Dinosaur Landing, the 4D theater, carousel and pony rides cost $36.99 for visitors ages 10-59 and $31.99 for visitors ages three to nine and over 59. All pricing is based on 2019 admission rates.
Columbus Zoo Parking: Parking is available in an adjacent surface lot for $10 per car.
Time Spent at the Columbus Zoo: We spent about two and a half hours at the Columbus Zoo.
#9: Zoombezi Bay
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium owns the adjacent water park, which is one of the most popular water parks in the Midwest. The kids were desperate to dip their toes into the fountains at Easton, COSI and the Franklin Park Conservatory and had been waiting for Zoombezi Bay all weekend. They thoroughly enjoyed their time at the Zoo, but after about two and a half hours were ready to cool off in Zoombezi Bay. We were glad that we brought our pool bag with us to the Zoo and exited directly to Zoombezi Bay without first stopping at our car. The first stop inside the entrance was the bathhouse and then the lockers. The $10 small lockers were sold out for the day, so we rented a medium locker to store our clothes and valuables while we swam. We selected our code and were able to open our locker as many times as we needed during our visit.
We headed to Baboon Lagoon, a multi-level play structure for water exploration. The water sprays and 1,000 gallon bucket that tipped every few minutes was a bit overwhelming for my four year old daughter but perfect for my sons. The kids also liked the Otter Banks play area.
The whole family enjoyed the Roaring Rapids Action River, a lazy river with inner tubes, waterfalls and wave generators that weaves throughout the entire water park.
We also enjoyed the Wild Tides Wave Pool (pictured here below closing for the day). My boys headed straight for the deeper part of the pool while my daughter waded in the pool’s zero-entry edge and jumped over the breaking waves.
The lines for the large slides were quite long, but the boys did wait for Big Boa Falls for the gravity-defying experience of the uphill water slide.
The Tiny Tides area was designed for the youngest visitors. The slides were much smaller, and there was plenty of space to splash around in the wading pool.
The kids’ only other water park experiences have been at Kalahari. Many of the attractions at Zoombezi Bay were similar but on a much larger scale. And, we enjoyed taking advantage of the park on this beautiful summer day. We unexpectedly stayed until closing at 8:00 p.m., and all three kids fell asleep in the car on the way home.
Zoombezi Bay Hours: Zoombezi Bay is open from mid-May to Labor Day. Hours vary throughout the summer.
Zoombezi Bay Admission: Admission to Zoombezi Bay costs $29.99 for visitors ages 10-59 and $23.99 for visitors ages three to nine and over 59 and includes admission to the Columbus Zoo on the same day. Add-on experiences to Jungle Jack’s Landing, Dinosaur Landing, the 4D theater, carousel and pony rides can be purchased for additional fees. All pricing is based on 2019 admission rates.
Zoombezi Bay Parking: Parking is available in an adjacent surface lot for $10 per car.
Time Spent at the Zoombezi Bay: We spent about three and a half hours at the Zoombezi Bay. It took us about 30 minutes to walk from the Columbus Zoo, enter Zoombezi Bay and get changed into our swimming attire.
Other Great Columbus Family Activities
There are so many more great family-friendly activities in Columbus. While we couldn’t fit them all in during our visit, I’ve had the chance to more fully explore during the three years I lived here and during my frequent visits back. These are still on our list for next time.
#10: Columbus Museum of Art
Columbus Museum of Art features American and European modern and contemporary art along with folk art, glass art, and photography. The Columbus Museum of Art is located downtown, and I’ve been fortunate to visit several times. My favorite artwork is the Chihuly sculpture in the Museum’s Derby Court. We couldn’t fit a trip to the Columbus Museum of Art into our weekend itinerary, but the Museum offers free admission every Sunday.
#11: National Veterans Memorial and Museum
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum opened along the Scioto River in October 2018 on the site of the former Ohio Veterans Memorial, which most attorneys in Ohio remember as the convention center where they sat for three days at folding tables to take the bar exam. The National Veterans Museum is dedicated to the experiences of veterans by incorporating personal stories. Veterans receive free admission and parking.
#12: Grange Insurance Audobon Center
The Grange Insurance Audobon Center is a nature center within the 120-acre Scioto Audubon Metro Park. The Center is a great place for a nature hike, a spectacular view of downtown Columbus, bird watching and rock climbing. I attended a series of meetings in the Center earlier this year and loved watching the seasons change from the wall of windows in the conference room.
#13: Ohio Theatre
The Ohio Theatre in Columbus is located on State Street across from Capitol Square. As a law student, I saw Beauty and the Beast at the Ohio Theatre, and I’ll always remember the Ohio Theatre as the venue for my law school hooding and my swearing-in ceremony. The Ohio Theatre hosts Broadway shows, concerts, live events and movies. Its CAPA Summer Movie Series is the longest-running classic film series in America and currently celebrating its 50th year. Tickets cost only $5 each, and strips of 10 can be purchased for $30.
#14: Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre in Columbus is a performing arts venue located at the base of the LeVeque Tower next to Hotel LeVeque. Its design was influenced by the Palace of Versailles. As a law student, I saw my all-time favorite Broadway show, Rent, for the first time from the front row of the Palace Theatre. The Palace Theatre hosts many family-friendly events, including Peppa Pig Live andWild Kratts Live 2.0.
Where to Eat in Columbus, Ohio
Cameron Mitchell restaurants were taking off in Columbus when I was in law school, and the brand continues as a dominant force in the local food scene, and there are now restaurants all over the United States. There are so many more restaurant options than there were during my student days, and we chose our dining options based on location and cuisine. We were certainly not disappointed.
Northstar Cafe at Easton Towne Center
Northstar has five Columbus locations that each serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Diners order their food from the counter, pay and then find a seat in the restaurant. I chose the Pad Thai during our meal at the Northstar Cafe at Easton Towne Center and was not disappointed.
Condado
Condado features a build-your-own-taco concept, and we visited its original restaurant for dinner on North High Street. The kids loved all the options to create one-of-a-kind tacos while I chose from the taco suggestions menu. Condado was decorated with Day of the Dead decor and served a tasty margarita.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s was founded in Columbus in 1969 by Dave Thomas and is a Columbus institution. It’s considered the world’s third-largest hamburger chain after McDonald’s and Burger King. We grabbed a tasty but quick lunch between our visits to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Columbus Zoo. The kids even talked me into ordering Frosty’s that they could split.
Our Family’s Columbus Weekend
We had a memorable family weekend in Columbus and didn’t have to pack our passports or book plane tickets. The museums and parks in Columbus make it an ideal family vacation destination for those living in the Midwest and beyond. My kids would certainly go back in a heartbeat and hope that spending a weekend in Columbus becomes an annual tradition. Planning a trip to the Midwest? Check out our series of posts on Ohio.
Paris is often considered as one of the world’s art capitals. Not only is the Louvre located along the Seine River, but Impressionism originated with a group of Paris-based artists during the late 19th century. It is generally quite affordable for families to visit art museums in Paris because kids under 18 are almost always free. It astounded me that our admissions fees to these world-renowned museums was a fraction of what our family pays to attend local museums. As a family of art lovers, our three children have been visiting art museums since birth and love exploring galleries. Several of Paris’ art museums were on our must-see list during our last visit, but we were only able to visit three. We reached out to fellow bloggers to get the inside scoop on the ones we missed so that we could create this comprehensive guide to the best Paris art museums for kids.
#1: Louvre
The Louvre is the largest and most visited art museum in the world. As the world’s premier art museum housed in the Louvre Palace that dates back to the 12th century, it and may not seem likely to be child-friendly, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited. Families with strollers automatically skip the often long entry line and are ushered directly to an elevator and are permitted to use elevators throughout the Louvre that are reserved only for disabled visitors and their accompanying parties.
The building could be considered a work of art in its own right. In addition to the Louvre Palace and all of its additions, Louvre Pyramid is an iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989. The Louvre collection includes over 400,000 works and could take months to closely examine even the works currently on display. During our lovely visit with our three children last summer, we prioritized the most famous three works, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace and spent about three hours meandering through the Louvre’s highlights. Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!), and her paparazzi was overwhelming. Nevertheless, we still all wanted to get as up close to her famous smile as we could.
I think it’s safe to say that no visit to Paris would be complete for me without a visit to the Louvre. While I would aim to get in as soon as it opens next time and beeline for the Mona Lisa gallery first, I would never hesitate to bring kids.
Louvre Hours: The Louvre is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
Louvre Admission: Pre-booked time-entry tickets cost €17 or adults, and general adult admission costs €15 at the door. Kids under 18 are free.
Closest Metro Station: Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre and Pyramides
Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids. Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Louvre with kids.
#2: Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay houses an impressive Impressionist collection of French art featuring Manet, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh Degas, Cezanne and many more. Paris was the birthplace of impressionism, and impressionist artists regularly gathered in Montmartre during the late 19th century. I sure would love to have been a fly on the wall of one of these meetings, and I felt privileged to grace the halls of these magnificent art works.
The Museum opened in 1986 in the former Gare d’Orsay, which was constructed for the 1900 World’s Fair, and the station’s three enormous clocks are spectacular works of art in their own right. Our family really loves Impressionism, and my personal favorite painter is the brilliant but troubled Vincent van Gogh, and my kids share my appreciation of his paintings. The d’Orsay was a particularly treat because it houses one of the largest collections of Van Gogh’s works outside of the Van Gogh Museum with 24 paintings. Our favorite was Starry Night Over the Rhone.
Edouard Manet, who was one of the first to incorporate blurred backgrounds and contrasting colors into his painting, is often credited as the first Impressionist artist. Several of his seminal paintings are exhibited at the d’Orsay, including Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass. Other favorites impressionist artists include Edgar Degas, who known for his focus on dance and theater. The Dance Class was a favorite of my budding ballerina.
The d’Orsay features more than 80 paintings by Claude Monet and Pierre-August Renoir each. Many are recognizable, and I can’t pass one without smiling. Both were very talented and prolific artists, so most major art museums around the world feature a handful of paintings by each, and including variations of similar paintings. While we focused on the paintings, there is also quite a significant sculpture exhibition. With such an extensive collection, it’s no surprise that the Musee d’Orsay is the 10th most visited art museum in the world with about 3.5 million visitors annually.
Musee D’Orsay Hours: The d’Orsay is generally open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except that it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Thursdays and closed on Mondays, May 1 and December 25.
Musee D’OrsayAdmission: General admission costs €14 for adults, €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie or €21 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée Rodin. Kids under 18 are free, and the d’Orsay is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Closest Metro Station: Solferino
Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids. Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée d’Orsay.
#3: Musée de l’Orangerie
Musée de l’Orangerie is located between Place de la Concorde and Tulleries Gardens, just a short walk from the Louvre. The l’Orangerie features impressionist and post-impressionist art. The main attraction is unquestionably the two oval shaped rooms featuring Monet’s Nymphéas (Water Lilies). Monet helped design these two rooms in the 1920s but unfortunately died before the installation was completed. In the 1960s, a second floor was added above these galleries and obstructed natural light. Fifty years later, the l’Orangerie spent over $36 million to construct a lower level to move the exhibits on the upper floor below ground and add skylights to these ground floor galleries.
The eight curved panels built into the walls of these two galleries pop from the crisp, white walls. As a viewer, I truly felt as if I was part of the installation. My ten year old announced that these were his two “favorite rooms of art in the world.”
After exploring the Water Lilies galleries, we spent about an hour and a half exploring the other impressionist works, including works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso and Renoir. Renoir’s Jeunes Filles au Piano reminds me of my sister and me, and I was thrilled to find one of the variations on display. The l’Orangerie might be a bit of a hidden gem, but it is definitely at the top of our must-see list for Paris.
Musée de l’Orangerie Hours: Musée de l’Orangerie is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, May 1, the morning of July 14 and December 25.
Musée de l’OrangerieAdmission: Admission costs €9 for adults or €18 if purchasing a combined admission to Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie within three months of first entry. We purchased a combination ticket and visited the two museums on separate days. Kids under 18 are free.
Closest Metro to Musée de l’Orangerie: Concorde
Recommended by Catherine D’Cruz from We Go With Kids. Find out more from Catherine about visiting the Musée de l’Orangerie.
#4: The Centre Pompidou
With an entire floor dedicated entirely to kids, the Pompidou Center is one of our favorite museums for kids in Paris. The Pompidou Center houses France’s national library and the museum of modern art and provides an introduction for children to the works of artists from the 20th and 21st centuries including Matisse, Picasso and Warhol. In the Galeries des Enfants special trails, workshops and exhibitions aim to bring the art alive for children with creative use of digital and hands on activities. And, it is not just the kids galleries that make the Pompi (as it is affectionately called) worthwhile. The building itself is fun to explore thanks to the iconic exterior escalators and modern architecture. Outside in the Place Stravinsky families can explore the fountains and watch performances by street artists.
Pompidou Center Hours: The Pompidou Center is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays and May 1. Certain exhibits are open until 11:00 p.m. on Thursdays.
Pompidou CenterAdmission: General admission costs €14 for adults. Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Pompidou Center Visitor Tip: There are strollers available for young children to use during their visit, which makes it easy to wheel around tired little legs.
Closest Metro Stops to the Pompidou Center: Rambuteau Hotel de Ville or Chatelet
Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels. Find out more about Paris from Katy.
#5: The Rodin Museum
Our first visit to Europe included a fantastic five days in Paris. Our three kids were young at the time, just 5, 7 and 10. We had no idea that those little ones would love the museums of Paris. Each day, we’d visit one, sometimes large, sometimes small, and each time, they found something special to enjoy. Their favorite was a museum that I hadn’t heard much about before researching our visit: The Rodin Museum. We only visited the Sculpture Garden, but it remains one of their favorite European museums. With incredible sculptures intermixed in beautiful rose gardens, this park-like setting turned into a mini photo shoot of our three little one’s trying to recreate Rodin’s creations with their little bodies. It started on arrival as our three littles sat in front of The Thinker and recreated the famous pose. It continued as we wandered through the beautiful gardens with each and every life-size sculpture. Incredibly, many of Rodin’s pieces include three people, just like them! It was so much fun that we spent hours there, moving from one new piece of art to another, enjoying time on a bench or roaming the gardens along our way. For families looking for a relaxing few hours where the kids, of any age, can learn to enjoy and interact with artistic works, this is an ideal place. Just don’t forget a camera!!
Rodin Museum Hours: The Rodin Museum is generally open on daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. except that it is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Rodin Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults. A combined ticket with the Musee d’Orsay costs €21. Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Closest Metro Stops to the Rodin Museum: Varenne or Invalides
#6: Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages
The Cluny Museum in Paris is one of the most underrated museums in the city. Also known as the Musée de Cluny – The National Museum of the Middle Ages, this museum has everything from Roman artifacts to Medieval tapestries. The collection is housed inside a 15th century mansion in the Latin Quarter and the building itself is as much of an attraction as the relic inside.
We visited with our three kids as part of a Context Travel Paris tour uncovering Roman history in Paris. Inside the Cluny Museum are the most magnificent Roman baths and frigidarium dating to the 2nd century. The collection also includes the famous tapestry “The Lady and the Unicorn”, Gothic Rooms, the Abbot’s Chapel, a treasury, and beautiful outdoor gardens to explore. I would highly recommend booking a family friendly tour at the Cluny as there is a ton to take in, but it is definitely worth a stop on a family visit to Paris.
Cluny Museum Hours: The Cluny Museum is generally open from 9:15 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. daily, except that it is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Cluny MuseumAdmission: Admission costs €9 during temporary exhibitions €5 outside of temporary exhibitions. Kids under 18 are free, and the Cluny Museum is also free on the first Sunday of each month.
Closest Metros to the Cluny Museum: Cluny-La Sorbonne, Saint-Michel or Odeon
Recommended by Kirsten Maxwell from Kids Are A Trip. Find out more from Kirsten about Context Tours in Paris.
#7: Musée du quai Branly
Quai Branly Museum in Paris is a space dedicated to arts of non-Western civilizations. Designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel, it displays artifacts, costumes and precious handcraft objects of the main civilizations divided by continents. Quai Branly Museum also has a theater, a reading room, a cinema, two restaurants, and a bookstore. It also proposes interesting temporary exhibitions regularly. This museum is great for families because of the exciting design of the building and the surrounding spaces and also for its educational side. After crossing its famous vegetal wall facing the Seine River, the building is located in the heart of a wooded savanna. From there, visitors have a great perspective of Haussmannian apartments, and kids can explore the hidden treasures of the garden. The spaces inside are linked by a spectacular ramp, a kind of spine for the building, which makes the arrival to the main exhibition space very exciting. The collections are very interactive and utilize different media, which is great for keeping the kids interested and entertained at the same time.
Quai Branly Museum Hours: The Quai Branly Museum is generally open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m and generally closed on Mondays.
Quai Branly Museum Admission: General admission costs €10 for adults. Kids under 18 are free, and the Center is free on the first Sunday of each month.
Closest Metro to the Quai Branly Museum: Alma-Marceau
Paris Atelier des Lumières is one of the most kid-friendly museums in Paris. It offers a very creative way to appreciate the art masterpieces from famous artists like Van Gogh, Monet and others. The whole museum spreads over with over 30,000 square feet of gallery space equipped with modern multimedia tools to create the stunning effects on the way artworks appear to the stage. Once stepping into this museum, kids do not only feel movement of the painting but also indulge in the sounds of nature like they are witnessing the real landscape.
From one corner to another, all the changes are carefully designed to make sure even the less artistic-genre person still feel attracted. Atelier des Lumières is simply a perfect choice for an educational visit. Families will not feel regret with their dedicated exhibition!
I remember the huge impression that l’Espace Dalí made on me when I visited at the age of 15, but I was easy game. I was already in love with Salvador Dalí’s quirky paintings and sculpture at that time. Some 25 years later, I brought my girls to the recently refurbished and renamed Dalí Paris, and sure enough, they loved it too, just as I had. The Dali Museum houses the biggest collection of his work in Paris, including some fabulous bronzes with my favorite Space Elephant and of course his melting clocks.
Dalí Paris is located on Montmartre, just a few steps from the main square with its open air displays of paintings. We recommend visiting Sacré Coeur Basilica first, then wander the Montmartre streets and save Dalí for the climax.
Dali Museum Hours: The Dali Museum is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during June, July and August.
Dali Museum Admission: General admission costs €12 for adults and €9 for visitors age 9-26. Kids under 8 are free.
Closest Metro Stations to the Dali Museum: Anvers, Abbesses or Lamarck-Caulaincourt
Paris is an art-lover’s dream with so many art museums. These museums may not seem child-friendly, but kids are truly welcome and find delight in the beauty of some of the world’s most famous masterpieces that span from antiquities to impressionism to contemporary art. As an added bonus, kids are free at almost all of these museums. Find out more about visiting Paris with kids.
London may not be known as a budget city for travelers but offers seemingly infinite free attractions. In addition to iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, there are many free museums, including four that are among the world’s top ten most visited museums each year. Exhibits in these museums include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon frieze, Apollo 10, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Darwin’s specimens, the world’s largest portrait collection and the remains of the London Wall from about 200 A.D. With so much variety, there really are free museums in London for everyone. Our family barely scratched the surface of London’s museums during our three trips there with kids but have been lucky to visit a few of London’s amazing museums as a family without paying any admissions fees. To round out our list, we asked some fellow travel bloggers for recommendations for the best free London museums for kids:
Free Museums in South Kensington
#1: London’s Natural History Museum
My kids really enjoy natural history and have visited natural history museums in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.London’s Natural History Museum definitely did not disappoint. The cathedral-like building in South Kensington is stunning, and we were greeted by Dippy, a diplodocus skeleton featured in Hitze Hall, the main hall of the museum. This dinosaur reminded us of Sue, the T-Rex featured in the Field Museum’s main hall. We were excited to learn that the cast of Dippy was a gift from Andrew Carnegie at the request of Edward VII. Since our visit to London, we’ve seen the original skeleton on display at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
Replacing iconic main hall dinosaurs seems to be a recent trend in natural history museums. Just as Sue was replaced at the Field Museum with a cast of Maximo, a titanosaur, and the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton in 2018, Dippy was replaced with Hope, a blue whale’s skeleton in 2017. While Dippy was quite a centerpiece, one of the biggest takeaways from our trip to London’s Natural History Museum was that the blue whale is the world’s largest animal. So, my boys would probably approve of the change. Admittedly, it must be easier to photograph Hope, who is suspended from the ceiling, without getting scores of other visitors in the shot as we found when trying to photograph Dilly. We can’t wait to see Hope, whose installation is shown on this time-lapse video.
The Dinosaur Gallery one-ups the other dinosaur exhibits we have visited by adding animatronics. The enormous animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex is the highlight of the exhibit. Visitors stand in a line (which is known as a queue in London) that eventually inches past the T-Rex.
The Natural History Museum was originally designed to house the British Museum’s natural history collection, particularly Charles Darwin’s samples, so there are plenty of animal specimens. My younger son got up close and personal with the lion exhibit. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend London’s Natural History Museum for kids of all ages.
London’s Natural History Museum Admission: There is no general admission to visit London’s Natural History Museum, but some temporary exhibits do require an admission fee.
London’s Natural History Museum Hours: London’s Natural History Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
Closest Underground Stop to London’s Natural History Museum: South Kensington
#2: London’s Science Museum
Kids who have a passing interest in space travel, experiments, technology or transport would love London’s Science Museum. It’s the best London museum for kids, and visitors can explore free exhibits including some of the most iconic objects created over the past 250 years – from Apollo 10 to the first Apple computer as well as the first submarine. While the Museum is free, visitors can also purchase tickets for the WonderLab to take part in live experiments at the Chemistry Bar or watch 3D IMAX movie features on space travel and natural phenomena. The Science Museum is a great place to visit on a cold and rainy day thanks to the play area for smaller kids on the lower level.
London’s Science Museum Admission: There is no general admission to visit London’s Science Museum, but donations are welcome, and tickets are required for special exhibits and the IMAX cinema.
London’s Science Museum Hours: The Science Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and closed December 24-26.
Closest Underground Stop to London’s Science Museum: South Kensington
Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels. Find out more from Katy about 3 days in London.
#3: Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of South Kensington’s Big Three free museums, is purely dedicated to art and design. It’s not as immediately child-friendly as its neighbors, the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. There are no dinosaurs or flight simulators here, but it does have daily free activities and events for children. Kids age 5 to 12 can borrow a backpack of activities to help them explore the Museum’s while paper trails and hands-on discovery areas help to bring the exhibits to life. Pop-up performances and making sessions appear on weekends and school holidays, too. But another important feature is the John Madejski Garden, an outdoor courtyard in the heart of the Museum. On sunny days, families gather around the pond to eat packed lunches and relax or purchase ice-cream and refreshments in the Garden Café. If it’s a less sunny day, the V&A’s main café is a historic work of art in its own right!
Victoria and Albert Museum Admission: There is no general admission to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, but there is a separate admission charge for some exhibitions and events, which may require advance booking.
Victoria and Albert Museum Hours: The Victoria & Albert Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays. The Victoria & Albert is closed December 24-26.
Closest Underground Stop to the Victoria and Albert Museum: South Kensington
London’s National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all are world-famous and on permanent display. The National Gallery is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually. The Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum are the only more popular art museums.
The Gallery’s entrances are located off of Trafalgar Square. We used the side entrance, which is more stroller friendly than the beautiful main entrance. Our focus was the Impressionist Gallery that holds some of the world’s most famous paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh. Monet’s paintings on exhibit here include Gare St. Lazare and The Water-Lily Pond. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is one of the most recognizable paintings on exhibit. Van Gogh only created about 800 oil paintings in his life, including several variations of these sunflowers. Similar versions are displayed in the Van Gogh Museum and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art, which purchased Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers for about $40 million in 1987, which was a record at the time. When considering those amounts, it’s hard to believe that Van Gogh relied on his brother for financial support during his lifetime.
Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers
Our boys were particularly fascinated by Georges Seurat’s massive Bathers at Asnières. Seurat masterfully uses pointillism, a painting technique that uses small, distinct dots of varying colors to form an image. It’s much harder to see how the patterns of dots form an image when observing the painting up close, and the boys learned to step back to see the image more clearly. While we were not able to explore the entire National Gallery, this is definitely a museum that we could visit again and again.
London’s National Gallery Admission: There is no general admission to visit the National Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
London’s National Gallery Hours: London’s National Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays. The National Gallery is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Gallery: Charing Cross and Leicester Square
#5: London’s National Portrait Gallery
When London’s National Portrait Gallery opened in 1856, it was the world’s first portrait gallery. The National Portrait Gallery now contains the world’s most extensive portrait collection with approximately 200,000 works. The collection most notably includes portraits of important, famous and royal Brits, including members of the royal family, celebrities, politicians, artists and writers. Visitors have the chance to view history through portraits, photographs and sculptures arranged chronologically from 1500s to modern-day.
King Henry VIII is one of the most infamous Brits and is featured in the center of the bottom row below. After their visit to the Tower of London, our boys were particularly excited to check out this royal portrait wall.
We loved learning about history and art at London’s National Portrait Gallery and recommend it for all family travelers.
London’s National Portrait Gallery Admission: There is no general admission fee to visit London’s National Portrait Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
London’s National Portrait Gallery Hours: London’s National Portrait Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays. The National Gallery is closed on December 24-26.
Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Portrait Gallery: Charing Cross and Leicester Square
Free Museums in Bloomsbury
#6: British Museum
The British Museum allows visitors to journey through time and around the world, without leaving London. While most people visit for the Ancient Egyptian exhibit and to see the Rosetta stone, there’s much more. Visitors can use the regular audio-guide for a more formal experience or the interactive family guide to play games throughout the Museum. With either guide, everyone will love learning about the burial rituals of Egypt, seeing hundreds of natural history specimens in the library and looking up at the Maori from the mysterious Easter Island. This is a museum where visitors could spend days properly discovering it all or skim the surface in only a few hours.
British Museum Admission: There is no admission charge for the British Museum.
British Museum Hours: The British Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The British Museum is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
Closest Underground Stations to the British Museum: Barbican and St. Paul’s
The Museum of London is a fascinating and beautifully presented introduction to the city itself. It is located north of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and its permanent galleries describe a timeline from prehistory to the present day, and special temporary exhibitions take angles – recent and current examples range from the story of London’s secret rivers to the impact that animals from lions to bees have had in the city’s story. We learned that London was the richest and most populous city in the world one century ago.
My kids were of course fascinated by the disgusting “Fatberg!” story of London’s sewer blockage, and my husband loves the Museum mostly because it is in the Barbican, which is either a wonderful icon of architectural history or the most repugnant set of concrete tower-blocks on the planet, depending on the viewer.
Museum of London Admission: There is no admission charge for the Museum of London.
Museum of London Hours: The Museum of London is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closest Underground Stations to the Museum of London: Barbican and St. Paul’s
The Tate Modern is the sixth most visited art museum in the world and houses modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a former power station. Unlike most art museums, which are presented chronologically, the Tate Modern is organized by themes. We last visited in 2015, and a 10-story addition opened two years later in 2017.
Displays change frequently, and many exhibits come from the Tate Collection, which includes the United Kingdom’s national collection of British Art. The expansive Turbine Hall can showcase large-scale work. London’s Tate Modern is an extremely kid-friendly art museum. The website has a special page dedicated to visiting families that explicitly states that women are welcome to nurse wherever they feel comfortable – which is exactly what I did while the boys explored the interactive building area.
Amazing interactive building exhibit
The view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames and the Millennium Bridge from the balcony should not be missed. The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was completed in 2000 to connect the Tate Modern to St. Paul’s Cathedral, but an unexpected sway required it to close almost as soon as it was opened and undergo almost two more years of additional modifications.
Tate Modern Admission: There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
Tate Modern Hours: The Tate Modern is generally open Sundays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Closest Underground Stop to the Tate Modern: Southwark and St Paul’s
Free Museum in Forest City
#9: Horniman Museum and Gardens
Opened in 1901, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Southeast London is a brilliant free and child-friendly museum. The Horniman houses artifacts procured by Frederick John Horniman on his world travels in the 19th century. Aside from the aquarium and special exhibitions, all galleries and parks are free to enter.
Toddlers will love the music room where they can beat African drums and experiment with unusual Asian instruments. The main gallery contains hundreds of taxidermy animals from across the world. Children especially adore the famous gigantic stuffed walrus. It’s an amazing place to learn about other cultures and to inspire a love of nature.
Every day, free workshops for children are offered to those who register at the front desk. The attached Horniman Gardens are beautiful with views over London, farm animals, a music laboratory for children and a stunning conservatory. In the summer, it’s easy to spend a whole day in the museum and gardens.
Horniman Museum and Gardens Admission: There is no admission charge for the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Horniman Museum and Gardens Hours: The Horniman Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed December 24-26. The Horniman Garden closing times vary by season.
My favorite place to visit whenever we’re in London is the Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road. This area is great with its many restaurants and upscale shopping, and it’s the perfect place to house a contemporary art gallery. I find that modern art is easier to keep the kids’ attention than the more traditional galleries, it’s bigger, brighter and sometimes they can touch it! My daughter loves visiting the Saatchi as much as I do to see its ever-changing exhibits.
The Saatchi sometimes holds child friendly workshops and talks, their ethos is to make modern art accessible to all so children are very welcome. Previous exhibits have included Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and the Saatchi in constantly showcasing, new, little known artists. Just think, it’s possible to introduce kids to the next big thing in the art world! Some exhibits are not so child friendly so I would check the website before visiting and avoid these areas. Most exhibits are not roped off so keep an eye on young children to ensure they’re not touching the artwork although some pieces are interactive such as the multimedia installations.
Because the rooms are spacious and clean, it’s easy to get around the Saatchi with a stroller. There’s also a lovely open space at the front of the Gallery for the kids to burn off some energy either before or after a visit.
Saatchi Gallery Admission: There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
Saatchi Gallery Hours: Generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closest Underground Stop to the Saatchi Gallery: Sloan Square
My husband and three kids tagged along with me in March 2019 when I attended a conference at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. After we spent a much needed long weekend in Treasure Island last winter, we decided that we should plan an annual beach weekend in the first few months of the year. Because a tax and securities conference I attend annually was scheduled at Coconut Point, we knew it was a perfect opportunity to briefly escape the cold. We booked $160 round trip flights from Cleveland to Fort Myers on Spirit Airlines and surprised the kids with a vacation reveal on a Friday night in January, complete with wrapped pictures of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point’s pool area. Needless to say, all three were ecstatic about our winter weekend family getaway in Southwest Florida.
We arrived on a chilly March evening. The resort is only about a 20-25 minute drive from the Fort Myers Airport, but we mistakenly plugged the Hyatt Place Coconut Point into our GPS and ended up taking an unintended detour. After checking in (which included a delightful glass of champagne), we headed out for dinner. Despite the colder than expected weather, we took a tour of the resort after settling into our room.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point pool area may close at 5 p.m. each day, but lawn games, swings and a fire pit are available for guests to use into the evenings so that guests have fun activities all day long. The landscape was simply breathtaking.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is a 454-room resort that encompasses 26 acres and opened in September 2001. The grand opening was overshadowed by the September 11 terrorist attacks that significantly impacted air travel and hotel occupancy. Despite challenges during its first few years, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point features the largest pool area in southwest Florida and has become a favorite family resort with a lush and well-manicured landscape.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Guest Rooms
Our guest room was nicely appointed and large with an enormous flat screen television. We liked the neutral colors, queen beds, the tiled entry way and the functional work space. We always appreciate a refrigerator and used the one in our room for left overs. Our family was very comfortable in our room during our stay.
The bathroom was upgraded with granite and white tiles. Bins under the sink were handy for keeping the space organized, and towels were folded into fancy decorations that my daughter loved.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Private Beach
Our family generally opts for beach-front properties when vacationing anywhere near an ocean. While the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is not a beach-front resort, it does offer its guests access to its semi-private beach via its complimentary boat across Estero Bay. The first morning we spent in Bonita Springs was unseasonably chilly, so my husband and kids decided to hop on the first boat of the day to the island. They took a short walk down the hotel’s 1/4 mile nature boardwalk trail to the dock at the marina and then enjoyed the quick boat ride to Big Hickory Island, which is part of the Estero Bay Ecological Preserve.
On the boat ride, they saw a few pelicans, but unfortunately no dolphins or Bald Eagles.
They packed some beach toys with them but found towels and toys were available at the beach. The four of them enjoyed walking along the pristine beach and watching the birds.
As the first visitors of the day on the beach, they were treated to a bumper crop of sand dollars and excitedly collected their favorites.
After returning to the resort, they caught a ride on the shuttle back to the hotel.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Water Slides
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point’s pool area encompasses three acres and features four water slides. Kids must be at least 48 inches to ride the inner tube water slides and 42 inches to ride on the corkscrew water slides. Unfortunately, our four year old daughter was about an inch too short. She was not overly excited about the short Ciquala water slide, which was designed for the youngest kids, but still had a great time. Even though the hotel was fully booked, the pool area was never crowded. This may be partially due to the fact that a large portion of the guests were tax and securities lawyers who spent their time in the conference center.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Lazy River
There’s something about a lazy river that just screams relaxation. By early afternoon, the weather had warmed up substantially. The kids picked up inner tubes and enjoyed floating along in the lazy river.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Rock Wall
My boys were particularly excited about the rock wall, which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Climbers need to be at least 42 inches tall and wearing closed toed shoes. The wall often courses of different difficulty levels, and my husband even took a turn. There is no additional fee to climb.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Lawn Games
Lawn games are available all day. Our kids particularly enjoyed miniature golf, cornhole and the large Connect Four.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Restaurants
While we mostly ate our meals offsite, I had dinner our second night at Coconut Point at Tarpon Bay. I thoroughly enjoyed our three hour dinner with colleagues, but service was extremely slow.
Restaurants Near Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
The area around the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is very commercial with many strip malls and plenty of dining options. We enjoyed dinner on our first night at Senor Tequila, which offered some great Mexican fare and delicious margaritas. Our favorite was the British Open Pub, which was the perfect place for Friday lunch during Lent. We loved our fish and chips and the classic pub decor.
Senor Tequila
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Review
Even though it is not a truly beach front property, the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point has so many great amenities for families. While we would have enjoyed a few more days exploring the beach and pool, we were not able to extend our stay. After my conference, we headed to Sanibel to spend the weekend on the beach.
Thank you to Ask Arthur for providing a complimentary tour. All opinions are my own.
Review of the Ask Arthur Walking Tour in New Orleans
While my husband and I have visited New Orleans several times, we had never fit a walking tour into our itinerary. We were recently in town for the first weekend of Jazz Fest and decided to take a cemetery tour on our only free afternoon in the city. We believe that a walking tour is the perfect way to gain insight into a historical sight. Our private Ask Arthur tour of St. Louis Cemetery #1 with Arthur Smith helped us understand New Orleans cemeteries generally and also appreciate the details of St. Louis Cemetery #1. I never knew how interesting a cemetery could be and definitely recommend Ask Arthur’s walking tours to any families visiting New Orleans.
About Arthur
Arthur is an amateur historian who retired a few years ago from a publishing and marketing career and most recently served as the communications director for the Louisiana State Museum. Arthur met us at Backaway Coffee, which is right next to the St. Louis Cemetery #1 and came prepared with an umbrella. This may have at first seemed a bit odd considering the sky was a brilliant blue with fluffy white clouds, but the Louisiana sun can be pretty unbearable. We were certainly glad that he was prepared and shared his shade with us during the tour.
Ask Arthur on Tour – Photo caption: Ask Arthur
Ask Arthur’s Personalized Walking Tours
There are many walking tour options in New Orleans, but Ask Arthur is one of the few companies that focuses on personalized tours. Arthur features customizable tours for families as well as corporate groups, and all tours must be booked in advance. He can design the length and content of a tour to meet the needs of each group. As Arthur began our tour, he asked us about our background and customized his comments to our interests. Because it was a private tour, it seemed more like an engaging conversation with an expert than the typical lecture format of many tours.
Visiting St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic Cemetery located on Rampart Street adjacent to Louis Armstrong Park. It dates back to 1788 and as the oldest cemetery in continual use in New Orleans, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is approximately one square city block and holds the remains of about 110,000 to 120,000 people, including several historic individuals and families. With rows of above-ground tombs, it’s easy to see why cemeteries in New Orleans have been called “Cities of the Dead.”
Crowded rows of tombs within the St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not just a historic sight but also an active cemetery with an average of one or two entombments each month. Since 2015, all visitors must either have relatives buried within the Cemetery or be accompanied by a guide due to concerns about vandalism. Tombs have been painted, broken into and damaged, and Arthur told us that property within the cemetery, including iron crosses, have been stolen.
Because solo tourists are no longer allowed into St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, visitors who arrive without a tour guide need to pay $20 for a 45-minute guided tour. We ran into a few large tour groups during our visit, and we were glad that we were part of a private group.
Famous People Buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
The first name I recognized in St. Louis Cemetery was Homer Plessy, the plaintiff in the 1896 Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson, which is best known for its “separate but equal” doctrine that was in effect until the Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Arthur paused to talk about Plessy more than usual because of my legal background.
The most famous “resident” of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is Marie Laveau, a free woman of Native American, African and French descent who lived in New Orleans from 1801 to 1888. Laveau was known as a Voodoo queen, and her tomb was once the second most visited grave in the United States, behind Elvis Presley. Tourists draw Xs on her tomb as part of a wish-granting legend. Arthur told us that Marie also became famous because of her charity work. Because she survived yellow fever, Marie enjoyed lifetime immunity and was sought after to nurse people afflicted with what was thought to be a highly contagious disease. There are 88 people interred in her family’s tomb, and only 26 are blood relatives. The remaining occupants were impoverished friends and neighbors who probably would have gone to paupers’ graves if not for Laveau’s charity. They include babies, mothers who died during childbirth, household slaves and people who died from infectious disease or violence crimes. Her tomb was regularly vandalized by followers and was even painted pink before the Cemetery was closed to public access in 2015. My husband and I were fascinated by Laveau’s life story and legacy, and I did some more reading about her after the tour.
In 2010, Nicholas Cage purchased two remaining plots at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and erected a nine-foot pyramid with the inscription, “Omnia Ab Uno,” which means “Everything from One.” Even though Cage has faced foreclosure on several properties and paid $6.3 million for back taxes in 2012, the government did not confiscate his plot. Aspiring actresses often kiss his tomb for good luck.
Nicholas Cage’s tomb
New Orleans Cemeteries
Cemeteries in New Orleans are unique because the dead are buried above ground. This is necessary because the water table rises so close to ground level. Above-ground burial in group tombs is also a space saving technique because the tombs can be reused. One large tomb holds over 1,600 bodies.
The largest tomb at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Arthur shared the somewhat gory details of how burials occur in the above ground tombs. The interiors of these tombs are much like wall ovens and maintain consistently high temperatures, which speeds up decomposition. It still surprised me how quickly decomposition occurs within the crypts. There was nothing in Arthur’s tour that would be inappropriate for children, and he mentioned that most kids particularly enjoy the grisly parts of the burial description.
The design of many tombs was truly exquisite, and upkeep is clearly a significant undertaking.
We loved the details of many of the tombs.
Ask Arthur Walking Tour Summary
Our Ask Arthur tour was engaging from start to finish. Arthur kept checking in with us to make sure he wasn’t going “too far into the weeds”. He wove in references to Cleveland whenever he could and focused on legal aspects of the cemetery after learning that I was a lawyer. We really felt like we had a master class on New Orleans’ cemeteries and gained a deeper understanding of the Crescent City’s history. Planning a trip to New Orleans? Make sure to check out all our posts on New Orleans with kids.
Thank you to the Carnegie Science Center, the National Aviary, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Duquesne Incline, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, The Frick Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for providing complimentary tickets for my family and to the Drury Inn for hosting our stay. All opinions are my own.
Pittsburgh is known for its steel production, bridges and sports teams. It’s only about two hours from our home in Cleveland and where my college roommate lives, so we regularly visit several times each year. In the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie became one of the richest people in the world by modernizing steel production in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, where the Monongahela River joins the Ohio River. Now called the “Steel City,” Pittsburgh used to be known as the “Smoky City” because of so much pollution from the mills. Very little of its industrial past remains in this city now known for its hills, bridges, parks and biking and jogging trails. In our many visits, we have found so many gems. Here are some of the best things to do in Pittsburgh with kids:
Best Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s North Shore
Pittsburgh’s North Shore boasts picturesque views of Pittsburgh’s downtown, sports venues and world-class museums. It’s just a short drive (or even walk) from downtown.
#1: Carnegie Science Center With Kids
The Carnegie Science Center is my boys’ favorite museum, and they’ve been to dozens all over the world. While the “science” portion of the Carnegie Science Center is pretty impressive, the real draw for my kids is Highmark SportsWorks®, which is housed in an adjacent building and uses more than 30 interactive sports exhibits to show how physics, anatomy, biology and chemistry control sports.
We visit the Carnegie Science Center several times a year and generally aim to arrive right at the 10:00 am opening and head straight to the Ropes Challenge in Highmark SportsWorks® because the line can get quite long by mid-morning. The Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net and culminates with a zip line. I think it’s the zip line that makes this my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever. The Ropes Course is for children who are at least 48 inches, but the SkyTykes Ropes Course offers younger kids an age-appropriate version that my daughter loves. Other highlights in the sports complex include a 24-foot rock climbing wall (which even my four year old daughter tried out), a batting cage, a 10-meter dash and various challenges for endurance and balance.
Roboworld is considered the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition and features more than 30 interactive displays. Our favorites include a robot who shoots baskets with impressive precision and another who challenges visitors in air hockey.
The Miniature Railroad & Village is a fun but unexpected exhibit at the Science Center. This enormous village with model trains includes scenes of western Pennsylvania from the 1880s to the 1930s and includes over 250,000 trees. Of course, our favorite miniature was Fallingwater.
Much of the Carnegie Science Center is geared for kids age six and up, but there are many fun exhibits for toddlers and preschoolers, especially the Little Learner Clubhouse. My daughter has visited numerous times between the ages of one and four and always has a blast with her brothers. We recommend the Carnegie Science Center as one of the most fun things to do in Pittsburgh for kids.
Carnegie Science Center Facts: The E-motion cone, which is a large inverted cone on top of the Science Center was installed in 2000. It is lit up at night with colored lights that signal the weather forecast for the next day. Red means warmer, blue means cooler, and green means no change. The cone flashes when precipitation is expected, and the color yellow indicates severe weather.
Carnegie Science Center Hours: The Carnegie Science Center is generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Because of its proximity to the Steelers’Heinz Field, the Carnegie Science Center is closed when the Steelers have home games with 1 pm or 4 pm kickoff times and may close early for evening games.
Carnegie Science Center Admission: General admission costs $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and $11.95 for children ages 3-12. Children under three and ASTC members are free.
Carnegie Science Center Parking: Parking is available in the lot in front of the Carnegie Science Center for $5.
#2: National Aviary With Kids
The National Aviary in Pittsburgh is home to over 500 birds from more than 150 species and a fun thing to do in Pittsburgh with kids. The National Aviary offers walk-through habitats that allowed us to see the birds up close. My kids, who were not sure what an aviary was when I told them about our planned trip, learned so much about different bird species. I was thrilled to find two bald eagles in the first habitat.
The African penguins were definitely a highlight of our visit. Because African penguins are used to a temperate climate, they live in their outdoor habitat all year. Visitors can view them through windows from the inside of the National Aviary. As an added bonus, kids can reach special windows to see the penguins up close by climbing through tunnels.
Each penguin has a band with his or her name. There are daily penguin presentations for visitors to learn more about these amazing birds.
My oldest son particularly enjoyed the wetland habitat. He was fascinated by how the flamingos marked their territory by spreading their wings. We also saw peacocks and other birds wandering on the pedestrian path with us.
We were excited to participate in the lorikeet feeding. We each got a dish of nectar and entered the habitat to feed. While this was something that pushed me out of my comfort zone, it was pretty amazing to hold a lorikeet on my wrist and watch it eat. I barely felt its feet on my wrist, and it quickly polished off the nectar in my bowl. A limited number of tickets are available at each entrance for the feedings. We arrived just before the 11:30 a.m. feeding and took our place at the end of the line. We only had to wait a few minutes for our turn, but the birds were “slowing down.” Next time, we’ll make sure to arrive at least five minutes early.
My boys each had a turn on Birdly, a full-body immersive virtual reality flying simulator that allowed them to experience flying like a bird in Manhattan for 2.5 minutes. After a quick demonstration, they learned how to maneuver up and down and turn and really felt like they were flying. This was probably the most unique part of our visit to the aviary, and they would love more opportunities to fly.
National Aviary Facts: The Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone Theater was part of the National Aviary’s 2009 $17.5 million expansion project and is the world’s first only indoor theater constructed for the presentation of live, free-flight bird shows.
National Aviary Hours: The National Aviary is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
National Aviary Admission: Admissions costs $17 for adults and $16 for seniors and children 2-12. Children under 2 are free.
National Aviary Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Aviary and costs $5. Metered parking is available in front of the National Aviary.
#3: Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh With Kids
The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids that we have visited several times with kids ages 1 through 10. It’s geared for the eight and under crowd, but my oldest enjoyed visiting the Museum with his brother and sister and creating on draw bots in the MAKESHOP®. The project involved hot glue, tape, boxes, motors and a lot of trial and error to anchor markers to a motor and make them move on their own. This was definitely my boys’ favorite exhibit at the Museum. My daughter was too young to create a draw box on her own, but she enjoyed spectating and working on a draw bot with one of the Museum guides (who did most of the heavy lifting).
Other hands-on opportunities for creation are available at the Studio, which is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire creative juices, and smocks are available. Many craft projects are available for kids who love art and parents who appreciate prepared projects and easy clean up.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Facts: Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was filmed in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 2001, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh maintains some great memorabilia.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Hours: The Children’s Museum is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Admission: Admissions costs $16 for adults and $14 for children 2-18. Children under 2 are free.
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Museum and costs $6 for non-members.
#4: The Andy Warhol Museum With Kids
Our children love art museums, and we’ve visited over a dozen around the world, but none dedicated to the works of a single artist or pop art. The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in North America that is dedicated to a single artist and is one of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Andy Warhol was a Pittsburgh-born pop artist who died in the 1987. The Museum opened in 1994 in a renovated warehouse and now contains an extensive collection of paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and films.
The Factory on the Museum’s underground level also provides kids an opportunity to try watercolor painting, blotted-line drawing, acetate collage and silkscreen printing. There is also a children’s play area for the youngest guests to explore and create.
During our visit to The Andy Warhol Museum, we learned about the life and works of Andy Warhol. Our children particularly enjoyed the bright colors and the portraits. The portraits reminded me of my visit to Casa Lever, a New York restaurant that features a collection of original Warhol portraits. A few months after our visit, my sons identified Andy Warhol in a Burger King commercial during the Super Bowl.
Andy Warhol Museum Facts: The Museum’s 17 galleries contain 900 paintings, almost 2,000 works on paper, more than 1,000 prints, 77 sculptures and 8,000 photographs, films and videotaped works.
Andy Warhol Museum Hours: The Andy Warhol Museum is generally open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 am to 10 pm on Fridays. The Museum is closed on Mondays.
Andy Warhol Museum Admission: Admissions costs $20 for adults, $10 for students, children and seniors. Children under three are free. Admission is half price on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Andy Warhol Museum Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the Museum and costs $6 for non-members.
#5: Water Steps With Kids With Kids
The Water Steps are a popular attraction in the North Shore Riverfront Park on the bank of the Allegheny River. The Water Steps are a perfect location for kids to cool off during the summer months and enjoy Pittsburgh’s beautiful cityscape views. We visited with local friends who gave us the heads ups to bring swimming attire and towels for the kids.
It was a bit of a trek along the waterfront from the Carnegie Science Center, but the kids loved splashing around with their friends in the water, which reaches about 18 inches deep in parts.
Great way to cool off
Water Steps Facts: Over 1,500 pieces of sandstone from a Butler County quarry were used to construct the Water Steps.
Water Steps Admission: There is no admission charge to visit Water Steps.
Water Steps Parking: We walked to the Water Steps from the Carnegie Science Center. The best bet for parking is to find a meter nearby or use one of the lots near Heinz Field.
Water Steps Kid Warning: My three year old was able to easily climb up and down the stairs on her own, so I was able to watch from the side of the Steps. However, young toddlers would probably need hovering parental presence in the water.
#6: Tribute to Children With Kids
We visited Tribute to Children, including the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue, during our walk from the Water Steps to the Carnegie Science Museum. Our kids are not really familiar with Mr. Rogers, who was a Pittsburgh native, but were intrigued by this statue of a man who was part of our childhood. I also tried to explain the tenuous connection to Daniel Tiger, a favorite television show of my daughter’s. This 2009 statue by Robert Burks was created after Fred Roger’s 2003 death from stomach cancer and depicts him tying his shoes. The statue is located on the River bank in front of the arch of pier with a keyhole design.
Tribute to Children Facts: Tribute to Children was a gift from the people of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County honoring children and celebrating the life of children’s entertainer, Fred Rogers.
Tribute to Children Admission: Admission is free to visit Tribute to Children.
Tribute to Children Parking: We walked to Tribute to Children from the Carnegie Science Center. The best bet for parking is to find a meter nearby or use one of the lots near Heinz Field.
#7: PNC Park With Kids
PNC Park is the home stadium of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This Major League Baseball field is located along the Allegheny River. A baseball game is fun, family activity and great for kids of all ages. Few baseball stadiums have a comparable cityscape view.
PNC Park Parking: Parking is available on the North Shore and downtown.
Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s South Shore
#8: Duquesne Incline With Kids
The Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh is an amazing example of living history that combines a trolley ride up Mount Washington, engineering genius and an amazing city view. The beautifully detailed original trolley cars sit on platforms that keep them level while transporting Pittsburghers and visitors up and down Mount Washington without a driver. The 794-foot wooden track is not only an engineering masterpiece but also a work of art.
At the station at the top, there are historical exhibits that provide an overview of the history of Pittsburgh and its inclines. The David H. Miller Working Museum offers visitors the chance to see the Incline’s hoisting machinery up close. The Incline still uses its original hoisting equipment that features giant cogs with wooden gear teeth.
The highlight of the Incline is the magnificent view of Pittsburgh’s “Three Rivers” – the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River, which together form the Ohio River and the Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle” central business district. Other highlights include views of the outline of Fort Duquesne, the Steelers’ Heinz Field, the Pirates’ PNC Park, the Carnegie Science Center and many bridges (up to 18 can be visible).
Duquesne Incline Hours: The Duquesne Incline is open every day (including Thanksgiving Day when we visited). The Incline is open on Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and on Sundays and Holidays from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Duquesne Incline Admission: Adults tickets cost $2.50 each way and tickets for children ages 6-11 cost $1.25 each way. There is no charge for children under 6 and seniors over 64. The Duquesne Incline accepts only Port Authority bus tickets or cash and requires exact change.
Duquesne Incline Parking: There is free parking available at 1197 West Carson Street and paid parking at the Station Square lot across from the lower entrance.
#9: Point of View Park With Kids
We somehow missed Point of View Park when we visited the Duquesne Incline. Point of View Park is a short walk from the Duquesne Incline’s Upper Station. It’s a favorite spot of a friend of mine who has family in Pittsburgh. He proposed to his wife, took wedding pictures and announced his first child at this scenic overlook. Point of View is a bronze sculpture depicting a 1770 meeting between George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta in which they were examining land for settlement. We’ll definitely be making a stop here on our next trip to Pittsburgh.
Photo credit: Bryant Eckert
Point of View Park Facts: The landmark public sculpture was created by James A. West
Point of View Park Hours: Point of View is open 24 hours.
Point of View Park Admission: There is no admission fee to visit Point of View Park.
Point of View Park Parking: There is no dedicated parking lot for Point of View Park but street parking available nearby.
Things to Do in Pittsburgh’s Downtown
#10: Senator John Heinz History Center With Kids
During our August 2019 trip to Pittsburgh, we visited the Senator John Heinz History Center, which is associated with the Smithsonian Institution. We thoroughly enjoyed our lovely morning at the Heinz History Center. It was a quiet and somewhat dreary morning at the end of summer when we arrived at the renovated warehouse in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. We walked from our hotel in the central business district. We started in the Great Hall where the kids loved the Heinz Hitch, a horse drawn wagon that traveled to national events and the street car.
The Heinz Hitch
My daughter spotted the slide from across the Hall and found her way to the Kidsburgh exhibit in a loft overlooking the Great Hall with stairs leading up and a slide to return to the Great Hall. She would have been content to stay in the Kidsburgh exhibit for the entire morning and rode the slide countless times before we set off to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
Kidsburgh slide
My boys are sports enthusiasts, but they don’t particularly follow Pittsburgh sports. Unlike most Clevelanders, we harbor no ill will against Pittsburgh’s sports, either. Because we have close friends from Pittsburgh, we regularly support area sports teams when they aren’t competing against Cleveland. My boys closely examined the exhibits in the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and gained a new respect for the Steelers, the Penguins and the Pirates. My older son commented, “I didn’t realize how good Pittsburgh sports teams really were.” Clevelanders may have waited for decades to win a national championship, but it happens fairly regularly for Pittsburgh, especially in football and hockey. Without a doubt, the table hockey game was the highlight of the Sports Museum. My boys came back for a second round at the end of our visit.
The Discovery Place offered many opportunities for hands on learning and exploring at different innovation stations. My favorite was a pattern challenge.
The Discovery Place
We learned all about Heinz ketchup in the Heinz exhibit, which features the world’s largest collection of Heinz artifacts. We now know the significance of the 57 and the famous ketchup is celebrating 150 years. The 11-foot ketchup bottle created from 500 individual bottles was also memorable.
My favorite exhibit was Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. The famous children’s show I remember from my childhood was filmed in Pittsburgh, the hometown of Fred Rogers. This exhibit featured sets, puppets, props and other artifacts. I felt like I was stepping back 35+ years and right into the Mister Roger’s set. My kids are not familiar with Mr. Roger’s, but my daughter is a fan of Daniel Tiger, a 21st century spinoff of the famous children’s program.
King Friday XIII’s Castle
We had a memorable visit to the Senator Heinz History Center and learned a great deal about Western Pennsylvania.
Heinz History Center Hours: The History Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and closed for New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.
Heinz History Center Admission: As of August 2019, Admission for adults costs $18, for children ages 6-17 and students with a valid school identification costs $9 and for senior citizens over 61 costs $15. There is no admission for children age five and under.
Heinz History Center Parking: There are several options for nearby parking with daily rates as low as $3.
Time Spent at the Heinz History Center: We spent about 2.5 hours, including lunch at the Cafe.
#11: Point State Park With Kids
The Point State Park (aka the “Point”) is a state park in downtown Pittsburgh located on 36 acres at the point of the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River form the Ohio River. The Point is the tip of Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle.” We walked to the Point from our downtown hotel and also viewed the Point from along the edges of the Three Rivers, and we have spotted it from the Duquesne Incline, the Carnegie Science Center, the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue and the Water Steps.
At the Point, stones are used to depict the outline of Pittsburgh’s oldest structures, Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne, which were used in the French and Indian War. The fountain in Point State Park sprays water up to 150 feet during the warm weather months. The kids enjoyed the view of the area bridges, the Duquesne Incline, the Carnegie Science Center and Heinz Field from the tip of the Point.
Walking on the Fort Duquesne outline.
Point State Park Facts: Fort Duquesne was originally built by the French. Its occupants burned and abandoned the Fort before the British seized it. The British built Fort Pitt near the destroyed Fort Duquesne.
Point State Park Kid Warning: The Point abuts rivers on all sides without a barrier, so it’s important to keep a close eye on young children.
Point State Park Hours: The Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Point State Park Admission: There is no admission charge to enter the Point State Park.
Point State Park Parking: Point State’s parking lot is located along Commonwealth Place across from the Post Gazette building.
Things to Do in Oakland
#12: Carnegie Museum of Natural History With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a premier dinosaur collection, Dinosaurs in Their Time, which features a Diplodocus carnegiifossil discovered in 1899. This dinosaur exhibit also includes two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons and a triceratops skeleton and is the world’s largest collection of Jurassic dinosaurs.
One of two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons
During our last visit, we attended the Live Animal Encounter at the Earth Theater and enjoyed seeing live animals up close. Another favorite is the 1,300 gemstone specimens in the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems are artistically displayed and fascinated my kids.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Facts: Carnegie gifted a cast of its diplodocus skeleton to England at the request of Edward VII, and “Dippy” was featured in Hitze Hall of London’s Natural History Museum for many years before being replaced by Hope, a blue whale skeleton, in July 2017.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Hours: The Museum is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 10 am to 8 pm on Thursday. The Museum is closed on Tuesday.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Admissions: Admission for adults is $19.95, seniors 65 and over is $14.95 and children ages 3 to 18 and students is $11.95. Children 2 and under are free.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Parking: The Carnegie Museum of Natural History shares a building the with Carnegie Museum of Art, and adjacent surface-lot parking is available. Museum weekday visitors receive a voucher to reduce the cost of parking, which is currently $7 for 2-4 hours. Evening and weekend parking costs $7.
#13: Carnegie Museum of Art With Kids
The Carnegie Museum of Art was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895 and is housed in the same building in Oakland as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The most unique feature of the Carnegie Art Museum is the Hall of Architecture, which is the one of the world’s largest collection of plaster architectural casts. Andrew Carnegie financed a tinted cast of the West Portal of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, which may be the world’s largest architectural cast. The Hall also includes almost 140 other full-size plaster casts. After our recent visit to Paris and Italy, we particularly enjoyed examining the plaster casts of the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and other icons that reminded us of architecture and sculptures we saw on our trip.
Like most major art museums, its impressionist gallery includes paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields at Auvers Under Clouded Sky is one of his famous series of wheat field paintings.
Our favorite sculpture was Phyllida Barlow’s 2012 untitled: upturnedhouse, 2.
Carnegie Museum of Art Hours: The Carnegie Museum of Art is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. The Museum is closed on Tuesday.
Carnegie Museum of Art Admissions: Admission for adults is $19.95, seniors 65 and over is $14.95, children ages 3 to 18 and students is $11.95. Children 2 and under are free.
Carnegie Museum of Art Parking: The Carnegie Museum of Art shares a building the with Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and adjacent surface-lot parking is available. Museum weekday visitors receive a voucher to reduce the cost of parking, which is currently $7 for 2-4 hours. Evening and weekend parking costs $7.
#14: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens With Kids
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was an amazing gift to the city of Pittsburgh from real estate magnate Henry Phipps. It was the perfect destination for extra doses of oxygen and vitamin D. The pathways through the different rooms made it easy for me to keep an eye of all three kids simultaneously, and we didn’t mind making our way at my daughter’s snail’s pace.
The kids were all awe-struck by all the beautiful gardens and truly enjoyed each and every room. The indoor and outdoor gardens were all beautifully curated and maintained. A few of our favorites include: the Cuban taxi (an unexpected but joyous find at a conservatory, especially because of the sign encouraging kids to hop inside), the Butterfly Forest, the Serpentine Room and the Desert Room.
Butterfly picture captured by my 10 year old son
The Phipps includes several glass chandeliers by artist Dale Chihuly, whose work was featured in a special exhibit in 2007 to 2008. The Phipps purchased several chandeliers from the exhibit for its permanent collection, including Goldenrod, Teal and Citron located in the Welcome Center and the Desert Gold Star, located in the Desert Room. The Chihuly pieces usually located in the Palm Court had been removed during the renovation.
Desert Room and Chihuly’s Desert Gold Star glass chandelier
Phipps Conservatory Facts: The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was founded in 1893 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
Phipps Conservatory Hours: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
Phipps Conservatory Admission: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
Phipps Conservatory Parking: Free parking is conveniently located in the center island on Schenley Drive.
My boys are really love cars and found the Cars & Carriages Museum very exciting. The 1914 Ford Model T Touring was a highlight. The Frick’s car collection is so large that only about half of its cars are exhibited at any one time.
Ford Model T Touring
After spending the morning at the Phipps Conservatory, the kids were also excited to check out the Frick Greenhouse. This active greenhouse is a renovation and reconstruction of the greenhouse used by the Frick family from 1897 until the 1970s.
The Greenhouse at the Frick Pittsburgh
My college roommate recommends the tea at the Café at the Frick, and we’ll definitely have to try some during our next visit. Find out more about the visiting the Frick Pittsburgh.
Frick Pittsburgh Facts: Industrialist Henry Clay Frick and his wife, Adelaide Howard Childs Frick lived at Clayton with their four children from 1883 to 1905. Their daughter, Helen Clay Frick guided preservation efforts at Clayton and returned to live here shortly before her 1984 death. The property opened to the public in 1990.
Frick Pittsburgh Admission: There is no admission charge to enter the Frick Art Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum or the Scenic Grounds and Greenhouse. Tours of Clayton cost $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students, $8 for children 16 and under. Babies in arms are free. Admission fees are charged for special exhibitions. Tour and tours of Clayton.
Frick Pittsburgh Hours: The Frick Pittsburgh is generally open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Frick Pittsburgh Parking: Free parking is available in the adjacent lot located off of Reynolds Street.
Things to Do in Highland Park
#16: Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium With Kids
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is one of the few major zoo/aquarium combinations in the U.S. and is a great place for kids to learn about mammals and aquatic life. The Pittsburgh Zoo includes more than 10,000 animals (including 1,000 bats) and 20 threatened or endangered species. We have visited the Pittsburgh Zoo twice – once when my boys were age two and four and a second time when our three kids were age five, nine and eleven. The Pittsburgh Zoo is enormous, but my five year old was a real trooper and had a work out walking quite a few miles on her little legs.
The African Savanna was one of our favorite areas of the Zoo. As always, my daughter was thrilled by the flamingos as we entered the Savanna. We were lucky that the black rhinoceros were very active. The black rhinos, which are actually light gray, are an endangered species, but several calves have been born in recent years in Pittsburgh.
Black rhinos
We moved on the the African elephants, the largest mammals that live on land and the Masai giraffe, the tallest mammals living on land. While exploring the African Savanna, we worked up enough of an appetite that we decided to take a break and eat some sundaes from Swahili Ice Cream. It was the perfect late morning snack.
Kids Kingdom was another highlight of our visit. My daughter could have spent hours at the Animal Connection playground and was particularly ecstatic to crawl through all the tunnels like the naked mole rats. I could never find her when she was actually in the tunnels, but we chatted back and forth while she explored.
Animal Connections playground
My kids really enjoy getting a good view of aquatic animals. The sea lion exhibit was a highlight, and the indoor aquarium was the perfect place to end our Pittsburgh Zoo visit. By the time we reached the PPG Aquarium, the August sun was beating down, and the air conditioning was glorious. My kids spent a long time at the side of the touch tank. My boys each carefully touched the sting ray several times. My daughter desperately wanted to but always pulled her hand out of the water just when the sting ray got close enough.
Sea lions
The Pittsburgh Zoo was definitely a great outing with kids.
Pittsburgh Zoo Facts: The Zoo had a very rare elephant born in captivity (less than 20 have been born since 1995) in 2017, but the calf unfortunately died at three months.
Pittsburgh Zoo Hours and Admission: The Pittsburgh Zoo’s hours and admission varies by season.
Pittsburgh Zoo Parking: Parking is available at the Pittsburgh Zoo is free for visitors.
Things to Do in West Mifflin
#17: Kennywood Park With Kids
Our family had so much fun at Kennywood Park, a traditional amusement park located about 20 minutes southeast of downtown Pittsburgh in West Mifflin. Kennywood opened in 1899 and is one of two parks in the country that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark because it features rides and structures that are more than 100 years old. Kennywood made me nostalgic for Geauga Lake, an amusement park outside of Cleveland that I visited annually when I was young. Our family loved our day at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh and hopes to make this trip an annual tradition.
Wave Swinger
Our visit to Kennywood Park was a marvelous, nostalgic day spent riding rides together. It was only about a 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland and very affordable for Ohio visitors. A current promotion for Ohio residents offers $34.99 admission. We added visits to several area attractions during our three-day, two-night stay in the Steel City and had a lovely time. While we did not ride the new Steel Curtain roller coaster on this visit, there were no shortage of thrill rides for our family. Even though I get nauseous on any ride that spins or sways, but I still do love that feeling of my stomach dropping. I particularly enjoyed the Thunderbolt, a classic wooden coaster that is almost 100 years old and last renovated over 50 years ago. The Thunderbolt offered the perfect thrill level for my two boys and me, and we rode it twice.
Thunderbolt
With kids in all three major height categories – under 48 inches, under 54 inches and over 54 inches, we appreciate that Kennywood offers some fun rides that we can enjoy as a family, including the Merry-Go-Round and several family rides in Kiddie Land and Thomas Town. Auto race was a particular favorite, and the five of us piled into three separate cars and rode around the track one after another.
Journey With Thomas
My daughter would have been happy to spend our entire day at Kiddie Land, which featured 15 classic rides for kids under 48 inches and Thomas Town, Kennywood’s new 2018 theme area. My daughter rode with her two arms stretched high into the sky on almost every ride. She’s still a little nervous about kiddie coasters, though and skipped Lil’ Phantom. Maybe next year….
Orbiter
Kennywood Hours: Kennywood hours vary by month and day, and the Kennywood calendar is available online.
Kennywood Admission: Kennywood gate prices range from vary for weekday and weekend visits and are available on the Kennywood website. Kennywood discount tickets are available on the website and at Giant Eagle grocery stores.
Time Spent at Kennywood: We spent about 7.5 hours at Kennywood Park. It was nonstop fun, but we were definitely exhausted at the end.
Kennywood Height Requirements: Each ride has its own posted height requirements.
Kennywood Weather: It’s always important to check the weather and be prepared before visiting Kennywood. Don’t forget to apply and reapply sunscreen.
Kennywood Events: Kennywood Park offers a variety of events throughout the season. The Fall Fantasy Parade occurred during our visit. We caught a bit of the parade but on our way to take advantage of the short line for Thunderbolt.
Kennywood Park Map: Make sure to pick up a map before setting off to explore Kennywood.
Where to Stay in Pittsburgh With Kids
Drury Inn Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge With Kids
When we planned a last minute trip to Pittsburgh over Thanksgiving weekend last year, we booked a night at the Drury Inn & Suites Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge because we scored a great deal through Priceline. Airport hotels are rarely memorable, and we were really just looking for a hotel with last minute availability that had a pool and didn’t break the bank. We didn’t realize that the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge was a newly constructed hotel that had just opened in May 2018, and we were wowed when we entered the lobby that featured ultra-modern decor. Hotel renovations are common, but with renovated hotels, there are often vestiges of dated interiors somewhere on the property. At the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge, everything is clean and neat. We really felt as if we were staying at a luxury hotel.
Lobby area
Drury Inn Guest Room
Our double queen room featured two comfortable beds, granite counter tops and modern interior. We particularly closely examined all the framed Pittsburgh-inspired wall art. Our room also had a refrigerator, which was perfect for our left overs. Everything was clean and fresh, and the beds were oh so comfortable.
Our guestroom
The bathroom featured a large granite vanity with plenty of space for everyone’s toiletries, tiled floor and enormous mirror. There were dispensers in the shower with shower gel, shampoo and conditioner that eliminated the unnecessary waste that usually comes with those trial sized bottles. While I’m often fumbling around in the dark trying to find the bathroom light switch without waking the rest of the family, the motion sensing light in the bathroom was the perfect solution. Towels, tissues and a hair dryer were all easily accessible and well-organized.
Drury Inn bathroom
Drury Inn Kickback
We checked in as the Kickback was beginning. All Drury Inn properties host a nightly happy hour with free food and beverages between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Daily menus are available on the Drury Inn’s website. My husband and I each received drink vouchers and drink cards to purchase additional drinks for a whopping $.75 each.
Drury Inn Kickback voucher
The quality and quantity of the heavy appetizers and drinks was unexpectedly good, and there was plenty of space for the crowd in the dining room. We planned to have a quick snack before heading to the pool but ended up having seconds and thirds at our trendy circular booth. After removing decades old wall paper in two homes, I found myself kind of coveting the printed geometric patterns and trying to figure out where I might be able to add a papered accent wall at home. The kids were so excited about the Kickback and the indoor pool that they decided that they didn’t want to leave the hotel and convinced us to order pizza instead of going out for dinner. For Drury Inn visitors who decide to do the same, we recommend Vocelli Pizza in Robinson. Vocelli will deliver to the Drury Inn, but we opted for carry out. Just remember to ask for paper plates and napkins.
Dining area
Drury Inn Pool
After dinner, it was pool time. Our neighborhood pool had closed for the season several months earlier, so the kids were ecstatic to get wet and dip their toes in the hot tub. Unlike most hotel pool decks that seem to always be desperately in need of a renovation, I was happy to chaperone my kids in this new pool with beautiful tiles.
Drury Inn Settlers Ridge pool
The Drury Inn keeps its popcorn, soda and coffee machines running until late in the night, and water is always available. Drury Inns also offer all guests daily hot breakfasts. We were truly amazed by the value that this hotel offered and have recommended it to several friends.
Breakfast
We were thrilled when Drury Inn offered to host our return visit to its Settlers Ridge location in August 2019. After a long day at Kennywood Park, we missed the Kickback and were too exhausted for a swim, but we thoroughly enjoyed our double queen suite. The bedroom area was set up virtually identically to our double queen room. The two room suite and extra pull out couch better accommodated our family of five than the standard room. There were also flat screen hotels in each room and a large sitting area. We thoroughly recommend the Drury Inn Settlers Ridge and are certain to return.
Find Out More About Pittsburgh Family Activities
We recommend a visit to Pittsburgh with kids. Interested in finding out more about Pittsburgh kids’ activities? Check out our other blog posts about Pittsburgh and nearby Fallingwater.
Thank you to the Sanibel Island Beach Resort for providing a media rate for our stay. All opinions are my own.
We recently spent a lovely family weekend at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort. When selecting a hotel in Sanibel for our family of five, our main criteria was that we wanted to stay at a beach-front property with an updated pool area. Sanibel Island Beach Resort definitely ticked those boxes. We arrived on Friday afternoon and checked out Sunday morning. We wished our weekend was longer (or didn’t include the Spring Forward time change that made us miss an hour of precious beach time) and would definitely return to the Sanibel Island Beach Resort.
Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Rooms
Our room was large and comfortable with old world Florida charm and a beachy-feel. It included two queen-sized beds, a small table and chairs, a big flat-screen television, dual sinks, a mini refrigerator, a microwave and plenty of options to hang wet clothes.
We loved that our room was beach-front and overlooked the pool area. Our proximity to the beach and pool was ideal. Our goal was to spend as much time outdoors as possible during our weekend, and we really didn’t spend much time in the room itself other than showering and sleeping.
The toiletries were Tommy Bahama brand, and the shower had wonderful pressure and unlimited hot water.
Sanibel Island Beach Resort also featured a sink for guests to use specifically to wash shells, a business center and the Sandollar Kitchen & Bar.
Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Pool
Our family really enjoyed Sanibel Island Beach Resort’s pool area. There were many inflatable rafts and rings, boogie boards and noodles for guests to enjoy. The pool was large enough to accommodate at least 10-12 swimmers at one time comfortably. The pool deck was updated with several different seating areas. Even though the Resort was fully booked, we never had difficulty finding chairs. The Tiki Bar was particularly popular with the Resort’s guests, and I enjoyed a Happy Hour rum runner while sitting on the edge of the pool. Although we visited during Spring break time, the pool area was very relaxed and family-friendly with no college revelers.
Our daughter was really hoping to make a friend on our trip, and she hit the jackpot on Saturday morning when she met another 4.5 year old girl with long brown hair who just happened to have the same first name. Our daughter has never met another little girl who shares her name, so this discovery was very exciting. This little girl also happened to be super sweet and asked her dad to take her to the beach to find a shell for my daughter. The two girls became fast friends.
Review of Sanibel Island Beach Resort Beach
The beach at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort was unquestionably the highlight of the property. Our room had a beach view, and we reached the sand by taking a short walk down a path past the pool. After we dropped off our bags in our room and changed into beach attire, we grabbed towels from the pool and headed straight to the beach. The Resort provided comfortable lounge chairs for its guests, and even at full capacity, we never had an issue finding chairs for our family. There were no umbrellas, but we were able to purchase one from the Resort’s gift shop for $19.99. Considering we had to rent chairs and an umbrella for about that amount each day at the beaches in Clearwater and Treasure Island last year, we thought the cost was extremely reasonable. As an added bonus, the umbrella folded down and fit in our car seat bag, so we were able to bring it home with us. Our summer beach trips to Lake Erie are going to be so much more comfortable….
My shaded view of Sanibel Beach
Our kids really enjoy playing in the sand on the beach. They put the two buckets and a shovel that we brought with us to heavy use, often working in the shade of our umbrella. They built a sand castle that survived overnight.
The water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico was still pretty chilly in early March, but my husband and sons ventured into the water on Saturday morning in search of unique shells. As part of the resort fee, the Sanibel Island Beach Resort provides guests with their own mesh shell bag upon check in. This came in handy – at least until the weight of the shells made a hole. My daughter and I preferred to relax in the shade, search for shells in the sand and just dip our toes into the water to fill our buckets.
We woke up early both Saturday and Sunday mornings to watch the sunrise over the Gulf. Even my first view of the ocean definitely made the early morning wake up worthwhile.
The beach was quiet as the sun rose, but there were a few other shellers and walkers on the beach. Sunrise over the Gulf was particularly stunning as the sky turned beautiful shades of orange and red.
No one asked to go back to bed as the sun rose into the sky. We brought out granola bars, squeezable yogurt pouches and water bottles to eat breakfast on the beach. It was the perfect place to sip my morning coffee.
My daughter met her new friend on the beach on Sunday morning, and the two girls discovered they also each had blue buckets and yellow shovels. What else could possibly cement a new friendship between two girls who seemed destined to meet? The two girls excitedly played in the sand together and decided to be pen pals before we each set off in separate directions for the day. They have already sent each other some of the cutest notes through the mail. I have to admit that it’s fun to use stamps for something other than Christmas cards and love that my daughter has a new understanding of how the mail works.
While Sanibel Island Beach Resort’s beach is a wonderful sunrise location, it isn’t ideal for viewing sunset. The sky may turn brilliant shades at dusk, but the sunset itself is out of view from the south end of Sanibel Island. On Saturday night, we headed to Blind Pass Beach, which is on the western end of Sanibel Island right next to the short bridge to Captiva Island. Sunset at Blind Pass Beach was breathtakingly beautiful.
Sunset at Blind Pass Beach
Restaurants Near Sanibel Island Beach Resort
We did not eat at the Resort’s on site restaurants, Sandollar Kitchen & Bar or Tiki Bar, but we did have a number of great meals nearby. Periwinkle Way is the main street through Sanibel and where all of the restaurants we dined at are located. The fact that all the restaurants we chose had animal-themed names was completely coincidental. Here are our Sanibel dining recommendations:
#1: The Island Cow
We had dinner at the Island Cow on Friday night. We heard this cute diner regularly seats 1,000 customers per day, and we believe it. I think there is almost always a line for tables, and the Island Cow offers Adirondack chairs, corn hole and even a random skeleton to help pass the inevitable wait comfortably. The hostess also handed us the extensive menu (including kids’ meals) upon our arrival so that we could make our selections before we were seated and expedite the service.
My husband and I ordered drinks from the bar while we were waiting to be seated. The drinks were unfortunately not so great. My strawberry daiquiri was not well mixed, and I wasn’t sure if there was actually any alcohol in it. My husband’s drink was also sub par and almost offensively strong. The festive atmosphere made up for the unappealing drinks, and we were seated much faster than we expected.
The interior décor at the Island Cow is a bright eclectic kitsch. While knickknacks can be overwhelming, this collection was carefully curated, and we enjoyed looking at all the pictures and the cows on the walls and shelves throughout the restaurant.
Fish is a specialty at the Island Cow, and we all enjoyed our meals. We ordered the alligator appetizer, which was breaded like chicken fingers and tasty. Our oldest is always adventurous when it comes to trying local specialties and thought it tasted very similar to chicken. Our youngest spent the rest of the weekend slightly worried that the alligators might somehow know that we ate one of their friends.
A live karaoke singer accompanied our dinner, and there seemed to be one birthday celebration after another in which the whole restaurant sang the birthday song to the special guest. Over the course of these celebrations, my boys kept reminding us that the trip fell right between our sons’ birthdays and tried to claim birthday priority, mostly because of the large sundae that accompanied each celebration. When our server came with our check, she overheard the conversation and brought out a sundae for the kids to share (no singing).
We heard great things about the Island Cow’s breakfast service and decided to come back on Sunday morning for a hearty brunch. The mimosas on the menu were tempting, but after our experience with the drinks on Friday night, I stuck with coffee. The Island Cow’s brunch definitely lived up to our expectations and was a favorite for all.
My breakfast burrito
#2: The Blue Giraffe
On Saturday, we wanted a quick and tasty sit-down lunch. We called ahead to the Blue Giraffe in Periwinkle Place Shopping Center to make sure that they could accommodate our family with no wait for a late lunch and were thrilled to walk right in and sit down at our table.
Blue Giraffe prominently features giraffe décor, but not all of the giraffes are blue!
Blue Giraffe features typical American fare and kids’ menus, and we all enjoyed our sandwiches and hot dogs. My kids actually chose fruit over French fries as well.
Hot dog kids’ meal at the Blue Giraffe
#3: MudBugs Cajun Kitchen
We had dinner on Saturday night at MudBugs Cajun Kitchen. MudBugs just opened its Sanibel location in December 2018, and the airy, two-story building is exquisite with exposed bricks, outdoor patios and classic New Orleans architecture. I noticed the Chihuly-style blown glass chandelier as soon as we walked in. Later, my sons asked if it was a Chihuly, and knowing how expensive an original Chihuly might be suggested that it likely a “knockoff.” Later, our server confirmed that the chandelier was an original Chihuly! I wonder if the renovated building or the chandelier has a higher value.
MudBugs offers kids’ meals, but our three kids split an adult-sized jambalaya and gumbo. My husband and I each enjoyed a superb cocktail. We all loved our meals, and now I can’t wait for our next trip to New Orleans for more crawfish etoufee and hurricanes.
#4: Pinocchio’s
As our last stop in Sanibel before heading to the airport, we enjoyed Pinocchio’s original Italian ice cream. Pinocchio’s has been a Sanibel staple since 1980 and features bright green walls and endless options of ice cream and gelato. My daughter remembered Pinocchio from our trip to Italy and greeted the large namesake as an old friend. We enjoyed our sweet treat on the store’s large front patio before bidding farewell to our island weekend.
Planning a family trip to Florida? Be sure to check out our entire category of blog posts on things to do and places to visit in Florida, including Sanibel.
Thank you to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum for providing complimentary tickets for my family. All opinions are my own.
Our visit to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island was the perfect end to our family’s long weekend in Florida. Sanibel Island is regularly designated as the best shelling beach in the world, and honestly, shelling was a main draw for us when deciding where to spend the weekend on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Hunting for shells on the beach in Treasure Island and Clearwater was a highlight of our trip last winter. At the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel, we learned about different species of mollusks and the wide variety of shells that they make. This educational opportunity provided the context we needed to better understand the shells we found in Sanibel.
Sanibel Shelling
We woke up at sunrise on both of our mornings in Sanibel and headed straight to the beach. This gave us the chance to watch the sunrise over the ocean during prime shelling time as the beach was covered with shells that had washed up into the sand overnight. My husband found more unusual shells a few feet into the water. Serious shellers had nets, but because we weren’t that savvy, he used his hands and found some very interesting shells.
Our visit to Sanibel Island coincided with the Annual Shell Festival. Our family visited the Festival and scoped out all the shell varieties that were available for sale along with shell art. We also had a preview of the National Shell Museum by visiting their mobile tank unit, which was staffed by middle school experts practicing their presentation skills.
History of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
The National Shell Museum was incorporated in 1986 and was originally housed in a shack. Early supporters and donors included Raymond Burr of Perry Mason fame. Burr helped with the Museum’s first capital campaign and donated his collection of cowries from Fiji to the National Shell Museum. Burr died before the Museum’s current building opened in 1995 on land donated by the Bailey and Matthews families, and the circular garden in front of the Museum was dedicated in his honor.
Raymond Burr’s collection of Fijian cowries
The “National” designation was added to the Museum’s title in 2014 because it is the only professional museum in the U.S. devoted to shells. The Museum began a $6 million renovation project in January 2019. The project includes a new aquarium that is expected to open in 2020.
Visiting the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The National Shell Museum’s operations are fully funded by admissions fees and charitable contributions. Admission costs $15 for adults, $9 for children ages 5-13 and seniors. There is no admissions fee for children under 5.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Scavenger Hunt
We visited the National Shell Museum on our last afternoon in Sanibel. Our kids each received a scavenger hunt when we arrived, and we started our tour in the main exhibition space. The kids found many of the shells featured on the scavenger hunt in the Children’s Learning Lab. Our eight and eleven year old sons completed the hunt independently. Our four year old needed some assistance but quickly matched the shell pictures on the scavenger hunt to those in the display cases. The Museum brilliantly utilized tear strips on the scavenger hunt worksheets so kids didn’t need to carry around writing instruments. It was a great activity to help kids investigate the main exhibition space, and they received a shell and a wrist band or coloring book when they turned in their completed worksheet at the main desk.
Completing the National Shell Museum’s scavenger hunt
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Record Breaking Sized Shells
The exhibit of world-record shells was another hit. My kids are fascinated with world records. Each year, we purchase the updated copy of Guinness Book of World Records, and my boys spend hours reading the pages. My boys checked out the entries on mollusks in the recent editions but did not find any of the Museum’s shells featured. The Museum’s world record shells include the goliath conch, the lightning whelk, the Atlantic trumpet triton, and the horse conch. The horse conch is two feet long!
The world’s largest horse conch
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Mollusks in Action
The Museum rotates two, 30-minute educational films on shells every half hour. We watched Mollusks in Action, which was filmed locally. Our four year old was so exhausted from her morning at the beach and pool and found the dark room to be a perfect place to nap, and so my husband stayed with her for the second presentation while I headed to the art room with two enthusiastic boys ready to create some shell animal art.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Shell Animal Art
Shell animals were available for purchase at the Shell Festival, but the kids were itching to make their own. The National Shell Museum made an otherwise messy and complicated art project super fun and easy, so I was all for it. The art room includes thousands of shells separated by type into clear plastic bins, hot glue guns, covered tables and a wrapping station. Each guest is permitted to make one animal with 12 or fewer shells. There are a number of examples to copy, but my eight year old chose to create a dolphin on his own and then became super creative and placed the dolphin on top of a decorative shell “stand.” My eleven year old made a starfish and then placed it inside a large shell. They each asked for my advice in their shell selection but were able to work the hot glue guns and create their animals with minimal assistance.
At the end of our visit, our well rested daughter woke up and wanted her turn to make shell art. She chose to make a butterfly. I had to take the lead on most of the gluing, but she selected and placed the shells. After each creation was complete, we wrapped them in newspaper and carried them home in small brown paper bags.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Tank Talk
The Tank Talk is definitely not to be missed during any visit to the National Shell Museum. Tank Talks are offered four times each day at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The standing room only crowd for the 2:30 p.m. presentation listened intently to Bubby, a Florida master naturalist and general shell expert. Bubby was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic and held the attention of the whole audience for the duration of her 30-minute presentation. The Museum reports that 90% of the visitors to the National Shell Museum are not aware that shells come from living animals, but no one can leave Bubby’s presentation without a clear understanding that shells are the exoskeletons of mollusks such as snails, clams, oysters and many others.
The presentation included some scientific shelling terms, but Bubby defined each in kid-friendly jargon. We learned that gastropod means “stomach foot” because these mollusks with whirl around shells use what looks like a stomach to move. The horse conch, which is the Florida state shell, is the largest gastropod in the Atlantic Ocean and therefore the top mollusk predator. We also learned that most mollusks use calcium and carbon from the ocean to form calcium carbonate shells.
I particularly enjoyed Bubby’s discussion of lightning whelks. Female lightening whelks are larger than the males because they hold the eggs. Each of their egg castings hold 300-1,000 eggs. We got to see tiny eggs under a magnifying glass. The eggs were tiny versions of the full-sized shells.
Lightning whelk eggs under a magnifying glass
We also learned that the most coveted shell in Sanibel is the junonia. Junonia shells are so rare because junonia live in the Western Atlantic at depths of 100 feet to 400 feet. Because of the junonia’s deep water habitat, few shells wash up on Sanibel’s shores, and shellers who find a junonia shell are often featured in the local paper. The shells have spots that remind me of a giraffe, and I thought the shell was particularly beautiful before I knew it was so rare. In over 40 years of shelling, Bubby has never found one on her own, but a casual sheller next to her on the beach picked up two a few years ago. Before leaving the Museum, we checked out the junonia exhibit in the main exhibition space with a new understanding of the precious shell.
Bubby told us that different winds, tides and currents effect what shells come up on the beach on any given day. The best shelling is often right after a big storm. We also learned that the collection of live shells is strictly prohibited in Sanibel, and any living shells found marooned on the beach should be carefully placed into the Ocean. Too often, tourists find a living mollusk and throw it back into the Atlantic, which could seriously injure the animal.
Our Review of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
We spent about 2.5 hours at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Our kids were engaged throughout the visit and gained a deeper understanding of shells. We definitely recommend a trip to the National Shell Museum to any family visiting Sanibel Island. This unique educational opportunity truly deepened our knowledge of mollusks, and we will never look at a beach the same. We only wish we went to the Museum at the beginning of our time in Sanibel.
Our favorite part of The Carle was probably the Art Studio. Like many moms, I’m ecstatic when my kids have the opportunity to create art in a bright studio with all the materials already prepared and ready to go. We worked on animal collages. As we worked on our projects, five or six other families came into the studio, and there was plenty of room for everyone.
Because we live in the suburbs, our kids loved the opportunity to spend a day outside hiking.
We also enjoyed the 
I think it’s safe to say that no visit to Paris would be complete for me without a visit to the Louvre. While I would aim to get in as soon as it opens next time and beeline for the Mona Lisa gallery first, I would never hesitate to bring kids.
After exploring the Water Lilies galleries, we spent about an hour and a half exploring the other impressionist works, including works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso and Renoir. Renoir’s Jeunes Filles au Piano reminds me of my sister and me, and I was thrilled to find one of the variations on display. The l’Orangerie might be a bit of a hidden gem, but it is definitely at the top of our must-see list for Paris.
Fish is a specialty at the Island Cow, and we all enjoyed our meals. We ordered the alligator appetizer, which was breaded like chicken fingers and tasty. Our oldest is always adventurous when it comes to trying local specialties and thought it tasted very similar to chicken. Our youngest spent the rest of the weekend slightly worried that the alligators might somehow know that we ate one of their friends.
A live karaoke singer accompanied our dinner, and there seemed to be one birthday celebration after another in which the whole restaurant sang the birthday song to the special guest. Over the course of these celebrations, my boys kept reminding us that the trip fell right between our sons’ birthdays and tried to claim birthday priority, mostly because of the large sundae that accompanied each celebration. When our server came with our check, she overheard the conversation and brought out a sundae for the kids to share (no singing).
We had dinner on Saturday night at MudBugs Cajun Kitchen. MudBugs just opened its Sanibel location in December 2018, and the airy, two-story building is exquisite with exposed bricks, outdoor patios and classic New Orleans architecture. I noticed the Chihuly-style blown glass chandelier as soon as we walked in. Later, my sons asked if it was a Chihuly, and knowing how expensive an original Chihuly might be suggested that it likely a “knockoff.” Later, our server confirmed that the chandelier was an original Chihuly! I wonder if the renovated building or the chandelier has a higher value.
MudBugs offers kids’ meals, but our three kids split an adult-sized jambalaya and gumbo. My husband and I each enjoyed a superb cocktail. We all loved our meals, and now I can’t wait for our next trip to New Orleans for more crawfish etoufee and hurricanes.
