We Go With Kids!

Category: spotlight

Tips for Visiting the Louvre With Kids

The Louvre in Paris is the largest and most visited art museum in the world with 400,000 art works and a permanent collection of about 35,000 on display. It is housed in the Louvre Palace, a former royal palace that dates back to the 12th century. The Louvre became a museum in 1793 during the French Revolution and has been expanded and renovated many times over the past 800 years. The Louvre may not seem like a museum that welcomes children with open arms, but it is actually one of the most stroller-friendly museums we have ever visited. So, there is no reason to skip it when traveling with children.  Here are our top 10 tips for visiting Musee du Louvre with kids:

A Visit to the Louvre For Kids

Tip #1: Buy Skip the Line Louvre Tickets Online in Advance

We booked a 9:30 am entry on our first morning in Paris directly through the Louvre’s website. Pre-booked adult tickets cost €17 each, which is just slightly more than the €15 entrance fee for tickets purchased at the museum. All visitors under age 18 are free. Considering admission for our family of five to almost any US museum seems to cost at least $75, €34 to visit the Louvre seemed like an absolute bargain, and we didn’t think twice about the extra €4 necessary for advanced booking.

Tip #2: Eat Before Arriving at the Louvre With Children

The Louvre requires a good bit of walking. It is important to arrive with children who are well rested and well fed. We stopped at Franprix for a delicious breakfast of freshly squeezed orange juice and amazing bread and pastries. We didn’t stop to eat at one of the Louvre’s cafes or restaurants during the three hours we spent there, choosing not to risk long lines and instead enjoyed lunch at a British pub during England’s Quarterfinal World Cup match afterwards.

Tip #3: Arrive at the Louvre Early or Late

Our flight arrived in Paris in the evening, and in hindsight, it may have been a bit ambitious to plan a 9:30 am museum arrival the next morning. But, we had a full night of sleep and arrived at the Louvre on time. We definitely noticed that the Louvre became much busier by late morning. The Louvre is also open until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and it is typically less crowded during those evening hours. When planning a Paris itinerary, note that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25.

We entered through the Louvre Pyramid, the iconic glass and metal pyramid that was designed by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei and completed in 1989. The Pyramid and underground lobby were created so that the Louvre could better accommodate its increasing number of daily visitors. The Pyramid was designed for 4.5 million annual visitors, and the underground lobby had to be redesigned between 2014 and 2017 when the number of annual visitors rose from 4.5 million to over 8 million. We talked about how I.M. Pei also designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s pyramid in Cleveland as we entered.

View from inside the Louvre Pyramid

Tip #4: Bring the Stroller to the Louvre

Even though it was necessary at times to carry our stroller up or down a flight of stairs, it’s understandable considering the building dates back to the late 12th century. Nonetheless, the Louvre Museum gets high marks for being stroller friendly. When we arrived at the Pyramid, we noticed separate lines for pre-booked tickets and visitors needing to purchase tickets from the box office, but neither had much of a line when we arrived. It didn’t matter because as soon as the guard saw our stroller, he ushered us through the middle of the two entrances to wait for the next circular open air hydraulic elevator into the museum. Our kids thought this was the coolest elevator we have ever been inside of and thought it looked like it belonged on a futuristic spaceship.

Strollers are welcome throughout the museum, and we rarely felt crowded. Elevators in the Louvre are reserved for the disabled (including children in strollers) and their accompanying parties. This is in stark contrast to Versailles where we had to check our stroller at left luggage before entering the Palace and the Vatican where wall to wall visitors in many galleries made it extremely hard to maneuver the stroller and where we were not permitted to use the elevators, which were reserved for those in wheelchairs only.

Tip #5: Don’t Forget the Louvre Map

The Louvre exhibits are seemingly endless. It’s absolutely massive and not possible to explore every exhibit in a single day. It is essential to bring a map and formulate a game plan. We should have downloaded and printed the Louvre interactive floorplan in advance, but we picked up a map underneath the Pyramid first thing.

Tip #6: Use Rick Steves as a Tour Guide at the Louvre

We traveled with Rick Steves’ Paris guide, which includes a 30 page annotated tour of the Louvre. This guide was perfect for us. I read Steves’ descriptive overviews about an exhibit or selected major works for my husband and kids and found that it provided the perfect nugget of information to help enhance the experience for our whole family. We otherwise would not have noticed the S-curve in Venus de Milo‘s back and the seam at her hips. We also made sure to examine the glass case next to Winged Victory of Samothrace with her outstretched thumb and finger, which was discovered in the 1950s.

Tip #7: Prioritize the Big Three at the Louvre

I vividly remember visiting the Louvre on my college backpacking trip and following pictures directing me to Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace.  These seem to be on everyone’s Louvre must see list. Because the Louvre is enormous, it takes some time to just navigate to each, but make sure not to rush through the amazing galleries along the way.

We started in the Sully Wing and first visited the Near Eastern Antiquities, which was impressive and not very crowded at all. My favorite was the Frieze of Archers from the fifth or sixth century B.C.

We then visited the Egyptian galleries before reaching the Gallery of Statues with perfect anatomic Greek sculptures in natural poses. Athena of Velletri stands at one side and Venus de Milo at the other.  Athena of Velletri is a Roman replica of a Greek statue that dates from the 5th century B.C.  Venus de Milo is an ancient Green sculpture created between 130 and 100 B.C. I love the juxtaposition of the goddesses of wisdom and beauty.

Athena of Velletri

Venus de Milo

We then headed into the Denon Wing to Winged Victory of Samothrace, which dates back to about 190 BC. This winged-woman standing on a ship commemorated a naval victory. I love that this massive statue is exhibited in a large open area with high ceilings rather than crammed into a gallery. We had a discussion about how fragile arms are on ancient statues and how they were often broken and lost.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

The Louvre statues were particularly impressive due to their age and preservation.

Of the “Big Three”, we visited the Mona Lisa last and realized when we saw the crowd that we should have made a b-line for this gallery as soon as we arrived.

Tip #8: Be Prepared for Mona Lisa‘s Paparazzi at the Louvre

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is virtually synonymous with the Louvre. This early 16th century Italian Renaissance painting has been on display in the Louvre since 1797. While the Louvre generally did not seem crowded on our Saturday morning visit, visitors line up to see the Mona Lisa, protected by bullet proof glass and guarded by guards. It took us several minutes to work our way up to the front of the crowd to get a picture of her famous smirk.

The word “paparazzi” comes to mind, and yes, Mona Lisa is much smaller than anyone expects (only about 21 inches by 30 inches!).

It doesn’t help that the Louvre’s largest painting, Paolo Veronese’s The Wedding Feast at Cana, is displayed on the opposite wall. I was drawn to Veronese’s massive canvas and surprised at how little attention it received as the visitors focused solely on Mona Lisa. The unexpected Venetian setting made me more excited about our upcoming trip to Venice a few days later. The juxtaposition of these two paintings definitely was one of the most interesting parts of the Louvre.

Even though I saw Mona Lisa 21 years ago, it was simultaneously exhilarating and slightly underwhelming to visit her on this trip. Nevertheless, Mona Lisa was the most memorable part of our Louvre visit for our kids. They remember the crowd, her auspicious smile and The Wedding Feast at Cana on the opposite wall. My son is convinced she’s planning something evil.

Tip #9: Don’t Forget to Look Up While Visiting the Louvre

Some of the most memorable art is located on the gallery ceilings. It’s easy to be so mesmerized by the art on the wall and not fully appreciate the architecture and ceiling art.

Tip #10:  Take Forced Perspective Pictures in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre

The Louvre’s Pyramid is not only a world-renowned architectural icon but also a great place to take a forced perspective picture. There are a number of strategically placed pedestals in front of the Pyramid to make it easier to capture the perfect shot, which we most certainly used.

We loved our family trip to Paris and recommend the Louvre for kids. Make sure to check out our posts on Planning a Trip to Paris, Top 25 Attractions in Paris for Families, Visiting the Eiffel Tower as well as our other posts about Paris!

January 27, 2019
Visiting the Palace of Versailles With Kids
Thank you to the Palace of Versailles for providing complimentary tickets for my family. As always, all opinions are my own.

The Palace of Versailles definitely earns its title as the world’s most spectacular palace. Versailles was France’s royal palace from the late seventeenth century until the French Revolution and is certainly the most opulent building I’ve ever toured and the clearest symbol of royal excess. A visit to the Versailles Palace was high on the to do list during our visit to Paris with our three kids, ages 3, 8 and 10. Although it did require a trip out of the city center, we really enjoyed visiting the Palace of Versailles with kids.

A Tour of Versailles With Kids

The Palace of Versailles and its Louises

The Chateau de Versailles was completed in 1682 during the reign of Louis XIV. The Sun King’s reign began when he was only four years old and lasted 72 years, making him the longest recorded monarch in Europe. Louis XIV enjoyed Versailles as a primary residence for over 30 years until his death in 1715. Because Louis XIV’s eldest son and eldest grandson, each also named Louis, both predeceased him, the Sun King’s five year old great-grandson, Louis XV succeeded him. The reign of Louis XV lasted 59 years. Louis XV’s eldest son (yup, another Louis) predeceased him , and so Louis XV was succeeded by his grandson, Louis XVI. These combined six Louises each married a woman named Marie or Maria, except the Louis XV’s son, who married one of each. The seventeenth and eighteenth century members of the French royal family were clearly imaginative when it came to names….

Bernini’s Bust of Louis XIV in the Salon of Diana

The Palace of Versailles remained the principal residence of France’s royal family until the royal family was evicted by royal protesters at the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. A few months later, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were famously beheaded in the Place de la Concorde. Versailles was opened as a museum in 1837. In addition to its stunning Baroque architecture, Versailles includes 700 rooms, 5,000 pieces of antique furniture and 6,000 notable paintings. Its estimated value is over $50 billion.

Getting to the Palace of Versailles With Kids

Versailles is about a 35-45 minute train ride outside of Paris on the RER train, which is somewhat more complicated to navigate than the Metro. We found this guide very helpful for step by step directions. We purchased round trip tickets for two adults (€7.10 each) and two children (€3.55 each) to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche at the Chatelet les Halles Metro station. Our three year old daughter did not require a ticket. The four of us each received two tickets (one for our journey there and one for our return) and were careful to keep the two sets separate before we began our journey. We traveled by Metro one stop on the B5 Metro to St. Michel – Notre Dame where we transferred to the RER-C. The screens on the platform clearly identified the upcoming train schedule, and we waited for a train indicating a stop at Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche, Versailles Chat or Versailles RG (not Versailles-Chantier or Versailles-Rive Droit). By the time the train to Versailles arrived at the platform, there was definitely a crowd of waiting tourists.

Once we arrived at the Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station, we crossed the street at the pedestrian cross walk and turned right onto the pedestrian pathway leading to the Palace.

Pedestrian walkway to the Palace of Versailles

A Family Visit to the Palace of Versailles

Although Sunday is typically the most crowded day at Versailles, it was the only day that worked on our Paris itinerary for us to visit. Our day at Versailles also happened to be the hottest day during our time in Paris. We arrived at about 10 am and were amazed at the length of the line to purchase tickets and also the security line, which was about two hours long and without shade. Although the Royal Gate, which is decorated with 100,000 gold leaves with the Palace behind, is a breathtaking sight, we were very grateful to have expedited entry on this hot morning.

The Royal Gate

Strollers are not permitted in the Palace, so we checked our daughter’s stroller at the free left luggage facility and then proceeded into the Palace where we picked up free audioguides (available for guests ages eight and over only) on the way into the Palace where we immediately ran into a costumed Louis XIV and his entourage. The Palace was extremely packed. Although not quite the shoulder to shoulder crowd that we found in the Vatican Museums, it was challenging at times for the five of us to stay together and to focus on the informative audioguide while absorbing these incredible rooms. My three year old daughter asked to be carried at times, but the knowledge that princesses had lived in the Palace held her interest, and she enjoyed wandering from room to room.

Statue of Louis XIV in the Salon of Venus and the Versailles crowds

My favorite room in the Palace was the Hall of Mirrors, which is 236 feet long with 17 arched windows and 17 beveled mirrors. I imagined Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s basking in the glory of this room during their wedding reception as I walked through the Hall where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.

Hall of Mirrors
- Pro-tips: Book a guided Palace of Versailles tour to skip the security line. Free Wifi is available in the courtyard and in the entrance to the Gardens but is spotty.
The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles With Kids

It’s no surprise that Louis XIV considered the Gardens as important as the Palace. The Gardens of Versailles are the finest French formal gardens. We enjoyed sneak peek views of the lavish gardens from the Palace windows.

A room with a view

The gardens near the Palace are a brilliant combination of color and carefully pruned trees and shrubs. It would be a wonderful place to sit in the shade if benches and shade were more plentiful. We enjoyed a nice stroll instead….

Taking time to smell the flowers

From the Palace, the Royal Drive stretches to the Grand Canal far into the horizon. Groves expand out from either side of the Royal Drive in an elaborate grid. Our boys decided to race each other down the Royal Drive to stretch their legs and returned desperate for water, so we headed to a snack area for drinks and ice cream. In the meantime, my daughter stumbled on the gravel path and skinned her knee, and I discovered that I did not have any band-aids with me. While she was reiterating that she needed a band-aid, a woman standing in front of us in the bathroom line reached into her handbag and offered her two. Note to self: make sure to carry a stash of band aids in every handbag so that I can pay this kindness forward.

Latona Fountain, Royal Drive and Grand Canal

After picking up ice cream for everyone, we headed down a passage in search of a bench in the shade and were delighted to find just what we were looking for as the afternoon water display began. The water display was part of the Garden’s Musical Fountain Shows, which feature over 50 water fountains accompanied by classical music.

Exploring the Garden pathways

The Fountain show was a spectacular combination of art, music, botany and architecture.

Fountain show

The Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette are at the far end of the Gardens, but we were too exhausted to make the hike. So, we saved those for next time….
- Pro-tips for the Palace of Versailles: The Gardens are massive, and the pathways are made of small stones. Sandals are doable, but with the dust, I would have preferred sneakers. Entry to the Gardens is free except when the Musical Fountain Shows or the Musical Gardens occur.
We definitely recommend a tour of the Palace of Versailles for kids. Visiting Versailles and its unparalleled Palace and Gardens was a truly enchanting, bucket-list adventure. It may have been a particularly tiring day, but one we will never forget.

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features! Also, be sure to check out all our category of posts on Paris with kids.
September 1, 2018
Spotlight: Play: CLE With Kids
Thank you to Play: CLE for providing complimentary tickets for my family. As always, all opinions are my own.

Play: CLE, the largest indoor adventure park in the U.S., was the perfect location for a few hours of fun and fitness. I visited with Play: CLE, which is located in Avon on Cleveland’s West side, with my three kids, ages four, eight and ten, the week before the new school year began. We had never been to an indoor adventure park and were not exactly sure what to expect but found plenty of opportunities for running, jumping and climbing. Even I stretched my comfort zone by trying the ropes course and zip line. Play: CLE was kid-friendly and truly enjoyable for the whole family.

Visiting Play: CLE With Kids

After reading that Play: CLE was not geared for children under age seven, I was not sure if there would be enough attractions suitable for my four year old to keep her occupied for three hours and considered leaving her with my parents. But, my daughter is pretty easy-going and does not like to be left out of any adventure. So, I packed a backpack with some books and games in case she got bored (spoiler: she didn’t) and was thrilled that my father-in-law and sister-in-law decided to join us. They enjoy watching the kids have any kind of adventure and were helpful extra hands at Play: CLE as they were able to watch the kids while I attempted the ropes course and zip line. Because they wanted to spectate rather than participate, they did not need to pay admission.

We arrived as soon as Play: CLE opened and were among the first guests. I completed the waiver forms (which I would have done online in advance of our arrival if I was more organized), and each of the kids were measured and weighed and given color coded wristbands to indicate which activities they could do. Guests need to be able to reach to 5 feet, 6 inches to use the ropes course, weigh 60-275 pounds to use the zip line and weigh 50-275 pounds to use the climbing walls. My ten year old and his friend were able to use all of the equipment, my eight year old was limited to the attractions at ground level (e.g. everything but the ropes course and zip line), and my daughter could do anything on the ground level that did not require a harness.

I stored my handbag and my daughter’s backpack in the see through lockers that operated like a hotel safe. Our things were safely stored but also easy to access at any time. Next time, I’ll bring water bottles for everyone.

Easy to use lockers

Prior to our visit, we read that the ropes course tends to have the longest line, so, the ten year olds headed there first. The ropes courses were their favorite attraction, and they did both courses before zip lining down to the lower level. The zip line travels up to 35 miles per hour from one end of the park to the other.

Ropes course

Activities at Play: CLE With Kids

I decided to get my bearings before attempting the ropes course myself and regretted it when I had to wait about 20 minutes after I finally mustered the courage to attempt the ropes course. While I don’t have a fear of heights, this kind of challenge is definitely outside of my usual comfort zone. After I was fitted with a harness, I received a short lesson on how to use the claws to safely maneuver around the course. It was not always easy to connect the claws to the cables, but I liked that it was impossible to disconnect both claws from the cable. I felt more comfortable with the harness and the claws after a few obstacles and did find my rhythm. In the end, I was glad to be on solid ground and proud of myself for trying something new. I also took a ride the zip line to the opposite end of the park and then headed down to the ground level.

My daughter loved the little kid parkour area and was so pleased to figure out a few tricks to help her get from one obstacle to the next without touching the floor. She also had a blast going through the ninja warrior course even although she was too small to reach many of the challenge elements and thought the goal was to climb over low obstacles. The boys also found that they were not big enough to complete all of the challenges in their intended manner, and they focused on other activities at Play: CLE.

Ninja warrior course

Play: CLE had several climbing activities. The boys preferred the massive bouldering wall, which had a large air bag at the bottom for safety. They tried several different paths rated easy to hard.

Bouldering

There are also eight different climbing walls that guests climb with the aid of harnesses. My eight year old’s favorite involved climbing a series of pillars and then repelling back down to the ground.

After a few hours, the kids needed a break for lunch, and we ordered lunch from Play: CLE’s onsite restaurant, the Biner (shorthand for caribiner). Our party thoroughly enjoyed delicious burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas and chicken. There is also a full bar, including craft beers, wines and specialty drinks.

Why We Loved Play: CLE With Kids

When it was time to leave, my daughter took off running toward the equipment as I pulled her untouched backpack out of the locker. Extra toys and books were definitely superfluous. I should have guessed that they wouldn’t be necessary – she handled lengthy tours of the Vatican and Louvre a few weeks earlier without toys, books or snacks. Play: CLE in Avon is great for kids who love to climb in CLE. My kids would love to return to Play: CLE, and it will be an especially fun excursion at some point during Cleveland’s long winter….
- Play: CLE hours: Play: CLE’s hours vary by season. Check the website before planning a visit.
- Play: CLE tickets: Passes for two, three and four hours are available and range from $20 to $45. Children under six are free with a paying adult.
- Play: CLE parking: Free parking is available in an adjacent lot.
- Play: CLE waiver: All visitors need to complete a waiver before entering.
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features! Also, be sure to check out all our category of posts on Cleveland with kids.
August 25, 2018
Spotlight: Hale Farm and Village With Kids
Thank you to Hale Farm and Village for providing complimentary tickets for my family. As always, all opinions are my own.

Hale Farm and Village is a historic property that features preserved buildings and craft and trade demonstrations. The costumed docents and artisans are each brilliant story tellers and really brought mid-nineteenth century Ohio history to life. Hale Farm is located in Bath, Ohio near Akron and about 30 minutes southeast of Cleveland on the original homestead of Jonathan Hale. Because Ohio history is near and dear to my parents, who are each Ohio natives who both majored in history, Hale Farm was a perfect place to spend their 50th wedding anniversary. We all thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this open-air museum of the Western Reserve Historical Society and recommend Hale Farm and Village as a fun and educational destination for a day out with kids.

The golden anniversary couple

Visiting Hale Farm With Kids

Our first stop was at the Hale Sheep Barn where one of the artisans was demonstrating broom making. The brooms are made of broomcorn, which is grown on site. Broomcorn is actually not corn at all but a sorghum. Brooms are not only used for floors but also for barn ceilings to remove potential fire hazards like cobwebs.

We then visited the blacksmith shop where the blacksmith was making a decorative leaf. We got to see him heat and shape the leaf, which is sold as a necklace pendant in the gift shop.

Glassworks was my favorite craft demonstration. We watched the glassmith expertly shape the glass to make a Christmas ornament. She then placed it in a furnace so that it would cool slowly enough and not crack or shatter. The final products were also available for sale at the gift shop in the Visitor’s Center.

Pottery was my eight year old son’s favorite craft demonstration. The potter explained the techniques he used to shape the clay into a mug on the wheel. Once shaped, the clay needs to dry overnight to leather hard. At this point, the potter can smooth the bottom surface and then waits until the piece is bone dry before firing it using a kiln. Salt is used in the kiln to glaze each piece, and the final product is dishwasher and microwave safe. This presentation convinced my son that he would really like to try his hands on a pottery wheel and make a bowl.

A number of historic homes have been moved from around northeast Ohio and reconstructed on Hale Farm’s property across Oak Hill Road from the Visitor’s Center. The relocated homes include the Jonathan E. Herrick House, the Jonathan Goldsmith House, the Stow House, the Jagger House and the Saltbox Home and feature period-appropriate furnishings and decorations. My four year old noticed on her own that the homes did not have bathrooms, and a docent gave her a brief lesson on outhouses. The kids now have a new appreciation for indoor plumbing. We also noticed the stark differences between the highly decorated rooms used to entertain guests with the stark private quarters used only for the family.

The parlor of the Jonathan Goldsmith House

Another building relocated to Hale Farm include the law office of Benjamin Franklin Wade. Wade was particularly notable as president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate in 1868 when President Andrew Johnson was impeached. He would have become Acting President if Johnson was convicted. There is also a church and a log schoolhouse, where we participated in a mock classroom and learned about common discipline techniques used in 1858. My kids are glad that school facilities have improved considerably since the mid-1800s when school fees were about $2 per student per year.

Every summer, Hale Farm hosts the largest Civil War reenactment in Ohio. We got a preview during our visit, which was the day before the weekend event began. We met many reenactors on site to prepare and a few horses, too.

The 2018 event on August 11-12 features a reenactment of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Field commanders have a basic script, but reenactors simply follow the orders they receive from their commanders. They find it more fun to improvise rather than memorize a script. The reenactors travel from all over Ohio and even as far as Tennessee to participate in the event. Throughout the weekend, they each stay in historic period tents that they set up on site. These canvas tents do not use modern conveniences like nylon, zippers or mesh windows. Nonetheless, we learned if these tents are set up properly, they rarely become waterlogged.

Tent village set up by reenactors

Why We Loved Hale Farm With Kids

Our family had the perfect day for a visit to Hale Farm and Village. The grounds were not overly crowded, likely due to threatened rain that held off until we were headed back to our car. Our family was able to personally interact with all of the artisans and docents and asked many questions at this living history museum to gain a better understanding of pioneer life. We also really enjoyed our preview of the Civil War Reenactment without the hundreds of visitors expected for the weekend event. Hale Farm is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018, and many events are scheduled to celebrate this milestone. We definitely recommend visiting Hale Farm with kids. It’s one of the best living history museums in Ohio.
- Pro-tips:
  - Hale Farm Tickets: Hale Farm admission costs $10 for adults age 13 and older and $5 for youth age 3 to 12. Visitors age 2 and under and active military are free.
  - Hale Farm Hours: Hale Farm is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays in June, July and August and on Saturdays and Sundays in September and October.
  - Hale Farm Parking: A large parking lot is available next to the Visitor’s Center.
  - Hale Farm Map: The Village layout is generally self-explanatory, but it’s helpful to pick up a map when purchasing tickets and inquire about which sites are open.
  - Hale Farm Caution: The Village spans both sides of Oak Hill Road, so use caution when crossing the street with small children.
  - Eating Near Hale Farm: The Winking Lizard in Peninsula is a great, family-friendly option for lunch after visiting Hale Farm. If there is a wait for a table, the kids can check out the lizard and the endless free popcorn.
Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features! Also, be sure to check out all our category of posts on Cleveland with kids.
August 10, 2018
Spotlight: California Science Center with Kids! (Los Angeles)

The California Science Center located in the heart of Los Angeles is an amazing facility for people of all ages to learn by doing! With over 400,000 square feet of space, the facility has over four major exhibit areas, including a Discovery Room, which is designed for scientists age 7 and under. My favorite thing about the center is that admission is free for all permanent exhibits!

On a recent sweltering day, we ventured to the California Science Center to check out the King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh special exhibit. As it is not part of the permanent exhibit, admission was not free, however, our party of six (immediate family + in laws) loved the exhibit – including my 3.5 year old who was riveted and engaged the whole time.

The King Tut exhibit is separated into two parts – the first part begins on the third floor and you are required to show your ticket in order to enter. The exhibit begins with a short movie, introducing King Tut and the exhibit.

Of the 150 artifacts on display at the exhibit, 66 had never before traveled outside of Egypt. Those artifacts were clearly marked with a “first time out of Egypt” label.

As we made our way through the exhibit, we were blown away by not only the quality of the artifacts which were all in pristine condition. The artifacts were also incredibly intricate and I can only imagine the skilled craftsmanship that went into creating each individual item.

My nine year old was able to really dig into the exhibit – he wandered around and read the signs and descriptions on his own, commenting as he went along. My 3.5 year old spent his time in the exhibit largely on his grandfather’s shoulders, but even he was engaged as his grandpa read him the descriptions and explained to him what we were seeing.

After making our way through the first part of the exhibit, we were given a card that would serve as our admission to Part II – located on the first floor. Before leaving the third floor, however, my nine year old decided he wanted to take a ride on the high-wire bicycle. For $3, he was strapped in and completed two back and forth journeys on the high-wire. He reports that it was great fun and wished that we had the time for him to do it again!

After finding our way down to the first floor, we handed over our cards and were granted admission into Part II – which focuses on the actual work of discovering and excavating the tomb.

Howard Carter is credited as the British archeologist who discovered the tomb, but I was tickled to learn, for the first time, that it was water boy, Hussein Abdel-Rassoul who first laid eyes on the tomb and reported the discovery to Carter and his crew of men.

The end of the exhibit featured a short film which introduced some levity into the whole King Tut fascination. My boys loved dancing to Steve Martin’s King Tut parody, which was playing in the background, as they watched the film.

Our exploration of the King Tut exhibit occupied us for over two hours, so by the time we made our way out of Part II, it was time to leave downtown to get home in time for a certain little one’s nap. Having caught a glimpse of the other exhibits at the California Science Center on our way in and out of the King Tut exhibit, I know that we will be visiting the museum frequently on hot days, as well as the rare rainy day in Southern California.

The California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive in Los Angeles and is open to the public seven days a week, 362 days a year, with free general admission to its permanent exhibits. The King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh is a limited time engagement and I strongly encourage those who are able to visit! Note that once you leave the exhibit, re-entry is not permitted.

Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Los Angeles, California with kids! And, be sure to visit the California Science Center with kids!

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fun locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!

July 17, 2018
Spotlight: Goodtime III With Kids
Thank you to the Goodtime III for providing complimentary tickets for my family. As always, all opinions are my own.

Our family spent an amazing summer afternoon cruising on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River aboard the Goodtime III, Cleveland’s largest sightseeing vessel. The ship’s four decks offer indoor and open air seating for up to 1,000 passengers to enjoy the view of Cleveland’s skyline, its many bridges and all the new development at the East Bank of the Flats. This family owned tour boat was established in 1958 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer. The Narrated Sightseeing Tour is especially kid friendly and a great way for visitors (and residents!) to learn about Cleveland’s downtown from a unique perspective. A ride on the Goodtime III with kids is a particularly good first boating experience for young passengers, and the views just can’t be beat.

Goodtime III Parking

Parking is conveniently located at the East Ninth Street Pier Parking lot and costs $10 for 2-3.5 hours. The kids’ excitement started escalating as I parked along the side of the enormous Goodtime III. My only challenge was locating the pay station, but lucky for me, my eight year old has a keen eye and pointed it out for me. Our car was parked only a short distance from the ticket booth, and we had to walk only about 20 steps after disembarking.

Goodtime III Tickets

After paying for parking, we headed to the ticket booth. There were separate lines for visitors with pre-booked tickets and for those purchasing tickets. General admission for the two-hour Narrated Sightseeing Tour costs $18 for adults and $10 for children, and reservations are available online for a small booking fee. Children under five are free, but need a ticket to board. Advance reservations are required for special events and all trips that include a meal.

The ticket booth is easy to find
- Pro-Tips: Tours are offered Tuesdays through Sundays. The Goodtime III offers kids a special $1 admission on their 3 p.m. Narrated Sightseeing Tour from Memorial Day to July 4th.
Boarding the Goodtime III

Getting ready to board

I was happy to walk right up to the will-call booth and secure our tickets with my picture ID. We arrived at about 2:20 p.m., collected our tickets and made our way to the boarding area by about 2:25 p.m. and had only a few minutes to wait before boarding for our 3:00 p.m. cruise, which began sharply at 2:30 p.m. The kids really enjoyed experiences on smaller boats while touring the Kerala backwaters and whale watching in Dalvik, Iceland and were ecstatic to board this massive vessel.

Because this mid-week cruise afternoon cruise had about 150 passengers, we had plenty of seating options. The kids excitedly tried out a half a dozen views before the ship even left the dock. While there was plenty of room on our cruise, the Goodtime III, which has a maximum capacity of 1,000, never exceeds 800 to maintain comfort for all passengers.

Checking out the views while docked on the Ninth Street Pier

An Afternoon Cruise on the Goodtime III

The ship departed exactly at 3:00 p.m., so visitors need to arrive on time or will be stuck on shore. We enjoyed an hour of narration about Cleveland’s history, buildings, bridges and trivia and then a second hour of music on the ship’s sound system, which was fun to listen to while watching the ever-changing views.

The Flats have had significant development over the past few years

The facilities on board were excellent and kid-friendly, and it is clear that safety is a huge priority for the Goodtime III. After previous rides on much smaller boats with kids, I was relieved to see that all side railings provided a safe enclosure for little people. Although I still had to remind my kids to keep their feet on the ground and not to lean out of the ship, I did not have to spend the entire cruise holding my daughter. There were also bins full of adult and child-sized life vests strategically placed around the ship, and the crew provided a demonstration on how to use the life vests before we departed. The restrooms featured running water and even a diaper changing station not common on smaller boats.

He spent a lot of time just gazing at the city.

We ordered popcorn for the kids, which was reasonably priced at only $2 a box on the second level. Of course, after popcorn, they needed water, which was $2 a bottle. We also treated them to ice cream sandwiches, which were available on the main level and cost only $2.50 each. The Goodtime III also offered burgers, grilled chicken, nachos and a full bar on board.

Cleveland’s Public Square

I always love the idea of boating but am prone to seasickness and have regretted several boating or sailing excursions. However, I had no issues on the Goodtime III, which was large and very stable. Every staff member we met was also helpful and friendly. I apologized to crew member Ashlynn for the popcorn crumbs surrounding my daughter and even offered to sweep them up myself. She replied that she was happy to have something to do.

It was fun to see planes taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport.

My favorite piece of trivia from the narrated portion of the cruise was that The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, originally included the sentence, “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie.” However, Seuss removed the line 14 years after publication when Ohio Sea Grant Program researchers informed him of efforts to clean-up the Lake.

We spent the last 15 minutes of the boat ride on the main deck, and my daughter took full advantage of the empty dance floor to try out some moves.

The dance floor and seating area on the enclosed main level

The Goodtime III docked at 5:00 p.m. on the dot. We loved the punctuality, especially because my boys had evening swim lessons that we had to rush off to make.
- Pro Tip: Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, light jackets, hair bands and a charged camera. It was a warm and sunny 73 degree afternoon, but it got chilly on Lake Erie due to the wind. Even my son who never gets cold was happy to have a jacket. My camera battery died with about 30 minutes before the cruise ended, and I had to rely on my mobile camera for the last pictures.
- Pro-Tip: With four different levels, the Goodtime III is not stroller-friendly. There isn’t much walking needed, so I’d recommend leaving the stroller on shore unless it’s need for nap time.
- Pro-Tip: While buying tickets in advance can save time, I recommend pre-booking the Narrated Sightseeing Cruise only after checking the weather or just purchasing tickets upon arrival. Note that the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise sells out annually, so advance reservations are definitely needed for that.
We were lucky to take advantage of a beautiful summer afternoon and truly enjoy our hometown from a perspective we rarely get to see. We recommend a ride on the Goodtime III with kids. Our kids would love to make an afternoon on the Goodtime III an annual tradition, and I’m sure they would see and learn different things on each cruise.

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features! Also, be sure to check out all our category of posts on Cleveland with kids.
June 22, 2018
Spotlight: Manassas National Battlefield Park with Kids! (Virginia)

Located approximately 45 minutes south of Washington, DC, Manassas National Battlefield Park is the perfect destination for families. Administered by the National Park Service, the battlefield provides a great hands on opportunity to experience American history, while providing some fresh open air and solitude away from the city.

On a recent weekend, I decided to venture out to the battlefield with my two children, ages 3.5 and 9. Little did I know this would end up to be a great way to spend a beautiful spring day!

Upon arrival at the main welcome center, I was thrilled to see a clearly marked sign, indicating the turn off. There was ample parking, and we made our way into the facility to pick up a map, use the restrooms, and visit the gift shop. My boys were immediately enamored by the replica canons and the other Civil War memorabilia available for purchase, and we also spent quite a bit of time perusing the indoor exhibits, which also include a short film depicting the progression of the Bull Run (both the First and Second battles).

After a short 20 minutes or so indoors, we ventured out into the battlefield and that’s when my kids really went wild. They loved the canons, loved the historic buildings, and just loved being out in the wide, open expanse of field. While my 3.5 year old dedicated himself to blowing as many dandelions as he could, I explained the battlefield set up to my 9 year old. We made our way down to the various historical markers in the main battlefield area, taking in the historic burial ground and the other monuments.

To give my kids the full experience, however, I really wanted them to see just how large the battle of Bull Run had been. That is, I wanted to disabuse them of the notion that the battle was limited to the space we were standing. The map we had picked up earlier had a driving tour of the two Battles of Bull Run, so we piled into a car and made our way to 3-4 other stops on the driving tour.

The Stone House served as a Union hospital during the first Battle of Bull Run, with the dirt floor of the cellar covered in injured and dying soldiers throughout the battle.

Marking where the First Battle of Bull Run began.

I was thrilled to see that many of the stops were well marked and included not only historical signs, but also restrooms and facilities! My oldest son definitely got a sense of just how large a battlefield can be and how even though we refer to the battles as “the First Battle of Bull Run” and “the Second Battle of Bull Run,” that the battles really took place over a series of weeks, if not months, and that it involved covering a very significant area of land under harsh conditions (no four wheel drive vehicles and air conditioning, that’s for sure!).

In total, we spent about 2 hours visiting the main battlefield and touring the various stops along the driving tour. It was a surprisingly captivating experience for my 9 year old and it made an impression even on my 3.5 year old as for days thereafter, he recreated “the Manassas Battlefield” using his toys and has repeatedly asked if we can go back for a second visit. With only 900,000 visitors annually (versus the roughly 15 million visitors who descend upon Washington, DC annually), the Manassas Battlefield is such a welcome reprieve from the mass of tourist and congestion while also providing a great hands on opportunity to where a significant part of American history actually took place. That it’s just a short 45 minutes drive outside of Washington, DC makes it a great destination for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience.

The Manassas Battlefield Park is located at 6511 Sudley Road in Manassas, VA and is open daily from dawn until dusk. The Henry Hill Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30am – 5pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) and is a great place to start your visit. The orientation film is shown daily at the top of every hour, from 9am – 4pm and admission is free.

Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Washington, DC with kids! We are so lucky to call this place home and hope that our tips and tricks come in handy as you plan your own adventure in Washington, DC with kids!

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fun locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!

May 24, 2018
Spotlight: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with Kids (Washington, DC)

Chartered by a unanimous act of Congress in 1980 and located adjacent to the National Mall, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national institution for documenting, studying, and interpreting the Holocaust. Open daily from 10am – 5:30pm (closed Yom Kippur and Christmas), I recently visited the museum (without kids) and was delighted to find that one of the exhibits, “Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story,” is an ideal way to expose young elementary age children to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I distinctly remember visiting the Museum of Tolerance shortly after its opening in February of 1993. As a child of approximately 10 years of age, I remember the weeks leading up to our visit that our curriculum focused on the Holocaust and the events leading up to and surrounding World War II. Coming from an immigrant family with busy parents, the Holocaust simply was not something that had ever been discussed as a family, and it was not something I had come across in my movies or books prior to learning about it in school.

Decades later and now a parent myself, the Holocaust is something that comes up frequently in our readings and even in popular cultural references. My son, who is not quite nine years of age, has asked questions about the Holocaust, but without any training in how to expose or introduce young children to such a sensitive topic, we’ve largely kept it to the basics. I quickly realized during my recent visit to the Holocaust Museum, that the Daniel’s Story was just the roadmap I needed to introduce my young son to the Holocaust.

Daniel’s Story allows visitors to experience the Holocaust from the perspective of Daniel, a young boy living in Germany during the Holocaust. The exhibit begins with a short film, narrated by Daniel, and then carriers visitors through Daniel’s world as it changes throughout the Holocaust. Daniel’s diary entries serve as the primary text of the exhibit and the story begins in Daniel’s home in Nazi Germany and takes visitors through their transition to the ghetto, the concentration camps, and finally, to the end of the War.

As depicted in the photos above, the exhibit allows children to actually touch and feel the environment. Here we are in located in the ghetto, and there are rules posted on the walls and objects littered throughout the room. Similarly, when in Daniel’s home or the later concentration camp rooms, visitors have the opportunity to sit at the tables or lay on the “beds.”

After touring Daniel’s Story, I quickly popped upstairs to the permanent exhibit. From March 1 to August 31, timed entry tickets to the permanent exhibit are required. Same day tickets are available online and in person, but it is also possible to request tickets in advance online. I requested an advance ticket (which cost $1), but free tickets were available in person on the day of my scheduled entry. Note that it is not possible to enter prior to your scheduled visit time.

The Museum recommends visitors allocate one to three hours to visiting the permanent exhibit and I concur. Even for my mid-day visit in early March, there was a heavy group of people and it took quite a bit of time to see everything. Moreover, the permanent exhibit is large – it winds throughout the building and presents a chronological narrative of the Holocaust using artifacts, film footage, and photographs. It is easily an exhibit that I could have devoted an entire day to exploring, and I was sad that I did not have as much time as I would have liked to have spent there. That said, I am glad that my first visit to the Holocaust Museum was unaccompanied by third grader as I believe the permanent exhibit would have been too much in terms of his first visual exposure to the Holocaust. I have already planned a return visit for Daniel’s Story, with my son soon, but will wait another year or so before visiting the permanent exhibit with my eight year old.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW in Washington, DC.

Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Washington, DC with kids! We are so lucky to call this place home and hope that our tips and tricks come in handy as you plan your own adventure in Washington, DC with kids!

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!

May 23, 2018
Spotlight: Phoenix Art Musuem With Kids
The Phoenix Museum of Art is the Southwest’s largest museum for visual arts. It attracts highly acclaimed temporary exhibitions, but also houses a permanent collection of contemporary European and American art. The Museum offers voluntary donation hours throughout the month. When in Phoenix, it’s definitely worthwhile to stop at the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids.
- Kid Facts: The Phoenix Art Museum opened in 1959, just 47 years after Arizona became the 48th state to join the US.
Visiting the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

The Phoenix Art Museum’s family focused activities are outlined in the Museum’s “I’m Here With Kids” pamphlet. The Museum offers Discount Tire Free Family Weekends every second weekend of the month and also Make It!, which includes hands-on activities on the last Wednesday of the month (during the Museum’s voluntary donation hours). The unique outdoor sculpture garden is a highlight for those visiting with kids, especially Sui Jianguo’s Jurassic Age sculpture of a caged red dinosaur. This sculpture is reminiscent of Clifford, the big red dog and particularly interesting to kids.

The Museum’s child-focus extends to the James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery (aka the Hub). The Hub offers an open area with stadium seating, bright paintings and books for kids to interact with art at their own pace.
- Kid Facts: The current exhibit on display in the Hub is Poetry in Motion, which includes works of art that use line, color, shape and form to as poetic reflections of the world.
Favorite Exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

Our favorite exhibit was Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud, which is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum for one year. Black Cloud includes 25,000 black paper moths and butterflies affixed to gallery walls. Mexican artist Carlos Amorales was inspired by the annual migration of monarch butterflies and conceived of a plague of moths swarming through the Museum. The sheer number of moths and butterflies is overwhelming and reminded me of an eerie scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, but the beauty and detail of each individual insect was stunning.
- Kid Facts: This is the second time that Black Cloud, which premiered in 2007, has been on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. More than 30 different species of moths and butterflies are depicted.
Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington definitely required a double take. This was one of Stuart’s paintings of Washington that served as a basis for the image that appears on the front of the one dollar bill. I found $1 in my handbag to compare.
- Kid Facts: Artist Gilbert Stuart is best known for his unfinished painting of George Washington known as The Athenaeum, which is the basis for the 75 copies, including this one.
Yayoi Kusama’s You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is a mixed-media installation with LED lights on exhibit through 2020. This was definitely a surreal installation and disorienting at first. Kusama was inspired by a Japanese folk tale about a person in a field with 10,000 fire flies. Kusama brings the tale to life in a dark, mirrored room with dangling LED lights. It is one of the few art exhibits in which “do not touch” does not apply. It is impossible not to touch a few of the thousands dangling lights while weaving through the installation. Photographs just cannot do this exhibition justice. It has to be experienced in person.
- Kid Facts: Kusama is a contemporary artist and is one of the most well-known living Japanese artists.
Cornelia Parker’s Mass (Colder Darker Matter) was another favorite exhibit, which was made from burnt wood of a Texas Baptist church struck by lightning, wire and string. The burnt wood appears to float in place in mid-air and is stunning to view from many angles.
- Kid Facts: When Cornelia Parker was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997, she exhibited Mass (Colder Darker Matter). The Turner Prize is the UK’s most prestigious art honor that is awarded annually to a British visual artist by the Tate. The only time the Turner Prize shortlist included only female artists was in 1997.
The Phoenix Museum of Art features artists from the American Southwest and Mexico, as well of area landscapes. We particularly enjoyed Thomas Moran’s Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, which magnificently captures the Grand Canyon.
- Kid Facts: Thomas Moran was a landscape artist famous for his paintings of Yellowstone. He first traveled to the Grand Canyon in 1873 to document this natural wonder and completed this painting in 1916.
Phoenix Museum of Art With Kids

We were glad we stopped at the Phoenix Museum of Art and definitely suggest planning a visit to the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids for a wonderful educational experience about art and the Southwest. While we had only had a few hours in Phoenix during this visit, we can’t wait to check out all the other family-friendly things to do in Phoenix the next time we are in town.

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more of our favorite locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!
March 5, 2018
Spotlight: Frying Pan Park With Kids

Where else can you find a working farm open daily for visitors just 45 minutes from downtown Washington, DC? Why, Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia! Kidwell Farm, located on property, is a working 1930s style farm with horses, chickens, peacocks, sheep, and much much more. The Farm also contains 15 acres of crops, which are used to supply feed for the livestock and, if you are lucky and visiting in the spring, there are usually newborn lambs or pigs, nestled close to their mothers in the hay.

My youngest was able to get up close and personal with a horse on our last visit to Frying Pan Farm.

New spring lambs, born just a few days before our visit.

Making use of the conveniently located slats to peek at livestock.

Frying Pan Farm is not only an excellent place to expose kids to farm animals, but if you happen to be like us and live in the city far away from farmland, then it’s also a great opportunity for young kids to “ride” on tractors – something both my boys loved to experience as toddlers.

“Driving” his tractor.

There are no paved sidewalks or walking paths, so I do not recommend bringing strollers. Carriers are useful for young children who may get tired. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear (aka rain boots) if it is raining or has recently rained. There are no concessions on property, but you can absolutely pack a picnic to enjoy on site.

Frying Pan Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, VA 20171 with Kidwell Farm open daily from 9am – 5pm. Parking and admission are both free, making this a perfect budget friendly family activity.

Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Washington, DC with kids! We are so lucky to call this place home and hope that our tips and tricks come in handy as you plan your own adventure in Washington, DC!

Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fun locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!

March 3, 2018