Thanks to everyone who participated! The giveaway has ended and Joanne is our winner. We will reach out shortly with instructions for receiving your item.
We Go With Kids is thrilled to announce a new giveaway!
As busy parents, getting our kids to and from locations safely is high on our list of priorities, particularly when traveling. Today, we are thrilled to announce that in partnership with WhizRider, we are giving away one WhizRider Child Car Seat! The WhizRider Car Seat:
exceeds all U.S. federal safety standards, so parents don’t have to choose between convenience and safety.
is an approved car seat option in all 50 states
weighs less than a pound and folds up to be smaller than a medium coffee!
is ideal for Uber trips and spontaneous car rides, which is exactly why WhizRider founders, Andy and Dani, invented it.
To enter:
(1) Join our list of email subscribers to receive updates on new posts and WGWK happenings, including exciting giveaways such as these; and
(2) Leave a comment below before noon EST on Monday, June 17 with your summer travel plans!
Winner will be chosen at random and will be able to select color (pink/blue) and size (small/large). Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
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.
With two young children, my husband and I typically opt against staying at a hotel when planning a week long vacation. Earlier this year, we found ourselves in possession of two seven night stay certificates at a Category 1 – 4 Marriott hotel that were set to expire in mid-July. After a few hours of online searching, we were happy to secure a seven night stay at the Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach during our kids’ vacation. My review of Courtyard Coconut Beach in Kauai, however, is decidedly mixed. On the one hand, we paid zero dollars out of pocket for our stay (there was a $20/night resort fee that was waived for our stay) that would have otherwise cost just over $4,000; however, the level of construction the hotel was undergoing was well beyond what had been disclosed. While we found the initial appearance of the hotel and the noise to be jarring, at least we had some inkling of the construction. Many other vacationers had no idea that the hotel was under construction, much less that the hotel’s pool and dining facilities were largely nonexistent. While I heartily recommend the Courtyard Kauai Coconut Beach for its location and the amazing staff that did everything they could to accommodate its guests, Marriott’s handling of the situation was subpart and has me re-thinking brand loyalty going forward.
The resort’s “entrance” during our stay.
The Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach is located approximately 30 minutes from the Lihue Airport. There is a large parking lot and it is easy to walk right into the resort. Given the construction, however, the main lobby was not open and thus, the makeshift lobby was all that was available during our one week stay. Upon checking in, I was somewhat dismayed that there were just folding tables set up for check in and that there were extra staff on hand to help guide guests. During the check in process, I also received no explanation of the amenities, which I guess should not have surprised me given that well, there were none available during our stay due to construction; I was not provided with a map of the “resort,” nor was I given a map to the nearby hotel with the reciprocal pool access. I was simply told “construction, 7 days a week from 9-5pm and the pool down the road at the — hotel is available for use.” This was definitely a sign of poor things to come in terms of both the level of construction, as well as the staff’s ability to manage disappointed guests.
My four year old has extremely sensitive ears and the jackhammering was too much for him.
After checking in, we went up to our room, which was located on the top (4th) floor.
As described, it was a two bedroom, ocean view room. While surprisingly small (even my 9 year old commented on the small size and he’s not one to notice these things), it was newly renovated and as described. The view of the pool from directly from our balcony, however, left much to be desired.
Particularly when, during our stay, the hotel’s website and app still boasted about the “pool” features as one of its available amenities.
Admittedly, we did not spend much time at the hotel, opting to leave early every morning after breakfast to explore the island. However, it would have been nice to have had the option to sit by the beach/pool and order drinks or even evening snacks. A few evenings, we simply picked up pizza before returning to the hotel and ate in our hotel room, since there was no suitable outdoor seating.
Another aspect in which we were disappointed was that while the website/app advertised its “dining” options as “HIGHLIGHTS,” there was, in fact, only one very limited option for dining.
Indeed, the main dining room was completely boarded up during our stay and the only option was this banquet/conference room that had been converted into a makeshift dining area.
That said, my Titanium Elite Status provided us with a complimentary credit of $20/day to use towards food and beverages and kids under 5 eat free so we ate breakfast every single day before departing for our days’ adventures and the food, and the service, were both quite excellent in the dining department.
Papaya/Granola bowl we requested one morning “to go.”The children’s menu offerings.
During our stay, I briefly peeked into the gym, but it was small and not enticing in the least. I chose to spend my days kayaking and hiking instead, which I also encourage you to do if you find yourself in Kauai. Of course, the option of a treadmill or elliptical is always nice to have and at least this portion of the hotel was not under construction and available for use.
As advertised, the hotel does have access to a beach which is a very short and easy walk from the rooms. We enjoyed the beach tremendously and it was the first place we went after dropping off our bags.
Path down to the beach. Note the heavy construction.
That said, the hotel did not have any feet washing stations or towels available at or near the beach. Instead, towels had to be picked up at reception and dropped back off at reception, so that was a tremendous hassle in terms of using the resort’s beach. Because we could not clean off our feat easily, we didn’t end up spending anytime with the kids at the beach.
I would have loved the option of sitting in one of these chairs, ordering drinks, while watching the kids play in the sand, but alas! Not this time.
At bottom, the hotel’s lack of amenities did not have any significant impact on our vacation, given that we were using a certificate for a free stay. A few nights into our stay, a group of new guests arrived and were clearly incredibly dismayed by the level of construction. There were angry words at reception and lots of disgruntled guests wandering around. One group approached me and asked if we had been aware of the construction, in particular the pool closure, and it was clear that they had no idea prior to their trip and that the lack of amenities was going to significantly impact their stay. At that point, I spoke with the hospitality manager who was entirely sympathetic to our claims (and waived our $20/day resort fee without us even asking), but she noted, sadly that there was nothing she could do. My only guess is that there is some issue between the hotel being unable to finance construction while closing the hotel down for operation and that it is staying open during construction because it has to. Although I don’t know where the blame rests (Marriott or the hotel itself), and I imagine it to be some combination of both, I think the negative impact will be mostly felt by Marriott as anyone who stayed during this massive upheaval will likely negatively reflect about the Marriott experience. The hotel’s central location on Kauai’s eastern shore and it’s gorgeous beach access means that it will always have a steady supply of visitors, but I know that this stay definitely has me questioning the benefits of maintaining Marriott status.
Final Thoughts?
There are a number of things that the hotel did poorly, in particularly, failure to disclose the level of construction. But it would be unfair not to point out the things the hotel did well:
excellent food at the operating dining room, including incredibly patient servers, despite the fact that they were clearly understaffed and operating in sub optimal conditions;
availability of beach towels for use on and off property; and
availability of beach chairs and bicycles for use on and off property.
The only ways we were truly impacted by the construction was that we couldn’t really enjoy the hotel’s beach as much as we likely would have had it been operating. That said, we also probably saved money by not ordering expensive drinks at the resort and had there been a pool option, we likely would have had to negotiate with the children about spending a day hiking and kayaking and generally out and about as they would have definitely advocated for staying put and just swimming the day away. In the future, I would definitely stay at the hotel again, on a return trip to Kauai, but I suspect this construction will bump the hotel from a Category 4 to a Category 5 hotel, thus raising significantly the redemption costs. And that is a real shame.
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 Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum for providing complimentary tickets for my family. All opinions are my own.
Guest Author: Our kid blogger, Messi Jr., is an eleven year old fifth grader who loves travel and soccer.
My family recently took a really fun trip to Sanibel, Florida. Sanibel is known as one of best shelling beaches in the world. Over my trip, I went shelling many times and learned a lot about shells. Today, I will share to you all the best ways of finding and learning about shells in Sanibel, Florida.
Shelling at sunrise
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
At the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel, my family and I learned about all the shells we were finding on the beach. We went to the Tank Talk where a professional naturalist and sheller talked about the shells and what could be inside. An important thing to know is that if you find something living in a shell, it should be carefully placed in the water and not thrown into the water as this could harm the creature living inside. After going to the National Shell Museum, I now have a clearer understanding of shells and could name almost all of the shells we collected. With all that we learned there, I only wish we had gone to the National Shell Museum at the beginning of our weekend in Sanibel.
World Record Shells
Shelling at the Beach
On our trip, I tried different ways of shelling. On our first morning, we went to the beach at sunrise and looked in the water and on the shoreline. We had our best result by far when went in the water early in the morning. A good tip is to wade into the water and dig through the sand with your feet until you feel a shell. Then, scoop it up with your hands. When shelling in the water or on the beach, it is always a good idea to bring a mesh bag to keep all the shells you want to keep.
Some of the many shells we found
Shelling After a Storm
Although there weren’t any storms during our trip, we learned at the Tank Talk that the best time to shell is early in the morning after a storm. During a storm, all the big shells from farther into the ocean will wash up onto shore. Some of these may include the rarest shell in Sanibel called junonia, which is a shell found extremely far and low in the ocean. This shell is so rare that when someone finds one, it is often reported in the local news.
Our path to the beach
Conclusion
I had a really fun trip to Sanibel, Florida. I liked shelling and learning about all the shells at the National Shell Museum. The best time to find shells is early in the morning after a storm or by wading a few feet into the ocean. My family and I found such great shells. I hope we go back to Sanibel soon.
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.
Last year, my family traveled to Costa Rica for spring break. We scored some awesomely inexpensive tickets from DC to Liberia, but I was completely stumped when trying to figure out an affordable rental car. Rental car prices for our one week stay varied from extremely cheap ($80) to cost prohibitive ($900+) and the insurance requirements were indecipherable. Even more troubling were the numerous reviews from unsuspecting vacationers who booked a seemingly affordable rental car, only to be hit with excessive fees upon arrival. After a few hours of research, I was able to figure out a way to ins and outs of Costa Rica rental car insurance and after reaching out directly to a number of rental car agencies, decided to book with Vamos. Here’s what I learned about Costa Rica rental car insurance and my review of our experience with Vamos.
Costa Rica Rental Car Insurance:
Rental car insurance is a government monopoly in Costa Rica and thus, every rental must have liability insurance from the INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros). The mandatory insurance costs anywhere from $10-$20/day, depending on the vehicle you rent and provides only minimal coverage (it does not cover your rental car at all, only damage to other people, their cars, or property). Thus, if you want coverage for any damages to your rental car, you must purchase supplemental collision ($15-40/day, depending on rental car company and vehicle) or, if you have it, rely on your credit card’s rental car coverage.
My husband and I both carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which offers primary collision as an included benefit. Primary insurance means that the Chase’s rental car insurance benefit kicks in before our regular car insurance and, for those who might not have a vehicle and thus, do not carry car insurance, the Chase benefit serves as your insurance policy when renting a car on travel. Prior to travel, I called the phone number on the back of my Chase Sapphire Reserve card and inquired about the rental car benefit. I was transferred to Card Benefit Services and, upon confirming my personal details, was emailed a letter verifying my CSR insurance benefit and the terms of coverage. A redacted copy of the letter can be found here.
Choosing Vamos Rent-A-Car:
When researching Costa Rica rental car options, Priceline.com and various independent car rental websites were willing to rent me a car for the entire week for as little as $100, without any insurance. Reading numerous online reviews, however, I feared that we would suffer the same experience as many: showing up and being held hostage at the rental car line and being told we needed to add on hundreds of extra dollars of coverage to our car. Of all the car rental companies I researched, Vamos Rent-A-Car was the only one that allowed me to: (1) select the mandatory liability insurance and (2) waive the collision insurance during our reservation. As an added bonus, Vamos also included one free child car seat rental and a free cooler. Although the quoted price was just over $300 and thus $200 over the least expensive option I could find online, I valued Vamos’ transparent booking process (and the numerous positive online reviews didn’t hurt either). Moreover, after reserving our vehicle, I emailed Vamos to confirm that our credit card collision coverage would be sufficient. I attached a copy of the letter from Chase’s Card Benefit Services and within hours, received a reply that it was fine and would be accepted. My husband reports that he had no issues when picking up the vehicle and that the final estimated price was the quoted price online.
Why book a rental car?
I’m sure you’re asking — why book a rental car? The honest truth is that we are not resort people. My husband and I (and our kids) get antsy if we are in one place for an extended period of time and, traveling with young kids means that we have very little desire to be stuck on hotel shuttles and guided tours.
Moreover, although our resort offered shuttle services to and from the airport and to other nearby locations, utilizing the cheapest transport option of a private shuttle for our family of four to travel from the airport to the hotel would have cost $280 round trip. Thus, the cost of the rental car was essentially the same as taking a shuttle to/from the airport… but we would also have a rental car available for us to use for the duration of our stay. Note: it ended up costing us $338 to rent the car for the duration of our trip.
Car Seats in Costa Rica:
It may come as a surprise to many, but car seat laws in Costa Rica are significantly more stringent than laws in the United States. Indeed, all children under 12 must be secured in an appropriate car seat when traveling by car in Costa Rica. Vamos graciously offers one car seat or booster free of charge for the duration of your rental, which was one of the immediate benefits to renting from Vamos as both our kids would require car seats. I’m a bit of a car seat junkie and almost always insist on bringing our own car seat on trips. For this trip, my intent was to utilize the IMMI GO Child Car Harness. Unfortunately, when my husband arrived at Vamos, he learned quickly that the IMMI GO’s LATCH attachments would not work with our Costa Rican rental car. This being our first international rental car experience with a car seat that wasn’t just a simple booster, we had neglected to consider that international cars may have different attachments. Luckily, Vamos was great and provided us with a rental car seat for my not quite four year old. Although Vamos’ original quote included only one free rental car seat and I had selected a booster seat for my nine year old as our “free seat,” the attendant noticed that my husband was unable to get the IMMI GO to install properly in our rental vehicle and supplied us with a convertible car seat at no extra charge. The convertible car seat was in excellent and clean condition and I was immensely grateful. Had I been aware of the issue, I would have likely packed the RideSafer Travel Vest, or just brought a booster for my older kid and used the free car seat option on a convertible car seat, which is more cumbersome to travel with.
Snug as a bug in his Vamos car seat.
Getting Gas in Costa Rica:
Our rental car came with a full tank of gas and we only ended up having to fill up once, immediately prior to returning the vehicle. I’m no expert in getting gas in Costa Rica, but our experience was that all of the gas stations are full service – meaning you cannot pump your own gas. While getting gas, we were approached by an individual offering to clean our windshield. I have on idea whether that was a complimentary service, but we declined by waving the individual away. We were able to pay our bill via credit card and I was thankful that we had change from our trip to Rincon, so I could tip the individual who pumped our gas.
Rome is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, and we knew spending five days in Rome was not going to be inexpensive. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how many of the attractions in Rome were free. Additionally, although some attractions had admission fees for adults, most attractions were free in Rome for kids. Here are our favorite 20 free things to do in Rome:
Free Things in Rome – Pantheon Neighborhood
#1: Pantheon With Kids
The Pantheon was originally completed in 27 B.C. as a Roman temple dedicated to all (pan) of the gods (theos). It is now over 2000 years old and the most complete ancient Roman building still standing. The Pantheon’s dome is 142 feet high and wide and was the world’s largest dome until the Renaissance. It remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The concrete walls supporting the dome are a staggering 20 feet thick. Although it is considered the eighth wonder of the ancient world, there is no admission fee to enter.
The Pantheon was converted to a Catholic basilica in the seventh century, and its preservation is likely a result of this conversion. Because the method used to build the dome was not recorded, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo studied the support structure for the Pantheon’s dome, which includes pillars inside the walls, before building the Duomo in Florence and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, respectively.
When we arrived at the Piazza della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon, we spent several minutes standing behind the Fontana del Pantheon, the fountain at the center of the Piazza featuring a 40 foot Egyptian obelisk constructed from a single slab of granite by Ramses II more than 3,000 years ago. Unlike the other obelisks scattered around Rome, this one featured a cross at the top. Moving that obelisk from Egypt to Rome was clearly no simple task. The Pantheon’s entrance consists of eight columns that are each 40 feet high and also constructed from a single piece of granite.
There was a short line for security, but it moved very quickly. We visited on a particularly hot day, but the Pantheon was nice and cool inside. A beam of light shone through the oculus and illuminated the interior, which we explored in detail. We learned that 80% of the floor tiles are original and are purposely slanted to let rainwater out through the small holes. We also found Raphael’s tomb below the Altar of Our Lady of the Rock.
Pantheon Facts for Kids: The oculus at the top of the dome is 30 feet in diameter and is the Pantheon’s only light source.
Time Spent Visiting thePantheon With Kids: On our first visit, we spent about 35 minutes in the Piazza della Rotonda and inside the Pantheon. We walked through the Piazza della Rotonda several times later in our trip but only visited the Pantheon’s interior once.
#2: Santa Maria sopra Minerva Basilica With Kids
The Santa Maria sopra Minerva Basilica is Rome’s only remaining Gothic church. It is located in the Piazza della Minerva, which is adjacent to the Pantheon. The ceiling of the Gothic interior was painted a brilliant blue in the 19th century and provided an unexpected contrast to all the other Gothic churches we’ve visited in Western Europe. Michelangelo’s Christ Bearing the Cross statue and the tomb of Saint Catherine of Seina, my patron saint, are located in the Basilica’s interior.
Piazza della Minerva, which is a small square right outside the Basilica, features the Elephant and Obelisk. The obelisk was brought to Rome by Diocletian for the Temple of Isis in the 3rd or 4th century. It is Rome’s smallest obelisk, standing at a height of only about 5.5 meters. The base was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century.
Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva Basilica Facts for Kids: The Basilica was built on the former site of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess, Isis, which was mistakenly attributed to the Greco-Roman goddess, Minerva.
Time Spent Visiting Church of Santa Maria sopra and Minerva Piazza della Minerva: About 20-30 minutes
#3: Church of Sant’Ignazio With Kids
The Church of Sant’Ignazio is a Catholic church constructed in a classic Baroque style. The most memorable feature of the Church of Sant’Ignazio was the false dome roof. Plans for this church, which was completed in the 17th century, included a domed roof, but there were not enough funds to support the construction of a dome. So, Jesuit artist Andrea Pozzo was hired to paint the roof to make it appear to be a dome. The optical illusion is quite realistic.
Church of Sant’IgnazioFacts for Kids: The original dome painting was destroyed in 1871 and was replaced with the current replica.
Time Spent Visiting the Church of Sant’Ignazio With Kids: About 20 minutes
#4: Trevi Fountain With Kids
The Trevi Fountain is a mammoth Baroque fountain that features statues designed by Nicola Salvi. The fountain, which was constructed between 1732 and 1762 is 85 feet long and 65 feet high and is one of the world’s largest fountains. Its construction celebrated the reopening of ancient aqueducts. Trevi Fountain means “three street fountain” because of the three roads that converge at the Fountain.
Our Airbnb was located only a short walk from the Trevi Fountain, and we were able to pass by many times during our five days in Rome. We were always amazed at the sheer number of people all trying to capture the perfect shot of the Fountain. We could tell we were getting close by the dull roar of the crowd and water streaming from the 24 spouts.
The enormous fountain features 24 spouts, and the sound of the water cannot be mistaken. While there is no fee to view the Trevi Fountain, romantic visitors love to throw coins over their shoulder into this fountain, hoping the gesture will secure a return trip to Rome. Coins valuing approximately €3,500 are collected daily from the Fountain and donated to local Catholic charity, Caritas Rome. The current Mayor of Rome recently withdrew a proposal to redirect the money collected from the Trevi Fountain for the city’s infrastructure.
Trevi Fountain Facts for Kids: The central statue of the Trevi Fountain is Oceanus, who is commonly misidentified as Neptune.
Time Spent Visiting the Trevi Fountain With Kids: We passed by the Trevi Fountain at least a half-dozen times while in Rome. The first time, we spent about 10 minutes in the crowds. The other times, we generally stopped only for a moment or two.
#5: Spanish Steps With Kids
The Spanish Steps are a wide, curving, Baroque staircase, consisting of 138 steps in three tiers, that lead from the Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church. These stairs were built between 1723 and 1725. Another obelisk is framed between two Baroque church towers.
At the bottom of the Stairs is the Sinking Boat Fountain, which is an aqueduct-powered fountain that was designed by either Gian Lorenzo Bernini or his father, Peitro, in 16th century. The fountain is powered by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, and doesn’t shoot up into the air because the water pressure is low here.
We passed by the Spanish Steps several times during our time in Rome. The amazing panoramic view from the top includes the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and is brilliant at sunset. It is also a particularly lively place at night, even in the rain.
For tourists looking for designer boutiques, the area surrounding Piazza di Spagna provides prime shopping opportunities.
Spanish Steps Facts for Kids: English Poet John Keats lived and died in the house to the right of the Steps. His home is now the Keats–Shelley Memorial House museum.
Time Spent Visiting the Spanish Steps With Kids: Our visits to the Spanish Steps varied from a few minutes to an hour.
#6: Piazza Navona With Kids
Piazza Navona has served as a center of Roman life since the ancient times. Piazza Navona was the location of Circus Agonalis, a sports venue built by Emperor Domitian that could hold 30,000 spectators about 2,000 years ago. Circus Agonalis opened about the same time as the Colosseum when Rome was at its peak. No trace of the stadium structure still exists, but the oblong shape of the square is the footprint of the arena’s competition space.
Piazza Navona features three Baroque fountains. Fountains depicting a Moor wrestling a dolphin and Neptune slaying an octopus are located at either end of the Piazza. In the center is Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain, which features an Egyptian-style obelisk that was actually made in Rome. The four statues that make up this 17th century fountain represent the four quarters of the world.
Outdoor cafes line the Piazza, and we enjoyed lunch across from the Four Rivers Fountain and then made sure to pick up some gelato before continuing on our way.
Piazza Navona Facts for Kids: Piazza Navona is featured in Angels & Demons, Catch-22, Coins in the Fountain and National Lampoon’s European Vacation.
Time Spent Visiting the Piazza Navona With Kids: About 90 minutes, including lunch.
Free Things To Do in Vatican City
#7: Saint Peter’s Basilica With Kids
St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church and the site of St. Peter’s tomb, is free to enter. While most visitors arrive from the secret Sistine Chapel entrance, it is also possible to enter directly from St. Peter’s Square. However, the security line is often lengthy. Construction of St. Peter’s Basilica took about 120 years, 20 popes and 10 architects to complete and then it took another 200 years before the decoration of the interior was finished.
We were overwhelmed by the immense size of St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo’s sculpture, Pieta, which is displayed at St. Peter’s, is a representation of Mary holding Jesus’ body that shows his skills as a master sculptor. It is unbelievable to me that Michelangelo completed Pieta, his first major commission, at the young age of 24. Michelangelo is not only considered one of the world’s best sculptors and painters 500 years after his death, but he also designed St. Peter’s dome, which rises 448 feet (longer than the length of a football field). Michelangelo was named lead architect in 1546 and studied the domes of the Pantheon and Florence‘s Duomo before designing his plans. The Basilica’s main altar is made of a marble slab and surrounded by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s impressive seven-story bronze canopy and is located below the dome.
St. Peter’s Basilica Facts for Kids: In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine built the original church on the site where St. Peter was martyred, but by the 16th century, the Old St. Peter’s church was falling apart. Construction of St. Peter’s Basilica took about 120 years, 20 popes and 10 architects to complete and then it took another 200 years before the interior decorating was finished.
Time Spent Visiting the St. Peter’s Basilica With Kids: 45-60 minutes (not including security lines)
#8: St. Peter’s Square With Kids
St. Peter’s Square is one of the world’s most famous squares. It was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and includes 284 Doric columns, each 56 feet tall and topped with sculptures of 140 saints. The square is an elliptical shape to symbolize the arms of the Church welcoming all people. In the center stands an Egyptian obelisk, which is over 4,000 years old and 90 feet tall. Emperor Caligula brought the Vatican Obelisk to Rome in the first century. It is made of granite and weighs about 300 tons and is unusual in that it does not have anyhieroglyphs.
St. Peter’s Basilica Facts for Kids: The Vatican Obelisk is the only Roman obelisk that has not toppled since ancient times. It was placed in its current site in 1586. Bernini added the Chigi arms on the top and made it the centerpiece of the Square.
Time Spent Visiting the St. Peter’s Square With Kids: 30-45 Minutes.
Free Activities in Rome – Colosseum Neighborhood
#9: Colosseum With Kids
While there is an admission fee for adults to go inside the Colosseum, there are many amazing free viewpoints to see its famous exterior, and there is no admission charge for kids under 18. I was in awe the moment I emerged from the Colosseo metro stop. Visitors can walk around the periphery of the Colosseum and count the 80 arches without paying a dime.
Colosseum Facts for Kids: The Colosseum was constructed in eight years and had capacity for 50,000 spectators.
Time Spent Visiting the Colosseum With Kids: Our visit lasted about 2-2.5 hours, including our guided tour.
#10: Roman Forum With Kids
Our visit to the Roman Forum let us step back in time and get a glimpse of the cultural, governmental and spiritual center of ancient Rome. Although there is an admission charge for adults to enter the Roman Forum grounds, this ticket is a combination ticket with the Colosseum, and children under 18 are free. Additionally, the views from the periphery are comparable to those within. On our last day, we walked around the Roman Forum and took this picture without entering the grounds.
Even from the ruins, we could see how detailed these ancient structures really were. Our visit to this area provided an amazing hands-on history lesson, and we recommend a stop at the Roman Forum for any family visiting Rome.
Roman Forum for Kids: Arch of Titus, which dates back over 2,000 years and provided inspiration for the much larger Arch de Triomphe.
Time Spent Visiting the Roman Forum With Kids: About 45 minutes inside the Forum, and we walked around the periphery on our last day in Rome.
#11: Palatine Hill With Kids
The Palace of Domitian dominates Palatine Hill (which is also the origin of the word “palace”). There is a fee for adults to enter the grounds of Palatine Hill (combined with the Roman Forum and Colosseum entrance), but children under 18 are free. It is also possible to view the Palatine Hill ruins by walking around the periphery of Palatine Hill and not entering the grounds themselves. While we were able to tour the grounds, we came back to the area on the last day and followed the periphery for a different point of view.
The Palatine Hill buildings are largely in ruins and not as exciting as the Palace of Versailles or Doge’s Palace, both of which we had visited earlier in our trip. But this area is where Romulus and many other wealthy Romans chose to build their estates due to the proximity to the Roman Forum.
Palatine Hill Facts for Kids: Palatine Hill is the center of the Seven Hills of Rome and sits about 130 feet above the Forum.
Time Spent Visiting the Palatine Hill With Kids: About 45 minutes.
#13: Arch of Titus With Kids
The Arch of Titus, which was constructed about 82 AD, appears to be largely intact over 2035 years later; however, parts have been reconstructed. For example, the fluted columns are original, but smooth portions are reconstructions. The 50 foot Arch was originally much more colorful, but the colored marble was unfortunately scavenged over the years.
Arch of Titus Facts for Kids: The Arch of Titus was the inspiration for the much larger Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Time Spent Visiting the Arch of Titus With Kids: Just a few minutes.
#14: Arch of Constantine With Kids
The Arch of Constantine is a triumphal arch located between the Colosseum and Palatine Hill that was completed in 315 to commemorate Constantine I’s victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. The Arch consists of a large central arch and two smaller arches on each side.
Arch of Constantine Facts for Kids: The Arch of Constantine is Rome’s tallest triumphal arch.
Time Spent Visiting the Arch of Constantine With Kids: Just a few minutes.
#15: Victor Emmanuel II Monument With Kids
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument is dedicated to Italy’s first king, Victor Emmanuel II. This mammoth, white marble structure is 200 feet high and 500 feet wide, and dwarfs the Trevi Fountain. The monument is a neoclassical interpretation of the Roman Forum that was constructed between 1895 and 1911. At the center is a 43 foot high statue of the King on his horse. The monument has received criticism for being too ostentatious and pompous, but even for tourists who think it is over the top, the panoramic view it offers is pretty amazing.
Victor Emmanuel Monument Facts for Kids: The Monument holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a casualty of World War II. The tomb is located under the statue of the goddess, Roma.
Time Spent Visiting the Victor Emmanuel Monument With Kids: We stopped twice, with each visit lasting only a few minutes.
#16: Mouth of Truth With Kids (“Bocca Della Verita”)
The Mouth of Truth is a large marble mask that has hung in the Atrium of Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin since 1632. According to its legend, the mask is the ultimate lie detector. The mask has a small mouth opening that is supposed to bite the hand of anyone who is not truthful. Tourists line up to get their turn sticking their hands into the mouth. Luckily, tourists are a truthful lot, and we didn’t witness any hand injuries during our half hour wait for our turn.
Mouth of Truth Facts: The Mouth of Truth received world-wide attention after it was featured in Audrey Hepburn’s 1953 Roman Holiday.
Time Spent at the Mouth of Truth: We waited for about 30 minutes for our 30 seconds with the mask.
Things to Do in Rome for Free – Via Veneto Neighborhood
#17: Villa BorgheseGardens With Kids
The Villa Borghese Gardens are Rome’s “Central Park” designed in the English landscape style. We picked up sandwiches for a picnic lunch at Borghese Gardens on our last afternoon in Rome. It was a bit of a hike to reach the Gardens from our Airbnb near the Barberini Metro. We entered through the old Roman wall at the Via Veneto entrance but later saw that there was a second entrance at the top of the Spanish Steps that may have been more convenient.
It was the end of our second week of travel, and we thought a bit of relaxation in a park was exactly what we needed. We were relieved to find park benches in the shade lined up along one of the roads that ran through the Gardens. We sat down and were thoroughly entertained by all the visitors who rented bikes, multi-rider pedaled rickshaws single or motorized scooters to explore the Gardens. After we had our fill of lunch and people watching, the kids stretched their legs running around in circles for a bit before we headed out.
Borghese Gardens Facts for Kids: Villa Borghese Gardens were commissioned in 1605 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese on the site of a former vineyard. Borghese was the nephew of Pope Paul V and wanted to create the largest gardens since Roman antiquity.
Time Spent Visiting the BorgheseGardens With Kids: About 1.5-2 hours.
Free Things to See in Rome – Generally
#18: Obelisks in Rome
The fact that Rome has more obelisks than any other city in the world was not something I expected. Obelisks were popular among the Roman Emperors because Egyptians treated their rulers as divine. There are eight ancient Egyptian obelisks and five ancient Roman obelisks, and we saw most of them. Romans constructed enormous ships in order to transport the obelisks from Alexandria in Egypt across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome.
The Elephant and Obelisk
Roman Obelisks for Kids: Most ancient Egyptian obelisks have hieroglyphs while the Roman obelisks do not.
Time Spent Visiting the Roman Obelisks With Kids: A few minutes at each one.
#19: Drinking Fountains in Rome
There are over 2,500 free, public drinking fountains available all around Rome. The water is very safe to drink and ice cold, which we really appreciated during the hot July days of our visit. The pipe system used to transport the water from the mountains above Rome to the fountains are the original aqueducts constructed centuries ago. We carried our own water bottles to refill throughout the day and also used the water in the fountains to cool off on particularly hot days.
Roman Water Fountain Facts for Kids: The letters SQPR, which commonly appear on water fountains and in stone and marble throughout the city stand for “Senatus Populus Que Romanus” which roughly represents the ancient Roman government.
Time Spent Visiting the Roman Water Fountains With Kids: We visited public water fountains many times each day and rarely had to wait for more than 1-2 minutes for our turn.
#20: Metro With Kids (free for kids under 10)
Kids under 10 ride the Metro in Rome for free when traveling with an adult. This made Metro rides extremely affordable for our family. Although we found Rome very walkable, the Metro was convenient when we needed to travel farther distances quickly.
Rome Metro Facts for Kids: Rome Metro’s driverless Line C is currently under construction to connect the city’s eastern quadrant with its northwest quadrant, and the construction zone was particularly noticeable near the Colosseum.
Time Spent Riding the Rome Metro: During our five days in Rome, we took six rides on the Metro. Each ride was approximately 10-15 minutes.
Free Things for Kids to Do in Rome
We were surprised that there were so many free things to do in Rome. Planning a family trip to Italy, be sure to check out our other blog posts about Florence, San Gimignano and Venice and our listing of all destinations in Italy.
As described, it was a two bedroom, ocean view room. While surprisingly small (even my 9 year old commented on the small size and he’s not one to notice these things), it was newly renovated and as described. The view of the pool from directly from our balcony, however, left much to be desired.
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.
