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  • Best Free London Museums For Kids

    Best Free London Museums For Kids

    London may not be known as a budget city for travelers but offers seemingly infinite free attractions.  In addition to iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace, there are many free museums, including four that are among the world’s top ten most visited museums each year.  Exhibits in these museums include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon frieze, Apollo 10, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Darwin’s specimens, the world’s largest portrait collection and the remains of the London Wall from about 200 A.D. With so much variety, there really are free museums in London for everyone.  Our family barely scratched the surface of London’s museums during our three trips there with kids but have been lucky to visit a few of London’s amazing museums as a family without paying any admissions fees.  To round out our list, we asked some fellow travel bloggers for recommendations for the best free London museums for kids:

    Free Museums in South Kensington

    #1:  London’s Natural History Museum 

    My kids really enjoy natural history and have visited natural history museums in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.  London’s Natural History Museum definitely did not disappoint.  The cathedral-like building in South Kensington is stunning, and we were greeted by Dippy, a diplodocus skeleton featured in Hitze Hall, the main hall of the museum.  This dinosaur reminded us of Sue, the T-Rex featured in the Field Museum’s main hall.  We were excited to learn that the cast of Dippy was a gift from Andrew Carnegie at the request of Edward VII.  Since our visit to London, we’ve seen the original skeleton on display at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

    Replacing iconic main hall dinosaurs seems to be a recent trend in natural history museums.  Just as Sue was replaced at the Field Museum with a cast of Maximo, a titanosaur, and the world’s largest dinosaur skeleton in 2018, Dippy was replaced with Hope, a blue whale’s skeleton in 2017.   While Dippy was quite a centerpiece, one of the biggest takeaways from our trip to London’s Natural History Museum was that the blue whale is the world’s largest animal.  So, my boys would probably approve of the change.  Admittedly, it must be easier to photograph Hope, who is suspended from the ceiling, without getting scores of other visitors in the shot as we found when trying to photograph Dilly.  We can’t wait to see Hope, whose installation is shown on this time-lapse video.

    The Dinosaur Gallery one-ups the other dinosaur exhibits we have visited by adding animatronics.  The enormous animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex is the highlight of the exhibit.  Visitors stand in a line (which is known as a queue in London) that eventually inches past the T-Rex.

    The Natural History Museum was originally designed to house the British Museum’s natural history collection, particularly Charles Darwin’s samples, so there are plenty of animal specimens.  My younger son got up close and personal with the lion exhibit.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend London’s Natural History Museum for kids of all ages.

    • London’s Natural History Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Natural History Museum, but some temporary exhibits do require an admission fee.
    • London’s Natural History Museum Hours:  London’s Natural History Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Natural History Museum:  South Kensington

     

    #2:  London’s Science Museum

    Kids who have a passing interest in space travel, experiments, technology or transport would love London’s Science Museum. It’s the best London museum for kids, and visitors can explore free exhibits including some of the most iconic objects created over the past 250 years – from Apollo 10 to the first Apple computer as well as the first submarine.   While the Museum is free, visitors can also purchase tickets for the WonderLab to take part in live experiments at the Chemistry Bar or watch 3D IMAX movie features on space travel and natural phenomena. The Science Museum is a great place to visit on a cold and rainy day thanks to the play area for smaller kids on the lower level. 

    • London’s Science Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit London’s Science Museum, but donations are welcome, and tickets are required for special exhibits and the IMAX cinema.
    • London’s Science Museum Hours:  The Science Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to London’s Science Museum:  South Kensington

    Recommended by Katy Clarke from Untold Morsels.  Find out more from Katy about 3 days in London.

     

    #3:  Victoria and Albert Museum

    The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of South Kensington’s Big Three free museums, is purely dedicated to art and design. It’s not as immediately child-friendly as its neighbors, the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.  There are no dinosaurs or flight simulators here, but it does have daily free activities and events for children.  Kids age 5 to 12 can borrow a backpack of activities to help them explore the Museum’s while paper trails and hands-on discovery areas help to bring the exhibits to life. Pop-up performances and making sessions appear on weekends and school holidays, too.  But another important feature is the John Madejski Garden, an outdoor courtyard in the heart of the Museum. On sunny days, families gather around the pond to eat packed lunches and relax or purchase ice-cream and refreshments in the Garden Café.  If it’s a less sunny day, the V&A’s main café is a historic work of art in its own right!

    Photo Credit Mummy Travels

    • Victoria and Albert Museum Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum, but there is a separate admission charge for some exhibitions and events, which may require advance booking.
    • Victoria and Albert Museum Hours:  The Victoria & Albert Museum is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The Victoria & Albert is closed December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Victoria and Albert Museum:  South Kensington
    Recommended by Nancy from Map and Family.  Find out more from Nancy about the things to do with teens in London.

     

    Free Museums in Trafalgar Square

    #4:  London’s National Gallery

    London’s National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses a relatively small collection of about 2,300 paintings, almost all are world-famous and on permanent display.  The National Gallery is the fourth most visited art museum in the world with over six million visitors annually.  The Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum are the only more popular art museums.

    The Gallery’s entrances are located off of Trafalgar Square.  We used the side entrance, which is more stroller friendly than the beautiful main entrance.  Our focus was the Impressionist Gallery that holds some of the world’s most famous paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir and Vincent Van Gogh.  Monet’s paintings on exhibit here include Gare St. Lazare and The Water-Lily Pond.  Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is one of the most recognizable paintings on exhibit.  Van Gogh only created about 800 oil paintings in his life, including several variations of these sunflowers.  Similar versions are displayed in the Van Gogh Museum and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art, which purchased Still Life: Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers for about $40 million in 1987, which was a record at the time.  When considering those amounts, it’s hard to believe that Van Gogh relied on his brother for financial support during his lifetime.

    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh's Sunflowers
    Our budding artist was very interested in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

    Our boys were particularly fascinated by Georges Seurat’s massive Bathers at Asnières.  Seurat masterfully uses pointillism, a painting technique that uses small, distinct dots of varying colors to form an image.  It’s much harder to see how the patterns of dots form an image when observing the painting up close, and the boys learned to step back to see the image more clearly.  While we were not able to explore the entire National Gallery, this is definitely a museum that we could visit again and again.

    • London’s National Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to visit the National Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Gallery Hours:  London’s National Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    #5:  London’s National Portrait Gallery

    When London’s National Portrait Gallery opened in 1856, it was the world’s first portrait gallery.  The National Portrait Gallery now contains the world’s most extensive portrait collection with approximately 200,000 works.  The collection most notably includes portraits of important, famous and royal Brits, including members of the royal family, celebrities, politicians, artists and writers.  Visitors have the chance to view history through portraits, photographs and sculptures arranged chronologically from 1500s to modern-day.

    King Henry VIII is one of the most infamous Brits and is featured in the center of the bottom row below.  After their visit to the Tower of London, our boys were particularly excited to check out this royal portrait wall.

    We loved learning about history and art at London’s National Portrait Gallery and recommend it for all family travelers.

    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission fee to visit London’s National Portrait Gallery, but some temporary exhibits do require an admissions fee.
    • London’s National Portrait Gallery Hours:  London’s National Portrait Gallery is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.  The National Gallery is closed on December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stops to London’s National Portrait Gallery:  Charing Cross and Leicester Square

     

    Free Museums in Bloomsbury

    #6:  British Museum

    The British Museum allows visitors to journey through time and around the world, without leaving London. While most people visit for the Ancient Egyptian exhibit and to see the Rosetta stone, there’s much more. Visitors can use the regular audio-guide for a more formal experience or the interactive family guide to play games throughout the Museum. With either guide, everyone will love learning about the burial rituals of Egypt, seeing hundreds of natural history specimens in the library and looking up at the Maori from the mysterious Easter Island. This is a museum where visitors could spend days properly discovering it all or skim the surface in only a few hours.

    Parthenon frieze

    Image by Tasos Lekkas from Pixabay.

    • British Museum Admission:  There is no admission charge for the British Museum.
    • British Museum Hours:  The British Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  The British Museum is closed on January 1 and December 24-26.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the British Museum:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Kyla from Where Is The World.

     

    #7:  Museum of London

    The Museum of London is a fascinating and beautifully presented introduction to the city itself.  It is located north of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and its permanent galleries describe a timeline from prehistory to the present day, and special temporary exhibitions take angles – recent and current examples range from the story of London’s secret rivers to the impact that animals from lions to bees have had in the city’s story.  We learned that London was the richest and most populous city in the world one century ago.  

    My kids were of course fascinated by the disgusting “Fatberg!” story of London’s sewer blockage, and my husband loves the Museum mostly because it is in the Barbican, which is either a wonderful icon of architectural history or the most repugnant set of concrete tower-blocks on the planet, depending on the viewer.  

    • Museum of London Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Museum of London.
    • Museum of London Hours:  The Museum of London is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stations to the Museum of London:  Barbican and St. Paul’s

    Recommended by Ania from The Travelling Twins.

    Free Museums in the South Bank

     

    #8:  Tate Modern

    The Tate Modern is the sixth most visited art museum in the world and houses modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries in a former power station.  Unlike most art museums, which are presented chronologically, the Tate Modern is organized by themes.  We last visited in 2015, and a 10-story addition opened two years later in 2017.

    Displays change frequently, and many exhibits come from the Tate Collection, which includes the United Kingdom’s national collection of British Art.  The expansive Turbine Hall can showcase large-scale work.  London’s Tate Modern is an extremely kid-friendly art museum.  The website has a special page dedicated to visiting families that explicitly states that women are welcome to nurse wherever they feel comfortable – which is exactly what I did while the boys explored the interactive building area.

    Amazing interactive building exhibit

    The view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Thames and the Millennium Bridge from the balcony should not be missed.  The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that was completed in 2000 to connect the Tate Modern to St. Paul’s Cathedral, but an unexpected sway required it to close almost as soon as it was opened and undergo almost two more years of additional modifications.

    • Tate Modern Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Tate Modern Hours:  The Tate Modern is generally open Sundays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Tate Modern: Southwark and St Paul’s
    Free Museum in Forest City
    #9:  Horniman Museum and Gardens

    Opened in 1901, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Southeast London is a brilliant free and child-friendly museum. The Horniman houses artifacts procured by Frederick John Horniman on his world travels in the 19th century. Aside from the aquarium and special exhibitions, all galleries and parks are free to enter.

    Toddlers will love the music room where they can beat African drums and experiment with unusual Asian instruments. The main gallery contains hundreds of taxidermy animals from across the world. Children especially adore the famous gigantic stuffed walrus. It’s an amazing place to learn about other cultures and to inspire a love of nature.

    Every day, free workshops for children are offered to those who register at the front desk. The attached Horniman Gardens are beautiful with views over London, farm animals, a music laboratory for children and a stunning conservatory. In the summer, it’s easy to spend a whole day in the museum and gardens.

    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Admission:  There is no admission charge for the Horniman Museum and Gardens.
    • Horniman Museum and Gardens Hours:  The Horniman Museum is generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed December 24-26.  The Horniman Garden closing times vary by season.

    Recommended by Kirsty from World for a Girl.

     

    Free Museums in Chelsea

    #10:  Saatchi Gallery

    My favorite place to visit whenever we’re in London is the Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road. This area is great with its many restaurants and upscale shopping, and it’s the perfect place to house a contemporary art gallery.  I find that modern art is easier to keep the kids’ attention than the more traditional galleries, it’s bigger, brighter and sometimes they can touch it! My daughter loves visiting the Saatchi as much as I do to see its ever-changing exhibits.

     The Saatchi sometimes holds child friendly workshops and talks, their ethos is to make modern art accessible to all so children are very welcome.  Previous exhibits have included Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, and the Saatchi in constantly showcasing, new, little known artists. Just think, it’s possible to introduce kids to the next big thing in the art world! Some exhibits are not so child friendly so I would check the website before visiting and avoid these areas.   Most exhibits are not roped off so keep an eye on young children to ensure they’re not touching the artwork although some pieces are interactive such as the multimedia installations.

    Because the rooms are spacious and clean, it’s easy to get around the Saatchi with a stroller. There’s also a lovely open space at the front of the Gallery for the kids to burn off some energy either before or after a visit.

    • Saatchi Gallery Admission:  There is no general admission to the Tate Modern, but donations are welcome.
    • Saatchi Gallery Hours:  Generally open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Closest Underground Stop to the Saatchi Gallery: Sloan Square

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids.

     

    So Many Amazing Free London Museums for Kids

    When considering a family trip to London, remember that many of the most popular attractions are free to visit, including London’s museums of art, science and history.  This London museums list can create the perfect family itinerary for London.  Also check out our posts on Planning a Trip to London With Kids, the Best Places to Visit in England With Kids, Top Attractions in London for Families, Best London Parks With Kids and the Tower of London with Kids.

  • Best Things to Do Florence With Kids

    Best Things to Do Florence With Kids

    Looking for a destination in the heart of Tuscany?  We recommend a weekend trip to Florence.  This capital of Tuscany and birthplace of the Renaissance was my introduction to Italy as a college backpacker years ago, and I was so excited take my kids (ages 3, 8 and 10) on a holiday in Florence this past summer during a 10-day family tour of Italy.  We visited during a particular hot weekend halfway through our European summer vacation after visiting Paris, Venice, Pisa and San Gimignano.  While there are so many things to do in Florence, we uncharacteristically chose not to tour any museums, royal residences or historical buildings.  Instead, we spent our weekend in Florence roaming around and enjoying the unique architecture and atmosphere.  While tours of the Uffizi, Accademia Gallery and Pitti Palace are almost certain to be on our itinerary the next time we visit, there was no shortage of sights to see in this very walkable city.  Our list of the best things to do in Florence with kids includes iconic sights and hidden gems.

     

    Top 10 Sights in Florence For Kids

      

    #1:  Duomo With Kids (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)

    Florence’s Duomo, located in the center of the city, is the world’s third largest church, dwarfed only by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.   Its neo-Gothic facade, which is decorated with pink, green and white Tuscan marble, was added in the 19th century and is brilliantly ornate.  It may be my favorite church exterior in the entire world, and I could spend hours examining its details.

    The Duomo’s dome was an impressive architectural feat.  Plans included a dome, even though the architects were not sure how to construct it.  The only dome on this scale was in Rome’s Pantheon, which was over 1,000 years old, and the building method had been long since forgotten.  Filippo Brunellschi studied the Pantheon to design the Duomo’s dome.  His plans involved the construction of both an inner dome and an outer dome.

    The Duomo’s dome

    While we did not make it inside on our last visit due to the long line, we planned to attend Sunday morning Mass at the Duomo during this visit.  Like many other cathedrals, the Duomo is foremost a religious building that just happens to also be a popular tourist attraction.  There were no admission fees or lines to attend Mass.  The Mass times posted online were not exactly accurate, so instead of arriving 15 minutes early for Mass, we ended up 15 minutes late but still welcome.  At the end of Mass, which was completely in Italian, the priest welcomed English-speaking visitors and briefly summarized the readings and his homily.  Attending Mass while traveling is a tradition for our family, and we’ve heard Masses in several foreign languages, and we all really appreciated and enjoyed this English greeting.

    The Duomo’s interior

    The interior of the Duomo is not as impressive as its exterior.  Large portions of the walls are painted white, and the stained glass windows are significantly smaller than those of other major cathedrals in Europe. Brunellschi’s 330-foot red brick dome was certainly an architectural masterpiece, but its mosaics are not as ornate as those that adorn the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica.  It’s still impressive and beautiful, just a bit underwhelming, especially when compared with interiors of other major European cathedrals.

    The interior of the dome
    • Duomo Facts for Kids:  The Duomo’s iconic dome was the first Renaissance dome and served as a model for many other domes, including St. Peter’s Basilica.

     

    #2:  Piazza del Duomo With Kids

    Piazza del Duomo is always crowded with the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals.  Because the square is relatively small, it’s hard to get a good view of the entire Duomo and the surrounding buildings, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower from street level.

    The octagonal Florence Baptistery was constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries in Florence Romanesque style.  It is known for its three stunning 14th and 15th century doors.  Michelangelo nicknamed Lorenzo Ghiberti’s east doors the “Gates of Paradise.”  The Baptistery is a truly beautiful building, but it’s size seems to be disproportionate with the Duomo.  Their proximity really makes it hard to really appreciate each building for its own beauty, and we all wished they could be more spread out like Pisa’s Field of Miracles, which showcases its cathedral, baptistery and tower with an enormous square and pristine grass.

    The Giotto’s Bell Tower is another popular sight, and visitors can climb 414 to the top and get a close-up view of Brunelleschi’s dome.  We did not visit the interiors of either on this trip.

    • Piazza del Duomo Facts for Kids:  Lorenzo Ghiberti won a competition to design the Baptistery’s north doors, beating Donotello and  Brunelleschi.  The north doors took him 21 years to complete but were so impressive that he was asked to design the east doors, which face the Duomo.

     

    #3:  Ponte Vecchio With Kids

    Ponte Vecchio (or “Old Bridge”), Florence’s oldest and most famous bridge, is enclosed and lined with shops.  A bridge has been located on this site since 966, and the current stone, pedestrian bridge was completed in 1345.

    Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge across the Arno River to survive German’s World War II retreat on August 8, 1944.  There are many theories on why it wasn’t destroyed by the Nazis who blew up ancient buildings on either end to block it off.  Nazi officials may have saved it due to its age and beauty, or possibly it was saved because it was not considered a defensive asset.  Now, it is a popular tourist sight, with shops lining both sides.  Personally, I think that the view from Ponte Vecchio may be as beautiful of the bridge itself.

    • Ponte Vecchio Facts for Kids:   While butcher shops were originally located in Ponte Vecchio, Ferdinand I evicted them in the 16th century because he didn’t like the stench that emanated into Pitti Palace from their shops.  It is now a popular place to purchase jewelry.

     

    #4:  David Replica With Kids

    Michelangelo’s David replica statue may be one of the world’s most famous copies.  This marble statue depicts the Biblical hero who is known for defeating Goliath.  David is an iconic Renaissance sculpture, originally designed as a symbol of Florentine freedom to be placed on the Duomo’s roof line but ultimately placed at the entrance of the Town Hall upon completion.  After 350 years being exposed to the elements, David was moved to the Accademia Gallery in 1873 to protect it from damage.  A copy was placed in Piazza della Signoria in 1910.

    Michelangelo was raised in Florence, and his works were a highlight of our visits in Florence and Rome.  Michelangelo sculpted David in his late 20s as a symbol of Florentine freedom right before he was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  David and Pieta, which we saw at St. Peter’s Basilica a few days later, are probably Michelangelo’s two most well-known statues.

    • David Replica Facts:  David was originally intended to be installed in the Duomo’s roofline.  On November 12, 2010, a fiberglass replica was installed at the Duomo for one day.

     

    #5:  Piazza della Signoria With Kids

    Piazza della Signoria is the city’s main square, where its town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, the David replica and Fountain of Neptune are located.  The Fountain of Neptune was closed for restorations after vandalism during our 2007 visit and again under renovation during this visit but is scheduled to be reopened by the end of 2018.

    Palazzo Vecchio was constructed at the turn of the 14th century.  Duke Cosimo I and the Medici family made it their home in the 16th century.  I love that the Tower is unexpectedly slightly off-center.

    This castle-like fortress now serves as Florence’s Town Hall.  There was no charge (or line) to enter the ground-floor courtyard, so we took a quick peek inside.

    The Loggia dei Lanzi is a building on the corner of the Piazza del Signoria with wide arches open to the square at street level.

    • Piazza della Signoria Facts:  The Tower is not symmetrical with the rest of the Palazzo Vecchio because the ancient tower of The Vacca was incorporated into the palace’s design.

     

    #6:  Santa Croce Church With Kids

    The Basilica of Santa Croce is the world’s largest Franciscan church and located in the Piazza Santa Croce, only 800 meters from the Duomo.  Santa Croce was designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio, who went on to design the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio.  Santa Croce was built between 1294 and 1442, and is the burial place for Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Ghiberti and Rossini.  Like the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce features a 19th century neo-Gothic marble facade.  The Star of David is a focal point of the facade.  Santa Croce was featured in E.M. Forester’s A Room With a View and was the main impetus for my college visit to Florence because the book was one of my companion’s favorites.

    We did not tour the interior of Santa Croce because we really only had one full day to explore Florence, it was really hot, and we were a bit worried about church fatigue before heading to Rome.  We enjoyed the view of Santa Croce from Piazza Santa Croce, which is much larger than that square surrounding the Duomo.

    • Santa Croce Church Facts for Kids:  Piazza Santa Croce is a major gathering spot in Florence and was covered with 15 feet of water on November 4, 1966 when the Arno River flooded.

     

    #7:  Church of Santa Maria Novella With Kids

    The Church of Santa Maria Novella was built for the Dominican order in the late 13th and 14th centuries.  Its green and white marble facade is original 15th century artistry.  Santa Maria Novella remains the home of the Dominican order and the centerpiece of the adjacent square.  We did not visit the interior, which houses the Trinita, the first painting that featured linear mathematical perspective.

    • Church of Santa Maria Novella Facts for Kids:  Santa Maria Novella is adjacent to Florence’s train station, which is named after the church, and sometimes shortened to Florence SMN.

     

    #8:  Fort Belvedere With Kids

    Fort Belvedere is the largest fortress in Florence.  It is located across the Arno River from the central part of the city and on the highest hill of the Boboli Gardens.  I clearly remember the amazing panoramic view from my college visit and return 10-years later while visiting Florence with friends.

    Our pre-kids visit to Fort Belvedere

    Fort Belvedere is my favorite place to view Florence’s city center, and especially the Duomo, which rises far above the rest of the skyline.

    • Fort Belvedere Facts for Kids:  Fort Belvedere gained world-wide notoriety after Kim Kardashian and Kanye West rented it for their 2014 wedding for the reported sum of $400,000.

     

    #9:  Boboli Gardens With Kids

    Boboli Gardens are the gardens of the Pitti Palace.  They were constructed in the 16th century for Duchess Elenora of Toledo, who married Cosimo I of the Medici family.  Because we visited Florence on an extremely hot weekend, we came to the Boboli Gardens in search of a park bench in the shade with a view.  Adult tickets cost €10 each, and the kids were free.  We were sadly disappointed to find very few benches, and none in the shade.  We had to settle for taking a seat on a step of a staircase that had a magnificent view, but little shade and few benches.

    View of Pitti Palace and Fountain of Neptune

    Fort Belvedere is a steep hike from the Boboli Gardens.  We just couldn’t manage more walking on the hot day we visited, so we settled for the view from the entrance to the Boboli Gardens, which isn’t quite as detailed, but still shows the Duomo’s impressive scale over the Florence skyline.

    View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens
    • Boboli Gardens Facts for Kids:  At the time that Elenora married Cosimo I, the Medici family was in danger of becoming extinct.  Elenora had eleven children to protect the family’s future.  Clearly, she needed an amazing garden to relax.

     

    #10:  Piazza della Repubblica With Kids

    Piazza della Repubblica is located on the site the original Roman Forum.  The triumphal arch was constructed in the nineteenth century to celebrate Italy’s unification.

    The 20-horse antique carousel of the Picci family is now a centerpiece to this public space.

    • Piazza della Repubblica Facts:  The English translation of the arch’s inscription is “The ancient centre of the city restored from age-old squalor to new life.”

     

    A Trip With Kids to Florence, Italy

    There are so many fun things to do in Florence with kids, and this list just scratch the surface.  There were so top attractions in Florence that we definitely recommend a short trip.  Planning an Italian holiday?  Check out our listing of all posts featuring Italian destinations.  

  • Visiting the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    Visiting the Palace of Versailles With Kids

    Thank you to the Palace of Versailles for providing complimentary tickets for my family.  As always, all opinions are my own. 

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

    A Tour of Versailles With Kids

    The Palace of Versailles and its Louises

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

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

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

     

    Getting to the Palace of Versailles With Kids

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

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

    Pedestrian walkway to the Palace of Versailles

     

    A Family Visit to the Palace of Versailles 

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

    The Royal Gate

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

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

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

    Hall of Mirrors

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

    The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles With Kids

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

    A room with a view

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

    Taking time to smell the flowers

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

    Latona Fountain, Royal Drive and Grand Canal

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

    Exploring the Garden pathways

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

    Fountain show

    The Trianon Palaces and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette are at the far end of the Gardens, but we were too exhausted to make the hike. So, we saved those for next time….

    • Pro-tips for the Palace of Versailles: The Gardens are massive, and the pathways are made of small stones.  Sandals are doable, but with the dust, I would have preferred sneakers.  Entry to the Gardens is free except when the Musical Fountain Shows or the Musical Gardens occur.

    We definitely recommend a tour of the Palace of Versailles for kids.  Visiting Versailles and its unparalleled Palace and Gardens was a truly enchanting, bucket-list adventure.  It may have been a particularly tiring day, but one we will never forget.

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

  • Old Town Alexandria With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Old Town Alexandria With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Old Town Alexandria is a historic neighborhood located just a few miles south of Washington, DC. Having called Old Town Alexandria home for six years, I can say, without a doubt, that it is not only an amazing place to live, but also a fabulous place to visit. Over the years, I have encouraged many friends/family visiting from out of town to spend a few hours exploring Old Town with kids! Not only is it an incredibly family friendly place, but it is literally dripping in history and architectural design AND also incredibly dog friendly. Old Town is home to the only coffee shop I’ve ever heard of that freely allows dogs into its establishment. So, even on a crummy day, Old Town is a great place to bring your kids and furry pups for some window shopping and good eats.

    How to Get to Old Town Alexandria:

    Getting to Old Town Alexandria is not difficult. It’s a short drive down the GW Parkway from Washington, DC and if you’re flying into Reagan National Airport (DCA) and planning on using public transportation, the King Street Metro station is just two stops south of the DCA stop. Once at or near King Street (the “main drag”), you can easily take the free King Street Trolley, which travels along King Street from the metro station to the waterfront every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. There is absolutely no charge to ride the Trolley, you don’t even need to be in possession of any passes, you can simply keep an eye out for Trolley stops along King Street and hop on and off as you see fit! The Trolley also carries free copies of the Alexandria’s Visitor’s Guide as well as a map of the main business area, so it really is a great starting point for learning your way around Old Town Alexandria.

    The King Street Trolley!

    If you find yourself driving to Old Town, the cheapest parking option is simply to park 2-3 blocks north of King Street. On or in the immediate vicinity of King Street, the parking spots are metered and/or you can look for lots that provide day parking. But, if you’re looking for free parking options, just park a few blocks north of King Street and take the short stroll down. Pro Tip: If you park close to the Potomac, you can simply walk due east until you hit the waterfront and then enjoy the gorgeous scenery on your way down.

    Top Five Things to Do:

    #1: Explore the Waterfront

    Situated on the banks of the Potomac River, Old Town Alexandria is the perfect spot to enjoy the serene waters of the Potomac River. There are so many ways to enjoy the water, including water taxis and boat cruises, but my personal favorite way to experience the waterfront is to visit one of the many waterfront parks located along the Potomac and throughout Old Town.

    View of the Potomac from the north end of Founders Park

    My personal favorite waterfront park is Founders Park, which is located just three blocks north of King Street. Not only does it provide an amazing, shaded opportunity to enjoy the Potomac’s serene waters, but it also has an unleashed dog park for my four legged child AND a beach volleyball court.

    Beach volleyball at Founders Park

    On any nice day, you can find the park filled with local residents simply enjoying the outdoors. And, if you happen to be in town during Alexandria’s annual birthday celebration and firework spectacular, which always happens the weekend after the Fourth of July, it’s a perfect spot to lay down a blanket or towel and enjoy the show.

    There are a number of fenced in walk ways that are perfect for young duck feeders!

    #2: Visit Artists’ Galleries at the Torpedo Factory

    The Torpedo Factory is presently home to the nation’s largest collection of working-artists’ open studios under one roof. On the day after Armistice Day, the official end of WWI, the US Navy began construction on the Torpedo Factory which was truly intended to be responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of torpedoes for the Navy. For five years, the factory was fully operational until work stopped during and the building became a munitions storage area. During WWII, production picked up again, but eventually, the factory’s production came to a grinding halt due to the end of WWII and the United States continued to use the building for storage. For years, the factory held congressional documents, dinosaur bones, art objects, and other records.

    During a tour of the Torpedo Factory, I learned that the building really became something of a liability for the United States government and so it was “sold” to the City of Alexandria for the hefty sum of $1 in 1969. It took a few years for the city to develop a plan, but eventually the Torpedo Factory opened to the public as a working studio for artists.

    The Torpedo Factory is presently home to a large number of open artist studios and, on any given, day, its a great spot to enjoy a reprieve from the elements. Whether it’s summer or winter, the Torpedo Factory’s central location directly at the intersection of King Street and the Potomac River is a great place to seek some shade or air conditioning and to use the facilities. Pro Tip: Free, clean bathrooms available!

    My personal favorite part about the visiting the Torpedo Factory (aside from the free, clean bathrooms and air conditioning) is the local “water musician,” who can be found nearly every weekend playing his tunes just outside of the factory’s main entrance.

    If you happen to visit the Torpedo Factory, be sure to stop by and say hi to my friend Katy who runs EatsPlace Cafe & Market, a great place to grab a sandwich and cold drink (including beer)!

    #3: Experience History

    I cannot begin to do justice to the City of Alexandria’s history without turning this post into a thesis. The short story is that Native American artifacts dating to 13,200 years ago and as late as 1,600 AD have been found in Alexandria. The city has served as a tobacco trading post, one of the ten busiest ports in America, a part of the District of Columbia, the hometown of Robert E. Lee, George Washington, and a Civil War supply center for Union Troops, among others.

    In my opinion, the city has done a wonderful thing of honoring the past by preserving it for the future. There are a number of historical sites and attractions available for visiting and the city runs most of them, with available tours and special exhibits and attractions. While by no means an exhaustive list, some of my favorite sites are:

    Carlyle House Historic Park:

    This 18th century home is located one block north of King Street and is a beautiful example of Georgian residential architecture. John Carlyle was a wealthy merchant and a founder of Alexandria and the home has served as not only a private residence, but as a hospital during the Civil War and is now a museum.

    Lee Fendall House:

    The Lee Fendall House was constructed in 1985 and has housed 37 members of the Lee family, served as a convalescent home for Union soldiers during the Civil War, and has also been the price residence of many wealthy Alexandrians during its 200 year history. The home is located on the National Register of Historical Places and is a wonderful place to visit. Tours run regularly throughout the week and the museum also offers a number of special events. The home also runs an annual “candy free” Easter egg hunt, which we visited one year with our young son. I totally got a kick out of knowing that my four year old was freaking out over the Easter bunny at home that Robert E. Lee likely visited and stayed at while in command of the Confederate Army.

    The Churches:

    This may come as a surprise to many, but Alexandria is home to a surprising number of “first churches.” The historic Christ Church is located in the center of Old Town and George Washington was a founding member and rented a family pew and Robert E. Lee was a later member of the church as well.

    In addition to Christ Church, Alexandria is also home to the Basilica of Saint Mary, the first Catholic parish in Virginia/West Virginia. Legend has it that George Washington made the first contribution for the creation of the parish in the late 1700s. The Basilica is also the first to have been designated as such in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the first in the Diocese of Arlington, and the 84th in the United States.

    Last but not least, Alexandria is home to St. Joseph’s Church, the oldest black Catholic church in Virginia. Located only two blocks from our home, we frequently attended St. Joseph’s and found it to be a vibrant and welcoming parish. My husband attended an African Methodist Episcopal Church throughout college and loved the choir and worship at St. Joseph’s, which definitely had a lot more to it than our typical mass.

    Gadsby’s Tavern:

    Built in 1785, Gadsby’s Tavern was an essential part of the fiber of the City of Alexandria. George Washington visited the Tavern frequently and other prominent guests include Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, and yours truly, of course.

    Although the food is truly nothing to write home about, the experience of dining at Gadsby’s Tavern is a real treat. Workers still dress in period clothing and the food is designed to be “authentic” – including some of Virginia’s famous peanut soup.

    Even if you don’t have time to dine at Gadsby’s, be sure to stop by and visit the recently renovated Icehouse, which can be viewed for free from the outside rain or shine.

    The Farmer’s Market:

    The Old Town Farmers’ Market is the oldest continuously held farmers’ market in the country. Any Saturday morning, rain, sleet, or shine, you can find local farmers and artisans with their booths. Not only is it a great place to purchase fresh produce, but there are a number of local bakeries, eateries, and artisans also out selling their products.

    There are truly few things better in life than eating your way through the Farmer’s Market on a beautiful spring or fall day!

    #4: Walk the King Street Mile

    King Street is a walkable mile of over 160 independent shops and boutiques. As you may have gathered by now, King Street is the heart of Old Town and no visit to Old Town is complete without popping into at least some of the shops that make up the Old Town Boutique District.

    source: Old Town Boutique District

    Some of my favorite stores are:

    The Hour: a shop dedicated entirely to cocktail hour! Although many of the items sold here are way outside of our budget, it’s a great little place to get ideas for hosting your next cocktail hour or dinner party.

    Red Barn Mercantile: my favorite home goods store, hands down. Not only does the shop offer an great collection of candles, pillows, and other assorted home decor, but it’s a fabulous place to get Alexandria inspired items for home or gifting. I’ve purchased many candles, mugs, and other related items to give as housewarming gifts.

    Handmade and DIY Shops: Alexandria happens to be home to a number of do-it-yourself shops. My favorite store in this category is fibre space, which is hands down the best local yarn shop I have ever visited. Owner Danielle has the most amazing vision and all of the employees are not only seasoned knitters and crocheters, but are also fabulous people to boot. If yarn isn’t your cup of tea, you can opt for a sewing lesson, painting lesson, jewelry making and design course, or just a good old fashioned pottery painting session. Be sure to check out the handmade and DIY shop offerings for your next visit to Old Town!

    Pro Tip: I’ve affectionately renamed Old Town “Dog Town USA” and it’s no surprise as Alexandia is incredibly dog friendly. If you’re also traveling with your four legged child, The Alexandria is an ideal place to stay. Not only is it located in the heart of Old Town, but it offers a weekly “Yappy Hour” that we have visited with both our two legged and four legged children. Many of the shops in Old Town are pet friendly, just keep your eyes peeled for this blue sign indicating that even Fido is welcome! The dog friendly aspect of Old Town really makes this an ideal family vacation destination as there’s no need to leave your furry friend behind.

    source

    #5: Eat, Eat, and Eat some more!

    Old Town Alexandria is filled with amazing restaurants and eateries. As a rule, the further from the waterfront you get, the better the quality of the food is. That said, if you’re only in town for a short time, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a meal at Vola’s Dockside Grill or The Chart House. I wouldn’t say that either are particularly kid friendly, though. The Chart House is definitely pricey and Vola’s is hard to manage with young children simply because it is always swamped. If you’re looking for tried and true kid-friendly dining options, our favorites:

    Eamonn’s: Amazing fish and chips. Be sure to add some extra sauces to your order.

    Pizza Paradiso: Great pizza and beer selection. I’ve maneuvered a double stroller through this place, so don’t hesitate to bring your kids!

    Virtue Feed & Grain: One of our favorite places for brunch!

    Hank’s Oyster Bar: We love the seafood, there’s a great kids menu, and my kids love that every meal starts with goldfish crackers and ends with dark chocolate chunks.

    Red Rocks Pizza: If you find yourself further away from the water when it’s chow time, Red Rocks offers great pizza and we even prefer it slightly to Pizza Paradiso.

    Bread & Chocolate: A great place for breakfast or a light lunch.

    La Madeleine: A french bakery & cafe that is also a great option for a causal breakfast or light lunch. Also a great place to pick up pastries to enjoy at home later!

    And, of course, it is nearly impossible to go to Old Town without enjoying some of the amazing desserts the town has to offer. There’s the Ben & Jerry’s just by the water, but also a number of mom & pop ice cream shops. If liquid nitrogen ice cream is your thing, be sure to check out one of the more recent additions to the Old Town dessert scene: Nicecream. There are also quite a few cupcake and chocolatiers littered throughout town, so definitely save room for dessert.

     

    We are so lucky to have called Old Town Alexandria home for six years and we hope you consider popping in for a visit on your next trip to Washington, DC. Be sure to check out our entire category of posts on things to do and places to visit in Washington, DC with kids and make sure to visit Old Town Alexandria with kids!

  • Scottsdale With Kids: Desert and Baseball

    Scottsdale With Kids: Desert and Baseball

    I recently visited Scottsdale, Arizona while attending a conference at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa  located near Scottsdale, is a city in suburban Phoenix.  Scottsdale has been ranked as the best city to retire in America and is also an international art and resort center in the Sonoran Desert with so much to offer visiting families with kids.

    JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort – A Wonderful Scottsdale Family Resort

    The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa opened in November 2002 as Marriott’s 2,500th hotel worldwide and as Arizona’s largest resort with over 950 rooms.  The guest room was well-appointed and very comfortable, and the bathroom featured elegant stone work and a standing shower.

    My favorite feature of my room was the view of the McDowell Mountains from the patio – palm trees and mountains are a pretty amazing way to start the day.

    A room with a view

    The Desert Ridge Resort includes over 3.5 acres of pools, 36 holes of championship golf, eight tennis courts and Revive Spa.  Four of the Resort’s five pools are always heated at 82 degrees.  Even though we enjoyed the heated geothermal pools in Iceland, it felt too chilly during the February cold snap to try out the pools.  The Lazy River would have been an amazing place to spend an afternoon floating in one of the brightly colored inner tubes – if it was only 10 degrees warmer.  I can only imagine how wonderful the aquatic center must be during the super hot summer months.

    Lazy River

    The Resort also offers several great dining options. Stonegrill serves American fare with a Southwestern twist in a casual atmosphere with comfortable seating.  Roy’s Pacific Rim is an Asian-Fusion restaurant with Hawaiian and Asian-inspired cuisine.  During our stay, we watched Olympic coverage at the hotel bar Twenty6.

    Stonegrill

    Roy’s Pacific Rim

    The Resort really capitalizes on the gorgeous surrounding views with lots of windows and comfy chairs in the common areas.  It was not so surprising that neither windows nor comfy chairs were featured in the Resort’s conference center.  With tax and securities on the agenda, it would definitely be nearly impossible to hold the attention of attendees if competing with the beautiful view.

    Great place to sit and rest

    While the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa was a fantastic resort, it would be a shame to travel 2,000 miles and not get the chance to explore beyond the resort.  Luckily, I also had a chance to visit the Phoenix Art Museum on my way from the airport and Old Town Scottsdale before my departing flight.

    There are many more accommodations options for visitors to Scottsdale with kids.  Families who want to stay close to Old Town should check out my cousin’s guest house, Casita Saguaro.  It is a lovely, newly constructed two bedroom private guesthouse available at an amazing nightly rate.

    Old Town Scottsdale With Kids

    After my conference concluded, my cousin picked me up, and we headed to Old Town Scottsdale.  There was a lot of excitement in Old Town because it was the first day of MLB Spring Training, and Scottsdale’s Spring training home team, the San Francisco Giants, were playing the Milwaukee Brewers in the Scottsdale Stadium.  Although baseball was not on our agenda, it was fun to hear the crowds cheering as we made our way to our first stop at The Mission for lunch.

    The Mission features modern delicious Latin cuisine.  The tacos were divine, but the real highlight was the made to order tableside guacamole, which we shared.

    After lunch, we walked around Old Town Scottsdale to explore its floral displays and Native American arts shops.  Of course, I couldn’t resist visiting the Scottsdale Historical Museum, a free museum with seasonal hours (closed June – August when it is really hot).  This charming brick structure was built in 1909 and originally used as the town’s school city hall, courthouse and library.  The Scottsdale Historical Museum offers exhibits related to the historical and cultural heritage of Scottsdale and the Southwest.

    Scottsdale Historical Museum

    My favorite was the One Room Schoolhouse depicting a typical 19th century classroom that appeared to be right out of Little House and the Prairie, and the 1872 rules for teachers w

    One Room Schoolhouse

    I was thrilled to unexpectedly find one of Robert Indiana’s pop art Love sculptures in front of the Scottsdale Civic Center as we walked around Old Town.  Indiana’s Love sculptures are now located all over the world and my favorite example of public art.

    The gardens in Old Town were absolutely beautiful.

    I wished that there was enough time to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.  Frank Lloyd Wright invested his earnings from Fallingwater to purchase property in Scottsdale where he built Talliesin West was his own winter home.  Like Fallingwater, this tour is not intended for children under age six.  If my architecture loving middle child was with me, Talliesin West would have definitely been a can’t miss activity.

    Why We Love Scottsdale With Kids

    Scottsdale’s mild winters makes it an ideal location for a winter trip, especially for baseball fans during Spring Training.  We loved the art and architecture and look forward to a chance to explore Scottsdale with kids more!

    When planning a trip to Scottsdale with kids, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.

  • Pittsburgh With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Pittsburgh With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Thank you to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Duquesne Incline for providing complimentary tickets and a tour for my family.  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 often get the chance to visit. 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 affectively 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.

    Accommodations in Pittsburgh With Kids

    My husband often travels to Pittsburgh for business, so I took a few days off over our kids’ recent Spring Break, and the rest of the family tagged along for a two day trip.  We stayed at the Fairmont Pittsburgh and were very fortunate that our room was available when we checked in at 9 am.  It was great to drop off our bags and freshen up before heading off to explore some museums.  The Fairmont offers well-appointed guest rooms and luxurious and bright bathrooms, complete with a bathtub and separate shower area.  There is no pool, but we have never found a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh that offers a pool.  My kids’ only complaint was that the room didn’t have two bathrooms like our suite at the Treasure Island Beach Resort.  Sorry, kids, a hotel room with two bathrooms is not the norm….

    Our room at the Fairmont

    Our bright and beautiful bathroom

    Our trip happened to coincide with the Pirates‘ Opening Day, and we were lucky to have a view of PNC Park from our window.  Our boys enjoyed checking out the festivities while their sister attempted to nap in the afternoon.  Strangely, we couldn’t find the game on television, but score updates from Siri sufficed, and a single firework signaled the Pirates first home win of the season.

    A room with a view of Opening Day

    Food in Pittsburgh With Kids

    The Fairmont is centrally located downtown, but it was pretty cold during our visit, so we didn’t do as much exploring as we would have liked.  We did met my college roommate and a friend around the corner at NOLA on the Square for happy hour.  NOLA nailed the New Orleans vibe, both in its architecture and the art work displayed on the walls.  Because it was a relatively quiet Monday night, our group of seven was seated in the dining area but permitted to order from the pretty amazing happy hour menu.  With $4 cocktails, $4 appetizers and $1 gumbo ya-ya, we’ll definitely be back the next time we are in town.

    After happy hour, we all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Nicky’s Thai Kitchen.  My husband regularly frequents Nicky’s and knows that their 1-5 rating is spicier than most.  Our family often orders our food in the hot category, but three was plenty spicy for us.  My husband once ordered a four and totally regretted it.

    We really enjoyed our quick trip to Pittsburgh with kids and recommend these five fun family activities to other family travelers:

    #1: Carnegie Science Center With Kids

    It’s no secret that my kids love museums.  Of the dozens of museums my 10 year old has visited, the Carnegie Science Center is his favorite.  He’s probably not alone, as this is Pittsburgh’s most popular museum. The “science” portion of the museum is pretty cool, but the real draw for him 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.  The Carnegie Science Center is part of the Carnegie Museums, and members can visit all four on the same membership, but we use our ASTC Travel Passport Program membership for free entry.

    When we visited the Science Center on the day after Thanksgiving, the line for the new Ropes Challenge was too long.  So, on this visit, my sons went straight for the Ropes Challenge line when we arrived.  The Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net that culminate in a zip line.  This is probably my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever, especially the zip line.

    My daughter was pretty excited to try the SkyTykes Ropes Course, located under the Ropes Challenge, while her brothers waited for their turn.

    My little explorer

    Other highlights of the sports complex include a 24-foot rock climbing wall (which even my daughter tried out), a batting cage, a 10-meter dash and various challenges for endurance and balance.

    Father-son climb

    Race against Olympic sprint times

    My kids may not have left the Highmark SportsWorks® with a deeper understanding of center of mass and inertia or reciting facts about physics or biology, but the interactive exhibits are certainly fun and provide some basic exposure to the concept that science is everywhere.  This bright complex is also a perfect place for kids to burn energy, especially on cold or rainy days.

    Inside the Carnegie Science Center, my boys’ favorite exhibit is Roboworld, which is considered the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition.  Roboworld features more than 30 interactive displays, including a robot who shoots baskets with impressive precision and another who challenges visitors in air hockey.  My kids could spend hours playing air hockey with a robot or comparing basketball precision.

    We also checked out the Little Learner Clubhouse for the first time on our last visit.  Because many exhibits focused on a younger audience have an age limit for participation, we often avoid them even when we have two adults.  However, I was glad that this exhibit is designed for children six and under and their families.  So, my older sons were able to accompany their younger sister, who absolutely loved the water table.   Even though this exhibit was clearly geared for younger children, my boys had fun with the tomato stand.

    The Miniature Railroad & Village is a fun but unexpected exhibit at the Science Center.  This enormous village provides a tour of western Pennsylvania and includes over 250,000 trees.  Of course, our favorite miniature was Fallingwater.

    We’ve had lunch at Center’s River View Café several times.  The Café is currently under renovation and open with only a limited menu, but its convenience is key as there really does not seem to be any other lunch options within walking distance.  My  kids thoroughly enjoyed their hot dog kids’ meals and cheese steak sandwich.  A new wing is also currently under construction, but the exhibits are all open during the renovations.

    E-motion cone

    • Kid 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.
    • Pro Tip:  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.

    #2: Carnegie Museum of Natural History With Kids

    The Carnegie Museum of Natural History was founded in 1896 by Pittsburgh industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, and gained notoriety in 1899 when its scientists found the fossils of the Diplodocus carnegii.  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.  Dippy is currently on tour across the United Kingdom for the next two years.   The original diplodocus skeleton was admittedly a major draw for us to visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.  It is housed in a space that oddly resembles a hotel lobby, but the exhibit is still a dream for any young paleontologist.

    The Carnegie Museum of Natural History maintains one of the world’s most prominent dinosaur collections. The Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibit is the world’s largest collection of Jurassic dinosaurs and the third largest collection of mounted dinosaurs in the US and includes two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons and a triceratops skeleton.

    One of two Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons

    My kids are fascinated by gemstones, so the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems was a big hit.  Over 1,300 specimens are artistically displayed throughout several rooms.

    I see a few that I’d like

    The Bone Hunters’ Quarry gives kids 10 and under a chance to dig for bones with brushes and chisels.  This interactive exhibit occupied my children for a solid 10-15 minutes until the 10 year old started getting bored.

    • Kid Facts:  The diplodocus skeleton was found on an expedition to the Morrison Formation sponsored by Carnegie. The Morrison Formation in Utah is the most fertile source of North American dinosaur fossils.

    #3: 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.  One of the most unique features of the Carnegie Art Museum is the Hall of Architecture, which includes the world’s third-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.  Saint-Gilles-du-Gard is considered one of the most beautiful Romanesque portals.  The Hall also includes almost 140 other full-size plaster casts.

    We were also pretty excited to find the special exhibit, Hiroshige’s Tōkaidō Road, had opened just a few days before our visit.  This series of woodblock prints depicts landscapes and people that master printmaker, Utagawa Hiroshige, encountered when traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto.  We enjoy Hiroshige’s art so much that we have one of his prints at home, but our print is not one of this series.  This special exhibit includes a complete set of 55 prints from the first (Hōeidō) edition of Hiroshige’s Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō.  Vincent Van Gogh collected ukiyo-e with his brother, and their collection included Hiroshige’s works.   Van Gogh incorporated similar bright colors, natural details and unconventional perspectives into his own works.

    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 was one of his famous series of wheat field paintings.  While Van Gogh and Monet are our favorites, we didn’t make it here until well past nap time for my three year old, who found the large bench very comfortable.

    Van Gogh’s Wheat Fields at Auvers Under Clouded Sky

    Monet’s Water Lilies (Nymphéas)

    I love the convenience of two museums in one, which made it logistically possible to visit two museums on the same day we drove to Pittsburgh and still spend most of the afternoon relaxing in our hotel room.  While we did not have a chance to explore all the galleries, the collection was impressive, and we look forward to future visits.

    #4:  Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh With Kids

    The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids that is also a member of the ASTC Travel Passport Program.  We visited twice previously before our recent trip, and this is the only museum where I have spent an entire day back when my boys were 1.5 and 3.5.  While most families likely visit for only 2-3 hours at a time, there is definitely enough to occupy kids all day.  We had a wonderful day thoroughly exploring each and every exhibit in detail and spending hours in the Studio creating works of art.

    Our recent visit was during our second afternoon in Pittsburgh and took place after a morning at the Carnegie Science Center.  My daughter didn’t get a nap until we were in the car headed back to Cleveland but was so excited about all the exhibits that she forgot to be cranky.  As soon as we arrived, she headed straight for the two-story climber that thankfully has entrance and exit openings only at the bottom.  Her brothers followed her in but quickly came out, indicating that the climber had a strong odor of feet.  Nevertheless, this climber attracted my daughter like a magnet.  She probably spent a solid 20 minutes climbing all the way to the top and then back down while my boys worked on draw bots in the MAKESHOP®.  She did get a bit stuck at one point, but she got a bit of a boost from a slightly bigger kid and kept moving.  At the very top, kids are out of sight for a few minutes, which was a bit disconcerting at first, but the other parents milling around at the bottom assured me that the same thing happened with their kids.

    A dream climber for kids

    My boys happily worked in the MAKESHOP® just opposite the climber while I hung out at the wall dividing the two areas to keep an eye on all of them.  The kids used household boxes to anchor markers in place and then attached motors to make them move on their own.  The project involved tape, hot glue and a lot of trial and error, and this was my boys’ favorite exhibit at the Museum.  My daughter was too young to create one 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).

    The Museum’s Studio offers hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages.  Because we were short on time and stayed for a long time at the MAKESHOP®, we did not make it to the Studio this time, but it’s a beautiful multimedia space with wonderful supplies that allow kids to create paint, sculpt and silkscreen.  The Studio is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire creative juices, and smocks are available.  Because I am not crafty by nature, I really appreciate prepared craft projects.

    The Studio’s ceiling

    Creating in the Studio

    My boys really enjoyed the Waterplay exhibit on our previous visits.  Honestly, I judged other museum waterplay exhibits against this one for years.  Previously, full length rain ponchos and crocs were available for kids to use while exploring in the water.  This time, only smocks were available, and almost all the other kids had changed into swimming attire or had stripped down to their underwear, and it seemed more like a spray park than it had been before.  An ideal day at the museum for me does not involve hauling swimsuits and towels, and even my three year old would not be comfortable wearing only panties in public.  My kids were hesitant because they did not want to get soaked, so this exhibit definitely lost some of its luster this time around.  While the snow table was unique, we all agreed that the Wonder Lab at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland is now our waterplay gold standard.

    All geared up during a prior visit to the Waterplay area

    My daughter was pretty excited to find a puppet of her friend, Daniel Tiger, in the Museum’s Nursery.

    We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and will definitely be back.  While some of the exhibits are more age appropriate for my daughter, her brothers had fun accompanying her as she explored those areas and particularly enjoyed the MAKESHOP®.  I think it’s been offseason or rainy on each of our three visits, but we hope next time, we can check out the Backyard.

    • Kid Facts:  Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood was filmed in Pittsburgh from 1968 to 2001, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh maintains some great memorabilia.
    • Pro Tip:  Try to visit the Studio first so that art masterpieces dry before it’s time to leave.  The Studio is housed in a former planetarium and is a beautiful and bright space to inspire kids’ creative juices.

    #5:  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.  We visited on Thanksgiving before our turkey feast with friends.  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 was both an engineering masterpiece and a work of art.

    Interior of the trolley car

     

    Wooden track

    At the station at the top, there are historical exhibits that provide an overview of the history of Pittsburgh, its many inclines and the engineering challenges that the engineers had to overcome to build and operate the Incline.

    Trolley car traveling down the Incline

    Tom Reinheimer’s tour of the Upper Station gave us an overview of the history of Pittsburgh, its many inclines and the engineering challenges that the engineers had to overcome to build and operate the Incline.  Tom then took us to the David H. Miller Working Museum to tour of the Incline’s hoisting machinery.  The Incline still uses its original hoisting equipment that features giant cogs with wooden gear teeth.

    Hoisting equipment

    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 city’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).  For more details, check out our Spotlight feature on the Duquesne Incline.

    Find Out More About Pittsburgh With Kids

    Interested in finding out more about visiting Pittsburgh with kids?  Check out our other blog posts about Pittsburgh and nearby Fallingwater.

  • Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Paris With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Guest Blogger: Vanessa and Sergio are high school sweethearts from Austin, Texas who love traveling the world and experiencing new cultures and traditions with their daughter. To keep up with this international trio, follow along on Instagram or visit their website, TravelChicFam.

    Our foodra truck ride outside the Musee d’Orsay!

    Paris, France has always been a favorite city of mine. This one city holds the best of the best in art, culture, breathtaking sights and French cuisine.  As the cherry on top, it’s also bursting with romance and, for those traveling with kids, children’s parks perfectly situated through the entire city!

    While pregnant with my daughter, I thought traveling would no longer be possible, but I was wrong! After a year of not traveling, I began experiencing “traveling blues” and decided to plan our first family trip to take place when my daughter would be 20 months old. I excitedly and anxiously began planning our 10-day trip to Paris: flights, transportation, hotel, sites and destinations, family photo shoot, and so much more! Before having a baby, we would have likely booked two or three cities as part of one vacation, but decided to stick to one city for our first family vacation and see how baby girl would travel. As an added surprise, traveling with a child reminded us to slow down, to visit family friendly sites, and to value each moment, laugh, and experience. We also took as many photos as humanely possible so that we could document the experience. Our visit to Paris with a young child was not without challenges, but overall the experience was amazing and life changing. I can confidently say that my now three year old absolutely loves to fly, thrives when she spends quality time with her parents, and enjoys the different sites and children’s parks that we build into our adventures.

    Without further ado, here are my Five Fun Family Activities for Paris With Kids!

    #1. Disneyland Parks

    In the many months I spent planning our trip to Paris, I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to plan a stop at one of the most magical places on Earth: Disneyland Paris. It was the least we could do for our 20 month old, after dragging her to a different country.  We were visiting in early September, which is considered off-season, so the crowds were minimal and wait times for rides was short.

    Disneyland Paris is comprised of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. You can pay to visit one park or both parks. For this occasion, we chose to only visit Disneyland Park as our daughter loves princesses, and we knew that the big mid-day parade would be taking place at Disneyland Park. We arrived around 11am and were able to easily purchase tickets and ride a number of rides, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.  We also visited Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, La Tinier du Dragon, Liberty Arcade, and Discovery Arcade. We made sure to stop and watch the famous Disney parade with all the princess characters, and we ate lunch at Au Chalet de la Marionette, which had a decent selection of food for adults and children.

    By the time we left the park at 7pm, we were beyond exhausted. Although we wished we had seen the fireworks, we had a great experience and of course, left with Minnie Mouse ears, a Mickey Mouse balloon, Disneyland souvenirs, and a number of chocolate treats. If I had to do it all over again, I wish we could have arrived a little earlier so that we could visit both parks and stay for the fireworks, but given the one hour distance from our hotel to Disneyland and my daughter’s age, we were just thrilled that she had an amazing experience.

    Pro-Tip: We took a taxi from our hotel to Disney, but you can also take the Metro. We chose a taxi because it was much faster and easier for our little family. Prices vary, depending on location and transit time, so be sure to price check all your options.

    #2: Jardin du Luxembourg

    The Jardin du Luxembourg is a true gem located in the center of Paris. It covers 25 hectares (over 60 acres) of land filled with beautiful gardens, open-air cafes, puppet shows, rides, slides, musical performers, and sailboats in the pond by the Luxembourg Palace. On a sunny day, you can grab lunch and relax on the green or in one of the many chairs sprinkled throughout the park as you watch your little one run around to release some much needed energy.

    Our favorite activity was the miniature sailboats, which are available for rent or purchase if you don’t happen to have your own to bring! There were many vendors located along the pond and we rented a miniature sailboat that came with a large stick, to use to push the sailboat out and onto the pond. My daughter could not push the sailboat on her own, but my husband was happy to oblige and help maneuver the boat. He had just as much fun playing as all the kids. This is a must visit family friendly park for all to enjoy. By the looks of the native French speaking crowd around us, this is local favorite and so a great way to experience real Parisian family life.

    #3: Parc Zoologique de Paris

    The Parc Zoologique de Paris a great place to visit with children, especially if they love animals. Admission is pricey at 20 € per adult / 15 € per child (ages 3-12) but well worth it. The zoo’s landscape is designed to showcase the animals in their native ecosystem and is home to around 180 species and over a thousand animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. During our visit, we saw a variety of birds, monkeys, fish, jaguars, zebras, and giraffes. And, judging by the crowds, this is another spot that most local Parisians take advantage of with their families, and we were again fortunate to have no trouble with crowds.

    #4: Musee de l’Orangeries & Musee d’Orsay

    When one thinks of a museum in Paris, I’m sure the Louvre comes immediately to mind. The Louvre is amazing, but also full of tourists and crowds. Although definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime, I was not sure that it was the best place to take a baby or toddler. For this special trip, we decided to visit the Musee de l’Orangerie and the Musee d’Orsay, which showcase fantastic works by Monet, Van Gogh, and many others, but without the tourist appeal of the Louvre.

    We visited the Musee de l’Orangerie first, where we viewed Claude Monet’s famous painting of the water lilies. The mural and all sides of the walls were so incredibly breathtaking, I had to stop and just enjoy the experience. While I was busy being awed by the beauty of the art, my daughter paced all the rooms of the museum with her daddy. We then went upstairs and enjoyed a quick bite to eat before heading to the Musee d’Orsay.

    At the d’Orsay, we saw Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, Blue Water Lillies by Claude Monet, Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh, and countless others. The museum is large, but we had an idea of what we wanted to see before arriving, which helped make our experience more manageable.

    Pro-Tip: It is 9 € to visit one museum, or 16 € to visit both, so we chose to visit both and save some money.

    #5: Eiffel Tower

    Last, but definitely not least, the most iconic site of all, the Eiffel Tower. Although you can pay to go up to the top of the tower, I personally think the best view is the free one from the bottom. There are two children’s parks at the North side of the tower that are fenced in for security and, happily, there are vendors nearby who sell an assortment of snacks and gelato for the children (and adults!) to enjoy a tasty treat.

    Picnicking on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower.

    While viewing the Eiffel Tower, we spied a carousel across the street, which many children enjoy riding, including my daughter who rode it up to four times! On a beautiful sunny day, be sure to take some time to have a picnic on the green near the Eiffel Tower. It’s easy to pick up a baguette or a tasty sandwich and a bottle of wine and enjoy the beautiful view, while the little ones stretch their legs running around outside. We have a wonderful time and will cherish our memories forever.

    Riding the carousel… for the fourth time!

    Final Thoughts?

    Paris has so many different things to see and do, but these are truly my top Five Fun Family Activities to take advantage of in Paris. As I continue to explore the world with my daughter, I learn more about her personality and try to incorporate her interests and wishes as well. My goal, as a mommy, is to take my daughter to one new country a year. Our first was Paris, and we also have Rome and Barcelona on the agenda. Traveling with a child has its challenges, but seeing their smiles and the memories we create as a family are priceless.

  • Spotlight: Phoenix Art Musuem With Kids

    Spotlight: Phoenix Art Musuem With Kids

    The Phoenix Museum of Art is the Southwest’s largest museum for visual arts.  It attracts highly acclaimed temporary exhibitions, but also houses a permanent collection of contemporary European and American art.  The Museum offers voluntary donation hours throughout the month. When in Phoenix, it’s definitely worthwhile to stop at the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids. 

    • Kid Facts:  The Phoenix Art Museum opened in 1959, just 47 years after Arizona became the 48th state to join the US.

    Visiting the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

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

    The Museum’s child-focus extends to the James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery (aka the Hub).  The Hub offers an open area with stadium seating, bright paintings and books for kids to interact with art at their own pace.

    • Kid Facts:  The current exhibit on display in the Hub is Poetry in Motion, which includes works of art that use line, color, shape and form to as poetic reflections of the world.

    Favorite Exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

    Our favorite exhibit was Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud, which is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum for one year.   Black Cloud includes 25,000 black paper moths and butterflies affixed to gallery walls.  Mexican artist Carlos Amorales was inspired by the annual migration of monarch butterflies and conceived of a plague of moths swarming through the Museum.   The sheer number of moths and butterflies is overwhelming and reminded me of an eerie scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, but the beauty and detail of each individual insect was stunning.

    • Kid Facts:  This is the second time that Black Cloud, which premiered in 2007, has been on display at the Phoenix Art Museum.  More than 30 different species of moths and butterflies are depicted.

    Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington definitely required a double take.  This was one of Stuart’s paintings of Washington that served as a basis for the image that appears on the front of the one dollar bill.  I found $1 in my handbag to compare.

    • Kid Facts:  Artist Gilbert Stuart is best known for his unfinished painting of George Washington known as The Athenaeum, which is the basis for the 75 copies, including this one.

    Yayoi Kusama’s You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is a mixed-media installation with LED lights on exhibit through 2020.  This was definitely a surreal installation and disorienting at first.  Kusama was inspired by a Japanese folk tale about a person in a field with 10,000 fire flies.  Kusama brings the tale to life in a dark, mirrored room with dangling LED lights.  It is one of the few art exhibits in which “do not touch” does not apply.  It is impossible not to touch a few of the thousands dangling lights while weaving through the installation.  Photographs just cannot do this exhibition justice.  It has to be experienced in person.

    • Kid Facts:  Kusama is a contemporary artist and is one of the most well-known living Japanese artists.

    Cornelia Parker’s Mass (Colder Darker Matter) was another favorite exhibit, which was made from burnt wood of a Texas Baptist church struck by lightning, wire and string.  The burnt wood appears to float in place in mid-air and is stunning to view from many angles.

    • Kid Facts:  When Cornelia Parker was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997, she exhibited Mass (Colder Darker Matter).  The Turner Prize is the UK’s most prestigious art honor that is awarded annually to a British visual artist by the Tate.  The only time the Turner Prize shortlist included only female artists was in 1997.

    The Phoenix Museum of Art features artists from the American Southwest and Mexico, as well of area landscapes.  We particularly enjoyed Thomas Moran’s Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, which magnificently captures the Grand Canyon.

    • Kid Facts:  Thomas Moran was a landscape artist famous for his paintings of Yellowstone.  He first traveled to the Grand Canyon in 1873 to document this natural wonder and completed this painting in 1916.

    Phoenix Museum of Art With Kids

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

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

  • Cleveland With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Cleveland With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Thank you to the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for each providing complimentary tickets for my family.  All opinions are my own.

    Cleveland is typically not a city that comes to mind as a vacation spot but has been growing as a tourist destination in recent years.  While venturing out of my office for lunch at North Coast Harbor this summer, I was surprised to find myself surrounded by casually dressed visitors rather than the usual business crowd.  National Geographic Traveler‘s “2018 Best of the World” list recently named Cleveland as one of seven cities in its culture category.  Editor George Stone described Cleveland as a city “that you kind of thought you knew but you don’t,” and we agree. 

    If you look beyond its historically bad reputation and unfortunate football team, Cleveland really does have a lot to offer both its residents and visitors.  Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the country, behind only New York City’s Lincoln Center, and now boasts the world’s largest outdoor chandelier.  The Cleveland Orchestra is world-renowned and considered one of the country’s “Big Five” symphony orchestras, and the hospital systems are consistently top-ranked.  Cleveland’s downtown has added a number of hotels and residential housing developments.  A variety of amazing museums around the city, including the world’s only Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, offer something for everyone.  In 2016, the Cavs won the NBA finals, hosted the Republican National Convention, completed a $50 million renovation to Public Square, and the Indians played in the World Series.  LeBron James has led the Cavaliers to the last three NBA finals, and the Indians had a 22-game winning streak last season.  There also is definitely a Cleveland food scene with world-famous chefs Michael Symon, Jonathon Sawyer, Rocco Whalen  and Chris Hodgson each owning several hot spots in town.

    If any of that is convincing enough to persuade you to travel to Cleveland, be warned that winters here are admittedly long and chilly.  The weather has been so bad recently that various area schools have closed for extreme cold, ice or snow on five different days this month.  With that in mind, try to visit between April and October, if possible.  The absolute best time to plan a visit is during a championship parade. But, Cleveland sports teams have been notoriously cursed, so there has actually been only one during my lifetime.  I can assure you that my family was there to share the June 22, 2016 celebration with 1.3 million of our closest friends and family.  We had a spectacular view of the festivities right from my office window.

    With no championship parades in sight, we decided to make the most of our recent winter break staycation and truly become tourists in our own city and enjoy all it has to offer.   Our kids were thrilled to visit many of the city’s premier museums.  Here are our five fun family activities in alphabetical order:

    Fun Family Activities in Cleveland With Kids

    #1:  Children’s Museum of Cleveland With Kids

    The Children’s Museum of Cleveland reopened, in November 2017, in the former Stager-Beckwith Mansion, one of the four remaining mansions still standing on Millionaire’s Row.  We had been members of the Museum at its previous location in University Circle when my oldest son attended preschool nearby.  The Museum was housed in an old Howard Johnson’s restaurant.  Although our boys thoroughly enjoyed their visits, the space was choppy with a few stairs here, there and everywhere such that it was a stroller nightmare.  The Millionaire’s Row mansion in Midtown had most recently served as the main campus for Myers University and an elegant banquet hall.  One of my best friends had her wedding reception in the space that now houses Adventure City.  The new site and  $10 million renovation really puts the newly expanded and totally accessible Museum in a different ballpark.

    The Museum features these four permanent exhibits:

    • The Wonder Lab is an industrial science laboratory with water tables, whirlpools and jets that particularly fascinated my daughter. My sons spent most of their time building ball tracks on the magnetic wall.  This was my kids’ favorite exhibit.

    Moveable ball tracks on a magnetic wall

    • Adventure City offers an amazing indoor two-story climber with a construction site theme.  The space also recreates the much-loved grocery store, doctor’s office, nursery and kitchen that were featured in the Museum’s prior location and also adds an auto shop.  Building a car was a huge hit.

    This climber was enormous

    Serious grocery shopping

    • Making Miniatures features a collection of dollhouses created by local artist, Cathy Lincoln and completely entranced my daughter.  Each house was placed on a pedestal and enclosed with a plastic casing.  Children could get up close by standing on small step stools and carefully explore the houses with available flashlights.  My boys were less enthusiastic, but the Museum seemed prepared for them.  They placed a tiny CMC logo in each house for a “hide and go seek” challenge, which was right up their alley and occupied them while their sister carefully examined each dollhouse.

    She carefully examined each and every dollhouse

    My boys had fun finding the CMC logo in each dollhouse

    • Arts & Parts is a bright art studio with different prepared art projects for children to create.  My kids created paper lanterns and played with playdoh.

    Playdoh creation

    The Museum also features a Sensory Friendly Room for children who get overwhelmed in loud and crowded spaces.   While only vending machines are available on site, the Café offers tables and a microwave for families packing lunch.  There are also party rooms.

    We visited right after New Year’s Day when most schools were still on holiday, and the Museum was packed.  But the only real issue we had with the crowds was in the Coat Room.  Despite the fact that this was the best Coat Room, which included shelves with baskets to help store cold weather accessories and lunches and also a window into the Wonder Lab below, it was a challenge to find a spare hanger when we arrived.  The exhibits themselves were buzzing with activity but all accessible to my children.

    The Museum is geared for visitors aged birth to eight.  My nine year old enjoyed the Museum with his siblings – particularly the Wonder Lab and Adventure City and also joined their pleas for “five more minutes” when it was time to leave.  But, he did get a bit bored in the Making Miniatures and Art & Parts exhibits and inquired whether it was time to move on.  If the youngest child in your group is over eight, this may not be your ideal activity or, perhaps, only a short visit.  I really love that adults are not admitted unless accompanied by children and that children are similarly not admitted unless accompanied by adults.

    The former Stager-Beckwith Mansion is a huge improvement over the prior setting for the Cleveland Children’s Museum and definitely worth the wait.  My kids had so much fun in this ideal place for kids to explore, imagine and create.

    The new home of the Cleveland Children’s Museum

    • Kid Facts:  Anson Stager, who is known for creating the most effective secret code used during the Civil War, originally built this home in 1866.  Stager sold the home a few years later to Thomas Sterling Beckwith, the founder of Cleveland’s first carpet and interior store.  In the 19th century, this portion of Euclid Avenue was known as Millionaire’s Row and home to powerful industrialists, including John D. Rockefeller.

    #2:  Great Lakes Science Center With Kids

    The Great Lakes Science Center opened next to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 to support STEM learning.  Its North Coast Harbor location on the shore of Lake Erie is picturesque setting, and the wind turbine, which was installed in 2006, provides about 7% of the building’s electrical needs.

    Great Lakes Science Center

    We met friends visiting from out-of-town at the Science Center a few days after Christmas.  Between our two families, we had five boys and one girl ages three to eleven.  Even though it was mid-week, it was a very popular day due to the holiday.  We started in the hands-on exhibits in the main exhibition space upstairs.  This area was a bit of a zoo with the number of families running around, but the kids didn’t seem to mind at all.  This exhibit checked all the right boxes for my oldest, who is a kinesthetic learner.  He could have easily spent all day trying out absolutely everything.

    Throw-back photo from a previous visit

    She wanted to watch and try out everything

    One of the kids’ favorite activities was building a catenary arch with a few other visitors.  Each cushion needed to be arranged in number order and carefully held in place until the entire arch is completed.  Due to the height, the final cushion required adult assistance, but the rest of the arch was predominately constructed by kids, who were very excited about the free-standing finished product.

    Catenary Arch

    After about an hour of intense scientific discovery, we took a break to watch the Rocky Mountain Express in the Cleveland Clinic Dome Theater.  The film depicts the construction of the first transcontinental railway of Canada.  The IMAX photography really makes viewers feel like they have been transported to Canada.  The film not only had beautiful cinematography, but we learned a lot about the building of the Canadian railway.  Naturally, we straight to All Aboard!  The History of Trains after the film.

    The NASA Glenn Visitor Center has been housed at the Great Lakes Science Center since 2010.  The highlight of this exhibit is the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module.  Visitors can try out a nearby replica capsule, which, even with the door removed, was so small that it screamed claustrophobia and made me wonder how the astronauts handle such confined spaces.

    At another exhibit in the Visitor Center, kids can operate a remote control rover using a controller and video screen.  The rover itself is located across the room, and this simulation gives kids the chance to experience the challenges of remotely operating similar rovers exploring Mars.

    Operating the Rover

    We finished our time at the Science Center in the Cleveland Creates Zone, which offers various activities for kids to invent, design, tinker and create.  The five boys were particularly fascinated by the rocket pod and tried several different designs.

    We did not make it to the Polymer Funhouse, an area geared for scientists aged seven and under because half of our crew was too old.  However, my daughter would have a blast there, especially on a less crowded day.  We also couldn’t take the self-guided walk of the William G. Mather, which is closed November through April, but hope to come back in the Spring to check it out.

    • Kid Facts:  It cost about $120,000 to move the Apollo Command Module from the NASA’s Brook Park facility to the Science Center in 2010.  The move required a year of planning but took only about 30 minutes to complete the 13-mile journey.

    #3:  Greater Cleveland Aquarium With Kids

    The Greater Cleveland Aquarium opened in its current location in the Flats’ FirstEnergy Powerhouse in 2012 and remains Ohio’s only free-standing aquarium.  When we arrived, the diver presentation was just beginning in the shark tank, so we decided to head straight there.  Watching Matthew, the diver, feed the aquatic life was the highlight of our visit.  A special microphone allowed Matthew to talk directly to the audience.  We learned that most shark bites are really caused by mistaken identity.  Sharks explore the world with their mouths, and surfers often look like fish from below.

    Diver in the Shark Tank

    The 230,000 gallon Shark SeaTube includes four species of shark, stingrays, angelfish, a giant barracuda and a whole host of other ocean creatures.  You can literally walk under the tank to get a whole new perspective.  If you want to take a peek into the shark tank in real-time, check out the shark cam.

    Shark SeaTube

    The Aquarium has more than 50 exhibits, 250 species and 1,450 animals from Lake Erie and all across the globe.  Some of our favorite animals included the turtles, lion fish and clown fish with the stunning anemone.

    Turtle hanging out

     

    Beautiful lion fish

    Clown fish (aka Nemo fish) are always a favorite for our kids.

    My son particularly enjoyed the Invertebrate Touch Pool where he got the chance to feel a starfish with the official “two-finger” technique.  The Aquarium is an amazing place to learn about aquatic animals and get a glimpse of life under the sea.

    • Kid Facts:  The Aquarium has someone on site 24/7 to check on the tanks and make sure all the animals are safe.

    #4:  Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland With Kids

    The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) is one of 20 modern art museums in the US.  MOCA opened its new facility in 2012, and a video on its website shows the construction process in under three minutes.  A Poet*hical Wager, opened in October 2017 to celebrate its fifth anniversary in University Square.  In conjunction with its opening, MOCA announced that it would no longer charge entrance fees for guests under 18, which is a great benefit for families.

    The main exhibition space on the fourth floor is a wide-open space that is very different from the typical gallery in traditional art museums with paintings and sculptures.  The current exhibit also did not have any barriers.  While the exhibition featured in this space changes several times a year, it is probably best suited for children over five.

    Many of the installations in the current exhibition, A Poet*hical Wager, challenge the viewer’s preconceived notions about art.  Several docents were on hand to explain the background for this exhibition, which was inspired by the book of the same name by Joan Retallack.  Most featured artists in this exhibit come from low-income backgrounds and third world countries.  Mexico City artist Abraham Cruzvilleges contributed a black and red acrylic painting to cover up newspaper clippings, photographs, letters, tickets, napkins and other items.  He also created an installation from various found objects in Cleveland that my daughter likened to a space ship.

    Another memorable installation was Rashid Johnson’s Shea Butter, which was a cinderblock wall with shea butter used in place of mortar and sometimes in place of the cinderblocks themselves.

    The third floor features an exhibit by British artist Phil Collins (not to be confused with the popular musician) that consists of listening booths that contain vinyl recordings for guests to play on actual record players.  Collins anonymously recorded conversations from a homeless shelter phone booth in Cologne that offered free domestic and international calls.  A group of musicians used the recordings to create the musical works contained on the records.  The novelty of the record player was pretty exciting for my seven year old who had never used one before.

    The enclosed Yellow Staircase, which includes a sound installation was a fun way to travel between floors of MOCA.

    Yellow Staircase

    My kids’ favorite part of our visit to MOCA was the Marjorie + Anselm Talalay Classroom on the third floor where kids could create their own art.  To go along with the theme of the main exhibition, the Obfuscation Station encouraged kids to layer colored tape on top of magazine clippings.  My kids had so much fun creating works inspired by the exhibition that I’m seriously considering investing in a colored tape dispenser.

    Obfuscation Station

    MOCA offers monthly Pre-K Play Dates on Saturday mornings.  These events are free for kids.  On the first Saturday of each month, MOCA offers free admission and family friendly workshops and activities courtesy of PNC Bank.  MOCA is a great resource for Cleveland families and encourages children to use their imaginations to create art in non-traditional ways.

    • Kid Facts:  This $27.2 million building was designed by Farshid Moussavi, a world-famous architect.

    #5:  Rock & Roll Hall of Fame With Kids

    When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was established in 1983, Cleveland lobbied hard to be chosen as the site of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and won the honors in 1986.  As a Cleveland native, I remember the excitement when Cleveland scored the Rock Hall and was lucky to tour it shortly after its 1995 opening.  The Rock Hall is definitely a reason why some tourists decide to visit Cleveland.

    The lobby area is impressively large and has a car suspended from the ceiling above the Café (which we also enjoyed).  This was probably the first suspended car I’ve ever seen.

    The Rock Hall features both permanent and special exhibits.  The Legends of Rock is a permanent exhibit that includes artifacts such as handwritten drafts, instruments and costumes.  The recently renovated Beatles’ exhibit is the world’s largest artifact-based collection of the famous English rock band.  The Rock Hall also has always featured a standing Elvis exhibit that features different artifacts.  My husband and son watched the exclusive 14-minute Elvis video.

    The costume exhibits are really fun. It’s always surprising to see first-hand how small many of the musicians are in real life.   I did feel really old when my younger son asked if Michael Jackson was a basketball player and realized that the King of Pop actually died before he was born.

    Michael Jackson’s jacket

    The boys even found costumes of musicians they recognized like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.  We are all still amazed that Lady Gaga actually wore this contraption.

    We particularly enjoyed Rolling Stone:  50 Years, which includes celebrities’ letters and interviews and a stunning wall display of the magazine’s iconic cover images.  This exhibit encompassed floors 4-6 of the museum, and now the boys have some familiarity with the popular culture magazine.

    We noticed more families with young children touring the Rock Hall than we expected.  While our kids are not familiar with most of the featured musicians, they enjoyed the multi-media exhibits.  My husband and I could have easily spent a few more hours perusing the exhibits, but our shorter highlight tour was a perfect introduction for our kids.

    • Kid Facts:  Cleveland’s Alan Freed was the disc jockey who originated the term “rock ‘n’ roll.”

    Find Out More About Cleveland With Kids

    There are so many kid-friendly things to do in Cleveland, an up and coming destination.  These five amazing museums are just the tip of the iceberg.  Spending time in Northeast Ohio, check out our favorite activities in Cleveland with kids.

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  • Los Angeles With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Los Angeles With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Los Angeles has so many great attractions for kids – even if Disneyland is not on your itinerary.  During my recent trip to L.A. with my mom and son, we had only two days in the city.  Due to centrally located accommodation and easy transportation, we were able to maximize our time and fit in these fun family activities.

    #1:     Santa Monica Pier

    The Santa Monica Pier was my favorite spot in Los Angeles.  It may be because I’m a Midwesterner, but I try to find a way to make it to a beach anytime I travel near the ocean or sea.  In Santa Monica, the Pier adds a great deal of excitement to the otherwise typical Pacific beach.  The original pier opened in the early 20th century, and the amusement park followed a few years later.  The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium – Heal the Bay was just closing when we arrived, but we would have loved to check it out. Pacific Park, the amusement park, features the world’s first and only solar paneled ferris wheel and eleven other rides, including a roller coaster.  In a city known for Disneyland, it is notable that Pacific Park is the only admission-free amusement park in the city.  Pacific Park is free to enter, but you do pay for ride tickets.  I particularly loved how the bright colors of Pacific Park popped against the ocean and sky.  There is also a Carousel located in the Looff Hippodrome adjacent to the Pier that we somehow missed entirely.

    On our stroll down the pier, we passed musicians, artists, magicians, souvenir shops, carnival games and various food stalls.  My son was particularly intrigued by a magician doing tricks for a crowd and a painter who was painting the pier on a piece of slate.  The Santa Monica Pier was our last stop before our red-eye flight, and my son was itching to choose a memento of our trip to bring home with him.  I was proud that he picked a framed painting made by the local artisan painting on the Pier instead of some cheap trinket.

    As the sun began to set, we headed off the Pier and onto the beach.  There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sand between your toes and standing at the water’s edge while listening to the waves ebb and flow.  We really savored those moments as we waded into the Pacific.  I do wish I lived closer to a coast.

    After sunset, we washed and dried our feet and decided to eat dinner before heading back downtown.  We thoroughly enjoyed our last meal of the trip at Del Frisco’s Grille, located right across from the Pier’s entrance.  We dined in their enclosed patio during Game 3 of the World Series.  We are Clevelanders who watched the Indians’ epic season and hoped that we would be rooting for our team during the championship series.  So, we were somewhat invested despite our team’s early playoff departure.  When Los Angeles won the National League championship, I thought this trip would inspire my son to root for LA, but he chose to support the Astros instead.  He did learn the important lesson while watching the Astros win two World Series games during our trip that if you are watching a sporting event in public and not supporting the home team, it’s polite to cheer quietly.  He had a great time watching the game on the flat screen television while eating his hand-shaved prime steak sandwich.

    We loved Santa Monica and didn’t mind the crowds.  Families looking for quieter beaches should check out one of these great Los Angeles beaches for kids.

    #2:    The Getty Center

    Like going to beaches, visiting art museums and getting the best view around are both generally high on my list when traveling.  The Getty Center is definitely a can’t miss in my book because it offers a fantastic art collection and an amazing view.  As added bonuses, a funicular transports visitors between the parking area and the museum, and there is no admission fee.   The Getty Center is a campus of the J. Paul Getty Museum located in Brentwood and funded by the J. Paul Getty Trust, the world’s wealthiest art institution.

    We took an Uber to the museum and were dropped off at the rideshare drop off conveniently located next to the security line and funicular entrance.  We received a museum guide and daily schedule while waiting for the next car to take us up the hill to the museum.  I discovered that the daily impressionist tour was scheduled to begin in 15 minutes.  We were a bit tight on time and planned to head to the impressionist galleries anyway, so the tour was definitely a treat.  The docent was informative and interesting as she directed us through the impressionist galleries, and the tour culminated with Vincent Van Gogh’s Irises, one of the Getty’s most notable paintings.

    Van Gogh’s Irises

    The Getty Center was designed by Richard Meier and completed in 1997.  It is known for its modern architecture and use of travertine and stunning outdoor gardens where the plants double as sculptures.  The Central Gardens, designed by Robert Irwin, contain over 500 plant varieties that visitors enjoy while strolling on a tree-lined walkway.  As you weave your way to the central pond, you pass a stream bubbling alongside the path.  Irwin’s statement, “Always changing, never twice the same” is carved into the floor to remind visitors of the evolving art.

    Resemblance to Mickey Mouse – intended or coincidental?

    The beautiful cactus garden was placed on the edge of the ridge with sunlight all day long.

    My son enjoyed the impressionist tour (particularly the Monet and Van Gogh paintings), the gardens and the view.  He also found the phone charging station, which were located back by the restrooms near the main lobby, particularly fascinating.  The Phone Charger worked like a hotel room safe.  You connect your phone to the proper charger inside the box, close the door and enter a four digit code to lock the door.  At anytime, you can access your phone by entering your code.  It is obviously a genius invention, and we can’t wait until they are more common.  The Getty Center really has thought of everything to impress its visitors.

    There is no Metro stop near the museum, so travel to or from the Getty during rush hour can be challenging, and the Uber timing estimates can be very inaccurate.  It took our driver about an hour to drive to the pick up point initially estimated to be nine minutes away and then another hour to travel downtown, so we ended up downtown an hour later than Uber’s original estimate.

    #3:     La Brea Tar Pits & George C. Page Museum

    On the day we flew to LA, my son attended a field trip to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History specifically focusing on mastodons and mammoths. While we were discussing options for things to do on our trip, he literally lit up when he heard about the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.  So, after our brief stop in Hollywood, we jumped into an Uber and headed to La Brea.   I called my husband from the car and asked him to sign us up for a family membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as ours had expired a few months earlier.  Members of museums participating in the ASTC Travel Passport Program receive reciprocal entry to member science centers and museums all over the country, including the La Brea Tar Pits.  The email confirmation came before we made it to La Brea and was all we needed to gain free entry to the George C. Page Museum.

    The LaBrea Tar Pits are shallow pools of oil that coagulated into asphalt and trapped Ice Age animals.  The Tar Pits are registered as a National Natural Landmark, and over 3.5 million fossils have been found on the site, with excavation continuing year round at Project 23 and seasonally at Pit 91.

    We bought tickets to Titans of the Ice Age, the 25-minute 3D movie showing in the Museum’s theater.  The movie showed how Ice Age animals would get stuck and then preserved in the tar pits.  The computer-generated imagery and 3D effects really bring the animals to life and interestingly convey the history of Ice Age animals.

    My son was fascinated by the Fossil Lab where you can watch paleontologists working on specimens collected from Project 23.   With 10 minutes to spare before our showing of the movie began, he headed back to the Fossil Lab to watch.  One of the Museum’s very helpful docents identified the paleontologist with the mask as the head curator.

    After viewing the completed fossils, watching the movie and observing the Fossil Lab, my son had an opportunity to try separating fossils himself.  With all these great hands on opportunities, it’s not surprising that the stop at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum was his favorite of our trip.

    After visiting the Museum and Site 23, we headed up Wilshire Boulevard and had a quick lunch at Johnnie’s New York Pizzeria, right next to the SAG-AFRA building (no celebrity sightings).  We did not have time for a leisurely lunch and were thrilled that we were able to get indoor table service of pizza slices (generally permitted only as take out during peak times) because the restaurant was not busy.  The pizza was very tasty.

    #4:     Hollywood

    We made a quick stop at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex.  The big excitement of this stop was that setup for the Latin American Music Awards occurring that evening at the Dolby Theatre, was ongoing.  Before kids, I used to regularly watch movies in the theaters when they were released and was a huge movie award show fan.  Now that my movie watching occurs through DVDs or Netflix months after the award show season is over, I don’t watch much of the awards shows but do try to catch at least a few minutes of the coverage of the celebrity arrivals in front of the Dolby Theatre.  So, it was a treat to see how it’s done – albeit with a purple carpet.

    My mom and I had fun walking down Hollywood Boulevard and looking at all the stars.  The motion picture camera, a radio microphone, a television set, a record or a theatrical mask symbols identify the celebrity’s genre.  My son repeated about 20 times, “Do you know who these people are?” and generally made me feel old.

    Purple carpet for the Latin American Music Awards

    We planned to stop at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now known as the TCL Chinese Theatres) to see the concrete blocks with celebrities’ signatures, handprints and footprints of popular celebrities.  However, the area in front of the Theatre was completely blocked off due to a movie premiere.   It was definitely a busy Thursday in Hollywood.

    So, we headed over to the Hollywood and Highland Center to get a view of the Hollywood Sign in the Hollywood Hills.

    After taking a few obligatory pictures of the iconic Hollywood Sign, we saw a gelato vending machine.  So, I made this little guy’s day by giving this novel concept a try on his behalf.

    Before heading off for our next stop, we took a quick peak in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!  The entry fee was a bit steep, and we had other museums we wanted to see more, so we did not make it beyond the lobby.  However, the lobby provided a few minutes of fun entertainment and even a fortune reading by Zoltar.

    Where does the water come from?

    Fortune reading

    #5:     Walt Disney Concert Hall

    The Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra, is arguably the world’s most unique concert hall.  It was designed by Frank Gehry, an architect known for his use of corrugated steel and unexpected lines. Disney Hall opened in 2002, about one year after Gehry’s Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management, which also utilized steel was completed.  I have been a fan since I saw a Gehry exhibit at the Guggenheim in 2001.

    My son plays the violin and often goes to Cleveland Orchestra performances in Severance Hall, a very different building just down the street from Gehry’s Weatherhead School of Management.  The Disney Hall offers guided and self-guided tours, and we opted for the self-guided tour due to time constraints.  We particularly enjoyed the spectacular gardens and many unique views of the building.

    Disney Hall definitely sticks out in the LA skyline

    I’ve heard that some larger conferences offer kids’ activities for older kids and hope this is a trend that catches on.  Being away from family is hard for working parents who need to travel for their jobs, and I was very lucky that my mom and son could join me on this trip.  They really had a fantastic days in Los Angeles and joining them on a few of their adventures made the trip so much more enjoyable for me, too.

    For information about accommodation and transportation options in Los Angeles, check out Los Angeles With Kids:  Tinseltown Logistics and our entire series on Los Angeles with kids.

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