We Go With Kids!

Tag: museum

  • Travel Tips: ASTC Passport Program

    Travel Tips: ASTC Passport Program

    Participation in the ASTC Travel Passport Program is an amazing value. Our family membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History comes with perks like reduced parking rates, guest passes and invitation to members-only events in addition to unlimited visits to the Museum and free shows at its Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium & Ralph Mueller Observatory.  Because of the Museum’s affiliation with the ASTC Travel Passport Program, we also receive free reciprocal admission at hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums.   The ability for our family to use the ASTC Passport Program to visit member museums around the country for free is a huge value!

    What does the ASTC Passport Cost?

    Each ASTC Passport member charges its own rate for a membership.  Our family membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History costs us $90 a year.

    ASTC Passport Review

    We have had this membership for approximately two and a half years.  Honestly, we don’t immediately renew when it expires but wait for the next opportunity when we want to visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History or one of the other ASTC member museums and sign up for a new membership.   When visiting Los Angeles last Fall, we decided while walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame that we wanted to go to the La Brea Tar Pits next.  I called my husband from our Uber and had him purchase a membership online.  Minutes after he sent me the confirmation email, I used it to get free admission into the Tar Pits.  Since then, we’ve used our current membership for admission for several trips to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, two visits to the Carnegie Science Center and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  The value of those museum visits are about four times of the cost of our membership, and we still have five months left, including summer break.

    Nancy is very fortunate to live in Washington, DC and have the free Smithsonian museums at her doorstep.  She never considered purchasing a museum membership to use solely for travel until this spring.  Her family purchased a membership to a local children’s museum and used it for free admission when visiting Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena and plans to use it to visit more museums when traveling.

    Our family has visited 10 amazing ASTC affiliate museums and always looks forward to our next opportunity to use our membership.

     

    #1:  Adler Planetarium – Chicago, Illinois

    My older son wanted to be an astronaut through pre-school, and both boys had a great time visiting the Adler Planetarium, which was the first planetarium in the western hemisphere.  The beautiful stone building houses many interactive exhibits and three theaters, including the most technologically enhanced planetarium theater and a high-definition 3D theater.  Our boys were aged three and five at the time of our visit and enjoyed the interactive exhibits focusing on the planets, solar system and space exploration, and, of course, the planetarium show.

     

    #2:  Carnegie Science Center – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    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 Ropes Challenge consists of a series of challenges, including a rope bridge, rolling logs and a horizontal net that culminate in a zip line and is probably my boys’ favorite “exhibit” ever, especially the zip line.  Other highlights of the sports complex include the SkyTykes Ropes Course, located under the Ropes Challenge, 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.  This bright complex is 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.

     

    #3:  Center of Science and Industry – Columbus, Ohio

    The Center of Science and Industry, commonly known as “COSI” is a comprehensive science museum with more than 300 interactive exhibits.  We were fortunate to visit several years ago during the week that COSI hosted its annual outdoor Big Machines exhibit.  At the time, our four and six year old boys were at the height of their machinery enthusiasm and absolutely loved “touch a truck” events.  So, it was a bit of a challenge to get them away from the trucks and inside COSI.  Once inside, we discovered that COSI nails the “hands on” aspect of science, particularly with its lab spaces and hallway exhibitions.

     

    #4:  Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    A dream climber for kids

    The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is an interactive museum for kids with great activities and hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages.  The two-story climber attracted my 3.5 year old daughter like a magnet.  She had to make it to the top and then back again.  I was nervous about her exiting at the top until another mom assured me that the entrance and exit were both located at the bottom.  As soon as we arrived, she headed straight for the two-story climber that thankfully has entrance and exit openings only at the bottom.

    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 three children.  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.  The Museum’s Studio also offers hands-on creating opportunities for kids of all ages.  This multimedia space offers 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.

     

    #5:  Cleveland Museum of Natural History – Cleveland, Ohio

    We are members of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, which is located in University Circle, about 15 minutes from our house.  So, this is the ASTC museum we visit the most frequently.  Inexpensive metered parking is usually available on Wade Oval, right outside the Museum.  Because of our membership, I occasionally bring my oldest and youngest for a short visit while my husband accompanies our middle child to his nearby piano lesson.   It’s also a snow day favorite or something we combine with a trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is located around the corner.

    In good weather, we often enjoy the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden, which opened in the Fall of 2016 and features living plants and animals that are native to Ohio.  The dinosaur collection may not compare to those of the National Museum of Natural History – London, the Field Museum or the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, but the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton is still pretty cool, and there is a mastodon skeleton that was found in the region.  Lucy, the reconstructed cast of female hominid who lived over 3 million years ago is the a perennial favorite of my kids.  Lucy’s skeleton was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by Donald Johanson, the curator of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  I have a series of pictures of my two youngest standing next to Lucy at various ages.

    We always try to catch a planetarium show at Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium & Ralph Mueller Observatory.  My daughter is a huge fan of the One World, One Sky:  Big Bird’s Adventure, and even though my boys have seen it more times than we can count, they agreed to accompany her the last time that the timing aligned – albeit after a few eye rolls.

     

    #6:  The Field Museum of Natural History – Chicago, Illinois

    The Field Museum is one of the world’s largest natural history museums.  It opened in 1893 and was named to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field, the founder of the Chicago-based department store who donated $1 million to the Museum in 1894.  It is located on Museum Campus along Lake Michigan and also boasts one of the world’s best dinosaur collections, including Sue, the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, which was prominently displayed in the main hall of the Museum until 2017.  With two young boys aged three and five who were excited about prehistoric creatures, we definitely did not miss the dinosaur exhibit.

    We also explored an Egyptian tomb in the three-story Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit.  This exhibit includes one of the world’s largest collections of human mummies.  This was our boys’ first exposure to Egypt, but they were fascinated and have since enjoyed Egyptian exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

     

    #7:  Great Lakes Science Center – Cleveland, Ohio

    While we cannot use our membership to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for free reciprocal membership to ASTC member museums within a 90 mile radius of our home, we recently visited the Great Lakes Science Center as part of a NASA Free Evening.  The event feature science-related programming and Astronaut Terry Virts, the author of View from Space.  Our kids thoroughly enjoyed hearing Virts describe his experiences on the space station.  Virts’ presentation and slide show inspired them to thoroughly explore the NASA Glenn’s Visitor’s Center, including the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module.  They also enjoyed trying out all the hands-on exhibits and building with Lego as part of the Science Center’s special exhibit.

     

    #8:  La Brea Tar Pits & George C. Page Museum – Los Angeles, California

    The LaBrea Tar Pits & Museum are dedicated to La Brea’s 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.  My son was fascinated by the Fossil Lab where you can watch paleontologists working on specimens collected from Project 23.   After viewing the completed fossils, watching Titans of the Ice Age, the 25-minute 3D movie featured in the Museum’s theater, 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.

     

    #9:  Maryland Science Center – Baltimore, Maryland

    The Maryland Science Center is another phenomenal science museum located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.  This was the first science museum we visited as a family.  We were skeptical if our one and three year old boys were old enough for the Science Center, but they had a blast, especially while exploring the Spacelink exhibit and the Kids Room, which includes a large water play area.  We also enjoyed a show at the IMAX theater.

     

    #10:  Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History – Washington, D.C.

    The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is an amazing free admission museum on the National Mall.  It was the world’s most visited natural history museum in 2017.  The Museum’s collection includes over 126 million specimens.  Our favorite is the Hope Diamond, the 45.5 carat grayish-blue pendant surrounded by 16 diamonds that is reportedly insured for $250 million.   The Hall of Fossils includes 46 complete skeletons and is currently undergoing a massive $45 million, five-year renovation and scheduled to reopen in 2019.  The iconic 14-foot tall elephant is the focal point of the entry rotunda.

    For traveling families who enjoy natural history museums, science centers and children’s museums, investing in a membership to the ASTC Travel Passport Program museum can be an amazing value.  Next on our list is the Ontario Science Centre, which was one of my favorite museums that I visited as a child.  Make sure to check out our other posts on other ASTC  museums, including children’s museums, natural history museums and science museums.   

  • 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.

  • New York City With Kids: Five More Fun Family Activities

    New York City With Kids: Five More Fun Family Activities

    Thank you to One World Trade Center Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial Museum for hosting our visits to those attractions.  All opinions are my own. 

    New York City is one of our favorite cities to visit.  The “City That Never Sleeps” is the largest metropolitan area in the US and boasts Broadway and Wall Street, along with world-famous landmarks and museums.  Nancy previously covered Five Fun Family Activities, but because this is one city that has a seemingly never-ending list of great tourist attractions, I have a few more to add. With so much to see and do, traveling to New York City with kids is a great family vacation.

    Visiting New York City With Kids

    I’ve enjoyed New York City as a tourist and while visiting friends.  My mom and I had a whirlwind weekend in 2005 where we made it to most of the stops on her mile-long must-see list.  My husband and I used to travel to the Big Apple each summer before kids, but we generally spent most of our time with friends and relaxing at the Long Island Beach.  We have visited New York City several times with our kids, most recently in October 2016 as part of a trip to Princeton, New Haven, Amherst and Chautauqua and look forward to future visits to Manhattan as a family.

    Checking out the view of Midtown from Bloomberg’s employee snack bar

    For families who need a break, there are some amazing playgrounds in New York City for kids to explore.  It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to see a Broadway show, and there are options to score cheap Broadway tickets at the last minute.

    Accommodations in New York City With Kids

    While in NYC, I have stayed several times at the Millennium Hilton New York Downtown in the Financial District.  The guest rooms are very comfortable, and the hotel also offers an indoor pool.  But, the highlight for me is the view of One World Trade Center and the Oculus, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub that opened in 2016 with retail and restaurants.  The Millennium Hilton is conveniently located for both business and pleasure.

    Millennium Hilton guest room with view of Oculus
    View of One World Trade Center and Oculus from my room

    Restaurants in New York City With Kids

    New York is also known for amazing restaurants.  Eataly is one of my favorites.  This Italian marketplace includes several restaurants, food and beverage counters and retail stores.  The food counters offer very reasonable but delicious meals, and the retail sections are beautifully curated.

    Eataly’s higher end restaurant, Osteria della Pace is also a great option for lunch or dinner.

    Osteria della Pace

    I also enjoy Casa Lever, an Italian Restaurant that features original Andy Warhol paintings to complement its ultramodern décor.  Casa Lever does not offer a kids’ menu and is not particularly child-friendly in the evening, but the food is superb, and the original Warhol paintings alone are a reason to make me want to go back.

    Original Warhol paintings at Casa Lever

    For breakfast, Stage Door Deli offers overstuffed sandwiches and a classic New York deli experience.  We stopped for coffee and bagels after an early morning flight, and our wrapped bagels were thrown from the back of the store to the register for added flair.  Stage Door is one of only two businesses to reopen on Vesey Street after September 11.

    Here are my five fun family activities in New York City:

    #1:  The Metropolitan Museum of Art With Kids

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art boasts a permanent collection of over two million works and is the largest art museum in the US and the fourth largest in the world.  The Met’s main location is on Fifth Avenue, and we were a few of the Met’s over 7 million visitors in 2016.  Admission to the permanent collection was previously by suggested contribution only, but the Met announced in January 2018 that it would begin charging a fixed admission of $25 for visitors who do not live in New York State.  General admission gives visitors free entry at The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer and The Met Cloisters for three consecutive days.   It would probably take that long to get through all the exhibits, but we did an abbreviated visit with our three kids, aged 2, 6 and 8.

    The Met has one of the most impressive impressionist collections that we have seen.  Our boys loved Bathers at Asnières at National Gallery, London and were especially excited to find Seurat’s final study for his similar A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.  

    We are also fans of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings and were thrilled to see Irises.  I’ve seen his similar Irises still life paintings on display at the Van Gogh Museum, and my kids have seen Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at National Gallery, London and Irises at the Getty Center.We also love Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, so the Met’s Water Lilies, a smaller version than many others we have seen in this series, was a real treat.  We are fortunate to frequently visit Water Lilies (Agapanthus) at the Cleveland Museum of Art and have also seen paintings in this series on display as part of the Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse special exhibit at the Cleveland Museum in 2015 and also at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the National Gallery, London, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Carnegie Museum of Art.

    Monet’s Water Lilies

    #2:  Times Square With Kids

    Times Square is the world’s most visited location with about 360,000 pedestrian visitors daily and over 130 million visitors each year.  Excluding residents from the count makes Times Square the second most popular tourist attraction behind the Las Vegas Strip with almost 40 million annual tourists.  The Broadway Theater District is located in Times Square, which is especially known for its billboards.

    Over the years, I’ve visited Times Square a number of times, but until my recent visit, my last photographs were from 2005.  Even before the rise of digital screens, it was still a sensory overload experience.

    Times Square – Summer 2005

    I was absolutely blown away with the transformation of the Square since the development of digital screens on my recent evening visit.  The largest billboard in Times Square was completed in 2014, spans an entire block and features almost 24 million LED pixels.  A pedestrian plaza completed in 2016 offers tiered viewing of the Square, including the humongous new billboard pictured on the right below.  Find out more about things to do in Times Square.

    Times Square – 2018
    • Kid Facts:  The New Year’s Eve ball drop at Times Square has been an annual tradition since December 31, 1907.  However, it was placed on hiatus in 1942 and 1943 because of World War II lighting restrictions.  Over a million visitors celebrate each New Year in Times Square.  The new energy-efficient LED ball installed for the centennial celebration is now a permanent fixture in the Square.

    #3:  National September 11 Memorial & Museum With Kids

    While I am familiar with tragic events like the World Wars, the Pearl Harbor attacks and the Vietnam War from history books, September 11 is one day that is burned in my memory. I had visited NYC for the first time only a few months earlier and spent an entire day exploring the Financial District in the shadows of the famous towers.  On the morning of the terrorist attacks, I was numb as I sat glued to my television and watched the World Trade Center crash to the ground.

    The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a very somber museum that chronicles the World Trade Center’s 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks.  The Museum honors both the victims of these attacks and also the first responders.  The Museum’s collection includes more than 40,000 images, 14,000 artifacts, 3,500 oral recordings and 500 hours of video.  It may not seem like a family friendly attraction due to its content, and I noticed on my recent Monday morning visit that there were not any young visitors.  I happened to be in the Financial District on business without my children when I visited, but I would not hesitate to take them to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

    My boys learned about the September 11 terrorist attacks by reading Lauren Tarshis‘ I Survived the Attacks September 11th, 2001.  Tarshis’ series of historical fiction books is brilliant because they tell stories of some of the world’s worst disasters  through the eyes of a pre-teen boy (except one book featuring a female main character) experiencing the situation first-hand.  In I Survived the Attacks of September 11th, 2001, the narrator is Lucas, the son of a New York City fire fighter who happens to visit his dad at work on the morning of the attacks.  My boys are familiar with the events of September 11 because of Tarshis’ book, and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial Museum with them would definitely be meaningful, but might be a quicker overview than the lingering visit I had with my colleague.  The Museum offers a seasonal Youth & Family Tour with an interactive activity and the Art Memorial Cart, which offers age-appropriate self-guided explorations and art activities.

    The Historical Exhibition chronicles the events of September 11, the events leading up to September 11 and the immediate aftermath.  This exhibit includes first-hand accounts, television footage and a variety of items on display.  Photography is not permitted in this exhibit, but is allowed in other areas of the Museum that feature items damaged on September 11, such as a fire engine from Ladder 3.  All 11 firefighters who traveled from in this engine died in the World Trade Center.  Also displayed is a segment of the radio and television antenna on top of the North Tower and the Last Column, which was the last piece of steel to be removed from Ground Zero and is now considered as a symbol of resilience.

    Fire engine destroyed on September 11
    Piece of the radio antenna from the North Tower
    The Last Column

    The National September 11 Memorial located outside the Museum includes two large, recessed pools with cascading waterfalls that are set within the footprints of the original North and South Towers of the World Trade Center.  The bronze parapets that surround the pools are inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

    September 11 Museum and Memorial
    • Kid Facts:  The Memorial opened to the public on September 12, 2011, and the Museum, which is largely underground, opened on May 15, 2014.  Roses are placed by victims’ names to commemorate their birthdays.

    #4: One World Trade Center Observatory With Kids

    New York City has no shortage of skyscrapers, but One World Trade Center towers over all of them as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere and sixth tallest in the world at 1,776 feet (a reference to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed).  This new structure has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center and is located on the site of Six World Trade Center, an eight-story office building that was destroyed when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.   The building opened in November 2014, and the Observatory,  located on floors 100-102, opened in May 2015 and offers visitors a view of NYC from 1,250 feet in the air.

    The experience begins at the Global Welcome Center where visitors are greeted in their native language.  A live counter shows stats related to number of visitors and country of origin.  The next stop is a walk-through montage, which includes personal stories of all the people who helped build One World Trade Center.  The elevator ride to the 102nd floor is a special treat.  Visitors travel 1,250 feet in less than a minute while watching a high-definition time-lapse video on the elevator walls.   After a quick 3D film on NYC, visitors have the chance to check out the real highlight of the Observatory, the 360 degree views.

    View of Midtown from One World Trade Center
    The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

    We did not have time to eat at ONE Restaurant (which requires admission to the Observatory).  Our visit to the Observatory concluded with the high-tech and super-fast elevator ride down, which is as exciting as the ride up.

    • Kid Facts:  The top floor of One World Trade Center is the 104th floor, but the tower actually has only 93 stories, and 103 and 104 are mechanical floors.

    #5:  Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island With Kids

    Liberty Enlightening the World (aka the Statue of Liberty) was a gift from France to the US and is an icon representing opportunity and freedom.  The Statue of Liberty is a 151 foot copper statue located on Liberty Island.  It was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886.  It has been maintained by the National Park Service since 1933.

    The statue’s pedestal and base were closed for major renovations in October 2011 and reopened on October 28, 2012, one day before Hurricane Sandy.  The statue did not sustain direct damage due to Hurricane Sandy, but the storm did destroy the ferry dock.  As a result, Liberty Island remained closed until July 4, 2013 for repairs.

    The Statue of Liberty

    Nearby Ellis Island was the busiest immigrant inspection station in the US from 1892 to 1954 and was the gateway to over 12 million immigrants.  The descendants those immigrants now make up almost half of the US population.  After sustaining major damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Ellis Island was closed for one year for extensive renovation.  The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is located in the main building on Ellis Island.  About 5,000 immigrants filed into the Registry Room each day for medical and legal examinations.

    Registry Room

    The view of lower Manhattan from Ellis Island is pretty spectacular.

    View of Manhattan from Ellis Island
    •  Kid Facts:  While Ellis Island had been considered part of New York, a 1998 Supreme Court case determined that about 90% of the Island is in New Jersey.  While the land originally given to New York by an 1834 interstate compact remains under the control of New York, land later reclaimed is now under control of New Jersey.

    Find Out More About New York City With Kids

    New York City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US but is not just for adults.  This traveler’s mecca offers many wonderful opportunities for families. Make sure to check out all of our posts on NYC before your next trip.

  • Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Virginia With Kids: Five Fun Family Activities

    Guest Blogger: Cynthia, her husband, and two boys are Floridians who recently road tripped to Virginia where they quickly learned that Virginia is not “only” for lovers. The state offers so much rich history and fun stuff for a family to do. With her sons now of teenage age, their road trip to Virginia’s historical sites was the perfect opportunity to not only learn more about their country but to actually see and experience it in real life. For more on Cynthia and her family, visit Mackintosh Travels.

    Getting to Virginia:

    Our family has traveled extensively abroad, but we have not spent much time traveling within the United States. My husband is a history buff, so we decided to take our boys on an epic road trip from Florida to Virginia to visit Virginia’s amazing historical sites.

    Our first stop was to pay a visit to the “world’s first successful combat submarine,” the Hunley, located in Charleston, South Carolina. Our tour guide was extremely informative and we enjoyed the experience.

    Our next stop was at a  fun town located literally on the border of North and South Carolina. What a fun place South of the Border is! Vibrant colors surround this mini-Mexico, and it was a fun road trip break to get out and stretch our legs. My boys loved the attractions and sights and we all enjoyed the opportunity to dine and shop a little.

    Virginia!

    After 12+ hours in the car, we finally arrived in Virginia! We decided to head straight to our hotel, the Historic Powhatan Resort, which is owned by Diamond Resorts. Our goal was to rest and refresh in time to begin exploring Virginia’s historical sites. We stayed at this resort for the entire time we were in Virginia, so it was nice to have a place to come “home” to at the end of each day. We were able to make use of the swimming pool and hot tub on days we had extra time in the evenings.

    While there was so much to see and do in Virginia, here are our top five fun family activities:

    #1: Mount Vernon Estate

    Mount Vernon was George Washington’s plantation home. This lush and well-manicured estate is situated next to the Potomac River. It is not far from Washington, D.C. which makes it an easy day trip. With school aged children, this was a really great opportunity to make history come to life! My teenage boys were amazed to experience first-hand what Colonial America in Washington’s time was like rather than reading about this era in a history book.

    Mount Vernon Estate is made up of many different components. The mansion is the actual living quarters of our first President and General, George Washington. The first two floors are available for general touring (there is a third floor, which requires an additional admission fee). The mansion is well-preserved with period furniture so it looks just like it would have looked during Washington’s time, but photos are not allowed inside the mansion.

    The outdoors, or the grounds of the Estate, are just as beautiful as the indoor mansion. There were several small buildings that comprised, among others, George Washington’s barn, carriage, tools, meat curing, spinning, and laundry facilities. The intricate gardens are also presently maintained and open for visitors to stroll through.

    The icehouse is located along the Potomac River and although the icehouse is not available for touring because of its 22 foot drop, it was amazing to see its proximity to the Potomac River and to read about how it was used to make ice for the family. The Potomac River runs along the base of the Estate and, although Mount Vernon is located on the Virginia side, the other side is Maryland! My boys got a kick out of pointing to the other side. There are also special tours available to cruise on the Potomac River by boat.

    Washington’s Tomb is also located on the Estate and it is a quiet place of reflection. George Washington lays on the right, and on his left, lays his wife, Martha Washington.

    Kid Facts: Mount Vernon offers a special behind-the-scenes tour that takes visitors through a number of locations that were featured in National Treasure: Book of Secrets featuring Nicholas Cage. The Potomac River and the back of the Mansion are some of those scenes and while we were in the Mansion’s basement, we took this photo, not knowing it was not allowed – oops! When we got home, we watched the movie and paused at the point in the movie where the basement was shown so we could compare with our own photo.

    #2: Virginia’s Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)

    source

    Virginia’s Historic Triangle is comprised of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, which were all important stops on our nation’s journey from English settlement to a new, independent nation. Connected by 23 scenic miles, the three towns are jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Tickets to all three sites can be booked via this website.

    Tickets to experience the Historic Triangle can be expensive, but we really wanted to experience first-hand Colonial America, so we decided in advance to spend one full day at each location.

    Yorktown:

    The Battle of Yorktown ended on October 19, 1781 and marked a decisive victory by the American and French armies over British troops led by General Cornwallis. The battle not only boosted faltering American morale and revived French enthusiasm for the American Revolutionary War, but it helped undermine popular support for the conflict in England. During our tour of the battlefield, a National Park employee explained the battle, sights, and surrender flags situated throughout the battlefield. We loved being able to spatially orient ourselves and imagine the 18th century scene.

    The American Revolution Museum is an outdoor living museum with people dressed in period costumes, illustrating how people in that time period would have lived from day to day. Officially dedicated on April 1, 2017, the museum boasts 22,000 square feet of exhibition space with films, interactive galleries, and artifacts.

    Just outside the main museum building is the Revolution-era farm site, complete with log kitchens and attached brick chimneys.

    The museum posted procession times and we decided to hang around outside so we could catch it live. The fife and drums procession was absolutely amazing to hear live!

    Jamestown Settlement:

    Like the American Revolution Museum, Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that visitors can walk through and get a first-hand feeling of what life was like during the time of the Revolution. It is a preserved piece of history situated in the heart of Virginia and consists of an expansive gallery, three re-created ships that visitors may climb aboard and explore, and numerous cafes and shops. The Jamestown settlement ships were the highlight of this stop and we loved being able to climb aboard and experience the small, but efficient ships.

    We also enjoyed visiting Powhatan Indian Village, a re-created Indian village featuring reed-covered houses, crops, and a ceremonial circle of carved wooden posts.

    The Jamestown Settlement also contains the re-created James Fort, a recreation of the Virginia Company of London’s 1610-14 outpost.

    Colonial Williamsburg:

    Colonial Williamsburg was the highlight of our Virginia’s Historic Triangle experience. It was like nothing I have ever seen! One minute, I was in modern day 21st century and the next minute, I had time traveled and stepped into the past. Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is an amazing teaching experience for children, and it is definitely worth setting aside a full day for the experience and favoring Colonial Williamsburg over Yorktown and Jamestown. Make sure to wear good walking shoes as there is a lot of ground to cover!

    Colonial Williamsburg is a re-created 18th century city and is the world’s largest living history  museum. There are over 40 sites and trades, four historic taverns, and two world-class museums on site.

    The Colonial Williamsburg website is a critical resource in planning any visit. There are suggested interest-based itineraries, a full events calendar, and even a list of must do activities for first timers.

    We particularly enjoyed the opportunity to go on a horse carriage ride and we also sat in on a mock trial session that my kids were able to participate in. If I had more time, I would have liked to have participated in a wool spinning class, but even with dedicating a full day to the experience, there was so much to do that I did not have time to work it in.

    #3: The American Civil War Museum and the Confederate White House

    Located in Richmond, the White House of the Confederacy was the Executive Mansion of the Confederacy from 1861-1865, when Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy.  During the Civil War, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, lived in this home, and it is from here that he fled just before the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Army at Appomattox.

    The White House houses a collection of objects associated with the Confederacy and President Davis, and a contemporary museum in the building houses many other Confederate artifacts, including Robert E. Lee’s field tent and Stonewall Jackson’s sword and cap.

    #4: Naval Station Norfolk

    The Naval Station Norfolk is located in Norfolk, Virginia, the southeastern corner of the state. It is home to the world’s largest naval base and we were able to tour the base and see many ships, aircraft carriers, and destroyers. The tours are conducted by naval personnel and last 45 minutes and cost (cash only) $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-11, senior citizens over the age of 60. Although we could not get up close to the ships, it was a good opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to live on base. The entire experience took about three hours.

    #5: Busch Gardens and Water Country

    Although not a historical site, we decided to indulge in a visit to Busch Gardens and Water Country near the end of our trip. Living in Florida, we are no stranger to water parks, but even though we have Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg had a much different vibe. Throughout the park, there were different countries represented, and we enjoyed visiting the different themed areas. Water Country was also much bigger than we expected and overall, we had a great day experiencing the parks.

    Final Thoughts?

    As we neared the end of our trip, we could not have imagined it going any better than it did. We had a wonderful time learning about our country together and our 10-day road trip turned into a full semester of historical learning. For families with school-aged children, I highly recommend taking a trip to experience Virginia’s vibrant history!

  • Fun Family Hidden Gems in Florida

    Fun Family Hidden Gems in Florida

    It’s Spring Break time, and many families will be heading to Florida.  With Disney World, Universal Studios and thousands of miles of beaches, Florida may be the family vacation capital of the world, but there are also so many great spots that do not get as much attention as the world-famous theme parks.  We asked traveling families for their family favorite hidden gems in Florida and found these amazing places to put on our list!

    Fun in the Sun While Swimming in the Hotel Pool in the Middle of Winter

    Ever planned an action filled family vacation only to ask the kids what their favorite part was and for them to respond: swimming in the pool? Seriously, this has happened to me more times than I could count including on our last two visits to Disney. As a result, during our last pre and post cruise trip to Orlando, I decided to focus on exploring hotel pools, and it was a huge hit. My four kids and I (hubby joined us for cruise only) enjoyed water slides, splash pads, lazy rivers and poolside dance parties while Connecticut was hit with a Nor’easter.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    Ohana Character Breakfast at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

    Our family enjoyed a mouse free Orlando trip, and I wanted to give our youngest an opportunity to feel like he went to Disney World without breaking the bank and spending thousands of dollars on a pre and post cruise Orlando stay. The Ohana Character Breakfast at the Polynesian Resort with Mickey, Lillo, Stitch and Pluto provided us with a delicious meal, character signatures, pictures and interactions without paying park admission and spending time waiting in the hot sun.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

    Rainbow Springs State Park

    Rainbow Springs State Park is a stunning state park only an hour and a half from Orlando.  The water is warm year-round, making it the perfect place to go swimming with kids.  One of the coolest experiences is diving into the crystal-clear water with a snorkeling mask, which is sure to entertain kids (and adults) of all age.   It’s only $2 for entry per person with children under six getting in for free, so it’s a great deal for families looking for a budget day trip in Florida.  It’s also possible to go tubing down the river, but advance reservations are required.

    Recommended by Karen of Wanderlustingk.  Find out more from Karen about Rainbow Springs State Park.

     

    Glazer Children’s Museum

    The Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa makes for a fabulously fun and educational day out for the whole family. The focus is on making learning fun, and all exhibits are interactive and entertaining. We learned all about the weather system of Florida (and got slightly wet in the process!), took part in our very own stage show (costumes included) and tried out various careers in the imaginative play area. Probably my favorite children’s museum yet! There’s even a splash fountain outside to cool off from the Floridian heat!

    Recommended by Karen from Are We There Yet Kids. 

     

    Bo’s Ice Cream

    Bo’s Ice Cream is a small, unassuming ice cream shop in Tampa that’s full of possibilities. Open since 1954, it has a variety of choices from a simple chocolate cone to extravagant sundaes and milkshakes, all at a decent price. It’s not unusual for the shop to be packed, but they have a convenient drive-thru window as well as benches for parents to share the moment with their kids. The tradition of going to Bo’s has been handed down through the generations – there’s nothing wrong with an ice cream cone!

    Recommended by Jamie of Crashed Culture.

     

    Dinosaur World

    Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida is about a 30 minutes drive east of Tampa. The park is lush with tropical foliage and filled with life size displays of all kinds of dinosaurs sure to please any dino-philes, including our five year old boy who is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs.

    There are playgrounds for big kids and little tykes, as well as numerous covered picnic areas. We were allowed to bring in snacks, and we saw many families with coolers. There are also fossil digs and cave shows that occur every hour. We didn’t have time for the cave show, but the three kids (ages 3, 4, and 5) all enjoyed the fossil dig. They were allowed to pick 3 fossils and take them home.

    The park itself is well planned and situated. It was 81 degrees that day in February, but I could imagine a sweltering summer day and the need to escape the heat. The park has several covered exhibits to fit this need. Overall, Dinosaur World is a fun and leisurely destination, especially for travelers needing a break from the lines and crowds associated with larger theme parks.

    Recommendation from Chanta C.

     

    Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show 

    The mermaid show in the town of Weeki Wachee, Florida could be the last of its kind. For an entrance fee of $13, visitors sit in front of a large glass-fronted natural spring where half a dozen mermaids (and mermen) perform the story of Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid underwater. They lip sync, dance, and act without weights and seemingly without needing to breathe. Occasional turtles, fish and manatees also make an appearance. It was very mesmerizing and made me want to desperately believe in mermaids. The Weekie Wachee Mermaid Show is a throwback to the old glory days of road trips. Just like other small road trip attractions though, it’s in danger of disappearing forever. Go see it before it does.

    Recommended by Jill of Jack and Jill Travel.  Find out more from Jill about the Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show.

     

    Shelling in Sanibel Island

    Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida is a perfect spot for family vacations and a place that kids love as much as Mom and Dad. Separated from the city of Ft. Myers by a palm tree-lined causeway, Sanibel is quiet and secluded, with paved bike paths running the length of the island. But the most fun on Sanibel is combing the white sandy beaches for amazing seashells – little gifts of the sea – that wash up everywhere. They’ll capture kids’ hearts and imaginations for days. Don’t forget to bring mesh bags for shells and goggles for diving in the crystal clear shallow water!

    Recommended by Lori Sorrentino of Travlinmad.  Find out more from Lori about shelling on Sanibel Island.

     

    Sarasota Jungle Gardens

    Nestled in the shade of over 100 different species of palm trees, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens provides a wonderful opportunity for families to learn about native Florida wildlife. A variety of different shows are hosted throughout the day, and visitors can hand feed a flock of friendly flamingos after walking the Jungle Trail, which is also home to a turtle pond and a petting zoo. Willing volunteers can also become a perch for one of their many resident birds or hold a young alligator. Families will also enjoy the large shaded play area for kids and an on site restaurant with a variety of snacks and cold treats for sale, perfect for a hot Florida day. 

    Recommended by Leslie Stranathan.  Check out Leslie’s YouTube video about Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
    Hollywood Beach Hike

    During a recent last minute long weekend in Hollywood, Florida with my boys, my sister and my nephew, my sister and I longed for the excitement of the “Hollywood Broadwalk” about two miles north of our Hallendale Beach hotel.  I was cautiously optimistic when I proposed a “beach hike” to Hollywood to our crew.  We began our journey alongside the ocean, and soon I was carrying everybody’s sandals and water bottles.   Though we guessed it would take forty minutes, we enjoyed letting the kids set the pace, playing catch with the ocean waves and a found coconut, destroying abandoned sandcastles, and appropriating cast-off water guns.    They watched couples canoodle in the water and prospectors explore with metal detectors.

    Before we knew it, the Broadwalk, a 2.5 mile broad pedestrian way, with its array of iffy restaurants, bike rental shops and even a farmers’ market appeared before us, and we brushed the sand off of our toes.   It was time for fish and chips.  We chose Bonny & Read’s based primarily on its large sunny deck – a spot where we could order our food and enjoy a drink while the kids played on the beach playground-directly in our line of sight, while the sun set.

    I confess that while they enjoyed setting off as the sun set on the beach, my kids weren’t up for the roundtrip, but even in a Lyft, felt proud of themselves for the mileage they covered… as they negotiated the next ice cream stop.

    Recommended by Suzann Moskowitz.

     

    Drum Circle Sunset on Nokomis Beach

    The Nokomis Beach drum circle is a unique experience for the whole family. It’s held each Wednesday and Saturday evening year-round on Nokomis Beach beginning two hours before sunset. We needed to arrive early to find a spot for our blanket and chairs near the front of the large crowd that eventually surrounded the circle.

    Our children loved playing with juggling sticks, drums, hula-hoops and dancing with people of all ages inside the drum circle as the sun began to set.  A drum circle on Nokomis Beach is definitely a unique experience in Florida.

    Recommended by Jill Greising-Murschel of Let’s Travel Family.

    Florida Everglades

    Take a one-hour airboat tour of the Florida Everglades to get up close and personal with alligators in the Everglades swamps of South Florida. Kids of all ages will enjoy the thrill of gliding past marsh grasses as an expert guide educates them about the wildlife. Be sure to keep the little ones on the inside seats of the boat, because these alligators are real! After the airboat ride, the team from Animal Planet’s “Gator Boys” will present a 20-minute show with the alligators as part of the Everglades Holiday Park of Fort Lauderdale!

    Recommended by Cindy Loe of One Perfect Day In Travel.  Find out more from Cindy about the Florida Everglades.

    Glass Bottom Boat Tour

    Ever wondered what life would be like as a marine animal? We experienced it up close in Key Largo during the Glass Bottom Boat Tour from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America’s first underwater park. Apart from Hawaii in the USA, the largest living coral reef is spread across the coast of Florida. The 2½ hour boat tours traverses through the vast mangrove plantations then deep into the ocean for a glimpse into the underwater world.  We all huddled around the glass and were charmed to see the beautiful fish, the coral reef, and the diverse aquatic ecosystem. It was a sight to see the excitement on kids’ face.  It’s the best way for kids and non-divers to espy this underwater world.

    Pro Tip – Travelers who suffer seasickness should avoid or take medication before the tour.

    Recommended by Neha Kulshrestha.  Check out Neha’s recent post on South Florida.

    Key Biscayne

    Key Biscayne, a barrier island just a few minutes east of Miami, is a great place to visit for a few hours, a day or even stay for a week. The Key has much to offer kids and adults of all ages: a public beach, a State park, biking, canoeing, food, golfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, paddleboarding, sailing, shopping, skateboarding, snorkeling, tennis, wakeboarding, walking and windsurfing.

    At the southern end of Key Biscayne is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, home to a historic lighthouse built in 1825. Guided tours of the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottage are given year round. The park has 2 restaurants, picnic areas, a mile long beach, nature trails and a playground. A reef located six miles off shore also protects this beach from heavy surf.

    Recommended by Tracy McKenna.
    Crandon Park Beach

    More than just a beautiful beach, Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne has a great nature center and an amusement center. At the nature center be sure to check out the touch tank as well as other displays throughout the center. Self-guided nature walks allow visitors to explore the mangroves, sand dunes and seagrass beds. There are opportunities to see a heron or osprey, maybe even come across a sea star, puffer fish or sea turtle. The beach is protected by an offshore sand bar which prevents crashing waves, perfect for young children.

    Recommended by Tracy McKenna.

    We can’t wait to try out some of these Florida hidden gems during our next winter or spring break trip.  Be sure to check out our entire category of blog posts on things to do and places to visit in Florida including Florida cities to explore with kids.

  • 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!

  • Los Angeles With Kids: Five More Fun Family Activities

    Los Angeles With Kids: Five More Fun Family Activities

    With a population of 39.5 million, California is the most populous state in the country with three million residents more than all of Canada. Los Angeles is home to nearly four million residents and the greater metropolitan area (including Long Beach) boasts a population of 18.7 million people. It’s no surprise that there is tons of fun stuff to do in Los Angeles with kids!  In fact, earlier this year, Catherine, her mom, and her son shared Five Fun Family Activities in Los Angeles from a combined work/leisure trip. Here, I’d like to share with you Five More Fun Family Activities!

    #1: Long Beach 

    Long Beach is located roughly 25 miles south of Los Angeles proper and is the second largest city in the Los Angeles area (after Los Angeles, of course). As a child growing up in Southern California, I knew of Long Beach for only two reasons: (1) home of the Queen Mary, and (2) the large container ships that would come in to harbor as Long Beach is a major shipping port. I remember paying one visit to the Queen Mary when I was in high school, but otherwise, Long Beach was something of a no man’s land, with nary an attraction that would make the 45 minute drive worthwhile.

    In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Long Beach experienced a revitalization of sorts and became a worthwhile destination of its own. The Aquarium of the Pacific, or, the Long Beach Aquarium, opened in 1998, and is a wonderful place to spend the day with kids. Located at Rainbow Harbor Marina, in the heart of downtown Long Beach, the Long Beach Aquarium offers not only wonderful viewing of sea life, but also abundant add on opportunities, such as ocean boat rides, play time on the beach, and even fine dining along the water front.

    Having visited Long Beach on a number of occasions now, I heartily endorse making plans to spend an afternoon at the Aquarium or, if you want to be really wild, plan to spend a night in Long Beach and take full advantage of everything the city has to offer. We did this on a more recent trip to Long Beach, purchasing both Aquarium tickets and a harbor tour as part of a package directly from the Aquarium, then spent the evening at hotel nearby so that we could enjoy dinner and a few hours of sand time on the beach before heading back to Los Angeles.

    #2: Huntington Library

    Another one of my top places to visit whenever we are in Los Angeles visiting family is the Huntington Library. The Huntington boasts an impressive library collection, with seven million manuscripts and 430,000 rare books, as well as an extensive art collection, focusing on European Art from the 15th – 20th centuries. But, the true beauty of the Huntington lies in its extensive gardens and grounds, which take up over 120 of the 207 acres owned by the Huntington.

    Strolling around the Japanese Gardens on his first visit to the Huntington.

    The entire garden is child friendly and my kids particularly love the Asian gardens, but note that the gardens can get extremely crowded and that food and picnicking are only permitted in designated areas and at the cafe and tea room. Advance purchase of tickets is not required and honestly, we have never found it to be necessary.

    #3: Hike the San Gabriel Mountains

    The high school I attended is conveniently located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. There are a number of hiking trails, but one of my favorite as a child is the Sturtevant Falls Trail which begins at Chantry Flat, a designated Recreation Area within the Angeles National Forest and a starting point for many historic trails up in the San Gabriel Mountains.

    The Sturtevant Falls Trail is a lovely 3.5 mile hike that is extremely kid friendly, with the exception of the last 0.6 miles back to the parking lot. You heard me – the hike begins with a steep 0.6 mile paved walk down to the beginning of the trail. The steep paved incline is glorious at the beginning of the hike, but believe me when I say it has been torture when we are tired and facing the incline at the end of the hike. I’ve seen many families bring umbrella strollers and use the strollers to push young children back up the hill after the hike, but I’ve also seen many parents carrying five year olds up the hill after the kids have given up. Definitely be prepared and know that it’s a rough walk back up to the parking lot.

    A look at the steep paved incline at the end of the trail!

    Pro Tip:

    • A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park at the trail head. These can be purchased at a small shop located near the official parking area, although you can also just pay either $5 or $10 (depending on availability) to park at the small shop, which is privately owned and managed.
    • Parking does fill up quickly in the mornings.
    • Pack plenty of water – there are no fountains or amenities available once you begin your hike.

    For those with older kids (teenager+), definitely consider using Chantry Flat as the base for a longer hike. My husband and I recently did the 16-mile round trip hike to the Mount Wilson Observatory, via Chantry Flat. It’s a steep climb (nearly 4,000 feet elevation gain) over 7-8 miles and the ledges are tight, so this is not something I would attempt with a toddler or even most elementary aged children. However, the views of Downtown Los Angeles are spectacular on a clear day.

    View of Downtown Los Angeles along the Upper Wilson Creek Trail

    #4: Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

    The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is another fan favorite for my household. Unlike the Huntington, the Arboretum is greatly unsung and most people aren’t even aware that it is there. It is rarely ever crowded and there are a number of tour options, including docent led walking tours that are included in the price of admission.

    One of my favorite things about the Arboretum is the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of my favorite birds: the peacock! The city in which the Arboretum is located, Arcadia, has a number of free roaming peacocks and many of them have chosen to call the Arboretum home. My kids loved the opportunity to see these majestic and beautiful birds up close.

    #5: Travel Town located in Griffith Park

    Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country, with over 4,200 acres right smack in the middle of Los Angeles. There are a number of attractions within the Park, some of which are free, but some do require admission (for example, the Gene Autry Museum or the L.A. Zoo).

    For those looking for something to do with young kids, Travel Town may be of particular interest. Travel Town is an outdoor museum dedicated to preserving the railroad history of the western United States. There are a number of locomotives on display, some of which are available for climbing and sitting, and both my sons absolutely adored this stop as young/old toddlers.

    source

    As an added bonus, there is no admission to Travel Town (although donations are gladly accepted), so this is truly one of the most budget friendly options for families with young children visiting Los Angeles!

    I hope you enjoyed my list of Five More Fun Family Activities in Los Angeles! Be sure to check out the original list of Five Fun Family Activities in Los Angeles and our entire category of posts on Los Angeles and California before your next trip to the Sunshine State with kids!

     

     

  • Spotlight: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center / National Air and Space Museum With Kids!

    Spotlight: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center / National Air and Space Museum With Kids!

    Located in Chantilly, VA, a quick 30-45 minute drive from Washington, DC, the Udvar-Hazy Center or, as we locals like to call it, “the Dulles Air & Space Museum” is an off the beaten path destination that I highly recommend for anyone visiting Washington, DC. Let’s face it, the weather in Washington, DC is fickle and there are many days during heavy tourist season where the weather is just too unpleasant to be outside. If you’re tired of being drenched in sweat the minute you step outside your hotel room, Dulles Air & Space is the place for you!

    Dulles Air & Space has two large hangars, displaying thousands of aircrafts and space ships. When my kids were early walkers, we frequently took advantage of Air & Space’s wide corridors and open expanse of space to let our kids run and burn off their energy, especially in the winter or spring when the weather was frequently too cold or too wet for us to be outside.

    My now eight year old started visiting Air & Space when he was just getting on two feet!

    If you have any experience visiting museums with young children, you know that it can frequently be a harrowing experience to actually get anything out of it yourself. Between maneuvering the crowds, chasing little feet, and reminding sticky hands not to touch, we frequently find that we, as the adults, miss out on a lot of the experience. I’m happy to report that the Dulles Air & Space museum is different because the nature of the exhibits (airplanes and space shuttles!), makes it easy for even the adults to catch as glimpse before eager little feet run off. The Blackbird, the Concorde, the Enola Gay, and the Discovery Shuttle are all located at Dulles Air & Space and they’re impressive enough to catch the fancy of even the youngest museum goers.

    Things to Note:

    • The museum is open daily from 10am – 5:30pm and although admission is free, there is a parking fee of $15 per vehicle before 4pm.
    • There is a McDonald’s cafe located on the second floor so if you get hungry and need to catch a bite to eat, that’s always an option.
    • If you have older kids, there is also an IMAX Theater and Planetarium that may be of interest. My children also love to watch the preservation and restoration activities taking place in the Restoration Hangar, where there are frequently specialists working hard to assess and preserve artifacts for everyone’s enjoyment.
    • Do not confuse the Dulles Air & Space Museum with the National Air & Space Museum in Downtown, Washington, DC. Both are operated by the Smithsonian, but are uniquely different. The downtown museum has traditional exhibits and a children’s science area that is fantastic for children ages 3-6. The downtown museum, however, can get extremely crowded during busy tourist season as it is located on the mall and within walking distance to most major tourist sites. The Dulles Air & Space Museum featured in this post can mostly be described as “a bunch of cool airplanes and space craft hanging out in giant hangars.” In other words, super awesome for little kids who need to burn off energy in sub-optimal weather conditions. It’s also a wonderful place to visit with older children, especially as they learn more about air and space travel. My oldest son is not quite at the age where the Enola Gay or the Concorde means anything to him – but you can be sure we will visit when he is!

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

    Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more fabulous 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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