Priceless Writer - Travel & Recreation

As parents scramble to gather the last of the required school supplies for the kiddies soon returning to reading, writing, and 'rithmatic, I decided to take the advice of my colleague, Danielle and suggest one more thing to do before the last days of summer slip away…take a day-cation! You don’t have to travel miles to enjoy a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of home life. Simply plan a getaway that takes place within the comforts of your own backyard (or at least, not too far from it)…

1) Zoo Time! – When is the last time you spent the day at the zoo, where lions, tigers, and bears (oh my) present glimpses of far-off lands and creatures. The list of inhabitants at the local zoo has a knack of changing, whether it's newborn tigers or a species you've never heard of. For example, at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY – sand cats have arrived. At the North Carolina Zoo, the new Watani Grasslands Reserve serves as home to Tonga and Batir – a mother/daughter elephant duo. At the San Francisco Zoo, families have the opportunity to enjoy overnight stays – the next one being held August 23rd.

2) Amusement or Theme Parks  - Whether it's slipping down a watery slide at Seabreeze or soaring through the air on an exciting ride at Six Flags, amusement parks are a great way to get away without traveling far. Games, haunted houses, water parks, carnival food, and great memories are just some of the features to look forward to when planning a day-cation to an amusement park. A couple of suggestions: Watercountry USA (Williamsburg, West Virginia); Sesame Place (Pennsylvania); and Legoland (Carlsbad, California) – where the Sea Life Aquarium opens on August 11th.

3) Visit the State Fair – August & September are popular months for state fairs to take place, such as the New York State Fair (a personal favorite of the Clintons), where butter sculptures, antique tractors, Syrian brown bear shows, dueling rock bands, culture, colorful flowers, High School High singers, and much more collide. Other notable state fairs include: Indiana State Fair (August 6th – 17th), Kansas State Fair (Sept 5th – 14th), and Georgia State Fair (Sept 23rd – 28th).

4) Museum Moments – Every region offers a chance to explore their city or state; explore the ins and outs of science and technology; or become familiar with geniuses of the art world. Why not spend the day at one or more museums that deliver entrance to a realm of educational enlightenment that's fun for the whole family? Been there, done that? Try traveling between 50 to 100 miles outside of your city to investigate regional nooks and crannies that you never knew existed.

5) Camping Out – Grab all the necessary ingredients to create stomach-splitting S'mores in the backyard while huddling under makeshift or real tents for as long as you can stand it. Bring along a flashlight to tell ghost stories under the glow of the moon. Slather on the bug repellant, lay back, and listen to the creatures of the night. Reveal and share innermost secrets with the ones you love. The possibilities are endless when you really put your imagination to work.

6) State Lakes and Parks – Doesn’t a day lounging about the great outdoors sound like a decent day-cation? Pack a picnic lunch and sprawl out along a sandy beach while the children create castles and imaginary moats. Not too far from where I live, Jamesville Beach offers rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats for really decent prices – ranging from $2 (half-hour) to $20 (full-day) rentals.

National Aquarium (501 East Pratt Street; 410-576-3800) – Many will say that this is one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Baltimore that adults will enjoy as well. If your child is going through that 'dolphin' phase, then they will surely enjoy this attraction. The aquarium is home to many exotic and interesting creatures, such as the Giant Pacific Octopus and the Golden Lion Tamarin – a tree-dwelling monkey with the mane of a lion. In total, there are close to 16,500 specimens and more than 660 species of animals living at the aquarium. Other features to look forward to will include an onsite waterfall, tropical rain forest, and brightly colored exotic birds. Hours of Operation

Cost

Total Experience (Aquarium, 4D Immersion Theater, Dolphin Show)
Adult ($28.95); Senior ($27.95); Child ($17.95)

4D Theater Package (Aquarium and 4D Immersion Theater)
Adult ($25.95); Senior ($24.95); Child ($16.95)

Dolphin Show Package  (Aquarium and Dolphin Show)
Adult ($25.95); Senior ($24.95); Child ($14.95)

Aquarium Only
Adult ($21.95); Senior ($20.95); Child ($12.95)

Port Discovery (35 Market Place; 410-727-8120) – Encourage your child to run about an indoor playland and museum that allows them to discover everyday and out-of-the-ordinary activities. Younger guests often settle into the Port Discovery "farm" or "roadside market." They enter a make-believe world, where they wear the farmer's cap and grow crops to sell to their parents. The world of Pharaohs and mummies come to life in the Port Discovery's Egyptian tomb exhibit. Older visitors are often lured into "Miss Perception's Mystery House," where they take off on an exiting trail to nab their next clue.  Hours of Operation

Cost

$11.75 (ages 2 and above)
FREE for children under 2

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum (216 Emory Street; 410-727-1539) – Budding baseball fans can trace the history of one of the most well known of homerun hitters in the history of the sport. Head for the birthplace of the "the Bambino" and encounter a rather plain brick row house – situated three blocks from Oriole Park at Camden Yards. While this is the birthplace of Babe Ruth (1895), his family never called this place 'home,' but instead lived in a nearby apartment – right above a tavern that his father ran. The row house and the connected buildings now serve as a museum that treasures their local hero and the Orioles baseball club. Come explore a multitude of film clips, rare photographs, and other artifacts. Hours of Operation

Cost: $6

Looking for other Baltimore kid-friendly travel gems? Keep an eye out for the B&O Railroad Museum (looking for a train ride?) and the Baltimore Museum of Industry (with hands-on allure).  

 
If you're looking to interest your child in the world of science and technology – head on over to Danny Brown's Priceless Writer Technology and Business blog to read my guest post on "Three Technology-Related Museums for a Kid-Friendly Outing."
 

Welcome to Indianapolis – where parents flock to catch a Pacers or Colts game, race over to the Indy 500 festivities, or make plans to enjoy the fruits of labor at the Indy International Wine Competition in July – the largest wine competition held outside of California. But – what about the kids?

A couple of kid-friendly gems include:
 
Children's Museum of Indianapolis
3000 N Meridian St
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: 317-334-4000

As you enter this museum, you will certainly be in awe of all the sights to see and things to do. The magic of the Dinosphere is clearly a highlight of the museum that allows children to meet-and-greet with authentic paleontologists. The chance to dig for fossils is also a real treat. Smaller kids truly enjoy the Playscape, where creativity and sand provide the perfect playground. The Indy race car experience is also a common thrill amongst youngsters.

 

Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W Washington St
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: 317-630-2001

Where else can you go to discover the largest shark touch tank in the world? The Indianapolis Zoo is also the place to be in order to explore the only underwater dolphin-viewing dome in the U.S. with Dolphin Adventure. Other features include taking a peek at baby animals (like blue iguanas) with the active breeding program and visiting the other 320 species represented at the Zoo.

Indiana State Museum
650 W. Washington
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-232-1637

Take a trip back into the pioneer days or learn the prehistory of Indiana, as everything that has to do with the state is explored at this museum. A pop culture gallery allows visitors to journey back to forgotten favorites in the childhood toys department. Before you leave, you will certainly have become an expert on all Indiana has to offer the world – including common plants and animals native to the state.

Encourage a Child's Interest in the World

To enhance the mind, cultivate creativity, and further a child's understanding of the world – one of the best outings for a parent to pursue is a visit to a museum or other education-related attraction while vacationing. Perhaps, you are planning a family trip to discover a new city or wish to explore the inspiration found in your own neck of the woods. There are thousands upon thousands of museums and other attractions stretching across the world – waiting to light the flame of education in your little one with interesting facts and intriguing activities that illustrate the way of the world.

A treasure-trove of attractions, such as the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia await your arrival…keep an eye out for city-specific suggestions.