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Its no secret that kids think bodily functions are entertaining. Most parents have been embarrassed at one point or another by their children’s impolite giggles and noises. Well, if you can’t beat them, join them- but make sure to throw in some education for good measure! Grossology is a traveling exhibit that uses “edutainment” to teach kids why we burp, sneeze, and vomit. Where else can kids play on a playground shaped like a giant digestive tract?
Recently, we sent Superoo Madelinej out to the Rockford Discovery Museum in Rockford, Il to check out Grossology with her kids. She said that while she feels the exhibit was probably geared towards children ages 6-12, her five year old and three year old still got alot out of it. Her three year old “really enjoyed climbing on the mouth/esophagus/stomach/intestine playground and trying to play the (free) pinball game” while her five year old loved the “shooting” game where “she loaded ping pong balls into a shooter, aimed for the big nostrils, and fired. Every few minutes, the game “sneezes” and all the ping pong balls come out.” Kids with an especially large love for all things disgusting might have fun with the “guess the smell” game. Is that armpit or foot that you smell?
You can read Madeline’s entire review of the Grossology Exhibit here.
Grossology will be at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford through Jan 2nd, 2011, so if you live in the area, be sure to set aside some time during the Winter Break to pay the exhibit a visit. The exhibit is also at the Sloan Museum in Flint, MI through January 16th and the St Louis Science Center through March 27th. It will also be at the Virginia Air and Space Center January 29th through September 5th and the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA April 30th through September 5th.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Snow came to Minnesota last week in the shape of big, wet flakes. As it accumulated, my kids got out their sleds and snow-block makers and headed into the winter wonderland, coming in only for a cup of hot chocolate and clothes-drying session.
As much fun as simple playing in the snow can be, it’s not the only fun to be had in winter here in Minnesota. And while those who live in or travel through the upper Midwest in the winter months must always be aware of the weather and ready to change plans, winter doesn’t mean we have to stay at home for six months straight. These are some of our favorite activities to cure the winter blues.
1) Visit a waterpark:
Photo courtesy Waterpark of America
When it’s 20 below, the steamy environment of an indoor waterpark can make us forget the chill of the air outside. Waterpark of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, is billed as the nation’s largest indoor waterpark, but other waterpark hotels are scattered throughout the state. Pick a weekend to forgo the snowpants for a swimsuit and enjoy getting wet instead of frosty.
Read reviews of the Waterpark of America.
Find family friendly lodging in Bloomington, MN.
2) Attend a holiday parade or winter festival:
Photo courtesy minnemom
We like to see the annual Parade of Lights in New Ulm, Minnesota on the day after Thanksgiving. Other popular winter events are the Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis and St. Paul’s Winter Carnival. The one I really want to see, though, is the Fish House Parade in Aitkin, Minnesota. Who says we can’t have fun in winter?
3) Go for a ride:
While the outdoor amusement parks have long been closed for the season, Nickelodeon Universe at Minnesota’s Mall of America is open year-round and the temperature is always just-right at this indoor park. From kiddie rides to roller coasters, there’s something for everyone, and you can easily squeeze in some shopping if you need a break from the fun.
Read reviews of Nickelodeon Universe and Mall of America.
4) Check out a museum:
Photo courtesy of minnemom
The Minnesota History Center’s new Chocolate exhibit is on our list of things to see this winter. My son is begging to go see the model trains at Bandana Square, and the kids never turn down a trip to a children’s museum or science museum.
Read reviews of the Minnesota History Center, Minnesota Children’s Museum, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Twin City Model Railroad Museum.
5) Embrace the season:
Visit the Forest History Center’s lumber camp to learn what life was like in the camps during the winter. Find a sledding hill or tubing hill or ski slope for some winter exhilaration. Learn how to cross-country ski.
There’s really no need to hibernate just because it’s winter. We’re tough up here in the frozen north, and winter’s just one of the things we have to deal with. Besides, in a few months, we’ll be complaining that it’s too hot, and we’ll wish it were winter again.
Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children. Her family enjoys finding fun things to do in Minnesota and beyond, any time of year. We here at Trekaroo think she’s pretty swell!
Its where land ends and the massive Pacific Ocean begins. A place where the city becomes less urban and more wild. The views are sweeping and the trails are perfect for a family friendly adventure . Its San Francisco‘s Lands End, a portion of a larger treasure known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Land’s End is full of hiking adventures, opportunities to see the remains of ships that
met their fate on the rocks near the bay, and even cannons that were once built to
defend the city which are still facing the ocean as though awaiting a call to action. Amongst all that
nature and history, there is even a world-class art museum, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, which is
home to works of art by some of the greats including Picasso and Rembrandt.
There are many ways to enter the recreation area, but the main trail head starts on El Camino
Del Mar at the base of the park. The beginning of the trail is also the first viewing area. The
vista point unfolds into a view of the entire bay with the Golden Gate Bridge slightly east, Marin
Headlands to the north, and the vast Pacific Ocean to the west as far as the eye can see. On
clear days (there aren’t that many of them in foggy San Francisco) there are numerous
sail boats all over the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge, adding to the picturesque
view. Sometimes large freighter ships pass through the bay on their way to Oakland and San
Francisco, and on rare occasion a military ship can be spotted.
The main trail starts right from the initial vista point. The trail is rather easy, so even small
children wouldn’t find it too challenging. Most of the trail is surrounded
by bushes and small trees for hiker safety. Sometimes there are intervals without much
surrounding vegetation and views of the ocean open up all over again to remind the hikers
that they really are walking along a huge cliff with jagged rocks right underneath. Parents are
advised to keep a close eye on their children because as enchanting and magical as the hike
can be, it can also be dangerous.
The main trail isn’t very long, but there are plenty of fun things for kids to do. Since the beaches of
San Francisco are largely covered with jagged rocky cliffs, over time there have been a number
of ships that have crashed into the rocks and run aground. Some of the remains of the ships are over 50 years old
and still present today.
People interested in joining such a hike can do so by visiting this Group Hike Through Land’s End.
Another great destination is Fort Miley which was built to protect San
Francisco from potentially invading ships. Old 19th century style cannons can still be found
facing the ocean at various spots that are now overgrown with thick vegetation. Kids to get a great kick out of seeing or
climbing on an old cannon if they find one.
After a few hours of hiking on trails with arguably some of the best views in all of California, make time to visit the Palace of the Legion of Honor, a
museum which is right inside the park. Not only does it have a place to buy snacks and take
a little break, but it is also home to some of the greatest artists in history like Picasso, Monet,
Rembrandt.
Parents who manage to get their kids interested in the museum tend to be most satisfied with
the day because after all, it is a rare parent-dream-come-true when the kids are active and
learning at the same time.
As mentioned earlier, the museum houses works from some of history’s greatest artists and
sculptors. While Picasso’s works are understandably not the most comprehensible to children,
the museum has a section with ancient art that might be more fun for kids.
Whatever part of the park you have time to explore, the day is sure to be fun, educational, awesomely exhausting, and
unforgettable.
Alex Genadinik is a big fan of the California outdoors and is currently working on a site to
unite residents of the Bay Area into a great San
Francisco and Bay Area Hiking Community.
Welcome to
Last month when I was in New York City one of my major goals was to finally visit the American Museum of Natural History. I set aside an entire morning to walk the halls of the museum that Ben Stiller, Theodore Roosevelt, and their rag tag team of characters brought to life on the big screen. Well, that morning quickly turned into an all day event and I still didn’t even come close to seeing it all! The museum is HUGE and filled with so many types of exhibits that there truly is something for everyone. If you only have a few hours and want to get a good glimpse at what the museum has to offer, here are some of my must sees:
Stand In In Awe The Hall of Biodiversity: Wow. This was my absolute favorite part of the museum. The Spectrum of Life dominates one wall of the hall and showcases 28 different groups, from butterflies to fungi. Its a great way to see diversity in both size and adaptation, along with the true beauty of the natural world.
Visit Some Dioramas: Nothing says Natural History Museum quite like a hall filled with dioramas of stuffed mammals. Kids love them because they can get up close and personal with animals that they are familiar with, and parents love them because they provide a nice sense of nostalgia. I am always impressed at just how big some animals actually are. The American Museum of Natural History offers African, Asian, and North American Halls of Mammals.
Learn About An Ancient Culture: An important part of natural history is the culture of our ancestors. Not that long ago, the world was a lot less homogenized and many communities lived in total isolation. Learn about Native Americans, African, Asian, and South American peoples, or my favorite cultural exhibit: Margaret Mead’s beloved Pacific Cultures. Pick a hall and teach your children about a way of life that is vastly different from their own.
Hit Up The Planetarium: Space is such an abstract concept for so many of us. We know its up there beyond the clouds, but its hard to imagine anything bigger than planet Earth. A great way to experience outer space is by sitting in a planetarium and gazing up at the incredible beauty of a recreated universe. The Hayden Planetarium is massive and dominates Rose Hall with its 4 million pound sphere. Buy a ticket and step inside a world that inspires children to dream of something bigger.
Walk with the Dinosaurs: My kids would never let me walk out of a natural history museum without visiting the dinosaurs. I am not exactly sure what is so captivating about the skeletal remains of giant lizards, but they seem to be pretty much universally loved by kids. The American Museum of Natural History has some excellent fossil displays including Tyrannosaurus, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, and a few “sauruses” that I have never even heard of. Fossils of prehistoric mammals such as the mastodon are also represented, and guaranteed to excite you fossil loving little ones.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below. PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Step 1: Pick a recent post (past couple of days)
Step 2: Under “Name” write: “Title of your blog post (blog name)” – blog name in parenthesis
Under “url” paste: the link to your blog post (not your home page)
Step 3: Grab the Spotlight Thursday image and link to this post so your readers can see who else is playing along this week.
We want to be sure that everyone who participates in Spotlight Thursdays gets their moment in the spotlight so blogs that don’t link back will unfortunately have to be removed.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Museums are often filled with exhibits designed to grab the visitors attention and educate patrons about aspects of life we often take for granted. Subjects can be as abstract as the tiny atoms which make up all forms of life, to something simple that often gets taken for granted, such as the tree. From now until September 26th, the California Science Center has dedicated an entire exhibit to trees. Its designed to appeal to the 2-7 year old age group and is called “Exploring Trees Inside and Out“.
Our very own Superoo, Debi Huang (aka GoExploreNature), recently had the opportunity to visit this amazing exhibit with her 2 and 5 year olds and came back with nothing but great things to say about what they saw. The exhibit was designed by the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, and developed with a grant from Doubletree Hotels, with the purpose of creating a better understanding of the importance of nature among children. The museum has traveled all around the country, reaching 650,000 children and their families already. Do you live in the Chicago area? Well lucky you! The exhibit’s next stop is Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago, where it will be featured from October through December.
Here is an excerpt of Debi’s review of this incredible (and fun!) exhibit:
“The goal of this exhibit is to teach young kids the significant role trees play in the environment. We listened to the sounds of the trees (think birds, leaves falling and squirrels), smelled tree scents (like sap, bark, wood and apples) and looked at parts of the tree under a microscope. The 5-½ year old loved playing in a larger-than-life bird’s nest.
He also got a kick out of pretending to be a forest creature as part of a blue-screen flying experience. The exhibit provides the costumes, the blue screen and the video. All your child needs to do is to get dressed, flap his arms and watch the screen to feel like he’s flying through the forest. (Don’t forget to take video of this if you can!)
The highlight for our 2 year old was the giant tree house play structure smack dab in the middle of the exhibit. He ran through the “branches” and slid down into a pile of “leaves” more times than we could count! The best part? Getting there right after the Center opened meant we had the exhibit pretty much to ourselves.”
Read Debi’s entire review of Exploring Trees Inside and Out here.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions here and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
