Welcome to 
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
Welcome to
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and for most of us, its a time to gather with family and stuff ourselves full of food. Its a time to cherish all that we are thankful for while remembering those brave and hearty Puritans who sailed across a vast ocean in search of a new life in the New World. As much as I love and cherish my family’s own holiday traditions, I have always wanted to head to the East Coast and have a Pilgrim Thanksgiving. One filled with historic recipes and demonstrations by people in period costume. I have known for years that the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts hosts a traditional Thanksgiving celebration but now, thanks to Lydie, Trekaroo’s researcher and list maker extraordinaire, I have discovered that there are many great places on the East Coast to experience a Pilgrim Thanksgiving. Here is a small sampling of what Lydie has discovered:
- You can have Pilgrim Thanksgiving in New Hampshire at the Remick Country Doctor Musuem and Farm. Parents can learn how to process a turkey while kids learn how to churn butter and whip cream. Traditional Thanksgiving food from historic recipes is served and a special appearance by Abraham Lincoln is scheduled.
- The “Food and Feasts of Colonial Virginia” takes place over Thanksgiving weekend at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. Families can learn how the first feast was gathered, preserved, and prepared and then enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in the cafe.
Photo courtesy Flickr User robsv
- The Annual America’s Hometown Thanksgiving celebration will take place at Plymouth Harbor for the 15th year in a row this year on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Three days of festivities include a parade that chronicles the Pilgrim legacy and showcases what family is all about. A harvest festival and kid’s activities are also planned.
Read about all the great places to have a Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving 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. 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 | OR | 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
One of the great things about living in the US is that we are such a heterogeneous society. I love that we live in a country where so many people from different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds can live together in peace. When raising our children, it is important to make sure that they not only value their cultural background, but that they learn about and appreciate other cultures as well. I am always excited to expose my children to a new culture, whether it be through food, a museum exhibit, or personal interaction. Lydie, one of our Trekaroo Superoos , put together some fantastic lists
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in Los Angeles,
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in Washington DC
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in San Francisco
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in Pennsylvania
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in Texas
- Cross cultural experiences for kids in New York City.
Amish in Pennsylvnia - Photo by: flickr/Bob Jagendorf
Today I would like to spotlight an experience from each of the lists with the hope that you will follow the links to see what other great ideas Lydie has listed. Lets get started with LA!
In Los Angeles attend the Los Angeles Greek Festival. Lydie says: “The Greek Festival is held every year in September and you will have to check the calendar for the exact date. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover the Greek culture and food without having to endure a long flight. There are lots of activities for children to enjoy as well as a separate play area where they can have fun.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out Los Angeles Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
In Washington DC don’t miss the Freer & Sackler Galleries. Lydie says “This is the place to go to embrace Asian culture in Washington DC. Do not miss the ImaginAsia events held on a regular basis. They will help children understand the Asian culture by participating in projects and activities.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out Washington DC Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
In San Francisco be sure to visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Lydie says “This is actually one of my favorite museums in San Francisco. They have wonderful temporary exhibitions that will make you fall in love with the Jewish culture.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out San Francisco Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
In Texas take the time to see The Women’s Museum, an Institiute for the Future. Lydie says “The exhibition ‘Freedom’s Sisters’ is running till July 4, 2010 will showcase the stories of Harriett Tubman, Rosa Parks and many more. Young girls of any race will feel empowered by their visit.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out Texas Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
No visit to New York City is complete without seeing the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Lydie says “Ellis Island was the last step for European immigrants and the last wait before entering the United States in quest for a better life. By visiting this museum, children will have a better understanding of what Irish, British, Polish, German, French and others endured in the quest for a better life.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out New York City Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
In Pennsylvania visit Amish Village. Lydie says: “You will get an insider’s view on how the Amish work and live. You will see the blacksmith shop, a central shop in the Amish culture, the livestock, the smokehouse, the village store etc and you will leave with a better understanding of their culture.” Want to see what else is on the list? Check out Pennsylvania Cross Cultural Experiences for Kids.
We hope these lists will inspire your family to explore a different culture. Now lets see where these bloggers and Trekaroo friends have been exploring lately…
Let’s see where the spotlight shines this week!
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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! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions here and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo – a review site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids and the woman behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
