The Trenton Times Came to Rockingham Too!

As I mentioned, we went to celebrate George Washington's b-day at Rockingham Historical Site--and so did the Trenton Times!  And, because my kids are so cute, the photographer snapped their picture a few times.

Here's one of them:


http://photos.nj.com/the-times/2012/02/rockingham_historic_site_in_ki_1.html
 

An Eclectic Art & Science Museum in the Middle of New Jersey

An Eclectic Art Science Museum in The Middle of New Jersey

Another Reason to See Mighty Mike at Adventure Aquarium

Remember my post about Mighty Mike, the largest alligator on display outside of Florida?  Well, my friend Serene told me about an even better reason to go see Mighty Mike and the rest of the Adventure Aquarium: THIS WEEKEND ONLY,  FEBRUARY 17-20, ONLINE admission tickets to the Adventure Aquarium are ONLY $15 (plus tax and processing fee--works out to be $17.05).  

The promotion is called "cabin fever" and you must purchase the tickets online. The savings for kids' tickets is about 1 dollar but since adult ticket prices are normally $23.95, this is a significant savings.  There is also a 20% savings on annual passes, should you decide to purchase them through the Cabin Fever online promotion.  Here's the link:  http://www.adventureaquarium.com/specials/cabinfever.aspx

So now you really have no reason to delay--and say goodbye to Mighty Mike!

Celebrate Washington's Birthday in Central Jersey

Ok, so most of you are probably on the slopes in the Poconos, Vermont, or Utah.  Or on your Caribbean getaway.  But for those of us who were SURE we would lose our February snow days and so didn't make vacation plans, here's some more fun things to do with the kids for Washington's birthday all on SUNDAY, February 19th.  And they are a LOT cheaper than scuba diving in Aruba!

• Washington Crossing State Park (NJ side)--head on over to the Johnson Ferry House from 1-4 pm tomorrow for a family-friendly celebration of good old George's 280th b-day. The festivities will include Colonial harp music, kids' toys and games, and period demonstrations, including "the history of gingerbread." Refreshments, including punch and hearth-baked gingerbread, will be served.  The event is FREE; the Johnson House is asking for a $5 donation.  

• Rockingham Historic Site--Rockingham is offering special guided tours of the house and visitor center, with an emphasis on interesting facts and details about Washington.  The tours are offered on the hour at 12, 1, 2, and 3 p.m., and reservations are required! Please call 609-683-7132 to make reservations. Light refreshments will also be served.  This event is FREE; donations are always appreciated.

• Allaire State Park--visit the Historic Village at Allaire from 12-3 and celebrate Washington's birthday circa 1830.  You can tour the homes and watch as villagers  prepare for a "Birth Night Ball" and explain the birthday customs of the time, make authentic birthday dishes, and tell visitors about interesting Washington-related facts and stories.  There will be speeches and toasts given in Washington's honor, enjoy refreshments, and more! This event is FREE. 

Visit the website for the NJ Department of Envirnomental Protection, Divison of Parks and Forestry, for information about all three places: www.state.nj.us  

And then have fun celebrating the big man's birthday, right here in central NJ!

Unique, Cool, and FUN Art Exhibit

Unique, Cool, and FUN Art Exhibit

Two Cool Exhibits at the Charles River Museum of Industry

Hello Massachusetts fans, and anyone visiting Massachusetts over the Presidents' Day holiday! Here's one for you!

On our last visit to WALTHAM, Massachusetts, we discovered the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation located at 154 Moody Street, Waltham, MA.  This museum is small, but a lot of fun.  Its permanent exhibits many of which are hands-on,  which showcase  American innovation and invention from 1812 to modern day are cool enough to warrant visiting the museum any time--my sons spent all day there and didn't want to leave!

But two temporary exhibits, which are about to move on, really justify a visit to the museum right now.

The first is called Another Side of In, which is a collaboration between Phish Bassist Mike Gordon, artist Marjorie Minkin (his mom), and electronics designer Jamie Robertson.  It is small exhibit, but one which can keep your kids occupied for a LONG time.  The exhibit is made up of iridescent, translucent molded plastic torso-like shapes, which are decorated with swirls of color, and glowing lights, and which light up and play sound when you move back and forth in front of them.  Some play music, some make weird noises, and all glow luminous colors when triggered.  You can move fast and slow past several of them at the same time and create a veritable symphony (or cacophony, depending on how you look at it).  LOTS of fun--for kids and grown-ups, too!

The other exhibit you really should see is entitled Steampunk Form and Function II. It features FANTASTIC Steampunk creations from renowned Steampunk artists as well as amateurs.  My kids loved the paper shredder monster (which really ate paper) the Eye-Pod, and the mechanical piano.  There were computers attached to typewriter keyboards, coffee pot percolating toasters, a metallic grand piano with an old-fashioned speedometer, and much, much more.  (Gotta love the brass-studded Steampunk dresses too). Don't know what Steampunk is?  The museum describes it as ". . . an alternate history where modern technology and Victorian life meet.  At its core steampunk asks the question, what would the world look like if modern technology were available, when steam was king, corsets were mandatory and man was learning to fly?"  But to really understand it, you should definitely check it out.

But hurry!  Both exhibits close on February 26th.  The museum will have special extended hours and open days for the  February School Vacation, Monday Feb. 20-Sunday Feb. 26, 10am-5pm.

For more information about the museum, check their website at  www.crmi.org  .

Rainy Day Fun Place in Paramus, Nj

Rainy Day Fun Place in Paramus, Nj

Need Something To Do With the Little Ones This Weekend?

Try the Children's Museum in Paramus, NJ.  Located at 599 Valley Health Plaza (between Paramus Park and the Fashion Center) the NJ Children's Museum has lots of hand-on, dress-up, and other fun activities for your younger kids.  And they have all sorts of special events going on during Presidents' Day weekend and winter break week:

• Feb. 18-19th, celebrate Mardi Gras--there will be beads and mask-making, and two parades at 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
• Feb 20--normally closed on Mondays, the Children's Museum will be OPEN on Presidents' Day.
• Feb 20-Feb 24--Winter break arts and crafts activities, focusing on dinosaur arts and crafts projects, all week long.

So go have fun with your kids at this fun, family-friendly museum!

Admission is $10 each for adults and children 1+; children under 1 year old are free. The museum is open 10:00 a.m.-5 p.m. on week days and 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. on weekends.

For more info about this cute museum, check out their web site at www.njcm.com .

High Point State Park--A Great Place for Families

Check out the link below to read about why I think High Point is so family-friendly. . .and then stay tuned for "an inside scoop" on my adventures there!

By the way, if we actually start to get more than a dusting of snow this year (other than Halloween), High Point may reopen for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  If it does, I will post it here!

Climb as High as You Can--in New Jersey

Climb as High as You Can--in New Jersey

Go See Mighty Mike Before He's Gone!

Hello, central NJ and Pennsylvania folks--and anyone visiting the area during the month of February!  Looking for something to do over that LONG weekend coming up? (My kids are off from Thursday-Tuesday!)  Then why not head over to Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ, and come nose to nose with Mighty Mike, a 14-foot-long alligator.

At 800 pounds, Mighty Mike is the third largest animal at the Adventure Aquarium--behind the hippos, of course. He is the largest alligator on display anywhere outside of Florida so he something to see.  But he will only be at the Aquarium for a few more weeks, so make sure and see him soon.  His last day in our fair state will be February 29th.

The Adventure Aquarium is open every day in February, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and of course there are many cool and exciting animal exhibits to visit, plus animal shows, 4-D movies, and more.  It's a great way to spend one of those vacation days, or any day. So go and have fun, and gape at Mighty Mike while he gapes at you.

For more information, visit the Adventure Aquarium's website at www.adventureaquarium.com .

Air travel with kids does not have to be stressful.  Check out my article below for some tricks we have learned throughout the years on our various travels.

Five Steps for Successful Air Travel with Young Kids

Five Steps for Successful Air Travel with Young Kids

Final Thoughts on Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort

Shawnee Mountain, Part 3

There is more to do at Shawnee than just skiing, of course.  Shawnee offers plenty of excitement for snowboarders, too.  From lessons to equipment, Shawnee provides everything the beginner snowboarder needs.  (Caveat here--there are so many novice snowboarders on the beginning slopes that they make it tough for kids on skis to maneuver off the lift.  Why do snowboarders just sit down right where they stumble off the lift? There must be a reason, but I have never snowboarded, so I don't know.)

And for more adventurous snowboarders (and skiers), Shawnee offers two different terrain parks, with a host of different experiences in each.  There are boxes, handrails, down rails, jumps, a hitching post, a rainbow bridge, a down log, a double staircase, and more--I did not try any of them, so I cannot offer any review of them, but they sound cool: down-flat-down box, hip with log coping, battleship rail, butter box, and more. 

Finally, for those looking for a rush that they can't get on skis (usually, like me because you are snowplowing down the steep parts) Shawnee offers snow tubing. The snow tubing park, to the right of the ski lesson area, offers 6 chutes, so the line moves fairly quickly.  There are double tubes for parents and little kids; everyone else must ride in a single tube. Another carpet (conveyor belt) takes you to the top of the chutes, so no need to carry your tubes far, either.

With all of its amenities and features, including the fact that 25% of its ski area designed for beginners, it is easy to see why Shawnee is attractive to families.  As my family discovered, it is definitely worth a visit!

Visiting Arizona's National Parks? Don't Overlook The "Smaller" Ones

Visiting Arizona's National Parks? Don't Overlook The Smaller Ones

Hello Everyone!  A new month, a new look--let me know what you think! 

Hard to believe it is going to be 61 degrees today here in central NJ.  Such warm, sunny weather in the middle of winter reminds me more of Arizona than New Jersey (not that I'm complaining).  We took our first trip to Arizona last summer, and it was a LOT warmer than 60 degrees (but it's a DRY heat--lol).  What a beautiful state!  We had many, many adventures--we got caught--outside--in a massive sandstorm, drove right through one of the sections of Tonto National Forest where forest fires had been raging (the day before), ran into Africanized bees at Tonto National Monument, and got caught in a monsoon at the Grand Canyon.  But it was a great trip, and I HIGHLY recommend checking it out.  More to come on our Arizona adventures. . .meanwhile, feel free to read one of my articles about some of the "lesser" national parks in Arizona!  

Enjoy our summer day!