Author Archives: Michele Zavatsky

10 FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS THIS FALL

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Parenting can be so frustrating – especially in the fall when your kids are back to school.  On weekends, they need a break and beg for creative ideas on something fun to do. 

Here are ten ideas specifically targeted to the crisp air and crackling leaves of fall weather:  

  • Attend a college football game or have an at-home mini tailgating party

  • Sneak in some history lessons at a local HARVEST FESTIVAL.  Many historic farms host events where they demonstrate horses plowing fields, antique tractors, tractor pulls, hayrides, craft demonstrations, authentic open-fire cooked foods and folk entertainment.  Children are often bored on tours of historic homes – but not during festivals

  • Go apple picking and then bake a homemade apple pie.

  • Go to an APPLE FESTIVAL.  Not only apples and cider, but also pie eating contests, apple peeling contests, apple butter making, tons of apple flavored foods, parades and wagon rides out through the orchards.  Many historic farms hold this event yearly.

  • Visit a bakery and try fresh baked pumpkin bread.

  • Eat your way through a PUMPKIN FESTIVAL or PUMPKIN PATCH.  These events feature pumpkin contests (like the largest, rolling pumpkins, pumpkin pie eating contests).  Take a hayride out to the fields and pick out your favorite pumpkin – right off the vine.Rides and entertainment are often intertwined with vendors selling the unusual pumpkin flavored cotton candy, burgers, chips and ice cream!

  • Make a scarecrow for your yard.

  • Plan a day of fun at a CORN MAZE and STRAW PLAYLAND.  Many public farms host these from September through October.  The cornfields and barns are converted into mazes and playlands with chutes and slides that add that Fall touch to normal play.  Some mazes are tricky and other paths are stroller accessible (or, at least kid-sized).  Parents, be sure to remember your cameras for the numerous photo ops!

  • Make a list of all the things you’re thankful for.

  • Still craving more adventure? Most kids absolutely love participating in annual BATTLE RE-ENACTMENTS.

Re-enactments

Learn about the early 1800s frontier life.  Period, costumed townsfolk and soldiers “set up shop” amongst Native American Indian camps.  See fur trading posts, kids’ infantry, barbershop medicine, and old-fashioned games.  Areas of woodcarving, blacksmiths and spinning and weaving surround demonstrations of muzzle loading, shooting and tomahawk throwing.  Open hearth cooking with period foods are for sale (ex. Kettle popcorn and chips, cider, stew, barbecue, buffalo burgers, dumplings, ham & beans, birch tea and Indian fry bread.

Whatever you do, the countryside is full of hundreds of family events and attractions – you’ll never run out of ideas this fall! >click here< for KIDS LOVE TRAVEL guide examples – by clicking on the Look Inside the Books)!

Goodbye Summer but Hello Fall!

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As I was catching up on messages, I noted how many blogger friends and tourism folks were writing about summer’s end and fall coming.

I love autumn – esp. apples (made my first homemade apple pie of the season this weekend), pumpkin patches, football, apple cider, popcorn, my anniversary and hubby & I’s bdays. My son plays fall travel baseball and my teen daughter preps for choir and drama productions in late October.

My blogger friend, Lacie @ Life Down Our Lane posted something that really struck a cord: Wrapping up our summer!~~pictures from our weekend camping trip. It’s mostly little side trips.

I noticed it was mostly pics of getting there and just hanging out? That’s why our family DOESN’T LIKE TO FLY – we miss all the good stuff along the way.

Our KIDS LOVE I-75 book is the best example of this. Unlike our other books that discover every nook and crannie of the state, the I-75 book reviews places we’ve been to maybe a dozen times! Every, I mean every, time we travel south, we have to stop at Buddy’s BBQ for pulled pork, Lane Peaches to watch the peaches march along the conveyors, stop for a snack of Peach ice cream cones and chocolate covered pecans at WE’re Nuts!, and every time we enter Florida – a glass of juice at the Welcome Center.

Of course, there’s about 400 attractions we give you the skinny on, too – like watching freighters, inventors workshops, sharks, horses and manatees.

And you know what, we wouldn’t have those priceless moments and favorites if we flew south vs. road trips and side-tripping.

Just a thought as you plan those spontaneous weekend road trips to local pumpkin patches or regional festivals – remember the journey is just as important as the destination…

Question: What do you do to say good-bye to summer and welcome autumn and back-to-school?

Pittsburgh Steelers Surrealism

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Kids Travel to Favorite Sports Venue: Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field

Ok, folks, our family getaway Thursday has taken us hours to recover from. Some of you sports or travel fans might know what I’m talking about. Being passionate about both travel and sports – it shouldn’t have been so strange that this happened. We just woke up from a dream day!

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, George and I met at Ohio State and found so much in common – especially our faith, passion for life, and our beloved sports teams :-). We’ve been to tons of Buckeye games but neither one of us recalled ever having been to a Steelers game. Once we started a family, both kids became die hard Buckeye and Steelers fans, by default . We all truly enjoy watching football games – live or on the big screen. (yes, girlfriends, I am a real sports fan – ask my son) So, the dream to actually get to a Pittsburgh Steelers game was a big carrot out in front of us.

My awesome hubby came up with the idea just days before and got it in his head to look for preseason game tickets vs. regular season which we knew we’d have to pay a sweet ransom to get tickets from a broker (the Pittsburgh Steelers are the six-time World Champions, ya know) . Well, he got four tickets together (under $200) on the 20 yard line and we put the game on the calendar…

Thursday afternoon we headed to Pittsburgh for the first preseason game – a rematch of the Super Bowl – Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals!  Using the guidelines you can download from the Steelers.com website, we found parking for $5.00 at a garage at Sixth & Fort Duquesne Blvd., right across the street from the bridge to the North Shore. We walked over the pedestrian Roberto Clemente bridge (my son just did an essay on him this past school year – got an “A”) and before us was the Ohio River and PNC Park – home of the Pirates.

Riverfront walk to stadium w/ Clemente Bridge in background

As we walked along the riverfront, you could see fashionable boats docked (tailgating), the Incline, the skyline of downtown Pittsburgh and, finally, Heinz Field! Every person, I mean every person, we talked with was super friendly and dressed in Steelers colors! My kids freaked out!

Once inside the park, we immediately noticed how modern, comfortable and clean the stadium was. Better yet, the bright yellow-gold seats were super comfy. Something we’d recommend to any sports fan going to their first professional game is to get there at least two hours early. Pregames really set the tone & build excitement. What really wowed us about pregame was the Great Hall and the Pitts-burger sandwich from Primanti Bros. 

George & I outside the Great Hall
Franco Harris’ locker

The pictures give you a glimpse of some of the displays but this place is immense in size and content. From the Six, yes six! Championship trophies to the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris in 1972 to the locker room personal artifacts in famous players lockers (ex. Bradshaw, Swann).

Every Primanti’s sandwich begins with soft Italian bread. It’s piled with meat and cheese, layered with hot fries, slapped with peppered slaw, topped with tomato, and crowned with the second slice that somehow balances on top. It’s all wrapped in waxed paper and given to you with a smile and offering to add Heinz 57 Sauce.

Pregame is also the time to get out those binoculars and try to find your favorite players warming up. The stadium camera hones in on various players and produces their interesting stats on the scoreboard. That, and they offer lots of contests pregame and have areas outside the stadium for kids. In the stadium’s west wing (home side) stands, we even took in a great jazz band playing.

Gate A view of rivers & incline
In our seats – pregame
Heinz Field pregame activities

Gametime was the most surreal of all – really too hard to put into words (but, if you see me at a booksigning sometime – ask me for more details). Btw, the Steelers won 20 to 10 and both touchdowns were at our end of the field! Oh, how sweet this day was..

For those of you following along by means of KIDS LOVE PENNSYLVANIA, pages 174 and 178 seem pale by comparison – that’s why you can always stay updated along with us by: UPDATES pages.  We promise, with our books as your base, combined with our updates, give you all the help you need to plan any daytrips – even the Sports fanatic kind!

LODGING AND DINING: CHICAGOLAND

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Jenny and I were off to Chicagoland to speak at a Homeschool Conference and came across A new place to dine and lodge. Whether you’re flying in (these are close to the airport) or driving in like us, this is a good area to base from. If you are driving in, you might want to take I-290 as I-90 is great scenery (downtown Chicago from the Sears Tower side) but loads of traffic!

DOUBLETREE HOTEL CHICAGO – Arlington Heights

As you enter the lobby and checkin, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff, yes, but even better – the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies! Each evening around checkin time, they bake their famous cookies (people love them so much they now ship them in tins) to give to guests as a welcome gift. If that doesn’t “grab” the kids attention, maybe the Fluffy bed and pillows in your room (popular Sweet Dreams pillows and plush top bedding) or the nice indoor atrium pool area and walking courtyard green space will. Just outside the fitness and pool area is a snack bar called Cravings – open 24 hours for late-night snack craving purchases. If you want, you can take the complimentary local area shuttle to the nearest Metra station and board the transit into downtown Chicago without the fuss (and expense) of parking.

The Birch River Grill Restaurant on the property was very good. (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily) When you first walk in, it gives you a cozy feel…with a glowing fireplace one might find in a fishing lodge. A friendly wait staff and the smell of delicious food greet you at the entrance. They serve inspired

Girls Night Out

American dishes in generous portions. Everyone is sure to find something that they would enjoy to eat, from Granny Apple & Onion Soup (which is topped with cheese and fresh baked crisp apples) to even the simplest and cheesiest Mac & Cheese.  Signature meat entrees include Grilled Pork Tenderloin Served with real smashed potatoes and rustic cranberry apple sauce or grilled, rubbed steak served au jus.  Even the desserts are amazing, from a yummy carrot cake for two to the chocolate lover’s favorite Chocolate Temptation Cake (even the name makes you tempted to get it!). And, the Doubletree Cookies & Milk is the classic ending to Doubletree dining. Who would think a city known for pizza and beef would also have so many Southern twists (ex. Sweet potato fries or fried green tomatoes) and East Coast turns (crab cakes).

FOR MORE TO THE STORY: visit KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS UPDATES

 

Kids Love I-75 Reviews

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I-75 FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE

Last week my family drove to Tennessee for vacation so we grabbed our Kids Love Travel I-75 book and hit the road!

We have a toddler so our main concern with a long drive is for him to get out and stretch his legs and play for a bit. We used the book to find a  fast food place that had a play land. The book was great because we could look at our drive in 20 mile increments and decide where we wanted to stop and plan ahead! It worked great and I highly recommend using this book for your travels with kids of any age! -Kristen Artrip, Ohio

Kids Love Travel on the Road Again

 Want a Dad’s perspective? Go to our friend, the FamilyMan, for his take:

http://www.familymanweb.com/rvblog/kids-love-i-75-by-george-michele-zavatsky

Working on KIDS LOVE I-95 in South Carolina

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Meet Pedro – South of the Border

This week I’m ping-ponging along I-95 in SC. So far, we’ve been South of the Border, on a NASCAR track, trying pecans from a massive sampling counter, running around with kids chasing giant swans and noisy ducks, climbing an ancient mound, and walking through a black swamp. Yesterday, I ate lunch at a place that specializes in casseroles – when was the last time you ordered a sampler plate of JUST casseroles and, Tomato Pie. Today, we sampled a bunch of low country foods – shrimp and cheese grits, quail, pecan pie. . . i’m having a piece right now…

I tell you all this to remind you there are so many adventures just minutes off the highway on your roadtrips to anywhere USA.

D.C. FOR FREE – Smithsonian

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DAY TWO – the next day, put on your walking shoes.

Although Washington, D.C. is a very concentrated town with lots of buildings, most museums and memorials are near grassy, wide-open park spaces. Devote an entire day to the FREE Smithsonian Museums & National Mall buildings (Smithsonian.org).

DC by Foot, a walking tour company, gives FREE, kid-friendly tours (gratuity recommended) infused with games, fun facts and trivia. Or, just wander from one building to the next. Be sure to go online first and print off any “Hunts” (scavenger hunts) that interest you.

Play pilot in a mock cockpit at America by Air, an exhibition on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Teach kids about history at the newly renovated National Museum of American History for a rare look at the original “Star-Spangled Banner,” the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. The museum’s Spark!Lab uses fun activities to help kids and families learn about the history and process of invention through games and conducting experiments plus there’s an Under 5 Zone just for pre-schoolers.

Walk among the butterflies or witness a view of the blinding Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History.

See the original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives, then stick around to research your own family’s immigration records.

Whatever memorials you didn’t get to view, fill in after 5pm, when most museums in the national Mall close.

FOR MORE TO THE STORY….Visit KIDS LOVE VIRGINIA / D.C. travel guides and updates.

DC FOR FREE – PARENTS LOVE WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE CHEAP, Attractions

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How To Do Attractions in Washington, D.C. – every family is different but honestly you can “do” as many as your family desires if you work the 10am-7pm full day.

DAY ONE – We came into the area on a Tuesday afternoon and started mid-day, after lunch. Our teen-age daughter had just studied WWII so she had interest in the Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org).

Daniel’s Story @ Holocaust Museum (for the tender-hearted)

The museum is FREE but they stress that kids under 12 may not enjoy this attraction. There are two “exhibit tracks” to follow: the General Exhibit and Daniel’s Story (a softer version for tender hearts and kids). We’d recommend walking through Daniel’s Story to everyone BEFOREHAND to prepare you for the intensity to follow in the main exhibit.

After this, grab a bite to eat and then, instead of getting caught in rush hour, opt to visit the Memorials of your choice all the way to dusk. The Washington Monument requires FREE timed tickets so do that first (or save it to sneak in another day). Ranger talks at the Lincoln Memorial are best to catch before 4:30pm.

FDR Memorial with Fala (the dog)

As the sun started setting, we especially enjoyed walking the perimeter of the Tidal Basin in Potomac Park with a view of the FDR Memorial & the Jefferson Memorial, as they are backlit towards nightfall. (nps.gov/nama)

FDR Memorial with Fala (the dog)
FDR Memorial with Fala (the dog)

DC FOR FREE – WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE CHEAP

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One of the most visited cities in the country, Washington, D.C. is a huge attraction. But, many big attractions come with a big price tag. Here’s how we suggest doing this must see American attraction on a budget:

  • Overnight in nearby Virginia suburbs close to a Metro Station so once you get up in the morning – you can easily navigate the Metro or highway into town. The Holiday Inn Chantilly Dulles-Expo is one choice. It is located near the Udvar-Hazy Center, just minutes from Dulles International Airport. The hotel features spacious guest rooms with free wireless high speed internet, free airport shuttles 24/7 and even a free drop off to Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. In general, travelers find the best hotel rates on weekends and in late summer or winter. Rates start at $189.
  • Meals – try to plan it so that you only eat one paid meal out each day. Base that “one meal” on the time of day when your family can get the most value or volume of food. The hotel offers Kids Eat Free at Bob O’s Restaurant with a daily continental breakfast buffet, a full a la carte breakfast and dinner menu. Their appetizers are actually my favorite – especially the mini crab cakes! Another option, if you don’t mind fast food, is one of six chain restaurants right across the street (Wendys, Arbys, Chick-fil-A, etc.).
  • Cheap Meals (continued): For the remaining meals of the day, pack a backpack full of non-perishable PB&J sandwiches, apples, breakfast bars and water bottles or juice boxes to drink. If you like to picnic, the National Mall and West Or East Potomac Park have cheap parking spaces (if you can find one) and dozens of lawn sites to spread out a picnic blanket. You’ll be dining, al fresco, by a view of famous monuments. Also, surrounding the White House are oodles of vendors offering the best prices in town on souvenirs and sandwiches. It’s a block or two walk to lawn space between the Lincoln & Washington Monuments.