Tag Archives: best places to visit with kids

KIDS LOVE MISSOURI Family Travel Updates – St. Charles

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MISSOURI

NEW INFORMATION:

As we revisit areas listed in our books, we find new places to shout about – especially new lodging and dining. In a recent visit, we landed in historic downtown St. Charles, MO, just northwest of St. Louis. We spent almost all our time on Main Street. There are so many little shops to browse through and cafes to eat at. Park once, walk for hours. Here’s some of the things we explored:

NE – Embassy Suites Hotel St.Louis-St.Charles – Two Convention Center Plaza, Saint Charles, MO 63303
Reservations: http://embassysuites.hilton.com or 1-800-EMBASSY. Rates: $141.00 plus. Each suite is beautifully decorated with a private bedroom and spacious living room. All suites are fully equipped with two televisions, a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, two telephones with data ports, high-speed Internet access and a well-lit dining/work table. Price also includes cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly manager’s reception.

NE – Llywelyn’s – 100 North Main Street. www.llywelynspub.com. Historic area. Kids Menu includes: Grilled Cheese, Mac & Cheese, Mini Corndogs, Two Mini Burgers, Chicken Tenders, Pizza, or Kids Fish. All are served with a kids drink (excluding Fitz’s) Fries, chips, fruit cup, or veggie sticks and Oreos for $5.49. Parents, you must try Welsh Potato Chips or Welsh Rarebit to start, flatbreads w/Guinness for lunch or traditional Irish fare of Bangers & Mashed, Shepherds Pie or Irish Stew for a filling dinner.

NE – Little Hills Restaurant – 501 South Main Street. www.littlehillswinery.com. Wait until you see their Children’s Menu: typical chicken tenders, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, burgers but also pot roast or a chicken tender bowl with mashed potatoes and corn. Avg. $5.00-$6.00. Special items for adults are highlighted on the main menu – including specialty steak and chicken dishes plus dinner “bowls.”

Page 69 – 200 south block – First Capitol. You can just go in a look around the interpretive center floors for free or pay a small fee and tour the whole complex with detailed stories.
Page 71 – 900 south block – Lewis and Clark Boat House & Nature Center State Park (Riverside Drive on the water). When you pay the $2.00-$4.00 admission be sure to get the kids activity sheet to complete for a prize. Inside the museum kids will snoop out the dress up clothes, the bullboat? (a small round boat covered with the skin of one buffalo bull), and the Missouri River water table. Have them look for a journal and an old-fashioned laptop – a lap desk.

Campers?

Sundermeier RV Park (www.sundermeierrvpark.com) may be the haven near the big city you were looking for. A wonderful low cost base to day trip from, Sundermeier park has the typical amenities for rv campers but also an on-site restaurant, wi-fi, cable, cottages to rent, a lovely city park with a playground and basketball court across the street, and the Katy Trail State Park is adjacent. The deluxe cottages have a fireplace, full kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom and porch. there are also sleeping cottages with just a bathroom and shower. All cottages are air conditioned and heated. Open year round.

Want 500 more ideas for discovering the adventuresome state of MISSOURI? Take a look at KIDS LOVE MISSOURI.

NEW FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE: KIDS LOVE I-95

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We’ve been working on this project for 12 years, 

who knows how many miles,

1000s of hours…

and, it’s our biggest Family Travel Guide yet!

Introducing:

KIDS LOVE I-95

Your Family Travel Guide to I-95

500 Kid-Tested Fun Stops & Unique Spots from the Mid-Atlantic to Miami 

Travel just minutes off the interstate to learn of hidden messages and historic secrets. “Fly in Space” and see priceless national treasures.  Escape rooms full of bugs, enchanted gardens, explosive museums, pirate ships, and haunted lighthouses & forts. See George Washington’s teeth, experience a Civil War battle, and find the elusive Fountain of Youth. We’ll tell you exactly how to find unique landmarks, hidden freebies and favorite pit stops, too. Make spontaneous or planned sidetrips or get to know your favorite destinations better!     

Would you like a preview of my new book “KIDS LOVE I-95?” Kids Love Travel.     

Some of my favorite cities like Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, metro Washington, D.C., and southern states like Virginia, the Carolinas (North and South – for the first time!), and the coastline of Georgia and Florida are featured. Really interesting places to quick stop for some tasty morsels, too.     

Do you have a memory of family travels along I-95?     

Share them with us…    

KIDS LOVE PENNSYLVANIA SAYS: Happy Groundhog Day!

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Groundhog Day may only be one day, but Punxsutawney offers a few days of celebration! Check out the schedule of events! http://ow.ly/WpFg.

And, since most can’t actually visit Punxsutawney Phil TODAY, here’s some entertaining PAgroundhog’s Channel YouTube Videos: http://ow.ly/VLe7

Or, Virtually Visit downtown Punxsutawney for 32 larger-than-life fiber glass painted groundhogs known as the Phantastic Phils http://ow.ly/YIG6

Either way, today is a fun day.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND PLACES LIKE PUNXSUTAWNY PHIL’S HOME? KIDS LOVE PENNSYLVANIA

KIDS LOVE CLEVELAND – ROCK & ROLL WINTER WEEKEND

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Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ on the highway to the city that rocks…

Put the rubber to the road. Vacationers may be able to save some dough by piling into the family car and hitting the highway on a clear winter weekend.

  • ROLL on over to the Great Lakes Science Center (pg. 184, KIDS LOVE OHIO). This science playground has engaging spaces right from the start. While a scientist creates a new concoction and it’s shown on one of the largest video walls in the USA, you turn another corner and enter a NASA space center. Calculate and build mighty puzzles – be an astronaut for the afternoon. Fly a blimp or train the Computer that Listens. Our recommendation: best value for school-aged kids (6-14). Younger ones can enjoy the colorful Polymer Funhouse, an area all their own. Watch thrilling life-like movies in a six-story high IMAX theatre, too.
  • ROCK and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (pg. 185, KIDS LOVE OHIO). Your exhibit guide alerts you to the PG + videos to avoid but, honestly, we recommend this attraction for families with teens anyway as they have some music history and appreciation (note: they don’t even charge admission for kids younger than 9). That same exhibit guide indicates where the “must see” artifacts are and where Ohio kids can find the Hang on Sloopy Ohio music area. Most everybody loves the 50s, Elvis, funky outfits and the Hall of Fame movie and special exhibit spaces on the top floors. “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen winding staircase floors were our favorite on our last visit. If your young teens like this museum, they’ll really like exploring the roots of Rock n Roll in Nashville and especially, Memphis (re: KIDS LOVE TENNESSEE). Kids Love Travel suggestion: have parents take turns visiting between the rock hall and the science center. Base the kids from the science center all day w/ an IMAX movie or Mather ship tour (in season) in between.
  • Lunch at the Corner Alley and Fourth Street Bar and Grill. 402 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. (216) 298-4070 or www.thecorneralley.com. A fun dining experience for the whole family, this grill restaurant is located at a downtown bowling alley-ROLL. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine with a kid’s menu to boot ($5.95 each w/drink for kids 12 and under). Families like all the sports TVs, sound of breaking pins and entrees like meatloaf, four cheese macaroni, seasoned potato chips and homemade chipotle ranch dip. Now, rent some geekie bowling shoes ($3.00) and play a family game of bowling ($4.25) before you head back out.

(DID YOU KNOW? Most of this type of “insider” info is found in books like KIDS LOVE OHIO – for under $20.00 here, you can have 5 years worth of fun ideas at your fingertips)

Want Simpler Times. Go Back in Time to the Real Walton’s Mountain

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VISIT VIRGINIA…and the BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY – before the weather turns too cold and foggy. NW Virginia – NELSON COUNTY.  Walton’s Mountain Visit. You’ll first want to visit www.nelsoncounty.com, where you’re invited to click on the “Visitors” section and view some pictures and descriptions of a land similar to those words of “John Boy” Walton describing Drusilla’s Pond or Grandpa picking wildflowers way up on the mountain top.

Nelson County contains over 400 square miles of adventure and just one stoplight!  Just 6 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Falls is the largest vertical drop waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Each year approximately 170,000 newly-hatched brook, brown and rainbow trout are nurtured to maturity at the Montebello State Fish Hatchery (pg. 119) then released to stock all trout waters east of the Blue Ridge Parkway. (located on Route 690, one-half mile off SR 56). 

Families with young kids will want to visit the Montebello General Store (SR 56, 540-377-2650).  Not only will you find snacks and old-fashioned goodies (like sassafras candies), but you can trout fish in their pond across the street at the Camping Resort.  You only pay for what you catch. Bring your own equipment or purchase some there. Every child is pretty much guaranteed to get a catch in season (early spring or late fall is best 😉

The Walton Mountain Museum (pg. 113, Kids Love Virginia) is a special blend of history, nostalgia and even a dash of entertainment. Be sure to start by watching the intro video as it really gets you in the mood and helps you understand this time and place as it really was compared to Hollywood.  On our last visit we had just finished watching the entire Walton’s series so we were proud to find out that the various quiz questions and the kids scavenger hunt (ask for it) were not as difficult as the last visit years ago. The folks who run this place are outstanding hosts!

Lodging and Dining in the Area

Base from the middle of it all…Lovingston Village Inn – painted Bavarian motif outside, local hand-painted murals inside each clean, simple room.  Rates under $60.00. (US 29 434-263-5068).  Lovingston Cafe – (Bus 29. 434-263-8000). Their kids menu is presented in the front cover of a children’s book you can read while you wait on your food. Most kids Menu items are under $4.00 and adult entrees average $11.00.  Their outdoor shaded patio is adorable.

Planning family travel during Thanksgiving or Winter holidays?

Become a fan of Kids Love Travel on Facebook http://bit.ly/kidslovetravelfan

 & we’ll offer warm & cozy travel options.

Watching the World Series? Want to See How a Baseball Bat is Made? Take a Tour…

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WHICH BAT DOES YOUR FAVORITE MVP USE?

Maybe one of these – go see…

CENTRAL OHIO – PHOENIX BATS. Phoenix Bat Company. 7801 Corporate Blvd, Suite E. Plain City OH 43064. 614.873.7776 or www.phoenixbats.com. Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. Interested in booking a tour to see how a bat is made from start to finish? Tours are conducted by appointment and are $10 per person. This includes a custom engraved mini bat to commemorate your visit. To schedule a tour please contact tours@phoenixbats.com or call.

CENTRAL WEST PENNSYLVANIA – BWP BATS. Brookville. www.bwpbats.com. Welcome to the Home of the handmade professional Bats.  All bats are precision kiln dried and double dipped for maximum hardness. We have free factory tours 8:00am thru 4:00pm at the Factory Outlet, Exit 86 on I-80 Pennsylvania.

KIDS LOVE INDIANA fans – can you find a baseball bat company tour in your book?

KIDS LOVE KENTUCKY fans know well (as do most Americans) about the most famous bat company – Louisville Slugger. 

Got kids? Become a fan on Facebook and we’ll keep you posted on more factory tour updates. http://bit.ly/kidslovetravelfan

8 More Reasons to Side Trip along I-95

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1. Penny-pinchers and spendthrifts alike cash in on the fun at the hands-on Money in Motion exhibition at the Federal Reserve Bank, featuring a giant tube stuffed with $100 million in shredded cash, the “Match Wits with Ben” game and a some impressive high-denomination bills. 6th & Arch Streets

2. A day at Franklin Square could include a ride on an old-fashioned carousel, a game of mini-golf, a romp on a modern playground and a family picnic. 6th & Race Streets, (215) 629-4026

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3. Wannabe sailors can spend the night in the nation’s most decorated battleship, the Battleship New Jersey, and take tours of the officers’ and crew’s mess halls, communications center and high-tech command center. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, (856) 877-6262.

4. Home to more than 8,400 aquatic animals of some 500 species, including sharks, penguins, stingrays and hippos, the Adventure Aquarium also features a 4D theater, dive shows, live animal talks, performances and a giant 760,000-gallon tank. 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, (856) 365-3300.

4. In addition to the Butterfly, Railroad, Dinosaur and Storybook gardens, the four-acre Camden Children’s Garden horticultural wonderland has added a new Fitness Garden where kids can crawl, climb and learn about healthy living. 3 Riverside Drive, Camden, (856) 365-TREE

5. At Linvilla Orchards, the oldest working farm in Delaware Valley, families can pick their own seasonal fruit, hop on a hay ride and buy fresh-baked pies. 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, (610) 876-7116.

6. ·Guests who want to stay in the middle of the action check in to the Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia, located on the Avenue of the Arts near performing arts meccas, great restaurants and fashionable shops. Families can spend some time at the rooftop pool, sundeck and racquetball courts, and kids get a free cookie at check-in. 237 S. Broad Street, (215) 893-1600

7. Those who have a taste for sweets and history stop by The Franklin Fountain, an old-fashioned ice cream saloon serving up handmade ice cream, banana splits, thick shakes, sundaes and flavored soda water. 116 Market Street, (215) 627-1899

8. Fresh produce and prepared foods ranging from cheesesteaks to cannolis are the offered throughout the historic Reading Terminal Market. 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 922-2317

Did you guess that KIDS LOVE TRAVEL and the Family Travel Mom is wandering along Interstate 95 this week?

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?

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.