If you’re watching your budget and think that a “stay-cation” is your only option this summer, you’re in for a surprise. Kiplinger.com researched large and midsize cities for low, average round-trip airfare, affordable hotel costs, and cheap meals in order to compile a list of the top ten fun, but financially frugal cities to consider for your summer vacation.
Some examples: Reindeer Ranch, Potato Chip Factory, Dog Sledding, Dune Buggies, Indoor SkyDiving, Duck Boating, Pizza Factories, Toy Factories, Recording Studios, Covered Wagons, Skipjack Boating, Dairy or Fish Farms, Making Baskets, Boats, and Carousel Creatures, Air Boating, Crabbing, Money Making, Cheese Making, Pretzels, Pottery, Baseball Bats & Bees, Ice Cream Factories and all the Candy Factory sampling you can bear. Where are the best burgers? the biggest toasted cheese sandwiches? The sweetest peaches or the greatest “foamed” root beer?
HAVE A TRAVELING MOM/DAD, TEACHER OR FRIEND ON YOUR GIFT GIVING LIST?
If they like exploring hidden gems near large cities – that’s what KIDS LOVE TRAVEL is all about
– hundreds of fun stops and unique spots around favorite destinations.
In each KIDS LOVE TRAVEL guide, you get ORGANIZED ideas for EASY family travel—from no hassle quick trips to unique vacation add-ons...with FREE things mixed in!
Moms everywhere are planning their family vacations for the year. Destination Toledo and Ohio State Parks are here to help mom out by providing a slew of great ideas for a family getaway to Northwest Ohio!
Start your journey at the Toledo Zoo (KIDS LOVE OHIO), one of the nation’s top-ranked zoos and the number one attraction in Toledo! Immerse yourself in the heart of Africa on the Safari Railway through a 5-acre African habitat teeming with giraffes, zebra and all the wilds of Africa. Grab lunch at the Carnivore Café before enjoying your whirlwind trip through the Arctic Encounter, Hippoquarium, Nature’s Neighborhood, Museum of Science and Aquarium…your journey is endless! The new aquarium was funded by locals, so it’s their pride and joy. I particularly loved that the zoo keeps many old structures and recycles them. For instance, the old lion and tiger cages are now the Carnivore Café – indoor seating in actual barred cages!
Take a break and relax with a view of the beautiful downtown Toledo skyline at one of several restaurants located at the Docks (22 Main Street, www.realseafoodcorestaurant.com). Enjoy the picturesque riverfront on the outdoor patio of Real Seafood for an afternoon nibble and a cold drink. They bring in fresh seafood from the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes. Many rave about their crab cakes. I liked their selection of locally caught Perch or Walleye. Lunch runs $10-$13. Dinner runs about double. Entrees include two sides. I recommend you try their blue cheese vinaigrette coleslaw with any fish entrée. All kids meals include a beverage and the entrees (shrimp, burger, tenders, spaghetti, etc) run $5.95. On a nice day, try to get a patio seat. Really good view.
The fishing pier is tiered steps leading right into the water. Once you’re down in there, you escape the resort view and feel like you’re at a favorite fishing hole!
Get ready for some fun in the sun! Head out to the 1,850-acre Maumee Bay State Park (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 220) and play on the beach on the shores of Lake Erie. Rent a jet ski, kayak or a banana boat and venture out on the water. Take a nature walk on the marshland boardwalk teeming with wildlife, or bike along one of the winding trails with stunning views. Options include the Nature Center, geocaching, court sports, horseshoes, children’s activities, swimming (inside or out), hot tubs, children’s soft play area, fitness room, game room, corn-hole, shuffleboard, fishing, canoeing and paddle boating. And dad will love the 18-hole Scottish Links golf course!
Nature Center is very hands-on.
Indoor splash pad area.
A nice beach for swim and play.
After an afternoon of sun and fun, it’s time to check in at the Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center. Whether you opt for one of the fully-furnished cozy cottages, or select a loft-style room at the lodge, your stay is sure to be a delight. Simple furnishings for old-fashioned fun.
No need to leave the park for dinner! Water’s Edge Restaurant encompasses a breathtaking glass wrap-around view of Lake Erie with a variety of choices to suit every appetite. This is not your typical state park dining. The chef uses mostly local ingredients and prepares gourmet entrees that have appealing subtle look and flavor. If you’re there for brunch, it’s so diverse. Come hungry. After dinner, hang out at either the outdoor or indoor pool, or soak in the warmth of the relaxing whirlpool or sauna. Then, watch a feature movie inside or a bonfire and roast s’mores outside.
The ice cream shop was hopping! Veryyyy large portions!
A bonfire and smores – at dusk. Perfect ending to the day!
Moms everywhere are planning their family vacations for the year. Destination Toledo and Ohio State Parks are here to help mom out by providing a slew of great ideas for a family getaway to Northwest Ohio!
DAY ONE
First stop on our Playtime tour is an art museum? (Toledo Museum of Art, KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 219, FREE admission)
Probably my favorite space is the Glass Pavilion. The Glass Pavilion is—in itself—a work of art. All exterior and nearly all interior walls consist of large panels of curved glass, resulting in a transparent structure that blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. You are greeted by a clear glass “fish-looking” Chihuly sculpture and then drawn in further by the live glass-blowing artists at work.
Toledo’s newest attraction, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 216), reveals the haunting and fascinating history of our treasured Great Lakes that happen to make up 84 percent of the fresh surface water in North America. The main emphasis is on the new museum at the Toledo Maritime Center with a complete experience for visitors of all ages to include: original artifacts (some from horrific shipwrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald); over 40 hands-on exhibits (for example: direct your own submersible through the wreckage of a lost freighter or keep your own ship afloat by operating a real bilge pump); the real life-size S.S. Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship sits outside the museum for touring; and for waterside wonderers – A beautifully landscaped 3.5 acre maritime-themed park.
Ever felt the whipping winds of a hurricane? Step inside the hurricane chamber at the brand new Imagination Station(KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 215) and your answer can be ‘Yes’. This brand new attraction promises to engage visitors of every age in a multi-sensory experience that’s as fun as it is educational. Defy gravity as you ride the High Wire Cycle, or bounce on the BOYO, a human YoYo. We especially liked the science experiments where it was “old-school” science museum – kids and parents helped make the tests work! I even beat my athlete son at the Pendulum Pull. Brains over Brawn…
Batter up! Family fun is waiting for you as the Toledo Mud Hens (KIDS LOVE OHIO pg 217) play ball at Fifth Third Field! Grab some popcorn, cotton candy and a cold drink and settle in to this unique ballpark situated in the historic downtown landscape of the Warehouse District. We love and support AAA ball…it’s so fan friendly for the price. Not only do you get to see MLB up n comers but it’s likely you’ll see major league stars playing off the dust during rehab. We liked the way this park was setup too. Any seat ticket holder can enter the Club Level Lounge to cool off, catch some stats from other games being played, or grab some upscale food that’s fairly priced.
This fresh museum is where creativity and daily life in the city of Columbus come together. Why expand? In 1931 CMA owned 500 pieces of art and had 10 gallery spaces.
Today, the collection has grown to more than 10,000, yet the same 10 galleries remain, and the endowment has more than doubled in size. The expansion allows the museum to highlight the collection, welcome exciting special exhibitions and nurture the culture of creativity in Columbus. Sundays are FREE.
CMA Contemporary Wing plus kids Wonder Room
The Center for Creativity is a family-friendly experience, complete with hands-on activities, such as sculpture making, a Creativity Challenge, and an interactive Wonder Room, where visitors interact with art as well as create art. (this space was super engaging) Embark on a scavenger hunt, imagine yourselves inside a painting, or discover a work of art that tells a family story during Family Adventure Tours. Browse for art kits, illustrated books, coloring books and artsy toys that cultivate creativity in the Museum Store. Savor a quick treat or snack in Schokko Art Cafe with a special $5.00 Kids Menu. CMA and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m., and until 9:00 p.m. every Thursday. Museum admission.
COME TO booth #1621 – KIDS LOVE TRAVEL at the Midwest Homeschool Convention and check out our books and show specials. (http://midwesthomeschoolconvention.com ).
ONE of the authors will be there so think of a QUESTION or two to get a JUMPSTART on your next trip!
AND, take a fun break and listen in on one of our convention workshops:
Kids Love Travel – Let’s Plan an Affordable Family Day Trip!
Family Field Trips with kids can be a delight or a disaster. Two things that make a homeschool trip great: low-cost and educational fun.
INSIDE SCOOPS. What are some secrets to get the most value for your money. Where to sit to get best value? what to bring? why to get there early? Examples: on Tours-why standing in the first two rows is beneficial. What about having a picnic at a castle? Why go early to outdoor dramas?
EDUCATORS? There’s suggestions for finding FREE lesson plans embedded in many listings as helpful notes for educators.
Marriage of guidebook and the Internet.
Guidebook= organic – highlight it, dog ear pages, write notes, already organized and filtered for kids, unbiased (no fee), and accessible without a wireless connection. Internet= the newest discounts, web updates, extra insights can be found at the links provided on every page.
KIDS LOVE TRAVEL GUIDES can save you $$ in just 20 minutes reading just one chapter in one book! We can save you dozens of hours on the internet, too.
ZipZone Canopy Tours (http://zipzonetours.com) in Columbus, Ohio, invites you to experience an adventure-filled zip lining tour—the only tour in central Ohio…right outside of the big city!
We recently tried this tour, now celebrating its first anniversary, and loved it!
Looking for something to do with your adventuresome kids or picky teens? This is an adventure in the woods on the north side of metropolitan Columbus. But it’s really a mild adventure…you can ride basic or you can ride a little crazy…but it’s your choice!
During the two-hour tour you’ll walk across sky bridges, zip from platform to platform and glide over ravines and streams as you experience Columbus’ natural landscape in a way you never would have imagined.
No special skills, training or equipment are needed to enjoy ZipZone as the highest-quality gear and professionally trained guides help navigate and facilitate every zip.
They guide you through a hands free tour while you soar through the treetops in this old growth forest (the guides move your ropes and brake you so you have freedom to enjoy the ride).
Your teens will want to try the rented the gopro video camera to record their experience. We tried some of the progressive challenges suggested by the guides. Hands free- walking backwards on the bridge, zipping backwards, cannonball style or 360!
If you read TripAdvisor reviews, you will soon realize many were anxious at first but, after the first zip, they catch the thrill.
Final Words: Best features were: Perfect length of trip (just under 2 hours, more is just too much) and Hands-Free zipping (ability to move into different styles of zipping and watch the natural beauty flash by). “Wow!”, “Sweet!”, “Best zips ever!” were the words spoken by my teens on the trip. Makes this Mama Duck happy when my teens “love” something :-).
More details: 7925 North High Street; Columbus (Worthington), OH 43235 on the grounds of Camp Mary Orton. 855-Lets-Zip.
Tours last roughly 2 hours and are available for Ages 7 to 91 (really, ask about the 91-yr old grandma).
Tours are $69 per person on the weekend (FRI, SAT, SUN) and $64 per person on weekdays (MON-THURS).
If you have a group of 8, you can save $10 per person! Use coupon code GROUP to get the discount. Call the office for groups of more than 8. 614-847-9477.
Longhorns Head to Tail Tours of Dickinson Cattle Co, Barnesville, Ohio (PG 45). Those stampeding through the ranch will….
~~ Visit the newly expanded Longhorn Store, Gallery and Theater. ~~ You will hand feed the largest horned Texas Longhorn cattle in the world — that includes other parts of the world (Texas) we will not mention by name. ~~ You will travel the historic areas made famous by Hanging Judge Isaac Parker, Johnny Appleseed, Hopalong Cassidy, Mexican General Santa Anta and most recently, Sarah Palin. For more info on doing the ranch check the tour site at…………
Visitors to Cleveland-area attractions will catch the attention of classmates and co-workers alike when their reports on “what I did on my summer vacation” include standing in the nation’s longest underwater sea-tube, browsing the aisles for retro candies at the nation’s largest candy store and standing next to the “world’s largest rubber stamp.” For a vacation worthy of the record books, visitors should be sure to include these attractions on their Cleveland itinerary.
Greater Cleveland Aquarium Visitors can wave to the smiling Rays as they glide overhead at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium’s SeaTube, a 145′ walk-through tunnel considered to be the nation’s longest sea tube. The Powerhouse located in the West Bank of the Flats is now home to the new 70,000-square-foot Aquarium. The unique facility includes 42 tanks integrated into the historic building to create an exciting underwater environment with more than 5,000 fish. Not only does the facility feature different habitats, such as a Louisiana Bayou, but it also features the creatures found in local rivers and streams. 216.862.8803, www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com
Free Stamp Often considered to be the “world’s largest rubber stamp,” this large sculpture is located in Willard Park right in the center of downtown. Designed by pop artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen known to recreate common items into giant proportions, the art was donated to the city of Cleveland nearly 10 years after it was originally commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio. With dimensions measuring more than 28 feet by 49 feet, the sculpture is a bold reminder of American freedom. Downtown visitors can visit the park to snap a picture of the sculpture.
b.a. Sweetie Candy Company What do bugs, toxic waste and chocolate worms have in common? All are edible! At b.a Sweetie Candy Company, a family-owned candy warehouse that’s been around for generations, children can indulge their wackier tastes. Sweetie’s have just about every kind of candy imaginable. For those who aren’t ready for the extreme candies, they can choose from nostalgic favorites such as wax lips, PEZ dispensers and gourmet jellybeans. 216.739.2244, www.sweetiescandy.com
The Phoenix Bat Company is a specialized wooden-bat creator and manufacturer located just outside of Columbus, Ohio, in Plain City. The company produces premium rock maple and northern white ash baseball and softball bats. Combining premium grade woods with the most advanced, state of the art lathe in the bat manufacturing industry, Phoenix Bats delivers high quality wooden bats consistently to major league players and little leaguers alike. Ohio made and Pro approved!
And the best part, they offer tours! Open tours are available on Tuesdays at 6pm and Thursdays and Fridays at 1:30pm. No reservation required – just show up.
Tours are $10.00 per person and include a custom engraved mini bat to commemorate your visit.
During the one hour tour you’ll learn about how the business got started with vintage baseball players and a man who liked to make wood spindles. Next, they highlight which MLB pros use the bats and show samples of their specially ordered bats. Names like Ordonez, Carerra and Ramirez perked the boys’ ears.
We next moved into the computer corner to see how the bat is generated on a graphics program first, then sent into the factory to be produced. Good job if you love to take measurements again, and again.
The computer generated model is now fed into the humongous Italian lathe that takes a large dowel of wood and in one slow back and forth motion forms and sands the baseball bat into shape!
The finishing process is messy. Lots of dipping (and dripping stations) abound in a separate temperature controlled room. Finally, you watch the engraver embed a special logo or message into each bat. That same engraver is used to specialize your personal mini-bat tour souvenir.
They have birthday packages, too, combining the wood bat tour with time in the batting cages.
We took the tour offered on Tuesday night. We also allowed for time in the batting cages as a few from our group of baseball players were interested in trying out wood bats to purchase as their practice bats. Watching them smile when they hit the ball on that special “sweet spot” exclusive to each wood bat was a thrill (and seeing them whimper when it stung on the “not so sweet spot” – not so sweet).
Admittedly, I am a factory touraholic. This tour was especially exciting because it combined my family (and friends) love of baseball while supporting an American-made product (made close to home).
Phoenix Bat Company 7801 Corporate Blvd Suite E Plain City OH 43064
By phone: Local: 614.873.7776 Toll free: 877.598.BATS (2287) Fax: 614.873.7796
Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Free Stamp
b.a. Sweetie Candy Company
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