Last summer, when I took my kids on a volunteer vacation in the Dominican Republic, I had a chance to travel into Haiti with my teenage daughter. We crossed over the Dajabón border to the open market where Haitians trade in goods donated from around the world for basic staples, fruits, vegetables, and livestock.

Our visit was brief, but it was one of those life-affirming and teachable moments that I know will long impact my child as it has her mother.

I think that’s one of the reasons that I was so moved when I saw the EVERYWHERE Travels to the Heart of Haiti video. Then again, when a video provokes both tears and a smile, you know that it contains something powerful. Travels to the Heart of Haiti carries a message that demands to be shared.

Learn more about Bloggers4Haiti:

• Weaving a Story of Hope
• Bloggers Travel to Haiti for Eye-Opening Experience
• Stay up-to-date with news and announcements, via @HeartofHaiti or like their Facebook page.

Volunteer Vacation in the Dominican Republic:

• Do Good Family Adventure – A Volunteer Vacation In The Dominican Republic

• Discover Monte Cristi Dominican Republic in Photos

Go See It!

Road trips are a wonderful opportunity to have open-ended book discussions with your children.  If you have the time, and a super-long road trip, consider listening to an audio-book and then talking about your selection.

Selecting a Book for the Road Trip

It can be difficult to choose a book that is interesting and worthy of discussion when various age groups travel together. Try to find a book that is entertaining, and open to interpretation on many levels.

I’ve found some great candidates, and guidance for book discussions, in Deconstructing Penguins: Parents, Kids and the Bond of Reading by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone.  Veterans of library groups for tweens (ages 7-11,) the Goldstones have found that children can participate fully in sophisticated literary analysis, but that what they read does matter.  The authors encourage children to look at every book as a mystery that the reader can solve to discover if the author has successfully conveyed his message through the use of plot, setting, characters, and central conflict.

For more thoughts on finding books to discuss see What about the classics?

Getting the Virtual Book for the Road Trip

If you have planned ahead, you can get many books on CD at your local library or by ordering online from Amazon.com.

Since I’m rarely that organized, I’m grateful that I can easily download audio-books to my iPod using the iTunes store or my local library’s online services.  I have also had great success using  Audible.com to download audiobooks while traveling.

Sources for Free Audiobook Downloads:

• Mercury Theatre on the Air has a collection of classic radio drama from the 1930′s that includes Rebecca, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Pickwick Papers, Around the World in 80 Days, Treasure Island, and Dracula.
• Lit2Go offers a collection of children’s literature that allows you to search the collection by title, author, or reading level. Educators will love the reading activities that accompany most titles. For example, for “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” from Aesop’s Fables, the reading activity suggests making a concept map showing cause and effect.
• LibriVox allows you to download free audiobooks from the public domain. Budding actors may also volunteer to record and upload audiobooks. This ecclectic collection includes stories and poems by Walt Whitman, Rudyard Kipling, and Jules Verne.
• Ejunto provides a collection of free historical and philosophical audio books. This where you can download Machiavelli’s The Prince, William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, or James Madison’s The Federalist #10.

Discussing a Book on a Road Trip

Although George Orwell’s Animal Farm is rarely recommended for tweens, the Goldstones recommend this book for fourth graders.  Since I was traveling with a 2nd and a 6th grader at the time, I figured that this book could appeal to both.  Also, since we were listening to the audio-book version, both children could handle the difficult vocabulary and sophisticated language.  It was easy to pause the iPod as necessary when encountering unfamiliar words or ideas.

We didn’t have a literary guide to Animal Farm in the car, so we just talked about the story.  The long, and monotonous, prologue sparked the first questions.  The rest of the discussion just spun off from that beginning:

• How is Animal Farm a fairy story?  In the prologue, C.M. Wodehouse explains that Animal Farm is a fairy story in the sense that it lacks a moral, and that fairy stories exist outside of morality.  Does it seem right that the bad guy is just as likely to win (as the good guy) in this and other fairly tales?
• What is communism?  How is Animal Farm communist?  Suggestions for discussing this complex subject: How to Teach Kids About Communism and Communism.
• How is Snowball like Mr. Nobody (the culprit who is often blamed for misdeeds in our home.)  Why do people in power like to blame everything on a scapegoat?  How does this unify public opinion and encourage support for the leader?  How do bullies use this tactic in the school setting?
• Somehow, we found ourselves discussing the same questions about Animal Farm that the Goldstones suggest in the chapter titled, Putting It All Together: What Is The Book Really About?  We decided that Orwell was telling us that, regardless of the outcome, it is the individual’s responsibility to speak up for what they know is right – even if, or especially if, there are a bunch of sheep trying to drown your voice with mindless chanting of the oppressor’s message.  This is true in any group, whether it is school, city, state, etc.  The kids were excited about questioning authority and this led to a fruitful discussion about when and where authority should be questioned.

Additional Book Discussion Guides and Resources:

• Book Babes: A Mother-Daughter Book Club
• How to Read Literature Like A Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide To Reading Between The Lines
• Kidsreads.com
• The Kid’s Book Club Book
• Moms Inspire Learning

Read Across America Road Trip of 2009:

• How To Plan A Read Across America Road Trip
• Travel Tips for Reading with Kids on Road Trips
• Read Across America Road Trip Begins In NYC
• Taking the Kids to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Chicago’s Blues Festival
• A Family Visit to Mark Twain’s Hometown in Hannibal, MO Is an Adventure of the Imagination

One of the best reasons for family travel is to broaden a child’s horizons. Combine travel with a good story, and amazing things happen.

In the few weeks that my kids and I undertook the Read Across America Road Trip of 2009, my son developed several career ambitions: architect, geologist, paleontologist, and/or cowboy.  To this day, we see the impact in his interests and in the stories that he tells.

If nothing else, storybook travel served to expand the boundaries of his (and my) imagination.

Camping By Huckleberry Finn’s River

Since we were reading (or listening to) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, two classic American stories that enliven a US road trip, it seemed only fitting to stop in Hannibal, Missouri -  Mark Twain’s boyhood hometown.

Hannibal is a small town, easily seen in a day; but I wanted to experience it as the fictional characters might have done (if they had access to LL Bean and electronic gadgets)  – camping by the Mississippi River.

Lured by ads for go carts and  batting cage, the kids chose the Injun Joe Campground over the Mark Twain Campground, but it wasn’t long before we came to regret this decision.  Although these “fun” amenities were available, we never touched the dirty and rusty playthings.  Even worse, as we headed into the camp lots, we started to question the transient nature of accommodations that seemed to be more trailer park than campground.

Setting up our tent, we were fairly happy with our new home.  We had found a spot far from RVs that looked like they had long forgotten the feel of the open road; and with judicious placement of tents, we were able to ignore the litter on our site.  That first night, we relaxed in our commodious screened-in room, and listened to Tom Sawyer on audiobook.

On that first night, we woke to the sounds of torrential rains.  It poured, and continued to pour throughout the day and into the following night.  Our gear was saturated with red Mississippi River mud that promised to be a reminder of our trip for a long time to come.

This camping trip failed to live up to dreams of reliving an early American experience, but at least my children got a lesson in discerning travel planning. And we would have many more camping trips that summer for more primeval experiences.

Exploring Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home

The rest of our visit to Hannibal, MO exceeded all expectations.

I could have stayed all day just in Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and the Interpretive Center. But my kids weren’t as eager to read every plaque as I. They preferred playing through the exhibits related to Mark Twain’s stories in the Children’s Museum.

Fair warning – it’s hard to avoid the gift shop, and even harder to avoid leaving with dangerous toys for boys and girls.

Some children may even learn lessons that we might prefer that they never learn; for instance, how to avoid chores and punishments.  Here’s the “real” Tom Sawyer fence:

And another in the Children’s Museum:

As Kayla explains,

Tom needed to use a lot of imagination to achieve the things that he did throughout the book.  Who would ever have thought of turning a chore to paint a fence into a profitable opportunity. And the robbery thing, pure imagination.

We missed one of the most popular Hannibal, MO attractions, the steamboat ride, due to our timing, but we walked over for a closer look anyway.

Another decision I came to regret as only extreme good luck prevented another close encounter with the Mississippi River.

Treasure Hunt at Mark Twain’s Cave

Our favorite attraction in Hannibal, MO was the Mark Twain Cave.  We’ve explored more geologically exciting caverns, but this one comes with a doozy of a story.  Not only do you get the full Tom Sawyer tour which illustrates the tale of Injun Joe, described here by Kayla in her travel journal,

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are in a cemetery at 12pm one night.  When they see people coming, they duck behind a cave stone.  They watch as Injun Joe kills a man.  A few weeks later, Tom rats out Injun Joe to the court during a trial.  Injun Joe escapes while Tom is giving his testimony.  Huck and Tom spy on Injun Joe and notice that he has a large sum of money that he is trying to hide.  One day, when Tom and his girlfriend, Becky are in a cave, they get lost.  Tom comes across Injun Joe who is hiding in the cave.  When Tom and Becky finally get out a few days later, they discover that Injun Joe died in the cave.  Huck and Tom go back into the cave, and find the money that Injun Joe hid.  They split the money in half, and have a handsome sum of $6,000.00 each.

The cave tour gets even more interesting when you learn about the real-life inhabitants, including Jesse James’ hideout and the doctor who stored a dead child.

Alex was just mesmerized by the cave, and the prospect of treasure.  For that day, at least, he planned to grow up to be a geologist.  He donned his miner’s hat, and went in search of underground treasure.  Although he had to leave Injun Joe’s treasure on sight, he was thrilled to discover and keep a piece of “pure” limestone.  It might look like glass to some, but to the creative mind, it was a gem.

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boy’s life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.  Mark Twain, Wit and Wisecracks.

Foodie Adventure in Hannibal, MO

After a long day of mischief in Hannibal, MO that included learning the art of the con at Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home, searching for treasure in caves, and climbing Cardiff Hill to spot pirates, the kids and I were famished.

A good thing, too, as we needed hearty appetites to tackle a heaping stack of Southern fried chicken and the infamous Mississippi Mud Malt at the Mark Twain Dinette.

If you would like to know what Alex had to say about our visit to Mark Twain’s hometown, read his Review of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Go See It!

If we had more time in Hannibal, MO, there are a number of other area attractions well worth a look-see. I have listed a few below, but do visit the Hannibal, Missouri website at www.visithannibal.com for more recommendations.

Mark Twain Dinette & Family Restaurant
400 N. 3rd St. (Hwy.79) • (573) 221-5511• www.marktwaindinette.com

Read Across America Road Trip of 2009:

• How To Plan A Read Across America Road Trip
• Travel Tips for Reading with Kids on Road Trips
• Read Across America Road Trip Begins In NYC
• Taking the Kids to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Chicago’s Blues Festival
• A Family Visit to Mark Twain’s Hometown in Hannibal, MO Is an Adventure of the Imagination

You could say that our family adventure to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio was a little bit hip hop and a little bit rock and roll.

Back in the summer of ‘09, my kids and I headed out on a two-month-long Read Across America Road Trip. Many happy miles flew by listening to audiobooks, but sometimes compromises were made and we listened to each other’s musical selections.

Willingly, or not.

Starting Out On A Read Across America Road Trip

Every road trip should have a soundtrack.   That’s what I believe, even if what I usually crave is a little peace and quiet, and even though most of our road trips are spent listening to an audiobook.

I still like to have a musical theme for my road trips, drawn from a variety of genres.

Driving from Albany, NY to Chicago, in early June for the Blues Festival that colors the climax of Newberry Classic Yolonda’s Genius, I thought about sticking to the blues (and more than once, I was singing the blues.)  Instead, we mixed it up with a little of this and a little of that, from Jazz to Hip Hop, and I threw in a stop at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

In retrospect, I think that this was an inspired way to introduce a story that is about the nature and recognition of musical genius.

Hip Hop and Langston Hughes

When I insisted on playing the CD that comes with Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat, my kids wanted to know what did Hip Hop have to do with our story.  This wasn’t Rock and Roll, and it wasn’t the Blues.

I asked them to read aloud poems from Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes.  (See Lesson Plan on Langston Hughes and the Blues.) Well, there was no great revelation, more of a slow buildup of understanding, trying to connect the idea that lyrics could be poetry, and that vastly “different” musical and literature genres can share common elements and influences.

(Note that three years later, my daughter is a huge fan of rap music, and that she is busy planning a poetry slam to showcase her own rap lyrics. You just never know where a little enrichment will lead!)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is huge, and the exhibits suck you in, so that we found ourselves spending hours watching documentary videos, listening to songs, and reading informative posters.

I had only planned to spend a couple of hours at the museum, but we ended up staying most of day.  It was that interesting (although my 9yo son wasn’t as much of a fan as my teen daughter and I.)

Somehow, with promises of free T-shirts, I persuaded both kids to fill out an Activity Guide.  I was glad I did, as this forced them to spend a little time learning about the early influences of Rock and Roll.  Otherwise, I’m sure they would have bypassed The Roots of Rock and Roll: Blues, Gospel, R&B, Country and Folk, even though this was one of the most useful exhibits for understanding the themes in Yolonda’s Genius, especially the idea that genius lies in creating something new out of the old.

We also watched a couple of films – Mystery Train, Kick Out the Jams (caution – mature content) -  that I thought did an excellent job of showing how groundbreaking artists are often not appreciated at home, at least not until they achieve fame elsewhere.  Picture Janis Joplin defiantly returning to her small hometown. (A good lesson to revisit in difficult teen years!)

Dancing In The Streets of Chicago

By the time we arrived in Chicago, we had finished listening to and discussing Yolanda’s Genius.  Now we could appreciate the setting, the music, and the food at the largest blues festival in the world.

And for the kids to pretend, for just a moment, to be lost children like Yolonda and Andrew when they were scheming to go backstage. Sadly, that trick didn’t work for my kids, although it did give me heart palpitations when I noticed the police squad right next to my young thespians.

Music and Travel

Checking into the Essex Inn, a stately but moderately priced hotel with a magnificent pool (an important criteria for the kids!), we met a fellow traveler who happened to be one of the headliners at the Blues Festival, Terry “Harmonica” Bean.

I was tempted to ask him if he’d ever been a misunderstood genius, like Yolonda’s harmonica-playing little brother, but I managed to show a little restraint.  Not much, mind you, but a little.

Our hotel was located across the street from Grant Park, the site of the several stages that are part of the festival, but Terry was from the South, and he would perform on the Mississippi Juke Joint stage, on the far end of the park.

See, this is where I started seeing those learning connections, as if I could miss them, found in music and travel.  Two years earlier, on our first major family road trip, I took Kayla and Alex to Mississippi to explore the subject of my daughter’s school state report.

Kayla had decided that what she most wanted to learn about in the southern state was its native son – Elvis Presley, born in Tupelo, Mississippi.  As part of that project, we visited various Tupelo museums where we learned about Elvis’ musical inspirations, including the folk, country, gospel, and blues influences.

We also drove to the Crossroads, and visited  Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club  and the Blues Museum along the Delta Blues trail, before heading to Sun Studios and Graceland.

On that road trip, and again on this one, it’s been fascinating to discover the way music connects human culture across geographic and other boundaries, and to see how it is used as a tool for change.

Rock and Roll Educational Music Resources:

• Rockin’ Lesson Plans – Connecting music with Language Arts and Social Studies.
• General Reference – Popular Music Studies.
• Student Activity Guides – Grade-specific scavenger hunt activity guides.

Go See It!

On the first day of our road trip, we left Albany, NY none too early, arriving in Cleveland, OH in time for a good nights rest at a La Quinta hotel. The next morning, we spent most of the day (10AM-3PM) at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before driving 1.5 hours to Toledo, OH where we sampled Hungarian Hot Dogs. Then, I drove another 3.5 hours to get to Chicago where we stayed two nights at the Essex Inn. I left the car in hotel parking, and we walked everywhere, spending one day at the Blues Festival and another visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Robie House.

I think that I could spend a lifetime getting to know Chicago, and I will – bit by bit. Most recently, we returned for a brief Deep Dish Pizza foodie adventure.

Chicago Blues Festival

Yolonda’s Genius: Carol Fenner: Books	Hip Hop Speaks to Children with CD: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat (A Poetry Speaks Experience): Nikki Giovanni: Books	Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes: David Roessel, Arnold Rampersad, Benny Andrews: Books

Read Across America Road Trip of 2009:

• How To Plan A Read Across America Road Trip
• Travel Tips for Reading with Kids on Road Trips
• Read Across America Road Trip Begins In NYC
• Taking the Kids to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Chicago’s Blues Festival
• A Family Visit to Mark Twain’s Hometown in Hannibal, MO Is an Adventure of the Imagination

Before the epic failure that was the Foodie Adventures Road Trip of 2011, we undertook other family road trips – and other foodie adventures. In the summer of 2009, I took my kids on a two-month long grand adventure – the Read Across America Road Trip Across America. And our first stop was for a truly magnificent culinary delight – hot dogs in Ohio.

Tony Packo’s Hungarian Hot Dogs in Toledo, Ohio

I’m not sure where I first heard about Tony Packo’s Hungarian Hot Dogs.  It may have been in 1000 Places To See Before You Die, although it’s hard to believe that a beefed up hot dog stand would merit the same consideration as, say, the Taj Mahal.

Even if it wasn’t one of the seven wonders of the world, I decided that it was worth a stop on our drive from Cleveland to Chicago, if only to find out what all the fuss was about.  It was on our way, easy to get to, and an inexpensive place to get a meal.

I wasn’t disappointed in the hot dogs.  They were pretty tasty, not as good as the street hot dogs in New York City or Prague, but delicious nonetheless.  Even better were the accompaniments -creamy cucumber salad, paprika dumplings, and apple strudel.

As good as the meal was, I still don’t get what all the buzz is about.  Apparently, Tony Packo’s got a lot of media exposure when one of the MASH characters raved about the hot dogs.  Later, celebrities turned the place into an even bigger deal by autographing the hot dog buns.

Now, the walls are covered by autographed buns.

No strangers to green, moldy bread, the kids asked how come the autographed buns didn’t suffer the same fate.  Accustomed to answering a barrage of questions, mostly on subjects that I know very little about, I came up with what I thought was a reasonable answer.  I suggested that  the airtight packaging preserved the hot dog buns.

The kids believed me too, until an employee piped up that they use Styrofoam hot dogs.  Fake hot dogs seem to be a popular item, and the gift shop was selling them like hotcakes.

I was tempted to bring one home as a souvenir, but I decided to hold on to the squeezable buns with my camera instead.

America’s Best Hot Dogs?

Personally, I think it’s hard to go wrong with a hot dog. I’ve never found one I didn’t like. But it seems that there are a number of gourmands with strong opinions about the best hot dogs in America, and Tony Packo’s didn’t make the list. No matter. It’s still a great spot for a foodie adventure.

Find It!

Read Across America Road Trip of 2009:

• How To Plan A Read Across America Road Trip
• Travel Tips for Reading with Kids on Road Trips
• Read Across America Road Trip Begins In NYC
• Taking the Kids to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Chicago’s Blues Festival
• A Family Visit to Mark Twain’s Hometown in Hannibal, MO Is an Adventure of the Imagination

Is there such a thing as healthy fast food? It’s tough to make good food choices when you’re pressed for time and  money, but there is a way to minimize the harm.

Last spring, my son and I went to a few fast food restaurants to see if it was possible to feel satisfied with a healthy, low-calorie meal. It was. Here is how we did it.

How to Enjoy Healthy Fast Food:

• Take a Bite Out of Fast Food with iChoose600 – Find out how to make healthy choices at fast food restaurants.
• Healthy Fast Food at Burger King – It’s not as hard as you think to eat a healthy meal in a fast food restaurant.
• Can You Eat Less Than 600 Calories at Five Guys? – This was the true test given the limited options, but we did it.
• Fast Food Breakfast at McDonald’s – A quick and filling breakfast doesn’t have to break diet resolutions; it can even help you stick to ‘em.
• Wendy’s Salads Are a Great Way to Watch What You Eat – Salads are a great choice for healthy dining, but watch out for the dressing!

One more thing…

While the iChoose600 Campaign was great for introducing us to the concept of healthy fast food, I found that it was easier to count calories with the Fast Food Calorie Counter app on my iPhone (also available on the Android platform.)

Berkshire East Ski Area is a kid-friendly sort of place, well known for programs that introduce children to skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. But given that it’s a 1.5 hour drive  to get there from Albany, each way, we don’t go too often.

On Sunday, January 22, 2012. my daughter and I returned for another ski race; this time Kayla competed as a J2 (High School sophomore) in the Schaefer Cup Slalom Race.

In previous years, my son and I bypassed the slopes for the thrills of tubing. As he was racing at another mountain, and I was the designated parent cheerleader, it was a quieter day for me.

Here’s my homage to the delights of Berkshire East, not least of which is the windowed-wall which gives weary parents an unfettered view of mountain attractions.

You Might Like:

• Torchlight Parade at Jiminy Peak

• Kids Ski – Free! If They’re In The NY 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport Program

• Zipline Tour at Sunday River Is A Fun Family Adventure

• Slopeside Condo – From Bedroom Slippers to Ski Boots at Sunday River

• A Day Out at Jiminy Peak Adventure Park

• Spring Fling at Jiminy Peak

When the clock strikes midnight on January 23, 2012, the Chinese New Year will usher in the most promising of zodiac tidings – the Year of the Dragon.

It’s going to be a good year. Considered the most powerful of the twelve animals associated with the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is a symbol of strength and good luck.

To mark this auspicious event, follow a trail of ancient Chinese proverbs placed in a fitting setting – The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver, Canada.

Take a journey back in time to 15th Century China, to where:

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the places and moments that take our breath away.”

“A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time.” Mencius (372 – 289 BCE)

“Hidden dragons, crouching tigers.”

“To attract good fortune, spend a new coin on an old friend, share an old pleasure with a new friend, and lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.”

“The dragon teaches you that if you want to climb high you have to do it against the wind.”

Gong Xi Fa Ca! That’s the traditional Chinese New Year greeting that means “wishing you prosperity” in Mandarin.

Go See It!

To plan a visit to The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden go to www.vancouverchinesegarden.com  for rates, hours of operation, tours, and much more.

You Might Like:

• The Chinese Legend of How the Animals Gave Their Names to the Years

• Of Metal Rabbits and Wood Dragons

• Chinese Arts

• End The Lunar New Year With a Visit To Kim’s Asian Market and a Bowl of Phở

• Chinatown – A Fun Thing To Do With Kids In New York City

• Dim Sum in the Capital Region

Also in Vancouver:

• Vancouver Travel – On My Own

• Crazy Canucks, Hot Mounties, and the Spirit of Canada

• Conquer Your Fear of Heights at Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge

• Vancouver Food: Is New York Ready for Japadogs?

• Good Reasons Adults Stay at Youth Hostels – Just Don’t Bring the Kids!

Thank you to Tourism Vancouver for providing a Media Experience Pass granting free admission to a number of area attractions!

One of the reasons I love Disney World is that kids learn while they are having fun, without even realizing that there might just be an educational component.

Spaceship Earth at Epcot in Disney World

The Spaceship Earth attraction at Epcot is a 16-minute omnimover ride through history that “depicts the stirring story of human connection and collaboration over 40,000 years—from the dawn of recorded time to the 21st century’s Internet age.” All hype aside, I found myself seeing the connection between communication and the development of civilization in a fresh way.

For the young ones in our party, the ride provided a multi-sensory experience: the acrid smell of burning at the ancient Library of Alexandria,  hearing the TV coverage of the first landing on the moon, all the while inputing data on the ride’s touchscreen. I’m not sure how much of the history the 4-year-old absorbed, but it was obvious that she loved the ride from the smile on her face.

Even my teen wasn’t too cool to enjoy the ride, and she certainly picked up on the history lessons.  Currently, she is reading Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel for her AP World History summer assignment, and she just finished Ray Bradbury’s Farenheit 451for Honors English.  (Methinks that it’s no coincidence that her teachers chose these books given related themes.) Well, it turns out that Ray Bradbury “helped design the geodesic sphere and pen the original story of the attraction.” At a minimum, this ride gave her food for thought regarding the role of written history and communication, and perhaps some fodder for the written assignment.

Behind the Seeds at Epcot

Although billed as being appropriate for all ages, I wasn’t sure if my kids would enjoy theBehind the Seeds at Epcot walking tour of the greenhouses at the Living with the Landattraction. There was no denying that this was an educational program. However, the agricultural facilities are so incredibly high tech, that even my hard-to-impress children were amazed. Even so, I think that the reason this program was so appealing was that there were multiple stops with hands on activities.

The tour guide, a recent graduate of a UVA botanical science program, first took us to the Biological Control Lab where she introduced the small group to beneficial pests. Some of the participants received bottles filled with lady bugs that they would later release among the crops. Along the way, we goggled at the hydroponics fields where they’re growing a wide variety of vegetables, much of which is served at resort restaurants.

The tour guide handed out instructions for The Land Hydroponic Gro-Tank so that we could try this at home.  I think we may add this project to our Homeschool Biology curriculum this year. My son will learn a little about plant biology, and we can reap the benefits with homegrown herbs in the winter.

We didn’t just see the produce, we tasted it as well as each participant received a slice of burpless cucumber.  They were sweet, but my daughter preferred to use hers for an on-the-spot facial.

Those Disney folks like to exceed expectations.  It wasn’t enough to just grow incredibly delicious cucumbers.  No, they had to do something truly unusual.  Get a load of the Mickey Mouse-shaped cucumbers:

I didn’t see one, but apparently, they also have Mickey Mouse-shaped pumpkins! Go figure.

There was more to the tour.  We saw the tanks where they “farm” alligators and many different kinds of fish, and we even fed the Tilapia. That was interesting, but not as cool as the hydroponics.

The whole tour only took an hour. We discovered a new (to us) way to grow tasty produce, and we still had plenty of time to play in the park. Definitely, a win/win!

More Disney World Education Programs in Florida:

The Epcot tour and rides just begin to skim the surface of all the fun and educational things to do at Disney theme parks. To learn more, visit Disney Youth Programs.


And to book Epcot Behind the Seeds and other exciting tours, go to Tours and Experiences at Disney World. 

You Might Like:

• Travel Tips for Harry Potter at Universal Studios
• Disney World Day Trips: Epcot’s Behind the Seeds, Teppan Eddo, IllumiNations Cruise, & Typhoon Lagoon.

Just like the manatees leaving the cold St. John’s River, our family sought out the warmth of Blue Spring State Park.

Walking on boardwalks along the clear waters, we saw herons, snapping turtles, humongous fish, and manatee families, including the sweetest “little” baby manatee clinging to its mother.

It’s a pleasant spot, easily accessible, that is a beautiful setting for a family stroll.  Next time we plan to get even closer to the wildlife on a Narrated Nature River Cruise.

Blue Spring State Park is about as far as you can get from the Disney experience in Florida, and well worth the visit if only to experience “the Real Florida.”

Go See It!