Welcome to the Chesapeake Children's Museum

On Christmas Eve we had a few hours in Annapolis, MD before meeting my brothers and headed to the Chesapeake Children’s Museum.  Driving onto a surprisingly quiet hilltop about four minutes from the Annapolis City Dock, the near empty parking lot, a old repainted bus and an old building with peeling paint had me worried that this would be a bust.  Wow was I wrong.

A Maryland Blue Crab welcomes you

I  think the Chesapeake Children’s Museum may be one of the best museums for kids and a dream if you live in the area. First, it is inexpensive compared to most museums at only $3 for those over 1 year old.  Second, there are lots of live animals from the Chesapeake biospheres plus a couple that are just cool to see like the boa constrictor.  Third, while there is plenty of educational and developmental programming, my eyes saw a playroom that took up an entire house.  If only there was something like this near our home, I could outsource all of our toys.

Lightly staffed, the gentlemen sitting at the front desk was a fountain of information as was his son who was hanging out for the day. Jack and I were most excited when we learned he had just fed the snakes and planted ourselves in front of a tank to watch the snake catch its mouse. And sat and sat and sat…

The building area

Meanwhile, Mirielle started exploring.  The room off the entrance focuses on the the Chesapeake habitat complete with live animals and a dock and boat kids can climb around.  The far end of the room is a building area with a train table plus enough blocks to build an addition on the museum.  Add hard hats and play tools and kids have a complete workshop.

Play medical office with real equipment

Other rooms for play include a medical office including a real dentist chair, x-rays and office equipment, a self serve art area, a dress up room with a small stage and a huge number of costumes, and a home life room with a farmer’s market with play food, dolls, beds and child sized furniture.  Downstairs is a space for eating, group projects, watching movies as well as other coves for play with music, books and toys.

Picnic and play area outside the CCM

The museum hosts a steady stream of events for hands on engagement in learning and creating.  It functions like a great community center with programs for toddlers, preschoolers, school age kids, families, parents, plus Girl and Boy Scouts.  Maybe this is part of why I liked this small museum so much.  It is environment which encourages interacting with other people (and animals) rather than just exhibits.

Other details:

• There is a small kitchen with indoor picnic table plus lots of space outside if you bring your own snacks.
• There are additional outdoor activities which we I avoided due to the wintry weather.
• Talk to the staff and older kids who hang out at the museum – they are a wealth of knowledge and it is encouraging to see a tween excited to share knowledge.

Admission we paid: $3 per person

Building in the Wonder Room.

The highlight was the time we spent in the Wonder Cabinet.  This 3,100 square foot room is geared to the four and under set. Despite how busy the museum was, I heard shrieks of joy from Mirielle as she ran though tunnels chased by her dad.  The giant soft blocks were another big hit and quickly engaged multiple children building “houses.”  An older child playing with her sibling was getting frustrated that my two year old was having just as much fun knocking down the blocks, but the staff stepped in and gently, diplomatically and collaboratively diffused the situation.  We finally had to physically remove Mirielle from the sand table when the museum closed.

Playing at the sand table

The Rainbow Pizza and Grocery was another great stop with pretend food, cash registers, a brick oven and even a Model A delivery truck.  This fairly large play space promotes healthy foods, but kids won’t notice as they throw more veggies on their wooden pizzas.  Adjacent is the Art Loft where kids over four can create with the tools and materials tied to the theme of the month or special event.  This is a great anchor spot for parents with both younger and older children.

Exploring circles

If you don’t mind the kids getting a little wet, Waterworks is one of the coolest water play areas I have seen at museum or playground.  (You won’t have a choice about the kids getting wet because the exhibit is front and just right of center.  I dare you to try and keep little ones away.)  This is another great stop for siblings. Admission is limited so even on busy days, the kids can have a great time getting soaked and learning.  Bring a change of clothes.

Other details:

• The museum has a Light Rail stop, but no on-site parking.  Check the website for closest lots.
• There is a small snack bar with seating in the center of the museum.
• Great on quiet day, but skip holidays and special events.

Admission we paid: $10 per person

Other Reviews:

Keeps Me Smiling “Children’s Museum of San Jose”

Welcome to the CDM of San Jose

Every two year old melts down.

I am not going to change the view of people who don’t like kids, who think they should be seen not heard, or who think they belong at the back of the plane or not on the plane at all.  I also am not going to ring in on what this mother was or was not doing to “control” or “calm” her child. I am going to call out everyone who is judging another person’s parenting.

I was recently that mom traveling solo at the Southwest gate with the two year old in a meltdown so dramatic all the forces in the universe could not calm her down.  And you know what?  I was being judged for everything I was doing or not doing to try and mitigate the situation.

My talking to her – I’m a pushover.  If I spanked her, I would be abusive.  If I drugged her with Benadryl or TV (my batteries ran out on the first leg of the trip), I was negligent.  When I carried her down the jetway under my arm in a football hold trying to cover her mouth to minimize the noise, someone was probably calling child services.

We boarded, but, if looks could kill I would not be alive today.  I sat in row six forgetting that there is a universal understanding that children should sit at the back of the airplane. The fit continued as I tried to keep her buckled in her seat.  One flight attendant kept a close watch to scold me when she wiggled out. (Or maybe throw us off the flight?) And then the plane started moving, Mirielle calmed down and fell asleep before we hit 3000 ft — just like she usually does.

To all the bloggers out there who are giving this mom advice, or calling on parents to be more respectful of other travelers, or reminding parents how to behave with kids on airplanes, or telling people to keep kids off the airplane  — you are judging this woman’s and my parenting and I don’t like it.

For those with children, I guess you have never been on a flight where your child spilled a drink, wet himself, pooped, threw up, threw something over a seat, kicked a seat, talked, screamed, cried, touched another passenger, whined, dumped food on the floor, ran up or down an aisle or really needed to jump the bathroom line?  And I bet in your regulation size carry-on there something to take care of all of those situations plus multiple hours of delays?

For those without children, I bet you have never had a cell phone conversation, worn perfume, cologne or a stinky soap, flown with a sneeze/runny nose/cough, had bad breath or body odor, used your neighbor’s seat/storage/tray/armrest as your own, spilled food or drink, watched a movie with violence/sex on your laptop, turned the volume up so everyone could share you music/movie, cursed, farted, painted your nails or consumed smelly food on an airplane?

None of us know where the line is between acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior because it is different for each of us. Most people think their view is the right one. (It can’t be, because mine is.)

I am going to keep traveling with my child in the not-so-friendly skies.  She will kick your seat, whine, squirm, run up the aisle stopping to check out what movie you are watching, and not make it to the lavatory in time.  I will try and manage her behavior when it bothers other people (if it bothers other people, it bothered me long before). I try to prevent that behavior from happening in the first place, but I fail sometimes.

When I do fail, this bad parent hopes I chase my daughter right past you to take our seats in first class on our way to visit a non-children’s museum before going out to dinner at a restaurant where they don’t have crayons.

First class is fine for kids.

A special thanks to the people standing behind me in line for carrying my backpack while I carried my daughter down the jetway.

Standing on my back porch, a view over my neighbor’s house brings pause and appreciation of what the big deal is. Driving Mirielle to school, I end up on the road with the brilliant orange tree. Birch trees with their white bark are one of the first to lose their leaves this year. The fragile, sparsely clothed branches remind me of characters in Chekhov’s plays. (Maybe a bit esoteric reference, but I love birch trees and I love Checkhov’s plays and I have always imagined the Russian farms covered with birch forests.) Speaking of Chekhov, the cherry tree out my office window is fading from green to red-yellow.

Napa Valley in November

In California, I often heard east coast immigrants (which I was) missed the seasons. I always saw seasons. I never missed them: green and brown, wet and dry, a slow ’spring’ which lasted from late January through the rains, and a subtle fall that was not so subtle in the vineyards or even the median of our street. Snow was a season I definitely did not miss and it was only three hours away if I wanted to ski.

Fall means more figs in California

This weekend we are headed up to Vermont to see the ‘peak’ foliage, pick apples, taste cheese, meet alpaca and whatever else strikes our fancy. I am going to be a ‘Leaf Peeper’ but there has got to be a better name. Foliage Finder? Colors Crusader? Autumn Audubon-ist? Tree Tourist? Other suggestions?

I am participating in DeliciousBaby’s super cool Photo Fridays, where everyone is invited to link to a travel photo. Please click here to see more of this week’s photos & stories.

VIA™ three pack envelopes

Travel friendly?

Yes.  The compact envelopes and individual serving packets are easily tucked in nooks and crannies of suitcases, backpacks, or purses and carried through airport security.

All that is needed to make a cup of VIA™ is access to a cup and hot water. Most hotel rooms have a coffee maker which will make hot water. Free hot water is found in hotel lobbies, bars or anywhere tea is served. I also tested making the coffee with hot tap water and it made a good cup (even at our lower, child safe temperature setting).

How does it taste?

Good, strong and smoother than many brewed coffees.  Even making a generous mug (10-12oz) both the Italian Roast and Columbia flavors did not taste watered down.  With six ounces of water added to the Italian Roast, a spoon would probably stand up which I know is important to many coffee drinkers.  Those taking their coffee black will notice the lack of tannins or tanginess found in brewed coffee which makes for a smooth cup. I added 2% milk and found it better than most road coffee and Starbucks’ in-store brew.

VIA™ Ready Brew is now my wake up coffee on the road (though it is still Kona Coffee at home.)

This is my opinion. I received free samples of VIA™ from a fellow blogger, not Starbucks.  I was not asked to write a review and did not receive compensation for this review.  (I did write this review in a Starbucks store, used their free wifi and took a couple of bags of ‘grounds for your garden,’ but I bought my own brewed coffee and fruit cup.)

Mirielle trying Donkey Balls

While most of our stops along the Kona Coffee Trail involved coffee, we sneaked some Donkey Balls.  Covered in Hawaii travel guides, a few outlets around the island sell locally grown macadamia nuts covered in chocolate.  Forget the chocolate covered mac nuts you see in candy boxes, these are at least an inch in diameter.  In addition to  dark and milk chocolate, you will  find coconut, chili pepper, Hawaiian sea salt and other concoctions added.  Two warnings: these are popular so flavors sell out and bring lots of wet wipes as they are messy.

Kona Coast Nut & Candy Company

Less covered in  guide books, but in my opinion more delectable, are the nuts and candy you can find at the Kona Coast Macadamia Nut & Candy Factory.  Intrigued by the building we stopped, took a turn running a mac nut through the processing line and picked up both salted raw nuts and candies: dark chocolate mac nut and coconut bark for me and milk chocolate mac nut bark for my husband.  We shared a little with Mirielle but never let her see the full stash.

I am participating in DeliciousBaby’s super cool Photo Fridays, where everyone is invited to link to a travel photo. Please click here to see more of this week’s photos & stories.

I owe KAPA a special thank you for putting Mirielle to sleep. A morning full of honu (turtles) and swimming combined with a hotel bed was a recipe for napping disaster. After trying every trick in our book to get Mirielle to sleep, we put her in the car, turned on the radio and drove. She was asleep before we reached the first stop sign. While it usually takes ¾ – 1 ½ Frank Sinatra songs to get her down, KAPA’s soothing afternoon show made Frank look like a slacker.

Check out how we killed time coffee tasting during her nap.

In chilly New England, I listen to KAPA’s radio stream on the web at kaparadio.com. I tune in and am transported back to the big island. Ono.

Taking travel home is an occasional series on the things we bring home from travel. Guest submissions are welcome, just send an email to meg at backpacktobuggy dot com.

The fall edition of HipCompass Escapes magazine should pick you up. Start with my piece on The Kona Coffee Trail: making naptime fruitful.  We are avid wine tasters and were excited and surprised to apply those skills on coffee farms along the Kona coast while Mirielle was napping.  Take a look and stay tuned this week for more on the Kona Coffee Trail.

Other great stories include the cover story on American Spirits including bourbon, heirloom wine and one of my favorite beers. Also, check out a foodie’s view of Portland, Maine. I visited Portland for the first time a couple of weeks ago and the two most important words I learned – Duck Fat.

Local and fresh farmers market produce.

The last two farmers markets I visited were surprisingly set on the grounds of historic homes.   I usually get wrapped up in the excitement of fresh, locally grown and made food, but the addition of beautiful old homes on idyllic estates plus a few people walking around dressed in 230 year old fashion, made for memorable experiences.

Coventry Regional Farmers Market, Coventry, CT

Tables in front of Hale home at Coventry market.

One of the largest markets in central Connecticut, this Sunday market runs 11am-2pm, June through October and sets up next to Nathan Hale’s home.  America’s first spy and Connecticut’s State Hero is most attributed to saying “I only regret that I have but one life to give my country,” at his hanging in 1776.  You can learn about the debate on what he actually said by talking to the homestead staff at the market or visiting his home.

Goat at Coventry market

For more information on visiting historic homes in the area, please read Midwest Guest’s “At Home with History” about their visit and review of the nearby Daniel Rust House Inn.

Hill-Stead Farmers Market, Farmington, CT

Information table at Hill-Stead market

The Hill-Stead Museum is a National Historic Landmark that has been called the finest Colonial Revival house in the United States.  The ‘museum’ part of the  name come from the home’s  fine art collection, extensive library and broad range of artifacts from colonial life.  Don’t stay inside though.  The home sits on a hill with broad views of the Farmington River Valley and the estate is filled with kid friendly nature walks.  On Sundays from mid-July through October, a farmers market sets up in a field near the house from 11am-2pm.

Hill-Stead Farmers Market

Location aside, I would recommend these markets for the variety of local food available, live music, and educational programs. They are both set in fields, so be sure you bring shoes appropriate to the weather.  Both markets are very friendly for social dogs on leash with well behaved owners.

Celebrate National Farmers Markets Week by visiting a market this weekend.  A great directory of markets is found at Local Harvest, at the USDA website, or check with your state or province’s agriculture department website.

What happened in Backpack to Buggy’s first year?

• 52 posts (including this) – Averaging one a week is a good start. Though, I am sure you noticed my posts drop off: when anyone in my house gets sick, when I am traveling, when I am moving cross country, and, when I am a working from home while being a full time caregiver to a 2.5 yo.
• >200 comments – Thank you for the dialogue.
• >6000 page views (since 1/1/09) and >2000 in the past 30 days
• >70 subscribers
• 4/10 Google page rank
  
• Was one of the top ten Family Travel blogs according to Trip Base.

The most read posts over the year:
Bali or Hawaii? Bali may be cheaper.
The Safest Sunscreens for Kids
Travel in a Time of Epidemic
How to eat out with a toddler.
Disney is an OK destination, if it’s free.

And for a laugh, my top search term is “wine poo”.  I should be upset, but the napa picture sill makes me laugh.

Seriously though, the opportunity to meet so many interesting and talented travel and other writers has been a pleasure.  It was also a thrill to write for multiple publications under my own byline.  (I did a lot of ghost writing in Washington, DC in my past so I carry chip on my shoulder.)

Proud as a peacock.

Good first year, but how am I going to improve?

Well some changes you will see over the next year:

• A new tagline.  While I think “An avid traveler adapting to being a mom”  will always be relevant, this blog is less about adapting than it used to be.
• “Taking Travel Home” – an occasional series on the things we bring home from travel including recipes, books, toys, art and more.  Guest posts are encouraged.
• More on travel deals, resources, travel without the kids, product reviews, and editorials.
• Lots more on food.  I am a foodie.  I want to share my passion.  Food and travel are natural partners.  Oh, and food includes beverages in my world.
• Improved grammar and punctuation?  Seriously, corporate America and slide presentations are changing the “written” word in a dangerous way.  After 14 years of working in that world, my writing has suffered.  I hereby pledge to take some refresher courses (or hire the local high school English teacher everyone fears to grade my work).

Any other suggestions?