“Kids, get your laundry put away and your rooms tidied up so we can leave.”

“Leave?  Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise!”

“Oh, I like surprises.”

Before we headed out the door, the only clue I gave them was that we were going to go somewhere related to a TV show they like to watch.

I gave them each a small notebook, and as we drove down the road, I instructed them to start writing several clues, which they would also use as a scavenger hunt once we arrived.

As we went through the list, one child was convinced we were headed to The House on the Rock.  It wasn’t until we got to “falafel” that my masterminds figured it out.  We were going to a flea market.  (Falafel was featured prominently on a recent episode of PBS’ Market Warriors.)

But first, a stop at the library.

Henderson Public Library, Henderson, MN

Here, in Minnesota, we have a marvelous system of sharing materials between libraries.  Anything borrowed from a library anywhere in our nine-county region can be returned at our home library, so we like to visit different libraries and see how their collections differ.

In Minnesota’s Sibley County, there are five small but well-used libraries, in towns ranging from 800-2300 people.  The library in Henderson is a repurposed church building complete with stained-glass windows and featured in the book Libraries of Minnesota, and we took advantage of its Saturday morning hours to check out a few books.  (An additional benefit is that my kids are very quiet in the car when they have new books to discover.)

Trader’s Market, Elko, MN

From Henderson, we headed east to Elko, where the Trader’s Market flea market is held three weekends each summer.  With discount tickets in hand, we paid our admission and entered the grounds of what was our family’s first flea market.  My first-grade daughter had her notebook so she could find all the things we had listed.  The flea market did give the kids an idea of what the Market Warriors pickers experience, but as a mother nervous about my brood being in people’s way or breaking fragile items, it wasn’t a relaxing outing.  We spent enough time on the grounds to find everything but the falafel, and left with only the little scavenger hunter thinking she wanted to go again.  (I’d love to go back without kids; it just wasn’t the best place to be with eight extra hands.)  When we left, it was lunchtime, and not wanting to go home yet, we headed down the highway to Northfield.

Northfield, MN

Northfield is a hip little college town, home to both St. Olaf and Carleton colleges.  It is also the home of Malt-o-Meal cereals.  Its eclectic mix of downtown shops reminds me of Pearl Street in Boulder, Colorado, and its riverwalk along the Cannon River had the kids remembering similar walks in San Antonio, Texas, and Omaha, Nebraska.  Our real reason for heading to Northfield, however, was a bit more adventurous.  In 1876, Northfield was the site of a botched bank raid by the Jesse James gang, and each year in September the town reenacts the raid in front of thousands of visitors.  Since we were visiting in May, however, we took in the next best thing:  a tour of the Northfield Historical Society.

Northfield Historical Society, Northfield, MN

Our guided tour of the Northfield Historical Society began with a short film about the James gang and its place in Northfield history, after which we were taken next door to the First National Bank.  This restored building is where the raid took place, and our costumed guide explained exactly how things happened.  After seeing the bank site, we were led to another room which showed more artifacts from the gang and the Northfield raid, as well as a map detailing the escape of the gang and eventual capture of the Younger brothers.  (Frank and Jesse James had split off and escaped completely.)  The one-hour tour was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable.  Though there was nothing hands-on except a saddle and cowboy hat the kids could try out, my kids, ages 7-12, were interested enough in the story to remain attentive throughout the tour.

Before visiting the museum, I had considered going in September for the reenactment, but I think we might have gotten more of the story from the tour at a less-busy time of year.  We may instead attend the Younger Brothers Capture event near Madelia, Minnesota.

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, MN

We decided to make one last stop before going home, to Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, about 15 miles southeast of Northfield.  Minnesota has many and varied state parks, but this one is special in the spring because of its wildflowers in bloom, including one species, the trout lily, that has its only home in the world in three counties in Minnesota.

At the visitor center, we checked out birding and wildflower kits and began our hike along the shortest of the trails, which led to Hidden Falls,

stopping frequently to identify the many wildflowers we saw adjacent to the path.  The low carpet of flowers under the tall trees made for a beautiful walk even on an overcast day.

The concensus of the group was that we need to return to this park and try more of the hiking trails sometime when my husband can come with us.

Since we didn’t have much luck with birds during our hike, we stopped by the campground site #45, where a variety of bird feeders had attracted several species, so the birdwatching group had a chance to use their borrowed binoculars and bird identification books as well.

Our day trip to the Northfield area was a success.  For families from the Twin Cities (MSP airport is just 40 miles away), spending a half-day in Northfield shopping, eating, and visiting the museum, followed by some time in the state park, would be a very doable outing that would incorporate a variety of experiences.

I had done a similar trip thirteen years ago with a Home Extension group of women, all my elders by 20+ years, and enjoyed it then.  I was interested to see if our stops would be as interesting for kids.

Red Wing Pottery Store and Museum, Red Wing, MN

Our first stop was the Red Wing Pottery Store, where a potter provided a demonstration of how the collectible yet useful pottery is made.

Kids gathered around the demonstration area as he worked the clay, making it look easy to put on the signature lines and forms of uniformly-sized hand-made pottery.  He said that experienced potters can make 40-50 pieces per hour, and that each piece has a potter’s signature.  After the demonstration, we had time to look around the shop area, which included not only a wide variety of Red Wing pottery items, but also Fiestaware and kitchen gadgets, a gift gallery, and a candy store.

Then we walked across the street to “Pottery Place,” where the Red Wing Pottery Museum is located on the second floor of this factory-turned-mall.

The free, self-guided museum displays the history of Red Wing Pottery, including some limited-run pieces.  I was surprised at the variety of designs and types of pottery the company has made in the past.

Though there are no hands-on activities or child-centered displays, my kids were excited to see a big crock just like one we have at home, and they had fun taking pictures of the various pottery pieces.

Red Wing Shoe Store and Museum and World’s Largest Boot, Red Wing, MN

Next we were off on a short drive to see my highlight for the day:  the world’s largest boot.

It’s found at the Red Wing Shoe Store right on Highway 61 in downtown Red Wing.  At 16 feet high and 2300 pounds, this size 638.5 shoe is hard to miss when you walk in the door.  Little hands are allowed to touch, but no climbing on the shoe is allowed.

Up the staircase on the second floor, there’s a small museum that showcases the history of the company and its products, and shows how the famous Red Wing boots are made.

The kids loved the dress-up corner that showcased some of the professions that use Red Wing shoes.  Everyone’s favorite was the construction scene.  Did you know that Red Wing makes special boot treads for those workers who walk on construction beams high above the ground?

The main floor and lower level offer retail and factory-direct items, including Red Wing shoes and memorabilia relating to the company and the big boot.  Even the rest rooms are uniquely decorated.

National Eagle Center, Wabasha, MN

Leaving Red Wing, we drove along the Great River Road south through Lake City (where water-skiing was invented) to Wabasha (home of Grumpy Old Men), where the National Eagle Center is located on the banks of the Mississippi River.  Our family had visited the National Eagle Center four years ago, and when we drove up, my kids exclaimed happily, “Oh! THIS place!”  We had about 45 minutes before the next educational presentation was to begin, so the kids spread out to check out the exhibits.

Here, the first-floor exhibit area is hands-on and geared to kids, who can sit in an eagle’s nest, test their eagle-eye vision, and more.

The second floor contains more exhibits and displays, as well as an outdoor observation deck overlooking the river, where eagles and their nests are frequently seen.  Perhaps the most popular area is the room where visitors can see and learn about the center’s resident eagles, all of which are permanently disabled and cannot be rehabilitated.

Interesting trivia we learned was that the bald eagle pictured on Minnesota’s “Support our Troops” license plates is Harriet, one of the eagles at the National Eagle Center.

In the rotunda, individuals and groups can have their photo taken with a real live bald eagle.

The highlight, however, of the National Eagle Center is the educational program.

Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff member, visitors learn about the lives of eagles and the National Eagle Center and its history and mission; then it’s time for an eagle to be brought out for feeding time.  It was fascinating to watch the regal bird tear apart a large piece of fish with its strong beak and make short work of its daily feast.

After the 45-minute presentation, we returned to the exhibits until we realized that we were parked in a two-hour parking zone and had overspent our time.  (I read later on the brochure that the National Eagle Center can validate an additional two hours of parking for visitors in the city’s two-hour spots.)

At this point, the official 4-H tour was over, but a friend and I decided to add one more stop before our vehicles headed for home.

LARK Toys, Kellogg, MN

Just ten minutes south of Wabasha in the little town of Kellogg is one of the best toy stores anywhere.  LARK Toys is a good old-fashioned toy store and more.  Here you won’t find battery-operated toys, but you will find unique games, imaginative toys, and books, with several toy-testing stations throughout the retail area.

The “and more” of LARK Toys includes a museum of vintage toys in display cases along the hallways.  (One of my friends wasn’t happy that the toys we played with as children are now in a museum.)

There’s a mini-golf course outside, candy and ice cream and a concession area, and perhaps the biggest draw, a beautiful hand-carved carousel.

Our visit to southeast Minnesota included a beautiful spring drive on country roads, history, roadside attractions, geography, learning about a national symbol, and a stop at a big toy store.  Was it as good a trip with kids as it was with adults?  Yes.  If you make this trip with kids, start out bright and early–try to be to Red Wing by 9 a.m. and the National Eagle Center around noon so you’ll have time to fit in a round of mini-golf and ride the carousel and check out the toy store before the end of the day.  This was a fun and educational trip, and I’m thankful that our local 4-H club put out the call for visitors to tag along.

• Alcatraz (San Francisco, CA) at Family Travels on a Budget. (Good, detailed info for families in this post.)
• The Best Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids at Ciao Bambino.
• Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan, WI, at Road Trips for Families.
• Broken Down Dam, Fergus Falls, MN, at Highway Highlights.  (Interesting history of this site.)
• Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Washington, D.C.) at Travel 50 States with Kids.
• Como Park Zoo, St. Paul, MN, at Arrows Sent Forth. (Nice to see a non-Minnesotan’s take on this local-favorite zoo.)
• The Enchanted Highway, Regent, ND, at Highway Highlights.  (I want to go again and stay in the Enchanted Castle!)
• Everything You Need to Know about Visiting Four Corners Monument at Tips for Family Trips.
• Exploring Hands-On History with Kids in Kansas City at Trekaroo.
• Family-Friendly Activities on Hawaii, the Big Island, at The Vacation Gals.
• Family Fun in Ft. Collins, CO, at The Vacation Gals.  (Swetsville “Zoo,” here I come.)
• Family Getaway to Catalina Island (Southern CA) at Ciao Bambino.
• Going Ashore on an Alaska Cruise–Best Bets for Families at AK on the Go.
• Heavenly Gondola Ride in South Lake Tahoe, CA, at AAA Travel Views. (Some of my family members just did this and the views were amazing.)
• Hermann the German, New Ulm, MN, at Highway Highlights.  (Random tidbits of information: I first climbed Hermann in 1982, and the McDonald’s in New Ulm is where I had my first-ever Chicken McNuggets.)
• Inspiration Peak, Urbank, MN, at Highway Highlights.  (Looks like a nice little hike near Parkers Prairie/Alexandria; I enjoy learning of new places like this.)
• Library of Congress (Washington, D.C.) at Travel 50 States with Kids.  (Good info about what to expect on a tour.)
• Manitou Cliff Dwellings (Colorado Springs) at The World is a Book.
• Manzanar National Historic Site (CA) at Pit Stops for Kids.
• Minnesota’s Top 10 Best Roadside Attractions at Highway Highlights.  (I need to get to Red Wing to see the boot.)
• National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium (Dubuque, IA) at Road Trips for Families.
• Not the Key West of My Dreams at Two Kids and a Map.  (Love the honesty in this post.)
• Old Sturbridge Village (MA) at Albany Kid.
• Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, Waite Park (St. Cloud), MN, at Highway Highlights.  (This is on my to-visit list.)
• South Dakota’s Mammoth Site (Rapid City area) at Tips for Family Trips.
• Taste Testing Manitou Springs’ Mineral Water (near Colorado Springs) at The World is a Book.  (We tried this with very similar results.)
• Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange, NJ, at AAA TravelViews. (Also on my to-visit list.)
• Top 10 Most Iconic Scenes of Minnesota at Highway Highlights.  (I agree with this list.)
• Top Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ, with Kids at Ciao Bambino.
• Topiary Gardens of Columbus, OH, at Suitcases and Sippy Cups.
• Touring Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola at Pit Stops for Kids.
• Treasure City, Royalton, MN, at Highway Highlights.  (I’ve driven past this many times.  Looks like I need to stop in sometime.)
• A Visit to Jamestown (VA) with Kids at The Mother of All Trips.
• Visiting the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center (Washington, D.C.) at The World is a Book.
• Walton’s Mountain in Schuyler, VA, at AAA Travel Views.  (Before going here, this would require finding episodes of The Waltons for my kids to watch.)
• World’s Largest Catfish, Wahpeton, ND, at Highway Highlights.  (How did we miss this when we went to Chahinkapa Zoo?)
• Wright Brothers National Memorial (Kitty Hawk, NC) at Sherri’s Traveling Classroom.
• 5 Free Things to Do in Colorado Springs with Kids at The World is a Book.  (Colorado Springs is an excellent family destination.)
• 5 Fun and Free Things to Do in Tampa (FL) with Kids at The World is a Book.
• 5 Things to Consider Before Booking a Zipline Tour at Field Trips with Sue.
• 6 Fun Family Spring-Break Getaways at Family Rambling.  (Includes Grapevine, TX; Chicago; St. Louis; Ft. Worth; Boston; and Tempe/Mesa/Chandler, AZ.)
• 7 Tips for Visiting Golden Spike National Historic Site (Utah) at Tips for Family Trips.

Growing up in North Dakota in the 1970s and 80s, missile sites were commonplace.  We passed one underground missile silo on the way to school each day, and there was a control center near one of the other small towns in our rural school district.  As kids, we were aware of the sites and of the fact that though farmers could farm around the sites, messing with the fences was not a good idea.  The import of the sites and the reason for their existence was lost on me.

We stopped at the Minuteman Missile site mostly because of curiosity on my part, to see what was inside those high-security areas that were a part of my childhood.  What we got, however, was a primer on the Cold War along with our tour of the site.

Our tour began with a short video at the visitor center; we chose the kids’ version which was very informative.  It described the Cold War and the reasons for having the missile sites throughout the Midwest.  If the Russians were ever going to try to send a missile our way, we were going to fire back with more power.  It wasn’t perhaps the most neighborly of situations, but it was effective.  No one ever wanted to use the missiles, but they were there if the necessity arose.

After the video, we drove to the next Interstate exit and met a park ranger for our actual tour of the control site.  This fenced-in house-like structure was indeed homey inside, with bunk rooms, a kitchen and dining area, living area/rec room, and other things you’d expect to find for servicemen who were on duty for extended periods of time.

Unlike a regular house, though, there was a secure entrance area with very specific protocols on who was allowed into the building, and a security detail that was prepared to use force if necessary.

From the security room, we took an elevator below ground to the actual missile control facility.  Located in a small vault-like room, with huge shocks to absorb the impact of a potential incoming missile, two people were always on duty, ready to send out the missiles if necessary.

Precautions included communications with another site, and a physical distance between the two buttons that would need to be pressed in order to launch a missile so that no one person could do it on his own.

I would encourage travelers to take the time to stop at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site when passing through South Dakota.  (There is also a similar site, the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site, near Cooperstown, North Dakota, run by the ND State Historical Society.)  This piece of our country’s more recent history is well-preserved and presents a mindset that is no longer part of our national culture.  All of the missile sites were dismantled several years ago, so only those preserved as historic sites remain to show and tell the story of this part of our history.

The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site has a Junior Ranger program for children, and though guided tours aren’t always favorites with our kids, I did not get one comment about boredom while we were there.  Our kids learned from the video, and while we were at the site, asked questions to learn more about the site.

Tours are given twice a day; if you have questions, contact the staff at the site, who were very helpful in recommending arrival times and providing a description of the tour and directions to the visitor center.  Note that all tour visitors must be able to ascend a ladder unassisted in case of an emergency when the elevator will not operate.

When we were considering a trip to Big Sky Resort, one of the activities that intrigued me most was a snowcoach tour of Yellowstone National Park.  While three million or so people visit America’s first National Park each year, only a fraction do so during the winter months when access to most of the park is only allowed by guided snowmobile or snowcoach tours.  The idea of seeing Yellowstone’s geysers amidst a cover of snow, and without throngs of people, was something I wanted our family to experience.

There are several snowcoach companies that operate tours into the park originating from Big Sky, and each has its own unique vehicles–some modern, some from the 1950s era; some for larger groups, some for smaller.  There are also various day trips offered to different locations in the park.  We opted for a one-day Old Faithful Winter Adventure tour through Yellowstone Tour Guides that picked us up at our Big Sky hotel, entered the park at West Yellowstone, and culminated at Old Faithful.

Our driver, Rob, picked us up at our hotel just after 7 a.m. in a regular van for the trip to West Yellowstone on paved roads.  There were ten visitors in this initial group from Big Sky.  During the 60-90 minute trip (depending on winter driving conditions) to West Yellowstone, he shared much information about the Yellowstone ecosystem and some of the wildlife we could expect to see on our day’s journey into the park, allowing plenty of time for questions.

Once at West Yellowstone, we stopped at a combination gas station/convenience store/snowmobile dealership to take a bathroom break, grab some snacks, complete any pending payments, and switch to our snowcoach vehicle.  Traffic in West Yellowstone in the winter is comprised largely of snowmobiles, making the gas station a bit out of the ordinary.

In West Yellowstone, we also picked up a few more passengers, filling our snowcoach to capacity for the tour.  The snowcoach vehicle is a modified 15-passenger van, complete with “Mattracks,” special tracks put on the vehicle in place of tires for travel on packed snow.  Driving a tracked vehicle such as this is a bit of an art, especially when there’s fresh snow on the ground that makes the vehicle’s engine work harder, and our speeds ranged from about 20-40 mph during the trip.

Taking frequent breaks, at least every hour or so, serves several purposes:  to allow guests to get out of the vehicle to see the sites and wildlife from a better vantage point, to allow for restroom and food breaks, and to let the vehicle recover a bit before the next leg of the journey.

A microphone in the snowcoach allowed Rob to narrate the tour as he drove, and if he spotted something interesting, he stopped so we could get a better look.  We saw two elk fighting, racks locked together, a rarity in the winter as described by our guide.  We stopped to see elk and bison and had a coyote amble along the road right next to our vehicle.  On the water of the various rivers running through the park, we saw ducks and geese and several types of birds.  The only winter-typical wildlife we did not see on the trip was wolves.

The snow in the park was deep and fresh and clean and beautiful, and my children found it hard to resist the opportunity to play in it whenever we had a chance.  After all, how many of us can say we’ve made snow angels at Yellowstone?

Snowcoaches and snowmobiles are the only vehicles allowed in the park, and the roadway is changed over to snowpack in the winter months expressly for this type of vehicle traffic.  In the spring, the roads are closed, then cleared to allow for warm-season vehicular traffic.  Throughout the park, the winter scenery was breathtaking.  My favorite was the river water running through the snow alongside the road, but the views of mountains and geysers and trees with a snow-covered background were also something to see.

All of the winter tour guides for both snowcoach and snowmobile travel have been trained by the National Park Service and as such have excellent knowledge of the park.  In addition, each guide makes almost daily trips into the park, so they have a familiarity with the ecosystem and can notice subtle changes that visitors might miss.  For example, on most days, our guide Rob saved the Fountain Paint Pots area for the return trip to Big Sky.  On the day of our tour, however, he noticed water running down the hill, which is sometimes a precursor to geysers in that area erupting.  While Old Faithful erupts every 70-90 minutes, Fountain’s cycle is longer at about 11 hours, and more sporadic.  Rob decided to give it a shot and pulled into the parking area on the chance that we’d get lucky and see Fountain erupt.  We walked along the boardwalk above the hot springs and viewed the paint pots, and then, just as we wandered toward it, we saw a geyser begin to shoot its hot water in the air.

We were in for a real treat, however, because not only did Fountain erupt as we were standing there, but Morning, right next to it, which just became active again in June 2012 after 18 years of dormancy, erupted as well.  Our guides assured us that it was a very rare occurrence to see these two erupt simultaneously.  It was amazing to be standing in this beautiful place with geysers erupting so close to us that the steam collected on us and froze.

This was a hard act to follow, but we continued down the road with just a few minutes to spare before Old Faithful’s eruption around noon.  Truth be told, Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the park, and it does shoot high and often, but the crowds are bigger there, and are kept at a distance, so it wasn’t as impressive as being in the middle of Fountain and Morning as they put on their show.

After watching Old Faithful, we hurried over to the food area where we had the choice of a quick-service grill or a sit-down restaurant.  We’d been told that the grill lines could be long and slow, so we’d gotten there quickly and were third in line.  Our food was ready in just a few minutes, and then we realized our fatal flaw:  we had all stood in line together, while people behind us in line had split up their parties and were saving tables until their food arrived.  There was nowhere to sit, so we ended up standing up and eating in the lobby area.  Once done eating, we had time to browse the adjacent gift shop, make some more snow angels, sit on a bench made of skis, and even see Old Faithful erupt again from a distance as we waited for the rest of our traveling companions to finish their meals.

From Old Faithful, we headed back along the same road, stopping again for wildlife sightings, some hot springs, and Firehole Falls.

We returned to West Yellowstone, where we left at a gift shop for a few minutes while we moved from the snowcoach to a van to take us back to Big Sky.  We arrived back at the resort around 6 p.m. after a full day of seeing Yellowstone in a very unique way.

If you go on a Yellowstone snowcoach tour . . .

• Book ahead of time, especially if you’re visiting during Christmas vacation.  Our guide said this is usually the only week of the year when they run at full capacity.  During other times of the winter, your snowcoach group will likely be smaller.
• Know that the quoted price may not include actual park admission ($12/adults, free for kids or pass holders) or a tip for your driver.
• Check to see if you should bring your own lunch or if you’ll be stopping along the way for it.  Different companies have different policies.
• Wear your ski gear so you’re not cold when you’re out enjoying the park.  We wore our boots, snowpants, and winter coats and were comfortable in the 20-degree weather.
• Let your kids bring a book or workbook just in case they need a diversion.  They might not need it, but the trip is essentially a day-long car trip with several breaks to get out and stretch.
• Take your camera!
• If you have the time, do a second tour to a different area of the park on a different day.  There’s a lot to see in Yellowstone.
• Warm-season tours are also available; at different times of the year you’ll see varied things.  Our guide recommended May/early June as another good time to visit.

Yellowstone Tour Guides provided complimentary tours for my husband and me, and we paid for our children’s admission.   Though this is not a low-cost tour, we felt it was well worth the price for the unique experience and information provided by our guide.  We are very glad we spent a day in Yellowstone as a natural and educational complement to the fun we had at Big Sky Resort.

“Live Big,” says the Big Sky Resort website, and that we did.  While we were at Big Sky, we had the opportunity to check out many of the activities the resort offers.  If you’re planning your first trip to Big Sky Resort, I hope this will help you to decide what your family will enjoy while you’re there.

Equipment Rental at Big Sky

The rental area at the base of the mountain is well-marked and well-organized, but if you’re skiing for the first time, as we were, it can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re doing.

First:  plan 30-45 minutes to get your rental equipment.  It takes a while to do the paperwork and payment and then be fitted for helmets, boots, and skis.  If you’re taking morning lessons, which begin at 9:15 a.m., be to the rental location by 8:30 or so to give yourself plenty of time.

Second:  when you arrive at the rental center, you need to start at the computer terminals on the right, even before getting in the line.  At the terminals, you enter you name, age, and size information in order to provide the best-fitting equipment.  If there are multiple adults in the party, they can each grab a terminal and split up the entry of the kids’ information in order to save time.

After printing out the information sheets provided at the computer terminals, get in the line to the left of the door, which will take you to the payment area.  From there, you’ll move through different stations–helmet fitting, boot fitting, ski fitting, and a final round of signatures–and then you’ll head out the door and be ready for your lessons or for the lifts to open and get on your way to skiing Big Sky.

Big Sky Ski School

Since our children had never been on skis before, and my husband and I hadn’t skied for many years, we all enrolled in group lessons at Ski School.  Our kids went off to the children’s area, where they had a small hill in a fenced-off area and a “magic carpet” lift to practice on.

Adults begin in a different fenced area at the bottom of the hill to get the basics of moving and stopping, and then move up the hill to practice coming down in a controlled manner.  Everyone learns at a different pace, and our instructor was very patient as we learned to navigate on our skis and come to a stop.

One of our daughters caught on quickly, and soon she was up on the same hill that we were, making it look very easy to do her “french fries” (parallel skis) and “pizza” (wedge for stopping).

In hindsight, a full day of lessons probably would have been better for all of our kids.  Our younger children caught on pretty quickly and continued on with their dad for another day of skiing, but our tween boys had a little more trouble with it and might have had more success continuing on with a knowledgeable teacher than with inexperienced parents.

If you haven’t skied before, I recommend at least a beginner half-day lesson in ski school to get you off to a safe start.

Taking to the Slopes

If you’re an experienced skier, you won’t have any trouble with the trail maps and lifts and you’ll be off to a good start.  If you’re new to skiing, Big Sky has plenty of easy “green” runs to provide variety in skiing.  After a morning of ski school and an afternoon of practicing on the easiest short hill, my husband and daughters took one of the big lifts up and skied green runs down the mountain, enjoying (most) every minute of it.

I had a son who desperately wanted to take the dual-purpose scenic/lift trip on the Lone Peak tram, but it requires being able to ski a blue run down the mountain at the end of the tram ride, so he’ll have to save that for another time.

Snowshoe Tours

Some people don’t catch on to skiing as quickly as others, or have knees and hips that make skiing difficult.  For those in our group with this experience, we found a guided snowshoe tour to be an excellent way to enjoy the snow and the mountain at a slower and easier pace.

Our guide, Bea, was great throughout the trip, from getting us outfitted in our snowshoes, to convincing a reluctant child that he wanted to make the trip, to giving us breaks without telling us they were rest breaks, to taking some photos of us along the way.  The snowshoe trip, which generally lasts about an hour and a half, entails snowshoeing about a mile and a quarter in distance while rising about 500 feet in altitude.  Along the way are breathtaking views of the Spanish mountain range and Big Sky’s Lone Peak, maybe some zipliners flying by overhead, and if you’re lucky some animal tracks or wildlife sightings.  At the top, above the treeline, there’s a yurt with sleds for a few quick runs, and even a porta-potty for those who need a pit stop.  The snowshoe trail runs between the ski runs but once you get a ways up you hear nothing but the quiet of nature.

Although anyone can snowshoe, Bea told us that most of her snowshoe clients are women aged 30-60 and that the moms in the groups frequently say it’s their favorite thing to do at the resort.  In general, if your family or group signs up for a snowshoe tour, they won’t add other people to that time so you’ll be able to enjoy some family time together, along with your guide.

Tube Park

Tubing was the first thing we did at Big Sky, and it was a fun way to start off our vacation.  After checking in at the Base Camp building, we walked up a hill, grabbed our tubes, and rode up the magic carpet to the top of the tube park.  Once there, we had the choice of three runs–#1 right next to the magic carpet exit; #2 up the hill a bit farther and with a fire built for warming, and #3 which entailed a bit more of a climb but was a longer run.  Each run is its own chute with straw on the snow at the bottom slow-down area, and staff are careful that only one person is going down the course at a time.  Though #1 was the shortest, it was running fast, and those who wanted a bit more excitement could ask for a “super spinner” start by the attendant.  Although I had no qualms about the safety of the course, and my kids and husband had a blast, the scaredy-cat in me took over and I couldn’t bring myself to go over the edge.  I give the staff credit for encouraging me but not mocking my decision to back out.  (I’m also told that you can probably get a refund if you’re in my shoes and just can’t make the sliding start.)

From the snow tubing area, the night-time views of the resort are beautiful, and because the number of people allowed in each one-hour tubing session is limited, you’ll get plenty of chances to try out all the tracks.  My kids estimated that they each got to do 7 or 8 runs before our time was done.

The safety-conscious mom in me was much more comfortable with this tubing hill than with the free-for-all hills in our area that have been known to result in broken bones, especially with the care the attendants were taking to make sure the course stayed safe.  (Of course, ask my husband about it and he’ll tell you they put down too much straw so he couldn’t go fast enough at the bottom . . . )  Tubing was a fun way to start our Big Sky vacation.

Ballroom Bonanza

Big Sky offers a complimentary kids’ club for a couple of hours each evening throughout the season, and paid babysitting is available at other times, but during the Christmas break they have a special “Ballroom Bonanza” set up for kids from 4-8 p.m. each evening.  For a fee, kids can go in and experience the fun, which this year included a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, tie dying, “calf” roping, face painting, giant Jenga, bean bag toss, and other kid-friendly activities.

Kids can come and go throughout the evening, but we made the most of it by giving our kids an early supper and then letting them be in the ballroom the entire four hours while my husband and I wandered through the shops and had a nice dinner at Chet’s restaurant.  Our kids had a blast and made new friends, and as we experienced throughout Big Sky, the staff were friendly and fun, even talking to the kids again when we saw them the next day.

The only problem with the Ballroom Bonanza, our 9-year-old son proclaimed, was that there was a Packers fan there, but even the two of them seemed to work out their differences through their team-colored face paint.

Zipline Tour

If you had asked our kids what they were most looking forward to at Big Sky before our trip, they would have said the zipline.  They’ve dreamed of riding a zipline for quite a while, but most that we had considered previously had age or size restrictions that would have left out our youngest kids.  Big Sky’s zipline, however, has a 3-foot, 45-pound minimum, making it ideal for our family.

After checking in at Basecamp and being suited up in our harnesses, we headed up the mountain again, retracing part of our snowshoe route but then moving on to a bit more rugged ground before reaching the first line.  We had two guides with us, one in the lead and one behind, and when we reached the first line, guide Rachel zipped across to “catch” us on the other side, while guide Evan was responsible for hooking us up and doing the 8-point safety check for each of us.  Our kids just walked off the platform and went “wheeeeeee!” across the line.

Then it was my turn.  I looked across at the cable, looked below at the 60-foot drop, turned around, hugged a tree, and proclaimed through my tears, “I can’t do this!”  Evan and my husband assured me that I could, but I wasn’t buying it, and was seriously contemplating the long walk back down the hill by myself.  With exceeding patience, Evan offered that I could just sit in the harness, clipped to the anchor, to see what it would feel like without actually going anywhere.  I acquiesced, and sat there hooked to the tree for a bit, after which I allowed him to unhook the brace clip so I would slide across.

I have to say this about the first zip line:  the scariest part was the ending, because with my eyes squeezed tightly shut I had no idea when it was coming and the sound of the line at the end startled me as Rachel brought me to a safe stop.

On the second line, which is longer, but not quite as high, I again slid off the platform from a sitting position rather than just walking off into the air like my children did.

I managed to peek a few times and started to think this was ok.  (Contrast this with my six-year-old, who didn’t have enough momentum to get all the way across and ended up hanging over the gorge for a while until Evan went out on the line and pulled her to the ending spot.  “That was fun!  Can I do the same thing on the next one?”)

By the third line, I was doing much better, and although I hadn’t mastered the “run off the mountain and let the line pick you up” enthusiasm that my children and husband had, I kept my eyes open the whole time and enjoyed every second of the magnificent view.  (Tip:  on the third line, you can do one of two things–attempt to situate yourself for a great camera shot with you in front of the mountains,

or forget about the camera and pay attention to a view that you’ll never see again unless you repeat the zip trip.  I recommend going for the view, even though my picture looks like I’m a Christmas ornament on a really tall pine tree.)

Although you can bring your own camera on the zipline, there is also an option to buy photos taken by a professional photographer on the mountain; you can buy digital copies of all your group’s photos (we averaged 35-40 for each of us) for a per-person fee, and copyright release is included.  We decided that it was important to have proof that I conquered the zipline as my final Big Sky activity of the trip and quickly bought the photos.

Overall Impressions

Coming to Big Sky as a family of non-skiers, I was pleased that there was such a wide variety of activities for our family to try.  We all attempted some new and different things–some with more success than others–and created some family memories that won’t soon be forgotten.  While the activities themselves were fun, the staff at the resort get much of the credit for our enjoyment of it.  From Bea convincing my son that the snowshoeing would be all right, to Evan talking me out on the zipline, to the Ski School instructors getting all six of us up and moving, we were impressed with the people at Big Sky as much as the facilities.  We did indeed “Live Big” at Big Sky, and we had a blast doing it!

Big Sky Resort provided our lodging, activities, and some meals during our visit.  The experiences, however, were all ours.

A while ago, a representative of Big Sky Resort, near Bozeman, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park, invited our family to see what a ski vacation is all about.

“We’re a family of six,” I warned him.  “It can sometimes be hard to pin down accommodations that fit us all.”

“No problem,” was his reply; Big Sky Resort has a variety of hotel rooms, condominium-style housing, and cabins available.

“Our kids have never been on skis before, and the last time my husband and I attempted skiing was 20+ years ago.”

Again, the reply came back:  “No problem!”  Ski school might be a good idea for us, but even if we didn’t take to the slopes perfectly, there would be plenty of other activities to do; in fact, the resort is popular with summer visitors as well.  Among the things we could do while at the resort would be tubing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, a spa, indoor-outdoor pool, shopping and dining, kids’ clubs, a kid- and parent-friendly zipline, and even a day trip into Yellowstone National Park.

We decided to give it a try, and they fit us in at Big Sky during their busiest week of the year, as it was the only time we had a school break long enough for the trip.

Over the next days and weeks, I’ll share specifics about things we did at the resort, but today I’ll start with an overview of our vacation.  We knew it would be an adventure no matter what happened, but we did not realize how much we would enjoy this vacation.

Getting to Big Sky from Minnesota

We had two options for getting to Big Sky — driving 1000 miles or flying into the Bozeman Airport.  We opted to drive, as many Minnesota families do.  From Minneapolis, taking I-94 through North Dakota is the fastest route, but since we’re southwest of the metro, we opted for I-90 through South Dakota as it offered a better halfway point (Rapid City) and the opportunity for some Junior Ranger programs along the way.  We chose to break the trip into two 8-hour driving days in each direction, though we know people who have driven it in one long day from the MSP area.

We’ve acquired quite a lot of winter roadtrip experience over the years, and while there were storms to the east and south of us, our route to the west was cold but clear, with snow-covered bluffs and hills making for a very pretty drive, even in parts of South Dakota and Wyoming that can sometimes be brown and dull to traverse.  Once we got near Buffalo, Wyoming, we had almost-continuous snow-capped mountain views, a real treat for us flat-landers.

Tips for Traveling on Christmas Day

In order to fit our trip into our children’s school vacation, we left early in the morning on Christmas Day.  This is perhaps the trickiest day of the year for car travel because most businesses are closed, and one must plan ahead a bit to ensure smooth travels.

For us, attending a Christmas Day church service was important, so we found a church with service times that fit our route.  I had also called ahead to some restaurants to be sure we could find a meal along the way, and learned that IHOP was open in both Sioux Falls and Rapid City.  24-hour restaurants like Denny’s, truck stops, and Chinese restaurants are other possibilities for Christmas Day travel, or if you want to be a fun mom, take your kids to the movies and let them have popcorn for supper!  Even bathroom breaks needs to be planned a bit, as not every convenience store was open along our route.  We didn’t let the gas gauge go below 1/2 tank, just in case we had to stop unexpectedly and/or couldn’t find a gas station, and we had plenty of winter survival gear and supplies in the trunk.

Making a Christmas Road Trip Fun for Kids

One new thing I tried during this trip to make it a bit more fun for the kids took a bit of planning and preparation but worked out really well.  I had picked up a variety of stocking stuffers–time-passers like books, activity books, and crayons; treats like gum and Christmas candies; snacks like cereal and granola bars; fun things like glow sticks and card games; and useful trip items like chap stick and zipper thermometers–and wrapped them up for the kids.  Each set of gifts went into a repurposed plastic bag and was then tagged with a number (we needed the chap stick before we got there, and I wanted to mix up the food and non-food gifts) and placed in a canvas tote bag, one tote for each driving day of the trip.  I ended up with enough packages that the kids could open one gift every time the odometer hit 50 or 100 miles.

The rules were as such:

1. Take turns with who gets to open the plastic bag and distribute the gifts.  If it’s a group gift (i.e. a box of granola bars or a card game), that person gets to unwrap the package.
2. While some of the packages were marked with an initial for each specific child, others were random.  Any child complaining about the color/type/character, etc. of the one they got would forfeit the next package (and Dad would get the gift).
3. Each child had a canvas bag hanging from the headrest in front of him or her, in which they should keep all of their opened items.
4. All trash goes into the numbered plastic bags, and is removed at each stop the car makes.
5. You may trade any item with another child as long as the trade is made peacefully and is mutually acceptable.
6. You may eat anything you get immediately, or save it for later, but know that these are the only snacks that have been packed for the trip.

This idea really worked out very well, providing little surprises to break up the trip and make the long drive a bit more quiet.

Staying at Big Sky

Our accommodations were in the Shoshone Condominiums, where we had a one-bedroom suite with a very comfortable Murphy bed adjacent to the kitchen table and a sofabed and two chairs next to it, along with two bathrooms, a full kitchen, fireplace, and beautiful mountain views.

We liked that there was a leaf for the table so we fit comfortably while eating meals in the room, and I really could have lounged on the sofa all day and stared out at the mountains, but we had too much else planned to take much time for relaxing.

We ate our breakfasts in the Huntley Dining Room in our building, and it was definitely the best breakfast buffet we’ve encountered in our travels.  My daughter feasted on pancakes each morning, while the youngest loved the bacon and the boys went for omelets.  I filled up on the fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, and smoked salmon spread on a bagel, as well as the variety of cooked eggs and potatoes and biscuits and gravy.  There was certainly no reason for anyone to start the day hungry, even with the pickiest of eaters.  I appreciated the allergen labels (listing pork, gluten, etc.) on the entree tags.  The Huntley Dining Room is open from 6:30-10:30 a.m., and because we were there during a particularly busy time, we were happy to be early risers, as we had no line to get a table when we arrived at 6:45 Friday morning, but when we left an hour later the line was quite long.

Most other meals we cooked in our condo, though we had dinner at Chet’s restaurant one evening, where the bison/elk/beef meatloaf was delicious and my husband thoroughly enjoyed the huckleberry-sauced ribs, and we used the cafeteria in the Mountain Mall for a quick mid-day meal with good, meaty sandwiches at prices similar to those in an amusement park.  There’s also a small grocery store in the Mountain Mall with prices ranging from slightly-inflated-for-your-convenience (cream of mushroom soup at $1.75) to  desperate-mother-who’s-run-out-of-sugared-cereal ($8.00 for a box of Cap’n Crunch).  The store, though small, had a surprisingly good variety of products for any last-minute food, beverage, or medication needs at the resort.

Big Sky Weather

Before we left, I had asked what gear and clothing we would need for our trip, and I had packed multiple balaclavas, handwarmers, and other such recommended items.  It turned out that during our stay, the afternoons were at about 20 degrees with sunny skies and little wind, so we hardy Minnesotans found some of the layers and gear to be unnecessary (although the kids thought the base layers and goggles were really cool).

There was fresh snow each night, and the sun came out during the day to give us beautiful views with clear blue skies.  Though it can get extremely cold at Big Sky, and storms can dump a large amount of snow, much of the ski season is made up of weather similar to what we had.  For us Minnesotans, the weather was very enjoyable.

Big Sky Activities

Though Big Sky Resort’s main focus is definitely skiing, there are many other activities to enjoy.  Into our three-day visit, we squeezed ski school, skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, ziplining, “ballroom bonanza” for the kids, and a day-trip to Yellowstone.  Given a few more days, we would have had more time to get better at skiing and do a bit more relaxing in our room or at the pool.

On a Budget?

We enjoyed our trip to Big Sky very much, but I’ll be honest:  a ski vacation isn’t a shoestring-budget vacation.  If you’re thinking of a ski trip, check out the prices for lodging, lift tickets, meals, and activities to see if it fits in your family’s budget.  To save some money, compare the cost of staying on-site (which may include breakfast and/or ski passes for kids) with staying off-site and driving in each day, and try to find lodging where you can prepare your own meals.  For more ideas on saving money on a ski vacation, check out these articles at We Just Got Back, The Frugal Toad, ABC News, USA Today, Lonely Planet, and Family Ski Hub.

Overall Impressions of Big Sky

From the moment we arrived, we found all staff at the resort to be extremely friendly and helpful.  (Remember, this is coming from someone who lives in the land of “Minnesota nice.”)  Though we were first-timers at the resort and new to most of the activities, we felt welcome and not at all out of place.  The instructors and guides were excellent at calling us by name and being sure we were comfortable in all of our activities (including getting this scaredy-cat to decide she could conquer the zipline, and convincing a 10-year-old boy that he could indeed snowshoe up the mountain).

Even though we were there on what is the resort’s busiest week of the year, we didn’t feel that the resort was crowded.  The only crowds we saw were at lunch in the cafeteria seating area, where my husband told me that getting a table was a bit cutthroat, and at the base area, where what looked to be a long line for the Swift Current lift was actually only 15 minutes or so.  People at Big Sky are proud of the fact that the mountain is big and there are enough lifts that lines are generally non-existent, and cap at 10-15 minutes on the busiest days.  They tell me that this is excellent compared to many other ski resorts, which have much longer lift wait times.

While we were at Big Sky, I asked other families how they had decided to make Big Sky their destination.  One family from Missouri, all of whom were new to skiing, said that winter was the only time they could get away, and they had chosen Big Sky over some Colorado resorts because they thought it would be better for beginners.  A family from New York City who usually takes a March ski trip to Taos, New Mexico, decided on Big Sky in December on the advice of friends, and took advantage of the inaugural nonstop flight from New York to Bozeman.  They said that they enjoy skiing because it’s a family vacation where teenagers will happily go along with their parents.

We found Big Sky to be a relaxing place to visit, with a definite vacation feel to it.  People, both staff and visitors, were laid-back and pleasant, enjoying the skiing, the mountain views, and everything else there was to enjoy at the resort.

Conclusion

Though a ski trip may not have been something we would have previously considered for a family vacation, we truly enjoyed our time at Big Sky.  I can’t count the number of times my husband and I turned to each other and said, “Wow! That was fun!” or “I hadn’t expected to enjoy this so much,” or “The kids are going to remember this for a long time.”  We saw new places, tried new activities, and enjoyed our time together as a family.  We knew our trip to Big Sky would be an adventure, but we didn’t realize how enjoyable that adventure would be.

Have you been to Big Sky Resort?  If you have memories or tips to add for a successful ski vacation, please share them below in the comments.

Big Sky Resort provided our family with complimentary lodging, activities, and some meals during our stay.

We’ve been invited to spend a few days at Big Sky Resort, skiing and checking out the other activities offered there.

The problem?  My kids have never been on skis, and the last time my husband and I attempted it was 20 years ago.

The good folks at Big Sky have assured us that this will not be a problem and that we’ll be just fine and have a great time, but all the same, I like to be a wee bit prepared.

So, while we’ve got a pretty good handle on winter road trip preparations, we could use some advice on Ski Resorts 101, things like:

• What to pack for a ski trip.  (Until last week when I happened upon them in a store, I didn’t know there were socks especially made for skiing.)
• How not to get hurt.  (We’ve visited emergency rooms in several states, but I’d prefer to leave Montana off the list.)
• What activities we should absolutely be sure to do.  (My girls:  “Mom, can we go to the spa? . . .  Mom, what’s a spa?”  Maybe we don’t have to put the spa at the top of our list.)
• How to best capture the memories.  (My husband is still trying to figure out my Christmas gift–should I tell him I need some special kind of camera for the trip?)
• What to expect weather-wise.  (Is Montana mountain territory similar to Minnesota farm country?)
• General ski advice, or specific advice regarding Big Sky Resort.
• Any other tips for making our first ski trip a lot of fun.

Since this is all new to us, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a blast, but a good trip can be made all the better with a little insider information.  If you know anything about skiing, would you be willing to share a tip or two in the comments?  When we get back, I promise I’ll tell you all about it.

P.S. I asked some family travel blogging friends if they’d written any posts to get me started.  Here’s some of the advice they shared.

• How to Get Kids Ready to Downhill Ski at The Mother of All Trips
• How to Plan a Family Ski Trip on a Budget at The Q Family Adventures
• 5 Tips for Successful Holiday Ski Trips at Pitstops for Kids
• Tips for Family Ski Trips from a Former Scaredy Cat Skier at Travel Mamas
• Getting Kids Geared up for Skiing at The Mother of All Trips
• How to Avoid Altitude Sickness While Traveling in the Mountains at The Vacation Gals
• Keystone Resort with Kids at Trekaroo.
• Funtown, Vermont — Smugglers Notch at Find and Go Seek

So, as plans were made to see the ocean and the mouse and many other popular California attractions, I looked for ways to incorporate a desert into our trip.

It turns out that it wasn’t so hard.  Joshua Tree National Park, just northwest of Palm Springs, is a beautiful desert to visit, and it was just two hours from our hotel in Anaheim, making for a nice day trip out of the city to see a different side of California.

We got our first taste of desert air as the morning quickly warmed up at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Palm Desert.  After an early lunch, we headed up California state road 62 to Joshua Tree.  Along the way, we commented at the curious-looking “cactus trees” alongside the road, and as we neared the national park, we finally figured out that these were the park’s namesake Joshua Trees.

Our first stop was the visitor center in Joshua Tree, where we paid our entrance fee, picked up junior ranger booklets, and watched a brief movie about the park and its wildlife. Then we hit the park road and drove into the park.

Whereas we had seen a few Joshua Trees along the state highway, we saw more and more of them as we neared the park boundaries.

Once inside the park, there were many turnouts for cars to park, as well as picnic areas with restrooms, so we picked a spot and got out to explore.  Besides the Joshua Trees, there were many piles of rocks.

They were impressive from the road, but seemed even larger when my family started climbing on them.

I, with a fear of both heights and snakes, kept my feet firmly planted on the ground and proceeded to take about a thousand pictures of these things that we would never see at home in Minnesota.

After everyone had conquered the rock pile, we got back in the car and worked our way around the park loop.

My original intent had been to go out the south entrance, but we realized that we might run out of time before the visitor center closed, and we needed to get the junior ranger badges on the way out.

The kids kept working on their junior ranger booklets as we drove, peeking out the windows to find many of the things asked for in the guides.  As we wound our way back to the Oasis visitor center, the sun was already starting to get lower in the sky.

We turned in the junior ranger booklets to Park Ranger Pat Pilcher, who was one of the nicest national park rangers we’ve encountered, and left the building with newly-earned badges in our hands and memories of the desert in our heads.

If you go:

• A brief drive-through with a stop or two can be done in an afternoon.  If you want to take more time to explore, or drive on some of the side roads to Keys Lookout or other popular areas, you’ll want to plan more time.
• Plan meals and snacks carefully–you’ll need to eat outside the park or bring a picnic meal.
• The visitor center at Joshua Tree is loud and the video can be hard to hear due to voices echoing in the building.  The Oasis visitor center is much more calm and you can find some shade from the palm trees  if you walk the path through the oasis.
• If you begin at the Joshua Tree visitor center, it will be a 45-60 minute drive to get to the “crossroads” where you can choose to exit the park at the north or south.  From this crossroads, it’s about a 60-minute drive to the south exit, and 15 minutes to the north.
• Though there are 25 types of snakes living in the park, I needn’t have been so worried.  Ranger Pilcher explained that when we visited in February, they’d still be underground unless it was a 70+ degree day and they were out sunning themselves.  If I return, I will certainly go in the winter when the snakes are underground.
• When we turned in the junior ranger booklets, our family was also given a copy of a children’s book called A Tree Named Lily, which we were asked to share.  This book is also available online for children who might want to learn about Joshua Tree but are unable to visit the park.
• We visited Joshua Tree on a day trip from Anaheim.  We arrived in time for the first tour of the day at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, visited Joshua Tree, and then went up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway at dusk, returning to Anaheim by 8 p.m.  This was a very workable day trip with plenty of variety in it.

Have you been to Joshua Tree National Park?  What was your favorite part?

When we went to Omaha at the end of August, I put my foot down.  They were going to have a gadget-free trip.  No i-devices, no DS, no e-readers.  They were to bring nothing that would potentially require a cord.  And no one was to tell me they were bored and ask to use my phone.

Although I sometimes live up to the title of “mean mommy,” I did help them to decide on some things to bring that would help keep them busy on the trip.  We had a few stuffed animals, some coloring books and workbooks, and a well-worn set of travel bingo cards.  I also took them to the bookstore to choose a few new books.  (Since we have a hard enough time keeping track of library books at home, I did not want to worry if they had fallen out of the car somewhere in the four-state area).

Now, I know that not everyone can read in the car, but fortunately motion sickness isn’t a problem in our family, so times with new books in hand can be almost as blissfully peaceful as when they have a new electronic game to play.  The trick is finding books that will hold their interest.

As a former librarian, I have plenty of notions as to what constitutes a good book, but I’ve also bombed out enough times to know that kids are happier reading what they want to read instead of what Mom says is a good book.  At the bookstore, I let them choose the books that piqued their interest, but when it came time to hit the road, I brought along a secret weapon that almost always counters boredom for elementary-age kids:  a colorful fact book.

I had been sent a review copy of The World Almanac for Kids 2013, and this is what I brought along for when all else failed.

I’m pretty sure that reference books weren’t nearly as exciting when I was a kid, although I remember the boys in my third-grade class clamoring for Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Guinness world record books.  I’m pretty sure our almanacs were big and fat and black and white.  The new almanacs for kids, however, are colorful with photos and illustrations, and laid out with information that may or may not be useful in life.  Want to know what the world’s fastest animals are?  It’s in the World Almanac for Kids.  Need to know a few words of Spanish?  There are a couple of pages to get you started.  Sure, there’s the typical almanac information on presidents and countries of the world, but there are also facts about sports and space and even some book recommendations for kids.

Books like the World Almanac for Kids are great for those kids who love to soak up every last fact about everything they possibly can (partly, I think, so that their parents will sometimes be required to ask “How did you know THAT?”), but they’re also good for reluctant readers since they don’t have to be read through from cover to cover.  Kids can flip to the pages they’re interested in, read a few quick details, and move on to something else.  They might not even realize that they’re reading and learning.

Colorful fact books are some of the most well-worn books on my kids’ shelves, and they’re also great for taking in the car while traveling.  Who knows, your kids might try to impress you with their newfound knowledge of Nebraska, all of which they got from your secret weapon book.

It is possible to take a roadtrip without gadgets; it just might take a bit more creativity and planning to have something the kids will enjoy doing when the landscape no longer holds their attention.

These are some of the fun information books from our bookshelf.  (I’ve listed the newest versions currently available, and my kids would love for me to update our collection. And yes, they’re affiliate links, so if you’d happen to buy them for your own kids I might get a few pennies out of the deal. Just so you know.)

Do you have any other good road-trip books or activities to recommend?

(or any of Stan Tekiela’s other region-specific bird or animal books)

Schreier's on Shetek Entrance

In looking for a seasonal site, we had a pretty lengthy list of amenities we were looking for:

• No more than two hours from home
• Family-friendly campground
• Would allow a small tent for our boys to sleep in alongside our camper
• On a lake with a swimming area
• Allows fishing from a dock or shoreline
• Close to a bicycle trail
• Reasonable rates
• Lawnmowing included

We found Schreier’s to have all of these things.

Schreier’s on Shetek is located on the shores of Lake Shetek, about 35 minutes southeast of Marshall, Minnesota.  Most of its 100+ sites are set up as seasonal sites, but there are some overnight sites available as well.  Many of the sites overlook Lake Shetek as ours did.  I had a beautiful sunset view from our camper bedroom.

Sunset View from our Campsite

Most of the lakeview sites such as ours are on a small treelined bluff, with stairs leading down to a shoreline trail and both public and private docks.

Stairs to Lake Shetek

Playground and Sand Volleybal

In the family-friendly category, Schreier’s has several playground areas, basketball and sand volleyball courts, shuffleboard, a repurposed barn with arcade games that is also used for Saturday evening movies, and a compact yet challenging 18-hole miniature golf course (for which a small fee is charged).  Parents may enjoy the free coffee and wifi alongside the coin laundry area in the barn.

Schreier's Mini Golf and Activity Barn

Speed bumps throughout the campground roads keep it safe for kids on their bikes or on foot.  The campground is well-maintained and the owners live on-site, so any problems can be addressed immediately.

Campground Road

The only thing from our list that wasn’t at the campground itself was a bicycle trail, but this is where Schreier’s location shines.  It is adjacent to Lake Shetek State Park, through which the six-mile paved Currie loop of the Casey Jones Trail runs.  Bicyclists and pedestrians can ride a mile or so down a quiet gravel road and go in a rear entrance to the park, which is closed to vehicle traffic.

Schreier's Driveway; Lake Shetek State Park is down and to the right

Riding from the campground, through the park, around the loop, and back, is about 10 miles.  Some of the route is paved, some is gravel, and there are a few challenging hills, but overall it is a family-friendly route with scenery that varies from prairies and farmland to shaded river and lake views.  Our whole family, including our youngest, who is six, were able to complete the trail with a stop for a break at the End-o-Line Museum just off the trail in Currie.

Casey Jones Bicycle Trail near Currie

Restrooms and showers are located in a few different places in the campground, making them convenient to different groups of campsites.

Restroom/Shower Building that includes a picnic shelter; another playground

The campground office includes a milk, eggs, and a few other basic provisions available for purchase.  For more supplies, there’s a convenience store near the state park entrance, and the town of Tracy is just 15 minutes away.  Because of the threat of emerald ash borer, no outside firewood is currently allowed at Schreier’s, but there is firewood available for purchase at the campground office.

Schreier's Campground Office

During one of our stays, we had tickets for the Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove, and it was an easy 20-minute drive back to the campground after the pageant.  We talked to some other weekend campers who had also chosen Schreier’s in conjunction with the pageant and other Laura Ingalls Wilder events.

Non-Seasonal/Overnight Camping Area

For families looking for a nice campground with many amenities in southwest Minnesota, I can heartily endorse Schreier’s on Shetek.  It’s in a beautiful location, is well-maintained, and is family-friendly with lots to do.

Where did your summer travels take you?  I’m adding some of these places to my future-travel wish list.

• Acadia National Park, Maine, at The Talking Trekaroo
• Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, at Pit Stops for Kids
• American Sign Museum, Cincinnati, OH, at Travel 50 States with Kids
• Arabian Nights, Orlando, FL, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, WV, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• The Best Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids at Ciao Bambino
• Biltmore Estate’s Family Playground (Asheville, NC) at Roadtrips for Families
• Bok Tower Gardens (Lake Wales, FL) at AAA Travel Views
• Boston Duck Tours at Sherri May’s Traveling Classroom
• Boston’s Freedom Trail at Sherri May’s Traveling Classroom
• Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City, KS, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Bryce Canyon in a Day at Travel with Tweens and Teens
• California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco) at Pitstops for Kids
• Cascade Bay: Eagan, Minnesota, Outdoor Waterpark at The Vacation Gals
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (St. Augustine, FL) at Field Trips with Sue
• Channel Islands National Park with Kids at Pitstops for Kids
• Chattanooga, Tennessee–Perfect for Adventurers and Families at Field Trips with Sue
• The Chicago Tribune Tower at Gone with the Family
• Cincinnati, OH: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at Visit Flyover Country
• Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, KY, at Visit Flyover Country
• City Museum, St. Louis, MO, at Roadside America
• Conner Prairie Homestead, IN, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Contrarian Advice for Visiting Disneyland at DeliciousBaby
• Custer State Park, SD, at Tips for Family Trips
• Dinosaur Discovery in St. George, Utah, at Wandering Off
• Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys at Ciao Bambino
• Evergreen Air & Space Museum, McMinnville, OR, at Pitstops for Kids
• Exploring Alaska Ports of Call–On Your Own at AK on the Go
• Family-Friendly Fun in Denali National Park (Alaska) at AK on the Go
• A Few Tips to Enjoying a Niagara Falls Family Vacation at The Traveling Praters
• Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, IA, at Roadtrips for Families
• Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, SC, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Gatorland, Orlando, FL, at Go Big or Go Home
• Great Family Attractions around Atlanta, GA, at The Vacation Gals
• Hands-On Fun in Historic Deerfield (MA) at The Mother of All Trips
• Hearst Castle State Park (San Simeon, CA) at Pitstops for Kids
• Heavenly Gondola Ride in South Lake Tahoe at AAA Travel Views
• Hidden Family Jewel in Western Pennsylvania: Idlewild Park at AAA Travel Views
• Hot Fun in Palm Springs with Kids at Travel Mamas
• How to Spend a Day in Golden Gate Park with Kids at Pitstops for Kids
• Is a Disney Cruise the Right Choice for Your Family? at Ciao Bambino
• Kalahari Water Park, Sandusky, OH, at Go Big or Go Home
• Kansas City with the Family at Roadtrips for Families
• Kansas City: Model Railroad Experience at Visit Flyover Country
• Kansas City: Sealife Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center at Visit Flyover Country
• Kansas Roadtrip Stops at Roadtrips for Families
• Kennicott Glacier Lodge at Kennecott Mines Historic Landmark: Kid Mecca at AK on the Go
• LBJ Ranch National Historic Park, Johnson City, TX, at R We There Yet Mom?
• Learning about the War of 1812 at Fort Meigs in Perrysburg, Ohio at Midwest Guest
• Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, FL) at Arrows Sent Forth
• Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Mark Twain Museum and Riverboat Cruise, Hannibal, MO, at Visit Flyover Country
• Metropolis, IL: All Things Superman at Visit Flyover Country
• Minnehaha Falls and Park in Minneapolis at The Vacation Gals
• Minnesota’s Historic Fort Snelling at The Vacation Gals
• Mission San Juan Capistrano (CA) at The World is a Book
• Muir Woods National Monument (near San Francisco) at Pitstops for Kids
• Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, IL) at Arrow Sent Forth
• Must-Do Activities in Boston with Children at Ciao Bambino
• Myrtle Beach: Putt-Putt, Pancakes, and Penny Arcades at AAA Travel Views
• National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO, at Roadtrips for Families
• National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque, IA, at Roadtrips for Families
• Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, San Antonio, TX, at R We There Yet Mom?
• Niagara Falls Family Vacation at Roadtrips for Families
• Olympic National Park’s Rainforests with Kids (WA) at That Talking Trekaroo
• Omaha, NE: Henry Doorly Zoo at Visit Flyover Country
• Omaha, NE: Lauritzen Gardens at Visit Flyover Country
• A Perfect Escape to Estes Park, Colorado, at Wandering Off
• Purina Farms, St. Louis, MO, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Canon City, CO, at Six Suitcase Travel
• San Francisco Pier 39 Attractions for Kids at Pitstops for Kids
• Sawgrass Recreation Park — Airboating in the Everglades at More Kids than Suitcases
• Science Museum of Minnesota for Hands-On Learning and Fun at Travel Mamas
• Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, TX, with a Toddler at R We There Yet Mom?
• Sea World San Antonio–Know Before You Go at R We There Yet Mom?
• Solomon’s Castle, Ona, FL, at New School Nomads
• St. Joseph, MO: Jesse James House and Patee Museum at Visit Flyover Country
• Surviving the Cave of the Winds, Niagara Falls, NY, at The Traveling Praters
• Taking Kids to Las Vegas at Travel Savvy Mom
• Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Goddard, KS, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Tcho Factory Tour in San Francisco at Frisco Kids
• Thomas Edison Historical Park: Birthplace of 1093 Patents (West Orange, NJ) at AAA Travel Views
• Tips for a Visit to Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park at Travels with Baby
• Tips for Booking a Hotel at More Kids than Suitcases
• Tips for Visiting City Museum in St. Louis at Suitcases and Sippycups
• Tips for Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago with Kids at Arrows Sent Forth
• Tips for Visiting SkyDeck Chicago with Kids at Arrows Sent Forth
• Tips for Visiting Space Center Houston with Kids at Suitcases and Sippycups
• Top Kid-Friendly Activities in Downtown Los Angeles at Ciao Bambino
• A Tour of Wrigley Field in Chicago at Wandering Off
• Tower of the Americas, San Antonio, TX, at R We There Yet Mom?
• Treetop Adventure at Callaway Gardens (Stone Mountain, GA) at Field Trips with Sue
• Underground Salt Mines, Hutchinson, KS, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Utah Olympic Park at Go Big or Go Home
• Warther Museum, Dover, OH, at Have Rocket, Will Travel
• Watkins Glen State Park (Watkins Glen, NY) at AAA Travel Views
• The Wegner Grotto, Cataract, WI, at Roadside America
• Wet and Wild at Niagara Falls at Sherri May’s Traveling Classroom
• Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Orlando, FL) at Field Trips with Sue
• Wonderlab in Bloomington, IN, at Arrows Sent Forth
• 3 Good Places for Shave Ice at Oahu Mom
• Five Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to Do with Kids at Yellowstone at The Talking Trekaroo
• Five Things Every Alaska Traveler Should Carry at AK on the Go
• 5 Things to Do in New Jersey that Aren’t on the Shore at Roadtrips for Families
• 7 Tips for Visiting Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah, at Tips for Family Trips
• 8 Favorite Stops to Make with Kids in New Jersey at Kidventurous
• Top 10 Dinosaur Sites in Utah at The Vacation Gals
• 10 People I Don’t Know How to Tip at More Kids than Suitcases
• 10 Tips for Using Ferries for Northwest Travel with Kids at Pitstops for Kids
• 10 Tips for Visiting Disney’s Cars Land and Buena Vista Street at Ciao Bambino
• Top 10 Things to Do in Philadelphia with Kids at Ciao Bambino
• 15 Best San Diego Attractions for Kids at Travel Mamas

That’s quite a list, isn’t it?  I’m already using several of these posts in planning our family’s next adventures.  What new places are on your wish-to-see list?

These are some of our Omaha highlights.

Henry Doorly Zoo

When we mentioned to people at home that we were headed to Omaha, many asked if we were going to the zoo.  Of all the things in Omaha, this seems to be the most famous among families, and I’d read excellent reviews of the zoo as well.  Still, I was unconvinced.  We’ve been to some pretty good zoos. How would Omaha’s stack up?

I’m pleased to report that I was impressed.  After having visited the San Diego Zoo this winter, I’d say that the Henry Doorly Zoo holds its own.  As a visitor, the two seemed comparable in size and had many similar amenities like a skyride and narrated tram.  Sure, San Diego has pandas, but the Henry Doorly Zoo has an impressive range of animals on hand, and enough of the exhibits are indoors that a rainy or wintry weather should not deter people from visiting.  With exhibits ranging from the desert to a butterfly garden to a swamp where I actually found myself telling the kids it was like the beginning of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, the Henry Doorly Zoo has a wide variety of experiences available for its visitors.

We arrived at the zoo just before it opened and left just before closing; it is truly a full-day experience and one that any zoo-loving family should consider in their Midwestern travels.

Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge

The Missouri River waterfront area in downtown Omaha is well-developed with parks and trails, and perhaps its most recognizable landmark is the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.  The bridge is long and beautiful, and not so scary as I’d expected, and it allows pedestrians to stand in both Iowa and Nebraska at one time (a feat not so easy considering that the entire states’ shared border is created by the Missouri River) or simply take advantage of the extensive trail systems on both sides of the river.

Near “the Bob” is the National Park Service’s headquarters for the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, where visitors can pick up information about other Omaha and NPS sites, as well as exploring a few hands-on exhibits related to the Lewis & Clark expedition.  (There is no in-house Junior Ranger program here, however; the Lewis & Clark trail Junior Ranger activities are available exclusively online.)

On our wish list for another time is a gondola ride in Heartland of America park.

Old Market

Though a boutique shopping and restaurant district isn’t usually tops on our list with a carload of kids, we headed to Old Market for lunch.  We found the Spaghetti Works restaurant to be family-friendly and tasty, and eating outdoors on the patio reminded us just a bit of San Antonio’s Riverwalk.  There’s a wide variety of restaurants in this area (including a Subway if you need something quick for kids) and many shops lining the cobblestone streets.  Just be sure you have a map of the area (the Omaha Visitor Center is just down the street) to help you navigate the one-way streets, and bring change for the on-street parking meters for the most convenient parking.

Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall

Also reminding us of San Antonio’s Riverwalk was the downtown Omaha Gene Leahy Pedestrian Mall, a beautiful promenade along a waterway anchored at one end by the public library.  (What could be better than that?)  The walk here is pleasant, with interesting benches for those want to pause for a bit, but the most fun part for families is sure to be the big slides.

Our server at SpaghettiWorks clued us in to the slides, and the found some sheets of wax paper so the kids could go even faster on their way down.  (I mention that the kids went fast because I was terrified of going down the long slide myself.)  Located just a few blocks north of Old Market, any family visiting Omaha should be sure to try out the big slides.

The Durham Museum

Though our kids’ favorite part of the Durham Museum was the temporary Mindbender Mansion exhibit which has since moved on, I found the Durham to be a beautiful museum showcasing the area’s history.  Located in the city’s old art-deco train station, stepping inside led me to imagine what it would have been like to enter that grand station as a traveler, perhaps on my first trip from the fields and farmland to the big city.  The main floor is well-preserved in providing that experience to visitors, while the lower levels allow the chance to walk through actual train cars of various eras and learn about the history of Omaha and environs.  Having just read The Devil in the White City, I found the exhibit on the Trans-Mississippi Exhibition, held just five years after Chicago’s World’s Fair, to be captivating.  I also spent many minutes poring over a series of panoramic photographs of downtown Omaha, all taken from the same vantage point over more than a century.

Joslyn Art Museum

Just west of downtown Omaha, the Joslyn Art Museum provides a cultural element both indoors and in its outdoor sculpture garden.  We went primarily to see Grant Wood‘s Stone City, Iowa, in person, but were also delighted to find some of Dale Chihuly’s work here.  Though not all of my children are art enthusiasts (yet), one of my sons walked through all the galleries with me while the other kids stayed with my husband and tried to count the number of glass pieces in Chihuly’s installation for a scavenger-hunt game on the museum-promoted SCVNGR app.

Wildlife Safari Park

Just southwest of the city of Omaha near Ashland, the Wildlife Safari Park offers a drive-through opportunity to see buffalo, elk, deer, and other wildlife from your vehicle, farm animals in a petting zoo and bald eagles in an aviary, and wolves and bears if you’ve brought your hiking shoes and are up to doing some walking on a beautiful yet sometimes-challenging path.

If you’ve enjoyed driving through South Dakota’s Custer State Park or other animal refuges, you’ll like the Wildlife Safari Park.  The drive and hike took us about two hours to complete, and there’s a visitor center available if you’d like to extend your visit.

Omaha Children’s Museum

Though we keep thinking our days at children’s museum are drawing to a close as our children grow older, our kids seem to have a different idea.  Though they were outgrowing some of the Omaha Children’s Museum sections, they would have stayed all day in the Super Graviton ball machine area.  They’re still asking to go back again and play with the balls.

Strategic Air & Space Museum

Just across the highway from the Wildlife Safari Park is the Strategic Air & Space Museum.  Fans of military aircraft will appreciate the wide variety of aircraft on display at the museum, and there’s a small play area available for kids whose dads might find the planes more interesting than they do.  The upcoming Robots exhibit looks to be interesting for kids.  (Note: the lunch counter at the museum will accept cash or checks, but not credit cards.)

Other Things to Do

Tucked between the Wildlife Safari Park and the Strategic Air & Space Museum, Mahoney State Park is a popular destination in the Omaha area.  In addition to the usual state park activities, Mahoney offers a waterpark, trail rides, and miniature golf.

For a unique stay near Omaha, sleep in a train caboose at Two Rivers State Recreation Area.

In addition to the Durham Museum and the Joslyn Art Museum, several other Omaha-area sites participate in the family-friendly Railroad Days each June.  My friend Ann wrote excellent reviews of Railroad Days when she visited a few years ago.

For those interested in the westward expansion of the United States, the Mormon Trail Center offers insight on pioneers who traveled through Nebraska on their way west.

Just across from the Omaha Visitor Center, take your photo with a bronze statue of Chef Boyardee on the grounds of ConAgra headquarters.

Where to Stay

If you’re planning to do most of your Omaha sight-seeing downtown at the museums, zoo, Old Market, and riverfront areas, a downtown-area hotel may suit you best.  Since we were also including the Safari Park and Strategic Air & Space Museum in our trip, we chose to stay in the suburb of La Vista, which was convenient to both areas.  The Embassy Suites there was beautiful and family-friendly, and our three-night stay was without any sort of complaint.  We walked across the parking lot to shop at Cabela’s one evening, and across the road to try an Omaha-original Runza sandwich another night.  (I heartily endorse the mushroom and Swiss Runza as something to eat while you’re in Omaha.)

Omaha: A Good Midwestern Family Destination

We squeezed a lot into our 3.5 days in Omaha; families could easily spend another day or two exploring the area.  As an interesting place for a family getaway without driving too far from our Minnesota home, I found Omaha to fit the bill just as well as Chicago, Duluth, Madison, or St. Louis, Midwestern cities where we’ve vacationed previously.  I recommend that families looking for a Midwest vacation destination consider Omaha in their plans.

Have you vacationed in Omaha?  Is there anything we missed?

When we made our plans to visit Le Mars, Iowa, for Ice Cream Days, we expected to have a nice time and eat some good ice cream.  I did not, however, expect to be wowed by the extreme family-friendliness of the Ice Cream Days celebration.

We’ve been to summer festivals before, but often only a small portion of the festival is suitable for kids.  Queen coronations, beer gardens, softball tournaments, and street dances are designed more for adults to enjoy than children.

In Le Mars, however, absolutely everything on the schedule of events is designed for family involvement, and that makes it worth the trip for families looking to do something fun and different as they make their summer plans.

For example:

• The Kids Ice Cream Cone-ival (like a carnival but ice cream themed–get it?) is a well-organized event in the city’s Cleveland Park.
  
  Each child gets a number of tickets to use in the various carnival games (all Blue Bunny themed, of course, and run by Blue Bunny employees and their children).
  
  Free watermelon, apples, juice, and Blue Bunny Ice Cream treats are given away as well, and there’s a nice big playground for the kids to play on when they’ve run out of carnival tickets.
• Ice Cream Days Parade.
  
  Perhaps the biggest draw of the weekend, the parade lasted nearly an hour with a wide variety of entries, many of them incorporating the Ice Cream Days theme.
  
  I’d advise heading over to Foster Park early to get a good spot to watch the parade, then letting the kids play on the playground while you wait for the parade to start.  After the parade, you’ll be right where the action is for Art in the Park.
• Art in the Park.  Primarily an arts and crafts fair with booths selling their wares in Foster Park, there are also craft projects for kids and entertainment (this year the Su Fu Du Drumline) after the parade, as well as concessions and ice cream (of course!).  We left proudly carrying marshmallow shooters (kids) and handcrafted garden ornaments (me).

We arrived for just the Friday and Saturday portions of the annual festival, but in the future I’d try to get there on Wednesday afternoon to enjoy more festivities.  There’s enough on the schedule to keep families busy for four days while allowing a bit of time to explore Le Mars.

Le Mars itself is a town where I felt right at home.  Its layout is easy to navigate, its downtown beautiful and vibrant, and its homes and yards well-kept.  I liked Le Mars enough that I posted on Facebook that I could easily see myself living there.  Apparently that feeling is shared by others, because the population of the town is increasing, and I talked to people who have lived there for several years, only to be joined by extended family members who liked the town well enough to move there themselves.

And then there’s the ice cream.  We really can’t forget the ice cream.

Le Mars is home to Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and more ice cream is made in Le Mars than in any other place, earning it the title of “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”  The best way to sample the local concoctions is to head downtown to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor,

where you can explore the company’s history in the upstairs museum exhibits,

or better yet, place an order at the soda fountain.

Bring your appetite, though–a so-called “single” scoop cone at 3 p.m. was enough to make my 9-year-old son decline anything for supper.

Pleasing for our family was the allergy awareness at the Parlor; when we mentioned my son’s peanut allergy, the parlor staff cheerfully opened a new tub of ice cream and got a clean scoop for him so he could enjoy his ice cream without any worries.

While in Le Mars, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, conveniently located near restaurants and Wal-Mart on the edge of town.  Our room with two queens and a sofabed was extremely spacious, though sadly is only reservable as a room that sleeps 5, even though it’s larger than most 2-queen/sofabed rooms that are rated for six occupants at competing hotel chains.

At the end of the day when we finally regained our appetites, it was nice to be able to walk a few steps for a bite to eat, and in the morning we all enjoyed the ample complimentary breakfast.

The other treat we enjoyed in Le Mars was its public artwork, represented in a series of large ice cream cone sculptures, each uniquely painted and located in various business and community spots around town.

We took the map of the ice cream cones and made our way around town,

checking off each one and stopping to snap photos with many.

While walking downtown to find our last few cones, we came across an artist painting a mural of a historic Le Mars building and stopped to watch and chat a bit.

The last thing we did before leaving town was to visit the Plymouth County Historical Museum.

Located in the old high school building, the museum is organized by various themes in Plymouth County history and there’s plenty to see.  My favorite was the “kitchens through the decades” display (aptly located in the old Home Ec room); my daughter liked “milking” the cow in the agriculture exhibit; and my train-loving son was delighted to see that the model railroad club was operating in an area of the museum.  And as if we hadn’t had enough ice cream yet during the weekend, they were offering $1 root beer floats in the recreated Miller’s Lunch diner, which was pleasantly reminiscent of my hometown’s Mildred’s Cafe, down to the style of the booths and counter stools.

My kids are already asking if we can return for Ice Cream Days next year, and I’m strongly considering it.  While you can stop and explore Le Mars and the Blue Bunny Parlor at any time, visiting the community during Ice Cream Days provides a lot of family-friendly fun and entertainment.

It probably seems as if I’m gushing over this event, and I’m usually not much of a gusher, but we did really enjoy Ice Cream Days that much.  Ice Cream Days is held annually on Father’s Day weekend, so if you’re looking for a family outing in mid-June, Le Mars is definitely somewhere to consider in your plans.

Oh, and I’m not quite sure if this happens to everyone, but . . . after all the Blue Bunny Ice Cream I ate over the weekend, I stepped on the scale when we got home and it hadn’t budged a bit.  If that isn’t a good experience, I don’t know what is!

Disclosure:  We visited Ice Cream Days as guests of Blue Bunny, which provided compensation for our trip expenses. 

On Sunday afternoons this summer, if we don’t have out-of-town family plans, you’ll find two things on my itinerary.

1. A nap.
2. A trip to town to watch the ball game.

You see, our little town of less than a thousand people has its own baseball team.  Many small towns in Minnesota do, and amateur “town ball” is a popular summertime sport.

For us, it’s the perfect recipe for a Sunday afternoon.

• The national anthem is played or sung by a local resident or group, starting the game off right.
• We sit on green bleachers under a blue sky and cheer for our Reds, while catching up with friends and neighbors.
• Children who don’t want to watch the game make new friends on the city park’s playground, right next to the left field fence.
• Little kids chase foul balls and turn them in at the concession stand for the prize of a quarter (which is almost always in turn spent right there at the concession stand).
• Local law enforcement stop by to keep an eye on things, though I suspect it may be more to keep an eye on the game than on any shenanigans that might be going on.
• There’s no charge for admission, and a $2 concession stand allowance is enough for chips, a drink, AND some candy.

Sitting in the shade watching the home team has become one of our family’s favorite fun and free outings.

What is your favorite hometown activity?

When I started writing Travels with Children four and a half years ago, it was primarily to demonstrate to other families that it is possible to take small children to new places, and that family fun can be found anywhere if you just look for it.  Since then, I’ve written more than 800 posts, reviewing places we’ve visited, linking to places other family travelers have gone, and dishing out advice and bargains and some miscellanea along the way.

As family travel blogs go, mine’s not one of the biggest or the most well-known.  I’m not a freelancer who’s getting cool gigs in newspapers and magazines.   I’m not in this to get rich, though it’s nice to bring in some income to help cover my blogging bills.  I don’t always follow all the “rules” about creating and maintaining a successful blog.

That’s because of the family part of it.  My husband works the equivalent of two full-time jobs, with most of the work done during the summer.  Since we’ve had children, our agreement has been that my job is to keep the family going, while he earns the bread and butter.  That’s just what works best for us.  My children will tell you I’m a blogger, though I’m not sure they entirely understand what that means.  Truth is, I’m mostly just a mom, looking for some fun and adventures as my children grow up all too quickly, and occasionally writing about interesting places we visit.

I’m happy to share these experiences with anyone who will read them, and I’m grateful to those who stop by and read, leave a comment, or share this site with their friends.  My writing Travels with Children has provided our family with some extra opportunities to see new places, and I hope I am always honest and constructive in writing and reviewing our experiences.  I’ve “met” some interesting people via Facebook, Twitter, and now even Pinterest, as part of this whole blogging/social media thing.  Travels with Children has been good for me and for my family.

This weekend, many travel bloggers are out west attending the TBEX travel bloggers’ conference, or the preview of Carsland at Disneyland.  For various reasons, the big travel-blogger adventures of the weekend aren’t part of my summer itinerary.  Instead, we’re looking forward to going to Le Mars, Iowa, for Ice Cream Days, and later on to Omaha, Nebraska, to experience some pretty neat things in America’s heartland.

After all, fun is where my family is, and time and money don’t always allow for the faraway adventures we may dream of.  Instead, we’re happy to look around and find the fun that is closer to home.  And there is always plenty of that to be found.

It has always been my goal to help families enjoy their free time wherever it may be, and no matter what their budget allows.  I hope that I’ve been successful in this.

If you don’t see too much on Travels with Children this summer, it’s because I’m out having fun with my kids.  We’re looking for new parks, exploring new campgrounds, and visiting new libraries.   After all, my days of traveling with children are fleeting and I must take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with them.

As always, thank you for reading.   A happy summer to you and your family, wherever the road may lead you.

We had visited Underwater Adventures a few times when our kids were younger, and were mostly underwhelmed with daily visits, although we found their educational programs to be well-done when we attended a special event.  The moving walkway was a novelty, but it made it difficult to stop and look at specific things in the aquarium tunnel, and visits were often completed in 30 minutes or so.

I am happy to report that I see the changes at Sea Life Aquarium to be mostly positive.  For those who have been to Underwater Adventures, these are the things you’ll find to be different:

• The order of your journey through the aquarium is reversed.  Visits now begin at the touch pools and end after going through the tunnel and up the winding ramp.
• The winding ramp is now known as Mysteries of the Rainforest.  It previously had a Minnesota theme.
• The moving walkway through the tunnel is gone, allowing you to move at your own pace.
• A scavenger hunt “quiz trail” keeps kids engaged.

Old favorites are there as well:

• The jellyfish (my favorites).
  
• The tunnel where you can have a shark swim over the top of you.
  
• The opportunity to touch various sea creatures (though now just tidepool creatures, not sharks).

We spent about an hour going through the aquarium on a quiet summer Monday morning, looking at everything from the eels and an octopus to corals and sea horses and frogs.

My children enjoyed the Quiz Trail, although some of the questions prompted a look at the “fin facts” for a clue when there were no fin facts to be found in that area.

They viewed the rays from the overlook area and looked at the caiman at both below-water and above-water vantage points.

They were more impressed with Sea Life Aquarium than they had ever been with Underwater Adventures.

A few notes of caution, however:

• I had been shown around the aquarium by a Sea Life representative earlier in the spring, on a busy day with both school groups and families there, and it was very crowded and loud.  If you go, try to figure out a quiet time (first thing in the morning or later in the evening, avoid school holidays) so that you’ll be able to move more freely throughout the tunnel and other areas of the aquarium.
  
• Explore your ticket options before you go.  Walkup prices currently range from $17 for kids to $22 for adults.  You can save money by buying tickets online ahead of time or buying a combo ticket.  There are often coupons to be found around town, so keep your eyes open for them.  The good news is that admission is for a full day, so you can walk through a few times if you’re spending the whole day at Mall of America.  Memberships are also available if you’d like to visit more frequently.

Overall, we found the Sea Life renovations to be an improvement over Underwater Adventures and my children enjoyed our visit.  Merlin Entertainment, the owner of the Sea Life as well as Legoland (in both Florida and California) and Madame Tussauds, generally adds a new attraction each year, so repeat visitors should be able to see something new at the aquarium annually.

Have you been to Sea Life Aquarium, either in Minnesota or one of its other locations?  What did you think?

Disclosure: Our family was provided with complimentary admission in order to review Sea Life Minnesota.

While these communities embrace their respective claims to fame, their celebrated icons may not be universally loved.  Across the border in Le Mars, Iowa, however, there’s a community celebration that would be hard for most anyone to pass up:  Ice Cream Days.

Le Mars is the home of Blue Bunny Ice Cream and is also known as the Ice Cream Capital of the World.  We visited the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum in Le Mars several years ago, and since then our kids have been asking to return, especially to see the visitor center‘s new location.

When a representative of Blue Bunny Ice Cream invited our family to Le Mars for Ice Cream Days, we jumped at the chance.  My friend Jody from Family Rambling went last year and had a magnificent time with her family.

2012′s Ice Cream Days are June 13-16, so you can still make plans to attend if Le Mars is a comfortable drive for you.  I like that the Ice Cream Days parade is held at 9 a.m., before the heat of the day begins, and that the festivities wrap up on Saturday so we can enjoy Father’s Day with dear old dad.  Besides the parade, there are carnival games and arts and crafts for kids, a BMX/Motorcycle stunt team and R/C Airplane & Helicopter Fun Fly, arts events, historical presentations, and even maps of barn quilt routes available.

The best part, however, is seeing the ice cream cone notation on many of the events for the celebration, which means free Blue Bunny treats will be available.

Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?

If you’d like to see more about Ice Cream Days in Le Mars, follow me on Facebook or Twitter, where I’ll be sharing scenes from our Ice Cream Days experience.

Disclosure: Blue Bunny is covering the cost of our family’s trip to Le Mars for Ice Cream Days.

When visiting California, our family’s goal was to learn about some of the history and culture of the state as well as visiting attractions like Disneyland and Legoland.  As Minnesota farmers, we also hoped to learn a bit about agriculture in California.  We found the perfect stop for this at California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside.

California Citrus SHP exists to preserve the history of the citrus industry that is shrinking in Riverside and its surrounding areas.  While our children explored the exhibits and worked through the children’s brochure in the visitor center, my husband and I visited with the knowledgeable docents, learning about the citrus industry’s history in California and how it is changing in a time of population growth and urbanization.

After we’d had our questions answered and browsed the gift shop, the docent took us to the patio behind the visitor center, where we were offered tastes of a variety of citrus fruits.

We had our first experience with kumquats (little tiny oranges that are eaten like grapes, skin and all), really sweet clementines/mandarins, lemons, and juicy, red-orange Cara Cara navels.  Even the choosiest eaters in our family were adventurous enough to taste the fruits.

The docent then led us down the sidewalk and showed us some of the other varieties growing near the visitor center.  The rule was that we, as visitors, could not pick any of the fruit in the park, but our ranger could pick things and share them with us.  It was a new and tasty experience to eat oranges that had just been picked from the trees.

After trying several of the varieties, the ranger left us to wander through the rest of the park on our own, and we walked the many paved paths through what is an actual working orchard.  Throughout the park, signs indicate the varieties of the trees, from the Meyer lemons that are common in California backyards to the spiky Flying Dragon seedling that is good for root stock but does not bear good fruit.

Our kids liked learning about the trees and how they grow,

as well as just walking between the palm trees, which were originally grown in the orange groves as a navigation aid, so workers could find the roads among the acres of orange trees.

Displays along the paths explained things such as the importance of the local canal to the citrus industry and the citrus heritage of the area.

The orange trees were just beginning to bloom and I found that their sweet smell now rivals lilacs as my favorite scent.

The visitor center is only open on weekends, but the park is open daily for walking its tree-lined paths.

After leaving the park, we stopped at the Gless Ranch stand, conveniently located just outside the entrance, and purchased some fresh California oranges to take home with us.  Sadly, they did not make it home, as we ate 16 pounds of oranges in a week’s time.  Even worse, we cannot find anything that tastes nearly as good now that we are back in Minnesota.

We made one more stop before heading back to our hotel in Anaheim, at the ranger’s suggestion:  We drove through Riverside to the corner of Magnolia and Arlington to see the Parent Navel Tree.  If you’ve ever eaten a navel orange grown in the United States, it is likely a descendant of this tree that dates back to the 1800s.  How’s that for a piece of history?

I highly recommend California Citrus SHP for visitors to California who want to learn about this type of agriculture or to taste a variety of citrus fruits, or to California residents who may know little about the citrus industry and its history in the state.

Say, for instance, that you’re driving on the 101 freeway from Disneyland to Universal Studios.

If you look at just the right time, and you’re not the driver who has to pay attention to traffic or the kid who’s in the backseat on the driver’s side of the vehicle, you might just get a good look at it like this:

Now, for some people, that would be good enough.  But for others who actually wanted more than a glimpse, or who want to prove that they can find a better vantage point, or maybe have their photo taken in front of the real thing (as opposed to the fake photo op background at Universal Studios) as proof that they were actually along on the family vacation, it is possible to get closer to the sign.

In my somewhat-extensive Hollywood-sign research before we left home, I had read that you could see the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park.  We, however, did not go to Griffith Park.

I also talked to someone from my hometown whose family had attempted to get up-close and personal with the Hollywood sign and had become hopelessly intertwined in the Hollywood hills, and never did successfully complete their quest to see the sign.  I wanted to do better than that.

So I searched Google Maps.  (Do you use Google Maps for as many things as I do?)  And I looked for that sign and found it right here.

Do you see it?  It’s that faint white line just below Mt. Lee Drive on the map.  Yup, that’s the Hollywood sign from way up in space.

Then, I looked at the terrain.  Obviously, any vantage point for the sign was going to be south of this location.

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And yes, those are some twisting, winding roads.

Next, I used street view to see exactly where the sign was visible from a public roadway.

This view? Not exactly the right spot.

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Then I got smart and turned on the photos layer. And voila! I could instantly see all of the spots where people had taken photos of the Hollywood sign with their fancy GPS-enabled cameras or cell phones.

Now, I realize it’s hard to see, but all of those pictures with blue sky and brown-green bottoms and a little bit of white in the middle?  They’re pictures of the Hollywood sign.

Next, we had the issue of finding a place to park and safely take a picture without being chased off someone’s private property or being run down by people who actually knew how to quickly and accurately navigate these streets.

What’s that?  A public park?  With what looks to be cars parked safely and legally on both sides of the street?  I think that’s our spot.

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And so it was that upon leaving Universal Studios, we made our way to see the Hollywood sign. Cahuenga Blvd W to Barham Blvd to Lake Hollywood Dr to Tahoe Dr to Canyon Lake Dr to Lake Hollywood Park doesn’t seem too tricky, but I’d advise having a map or smartphone navigation app to get you there. (It was comforting to see one small “Hollywood Sign” arrow along the way, but it alone wasn’t enough to get us there without getting lost.)

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At the southern tip of the park, we found a place to park along the street, and spotted the sign.

To the naked eye it looked like this:

Zoomed in it looked like this:

And proof that I was in California looked like this:

If you know of a better/faster/easier place to see the Hollywood sign, please share in the comments.

Before we went, I tried to get an idea of what the Safari Park would be like.  I looked at satellite views on Google Maps and read the website extensively, trying to guess if it would be a good stop for our family, and how much time we would need there.  Much of the guessing I did was wrong.

It’s hard to get a feel for the Safari Park from a map because the terrain is quite varied, and also because much of the park’s expanse is not in publicly-accessible areas.  The vastness of the park that scared me when looking at the map was really not so much to worry about.

I had read that the Safari Park is extensive and the terrain quite hilly, so I was concerned that my already-troubled feet wouldn’t be able to take it, especially after several days in amusement parks.  While it’s true that one does a lot of walking at the Safari Park, the only part that I thought was really steep was down into the tiger area.  The other zone where there’s a big hill is near the cheetah and lion area, but there’s an elevator available at that location.

We arrived at the Safari Park just before it opened and parked very near the entrance.  The ticket line was slow-moving but the agent was knowledgeable and helpful when it came to our turn.  At $42 for adults and $32 for children, the Africa Safari is the most basic ticket available.  There are many other ticket options available that include extras like Segway and zipline tours or behind-the-scenes options, all at increased prices.  In fact, there are upsells throughout the park itself, including $5 to have a better view for the cheetah run.  The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park do not participate in the AZA reciprocal program, and adult memberships are only available to southern California residents, so there isn’t a good way to get reduced admission.  Visitors to southern California who want to save a few dollars should take a look at the Koala Club for kids, use their AAA card for a discount, look at the Go San Diego card*, or look at the multi-park/multi-visit options if visiting both the Zoo and the Safari Park.

The Africa tram is a 25-minute open-air ride that is included with the most basic admission ticket.  During the tram tour, visitors are taken to areas of the park that are otherwise inaccessible by the public.  Narration provides information about the various animals in this zone, many of which are severely endangered.  Since the Africa tram tour is included with admission, it’s worth the time for visitors, especially those who are there for the first time.

After the tram tour, we wandered around the rest of the Safari Park.  I was pleasantly surprised at the number of paths that were shady, lined with beautiful plants.

The walking was not nearly as difficult as I had envisioned.  Paths and trails and specific exhibits were well-marked, making it easy to navigate to the areas we wanted to visit.

Because the animal areas at the Safari Park are often large, it’s not always easy to see the animals.  After trekking down the tiger path, we learned that the tigers were not in a visible area at that time, and I had a disappointed six-year-old to lead back up the hill.

Food is available at several locations in the park.  The $7.49 kids meal included two small chicken fingers, a bag of Pirate’s Booty, raisins, animal crackers, and a child-sized soda (with $1 in-park refills).  While milk and chocolate milk could be purchased for $1.49, an adult soda (refillable for a charge) carried the price tag of $4.99.  In my opinion, the food was high-priced and mediocre, and I’d recommend packing a picnic lunch if you can.

Our kids enjoyed an interactive screen show featuring Robert, the zebra from Madagascar, in an amphitheater, and begged to spend time in the splash area and play & climb zone in the park that give kids a chance to run and play.  The carousel was also a hit with the kids.

We spent four hours at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  In the future, if I had to choose either the San Diego Zoo or the Safari Park, I’d go back to the zoo, where more animals were easily seen and more programs were available.  Benefits of the Safari Park, however, included easier parking and a less-crowded atmosphere.  I was surprised at the amount of duplication of animals between the two, and on future visits to San Diego, I would likely choose one or the other, but not go to both.

For my Minnesota readers who may be interested in visiting the Safari Park, I found it to be very similar to the Minnesota Zoo, and in fact, many of the animals are the same (tigers, takin, meerkat).  The tram ride is similar in scope to the Minnesota Zoo’s monorail, and the terrain and amount of walking we did seemed very much like that of the Minnesota Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo and its Safari Park are known as some of the best zoos in the world, giving visitors to San Diego good options for a zoo experience while in California.

Disclosure:  The San Diego Zoo gave us four free passes so we could check out the Zoo and Safari Park.
* Affiliate link

Set in the beautiful hills of Simi Valley, California, north of Los Angeles, the setting for this museum is breathtaking.  Our children enjoyed seeing the banners depicting the order of the presidents as we wound up the driveway, until we arrived at number 40, Ronald Reagan, at the top of the hill.

Our first contact upon entering the building was a representative offering a membership to the library.  We declined this option and moved to the admission window, where we paid for our visit and a Guidecam tour upgrade for an additional $7 per person.  Though this price was somewhat high, we hoped that it would provide additional interest for our kids as we walked through the museum.

The museum itself is very large and well-done.  The exhibits are informational and appealing to look at, with each area based around a specific period or topic of President Reagan’s life.  Occasional interactive areas, like a radio show from Reagan’s early days, or a White House etiquette trivia quiz, livened it up a bit for the kids.

The Guidecams, which are specially-purposed iPod Touches, were indeed a good choice, as the exhibit areas were marked with audio locations.  One daughter especially liked the option of using the Guidecam to take photos in the museum, which were e-mailed to us at the end of the tour.

Guidecam Photo taken by 7-year-old

On the downside, there is no child-specific audio option, so the kids got the same spiel as the adults.  A special kid-friendly audio tour would make the Guidecams even better.  Still, listening as we walked and looked made for a very well-rounded experience.

Docents were available at every turn should we have questions, and while some waited quietly in the exhibit areas for questions to be addressed to them, others interacted with the kids as we walked through.  One even gave us tiny bags of Jelly Belly jelly beans (Ronald Reagan’s favorite) when we stopped to ask a question.

After learning about most of Reagan’s life, we made it to the Air Force One exhibit area.  The large annex area is home to the Air Force One that was in use during Reagan’s presidency, and it was very interesting to step on board and walk through the plane, seeing the office areas, press seating, and how the president’s office in the sky is set up.  While photography is allowed in the rest of the museum, there are no photos allowed on board Air Force One.

Other presidential and military vehicles, including a presidential limousine from the Reagan years, are also on exhibit in this large area of the museum.

From Air Force One, we continued the audio tour to its end.  We kind of breezed through the last area quickly because we were hungry; we hadn’t realized just how much time we’d be able to spend in the museum.  Using the Guidecam, we had spent nearly three hours learning about Ronald Reagan.

We ate lunch at Reagan’s Country Cafe, which was at the end of the tour.  (If we had only realized when we entered that it was just through the doors by the Guidecam pickup point, we would have eaten first).  There is also a pub in the Air Force One exhibit area, but we opted for the cafe with more menu options and beautiful views from the dining area.

Though it rained while we were in the museum, by the time we headed outdoors again it was sunny, so we took some time to see a portion of the Berlin Wall and the replicas of the White House gardens, as well as President Reagan’s gravesite.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is one of the largest and most-visited presidential museums in the U.S.  With its excellent exhibits, the Guidecam tour, and Air Force One, we found it to be an excellent history lesson amidst the fun of other southern California attractions.

Have you visited the Reagan Library or another presidential library/museum?  Was it interesting for kids?

• Alaska Native Heritage Center (Anchorage, AK) at AK on the Go
• Austin (TX) on a Budget at Road Trips for Families
• BIG Stuff in Philadephia, PA at Go Big or Go Home
• Biltmore Estate’s Family Playground (Asheville, NC) at Road Trips for Families
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (St. Augustine, FL) at Field Trips with Sue
• Colonial Williamsburg with Kids (Williamsburg, VA) at Ciao Bambino
• Colors of the Carlsbad Flower Fields at The World is a Book
• Corinth National Military Park (Mississippi) at Our Traveling Tribe
• Cruising Boston Harbor with Boston’s Best Cruises (Boston, MA) at Albany Kid
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins (Orlando, FL) at The Traveling Praters
• Dos and Don’ts of Disney’s Castaway Cay at Travel Mamas
• Eagle Watching in Decorah, IA, at Road Trips for Families
• Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum (McMinnville, OR) at Pit Stops for Kids
• Exploring Atlanta, GA, with Kids at SuiteTrip
• Exploring Eastland, TX, at Suitcases and Sippycups
• Exploring the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch (Carlsbad, CA) at Go Explore Nature
• Family-Friendly Activities in Nevada at Trekaroo
• Family Friendly Utah Ski Resort: Snowbird at Dotting the Map
• Favorite Things to Do in Yosemite National Park at Go Explore Nature
• Five Great Activities in South Central Alaska with Younger Children (Anchorage area)at AK on the Go
• Five Great Activities in Fairbanks with Younger Children (Fairbanks, AK) at AK on the Go
• Five Great Activities in Southeastern Alaska with Younger Children at AK on the Go
• The Florida Keys at New School Nomads
• A Guide to the White House Easter Egg Roll at Tulip Family Travels
• Half Moon Bay with Kids: San Francisco’s Secret Seaside Neighbor (Half Moon Bay, CA) at Ciao Bambino
• Hilton Times Square at More Kids than Suitcases
• Is a Disney Cruise Right for Your Family? at Pit Stops for Kids
• Justifiying the Cost of a Disney Cruise at Two Kids and a Map
• LBJ National Historic Park, Stonewall, TX at R We There Yet Mom?
• League Stadium in Huntingburg, IN at Little Indiana
• Lego Sculptures at Reiman Gardens (Ames, IA) at Family Rambling
• Manitou Cliff Dwellings (Colorado Springs, CO) at Six Suitcase Travel
• Metaphor, the Tree of Utah (95 miles west of Salt Lake City, UT) at Eccentric Roadside
• Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, at The Mother of All Trips
• National Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, FL) at Our Traveling Tribe
• National Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, FL) at The Rocket Scientist’s Guide to Raising Kids
• New National Historic Landmarks in the Capitol Region (near Albany, NY) at Albany Kid
• Panning for Gold in Alaska (El Dorado Gold Mine) at Gone with the Family
• Pennsylvania’s Amish Country at Intelligent Travel
• Play for All Abilities Park (Round Rock, TX) at R We There Yet Mom?
• Sequoia National Park with Kids at The World is a Book
• Shiloh National Battlefield (Shiloh, TN) at Our Traveling Tribe
• Solomon’s Castle (Ona, FL) at New School Nomads
• St. Augustine, Florida: Rich in History at New School Nomads
• Stones River National Battlefield (TN) at Our Traveling Tribe
• Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum (Waco, TX) at R We There Yet Mom?
• Tips for Visiting National Parks with Kids at The World is a Book
• Top Five Reasons Keystone Resort is Great for Families at The Mother of All Trips
• Top Picks for Kids at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at Sherri May’s Traveling Classroom
• Vanishing Texas River Cruise (Lake Buchanan, TX) at R We There Yet Mom?
• What to Expect When Taking Disney World’s Magical Express at Two Kids and a Map
• What’s Included (and What You’ll Pay Extra For) on a Disney Cruise at Pit Stops for Kids
• 5 Items We Were Glad We Had on a Disney Cruise and 5 We Didn’t Need at Pit Stops for Kids
• 5 Multigenerational Travel Mistakes to Avoid at Kidventurous
• 10 Free Family Activities in Baltimore, MD at Kidventurous
• 10 Tips for Sailing Aboard the Carnival Magic with Kids at Suitcases and Sippycups

The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is located in a business/light-industrial area of St. Louis Park, MN, just off Hwys 100 and 7.  After paying our admission and hanging up our coats, one son noticed the audio tour option, but we instead went with the guided tour of the museum that was offered to us.  Our guide cranked up a Victrola and a replica of Edison’s first phonograph, and we threw some nickels into an old-time juke box.  We learned about electricity with Leyden jar experiments like they have at the Bakken Museum, and got a demonstration of a ship’s radio system from days gone by.

Then it was on to the next room, where three kids at a time competed in a quiz show, complete with Jeopardy-style buzz-in buttons and broadcast on an old-time TV right in front of us.

Our guide read the questions and kept score.

We tried our hands at playing the Theremin, and then were shown a video that proves that some people actually were able to get songs to come from this electronic musical instrument.  We were taken to a back room where it was explained how film works, and after being given actual film clips to look at (something new for our kids’ generation), we watched the Roadrunner escape the coyote until the film broke.

Each child tried their hand at a telegraph, we heard music from old-time movie-theater speakers, and watched old-time TV shows on an old-time television.

The highlight of the visit, however, was doing our own radio show in the radio studio.  With one child at the controls, two announcers, and two reporters, we followed the script and broadcast our very own radio show, which was e-mailed to us after we left the museum.  Seeing how radio works, even though the studio setup was from the late-1960s, was an eye-opener for our WCCO-listening family.

Our Pavek Museum Radio Broadcast

We spent about an hour and a half at the museum; enthusiasts who want to examine all of the old radios and television sets on site could spend much longer.

At the end, even those children who weren’t sure about going to the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting said it was a lot more fun than they’d expected it to be.  I’ve already recommended it to friends and to our school as a good field trip option for upper-elementary students.  The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting does an excellent job of portraying the history of broadcasting in an informative and interactive way.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway sounded like a good idea when I was planning the trip.  I’d ask Californians if they’d been on it, and they’d say things like, “No, but I’ve heard only good things about it.”  Comments like this, paired with the fact that it was open into the evening, made it a good stop for the end of our day in the Palm Springs area.

As we drove up the four-mile access road just after 4 p.m., however, I began to question my wisdom in putting it on our to-do list.  “We’re going up THERE?” I asked as we pulled into the parking lot and could see the towers on the mountainside that held the tram cables in place.

By then, however, it was too late.  We were there.  We hiked up the parking lot and into the ticket building to buy our tickets.

Although it was in no way due to excellent planning on my part, we learned that we’d arrived at a good time.  Tickets are discounted after 4:00 for the ride to the top of the mountain.  Though still not a great bargain, the discount was appreciated.

Aerial Tramway tickets are issued for a specific time, and our tram car was boarding as soon as we’d finished the purchase transaction.  We waited in a holding room until our tram car arrived, and then walked into the large car.

The floor of the car rotates throughout the ride, so passengers get a 360-degree view of the Coachella Valley without having to move around the car.  Everyone stands, but a woman with a severe fear of heights was allowed to sit on a small step in the center of the car.

There are five towers that the car rolls over along the way to the top, and while the 10-minute ride is otherwise smooth, there’s a bit of an “oooh” moment as the car swings over the arms of each of these towers.

Soon enough, we were at the top, with the option to explore as long as we wanted.  The top station includes overlooks, restaurants, a bar, a gift shop, and photo kiosk as well as restrooms and other amenities.

I wasn’t too sure how I was going to like looking down from the top of an 8516-foot mountain, but it wasn’t really so bad.  Because it’s not a sheer dropoff from the lookout areas, the vegetation and landscape make it appear that you’re just on some uneven terrain, but with a really good view in the distance.  I’m nervous about the third-floor railing at Mall of America, but I managed the fenced-in areas at the top of this mountain just fine.

The kids begged for quarters for the binoculars, and enjoyed getting closer views of the sights from these.  We could see the mountains near Joshua Tree National Park to the left, Palm Springs and its nearby towns below, some of the many wind generators that line the Coachella Valley at the bottom of the mountain, and the Salton Sea to the right.  I forgot to look for the San Andreas Fault, although I’d read that it can be seen from the top.

Looking the other way, we could see hikers in the distance; the land at the top of the mountain is a state park and is available for recreational activities.

We stayed near the station, however, and after getting our fill of the view, headed inside to find something to eat.  We chose the cafeteria-style Pines Cafe instead of the fancier Peaks Restaurant, and were pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices for basic but good food.  The boys had a large slice of pizza for $4, I had tortilla soup for $3.50, and our daughter liked the $5 yogurt parfait.  My husband had some kind of sausage and sauerkraut that was part of a meal deal but also sold a la carte.  All in all, we ate for about the same cost as fast food would have been, but with a much nicer view.

While we were eating, the sun set over the mountain, so that when we boarded the tram car again and began moving, we had a beautiful view of the city lights below.  Once again we completed two and a half rotations as we rode, but this time to upbeat music instead of the informational narrative we’d heard on the way up.

In some ways, I’d compare the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the Pikes Peak Cog Railway; both take you up about 8000 feet from the city below for some beautiful views.  If I had to choose one over the other for my family, however, I’d go with the tramway.  The 10-minute ride is much easier for kids than the hour-plus of Pikes Peak, and you can stay at the top as long as you wish.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was one of the high points of our California trip, especially since it was unique and not what I expected when I first thought of California.

If You Go:

• Call for ticket prices before you go.  The after-4 discount is not listed on the website, although a ride-and-dine package is.
  
• Bring a sweatshirt or jacket, even if it’s warm in the valley.  We were comfortable with sweatshirts on in mid-February.
• Don’t lean on the glass while the tramway is moving.  Your feet will rotate right out from under the leaning part of you.
• Remember your camera.
• Go up just after 4 p.m., grab something to eat, enjoy the view, and come down after dark for a varied experience at a lower price.
• Check to see if any special activities are available during your visit.

More pictures: