While in Florida we spent an afternoon at the Orlando Science Center, through ASTC Travel Passport Program our entrance was free. When we arrived a sign was posted apologizing for the air conditioning not working properly. You'd think that July in Florida and no A/C equals BIG problem. Remarkably it stayed bearable and the Museum provided free bottles of ice cold water.
We planed on staying at the Museum for an hour or two, but wound up staying closer to four hours. The facility is basically set up with four floors with a few large exhibits on each floor. The highlight for my son (almost 6) was the dinosaur wing (DinoDigs), the nature center (NatureWorks), and the grossology exhibit (the hows and whys of farts, snot, burps, stinky feet, and more!). Don't get me wrong he also enjoyed the KidsTown area, where you can run through the process of picking oranges, be the mechanic on a play car, and a few other fun activities, like the hurricane wind booth. My daughter (2 and a half) had fun in KidsTown, playing with a water exhibit, running through a small body playground (in the mouth, through the esophagus, then the stomach, intestines, and out the rectum onto a poop mat!), and checking out the dinosaurs.
The museum has a nice clean cafeteria (kid's meals run $5 so it's not at all expensive) and well kept bathrooms. We really had a blast and was a fun educational experience! If you're in the Orlando area going to Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, or some other theme park, take a day (especially if it rains) to check this place out! My family looks forward to returning.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Daytona Museum of Arts and Science
We spent a couple of hours at the Museum of Arts and Science in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Museum was a 25 minute drive from where we were staying and it was a rainy afternoon, plus through ASTC Travel Passport Program our entrance was free. So, why not!
Here's the skinny- The Museum has a new Children's Museum which is small, but more than enough to keep my 2 and almost 6 year old happy for about 2 hours. It's basically a small hands on science center, with a TINY infant/toddler area. I do mean TINY! There was 1 other child in this area with my daughter and it was crowded. Luckily she lost interest in the couple of toys and moved on to the "big kid" area. Aside from the science stuff, they have a pretend pizza making area, and doctors office, both of which my daughter enjoyed. There is also an art museum (too young for it, but we walked through and discussed some pieces), a Coca-Cola area they enjoyed, and 2 real trains. Entrance would have been less than a movie, and was more enjoyable! I wouldn't drive out of my way to get there, but if you're in the area and it's a rainy day, it would be a good way to spend part of your day! You can check their website for more info: http://www.moas.org/
Here's the skinny- The Museum has a new Children's Museum which is small, but more than enough to keep my 2 and almost 6 year old happy for about 2 hours. It's basically a small hands on science center, with a TINY infant/toddler area. I do mean TINY! There was 1 other child in this area with my daughter and it was crowded. Luckily she lost interest in the couple of toys and moved on to the "big kid" area. Aside from the science stuff, they have a pretend pizza making area, and doctors office, both of which my daughter enjoyed. There is also an art museum (too young for it, but we walked through and discussed some pieces), a Coca-Cola area they enjoyed, and 2 real trains. Entrance would have been less than a movie, and was more enjoyable! I wouldn't drive out of my way to get there, but if you're in the area and it's a rainy day, it would be a good way to spend part of your day! You can check their website for more info: http://www.moas.org/
Monday, July 20, 2009
Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure
We spent a FULL day at these 2 parks. I highly recommend getting here early. We were on line to enter 25 minutes before the park opened (the park actually opened 10 minutes before the listed 9 AM open).
1st stop - Islands of Adventure. Got to do everything we wanted to do with minimal waiting. Seriously...hardly any lines for attractions my almost 6 year old could go on (~44in.). My daughter is 2 and a couple of months. Not much for her. The Dr. Seuss area was fun and colorful. If your child likes the stroller, you'll be fine. It is great to just see the sights around the park.
After lunch, we went to Universal Studios. Now the lines begin - HUGE LINES. As a plus, there are digital signs throughout the park letting you know the waiting times. Some of the employees are helpful in recommending how to plot your day. Also, outside of the Woody Woodpecker, Feivel, Curious George land, there is not much for little kids. My daughter loved those play areas, though. But it's really just a playground. Definitely bring bathing suits. It is hot in the summer and these kiddie areas have lots of opportunity to get wet.
Bathrooms - they were pretty clean, located everywhere, and never a wait. A great thing as my little one is learning to use the toilet.
Food - we did the pay ahead all you can eat food plan and all day refill cups. BAD IDEA. You could only go to a three places to use them and you had to wait on line even for a drink refill. The food lines were incredibly long later in the day. They actually close half the service area at 5:30 PM in the the I.F.F., one of the usable restaurants, which makes it impossible. Why would you reduce service for the "all you can eat" restaurant ? Are they trying to slow you down and reduce your consumption? We actually wanted to grab a snack a couple of times but refused to wait 45 minutes on line! Better just pay as you go and go anywhere...there are a million places to eat meals and snacks. Plus the lines are almost nonexistent in the pay as you go areas. Bring a bottle of water and keep refilling it at a fountain so you can have it on line for the hour you are waiting to see an attraction. It is easier to hold than a bulky souvenir cup...especially when you are carrying a backpack and a child.
We left the park at closing and actually had to stop for a bathroom break by the City Walk. We're not sure if this is the rule in the area, but the bathroom we stopped at next to some NASCAR store and below Panda Wok, Moe's, TCBY, and Burger King had NO diaper changing facility! Surprising for a family destination.
1st stop - Islands of Adventure. Got to do everything we wanted to do with minimal waiting. Seriously...hardly any lines for attractions my almost 6 year old could go on (~44in.). My daughter is 2 and a couple of months. Not much for her. The Dr. Seuss area was fun and colorful. If your child likes the stroller, you'll be fine. It is great to just see the sights around the park.
After lunch, we went to Universal Studios. Now the lines begin - HUGE LINES. As a plus, there are digital signs throughout the park letting you know the waiting times. Some of the employees are helpful in recommending how to plot your day. Also, outside of the Woody Woodpecker, Feivel, Curious George land, there is not much for little kids. My daughter loved those play areas, though. But it's really just a playground. Definitely bring bathing suits. It is hot in the summer and these kiddie areas have lots of opportunity to get wet.
Bathrooms - they were pretty clean, located everywhere, and never a wait. A great thing as my little one is learning to use the toilet.
Food - we did the pay ahead all you can eat food plan and all day refill cups. BAD IDEA. You could only go to a three places to use them and you had to wait on line even for a drink refill. The food lines were incredibly long later in the day. They actually close half the service area at 5:30 PM in the the I.F.F., one of the usable restaurants, which makes it impossible. Why would you reduce service for the "all you can eat" restaurant ? Are they trying to slow you down and reduce your consumption? We actually wanted to grab a snack a couple of times but refused to wait 45 minutes on line! Better just pay as you go and go anywhere...there are a million places to eat meals and snacks. Plus the lines are almost nonexistent in the pay as you go areas. Bring a bottle of water and keep refilling it at a fountain so you can have it on line for the hour you are waiting to see an attraction. It is easier to hold than a bulky souvenir cup...especially when you are carrying a backpack and a child.
We left the park at closing and actually had to stop for a bathroom break by the City Walk. We're not sure if this is the rule in the area, but the bathroom we stopped at next to some NASCAR store and below Panda Wok, Moe's, TCBY, and Burger King had NO diaper changing facility! Surprising for a family destination.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Space Shuttle Launch
One word: Amazing
On July 15, 2009, while on vacation in New Smyrna Beach Florida, we planned on watching the space shuttle launch. The mission had been scrubbed a number of times, so having 2 young children with us, my wife and I decided to watch it from the beach. Realize that if you have young children watching a shuttle launch from Canaveral is tough! Very frequently launches are delayed or postponed, and traffic into the area is a killer!
Most people that don't live on the Eastern Florida coast 50 miles North or South of Cape Canaveral don't realize how visible the launch is. We were approximately 20 miles away and the beach was packed with locals looking to get a view of Endeavour blasting off. The sky was perfectly clear, but apparently the view is still awesome on a cloudy or over cast day. After "take off of Endeavour" was announced on the radios onlookers had brought, the orange red flame shot over the ocean. My son stood awe inspired and said, "it's like a fireball in the sky... wow!" With in a minute the shuttle was out of site and all that remained was the enormous smoke trail. We stood, all of us, silent, for what seemed to be an eternity. The only sounds were that of the ocean crashing in front of us. Then, without warning a loud rumble shook us. The sound of the launch had finally reached us.
If you ever have the opportunity to be in the area during a launch, DO IT! You will not forget it.
On July 15, 2009, while on vacation in New Smyrna Beach Florida, we planned on watching the space shuttle launch. The mission had been scrubbed a number of times, so having 2 young children with us, my wife and I decided to watch it from the beach. Realize that if you have young children watching a shuttle launch from Canaveral is tough! Very frequently launches are delayed or postponed, and traffic into the area is a killer!
Most people that don't live on the Eastern Florida coast 50 miles North or South of Cape Canaveral don't realize how visible the launch is. We were approximately 20 miles away and the beach was packed with locals looking to get a view of Endeavour blasting off. The sky was perfectly clear, but apparently the view is still awesome on a cloudy or over cast day. After "take off of Endeavour" was announced on the radios onlookers had brought, the orange red flame shot over the ocean. My son stood awe inspired and said, "it's like a fireball in the sky... wow!" With in a minute the shuttle was out of site and all that remained was the enormous smoke trail. We stood, all of us, silent, for what seemed to be an eternity. The only sounds were that of the ocean crashing in front of us. Then, without warning a loud rumble shook us. The sound of the launch had finally reached us.
If you ever have the opportunity to be in the area during a launch, DO IT! You will not forget it.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Queens Zoo
Let me start by saying that for most of my life I have lived no more than about 30 miles from this zoo. I have passed by it hundreds of times, whether on my way to a Met's game, a trip to the NY Hall of Science, on route to LaGuardia airport, or just taking the Grand Central or LIE somewhere. Not once did I ever stop at the zoo. I've seen the sign for it, been in Flushing Meadows park where it is located, and even have a membership to the zoo through the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)! Today I took my 5 year old and 2 year old and we had a blast. The zoo is small, only a handful of animals, but the intimate setting and lack of crowds was GREAT! We saw a bald eagle, an alligator, sea lions, puma, lynx, Bison, pudu (a small deer), and a host of other animals. There is also a cute little domestic animal petting zoo. We also went to there discovery center which is open on weekends for children's crafts. The craft was a cheesy paper diorama, but my kids enjoyed it. The zoo was clean, as were the bathrooms. One word of caution, there is NO restaurant on site. There are some vending machines for drinks, snacks, and ice cream. We brought lunch and had a nice picnic under an umbrella by picnic tables located by the vending machines and sea lions.
We spent about 2 1/2 hours there including lunch and saw everything. This is a great little day trip that could be included with a stop at the Hall of Science within walking distance down the road. Citi field and the tennis center are also nearby. I wouldn't go out of my way for such a small zoo, but if you're in the area and looking for a fun time, check it out.
We spent about 2 1/2 hours there including lunch and saw everything. This is a great little day trip that could be included with a stop at the Hall of Science within walking distance down the road. Citi field and the tennis center are also nearby. I wouldn't go out of my way for such a small zoo, but if you're in the area and looking for a fun time, check it out.
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