After a rainstorm kids can’t resist jumping in a muddy puddle. Knowing that parents are looking for a safe way to have summer fun, The Muddy Puddles Project will be hosting the first ever virtual Mess Fest series with appearances by Peppa Pig. The Muddy Puddles Mess Fest is an annual fundraising event that supports childhood cancer research through the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation.
For three days starting on Aug. 24, families can join up to three, virtual 30-minute activity sessions where they can get messy with crafts, jam out to music or enjoy story time with a special appearance by Peppa Pig. The nonprofit typically hosts large, in-person “Mess Fest” events, but this year the virtual platform will bring a wave of positive energy and joy to children’s homes all across the country, while introducing philanthropy to little ones in a fun and relatable way.
“Kids grow up so fast, and my personal journey with childhood cancer made me reflect on my instinct to avoid a mess by hiding the finger paint or holding hands right past the puddles. Parents need to remember that for some children, those rights of passage – like jumping in muddy puddles – may not be possible,” said Cindy Campbell, Co-Founder of The Muddy Puddles Project.
Campbell said, “I wanted to find a way for everyone to take a step back and to appreciate these years with their kids. The Muddy Puddles Project is a celebration of childhood, but it is also a nonprofit platform for funding childhood cancer research so we can cure more kids, keeping them outside, having fun, and getting messy before they’re all grown up and see wet clothes and dirty shoes as nothing but a nuisance.”
“We are honored that Peppa Pig was such an important and positive part of Ty Campbell’s too-short life, and with the involvement of our terrific sponsors, this year’s virtual Mess Fest is sure to inspire families across the country to get messy, jump in muddy puddles, and support The Muddy Puddles Project’s fundraising efforts,” said Julie Powell Christopher, eOne Family Brands’ SVP of Marketing for North America.
Campbell wants parents to remember that children are little sponges, and fun is contagious, so we should all try to have more fun in our everyday lives.
Think it’s too late to remake yourself? Think again. A recent study of 2.7 million startups found that the best time to start a business is when you’re in your 40s. In fact, it turns out, the average startup founder was 45 years old when starting some of the most successful tech companies. Inspired yet? Just ask these women entrepreneurs, all of whom started successful businesses after the big 4-0.
Vanessa Quigley - Getting Photos Off Your Phone and into Books
Who She Is: Co-Founder of Chatbooks
How anyone with seven kids has time to do anything beats us—but Vanessa Quigley managed to create a wildly successful business while also juggling the demands of motherhood (times seven!). Inspired by her desire to turn those endless phone photos of her kids into something real she could hold in her hands, she created Chatbooks, a website and app that turns social media feeds into printed photo books.
"It was a particularly heart-wrenching moment of mom guilt that catalyzed starting my company," Quigley wrote in this Thrive Global article. "I realized I had never printed a single photo of my youngest … and he had just turned five years old. (Horrifying, I know.) Our app was created when I realized there must be an easier way for parents to get their photos off their phones."
With Chatbooks, users can personally choose the photos they want to include, or let the app do it for them, sending a new book every time the user posts 60 photos on Instagram. With the help of hilarious viral videos like this one—the company has grown exponentially, now employing more than 100 people and having sold more than 10 million books to date.
"I continue to champion ways to resolve mom guilt in every part of our company," she continued in the article, referencing Chatbooks' "Toddler Guarantee," which says, that if your child rips, draws on, or eats your photo book, you can get a free replacement. "It is easy to get overwhelmed with all the mini failures of being a parent . . . When you take a minute to look at family photos, you remember that you’re doing a good job and feel like a better parent. I have photos everywhere now to remind myself that I’ve got this!"
Kate Torgersen - Helping Breastfeeding Moms Keep Working
Who She Is: Founder and CEO of Milk Stork
Kate Torgersen was 41 when she decided something had to be done to help working breastfeeding moms get breast milk to their babies—even if it meant shipping it during solo business trips. She was exclusively breastfeeding her twins in 2014 when she was called on a four-day work trip she couldn't turn down. To make sure her babies were fed and her milk supply didn't waiver, she pumped and stashed milk ahead of time—and pumped and stashed even more while she was away. The whole thing was physically and emotionally exhausting, she said.
"I got home from the trip and was determined to find a simple solution to this incredibly annoying problem that so many working moms face," she said. "The day after I got home, I started working on Milk Stork, and it was launched a year later."
Milk Stork, which is currently the only company of its kind for working moms, ships breastmilk nationwide and internationally to 54 countries using overnight delivery. While shipping can be expensive (upwards of $139), the company has grown so big that it's even covered by 749 companies as an employee benefit.
"As working moms, we are faced with enough tradeoffs and compromises," Torgersen said on her website. "Providing our babies with breast milk shouldn’t have to be one of them."
Cristy Clavijo-Kish was 47 and a mother of tween twin girls when she started Los Tweens & Teens, a site which she calls the only bilingual (English/Spanish) digital platform offering advice to teens, tweens and their parents. In addition to curated content from parenting experts, teachers and counselors, the site covers youth-centric topics like college prep, bullying and teen driving. It’s a niche, Clavijo-Kish said, that was direly needed online.
“I couldn't find any online support for older kids from a culturally relevant perspective,” said Clavijo-Kish, who was born in New Jersey to Cuban immigrants. “Blogs and online sites were mostly focused on toddlers and potty training, but content dropped off after Kindergarten it seemed. So I created a space to help parents facing similar issues of anxiety, testing, bullying, travel, wellness, etc.”
The company also produces local events and experiences for families called "Teens & Me” in Clavijo-Kish’s current home town of Miami (this may soon expand, she said).
“I have more belief in my own strengths now than ever before,” Clavijo-Kish said of her mid-life career change. “Funny that during your youth supposedly is the time for more risk taking, but experience allows you to be more thoughtful within your risk if that makes sense.”
We grown-ups have all heard how important it is to wear the right bra—but do our daughters know this when they go out looking for their first one?
Wendy Herman didn’t think so. So she founded BRABAR, a brand aiming to help girls feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin—by helping them find the right bras. The brand’s “EZ-fit” method teaches young women to find the correct band measurement: essential to a proper fit.
“Finding and wearing a bra that is the perfect size is fundamental,” Herman said. “We service the Junior Intimate Apparel customers, who need smaller band sizes and a more inclusive fit.”
The 49-year-old came up with the idea not just after decades of working in the intimate apparel industry (including work for Yummy and Calvin Klein)—but after taking her daughter bra shopping for the first time. It was then that she realized there were limited product options for extended sizing to offer support, especially for teenage girls.
BRABAR recently opened its first flagship store at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey.
“Becoming an entrepreneur and launching BRABAR as a mother has been amazing,” Herman said. “Where I feel a huge sense of responsibility; it also afforded me the opportunity to be more flexible and available for my kids, and I hope that juggling work and life sets a positive example for them.”
Julie Melnick - Making Air Travel With Kids Easier
Who She Is: Founder of SkySquad
For any parent who's ever flown with a brood of antsy little travelers, Julie Melnick feels your pain. To help with the daunting task of traveling with babies or kids (or just traveling, period), the 42-year-old founded SkySquad—an airport assistance company for moms, dads and seniors.
"The stress that goes along with traveling with kids was pretty major," said Melnick, who was working in public relations before starting SkySquad. "I knew there had to be a better way to travel."
Here's how it works: SkySquad assistants meet families (or seniors) at their car upon arrival and help carry bags, car seats, strollers, etc., to the ticketing counter. From there, they get the gang through security and to the gate—assisting with anything a traveling family might need (i.e. going on snack runs, sitting with the luggage during restroom breaks or chasing a toddler as he makes a mad run for the X-ray machine). All assistants are background checked and TSA cleared to help through security all the way to the gate.
Sounds amazing, right? The bad news: For now, the service is available at Dulles and Reagan International airports. Melnick hopes (and we do, too!) that it will grow to become a nationwide program.
You could say it was a good thing Jackie Moss ended up in the hospital. After all, it was only after her sudden cardiac arrest and subsequent hospital stay that she was inspired to make Giftgowns, a company that has since earned her a spot on Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women and, maybe more importantly, given thousands of hospital patients inspiring inpatient garb.
"My life changed after my cardiac arrest," said Moss, a longtime business executive who was working as vice president at a Canadian bank when she landed in the hospital. "During my time in the hospital, I had plenty of time to think and I knew that, by the time I left, I wanted to start a business. I came up with the idea of Giftgowns while I was in the hospital, and once I was out and brainstorming different business ideas, this was the idea that I kept going back to the idea that resonated the most with me. I liked the thought of making people happier and more comfortable in the hospital."
Giftgowns aren't anything like the sterile blue gowns we all associate with hospitals. Rather, they look like big, comfy T-shirts—with fun phrases emblazoned on the front like: "My other gown is Chanel," "Keep Calm and Ow," and "I'd rather be golfing." The gowns have easy access snaps on the sleeves and in the back, as well as pockets for anything patients might want to carry on them during trips to the bathroom or up and down the halls.
Since the company's founding in 2016—when Moss had to deliver and pick up the fabric herself—Giftgowns has expanded to include kids, maternity gowns and custom gowns. In addition, her gowns are now sold at hospitals across North American (and online). "What's really interesting about being an entrepreneur now that my kids are all grown up is they're prouder of me in a different way than when I was an executive," she said. "They love that I have taken an idea borne out of an experience and turned it into something real."
Alison Cayne was a mother of five when she decided at age 38 to go back to school (!!) to get a master's degree in Food Studies from NYU. On a mission to change the way people feel about cooking (making people realize how easy and fun it can be), in 2012 she started Haven's Kitchen, a New York cooking school, cafe and event space in Manhattan.
But that's not all. In 2018, she branded her own line of refrigerated sauces—exotic blends with names like "Herby Chimichurri," "Nutty Lemongrass," "Zippy Chili Harissa"—which are sold online and at more than 300 locations across the country. In her own unique spin, she packages the sauces in squeeze pouches similar to your kids' favorite apple sauce container.
"I thought that maybe I could get people to want to cook by making it a more creative, fun experience," Cayne said in a 2019 Bon Appetit article. "I want people to tap into that freedom of kindergarten, of self-actualizing through cooking a meal."
She is also the host of Heritage Radio Network’s “In The Sauce” podcast, where she interviews entrepreneurs about building consumer brands. And (in case you didn't already realize her super-human powers of doing a zillion things while also parenting FIVE kids), she is also the author of The Haven's Kitchen Cookbook, an adjunct professor of Food Studies at NYU, and a guest lecturer at the Institute of Culinary Education.
"I feel like I did my life a little bit in reverse," she told Bon Appetit. "I got married and had kids at 25, and then started my career at 40. I was very fortunate that when I started all this my kids were a bit older and more self-sufficient."
Gretchen Witt's success is bittersweet. She founded her nonprofit company, Cookies for Kids' Cancer, after her own son Liam was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma at the age of two.
At the time, Liam had just gone into remission, and she wanted to do something to help other families who, at the time, weren't so fortunate.
“I was so grateful for his good health, he was going to live, he was in the clear, but I knew there were other kids and families still struggling … I could see their faces … and I knew pediatric cancer was underfunded,” Witt, 52, told People magazine in 2018.
In that first year, she reportedly raised more than $400,000 selling cookies with the help of more than 200 volunteers. But not long after that, her family learned that Liam's cancer had returned. Tragically, the sweet-faced little boy, whom Witt described on her blog as her "guitar-playing, cake-baking, science-loving, scooter-riding boy," died when he was only six.
“My world came crashing down again,” Witt said in the article. “We needed Cookies for Kids' Cancer now more than ever.”
Since its inception, the organization has granted almost $15 million to some of the nation’s top pediatric cancer research hospitals. In addition, thousands of Cookies for Kids' Cancer bake sales have been held across the country (Here's how you can have one, too!).
“To know there is something my husband and I put together that’s lasted and helped us feel like it’s made a difference is just amazing,” she told People.
Growing up, Rena and her dad, Abe, loved to play games together—and it was this family tradition that led Rena, her children and her dad to come up with the idea for BANAGRAMS
"It was three generations over a summer at our beach house in Narragansett RI," said Rena, who was 43 when she started making games with her family. "We wanted a game we could all play together, at the same time … no turn taking, and where kids could win just as easily against adults."
BANANAGRAMS is a simple word game that comes in a banana-shaped pouch (perfect for travel!). Similar to Scrabble, the game asks players to build words off of existing words; unlike Scrabble, however, BANANAGRAMS doesn't go on so long that you have to preserve the board for days on end. With this game, the first one to get rid of their tiles wins and is crowned "Top Banana."
Looking back, Rena said that juggling entrepreneurship and single motherhood was a challenge—but that it was totally worth it. "My children were 10 and 7 when Bananagrams started," she said. "They were still needing school drop offs and pick ups, and all that goes with being a single parent. Bananagrams was a make or break, as I needed an income to support myself and the kids. Working from home made things more manageable, but it was a pretty busy and challenging time. I was doing all the packing, mailing, invoicing, advertising, marketing, etc., so there wasn’t much free time. I kind of made it up as I went along. But, I am proud to say that I didn’t miss many (if any!) school assemblies, plays or sports days! Even if that meant working into the night, which I did—and still do—it was worth it!
Since its founding, the company has released twelve games, including several variations of the award-winning BANANAGRAMS (a younger kids edition, a party edition, etc.) as well as a few stand-alone games.
Who She Is: CEO/Founder of Madison Reed Hair Color
You know when you want to get your hair done in a fancy salon ... but don't want to pay fancy salon prices? Amy Errett wants to solve that problem. A former venture capitalist, she founded the hair color company Madison Reed (named after her daughter, Madison Reed) in 2013 when she was in her early 50s. Her goal—besides cutting those exorbitant salon prices—was to create something a step above the boxed brands and somewhere below the pricey salons. Errett knew the business had a chance after learning that about 75% of women dye their hair, on average, every eight weeks (with 52% of those women doing it themselves at home). The hair dye industry was a 15 billion market, and Errett wanted a piece of it.
"Repetitive usage is why this business has a chance," Errett told Forbes in 2016.
It was a risk that paid off: The business now has more than 190 employees and pulls in more than $50 million in annual revenue, according to a 2019 Forbes article. In 2017, Madison Reed opened its first set of “Color Bar” salons, offering hair color services for lower prices.
As for the formulas, Errett wanted her products to be "clean," meaning nutrient-rich formulas without harsh ingredients like ammonia, parabens or phthalates.
What do you get the person who has everything? Certainly not a physical gift! At least, that's the idea behind inLieu, a company created by longtime entrepreneur Kathy Terry, that encourages people to give charitable gifts in lieu of actual physical items.
"The inspiration for inLieu came out of the frustration I felt when I had to purchase an obligatory gift for a friend or family member knowing that they really didn’t need or want anything," said Terry, a mother of two who was 46 when she started inLieu in 2017. "To top it off, all the things I was purchasing really didn’t represent the love, gratitude and appreciation I was trying to convey. You know the gifts I’m talking about: the hostess gifts, birthday gifts, thank you gifts, Mother Day gifts, Valentines, etc."
"I wanted a way to show my appreciation by donating to a cause that my friends and family were passionate about," she continued. "Hence, the idea of inLieu!"
Celebrities Sarah Paulson and Brooklyn Decker are fans of the app, which posts your donations on a social feed that can be shared with the gift recipients, making it a fun way to honor someone and promote a charity at the same time.
Terry, who with her husband also owns a chain of burger restaurants called P.Terry's in and around Austin, Tex., said that owning and operating a business is a learning experience for the whole family.
"I jokingly say we hold board meetings at our dinner table every night, but I wouldn’t change a thing," she said. "My girls have learned so much about our businesses, our employees, our customers, our values, our passions, our failures, our mistakes and our wins."
To anyone out there who may be thinking about starting a business, she says GO FOR IT! "The biggest regrets you’ll ever have are the risks you didn’t take," she said. "I know that if I fail, at least I tried and I learned so much along the way."
About two years ago, attorney and single mother-of-four Kate Westad realized she was missing something. It was the middle of the night, she was leaving for a trip for Paris in the morning, and her luggage was laid out across her bedroom floor. Her favorite beauty and toiletry items were lined up beside her suitcases, and she realized that the sum of them was just too big to take along.
That was her lightbulb moment. She came up with the idea for Palette: The Original High Fiver right then and there. Her brainchild: A connected strip of five small plastic wells that people can use to take small samples of their favorite beauty products on the go.
"This has been quite the adventure," Westad said. "For the last few years I really haven’t watched TV or spent much time on hobbies, I really spent all my free time working on this project. I’m having the time of my life. Every time I see someone using our product or they write to tell us how it has revolutionized how they pack their beauty, hair or skincare routine—it literally makes my day."
Made of a squishy, leak-proof material that lets you "push up" to get every last drop of product, the Paks hold liquids, creams and powders and are perfect for travel use (they're allowed through TSA) as well as a simple trip to the gym.
"I think from a functional sense it’s one of those crazy things where you have all your favorite full-size products right at your fingertips," she said. "It’s literally less guess, less mess, less stress. People are freaking out that we’ve created this all in one skin care kit. I love to call it your skincare BFF."
She also wanted to create something that would mean less waste for the planet, since Paks are meant to be washed and reused. "All those minis and travel size single-use plastics are likely not getting recycled," she said. "This is a really easy and great way to carve out an area of your personal care routine and say 'Hey I’m going to skip the tiny travel bottles."
Karri Bowen-Poole was a teacher for many years before coming up with the idea to design "smart playrooms." "I literally woke up in the middle of the night with an 'Aha!' moment," said the 54-year-old mother of three. "I had no idea if it was going to be a success. My motivation was always to shape and change the way kids learn and play."
With the help of interior designer Denise Davies, owner of D2 Interieurs, she started designing playrooms meant to entertain as well as educate. Their modern and sleek play havens are built based on "the belief that good design evokes creative and open-ended play," which means spacious, airy rooms with lots of room for creative and active play. By the looks of the SmartPlayrooms portfolio, these are the sorts of spaces that every kid (and parent) wishes she had—with whimsical but organized designs, built-in rock walls, from-the-ceiling monkey bars and customized reading nooks.
"Many of today’s playrooms are in out-of-the-way areas like the basement with floor-to-ceiling built-ins with way too many toys stored in huge bins. Both the children and the parents are overwhelmed," Bowen-Poole said in an article for Cottages & Gardens. "We work out designs for storage and division of the space that encourages hands-on manipulation, exploration and learning/
It was a labor of love for Bowen-Poole, who said starting a business while also raising three kids was, at times, a difficult task.
"The challenges to starting a business over 40 is that if you have a family and children, it can be a very hard balance, being a present mother and successful entrepreneur," Bowen-Poole told RT. "There were days when the balance was not always in check, but this made me prioritize my choices. I feel incredibly grateful that I have been able to be there for my children when they needed me (or when I wanted to be) and to be able to start my own company that I am passionate about. "
Shelley Goodstein - Giving Women The Hair of Their Dreams
Who She Is: Founder of Hidden Crown Extensions
Shelley Goodstein is no stranger to the spotlight. The longtime Ford model and Arizona morning show host was used to being a trendsetter—but she had never before started a business. That is, until she came up with the idea for Hidden Crown Extensions, a simple hair extension system that makes it easy for women to have the hair they've always wanted.
"On modeling jobs, they would often add clip in hair extensions and I loved the way it made my hair look fuller," said Goodstein, a mother of three who is also a blogger and author. "I had never dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur, but it just made sense. I was motivated because I had three teens to put through college in the next few years."
To develop her product, she came across an old extension method called flip in hair and improved it with a patent-pending design. Her extensions use one "invisible wire," require no clips to hide and can be put on in less than a minute.
"I knew I was not the only woman that would want these—talk about finding a product that meets a need," she said. "Everything I had done up to that point in my life put me in a perfect place to launch this product."
Goodstein started her business the year she turned 50, an accomplishment that she said should remind people that, "You're never too old, or too young to start something new."
Sherri Langurt had been working in the social media space for years when she realized she knew a better way to connect brands with social media influencers: She came up with the idea for BabbleBoxx, a company that sends perfectly-packaged sample boxes to influencers who will tweet, blog and post about the products on social media channels.
"I had been working in the influencer marketing space and saw the need to create a solution that would allow brands to partner with influencers more consistently and cost effectively," said the New Jersey resident. "We approached several partners with the idea of creating an influencer co-promotion, and all five of them signed on within minutes."
Langurt said being over 40 was an asset when it came to starting her business. "There is a certain element of “not caring about what other people think” that comes with age, especially once you have a child," she said. "It’s less about you and more about protecting that tiny being you brought into the world which creates a certain kind of fearlessness."
Ellie Kanner - Making Board Games That Teach Life Skills
Who She Is: Inventor of The Game Plan game for kids
Ellie Kanner wanted a game she could play with her two kids that was both fun and educational. She couldn’t find the exact game she wanted in stores … so she did what any good entrepreneurial mom would do and invented one herself. The Game Plan is a game for kids 4+ that helps reinforce important life skills like manners, hygiene and personal safety—while also incorporating fun elements like exercise and movement.
“I wanted [my kids] to work on their reading and writing skills, and my friend (co-founder Lisa Solomon) suggested I add safety skills,” said Kanner, a longtime talent agent, producer and director who has worked on shows including Friends and Sex And the City. “Together, we added cards addressing emotional skills, good manners, health and any other life skills we could think of.”
The game asks kids questions including: “If a stranger tried to grab or hit you, what could you do?” (In the Health and Safety category); “Name at least 2 things you always MUST do after you go to the bathroom?” (in the Health and Hygiene category); “Act out a sport you play or would like to play someday. Let other players guess what it is!” (in the Move and Groove category), and “Say or spell ANY day of the week?” (in the Say And Spell category).
If players answer correctly, they get a token and move the number of spaces indicated on the question card. To win the Game Plan Game, a player needs to have collected four tokens (one from each category) and crossed the finish line.
“We assumed there would be a game like this on the market,” Kanner said, “but there wasn’t and still isn’t with the exception of ours.”
Crew Gaines might only be 10-months-old, but Joanna and Chip’s little guy is already a marathon star! The HGTV stars, who are soon to start their own network, took to the streets over the weekend—running for a good cause.
The Gaines family doesn’t take their fame for granted. After meeting Gabriele “Gabe” Greenwald—a professional runner and cancer patient—in 2017, Chip and Jo decided to help the Brave the Like Gabe Foundation (which supports cancer research and benefits patients) by hosting the Silo District Marathon weekend in their hometown of Waco, Texas. While Chip ran the full distance last year, this year the proud dad toted his tot along for the 13.1-mile half-marathon run.
Not only did Chip and Crew get in on the marathon action, but 12-year-old daughter Ella also raced for a good cause! Even though Joanna didn’t run this year, she posted an oh-so-sweet message on Instagram, writing, “I was so proud of @chipgaines and Ella (and baby Crew) for running the half marathon today and killing it!”
Even though we’re loving the completely cute pics of Chip and Crew, the photo op wasn’t the best thing to come out of the Gaines’ weekend run. According to Jo’s IG post, the marathon raised $300,000 for cancer research. Way to go!
Dive into family fun with a visit to one of our favorite aquariums in the U.S. From coast to coast, there are lots of amazing institutions that offer up-close animal encounters and conservation education. A few of our favorites are the Georgia Aquarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out which other spots should be on your must-visit list.
This Texas hot spot is well worth a visit, focusing mainly on plants and animals that live in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It’s home to more than 13,000 animals, from macaws to stingrays to bats.
Star Attraction: Check out the Caribbean Journey, where you can walk through an underwater tunnel and watch sharks swim overhead, see schools of fish in a coral reef and watch 4D movies in a state-of-the-art theater.
Located in scenic La Jolla, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a must-visit the next time you’re in Southern California. It’s filled with hands-on and interactive experiences and encounters, like shark feedings and starfish petting. Step into the Infinity Cube, where you’ll see cool bioluminescent creatures that shine in the dark. Click here to see our insider’s guide to making the most of your visit.
Star Attraction: Be sure to catch the Kelp Forest Dive show, during which you’ll get to watch divers feed the animals and answer kids’ questions. Head to the show early to snag a good spot.
Home to over 11,000 animals, there’s no shortage of things to do at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Ooh and ahh at the two-story tank right at the aquarium’s entrance, head over to the smaller touch pools to get hands-on with aquatic life and participate in parent-and-me classes that teach littles all about a certain animal.
Star Attraction: You can purchase access to Animal Encounters experiences ($109 per person), where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium and some of its most in-demand inhabitants, including the penguins, sea lions and even sharks for a feeding.
With seabirds, marine mammals, fish and other animals native to the Oregon coast, this gem overlooking Yaquina Bay is the perfect spot for an educational day trip. Interact with critters like sea stars, anemones and crabs in tide pools, ooh and ahh at moon jellies and check out a submerged shipwreck where lots of different species hang out.
Star Attraction: Take a stroll through the shark tunnel, which will make you feel like you’re walking beneath the sea as you get 360-degree views of the creatures.
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd. Newport, OR Online: aquarium.org
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores – Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Over a day at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, you can follow the journey of loggerhead sea turtles, watch divers swim with the fishes and sharks and say hello to friendly sea otters, and that’s just scratching the surface. Be sure to check out their special events too, from summer camps to scavenger hunts.
Star Attraction: If you need a break from the exhibits, head outside to the nature play area, where kiddos can explore two slides, a climbing net, a treehouse platform and a swinging bridge.
Located in Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is home to world-class marine scientists committed researching and educating the public on conservation and sustainable use of our oceans. Say hello to manatees, sea turtles, river otters and other critters, and learn how the scientists take care of them.
Star Attraction: Mote is home to the only Center for Shark Research recognized by the U.S. Congress, where, believe it or not, they’re doing cancer research. Check out their 135,000-gallon Shark Habitat and learn all about the ocean’s top predators.
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL Online: mote.org
While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the Alaska Sealife Center is also the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. During your visit, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions and other marine life.
Star Attraction: Cozy up to the touch tanks to learn about sea anemones, shrimp, urchins and sea stars. Be sure to chat with staff members to find out more about each of the creatures you’re feeling.
It’s easy to fill up a day at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters—go on a guided tour with a marine biologist, watch sharks, grouper and eels in the coral reef tank and touch various shallow water marine species in a tide pool.
Star Attraction: For an extra fee, you can participate in a cool animal encounter, where you’ll get to pet stingrays, snorkel with fish or feed and interact with sharks.
Hop over to the Newport Aquarium for a day of nonstop fun. Kids will get to touch sea stars and other creatures in the Touch Pool, see frogs as they climb through tunnels and tubes in the Frog Bog jungle gym and even get up close and personal with stingrays.
Star Attraction: Don’t miss the new exhibit Ring of Fire: World of the Octopus, where you’ll get to see and learn about the giant Pacific octopus, moon jellyfish and Japanese spider crab.
This small but mighty aquarium is totally worth a visit the next time you’re on Oahu. Geared toward the unique aquatic life of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific, you’ll have the chance to see everything from jellyfish to giant clams.
Star Attraction: Check out the vibrant Coral Farm, home to lots of colorful fish. The water here is ideal for coral growth, so scientists grow colonies here that are then carefully transferred and shipped to other aquariums and researchers around the world.
The New England Aquarium is home to thousands of animals, from northern fur seals to giant Pacific octopus to African penguins. Learn how sharks have evolved over the years, check out the birds and crabs that live in the Gulf of Maine and get up close and personal with sharks and rays in a touch tank.
Star Attraction: The four-story Giant Ocean Tank is the centerpiece of the aquarium, and you’ll see lots of creatures inside, like Myrtle the green sea turtle, moray eels and hundreds of colorful reef fishes.
At the South Carolina Aquarium, you’ll get to venture through the state’s different regions and see each one’s animal inhabitants: bald eagles and river otters in the mountain forest, alligators and rattlesnakes in the coastal plain and sea turtles and fish off the coast.
Star Attraction: Be sure to visit the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery, which is both a hospital and a guest experience. You’ll get to watch, as sick and injured turtles are nursed back to health and eventually released.
Located along the banks of the Mississippi River in the historic French Quarter, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is home to 10,000 animals of 400 species, including rare and endangered species. Walk through a 30-foot tunnel surrounded by lionfish, yellowtail snapper and moray eels, and see rescued southern sea otters in a specially designed exhibit.
Star Attraction: Check out the aquarium’s behind-the-scenes encounters, giving you a chance to pet penguins, snorkel with fish and more.
You might not expect to find an aquarium right in the Mall of America, but you’d be surprised! At Sea Life, you’ll see stingrays, sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish and lots more sea creatures—not a bad way to take a break from shopping.
Star Attraction: Pay a visit to the Ray Lagoon. For a fee, you can feed the rays yourself and watch as they gobble up their treats.
Home to both delighted marine animals and a waterfront view, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a tranquil space for water lovers to stroll through 200 exhibits—from the stingray petting tank to the plexiglass splash cove—and learn about ocean conservation. This aquarium does amazing work for local water-loving creatures by helping out sea otters, bluefin tunas, albatrosses and more with their rescue and release program. Click here to see our insider's guide to making the most of your visit.
Star Attraction: Who can resist feeding times? Younger visitors will love watching penguins gobble down their meal and exploring the kelp forest as divers hand-feed sharks, fishes and other animals. Take a peek into the aquarium now by watching the live webcams here.
A frontrunner for "Largest Aquarium in the World," the Georgia Aquarium is a stunning facility that boasts a huge deep water tank, an award-winning dolphin exhibit and a 4-D theater for a truly unique underwater experience. And when it comes to ocean life, this aquarium is all about rescue, research, rehabilitation and responsibility. Their conservation program extends around the world to help marine mammals all the way in Mexico, Africa, the Amazon and more. Get all our insider tips and tricks by clicking here.
Star Attraction: Their absolutely mind-boggling 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager tank is home to four (yes, four) Whale Sharks. And since the Georgia Aquarium is the only place outside of Asia that has successfully been able to house Whale Sharks, it’s definitely a must-see exhibit.
As Chattanooga’s top attraction, the Tennessee Aquarium is a gem. Their River Journey highlights freshwater species around the country, and the more recent Ocean Journey exhibit includes a large variety of hands-on encounters with rays, macaws, and even has its own butterfly garden. There are even 3D IMAX movies with features like “Flight of the Butterflies” or “Great White Shark” for jaw-dropping entertainment.
Star Attraction: The River Journey exhibit, which earned the title of "largest freshwater aquarium in the world," and showcases their collection of river otters, turtles, alligators and giant catfish.
Mystic Aquarium is way more than a huge fish tank. It's also an oceanography institute that studies the Earth's waters beyond its living things. There's even a theatre where audience members can talk to crew members under the sea directly! And of course, there are plenty of marine animals, from Beluga whales to penguins, for little eyes to enjoy.
Star Attraction: As the Mystic Aquarium has an animal rescue program, it's best to visit one of their rescued friends! Ziggy Star is the Northern fur seal who was found starving and barely alive. After her rehabilitation period in California, she then became a permanent resident of the Mystic Aquarium.
A popular destination for native Chicagoans and tourists alike, Shedd Aquarium homes over 1500 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and insects. Pint-sized patrons can get their hands wet at the touch pool filled with starfish or, through their informative exhibits, become a know-it-all in aquatic ecosystems and the Great Lakes. Click here to see our guide to making the most of your day at the aquarium.
Star Attraction: Meet the belugas, the only all-white whales in the world. Their tank has viewing options both above and below the water for different vantage points. And if you’re willing to part with $250/person to meet them, then Shedd Aquarium is the place to do it.
With over 2,200,000 gallons of water, 17,000 specimens and over five floors of themed displays, the National Aquarium is one great way to experience the sea. Each exhibit teaches viewers about different aquatic animals, their survival tactics and environment. The National Aquarium also regularly rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals so the flipper friend you saw last time may not be there the next! Get all our insider's tips and tricks by clicking here.
Star Attraction: Calypso, a 500-pound sea green turtle, is a rescued friend from Long Island when her front left flipper had to be amputated to save her life. She now lives in the Blacktip Reef exhibit.
Be on the lookout for this amazing aquarium in the upcoming years. It's currently expanding (with a goal of doubling in size!) to wow visitors and become Seattle's centerpiece to the waterfront. There are six major exhibits that cover not only underwater life, but also birds that depend on the shores, which includes an impressive 120,000-gallon viewing tank. Check out our insider's guide by clicking here.
Star Attraction: The dive show at Seattle Aquarium is pretty interactive. The divers wear special masks that let them talk to the crowd and even answer their questions—all while underwater!
Dive into some family fun with a visit to one of our favorite aquariums in the US. From coast to coast, there are lots of amazing institutions that offer up-close animal encounters and conservation education. A few of our favorites are the Georgia Aquarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out which other spots should be on your must-visit list.
This Texas hot spot is well worth a visit, focusing mainly on plants and animals that live in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It’s home to more than 13,000 animals, from macaws to stingrays to bats.
Star Attraction: Check out the Caribbean Journey, where you can walk through an underwater tunnel and watch sharks swim overhead, see schools of fish in a coral reef and watch 4D movies in a state-of-the-art theater.
Located in scenic La Jolla, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a must-visit the next time you’re in Southern California. It’s filled with hands-on and interactive experiences and encounters, like shark feedings and starfish petting. Step into the Infinity Cube, where you’ll see cool bioluminescent creatures that shine in the dark. Click here to see our insider’s guide to making the most of your visit.
Star Attraction: Be sure to catch the Kelp Forest Dive show, during which you’ll get to watch divers feed the animals and answer kids’ questions. Head to the show early to snag a good spot.
Home to over 11,000 animals, there’s no shortage of things to do at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Ooh and ahh at the two-story tank right at the aquarium’s entrance, head over to the smaller touch pools to get hands-on with aquatic life and participate in parent-and-me classes that teach littles all about a certain animal.
Star Attraction: You can purchase access to Animal Encounters experiences ($109 per person), where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium and some of its most in-demand inhabitants, including the penguins, sea lions and even sharks for a feeding.
With seabirds, marine mammals, fish and other animals native to the Oregon coast, this gem overlooking Yaquina Bay is the perfect spot for an educational day trip. Interact with critters like sea stars, anemones and crabs in tide pools, ooh and ahh at moon jellies and check out a submerged shipwreck where lots of different species hang out.
Star Attraction: Take a stroll through the shark tunnel, which will make you feel like you’re walking beneath the sea as you get 360-degree views of the creatures.
2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd. Newport, OR Online: aquarium.org
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores – Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina
Over a day at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, you can follow the journey of loggerhead sea turtles, watch divers swim with the fishes and sharks and say hello to friendly sea otters, and that’s just scratching the surface. Be sure to check out their special events too, from summer camps to scavenger hunts.
Star Attraction: If you need a break from the exhibits, head outside to the nature play area, where kiddos can explore two slides, a climbing net, a treehouse platform and a swinging bridge.
Located in Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is home to world-class marine scientists committed researching and educating the public on conservation and sustainable use of our oceans. Say hello to manatees, sea turtles, river otters and other critters, and learn how the scientists take care of them.
Star Attraction: Mote is home to the only Center for Shark Research recognized by the U.S. Congress, where, believe it or not, they’re doing cancer research. Check out their 135,000-gallon Shark Habitat and learn all about the ocean’s top predators.
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy Sarasota, FL Online: mote.org
While primarily dedicated to marine research and education, the Alaska Sealife Center is also the only permanent marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation facility in the state. During your visit, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions and other marine life.
Star Attraction: Cozy up to the touch tanks to learn about sea anemones, shrimp, urchins and sea stars. Be sure to chat with staff members to find out more about each of the creatures you’re feeling.
It’s easy to fill up a day at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters—go on a guided tour with a marine biologist, watch sharks, grouper, and eels in the coral reef tank and touch various shallow water marine species in a tide pool.
Star Attraction: For an extra fee, you can participate in a cool animal encounter, where you’ll get to pet stingrays, snorkel with fish or feed and interact with sharks.
Hop over to the Newport Aquarium for a day of nonstop fun. Kids will get to touch sea stars and other creatures in the Touch Pool, see frogs as they climb through tunnels and tubes in the Frog Bog jungle gym and even get up close and personal with stingrays.
Star Attraction: Don’t miss the new exhibit Ring of Fire: World of the Octopus, where you’ll get to see and learn about the giant Pacific octopus, moon jellyfish and Japanese spider crab.
This small but mighty aquarium is totally worth a visit the next time you’re on Oahu. Geared toward the unique aquatic life of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific, you’ll have the chance to see everything from jellyfish to giant clams.
Star Attraction: Check out the vibrant Coral Farm, home to lots of colorful fish. The water here is ideal for coral growth, so scientists grow colonies here that are then carefully transferred and shipped to other aquariums and researchers around the world.
The New England Aquarium is home to thousands of animals, from northern fur seals to giant Pacific octopus to African penguins. Learn how sharks have evolved over the years, check out the birds and crabs that live in the Gulf of Maine and get up close and personal with sharks and rays in a touch tank.
Star Attraction: The four-story Giant Ocean Tank is the centerpiece of the aquarium, and you’ll see lots of creatures inside, like Myrtle the green sea turtle, moray eels and hundreds of colorful reef fishes.
South Carolina Aquarium – Charleston, South Carolina
South Carolina Aquarium
At the South Carolina Aquarium, you’ll get to venture through the state’s different regions and see each one’s animal inhabitants: bald eagles and river otters in the mountain forest, alligators and rattlesnakes in the coastal plain and sea turtles and fish off the coast.
Star Attraction: Be sure to visit the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery, which is both a hospital and a guest experience. You’ll get to watch as sick and injured turtles are nursed back to health and eventually released.
Located along the banks of the Mississippi River in the historic French Quarter, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is home to 10,000 animals of 400 species, including rare and endangered species. Walk through a 30-foot tunnel surrounded by lion fish, yellowtail snapper and moray eels, and see rescued southern sea otters in a specially designed exhibit.
Star Attraction: Check out the aquarium’s behind-the-scenes encounters, giving you a chance to pet penguins, snorkel with fish and more.
You might not expect to find an aquarium right in the Mall of America, but you’d be surprised! At Sea Life, you’ll see stingrays, sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish and lots more sea creatures—not a bad way to take a break from shopping.
Star Attraction: Pay a visit to the Ray Lagoon. For a fee, you can feed the rays yourself and watch as they gobble up their treats.
Home to both delighted marine animals and a waterfront view, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a tranquil space for water lovers to stroll through 200 exhibits—from their stingray petting tank to their plexiglass splash cove—and learn about ocean conservation. This aquarium does amazing work for local water-loving creatures by helping out sea otters, bluefin tunas, albatrosses and more with their rescue and release program. Click here to see our insider's guide to making the most of your visit.
Star Attraction: Who can resist feeding times? Younger visitors will love watching penguins gobble down their meal and exploring the kelp forest as divers hand-feed sharks, fishes and other animals. Take a peek into the aquarium now by watching the live web cams here.
Frontrunner for "Largest Aquarium in the World," the Georgia Aquarium is a stunning facility that boasts a huge deep water tank, an award-winning dolphin exhibit and a 4-D theater for a truly unique underwater experience. And when it comes to ocean life, this aquarium is all about rescue, research, rehabilitation and responsibility. Their conservation program extends around the world to help marine mammals all the way in Mexico, Africa, the Amazon and more. Get all our insider tips and tricks by clicking here.
Star Attraction: Their absolutely mind-boggling 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager tank is home to four (yes, four) Whale Sharks. And since the Georgia Aquarium is the only place outside of Asia that has successfully been able to house Whale Sharks, it’s definitely a must-see exhibit.
As Chattanooga’s top attraction, the Tennessee Aquarium is a gem. Their River Journey highlights freshwater species around the country, and the more recent Ocean Journey exhibit includes a large variety of hands-on encounters with rays, macaws, and even has its own butterfly garden. There's even a 3D IMAX movies with features like “Flight of the Butterflies” or “Great White Shark” for some jaw-dropping entertainment.
Star Attraction: The River Journey exhibit, which earned the title of largest freshwater aquarium in the world, and showcases their collection of river otters, turtles, alligators, and giant catfish.
Mystic Aquarium is way more than a huge fish tank. It's also an oceanography institute that studies the Earth's waters beyond its living things. There's even a theatre where audience members can talk to crew members under the sea directly! And of course, there are plenty of marine animals, from Beluga whales to penguins, for little eyes to enjoy.
Star Attraction: As the Mystic Aquarium has an animal rescue program, it's best to visit one of their rescued friends! Ziggy Star is the Northern fur seal who was found starving and barely alive. After her rehabilitation period in California, she then became a permanent resident of the Mystic Aquarium.
A popular destination for native Chicagoans and tourists alike, Shedd Aquarium homes over 1500 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and insects. Pint-sized patrons can get their hands wet at the touch pool filled with starfish or, through their informative exhibits, become a know-it-all in aquatic ecosystems and the Great Lakes. Click here to see our guide to making the most of your day at the aquarium.
Star Attraction: Meet the belugas, the only all white whales in the world. Their tank has viewing options both above and below the water for different vantage points. And if you’re willing to part with $250/person to meet them, then Shedd Aquarium is the place to do it.
With over 2,200,000 gallons of water, 17,000 specimens and over five floors of themed displays, the National Aquarium is one great way to experience the sea. Each exhibit teaches viewers about different aquatic animals, their survival tactics and environment. The National Aquarium also regularly rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals, so the flipper friend you saw last time may not be there the next! Get all our insider's tips and tricks by clicking here.
Star Attraction: Calypso, a 500-pound sea green turtle, is a rescued friend from Long Island when her front left flipper had to be amputated to save her life. She now lives in the Blacktip Reef exhibit.
Be on the look out for this amazing aquarium in the upcoming years. It's currently expanding (with a goal of doubling in size!) to wow visitors and become Seattle's centerpiece to the waterfront. There are six major exhibits that cover not only underwater life, but also birds that depend on the shores, which includes an impressive 120,000 gallon viewing tank.
Star Attraction: The dive show at Seattle Aquarium is pretty interactive. The divers wear special masks that let them talk to the crowd and even answer their questions—all while underwater!
“That’s mommy’s drink!” says your little one as you pass an Angry Orchard display at the grocery store. We get it: our kids aren’t the only fans of apple juice. Hard cider has come a long way in recent years, its popularity growing in this country faster than any other adult beverage. If you’re a fan of the tart, bubbly stuff, bring your family down to the Presidio on April 25 for the San Francisco Cider Summit. Especially since this year they have some extra-special treats for kids.
Sip, Sip Away!
At this showcase of the world’s top cider producers (in styles ranging from dry and crisp to sweet and fruity), ticketholders are able to sip their way through their picks of over 120 different ciders. Each entry ticket (tickets are $35 in advance, $40, cash only, at the door) gives you a special commemorative glass as well as ten 4-ounce tasting tickets…and extra tastes can be purchased for $2 apiece. Designated drivers can join the party for $5, with a bottle of water included.
Photo: Cider Summit PDX
And For Little Apple Juice Lovers…
The second annual event is opening its doors to families this year, with accompanied minors able to attend free of charge. They can even sip on some fresh-pressed apple juice and play a round of apple bowling courtesy of Gowan Orchards. For once, it’s perfectly fine for them to play with their food! Other snacks, such as KIND bars, as well as grub from the Whole Foods Market truck, will keep little tummies from grumbling as the grownups make the tasting rounds. And even furry friends can get into the spirit at the Dog Lounge sponsored by Berkeley Humane.
Photo: Site of this year’s festival, the Parade Ground at the Presidio
Party in the Park
We highly recommend hopping on a PresidiGo shuttle bus to get to and from the event, which is being held at the Civil War Parade Ground, adjacent to the Main Post. These free shuttle buses depart frequently from downtown. Once you’re in the Presidio, why not make a day of it in this national park? Kids and adults alike love the Walt Disney Museum, which is hosting special programming for Earth Day. And don’t forget about the Presidio Officers’ Club, with their popular Creative Family Fun weekend activities—this weekend they’ll be recycling all those Easter egg cartons to make egg animals. The Cider Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. and will benefit The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, Berkeley Humane, and the California Cider Association.
San Francisco Cider Summit
Saturday, April 25, noon-6 p.m.
Civil War Parade Ground, Presidio
San Francisco, Ca
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 (cash only, if tickets available) at the door; $5 or designated drivers (includes bottled water); accompanied minors FREE.
Online: cidersummitnw.com/sfeventinfo
Are you a cider lover? Will you be attending this year?
What’s more exciting than cracking open a box of chocolates? Partying with the whole family! (And then cracking open a box of chocolates.) Get your little loves in on the Valentine’s Day action by celebrating at joyful themed events. You’ll have a blast with heart-themed crafts, twirls across the dance floor, mountains of treats and much, much more. Scroll down for the sweetest happenings around town.
XOXO Valentine Playdate
Spend a glorious morning indulging your sweet tooth at the sweets table and playing alongside your cuties at Sod Room. Local artist Nora Balayti will be on hand to create a one-of-a-kind cartoon valentine of your little ones and TK Photography will host a pop-up studio to capture the love.
Sunday, February 8, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
$20 per adult & 1 child, $15 each additional child, $6 each additional adult
Sod Room
1454 S. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor
South Loop
312-922-3131
Online: sodroom.com
Make a Vase Party
Flowers are an essential ingredient in a perfect Valentine’s Day, so spend a special afternoon at the North Side art studio making a clay bud vase to house your sweet-smelling treat.
Sunday, February 1, 2-4 p.m.
$25 members, $30 non-members
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Ravenswood
773-769-4226
Online: lillstreet.com
Valentine’s Day Tea & Play Party
Come with pinkies up for a dazzling tea party accompanied by craft activities, cookie decorating, Valentine crafting and plenty of opportunities for exploration in Little Beans Cafe’s mini city-themed playspace.
Friday, February 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
$15 per child
Little Beans Cafe
1809 W. Webster Ave.
Lincoln Park
773-251-1025
Online: littlebeanscafe.com
photo: Purple Monkey Playroom
Valentine’s Day Party With the Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland (a fabulously costumed entertainer from Lookingglass Friends Entertainment) plays host as you craft the night away with ample opportunities for playtime and stories with a side of snacks and pizza.
Friday, February 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
$25 per adult and 1 child, $10 each additional person
Purple Monkey Playroom
2040 N. Western Ave.
Bucktown
773-772-8411
Online: purplemonkeyplayroom.com
Card-Making With Your Dolls
Girls 8 and up are invited to make a date with their American Girl doll creating handmade cards and matching envelopes using stickers and decorative paper.
February 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Free
American Girl Place
835 N. Michigan Ave.
Downtown
877-247-5223
Online: americangirl.com
Make-a-Mosaic Party
Pour your heart into creating a truly unique Valentine using handmade grout and fun mosaic elements, make cards and fill your tummies with refreshments. The art pros at Unicoi Art Studio show you how.
Saturday, February 14, 1-3 p.m.
$15 per project
Genesis Creative Center
2525 N. Elston Ave.
Lakeview
773-975-6515
Online: unicoistudio.com
photo: Sweet Mandy B’s
COOKING EVENTS
Cupcake Decorating Class
Your pint-sized chef will spend an hour learning to prepare and decorate a special Valentine cupcake to take home, show off and gift to their love (or gobble up themselves).
Monday, February 9 & Wednesday, February 11; 10:30-11:30 a.m. (ages 2-3), 3:30-4:30 p.m. (ages 4-10)
$20 per child
Sweet Mandy B’s
1208 W. Webster St.
Lincoln Park
773-244-1174
Online: sweetmandybs.com
Cookie Decorating With a Big Buffet
Spend a day on the farm decorating heart-shaped cookies and hand-crafting Valentine’s Day cards at the Magnolia Bakery. Leave with your cookie beautifully packed, making a perfect gift for a loved one. Come early for breakfast or stay to lunch at the kid-friendly buffet. Fudge, truffles and taffy apples will also be available for purchase.
Saturday, February 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
$3 per card
Lambs Farm
14245 W. Rockland Rd.
Libertyville
847-362-4636
Online: lambsfarm.org
photo: Facets Multimedia / Rabbit & Deer
MOVIES, STORIES & MORE
Family Film Series: Best Buddies and Sweet Treats
Your little ones are probably still in the love-equals-cooties stage, so join indie movie house Facets Multimedia in celebrating friendship with animated short film stories about furry friends, tangoing cows and sweet cupcakes.
Saturday, February 14, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Facets Multimedia
1517 W. Fullerton Ave.
Lincoln Park
800-331-6197
Online: facets.org
Story Time in the Park
Love bugs ages 3-5 come ready to snuggle for story time, crafting and Valentine card creating. Share in a special sugary treat once the crafting is complete.
Thursday, February 12, 10-11 a.m.
$10 per child
Cantigny Park
1S151 Winfield Rd.
Wheaton
630-260-8162
Online: cantigny.org
photo: I Love Nature Dance @ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
DANCE PARTIES
I Love Nature! Valentine’s Day Dance
Get your heart racing on the dance floor and enjoy exclusive after-hours access to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. There’s also dinner, mocktails and desserts. While you’re there, visit the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven and create Valentine’s Day accessories from green materials.
Saturday, February 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
$20 for children 4-18, $10 for children 3 and under, $40 for adult members, $45 for adult non-members
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
Lincoln Park
773-755-5100
Online: naturemuseum.org
Enchanted Prince and Princesses Ball
Prince and Princess ages 2-6 from far and wide are invited by royal decree to don their fanciest attire for a night of dancing, games and fun.
Friday, February 6, 6:30-8 p.m.
$15 resident, $22 non-resident
Enchanted Prince and Princess Ball
Woodridge Community Center
2600 The Center Drive
Woodridge
630-353-3300
Online: woodridgeparks.org
Daddy Daughter Dance
Step out for an evening of daddies and daughters dancing cheek to chest.
Saturday, February 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$10 per person
Sheil Park
3505 N. Southport Ave.
Lakeview
312-742-7826
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com
photo: Chicago Park District
Tots Valentine’s Dance With Inflatables
Boys and girls ages 3-5 are invited to dance their sillies out with music, games, inflatables, food and a boatload of fun.
Friday, February 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Free
Skinner Park
1331 W. Monroe St.
West Loop
312-746-5560
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com
Valentine Disco Bash
Break out your favorite Saturday Night Fever gear and show baby how to do the hustle. No worries, for those who’ve forgotten how to hustle: Disco lessons will be served up alongside light refreshments.
Saturday, February 14, 3-5 p.m.
$2 per person
Indian Boundary Park
2500 W. Lunt Ave.
West Ridge
773-764-0338
Online: chicagoparkdistrict.com
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation’s Be My Valentine Family Event
Get the ball rolling with a brunch buffet, then boogie to tunes from DJ Kareem, rock out with Little Miss Ann, make jewelry, enjoy a mini makeover and play arcade games. It’s family fun for a good cause.
Sun., February 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
$85 per adult, $65/child per child (in advance); $100 per adult, $80 per child (at the door)
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel
160 E. Pearson St.
Downtown
312-926-7133
Online: lynnsage.com
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Spread the word in the Comments below!
The old adage, ’tis better to give than receive, can sometimes get lost during the magic and wonder of the holidays. If you’re looking for ways to combat the “gimmies” this season, we’ve rounded up 25 charitable organizations around the city. From donating food and warm clothing to helping a family furnish their first home, the opportunities abound this season. And the best part? Other local children will benefit from your family’s generosity and service.
photo: Food Driving Box
1. Budding artists can contribute new or gently used professional art supplies to Art with Heart, a local non-profit that combines creativity with therapy, supporting the emotional well-being of children and teens adversely affected by hardship. Contact info@artwithheart.org to find out what items are currently needed.
2. Get caffeinated with Callie’s Coffee and support pediatric cancer research. Every time you purchase coffee, 100 percent of the proceeds support the Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Seattle Children’s Hospital. (Note: This one is for mom and dad; we aren’t suggesting that kids drink coffee, but what child doesn’t benefit from a caffeinated parent?).
3 Have bikes that are too small just kickin’ around your garage? Bike Works makes bicycling accessible and affordable to Seattle youth and gladly accepts donations to give to children during Kids Bike-O-Rama!, a semi-annual event that outfits kids ages 4–8 with a bike and helmet. Call 206-725-8867 or email info@bikeworks.org for more information.
4. Make camp fun and memorable for children facing major health challenges by donating wish list items to Camp Korey. Camp Korey serves children with serious and life-altering medical conditions and their families at no cost, offering year-round recreation with full support for the medical needs of campers, plus all the fun of just being a kid. Contact Devon Little at dlittle@campkorey.org for more information.
5. Help another child enjoy an outdoor adventure by donating pop-up tents, camp chairs, and new or gently used fishing gear to Catch A Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.) for Kids, a foundation that pairs volunteers who love to fish with kids with special needs for a day of fishing. To learn how you can help the organization, contact susan@castforkids.org.
photo: C.A.S.T. for Kids
6. Spread some holiday cheer by adopting a family through Childhaven’s Family Wishes Program. For over 100 years, Childhaven has worked to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and lay the foundation for generations of safe and nurturing families. Help alleviate holiday stress by purchasing specific wish list items for struggling families. Register online.
7. Recycle your child’s gently-used clothing, toys, or furniture for another child to enjoy at no cost. Eastside Baby Corner (EBC) collaborates with local agencies to provide kids’ and maternity items to families dealing with job loss, homelessness, and medical issues. EBC welcomes family volunteers (with children age 7 & up) to sort donations and fulfill orders for families in need. Email ebc@babycorner.org for more information.
8. Fight hunger with Food Driving Box and Solid Ground’s Twice is Nice Holiday Campaign. Pick up your free food box at any of Seattle’s 27 food banks and help stock food bank shelves with a box of non-perishable items in November and December. Good to know: Filling food pantries enables food banks to spend resources on fresh protein and produce, desperately needed during the holiday season.
photo: Food Driving Box
9. Break into the piggy bank and provide meals for the hungry. Food Lifeline provides 82,000 meals a day to local food assistance programs, working with the food industry and its surpluses to come up with creative solutions to stopping hunger. Every $1 given to Food Lifeline can provide four meals to a person in need. To learn how you can donate, contact give@fll.org.
10. Stuff some stockings. The U.S. Coast Guard’s family and friends sponsor Holiday Stockings for Homeless Children, a program for homeless children ages birth to 17 years living in and out of shelters in the Puget Sound Area. Select some items off the wish list or volunteer to sort and fill stockings on Dec. 12 &13, 2014. Contact Bobette Scheid at bobette@holidaystockings.org to donate stocking stuffers or sign-up to volunteer.
photo: Holiday Stockings for Homeless Children
11. Fill Hopelink’s Holiday Giving Rooms with toys. Donate a new, unwrapped toy by Dec. 15, 2014 and give parents who are struggling financially the opportunity to hand-pick an item for their child. Hopelink offers many programs including food, housing, family development, and education enabling families in crisis to make progress toward self-sufficiency. To make a donation, contact jdreyfuss@hope-link.org.
12. Participate in the Chanukah Tzedakah Program and provide holiday gifts to local families through Jewish Family Service. Sponsor a family and hand-pick gifts from their wish list. Bring purchased gifts to the Capitol Hill Campus at 1601 16th St. in Seattle no later than Dec. 10, 2014. For more information, call 206-861-8781.
photo: Jewish Family Service
13. Fill the racks at the Multi-Service Center’s free clothing bank. The Multi-Service Center offers support and resources that help individuals and families move from crisis and poverty to greater self-sufficiency. The Center currently needs blankets, hat and gloves, and warm coats for infants through adults. Bring your items to the Food Bank Warehouse located at 1200 S. 336th St. in Federal Way, Mon.-Fri. from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
14. Put a smile on a child’s face by donating tickets to local attractions. Olive Crest meets the needs of abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families by providing safe homes, counseling, and education. Help a child make a smooth transition into Olive Crest’s care by participating in a fun activity with their family or support counselor. Contact Alex Kaul at 425-462-1612, ext. 1314 to make a contribution.
15. Gift your baby or toddler a fun, colorful onesie or t-shirt from local kid’s clothing line, Jessy & Jack, and benefit Mary’s Place Shelter, a day center for homeless women and children. A company with a cause, Jessy & Jack donates a basic t-shirt for every online order.
photo: Jessy & Jack
16. Provide basic essentials to homeless men, women, and children receiving meals from Operation Sack Lunch. Donate new hats, gloves, and travel-sized hygiene supplies. Call 206-922-2015 for more information.
17. Little bookworms can gift a brand-new book to a child. Page Ahead offers literacy support, reading resources, and new books for children and families. Any book is greatly appreciated, but they are particularly in need of Spanish picture books. Email info@pageahead.org for more information.
18. Care for therapy horses by donating hay or carrots. Raven Rock Ranch rescues and rehabilitates neglected or abused hoses and pairs them with at-risk youth. This free program aids recovery by building a bond of trust between child and horse. To contribute, contact sandy@ravenrockranch.org.
photo: Raven Rock Ranch
19. Who doesn’t love a tasty treat? Purchase cookies ($18/dozen) at CookieFest 2014 at the downtown Seattle Macy’s on Dec. 13, 2014 from 9 a.m-noon. All proceeds from the cookie sales will benefit the Seattle Milk Fund, an organization that funds childcare grants and provides family support to parents pursuing higher education opportunities. To learn more about this program, email office@seattlemilkfund.org.
20. If you’re kiddo’s closet is busting at the seems, Stock The Wearhouse—a free store for foster children—is currently accepting donations of clothes, shoes, and supplies. Treehouse helps foster children secure basic material needs, education, and social experiences that help them build confidence, strength, and resiliency. Call 206-267-5185 to schedule a drop-off appointment.
21. Collect coins through the Kids Helping Kids (KHK) campaign benefiting homeless children. Wellspring Family Services serves low-income children and families working to build healthy families by concentrating on mental health, family homelessness, early learning, basic needs, and domestic violence intervention. Your child can directly impact a homeless peer through this easy way to give. For more information or questions about KHK, call 206-902-4229.
22. Host a diaper drive at your holiday gathering. Westside Baby works with agency partners to assist low-income families with children’s essentials. Diapers are always needed, as well as donations of new or gently used equipment, gear, and clothing. To sign up to host a donation drive, contact Virginia McFadin at 206-686-6548.
23. Help a refugee family furnish their first home in the United States. World Relief Seattle helps resettle refugees and immigrants from nearly 50 countries. Recruit another family or two and shop for a replanting lives kit or donate items from the general wish list. To get involved, call 253-277-1121 x. 233 or email seattlegik@wr.org.
photo: World Relief Seattle
24. Help kids on the street survive the cold winter months by providing warm clothing, coats, sleeping bags, hats, and gloves. Youthcare serves over 400 young people each month, some as young as 12 years old, providing a hot meal, a place to warm up, and survival supplies. For more information, email donations@youthcare.org or call 206-204-1412.
25. Sponsor a supply drive. Youth Eastside Services (YES) promotes healthy families by offering counseling, treatment, and education. YES offers a wide array of programs and always benefits from donations of school supplies, summer camp necessities, activity tickets, and gift cards. For more information, email brookew@youtheastsideservices.org.
Is your family planning on giving back this holiday season?Let us know in a comment below.
This holiday season, why not shop for gifts that truly keep on giving? Read on to find local companies that not only offer unique gifts, but they also give all or a portion of their proceeds to a worthy cause. Giving never felt so good.
See Beautiful
Founded by a former GSU professor who wanted to change the way women and girls defined themselves as beautiful, the See Beautiful movement has grown beyond “self-image” and instead rallies around the everyday, intentional act of finding the beauty in life as it comes at you. And guess what? See Beautiful has really cool products, including funky t-shirts, bracelets, onesies, and organic scarves that return a portion of all proceeds to a non-profit of your choice. Be sure to check out the eco-friendly (and dishwasher safe) Re-Hy engraved glass bottles.
Plywood People
While Plywood People deal in big-picture social ideas driven by creative, innovative people, they also put rubber to the road (or billboards to the sewing machine) by training and hiring refugees in Atlanta to make their incredibly cool Billboard Bags. More than a bag, the Billboard Bag Project even has corporate partners who have gotten behind their mission. And did we mention that the bags are cool, like really, really cool? Best part (other than the fact that you’re helping to create jobs for refugees in Atlanta)? You can wipe them down with a damp cloth, mom. Score.
Kula Project
This Marietta-based non-profit invests in small-scale farmers in Rwanda by helping them access high-quality seeds and by plugging them in to a fair-market buyer for their crops, even before they’ve planted those seeds. You can support the Kula Project by shopping their products (we especially love their burlap bow ties), or by directly providing Rwandan farmers with coffee trees, banana trees, or farming tools.
Defend Atlanta
Founded by childhood friends who grew up in our fair city, Defend Atlanta makes apparel that touts the city’s diversity, innovation, and uniqueness. And, by purchasing Defend Atlanta’s t-shirts, you’ll also be supporting a local non-profit (organizations change occasionally, but all are rooted in the community). Currently, a portion of the t-shirt sales support the Kindezi School in southwest Atlanta.
HollyBeth Organics
This local entrepreneur began hand-crafting skincare products based on her grandmother’s knowledge of plants in the north Georgia mountains decades ago, and thank goodness (for us), she started producing small batches of her wonder creams, lotions, and potions full-time in Atlanta in 2007. Perfect for mamas with dry skin stemming from a lack of sleep, dehydration, and life in general, a portion of her proceeds go to cancer research and children’s charities.
FROST Doughnuts has been a Mill Creek favorite since it opened its doors in 2009, winning over kids and adults alike with its imaginative doughnut creations. But now, FROST has gone way beyond its namesake pastry and expanded into a whimsical dessert lounge, offering everything from cupcakes to cheesecakes to macarons and even frozen custard. Read on to find out why this sweet haven is not only worthy of the drive north, but also of a date night.
Decisions, Decisions… After building their fan base on delicious specialty doughnuts like salted caramel and their famous giant Bacon Maple Bar, FROST decided it was time to take their desserts to the next level. As if it wasn’t already hard enough to pick just one tasty treat, their case is now full of mouth-watering cupcakes, cheesecakes, macarons, and soft serve frozen custards, in just as many inspired flavors as their doughnuts. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself next to your kiddos with your nose pressed up against the glass, trying to come up with a reason why they each get to pick one, and you get to pick three. If you’re able to plan ahead, you can check out FROST’s website to see the day’s flavors and attempt to narrow down your choices before you arrive.
Introducing the Dessert Lounge Still located in the Mill Creek Town Center, FROST has moved to a larger location more suited for a menu of such heavenly magnitude. Creating a new “dessert lounge” concept, they’ve designed a welcoming, modern atmosphere that immediately delights when you walk in the door. With cushy benches, decorative lighting, and whimsical feel, it’s everything you could want in a dessert lounge (besides the dessert, obviously). Keeping families in mind, they’ve included a kid’s corner with a pint-sized table and small library of books, so mom and dad can have a few precious moments to savor their tasty treats.
Leave the Minis at Home Taking their dessert lounge concept a step further, FROST is no longer just the perfect place for a morning doughnut or mid-day treat. Now with later hours (open ’til 10 p.m. every night), Frost is also a late night sugar-craving destination. Complete with a new list of local Washington wines, it’s the perfect place to have a Mom’s Night Out, or a last stop on the way back from date night, when you’re just not ready to go back home.
Giving Back, Okay? When the FROST team realized their grand re-launch was the same date as the movie premiere of The Fault in Our Stars, the story of a 16-year-old cancer patient, they wanted to find a way to help kids whose lives are not always “okay.” Taking the popular “Okay, Okay?” line from the movie, they created special TFIOS cupcakes. $1 from every “Okay, Okay?” cupcake sold goes straight to pediatric cancer research at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Cupcakes have never tasted sweeter!
The Icing on Top You can easily argue that it’s always happy hour when you’re scarfing down a FROST creation. But to make yourself even happier, check out their Facebook page for official happy hour times with 25-50% off doughnuts, and $5 wines.
Want some delicious treats to be the centerpiece of your next birthday bash, wedding, or corporate celebration? FROST is happy to whip up custom orders that will tempt your guests’ willpower. Call or order online. Having just a small event? Save yourself the house cleaning and have it at FROST.
FROST
15217 Main St.
Mill Creek, Wa 98012
425-379-2600
Online: frostology.com or on Facebook
