ML Interest Tag: discovery-room

Splashdown: The Best Aquariums in L.A.

by LeTania Kirkland Smith

Angelenos have access to many amazing landscapes: deserts, mountains and, of course, that beautiful Pacific coastline. While living in a coastal city may bring up thoughts of surfboards and boogie boarding, it also presents an opportunity for some great hands-on learning at local aquariums. Whether you feel like taking on a large scale adventure or a more intimate experience, there are so many ways to introduce your family to the wonders of the ocean. Scroll through to check out the top aquariums to visit in the L.A. area.

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

Aquarium of the Pacific

This is the Big Kahuna of aquariums in the L.A. area, and totally worth putting on your must-see list if you haven’t been yet. This aquarium houses over 11,000 animals! So whether the family wants to see fish, sea lions or penguins this museum has you covered. From the beautiful two-story tank that draws you in at the entrance to the smaller touch pools where your sea explorers can get hands-on with aquatic life, there is a lot to excited about.

In addition to the exhibits, the aquarium hosts family-friendly festivals open to the public, not to mention parent and me classes that explore specific animals or subjects through play and movement ($49 per parent/child combo).

You can also purchase access to Animal Encounters experiences ($109 per person) where you can get a behind the scenes, private tour of the aquarium and some of its most in-demand inhabitants, including the penguins, sea lions, and even the sharks for a feeding. If you’re not ready for that much commitment, purchase a basic “Behind-The-Scenes Tour” ($19 in addition to admission), which gives you access to sections of the aquarium not open to the public (guests must be 7 and up).

100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach
562-590-3100
Online: aquariumofpacific.org

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Housed in a building designed by the famed Frank Gehry, the CMA has been educating people about marine life since 1935 and boasts the largest collection of Southern California marine life in the world. This aquarium is smaller than Long Beach, which may mean a less overwhelming experience for the younger set. While there are fewer bells and whistles and more focus on education, there is no shortage of fun as interactive learning takes the forefront. There are teaching displays, microscopes and even a discovery room where the family can get marine smart while making art or joining a group lesson.

Be sure to take a look inside the “walk-in” aquarium where the kids can stand in a bubble in the middle of the tank for some thrills. “The Whale Graveyard” is also a must. It’s where everyone is invited to explore and, yes, even touch the bones of a giant whale.

Next to the aquarium, the Cabrillo Coastal Park has lots to explore, with a small botanical garden and salt marsh. Also be sure to check out the Point Fermin Tidepools along Cabrillo Beach, which is home to the famed grunion run—when these silver, sardine-like fish come to shore to mate. The aquarium opens at night Apr.-Jun. to allow visitors to see this nighttime spectacle. With all of this, The CMA only asks a suggested $5 donation for adults and $1 for kids. Talk about a win-win.

3720 Stephen M. White Dr.
San Pedro
310-548-7562
Online: cabrillomarineaquarium.org

photo: Heal the Bay

Heal The Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

If you’re looking for another local experience, check out Heal The Bay Aquarium underneath the Santa Monica Pier. This aquarium houses over 100 species that call this bay home. From a meditative experience with the jellyfish to watching a simulated surge as fish rush in the “fast lane” this small, friendly space is sure to please.

Heal the Bay also has the much-loved touch pools if your littles want to get up close and personal. And if they aren’t into touching the animals, check out the Dorothy Green Room for an interactive exhibit where everyone will learn about our urban landscape and shore.

And if you really want a unique, up-close experience, make sure to plan your visit around feeding time when you can watch the staff feed the sea stars on Tues. and Fri. at 2:30 p.m. and the sharks on Sun. at 3:30 p.m.

Mini-marine explorers will enjoy visiting on Sat. when the aquarium hosts an ocean-themed story time. Another plus? You’re at the Santa Monica Pier so you can make an entire day of it complete with a beach visit and a Ferris wheel ride. What more can you ask for? Besides a vacuum for all of that sand on your car floors.

1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica
310-393-6149
Online: healthebay.org/aquarium

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

California Science Center

While most check out this museum for The Endeavor Space Shuttle and IMAX Theater, one of our favorites is the Ecosystems Exhibit, which features a giant kelp forest and small tanks to explore individual species. Be sure to walk through the aquarium hallway that will transport the littles to an underwater wonder.

Don’t forget to head upstairs where you can view the tank from overhead, experience the touch tanks and even talk to professional divers.

Try to make it in for Science Spectacular dive show, at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekends), where kids can watch divers feed and interact with animals in the tank, and also take questions from little visitors while underwater!

700 Exposition Park Dr.
Exposition Park
Online: californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/ecosystems

photo: Yuri K. via Yelp

Roundhouse Aquarium

A very cool and free aquarium located on the Manhattan Beach Pier, this space is undergoing a beautification project (scheduled to open this summer) but the temporary location at the base of the pier is still up and running.

A perfect location for the younger set, this is an easy and quick stop where you’ll see moray eels, rays, and octopi and get hands-on experience with starfish in the touch pools. There is also a small kids nook filled with books and crafty activities. The Roundhouse also has tide pool field classes for kids in first grade and up.

2 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
310-379-8117
Online: roundhouseaquarium.org

photo: kim c. via yelp

SEA Lab

The L.A. Conservation Corps SEA Lab has been training and employing underserved young people ages 18-24 to lead education programs all over Southern California. This space, in Redondo Beach, is not a formal aquarium but a marine education center with touch pools, tours and lots of interactive learning opportunities.

With this kind of tradition, there are always helpful volunteers around to answer questions for your budding marine biologists. The SEA Lab hosts a public fish feeding Sat. at noon, where for $2, kids can help feed the fish in the tide-pool tank. And on the first Sat. of each month, the SEA Lab hosts Fishtivities with special concerts, games, and crafts. The space is $5 for adults and free for kids and is open Tues.-Fri. from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

1021 N. Harbor Dr.
Redondo Beach
310-318-7438
Online: lacorps.org/programs/sea-lab/visit

photo: Shahrzad Warkentin

The Living Aquarium

If you are looking for some living, breathing sea-life action in the sun, then head to Malibu Lagoon State Beach (also known as Surfrider Beach). Check the tide tables before you go because when it is low, it provides a great opportunity to explore the amazing life right at our fingertips. Walk along the sand to explore shells, rocks, seaweed, birds and all the other goodies that come with the Pacific. It’s a good idea to wear water shoes for the slippery rocks. And even if you don’t get wet, it’s a great place to watch surfers in action.

Parking is $12 and includes a short walk to the water. You can also park for free along PCH, but the traffic you face when crossing can be daunting with little ones. And don’t forget you’re in Malibu, which is home to lots of great parks, food and, of course, more beaches.

23200 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Malibu
310-457-8143
Online: parks.ca.gov

Where does your family explore marine life in L.A? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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17 Best Spots for STEM Learning Around the Bay

by Kate Loweth

Tiny techies, unite! With Silicon Valley in our backyard, Bay Area familes live in the perfect spot to learn to code, play with robots and build your own computer. There are opportunities to step up your STEM game around every corner, from museums and science centers dedicated to just that and libraries offering free programs galore. Scroll through to see some of our faves all over the Bay Area.

photo: Kate Loweth

San Francisco

Exploratorium
With a prime location right on the Embarcadero at Pier 15, the Exploratorium is a STEM hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Experiment with social behaviors like sharing, work together to create a tornado and build an arch that supports itself. Check out what’s new in the tinkering studio and grab lunch at the bay-side cafe when you need a brain break.

Pier 15
Embarcadero at Green Stree
San Francisco, CA
Online: exploratorium.edu

California Academy of Sciences
This combination aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum offers science exploration for all ages. Walk through the four-story rainforest and marvel at the birds, fish and insects that make their homes there. Explore science’s major discoveries in the natural history exhibits and learn how we can protect our world for the future. Make sure your visit includes a stop at the Morrison Planetarium where you can view a rotating selection of visually-stunning shows on a 75-foot diameter screen.

Golden Gate Park
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA
Online: calacademy.org

San Francisco Libraries
With free activities like designing bridges, making items with duct tape and learning about Braille, there’s something for every age at the San Francisco libraries. Learn what properties make slime the gooey substance that all kids love. Construct, design and tinker, all while making new friends!

Online: sfpl.org

photo: Steve Jurvetson

East Bay

Lawrence Hall of Science
Part of UC Berkeley, the Lawrence Hall of Science is dedicated to fostering a love of science and math, especially for those with limited access to science. Meet the animal ambassadors in the Animal Discovery Room or design and test your air-powered rocket in the Rocket Launch. Tiny tots can head to the Young Explorers Experience for hands-on exploration of water, structures and all sorts of materials. Before you leave, climb on the double helix DNA Sculpture in the Hall’s plaza.

One Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA
Online: lawrencehallofscience.org

Chabot Space and Science Center
The Chabot’s mission is to be a place for students of all ages to learn and be inspired about the Universe and our Planet Earth. Favorite exhibits include the Sky Portal where you can see what the sky looked like at the time and place of your birth, and Beyond Blastoff where you can learn all about life on the International Space Station.

10000 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, CA
Online: chabotspace.org

USS Hornet
Learn about naval aviation, the Apollo program and space exploration at this national landmark that is docked in Alameda. Explore the aircraft on the hangar and flight decks and take a tour of the Captain’s Bridge and Sickbay. You can even sleep overnight in the original enlisted sleeping quarters when you participate in their STEM Night Ops Overnight program.

707 W. Hornet Ave, Pier 3
Alameda, CA
Online: uss-hornet.org

photo: Anton Chiang via Flickr

Peninsula

Computer History Museum
Show the kids what life was like before you could wear a computer on your wrist with a visit to Silicon Valley’s Computer History Museum. Learn about how hardware and software has developed over the years and make a stop in the 1960s at the IBM 1401 Demo Lab. Kids will love the autonomous car exhibit, especially when they hear that these self-driving vehicles have been in the works since the 1930s!

1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA
Online: computerhistory.org

CuriOdyssey
At this science center and zoo, kids can observe wild animals, experiment with scientific phenomena and let the natural world answer their questions. Explore science that you could do in your own backyard and discover how sounds echo off walls. See river otter swim in the habitat and watch their feeding at noon each day. At 1 p.m. watch bobcats chow down and learn how they like to sleep in hidden dens and hollow trees.

1651 Coyote Point Dr.
San Mateo, CA
Online: curiodyssey.org

Hiller Aviation Museum
For almost 20 years, the Hiller Aviation Museum has been teaching kids about this history of aviation. Sit in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 and simulate what it was like for the Wright brothers to fly the Wright Model B aircraft. The Hiller has tons of special events like the Drone Day Build-a-thon and Engineers Week in February.

601 Skyway Road
San Carlos, CA
Online: hiller.org

NASA Ames Visitor Center
This free public visitor center offers a glimpse at what life is like beyond our atmosphere. Learn what it’s like for astronauts to live and work in space. See what a real moon rock looks like. View models of previous and recent spacecraft missions from NASA Ames.

Moffett Field
Mountain View, CA
Online: nasa.gov

photo: The Tech Museum

South Bay

The Tech Museum of Innovation
Downtown San Jose is home to this interactive science and technology center. Your visit to The Tech will include interaction with robots, problem solving in The Tech Studio and even the chance to navigate weightlessness. Their new Body Worlds: Decoded exhibit will give you a glimpse inside the human body like you’ve never seen before.

201 S. Market Street
San Jose, CA
Online: thetech.org

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
This 52,000 sq. ft. purple building brings hands-on discovery to the youngest learners. Get elbow-deep in some bubble exploration, use innovative materials to make art in the Art Loft and dig for mammoth bones. Then, head outside to the brand-new exhibit Bill’s Backyard where you can climb in the treetops and build some forts.

180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA
Online: cdm.org

Youth Science Institute
With three South Bay locations, the Youth Science Institute is bringing science discovery to kids throughout the year. In addition to their expansive summer camp program, you can learn about bats, owls and other native inhabitants of our local parks at their weekend programs.

Sanborn Park
16055 Sanborn Road
Saratoga, CA

Vasona Park
333 Blossom Hill Road
Los Gatos, CA

Alum Rock Park
16260 Penitencia Creek Road
San Jose, CA

Online: ysi-ca.org

Intel Museum
The Intel Museum let’s us see what it’s like inside an ultra-clean, highly automated silicon chip factory and connect with technologies that give us new ways to work, learn, play and communicate.

2200 Mission College Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA
Online: intel.com

photo: Marine Mammal Center/Adam Ratner

North Bay/Marin

Marine Mammal Center
When seals and sea lions need to be nursed back to health they are brought to the Marine Mammal Center. Here, scientists and volunteers provide them with the medicine, nutrition and skills needed to release them back into their natural environment. Visitors can learn all about these efforts on one of the guided tours, or you can tour the facility for free on your own.

2000 Bunker Road
Sausalito, CA
Online: marinemammalcenter.org

Bay Area Discovery Museum
Specially designed for kids 10 and under, the Bay Area Discovery Museum sits just on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Here kids learn how to put their creativity to use in art projects that change with the seasons. The Bay Hall provides a small-scale simulation of the Ports of San Francisco and Oakland. Outside, an Imagination Playground brings giant foam blocks that are perfect for building.

557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA
Online: bayareadiscoverymuseum.org

Bay Model Visitor Center
This center hosts a massive working hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta System. Learn all about the tides, currents and how traffic moves through these waterways. Admission is free.

2100 Bridgeway
Sausalito, CA
Online: spn.usace.army.mil

RELATED STORIES:

STEM-sational Resources for Girls

Nature NOW: Bill’s Backyard Opens at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

20 Zoo Alternatives for Little Animal Lovers

What’s your favorite spot to explore STEM in the Bay Area? Give us the 411 below!

—Kate Loweth

Featured image courtesy of The Tech Museum

 

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14 Close Encounters of the Animal Kind

by rtstephaniekanowitz

What’s cuter than your kids? Your kids interacting with animals, that’s what! Lucky for your photo-taking addiction, the Washington, D.C. area offers plenty of opportunities to get your fill of adorable. Whether you want to see your kids feed a baby goat a bottle, go nose to nose with a dolphin or get tickled by a butterfly flapping its wings on their arm, we have the places for you. Here are 14 animal encounters to check out.

Photo: Smithsonian National Zoo

Tried and True

Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Sure, you can look at animals from afar at D.C.’s famous zoo, but on the Kids’ Farm, you can look and touch. There are cows, alpacas, hogs, donkeys, goats, chickens and fish. Of course, how willing they are to get up close and personal at any given time is up to, well, the animals.

Cost: Free
Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW 
When: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. (5 p.m. Oct. 1 to March 14)
Online: nationalzoo.si.edu

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
While you’re picking up hiking info, brochures and maps, and learning about the park’s flora and fauna, check out the live turtles, fish, snakes and beehive. There’s also a bird observation deck and water garden. Bonus: Stop by the Rock Creek Horse Center for a look at the animals or to take riding lessons, which are open to children and adults based on weight requirements.

Cost: Free
Where: 5200 Glover Rd., NW
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday
Online: nps.gov

Butterfly Pavilion at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Walk through an indoor garden teeming with colorful butterflies, flowers and plants. The types of butterflies on display include banded orange, bat wing and Luna moth, Mexican purplewing and monarch. Check out the museum’s other – and free – exhibits while you’re here, especially Q?rius jr, a discovery room that puts little hands in touch with fossils, skulls, shells and minerals.

Cost: $6/adults; $5/children 2 to 12; group rates available
Where: 5200 Glover Rd., NW
When: 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online: naturalhistory.si.edu

Photo: Nini T. via Yelp

County Offerings

Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly and Caterpillar Exhibit
Located at Brookside Gardens, the exhibit is home to hundreds of butterflies from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia. “Visitors can learn about their amazing metamorphosis, the important role butterflies play in having healthy ecosystems, and how to ensure these beautiful insects thrive in our own gardens,” according to the website. Note: Strollers aren’t allowed in the exhibit, although it is wheelchair-accessible.

Cost: $8/ages 13 and up; $5/ages 3 to 12, free/2 and under
Where: 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., daily from May through mid-September
Online: old.montgomeryparks.org

Frying Pan Farm Park
More Fairfax County nature centers follow, but this one deserves its own listing because it offers up-close looks at horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits and other animals as part of the Kidwell Farm. Try your hand at milking a cow or attend a Putting the Animals to Bed event to learn how farm animals get ready to snooze. Bonus: There’s a wagon ride and carousel available for nominal fees.

Cost: Free
Where: 2709 West Ox Rd. (Herndon, Va)
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

Meadowside Nature Center
Exhibits here include the Raptor Walkway, which houses injured, unreleasable birds of prey such as an American bald eagle, red-tailed hawk, barred owl and turkey vulture. Or look for fish and migratory birds at Lake Frank.

Cost: Some programs have fees
Where: 5100 Meadowside Ln. (Rockville, Md)
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Online: montgomeryparks.org

Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center
More than 30 animals live at the center – and more in the 50-acre onsite park – giving kiddos and grown-ups the chance to see turtles, snakes, lizards and toads. There’s also the MicroEYE Interactive Exhibit, which gives visitors a change to magnify items by two to 40 times and see the results on an HD TV screen.

Cost: Free
Where: 5750 Sanger Ave. (Alexandria, Va)
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday in April through October; closed Monday and Tuesday
Online: alexandriava.gov

Fairfax County nature centers
The county’s six nature centers offer myriad nature programs, including many that give even the littlest kiddos a chance to reach out and touch wildlife under the watchful eye of a trained expert. Hidden Oaks Nature Center, for example, offers programs such as Animal Pajama Party ($6 for county residents, $8 for outsiders), while Hidden Pond has live animal displays in the building.

Cost: Some programs have fees
Where: See website for locations
When: See website for times
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

Potomac Overlook Regional Park
Events here include feeding Northern Water Snakes; animal encounters at Wednesday Wonders, during which children ages 2 through 5 can hear a story, see a live animal and make a craft; and feeding kingsnakes and box turtles.

Cost: Programs have fees
Where: 2845 N. Marcey Rd. (Arlington, Va)
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sundays; closed Mondays
Online: novaparks.com

Photo: National Aquarium

Something Fishy

Dolphin Encounter at the National Aquarium
Michael Phelps may have raced a (simulated) shark, but if you’re 8 or older, you can pal around with a real dolphin. Spend two hours learning how aquarium workers care for the mammals and interact with them yourself. The experience includes a souvenir T-shirt – and major bragging rights.

Cost: $225; $195 for aquarium members
Where:  501 E. Pratt St. (Baltimore, Md)
When: See website for dates and times
Online: aqua.org

Glen Echo Park Aquarium
The best part of this small aquarium inside Glen Echo Park is the touch tank, where experts are constantly introducing its inhabitants to anyone who will listen. Watch a horseshoe crab enjoy a snack, find out why Chesapeake blue crabs are blue, coax a giant sea snail out of its shell, and be mesmerized by fish and turtles gliding around their tanks.

Cost: $6; free/24 months and younger
Where: 7300 MacArthur Blvd. (Glen Echo, Md)
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday
Online: gepaquarium.org

Photo: Roer’s Zoofari

The Big Time

Roer’s Zoofari
The petting zoo is a highlight here. For an extra fee, visitors can get milk bottles and animal feed to give goats, pigs, sheep, llamas, rabbits and parakeets. There’s also the Giraffe or Camel Meet & Feed, during which the creature will eat out of your hand while you learn more about the animal. Take a wagon ride to see the free-roaming zebra, buffalo and emus. They’re not usually shy about coming up to say hello – or snag a snack.

Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 2 to 12; season passes available
Where: 1228 Hunter Mill Rd. (Vienna, Va)
When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Online: roerszoofari.com

Leesburg Animal Park
Animal petting and feeding, and pony and camel rides mean loads of opportunities for amazing animal encounters. There are also live animal shows three times a day, wagon rides and exotic-animal exhibits, including lemurs, sloths, white-handed gibbons and African serval cats.

Cost: $12.95/adults; $9.95/children ages 2 to 12
Where: 19270 James Monroe Hwy. (Leesburg, Va)
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Online: leesburganimalpark.com

Luray Zoo
Take a Discovery Tour at this rescue zoo with one of the owners. You’ll get hands-on interactions and feed the animals – experiences not included with regular admission fees.

Cost: $25/adult for Discovery Tour; $15/child for Discovery Tour; $12/adult (13 and up) admission,  $6/kids ages 3 to 12, free/kids 2 and younger
Where: 1087 US Hwy. 211 West (Luray, Va)
When: See website for tour times
Online: lurayzoo.com

Where does your animal-loving crew go to see their four-legged friends?

–Stephanie Kanowitz

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Down By the Chesapeake Bay: 3 Cool Aquariums to Visit

by rtcarolynross

Baltimore’s incredible National Aquarium can’t be beat when it comes to fans of the oceans deep, but three area attractions bring the focus inland somewhat, and onto a smaller but no less famous body of water, the Chesapeake Bay. Each features  a selection of fun animals to observe, as well as targeted educational exhibits focused on stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed stretching from New York to the North and Virginia to the South.

Photo: Glen Echo Park Aquarium via Facebook

Glen Echo Aquarium
With bullfrogs nestled in the pond, and a homemade yellow submarine greeting visitors at the entrance, the new Glen Echo Park Aquarium introduces a new generation of environmental stewards to the wonders of the Chesapeake Bay region. Occupying  a corner of the Park along the winding entrance path vacated two years ago by the Living Classrooms Foundation, the aquarium teems with life both under the sea and on land, and is fast becoming a hit among the array of kid-approved fun spots Glen Echo encompasses. The setting is perfect for Director Andrew Wilson who since his Navy days dreamed of creating his own place for families and students to become immersed in the history and fragile ecosystem of the Bay, from its native plants and animals to Native American history. Outside, a ship’s bow is readied as an outdoor classroom, along with a planned revival of the sand play area. Inside, Wilson’s entire family helps make the dream a reality. From his educator wife Mary Beth who fields questions about horseshoe crabs and stingrays, to his son and daughter showing visitors around the small, but mighty facility with seaworthy views at munchkin eye level,  a touch tank, and guess what–a pirate!

Fascinating Fact: According to the Defenders of Wildlife website, there are 4,740 species of frogs around the world, about 90 of which may be found in the U.S., including the American Bullfrogs residing in Glen Echo Park Aquarium’s pond.

Glen Echo Park Aquarium
7300 MacArthur Blvd. (Glen Echo, Md)
301-955-6256
Online: gepaquarium.org

Photo: Calvert Marine Museum via Facebook

Calvert  Marine Museum
This gem features the renovated Drum Point lighthouse, a signature landmark on Southern Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay waterfront. With Girl Scout badge earning opportunities, as well as a number of family programs aimed at school-aged kiddos, and the aptly named “Squirts” and “Minnows”  for the under five set,  you will be hard pressed to find a reason not to cross the bridge to Solomon’s Island. Exhibits focus on native marine animal life like a River Otter habitat, as well as the people who make their living on the Chesapeake Bay and everything it takes to get the job done from lighthouse operations to the sailing vessels. The Paleontology Room features a replica of Calvert Cliffs, where many of the museum’s own fossil treasures were found. In the Discovery Room, billed as “Paradise for Pint-sized Passers-by” your little Indiana can dig up his own fossils, while mini marine biologists get up close and personal with the sea stars. Outside, the beautiful Marsh Walk is prime bird-watching real estate and a welcome respite for little ones(or their parents) who may need to escape the indoor setting.

Fascinating Fact:  The Marine Museum’s palentologists still unearth important fossil finds in the area, and last October excavated from a local family’s backyard an extremely rare skeleton of a 15-million-year-old snaggle-toothed shark!

Calvert Marine Museum
14200 Solomons Island Rd. (Solomons, Md)
410-326-2042
Online: calvertmarinemuseum.com

Photo: Virginia Aquarium via Facebook

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
With a zipline and climbing “Adventure Park” also on the grounds, a newly renovated giant 3D movie theater, as well as a number of live animal exhibits, this aquatic center rivals the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Child-friendly pricing for those under 11 also makes the the visit a bit easier on the family wallet. Among the animal exhibits are three different species of sea turtles, along with river otters and harbor seals. Two touch pools keep the littlest fish fanatics engaged, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays enjoy special programming for the preschool set. Older kids may become involved in one of three interactive educational programs that take place over multiple visits.  An entire tab on the website is dedicated to conservation issues, proving that the Center’s primary goal of conservation through education, research and sustainable practices more than just a fish tale.

Fascinating Fact: Each year in Virginia, the Center’s “Stranding Team”, a group of trained staff and volunteers come to the aid of 75-125 marine mammals and 200-350 sea turtles found beached, or otherwise entrapped and unable to return to their natural habitats.

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
717 General Booth Blvd. (Virginia Beach, Va)
757-385-3474
Online:  virginiaaquarium.com

–Carolyn Ross

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30 Things to Do in NYC for $5 or Less Right Now

by Ilyssa Smith

Get excited New York City, spring is finally in full swing! While it would be difficult to say there’s nothing to do in NYC at any time of the year, the options expand exponentially once the temperatures rise. Looking for ideas on how to do the season right with a kid or two? Here are a few of our favorite NYC springtime activities for you and your little ones to enjoy, from free museums to storytimes to stargazing. Seriously though: all of the below are $5 or less!

Central Park Turtle Pond photo: via Mike Carey on Flickr

1. Relax in the sun and check out Central Park’s Turtle Pond, which is home to not one, not two, but five species of turtles. (It’s thought that many of the current residents began their lives as NYC pets and were brought to the park when they outgrew their indoor accommodations.) See who can spot a bird, dragonfly, and turtle first!

2. Make a weekend stop at Smorgasburg on Pier 5. Grab some of the best no-fuss gourmet street food and picnic with the family in the massive Brooklyn Bridge Park for an only-in-NYC experience.

3. Take a trip to the Bronx Zoo. Free on Wednesdays, it’s finally warm enough to walk around outside and take in the numerous animal exhibits. The Children’s Zoo offers kids the option to feed the animals as well.

4. For those rainy spring Saturdays, make your way to the Guggenheim. Expand your children’s minds by bringing them in from 5:45–7:45 p.m., when admission is pay what you wish.

Bryant Park Carousel photo: via Rhiannon on Flickr

5. Head to Le Carrousel in Bryant Park. With carousel rides at $3 and kid-friendly events on Saturdays from 1-2 p.m., this one is great option for a weekend midtown diversion.

6. Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights is a can’t-miss. Admission is free on Thursdays from 3-5 p.m., perfect for an after school visit or playdate.

7. Breathe in spring’s freshest florals at the New York Botanical Garden. Grounds admission is free to everyone all day on Wednesdays, and from 9 -10 a.m. on Saturdays.

8. …Or swing by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It’s always free for children under 12, and free for everyone both all day on Tuesdays and from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays. Be sure to check out the Kids’ Discovery Stations once inside and catch the cherry blossoms while you can!

Highline photo: via Ashu Mathura on Flickr

9. Walk the High Line. If you’re in the area as the sun sets, check out the park’s free stargazing event every Tuesday from dusk until 9 p.m. at 14th Street. High-powered telescopes from the Amateur Astronomers Association help visitors get a glimpse of the moon, stars and planets!

10. Grab a hotdog at Papaya King. This NYC institution’s cheap grub is perfect for a spring day (just not every spring day). Head to its location at 86th and Third Avenue before visiting Central Park or a nearby museum.

11. Summer reading season is about to kick into high gear — get your child a free New York Public Library Card to get started. Check out your closest library’s kids programs; Family Read Aloud is one of our favorites.

Roosevelt Island Tramway photo: via Phil Roeder on Flickr

12. Go for a ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway. (Catch it at 60th Street and Second Avenue.) Take in the city views on a clear day with the family for the price of a subway ride. And while you’re there… take a Kids & Family yoga class for a suggested donation of $5 at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. Classes are held Wednesdays-Saturdays.)

13. If you’ve got a Mastercard and your kids like baseball, be sure to take advantage of the New York Yankees $5 Mastercard game on June 17th. Yankee Stadium, 1 East 161st street, Bronx

14. Visit the Discovery Room at the American Museum of Natural History and inspire your kids to explore science hands-on. The entire museum is pay what you wish, and the Discovery Room exhibit is free for a 40-minute session.

Fleet Week photo: via Official U.S. Navy Page on Flickr

15. Welcome Fleet Week. From May 18-25, take your pick of free events across NYC: Ship tours, Navy Band Concerts, Parade of Ships, and a US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo.

16. Check out the NY Aquarium. Explore water-dwellers on Fridays from 4-6 p.m., when admission is pay-what-you-wish. Recommended donation is $5.

17. Register for New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)’s Sounds for Unusual Creatures free concert on May 17th. You’ll get free general admission to the museum for the day with your registration. We’re also big fans of their Make It: One Block Challenge series, offered on May 17th as well for $3.

park photo: NYC Parks

18. Head to one of Manhattan’s top playgrounds. We recommend these!

19. Visit Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for the free outdoor activities of its Pop-Up Audubon series. Activities include nature hikes, bird-watching, and learning about native plants and the aquatics habitats of the park. Grab a Discovery Pack, a ready-to-go kit of nature activities for families.

20. Pipsqueak’s Children’s Shoppe in Brooklyn is always a good idea. This kid’s store offers open play time for $5, among other workshops and music series for your kids to enjoy while you shop.

Sony Wonder Lab photo: via Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

21. Visit the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. With free entry, the whole family can explore high tech and creative exhibits that will make you feel like you’re living in the future. The Dance Motion capture is our favorite.

22. Get down at a Celebrate Brooklyn! Dance Party, a free groovefest with live bands and DJs playing Classic Soul Funk (May 14), Electro Soul (May 21) and Latin Jazz (May 28).

23. Take a boat ride on The Staten Island Ferry on a warm, sunny day. It’s free and a great way to see the Statue of Liberty up close.

photo: Public Art Fund

24. Visit one of the many public art installations on view throughout the city, or hit a bunch and make a day of it!

25. We’re already getting excited for the Park Slope Old Stone House’s Rites of Spring event featuring a giant puppet pageant. It’s free and takes place on May 16th. Check out their site for lots of other free events for families.

26. Get crafty. Michaels offers free events (plus supply costs) like jewelry-making and paper crafting at the chain’s multiple NYC locations.

storytime photo: Brooklyn Public Library

27. Head to one of the many free drop-in story times around the city.

28. Never walked the Brooklyn Bridge? It’s time. Take advantage of the nice weather and enjoy this NYC landmark on a sunny afternoon with the whole family.

29. Get to Carnegie Hall by, you know, just going there already. Enjoy free interactive concerts and family activities on weekends at Carnegie Hall. The Hall also offers family concerts throughout in all five boroughs.

30. Sneak away to the Elevated Acre, the New York Earth Room or another one of our favorite secret spots in the city!

What’s on your must-do list this season? Tell us in the comments below!

—Ilyssa Smith

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The Parent’s Ultimate Guide to Rock Creek Park

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

One of the things that makes D.C. such a great city to live in is that smack dab in the middle of it is one of our country’s oldest national parks. Rock Creek Park is a 1,750-acre expanse of wildlife and greenery that bisects the city and features a huge array of amenities, including a golf course, horseback riding, a nature center and planetarium, an outdoor concert venue, and playgrounds. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by city crowds and white noise, duck down into the park for a quiet nature walk, an adrenalin-pumping bike ride, a colorful bird watching tour, or a magical night of stargazing. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Be One With Nature
Stop by the Nature Center for brochures, maps and information about hiking trails. There’s also a bookstore and a smattering of exhibits on area plants and animals. Kids will love the Children’s Discovery Room filled with environmental education books and games, along with a bilingual exhibit in Spanish and English called “Discover Rock Creek.” Spend time with live turtles, fish, snakes, an active beehive, a bird observation deck, and a “water-wise” garden. You can take the little ones on a half-mile self-guided interpretive trail that begins behind the Nature Center. Insider’s Tip: Pick up a free Discovery Hunt Kit from the Nature Center. Designed by first graders from Mundo Verde Public Charter School, it’s a self-guided discovery hunt for kids over 5.

Rock Creek Park Nature Center
5200 Glover Rd., NW
Open: Mon.-Sun., 9 am-5 pm

Catch a Show
Carter Barron Amphiteatre is a 4,000-seat outdoor performance venue nestled in the trees of Rock Creek is the prefect place to catch a free summer concert. People rave about the theatre’s sound quality and cozy atmosphere. Scope a kid-friendly performance here: Carter Barron Schedule.

Carter Barron Amphiteatre
4850 Colorado Ave., NW
202-426-0486

Giddy Up
Find peace in the company of horses and those who love them deep in the woods of D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. The horse center offers boarding, camps, lessons, trail rides and pony rides for equestrians of all skill levels.

Rock Creek Park Horse Center
5100 Glover Rd., NW
202-362-0117

Star Gaze
Take advantage of curriculum-based planetarium shows for a variety of ages, presented each week by park rangers. The Planetarium uses a projector with high-tech Spitz software to project an image of the night sky onto a large, dome-shaped ceiling that takes you on a journey through our solar system, galaxy and beyond. Planetarium shows are free. Pick up your tickets at the Nature Center’s front desk up to 30 minutes before each show. And don’t miss the very cool evening stargazing sessions that take place once a month (April through November) when National Capital Astronomers set up telescopes at Military Field off Military Road. You won’t believe the celestial bodies you can see in the night sky when you remove the city’s star-obscuring light pollution!

Rock Creek Park Planetarium
5200 Glover Rd.
Open:  Mon.-Sun., 9 am-5 pm

Become a Junior Ranger
Let the kiddos learn about the park and become official Junior Rangers. Visit the Nature Center, Peirce Mill, and Old Stone House to pick up a Rock Creek Park Junior Ranger booklet, or download one here. Booklets are designed for ages six to 12 and feature activities in identifying types of trees, plants, flowers and animals, and in describing the various duties of Park Rangers. Junior Rangers take a pledge to help protect the park, community and earth by becoming an active and responsible steward of the environment. Those who complete the booklet and take the pledge get a Junior Ranger Badge. Just like that!

What’s your favorite thing to do with kids in Rock Creek Park? Give us the scoop in the comments section below. 

–Jamy Bond

Photos courtesy of Rock Creek Park via Facebook

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Car-Free Day Tripping: What to See, Eat & Explore in Bremerton

by Allison Sutcliffe

Pencils out! Pop quiz time. Where can you visit a historic Navy destroyer, a kid-friendly museum, and an awesomely dynamic spray park an hour outside of the city, totally car free? If you guessed the Bremerton Marina, you earned a gold star. Read on to find out how to get this daycation off on the right foot!

All Aboard!
This footloose and fancy-free day trip starts at the Bremerton ferry landing downtown. Drive over and park the car for the day, or better yet, leave the car behind completely and use public transportation to make your way to the ferry landing. Walk-on passengers don’t need to worry about passage being oversold the way cars do, but do check the online departure schedule before heading out. Then, arrive at least 15 minutes early to get tickets squared away and watch the ferry unload. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, this is big juju for the tot lot. The hour-long passage between Seattle and Bremerton is one of the most scenic in the area. On a sunny day, Mount Rainier really struts her stuff, so bring your camera to get some post-worthy pics. Beyond that, the travel time is easy to pass. Bring some activities, a couple of snacks and you’ll be there before you know it!

Land Ho!
Once docked, navigating the marina is a piece of cake, as everything’s centered around the ferry and can be spotted from the landing. There are three main attractions that are worth the ferry ride, but even wandering around the marina is worthwhile. There’s a little beach to play on, dancing fountains to giggle over, and sculptures too. Bottom line, there’s lots to do and no wrong way to do it. Expect a very full and fun-filled day.

The USS Turner Joy
Get on board to explore the USS Turner Joy, a destroyer museum ship that makes its historic home in the Bremerton harbor. It’s one seriously awesome maze to travel, as you weave in, out and around the many layers of the ship. Just when you think you’ve gotten to the end, there’s another nook just around the corner. The ship’s self-guided tour is easy to follow, and the many well-placed placards explain the nitty-gritty details that will enthrall the adults, but maybe not the kiddos. They’ll be much more interested in the hands on experience this ship has to offer (Oh the buttons they’ll push!) It’s totally climbable and most virtually accessible in every direction. Below deck, above deck, it’s a whole different kind of playground.

Our not to miss kid faves include the engine room/boiler room found below decks and the bridge/pilot house. The ship is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. during the summer months. And admission is pretty reasonable, too. Just $12 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5-12, and those 4 and under are free.

Good to know: Keep the Littles close by while navigating the expansive ship. Expect lots of tight spaces, steep stairs and hiding places. Also, it’s not a stroller friendly zone, but babies can be worn while exploring.

The Puget Sound Navy Museum
The Navy Museum is another great pit stop on this walkable day. It houses artifacts and documents that chronicle the history of the Navy in the Pacific Northwest. For Navy buffs or those who dig ships, it’s a definite must. There’s plenty to keep the kiddos occupied, and you just can’t beat a free museum. The Family Discovery Room is filled with books, puppets, seaworthy dress up gear, and coloring books to keep everyone from the littlest littles to the bigs busy. During the summer, the set SAIL program promises fam-tastic times, too. Preschoolers through fifth graders will explore the Navy Shipyard & Maintenance Facility’s shops and codes using science, art and interactive learning at this weekly program. Check out the online schedule to see what’s next on deck. The program runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fridays through August 29, 2014. Get on board for this one!

Fountain Park
Wading pool meets spray park at the splashtastic Fountain Park, located just behind the Navy Museum. It’s the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day, or stop for a picnic interlude. There are plenty of tables and chairs, not to mention (dry) grassy spots. So bring the swim gear and sunscreen, and plan to play for quite a while. The coolest thing about this water feature is the volcanic-like eruptions of water that go off quite often. Truly, the anticipation is half the fun for the kiddos at this squeal-worthy water park. Splash on!

Grab Some Grub
All this walking is sure to work up an appetite. Luckily the marina has plenty of places to refuel so families can go the distance. Take your pick of familiar chains like Subway and Taco Del Mar, or branch out to try the Bremerton Bar & Grill or the Fritz European Fry House. If you’re looking for a view to go with your meal, Anthony’s has a prime spot overlooking the water. Take a load off before heading out for the next adventure.

Do you plan to ferry over to Bremerton this summer? Share your experiences with us in a comment below.

–Allison Sutcliffe, words and pictures

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