Orlando’s 6 Best Museums for Kids & Families

by Kate LowethFebruary 10, 2020

When the heat is up and the kids need to get out of the house, head to one of these Orlando museums that are perfect for families. You can spend your day learning about fire engines, trying science projects and exploring the history of chocolate. Whatever adventure you choose, the kids will have the best day!

Orlando Science Center

The Orlando Science Center’s mission is to inspire science learning for life with four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons. Learn how to be a spy, check out innovations in AI and meet live animals that are Florida residents.

777 E. Princeton St.
Orlando, FL
Online: osc.org

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Chocolate Museum

What’s not to love about free chocolate samples and a factory tour to see how chocolate is made? Tour guides make sure the tour is interactive and entertaining for all ages as they educate guests about the origin of chocolate, how it’s made, and how healthy it is for you (true story!). Your little artists will also love the chocolate sculptures, which feature landmarks like the Great Wall of China and Mount Rushmore and range in size from about 3 feet to over 6 feet.

11701 International Dr suite 400
Orlando, FL
Online: wocorlando.com

Orange County Regional History Center

The Orange County Regional History Center, housed in a historic courthouse in the heart of downtown Orlando, offers four floors of exhibits exploring 12,000 years of Central Florida’s rich heritage. A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum also offers visiting exhibitions and a wide range of programs for families and kids.

65 E. Central Blvd.
Orlando, FL
Online: thehistorycenter.org

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Central Florida Railroad Museum

Memorabilia on display in the Central Florida Railroad Museum includes historic photographs (including an extensive collection of Tavares & Gulf Railroad photographs from its early steam era until its last run), lanterns, locks and keys, telephones, telegraphs, signs, stoves, tools, furniture, timetables, dining car china and silver, tinware, marker lights, ticket punches, lamps, uniforms, locomotive bells and whistles, a 1938 Fairmont motorcar, and a velocipede hand car. Outside, the former Clinchfield caboose #1073, a three-head interlocking signal from the former ACL-SAL junction in Plant City, a set of narrow-gauge wheels and several switch stands and crossing signals are displayed.

101 South Boyd Street
Winter Garden, FL
Online: cfrhs.org/museum

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Mennello Museum of American Art

The Mennello features American art of all genres and is home to a permanent collection of paintings by "primitive" artist Earl Cunningham. Outside, a lakeside sculpture garden is where the Mennello hosts the annual Indie Folk Fest, held the second week in February. Every second Sunday is Family Day, which brings child-friendly activities and free admission with mini-tours for kids in the afternoon.

900 East Princeton St.
Orlando, FL
Online: mennellomuseum.org

Orlando Fire Museum

Learn about the history of the Orlando Fire Department at this museum that includes a restored 1926 American LaFrance fire engine in its collection. The museum operates on a donation basis and is staffed by retired fire fighters.

814 E. Rollins St.
Orlando, FL
Online: orlandofiremuseum.org

—Kate Loweth

Our Favorite Indoor Play Spaces in Orlando

Things to Do with Kids in Orlando

Our Favorite Indoor Play Spaces in Orlando

by Kate LowethJanuary 7, 2020

When the rainy afternoon has you down, check out this list of Orlando’s best indoor playgrounds for kids. There are art experiences, pretend play for all ages, trampoline spots and science around every corner. Scroll through to plan your next outing with the kids!

photo: My Little Town Kids via yelp

My Little Town Kids
We love this spot and it’s totally-affordable price of $9.99 that includes all day play for one child and two adults. Kids will love the race track, ball pit and dress-up area. There’s a separate padded area to keep the crawlers contained.

2160 Whisper Lakes Blvd.
Orlando,FL

196 Towne Center Cir.
Sanford, Florida
Online: mylittletownkids.com

Princesses and Princes
This Montessori-inspired play area is designed for children ages 0-6 years old. You’ll find a train table, Tegu blocks, Magna-tiles, play kitchen and climbing structure.

1637 E. Silver Star Road
Ocoee, FL
Online: princessesandprinces.com

photo: Kate Loweth

Crayola Experience
Discover the magic of color at Crayola Experience, Crayola’s premier, one-of-a-kind family attraction! Dozens of hands-on, creative activities and a full day of fun awaits families in Orlando, Fla. at The Florida Mall. Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, the colorful adventures of Crayola Experience help kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way.

8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL
Online: crayolaexperience.com

photo: Steven W. via yelp

Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Science Center’s mission is to inspire science learning for life with four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons. Learn how to be a spy, check out innovations in AI and meet live animals that are Florida residents.

777 E. Princeton St.
Orlando, FL
Online: osc.org

Millie Moo’s
This spot is full of full areas including a ball pit, motorized horses and Little Tykes cars. Admission give you in and out privileges so you can leave and come back after nap time if you’d like. Train lovers will especially like the large train table.

4085 LB McLeod Rd., Suite E
Orlando, FL
Online: milliemoosorlando.com

photo: Outer Limitz Trampoline via yelp

Outer Limitz Trampoline
This 24,000-square foot family entertainment center includes a large trampoline area, foam pit, dodgeball arena, basketball slam, ropes obstacle course, trampoline cage ball and spider tower. Parents can relax in massage chairs while they enjoy the action.

6725 South Kirkman Rd.
Orlando, FL
Online: outerlimitzorlando.com

Monkey Joe’s
This play area of wall-to-wall fun features inflatable slides, jumps and obstacle courses, and additional entertainment guaranteed to keep your kids active, happy and healthy.

9101 International Drive
Orlando, FL
Online: monkeyjoes.com

—Kate Loweth

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3 Beautiful Days in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Exploring the Fred Rogers Trail

by Amber GuetebierNovember 30, 2019

With the release of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, you just might notice more than a red cardigan trend. Fred Rogers, aka Mister Rogers, was not only the man behind the iconic children’s show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (which aired from 1968-2001) he was also a proponent of kindness, imagination and helping children understand the importance of expressing feelings. Across the country, and even the world, there’s a renewed interest (and need) to stay true to Mister Rogers message.

“Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.”—Fred Rogers

There’s no better place for a family vacation then Rogers’ own neighborhood—the city of Pittsburgh and nearby Latrobe, Pennsylvania are home to the Fred Rogers Trail. We spent three perfect days exploring it, and we can tell you we can’t wait to go back and do it all over again. Read on for our top favorites in and around Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Day 1: Mister Rogers’ Childhood: Latrobe, PA

Head out to Latrobe, PA. This small town just under an hour from downtown Pittsburgh is the birthplace and final resting place of Fred Rogers and this is the perfect spot to start your journey along the Fred Rogers Trail. Depending on the time of year you visit, this is either a full day or a half day. If you are visiting from May to September, allow for a full day so you can explore Idlewild & Soakzone Because it’s closed from late October through early May, you can explore Latrobe in a little less time if you wish, although we think it’s easy to spend a day ambling the streets of this adorable town.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Start Here: Fred Rogers Center

Make a stop at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning & Children’s Media (300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA) at St. Vincent College. Staying true to his legacy, the Fred Rogers Center is an early childhood education center at the college, but the general public can peep the archival library of artifacts from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. There’s a small interactive exhibit for kids as well.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Upstairs you’ll find a display that follows the life of Fred Rogers in chronological order, from his family’s legacy in Latrobe to the people who helped Fred learn about children and children’s education. There are artifacts on display here, as well, including those famous Sperry topsiders he wore.

Don’t Miss: The Upsidedown Mural by Roman Verostko on the way down (or up) the stairs.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Fun fact: St. Vincent is also home to the football field where the Pittsburgh Steelers have held their summer training camp every year for the last 75 years. The campus is small enough to explore on foot, and the Basilica is breathtaking.

Take a Seat & Stay Awhile

Head into downtown Latrobe and stop by the Fred Rogers Statue in James H. Rogers Park (212 Main St, Latrobe, PA). This little city park, named for Fred Rogers’ father, has a beautiful memorial bench with a life-sized, bronze statue of Fred on a bench. Sidle up and stay a while, and snap a few family photos.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Up around the corner you’ll find the Latrobe Art Center (819 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA). Inside the Rogers building you’ll find an art center (co-founded by Fred Rogers sister, Laney aka Elaine) which is a hub for the town of Latrobe. There’s a fabulous array of art on the walls all done by local artists and members of the center (and much of it for sale). The center also offers a selection of classes for kids and grown-ups alike. The gift shop is onsite and has plenty of Fred Rogers memorabilia along with impressive locally crafted cards, jewelry and more.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Eat lunch at the cafe right on site, too: Ricolita’s Cafe. We highly recommend the gooey grilled cheese and a cup of soup or the popular “Neighborhood Salad” which includes seasonal fruits like strawberries, and veggies galore.

The Latrobe Art Center also hosts Mister Rogers Family Day every June, a free, day long celebration with activities for kids, entertainment, stories, and more throughout the downtown.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Don’t Miss: Just a couple doors down from the Latrobe Art Center you’ll spot a VERY large Banana Split sculpture, marking the spot where the first Banana Split was ever made.

photo: Amber Guetebier

Living History

The Latrobe Area Historical Society (416 Weldon St., Latrobe, PA) has a number of interesting artifacts from its famous citizens throughout the years. Here you can see a modest display of Fred Rogers items, along with his high school yearbooks from all four years. The Society is small, so a stop won’t take too much of your time, and because it’s all volunteer run, it’s always worth those minutes (and a few dollars of donation; admission is free).

photo: Amber Guetebier

Tip: Kids will enjoy the many shelves of interesting items but it’s a small place so plan ahead if you have little ones and jot down a quick scavenger hunt for them. For example, ask them to find the oldest item there, something or someone wearing a red sweater, something a soldier would have carried, something they don’t recognize (a dial telephone!), etc. This place is an I-Spy dream!

photo: Amber Guetebier

Take a Little Drive

The Latrobe Presbyterian Church (428 Main St., Latrobe, PA) where Fred Rogers attended church as a child is also right next to a small garden with a preserved school bell from the Second Ward School which once stood on the site, the school where Fred Rogers’ attended elementary school.

The original high school where Fred Rogers attended is located at 1501 Ligonier St., Latrobe. However, it is now a privately owned building. The current high school does have a large display of items from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood but is only open to the public during scheduled school activities. You can still get a view of the school and let the kids know that Fred attended high school here where he was yearbook editor and student council president.

Fun fact: The famous golfer Arnold Palmer was also from Latrobe and was a year behind Fred in high school.

photo: Amber Guetebier

“When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong with the fearful, the true mixed in with the façade, and of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way.”—Fred Rogers

Author’s Note: Fred’s final resting place can be found at Latrobe’s Unity Cemetery, in a family mausoleum along with his father, James Hillis Rogers, and his mother, Nancy McFeely Rogers. If you’re interested in finding it, click here for more detailed info. It’s a beautiful, clean place and a quiet place to reflect on Mister Rogers legacy, so leave only kind thoughts and wishes behind (no teddy bears, please).

photo: Idlewild & Soakzone

Don’t Miss: Idlewild

If you are visiting from May to September, don’t miss: Idlewild & Soakzone (2574 U.S. Route 30, Ligionier, PA). It’s been dubbed the “Best Children’s Park in the World” and includes Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood area where you can ride a real trolley car. Kids will love exploring this park and be sure to pack a bathing suit to play in the water park SoakZone on a hot day. Check the park calendar for opening hours and days.

Spend Days 2 & 3: In and Around Mister Rogers’ Pittsburgh

“In every neighborhood, all across our country, there are good people insisting on a good start for the young, and doing something about it.”—Fred Rogers

Day 2: Head to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and Museum Lab

While it’s possible to spend just an hour at the Children’s Museum of Pittburgh, we recommend allocating most of your morning if not your entire day here, especially if you have kids under 10. We’ve been to hundreds of kids museums across the country and this is one of the best ones we’ve visited!

photo: Amber Guetebier

“You’ll find the Fred Rogers’ spirit in everything we do,” says Bill Schlageter, the museum’s Director of Marketing. “Meaning innovative museum experiences that inspire joy, creativity and community.”

photo: Amber Guetebier

The museum had a very close relationship with Mister Rogers and developed many exhibits over the years with him, including the Daniel Tiger exhibit that is currently traveling the country. Throughout the museum you’ll find Mister Rogers artifacts, such as his sweater, photos and even the original puppets from the show (located in the Museum Lab).

photo: Amber Guetebier

This museum includes innovative Maker Labs, an entire space of water play including lots of thoughtful nooks for parents to relax (great for babes in arms, too), an area of play just for the little ones with water, sand and more and tons of interactive exhibits including a number of exhibits encouraging you to get to know your neighbor (think sound activated displays that require holding hands).

photo: Amber Guetebier

The Museum Lab is located just a quick walk from the museum’s main entrance and is included with admission. The Museum Lab is designed for kids ages 10 and up, although all are welcome. Here you will find a more sophisticated Maker Lab, interactive art and recording exhibits and more. Housed in what was once an 1893 Carnegie Library, there is currently a weaver on site creating a climbable art installation in “The Stacks.”

Spend time here connecting with your kids and fellow familles and really embody the Fred Rogers spirit yourself.

photo: Kevin Okes courtesy Visit Pittsburgh

End your day with a vertical trolley trip: Duquesne Incline

While it’s a fantastic view any time of the day, locals all swear (and we can, too!) that taking this neighborhood trolley incline in the evening will make you never want to leave Pittsburgh. You’ll fall in love with the glittering city that Fred Rogers and his family called home. Park in the lower lot and ride it both up, and down. There’s a gift shop on site but be aware that tickets require exact change (adults are $2.50, one way).

Day 3: The Senator John Heinz History Center

“Love and trust, in the space between what’s said and what’s heard in our life, can make all the difference in this world.”—Fred Rogers

photo: Amber Guetebier

A multi-story museum, the Heinz History Center houses the original set pieces and artifacts from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood including the entryway and living room, King Friday XIII’s Castle, Henrietta Pussycat and X the Owl’s Great Oak Tree, Picture Picture, Mr. McFeely’s “Speedy Delivery” tricycle and more.

photo: Amber Guetebier

In addition, Discovery Place includes a “television” where kids can watch Mister Rogers Neighborhood on the screen. This is a great area to get out the wiggles, too, with lots of touchable items and building features all exploring the history of Pittsburgh’s industry and people.

Tip: Follow the spiral staircase above the museum’s cafe to visit the small display called Kidsburgh. You can take a slide back down to the lobby!

Don’t Miss: The Heinz History Center gift shop has some of the best Fred Rogers swag in town.

photo: Amber Guetebier/Julia Millman

A Giant Among Men

Visit the Tribute to Children statue on North Shore Drive. This 10-ft tall statue of Fred Rogers sitting down and tying his sneakers overlooks the river and his beloved city. Not only is it impressively giant, you can even hear him singing.

If You’re Up for It: About 45 minutes from Pittsburgh proper you’ll find the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, where you can explore the history of “Neighborhood Trolleys” in the and the legacy of streetcar lines in the area. You’ll also Discover where Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood filmed the iconic episode “Grandparents.”

Stop By The Studio

Take a detour for a quick selfie outside WQED Studios, (4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA) where Mister Rogers Neighborhood, was produced and filmed.

Where to Stay

The Ace Hotel Pittsburgh
Located in East Liberty the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh (120 S Whitfield St, Pittsburgh, PA) was once a YMCA. A daily lap swimmer, Mr. Rogers was a member and supporter of YMCAs and YWCAs throughout his life. This kid-friendly, pet-friendly hotel has ridiculously comfortable beds and a bustling, happening lobby with a top-notch restaurant, Whitfield, as well as a lobby bar and a coffee bar. Some suites even have turntables and records from Fred Rogers’ own label, Small Word Records!

photo: Amber Guetebier

Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel
The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel (107 6th St., Pittsburgh, PA) is currently offering a “Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?”package which features a welcome gift, including a Mister Rogers’ style cardigan to wear around town, and a copy of Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers; two adult tickets to the Heinz History Center; discounted valet parking; daily credit of $35 toward breakfast onsite at Braddock’s Rebellion. A portion of the proceeds for this package goes to supporting Heinz History Center’s preservation of the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood set so future generations will be able to continue to explore.

photo courtesy Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel

As parents, we spend a lot of time hurrying and worrying. We hope this trip will give your family a blend of action, activities, and reflection on the big picture.

“What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”—Fred Rogers

—Amber Guetebier

This trip was hosted by Visit PA but all opinions expressed here are the authors own. The writer would also like to express deep gratitude to Kelly Nguyen at the Tierney Agency, Julia Millman at Visit Pittsburgh, and Anna Weltz at Visit Laurel Highlands, along with the many wonderful, gracious people of Pittsburgh!

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New Museum Exhibits to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

by Kate LowethNovember 7, 2019

Fall is here and local museums around the Bay Area have started rolling out their lineup of exciting exhibits for the whole family. Immerse yourself in the world of Burning Man, take a trip to Japan and then learn all about your cells at these exhibits that kids will love. Scroll through our picks, then open up your calendars to block out some time to check them out!

Wild Child — Junior Center of Art & Science

Erin Lem

For an experience especially tailored to the littles (crawling through five years old), head to the Wild Child pop up exhibit at Junior Center of Art & Science in Oakland. This interactive exhibit encourages young minds to touch, climb, tinker and create.

The outdoor area features an immersive sculpture full of sensory surprises, while indoors you'll find two play rooms. One boasts a sweet portal tunnel (mom and dad, be prepared to crouch to enter!), ball pit, sticker wall and Hygge nook. Next door find a creative space (toward the back there's a separate shoe-free area just for babies and crawlers) with sensory, creative art projects led by staff, "artifacts" like typewriters and calculators, and a huge wire cage our own toddler was especially fond of exploring. Beyond free play, Wild Child also features baby and toddler classes on their calendar here.

Good to know:

Depending on your child's attention span (and how crowded the place is) expect to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours exploring.
Beyond the pop up, you can check out the other rooms in the Junior Center of Art & Science like the play house room, replete with a play kitchen, stuffed animals and trains, and the reptile room where your kiddo can peek at snakes and other creepy crawlies.
Ample parking is available. The Center is located in the same area as Children's Fairyland. Sat & Sun. parking costs $5/day and Mon.-Fri. parking costs $2/first two hours or $10/day.

Junior Center of Art & Science
Now through Feb, 23, 2020
558 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
Online: wildchildplay.com

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man – Oakland Museum of California

FoldHaus, Shrumen Lumen, 2016. Photo by Ron B

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will bring cutting-edge artwork, sculpture, and interactive installations from Burning Man, one of the most widely-celebrated and influential cultural events, to its galleries this fall. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man will illuminate the event’s origins and its culture of experimentation, collaboration and creativity, which draws over 70,000 people to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert each year.

An adaptation of the original exhibition organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in collaboration with Burning Man Project, No Spectators will take over OMCA’s Great Hall and beyond, going outside of the walls of the gallery with outdoor sculpture throughout the Museum’s public spaces, including an OMCA-commissioned 40-foot-tall outdoor temple by internationally-acclaimed sculptor David Best. A companion exhibition within the gallery, City of Dust: The Evolution of Burning Man, organized by the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, will trace Burning Man's origins from its countercultural roots in the San Francisco Bay Area to the world-famous city in the desert it is today.

Oakland Museum of California
On exhibit October 12, 2019-February 16, 2020
Online: museumca.org

Cells to Self - The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium has just opened a new permanent exhibit collection entitled Cells to Self: Exploring the Life Inside You. Through more than 20 new experiences, this collection reveals the wondrous variety of human cells and the amazing things they’re doing in your body. See live heart cells beating in time with your own pulse, or find out which bacteria are living on your skin. Through living tissues, microscopes and digital models, you’ll discover how cells move and communicate.

The Exploratorium
Opens October 3 (part of the permanent collection)
Online: exploratorium.edu

Hello from Japan! – Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

Children's Museum of San Jose

Come visit Tokyo right here in San Jose and get an authentic peek into Japanese culture. Featuring a bustling modern city street inspired by Tokyo’s Harajuku district that bridges to a tranquil Shinto shrine, you’ll see the incredible contrast between modern kawaii aesthetics and traditional motifs and customs. The transition between the two show how the Japanese culture values history, a society where the past, present and future harmoniously coexist.

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
On exhibit through Feb. 5, 2020
Online: cdm.org

Science + You - Bay Area Discovery Museum

Science You

All children are scientists and at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) they can look and act the part! In BADM's new traveling exhibit, Science + You, visitors get hands-on with the machinery, processes and technology used in real laboratories every day. Upon entering the exhibit, children wash their hands, wipe their feet and even walk through a pretend shower before donning their white lab coat,

Bay Area Discovery Museum
When: On exhibit through January 5
Online: bayareadiscoverymuseum.org

Abracadabra! Magic in Peanuts - Charles Schulz Museum

Charles Schulz Museum

Charles Schulz loved sleight of hand and stage magic of all kinds. Learn firsthand how the cartoonist dabbled in magic and, like all things in his life, brought magic into the panels of Peanuts. See original comic strip art, animation cels, and a selection of the magic items that belonged to Schulz—no hocus pocus required.

Charles Schulz Museum
On exhibit through Jan. 19, 2020
Online: schulzmuseum.org

SOFT POWER – SFMOMA

Tanya Lukin Linklater with Liz Lott, The treaty is in the body, 2017; courtesy the artist and Winnipeg Art Gallery; © Tanya Lukin Linklater

The exhibition SOFT POWER is about the ways in which artists deploy art to explore their roles as citizens and social actors. Appropriated from the Reagan-era term used to describe how a country’s “soft” assets such as culture, political values, and foreign policies can be more influential than coercive or violent expressions of power, the title contemplates the potential of art and offers a provocation to the public to exert their own influence on the world. Presented on two floors of the museum, the exhibition features new commissions and recent works by twenty international artists.

SFMOMA
On exhibit Oct. 26, 2019-Feb. 17, 2020
Online: sfmoma.org

Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience - Museum of Craft and Design

Museum of Craft and Design

This winter, the Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) will present two new, dynamic exhibitions exploring the ways that creative individuals are addressing issues of climate change. Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience is a timely exhibition showcasing visionary architects and artists who have created artistically interpretive solutions and prototypes for emergency shelters in a climate-constrained world. Concurrently, the exhibition Linda Gass: and then this happened… will examine the human-made and natural water infrastructure affecting the greater Bay Area, considering present and future challenges with respect to climate change.

Museum of Craft and Design
Both exhibits will be available Dec. 19, 2019-May 3, 2020
Online: sfmcd.org

A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art - Walt Disney Family Museum

Untitled Pastel, Marker and Pencil on Newsprint Courtesy of Youth Spirit Artworks

The Walt Disney Family Museum's 2019 community access exhibition will be A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art. Featuring original artwork created by young people experiencing homelessness, the exhibition’s title was inspired by Walt Disney himself: “There is great comfort and inspiration in this feeling of close human relationships and its bearing on our mutual fortunes—a powerful force to overcome the tough breaks which are certain to come for most of us from time to time.”

A Powerful Force will feature artworks created by homeless youth with three greater San Francisco Bay Area partner organizations: Raphael House, Larkin Street Youth Services, and Youth Spirit Artworks. These nonprofit organizations help at-risk youth and their families achieve independence by providing career-building skills, educational programs and safe housing.

Walt Disney Family Museum
On exhibit through Jan. 6, 2020
Online: waltdisney.org

Cointraptions: Classic Coin-Operated Machines - Museum of American Heritage

Dominic Alves via flickr

Travel back in time to the early 1900s to the 1950s when pennies, nickels and dimes were dropped into slots across the nation. Coin-operated machines were widely used in places of businesses such as general stores, toy stores, parlors, restaurants, bars, casinos and gas stops. See how businesses across America operated before the era of the credit card.

Museum of American Heritage
On exhibit through Feb. 16, 2020
Online: moah.org

—Kate Loweth

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50+ Things to Do with Kids in Denver This Fall

By Heather Garbo

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

September 12, 2019

Photo: Heather Garbo/Denver Dweller

I know people wax nostalgic about being young in the summertime, but I’ve long believed there’s no better time of the year to be a kid than the fall. I mean, dressing up in costumes? Throwing pumpkins? Getting lost in mazes? All the sugary treats? How can that not appeal to all kids, big and small? Below is our annual round-up of 50 distinctly fall things to do in Denver with kids in 2019. (Plus, a few more that admittedly have nothing to do with fall, but are totally worth checking out!)

Take a leaf-crunching family hike on a local trail.
Order a caramel apple-making kit from Denver-based Daffy Apples.
Peep at the changing Aspen colors with a mountain day trip.
Cheer on the Broncos at Mile High…
…or the Buffs at Folsom Field…
…or the Rams at Canvas Stadium.
Reserve a time to pick your own apples through October. (Tip: Apples ripen late July through mid-October. Be sure to reserve ASAP…slots fill up quickly!)
Attend a fun fall-themed class with your kids at the Children’s Museum of Denver…like the fall cooking challenge. (Tip: You must register in advance and many classes sell out.)
Forget the PSL. Order up a more traditional hot spiced cider from one of Denver’s local coffee shops.
Take your littlest littles for A Day Out with Thomas the Train at the Colorado Railroad Museum on the first three September weekends.
Take in the 32nd annual Downtown Boulder Fall Fest on September 13, 14 and 15.
Encourage a love for music at the Annual Sunnyside Music Fest on September 14.
Bond at the Extreme Sports interactive exhibit at the Museum of Nature and Science. September 20 is set aside for families to explore the temporary exhibit together.
Enjoy Oktoberfest in downtown Denver the last two September weekends (20-22 and 27-29).
Explore life in the time of dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest at Denver Convention Center (September 20-22).
Explore a corn maze at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms (September 20 – October 27 weekends). You can also take a spookier turn through the After Dark Corn Maze and Dead Zone Scream Park.
Chunk a pumpkin at the 22nd annual Punkin Chunkin Competition and Festival on September 21-22.
Drive up to Estes Park for Autumn Gold Festival on September 21-22.
G et lost in the family-friendly Maize in the City in Thornton (opens September 27) with a big maize (40 minutes or so) and a little maize (25 minutes or so), and other fun activities. This one even offers a smart phone trivia game to gives hints to those of us who are directionally challenged.
G et scared at Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest every weekend with Halloween-themed Family by Day activities and scarier Fright by Night fun (Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays September 27 through November 2).
Sip cider at the Morrison Ciderfest on September 28.
Show off your best bugle call at the Estes Park Elk Fest (September 28 – 29).
Pick your own pumpkin at the huge pumpkin patches at Rock Creek Farm in Broomfield. (Tip: Plan to stay after to explore the farm, corn maze and kids’ activities because your kids will whine like crazy if you don’t. Also, the line may be long to get in.) Opening day is September 29.
Partake in all sorts of fall fun from corn mazes to hay rides to pumpkin-picking (plus bouncy castles and more) at Mile High Farms every weekend September 29 – October 28.
S hop for your Halloween costume at one of Denver’s best costume shops.
See some creepy crawlies up close at the Butterfly Pavilion’s annual Bugtober Masquerade all October long.
Lead your kids on a Denver Ghost Scavenger Hunt at Civic Center Park on October 1.
Take a spooky evening stroll through the Denver Zoo’s Enchanted Hallows on October 3 – 25.
Drop your teens off for the Museum of Nature and Science’s Hallowteen adventures (October 4 for middle schoolers; October 21 for high schoolers).
Challenge the whole family to a pumpkin-carrying obstacle course for the Great Pumpkin Haul on October 5 at Englewood’s Meridian Park.
Paint yourselves with fake blood (if the kiddos are old enough to handle it) for the 14th annual Denver Zombie Crawl in Skyline Park (October 5).
Discover how 19th-century Coloradans prepared for fall at the Four Mile Historic Park Pumpkin Harvest Festival (reimagined for 2019) on October 5-6. (There will also be pioneer games, live music, and food trucks.)
Relive your childhood at a showing of cult classic The Goonies with a live score by the Colorado Symphony (October 11).
Bowl a pumpkin at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farm’s Pumpkin Festival on October 11 – 13.
Build your scariest scarecrow for Arvada’s Festival of Scarecrows on October 12.
Get a pre-Halloween sugar high at Choctoberfest on October 12 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.
Enjoy cider, apples and donuts at AppleFest at Ya Ya Farm and Orchard in Longmont on October 19 – 20. (They’ll also have BBQ and live music.)
C heck out the glowing pumpkins at Glow at the Gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens on October 21 – 25.
Hit the slopes. This is Colorado, after all, and A-Basin and Loveland open in mid-October.
Take your littles for trick-or-treating, fun fall activities and a Monster Mash Dance Party with live music at the Denver Central Library (October 25).
Beg for even more candy at the Trick or Treat Street at the Children’s Museum (October 25).
Explore the Museum of Science and Nature at midnight at the Halloween at the Museum family overnight on October 25-26.
Run with your costumed kiddos at the MonsterDASH fun run at Sloan’s Lake (October 26) or Louisville (October 27).
Trick or Treat at the Tennyson Street local businesses in Berkeley neighborhood (October 26).
Take a ride on the Trick or Treat Train at the Colorado Railroad Museum (October 26-27).
See Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas on the big screen at Boettcher Concert Hall (November 1).
Attend the Colorado Symphony’s Halloween Spooktacular for a spooky but family-friendly concert (November 3).
Check out the many events during the Annual Denver Arts Week (November 1-9).
Partake in the Dia de Los Muertos Art and Street Party at 40 West Arts District on November 1 or visit the Dia de Los Muertos celebration during the First Friday Art Walk in Santa Fe Art District(also November 1).
Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at Denver Botanic Gardens on November 2.
Ride The Polar Express Train at the Colorado Railroad Museum beginning November 9 through mid-December. (Tip: Reserve now because this fills up quickly!)
Take in a post-Thanksgiving dinner movie at Alamo Drafthouse.
Run in the 46th Annual Mile High Turkey Trot (November 28) in Wash Park.
Kids don’t want to go to a mall, but you could do a little family holiday shopping at our amazing local businesses on Small Business Saturday (November 30). One perk of neighborhood shopping districts? There’s always a park nearby!

This post originally appeared on Denver Dweller.

Heather Garbo

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Heather Garbo is a Denver-based writer, mama to two boys, and passionate localist. After years of working in community develoment, she launched Denver Dweller to highlight local businesses and Denver life. She lives in the Berkeley neighborhood where she juggles motherhood, working from home, and frequenting the nearby local shops.

17 Things Not to Miss in July

by Shannan RoussJuly 14, 2019

Whether your kids are between camp sessions (in which case: yikes!) or you’re just looking for something a little different to do on the weekend, we’ve got you covered. From a slime show at Kidspace to an epic tug-of-war at the beach, here are 17 fun and family-friendly events you don’t want to miss this July.

1. Check Out LA's Newest Kid's Museum

Mathew Tucciarone for Cayton Children's Museum

Hooray! The colorful and fun-filled 21,000-square-feet Cayton Children’s Museum has officially opened on the third floor of Santa Monica Place. Kids can scramble their way through the Courage Climber, a mesh web of ropes suspended from the ceiling; jump into To the Rescue!, a sea-like ball pit with a recycled Coast Guard rescue boat; marvel at the All Systems Go! Ball Machine, a Rube-Goldberg-inspired interactive exhibit; and so much more. Tickets are $14, and the museum will be open Mon.–Sat., 10a.m.-7p.m., and Sun., 12p.m.-7p.m.

395 Santa Monica Pl.
Santa Monica
Online: caytonmuseum.org

2. Have Some "Big World Fun"

Throughout July, Ford Theatres will be hosting its Big World Fun concert series, hour-long music and dance performances for children ages 4 to 12. This year's shows include a celebration of samba (and rumba and bamba), and an African dance and drum session. Performances start at 10a.m., but come early for crafts on the plaza. Tickets for adults are $5; kids 12 and under are free.

2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East
Hollywood
323-461-3673
Online: fordtheatres.org

3. Visit the Moon

NASA

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon with APOLLO 11: The Immersive Live Show, playing at the Rose Bowl from Jul. 5-29. It's a groundbreaking original story performed by a full cast and presented in the spectacular LUNAR DOME with 40,000 square feet of video projections. This truly immersive experience takes you on an unforgettable journey to the Moon. Tickets start at $21 (with special promotions).

1001 Rose Bowl Dr.
Pasadena
626-577-3100
Online: rosebowlstadium.com

4. Attend Free Rehearsals at the Bowl

Take advantage of LA’s best-kept secret: taking in the world-class sounds at the Hollywood Bowl for free! Starting in July, some morning rehearsals are open to the public. Call ahead for the latest information—you may even be able to snag a rehearsal performance of Into the Woods or Jurassic Park: The Concert!

2301 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles
323-850-2000
Online: hollywoodbowl.com

5. Dance, Sing-Along & Laugh at Skirball

Ben Gibbs

Family Amphitheater Performances at Skirball Cultural Center kick off in July, with a Free to Be Theme inspired by the museum's latest exhibitions (including Black Is Beautiful and Fearless Fashion). The upbeat and inspiring performances will take place on Sat. and Sun., at 12p.m. and 2p.m. Expect everything from Afro-Cuban and hip-hop dance lessons to a hilarious sketch comedy musical.

2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Los Angeles
310-440-4500
Online: skirball.org

6. Discover Shakespeare in the Park

Sun., Jul. 14 is Family Night at the Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival from the Independent Shakespeare Co. There will be free Shakespeare crafts and activities, plus a special Drag Queen Story Time featuring a children’s version of Twelfth Night. That same play will be performed at 7p.m. at the old Griffith Park Zoo.

4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles
818-710-6306
Online: iscla.org

7. Celebrate Kidspace's Birthday

Kidspace Museum

Kidspace Children's museum (one of our faves) is turning the big 4-0 and celebrating with 40 Days of Fun!, starting Jul. 6. Over the coming, they'll have different themes (from Slime Time and Bubbles) and accompanying "random acts of fun" (like bubble dance parties and slime-the-staff show). For two days (Jul. 13 and 14), there will even be a Birthday Bash with classic party games, a confetti blast and more.

480 N. Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena
626-449-9144
Online: kidspacemuseum.org

8. Explore the Natural History Museum at Night

Get outside and enjoy the evening breeze with Summer Nights in the Gardens, a celebration of all things summer in the enchanting Nature Gardens at NHM on Jul. 12. Spend your Friday night sipping a botanical-infused cocktail, exploring the museum's backyard and participating in nature-inspired take-home activities.

900 W. Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles
213-763-3466
Online: NHM.org

9. Sleep at the Zoo

Shannan Rouss

Get some shut-eye alongside your favorite animals with the Los Angeles Zoo's sleepover program. (During July, campouts occur on the 6th, 20th and 27th.) The experience includes guided evening and morning tours of the zoo, interactive programs, a nighttime snack and live animal presentations.

5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles
323-644-4200
Online: lazoo.org

10. Go an a Creature Crawl

SoCal Museums is putting on a summer Creature Crawl, an activity that lets kids explore the many museums that currently have animal-themed exhibitions. Little ones can collect puzzle pieces at each of the five museums (including the Natural History Museum, Getty and Skirball Cultural Center) and use them to create a mythical beast to design and color. Upload kids' creations to SoCal Museums' site and win prizes at the end of the summer!

Online: socalmuseums.org

11. Enjoy a Sunset Picnic & Party

Zahed Ahmad via Unsplash

Pack your favorite picnic dinner, grab your friends and family and head over to the Annenberg Beach House for its annual Community Picnic on Jul. 18. There will be games, crafts, snacks and an epic tug-o-war, along with story time with Santa Monica’s mayor.

415 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Santa Monica
310-458-4904
Online: annenbergbeachhouse.com

12. Watch a Movie at the Beach

You can put Dockweiler Beach's under-the-stars screenings at at the top of your list of outdoor movies happening this summer. On Fri. nights in July, they'll be showing The Lego Batman Movie, Smallfoot and more. Gourmet food trucks arrive 6p.m. and the flick begins at 8p.m.

Dockweiler Youth Center
12505 Vista del Mar
Playa del Rey, CA
310-726-4128
Online: beaches.lacounty.gov

13. Get Your Groove On

Check out KCRW's outdoor concert summer series, with July events happening at the Hammer Museum and in Chinatown. It’s a great way to hear music, get some culture, maybe explore a different part of the city and sneak in some family bonding time.

Online: summernights.kcrw.com

14. Cheer on a Dragon Boat Race

Joits via flickr

On July 13th and 14th, make your way to Echo Park Lake for the 39th Lotus Festival. This year's host country is The Royal Kingdom of Thailand. There will be a tea house, beer garden, dragon boat races, children's zone, tons of boutique and food vendors, artisan art and plenty of entertainment.

Echo Park Lake
751 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles
Online: laparks.org/lotusfestival

15. See a Play in the Round

Check out Theatricum Botanicum's a Creative PlayGround on Jul. 20, when actors will perform "in the round" (with kids on the stage) three stories by Hans Christian Andersen: The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes andThe Swineherd. All of Creative PlayGround’s pieces have been developed to be suitable for children from 1-11 years of age.

1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA
310-455-3723
Online: theatricum.com

16. Build a Sand Castle

Margaret River via flickr

Sat. Jul. 27 is Family Sandcastle Building Day at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. All you need to bring is your best sandcastle building tools, a little shovel and bucket, and your castle creativity to this fun beach event. The sand on Cabrillo Beach will be thoroughly wet down to prepare for sand construction; the rest is up to you!

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

17. Shop for a Cause

On Jul. 27 and 28, stop by Kidz Con, a two-day interactive pop-up installation featuring the best in children’s fashion, toys, treats, activities and games. Except slime-making, face painting and, for little ones, a soft-play toddler area. Tickets start at $15 and proceeds from the event will benefit Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

1933 S. Broadway
Los Angeles
Online: kidz-con.com

—Shannan Rouss

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Make a Splash (Rain or Shine): D.C.’s Best Indoor Pools

by rtstephaniekanowitzJune 17, 2019

Katie Ledecky. Michael Phelps. Chase Kalisz. The D.C. area knows how to produce Olympic swimmers. Whether your little ones are destined for the same fate remains to be seen, but there’s no time like the present to get them in the water, even if weather conditions are less than ideal for a dip in the outdoor pool. Here’s a look at some of the best indoor watering holes in the area.

Barry Farm Aquatic Center

DCPR

Formerly an outdoor pool and reopened as an indoor one a few years ago, it has the only indoor waterslide – did we mention it’s twisty? – in D.C.’s Ward 8. The 8,800-square-foot facility includes a six-lane lap pool and a leisure pool with beach entry.

Cost: Free/D.C. residents, swim passes for nonresidents range from $3 to $149 for day, 30-day and 90-day passes
Where: 1230 Sumner Road, SE
Online: dpr.dc.gov

Woodrow Wilson Aquatic Center

Rusen G. via Yelp

Since it opened in 2009, this pool has become one of D.C.’s most popular. It has a 50-meter-by-25-yard competition-size pool with diving boards, a whirlpool and a separate beach-entry kiddie pool with water basketball and sprayers.

Cost: Free/D.C. residents, swim passes for nonresidents range from $3 to $149 for day, 30-day and 90-day passes
Where: 4551 Fort Dr., NW
Online: dpr.dc.gov

Germantown Indoor Swim Center

This 60,000-square-foot place has a lot going on: a competition pool, recreation pool, hydroptherapy pools, diving platforms and waterslides...plural. Plus, the décor, with its (fake) palm trees and mini volcano, will transport you directly to the islands. Little ones can splash under a mushroom-shaped fountain or play in a separate fun zone.

Cost: $5/county resident or $8/nonresident 1-17 years old; $7/adult resident or $10/nonresident; $6/senior resident 55 and up or $10/nonresident
Where: 18000 Central Park Cir. (Boyds, MD)
Online: montgomerycountymd.gov

Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver Aquatic Center

The eight-lane L-shaped main pool is divided into two 25-meter swim areas, a warm-water leisure pool, two separate hydrotherapy pools, diving platforms and – wait for it – a waterslide snaking along a wall. Claim to fame: Eleven divers who competed in the 2012 Olympics trained here.

Cost: $5/county resident or $8/nonresident 1-17 years old; $7/adult resident or $10/nonresident; $6/senior resident 55 and up or $10/nonresident
Where: 5900 Executive Blvd., N. (Bethesda, MD)
Online: montgomerycountymd.gov

Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex

Ed Garcia via flickr

Sure the 50-meter competition pool is impressive, but the leisure pool is where it’s at. Float along the lazy river, zip down a waterslide (you knew it was coming) and bask in the constant 84- to 86-degree temperatures. For adults, there’s also an 18-person spa with jets shooting out water heated to 102 to 104 degrees.

Cost: $8/impact area resident, $11/resident of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, $15/nonresident
Where: 8001 Sheriff Rd. (Landover, MD)
Online: pgsportsandlearn.com

Cub Run RECenter

The almost-5,000-square-foot leisure pool has two waterslides, including a 30-foot-high one that goes outside the building in an enclosed tube. There’s also a zero-depth water playground with climbing equipment, a small waterslide and lots of fountains.

Cost: $10/adult, $6.50/youth ages 5-18, free/child 4 and younger, $6.50/senior Mon.-Fri., $20/family up to five
Where: 4630 Stonecroft Blvd. (Chantilly, VA)
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

Claude Moore Recreation Center

Jason R. via Yelp

The leisure pool here has what the website calls a “giant” waterslide, a children’s play area with playground-like equipment, a hot tub, a vortex and a lazy river. But if that’s not enough, there’s still space to free swim without having to go to the 25-yard-by-50-meter competition pool. Bonus: It’s next to the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, which highlights Loudoun County’s agricultural history through exhibits such as the Claude Moore Children’s Farm, an interactive exhibit where kiddos can be a “farmer for a day.”

Cost: $6/adult, $4/youth ages 3-17, $4/senior over 55, free/child 2 and younger, $16/family up to five
Where: 46105 Loudoun Park Ln. (Sterling, VA)
Online: loudoun.gov/claudemoorerec

—Stephanie Kanowitz and Ayren Jackson-Cannady

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Hands On: NYC’s Best Maker Spaces

by alina adamsJune 15, 2019

All kids love making things (even if, sometimes, it’s only a mess). But with the rise of the Maker movement—famously on display at Maker Faires around the country, and in our backyard—maker spaces have taken things far beyond pipe cleaners and paper towel rolls. Some maker spaces are all about found materials and power tools, others use 3D printers, laser cutters, and circuit-boards. All of them offer supervision and space to create. We’ve rounded up some of NYC’s favorite and newest Maker spaces, featuring programs for preschoolers through high-schoolers, and sometimes, even parents!

Skill Mill NYC photo: via Skill Mill NYC Facebook page

When You Can’t Decide Where You Want To Go

Dazzling Discoveries/Skill Mill
It’s a two-fer on the Upper West Side! Neighborhood favorite, Dazzling Discoveries, which has been offering children as young as six the chance to become engineers and makers by combining recyclables with construction materials, batteries, lights and motors, recently opened a second site, Skill Mill NYC, just a few blocks away. And what does Skill Mill NYC have that Dazzling Discoveries doesn’t? How about a 3-D printer and a laser cutter, guaranteeing that anything your child can visualize, they can also bring to life!

Best Part: At Dazzling Discoveries, classes are for children 12 and under, while Skill Mill NYC accommodates the high school and beyond set. It’s a MakerSpace for the entire family!

Cost: $35-$60 per class (rolling admission)

Dazzling Discoveries
971 Columbus Ave.
Upper West Side
917-288 9975
Online: dazzlingdiscoveries.com

Skill Mill NYC
949 Amsterdam Ave.
Upper West Side
917-935-0284
Online: skillmillnyc.com

photo: via Brooklyn Robot Foundry Facebook page

Brooklyn Robot Foundry
Brooklyn Robot Foundry started in Brooklyn (clearly), then expanded to Manhattan’s Tribeca, which was followed by an outpost on the Upper East Side. Its most recent locations opened in the South Slope on 5th Avenue and Boerum Hill on Atlantic Avenue. Tiny Builders ages 2-4 can get a head start on their engineering careers (along with a caregiver), while elementary schoolers build their own arcades, bumper cars, speed racers and even crawling bugs.

Best Part: Family Robot Building Clubs are available, as are exclusive engineering clubs for girls only.

Cost: Varies depending on length and number of classes, also requires materials fee

1595 2nd Ave.
Upper East Side

200 Church St.
Tribeca

303 3rd Ave.
Park Slope

586 Fifth Ave.
South Slope

347-762-6840 (all locations)
Online: brooklynrobotfoundry.com

photo: via Launch Math + Science Centers Facebook page

Launch Math + Science Centers
Kids with the inclination to design and build can sink their skills into the center’s “I wanna be…An Engineer!” program. The Pre-K and K offerings find young ones creating mechanical puppets and electric marble mazes, while older kids explore fundamentals of architecture and design.

Best Part: Launch is serious about summer science. It offers camps in — count ’em — five locations: uptown, downtown, east side and west side.

Cost: Varies by class and program

173 W. 81st St.
Upper West Side
212-600-1010
Online: launchmath.c om

The Best of the East

Sci-Tech Kids STEAM Maker Lab
You knew them as a pop up place at various schools around the city but, in 2016, Sci-Tech kids moved into its permanent home on the Upper East Side. Here, 18-month-olds are discoverers, and preschoolers ages 3-5 become explorers who experiment with energy and magnetism, and build basic robots. There are also after-school classes for older children ready to design bridges and solar communities, as well as crack the riddle of renewable energy.

Best Part: Sci-Tech maker kids have won prizes from Disney and been invited to the White House!

Cost: Starting at $160 for 4 sessions

215 East 81 St.
Upper East Side
212-804-7055
Online: sci-techkids.com

photo: via Geek Forest Facebook page

Brooklyn Making

Futureworks Makerspace
A brand spanking new makerspace at Sunset Park’s Brooklyn Army Terminal from the Makerspace people on Staten Island Futureworks Makerspace is a place where kids and adults can get crafty with some heavy duty equipment. You have to be 18 or older to be a member, but the space does offer educational programs and classes for families, the latter of which provides access to laser cutters and 3-D printers.

Best part: This place is loaded with cool machines, tools, and technology. If you do get a membership as an adult, it’s transferable to the Staten Island location, so you can use both spaces.

Cost: Members ($250 a month, adults only) get full access to everything; Associate members ($150 a year, limited access, get discounts on classes and equipment use rates). You don’t have to be a member to take classes.

Brooklyn Army Terminal
Building B
Industry City
140 58th St.
718-273-3951
Online: makerspace.nyc

Geek Forest
In the rush to make sure every NYC child is a STEM expert by their 5th birthday, some MakerSpaces have forgotten that it’s possible to make without technology, too. Not Geek Forest! At this Brooklyn spot, family workshops include fashioning sling-shots, painting, building with jelly beans, and making elephant toothpaste explode! But, fear not, there are also after-school classes that include 3-D modeling, littleBits construction, robotics and a Tynker club!

Geek Forest operates a retail store in Williamsburg (where you can stock up on everything from kits to comic books) as well as a maker space in Greenpoint. (They do after-school in select locations, too.)

Best Part: Free and low-cost family workshops on the weekends!

Cost: Contact program (10% discount available for enrolling in multiple sessions)

Maker space:

67 West St., Second Fl.
Greenpoint
917-909-1030
Online: thegeekforest.com

Store:

358 Grand St.
Williamsburg
917-966-6000

Koko NYC
Koko NYC is Brooklyn’s Open Source Gallery’s creative kids program. Founded by Monika Wuhrer in 2007, Koko NYC is dedicated to supporting children’s natural curiosity and innovative thinking. Kids use found materials (AKA things disposed of, AKA trash) to create everything from vehicles to simple machines, to whatever they can envision. Classes and camps include boat building, an inventor’s lab, and soap box building, the last of which has kids building their own soap box car in a week. Even little ones can get in on the making, with mini Destroy and Construct classes, in which they use found materials and electronics to create whatever they can dream up.

Best part: Those who make a car in the soap box camp have the opportunity to participate in the annual Koko NYC event, the South Slope Derby, which features the creative and crazy vehicles rolling down a gentle hill and being judged on design, construction, and more. Note: this may be one of our favorite NYC kids events!

Cost: Varies by camp or class

306 17th St.
South Slope
646-279-3969
Online: kokonyc.org

Open Source Gowanus
234 Butler St.
Gowanus

photo: League of Young Inventors Facebook page

League of Young Inventors
They say “Tinkering is our super power,” and the League of Young Inventors is committed to not only fostering kids’ natural creativity and curiosity, they help deliver the knowledge and skills to make creating possible. It’s after school program takes kids in grades 1 through 5 on a tour of humanity’s greatest inventions through storytelling, hands-on exploration, and creating. Single-day and summer camps also happen here: kids make musical instruments, spy gadgets, things that fly, and more.

Best part: LYI prides itself on helping kids place inventions in historical context and understand their applications in the real world.

Cost: $400 for 10 weeks/after school; camp rates vary

347-335-0849
Park Slope
347-335-0849
Online: yileague.org

photo: via Beam Center’s Facebook page

Beam Center
The maker space is taking a break from offering classes and camps directly (you’ll find them in afterschool programs) but it still holds its Inventgenuity Festival, where over 600 attendees work on close to 400 projects in cutting edge fields such a bobble-head cloning and kinetically-modified crops.

Cost: The Beam Center will not be running summer programs in 2019, but you can check out its giant flipbook project in DUMBO all season long!

60 Sackett St.
Red Hook
718-855-7600
Online: beamcenter.org

For Flatiron Fun (by way of Brooklyn)

The Makery
Born in Brooklyn, but now found in the Flatiron District, The Makery offers classes, workshops and clubs for all ages. Anyone from 10 to 100 can sign up to combine circuits and jewelry, while moms and kids join forces for special Do It Yourself projects ranging from flashlight barrettes to your very own bat-signal! You can try a one-off, or sign up for an eight-week middle-school/high-school Inventor’s Club. Round up 8 to 10 friends, and you can customize your experience. Develop tech toys, digital crafts, or focus on electronics, all culminating with an in-house, interactive exhibit. Inventor’s Clubs are open to all kids, but there is also a designated Girls Make STEAM Program for ages 10-13 in the summertime.

Take note!: If you’ve got kids 11 or older and want a special out of this world experience, check out The Makery’s sci-fi mystery puzzle room, Spacetime Cruise!

Best Part: You put the group together, you get to decide what you make!

Cost: Email for details (no phone number available)

39 W. 19th St., Suite 614
Flatiron
Online: NYCMakery.com

photo: New York Hall of Science Facebook page

Maker Kings of Queens

Maker Space at NY Hall of Science
The family that tinkers together, stays together (if only because they’re now soldered). NYSci’s weekend workshops are drop-in, free, and messy. Each individual event has its own theme, ranging from digital paper cutting, to woodworking to plaster-casting. Loved your introduction? You can download free project guides to continue working at home.

Cost: Free with museum admission

Best Part: Being inside of a museum gives kids plenty of inspiration to jump-start their own making.

47-01 111th St.
Corona, Queens
718-699-0005
Online: nysci.org

photo: via Staten Island Maker Space Facebook page

No Maker Is an Island

Staten Island MakerSpace
A mostly adult facility, Staten Island MakerSpace does host an annual summer program for students in grades 6-12 that includes lots of real-word application of engineering, design, electronics and building. Past projects included an auto watering garden system, a wind generator, and a T-shirt you silk-screen yourself. All material is provided, and campers can choose from a morning session, an afternoon session, and all day camp.

Best Part: Staten Island MakerSpace will help you put together a portfolio for application to tech high-schools and colleges.

Cost: $275/half-day week, $500 full-day week, members and siblings receive a discount

450 Front St.
Stapleton
718-273-3951
Online: makerspace.nyc

Tinker in Jersey City

Zaniac
Before you can make something, you’ve got to Tinker, and Zaniac offers an entire class in tinkering. It’s hands on electrical engineering, starting with an Intro to Circuits for Kindergarten though 6th graders, and an intro to micro-controllers for middle-schoolers. Then, once kids have been properly introduced, they move onto simple machines and LEGOs that can be programmed to do tricks!

Best Part: Kids can work their way up, class by class, to a Certificate of Mastery in Engineering

Cost: Contact for pricing

125 First St.
Jersey City
201-360-2450
Online: zaniaclearning.com

— Alina Adams

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30 Free Things to Do in June

by rtstephaniekanowitzJune 13, 2019

What’s better than summer fun? Free summer fun! We in the D.C. area are lucky to have access to free stuff year-round, thanks to the Smithsonian Institution and historic government buildings. But during the warmer months, we also can splash in fountains, listen to outdoor concerts, take in outdoor movies and get free stuff just for reading books. Here are 30 free things to do in June.

photo: Evelyn Proimos via flickr

1. Welcome the dinosaurs back.
The David H. Koch Hall of Fossils-Deep Time at the National Museum of Natural History reopens June 8 after a five-year renovation. The new 31,000-square-foot fossil hall is home to about 700 fossil specimens, including insects, reptiles and mammals. There are also lifelike reconstructions of the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex, of course. The space covers 4.6 billion years, so it should take up a good chunk of a single hot summer day. Plus, it’s a permanent exhibit so you can also kill time there on a cold winter day.

When: Jun 8 and beyond, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: 10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW
Online: naturalhistory.si.edu

2. Find out how pandas spend their summer.
Maybe it’s not as black-and-white as you think, right? Check out the new panda exhibit at the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat, which opened in February. A new interactive exhibit inside the panda house – read: out of the sun or rain – covers pandas’ ecology, history, reproduction, conservation and care. Test your knowledge with a trivia game and make like a giant panda in a maze game.

When: Daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Online: nationalzoo.si.edu

3. Channel your inner artist.
Storytime at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum happens twice a week through July. Children experience contemporary art through stories and movement. Museum staff will talk about an artwork on display and read a book before kids get to create some art of their own.

When: Wednesdays at 10 a.m. -11 a.m., Sundays at 11 a.m.-noon
Where: Independence Ave. and 7th St., SW
Online: hirshhorn.si.edu

4. Get on the right side of the law.
The National Law Enforcement Museum is hosting a free Family Fun Day that gives everyone access to all museum exhibits, including the U.S. Park Police Eagle One helicopter and 911 Emergency Ops. Additionally, there will be a maker station, photo booth, scavenger hunt, face painting and other activities.

When: Jun 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: 444 E. St., NW
Online: lawenforcementmuseum.org

photo: drtoonz via flickr

5. Give a green thumbs-up.
The Children’s Garden at the U.S. Botanic Garden was recently renovated and offers dirt for digging, plants for tending and a play structure for climbing. Other improvements include a kiwifruit vine tunnel and more shaded areas. Gardening tools and watering cans are available for use. Visit the garden later in the day and stick around for the 2019 Summer American Roots Music Concert Series. June shows take place on the 13th and 27th from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

When: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 100 Maryland Ave., SW
Online: usbg.gov

6. Go back in time.
The National Archives has various programs for children and families, such as . On June 1, stop in for “The ‘Write’ Stuff Family Activities” at 1:30 p.m. where kids can meet award-winning authors and illustrators and do activities that explore the methods and strategies they use to integrate research into their works. There’s also a monthly story time for preschoolers when kids 3-5 will hear a story, do a craft and be part of group activities.

When: Archives are open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, check schedule for events
Where: 701 Constitution Ave., NW
Online: museum.archives.gov

7. Gaze starward.
Look to the night sky from the comfort of a reclining chair in an air conditioned building at Rock Creek Park’s Nature Center and Planetarium, operated by the National Park Service. Check out a show for young astronomers at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays or come for a fuller program on Saturdays and Sundays. Pick up your free tickets at the Nature Center beginning 30 minutes before the show starts.

When: Wednesdays and weekends, check calendar for times
Where: 5200 Glover Rd., NW
Online: nps.gov/rocr

8. Get creative at Imagination Bethesda.
This annual festival focuses on kiddos. The downtown area will be dotted by activity tents offering arts and crafts, games and face painting. There will also be live entertainment and food vendors. Businesses that plan to attend include the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, whose tent will have a make-your-own carousel craft; CityDance, which will offer classes throughout the day; and the Washington Conservatory of Music, which will have a musical instrument craft and demonstration.

When: Jun 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Woodmont Ave. and Elm St. (Bethesda, MD)
Online: bethesda.org

9. Go for a tune-up.
Head to the 38th Annual Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park to see and hear performances of traditional dance and music. Artists are local but from cultures found nationwide and internationally. Fine and handmade crafts will be for sale. While you’re here, take a spin on the historic 1921 Dentzel Carousel, which costs $1.25 per ride, or stop in at the Glen Echo Park Aquarium ($7/person, $5/military and seniors, free/ages 2 and younger), where the Touch Tank is a particular delight.

When: June 1-2, noon-7 p.m.
Where: 7300 MacArthur Blvd. (Glen Echo, MD)
Online: fsgw.org

photo: John Sonderman via flickr

10. Go for another tune-up.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a beloved local event. This year’s theme is music’s power to entertain, educate, inspire and build community. Established in 1967, the event typically runs for two weeks, but this year it will be two days, so catch the live music, instrument workshops for all ages, food trucks, craft-making opportunities and cooking demonstrations while you can. Musicians include the Bright Siders, a two-women group that makes songs for kids.

When: June 29-30
Where: National Mall
Online: festival.si.edu

11. Perfect your jazz hands.
Part of the DC Jazz Festival, Jazz ’N Families Fun Days offer free shows at the Phillips Collection. Artists include D.C.-born and North Carolina-raised Herman Burney, trumpeter Donvonte McCoy and D.C.’s own Heidi Martin, a teaching artist who gets kids into the beat through singing, dancing and instrument playing. For grownups or budding jazz fans, the festival also offers four stages of free performances June 7-16 at the Wharf – not to mention an Education Village with a Meet the Artist Series.

When: June 1 at 10 a.m., June 2 at noon
Where: 1600 21st N., NW
Online: dcjazzfest.org

12. Support love.
The Capital Pride festival is well-known for its annual parade and related gay pride events, but besides ornate floats, there’s also a Family and Educational Area and Fun Zone that will have a 30-foot water slide and misting tents. Find food vendors and face painters in this spot, too. The Monument Festival Stage and Capitol Concert Stage are both open to all ages and will display musical and dance talent.

When: June 9, noon-7 p.m.
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street, NW
Online: capitalpride.org

13. Get cultured at the Kennedy Center.
Take in one or several of the iconic performing arts centers daily free shows. Upcoming performances include “Target Family Night: The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras” on June 4, Los Cenzontles on June 24 and the Eurasia Festival on June 25. Check the schedule for a full list of performers.

When: Daily, 6 p.m.
Where: 2700 F St., NW
Online: kennedy-center.org

photo: flickr

14. Catch an outdoor movie.
Check out the schedule of films set to play at National Harbor twice a week this summer. All are kid-friendly, but some may be friendlier than others. Recent favorites such as “The LEGO Movie 2” and classics such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” are on tap. Bring a lawn chair and get there early to snag a good spot.

When: Thursdays at 7 p.m., Sundays at 6 p.m.
Where: 165 Waterfront St. (National Harbor, MD)
Online: nationalharbor.com

15. Listen to stories outside.
CityCenterDC and D.C. Public Libraries are hosting Kids Corner each week from June 6-Sept. 25. Librarians will read books for 30-40 minutes and incorporate songs and fingerplays to keep little ones listening. To cool off before or after the show, stop by the fountains, where kids – and grownups – can get doused.

When: Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Where: 10th and H Sts., NW
Online: citycenterdc.com

16. Listen while you splash.
Kids in Canal is back this year with weekly children’s performances including magic by the Great Zucchini, music by Rocknoceros and science by Mad Science. Nearby are fun dancing water fountains to keep kids cool and entertained before and/or after the show.

When: Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Where: 10th and H Sts., NW
Online: citycenterdc.com

17. Rock out in Rockville.
Rockville Town Square offers the Friday Night Live concert series for all ages on select Friday evenings through September. Head out to hear reggae, salsa, swing, ’80s tunes and more. Restaurants and cafes dot the development, so you won’t go hungry – or without bribes for fidgety littles. And of course, there’s a splash pad for those hot summer nights.

When: Select Fridays through Sept. 27 at 6-9 p.m.
Where: 200 E. Middle Ln. (Rockville, MD)
Online: rockvilletownsquare.com

18. Move to the music.
Fairfax County’s Arts in the Parks program is tailored specifically for kiddos. Available at four locations – Burke Lake, Mason District, E.C. Lawrence and Frying Pan Farm parks – twice a week, there’s bound to be a performer your little one will love. An annual program, this year’s performers include 123 Andres, Blue Sky Puppet Theater, The grandsons jr., the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and Rocknoceros. There are also non-musical shows, such as Wonderful Wildlife, a nature program, and magicians.

When: Saturdays and Wednesdays, 10-10:45 a.m.
Where: See schedule
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

photo: kai.bates via flickr

19. Just get out(side).
The Wharf has tons of children’s activities this summer, including oversized games like Scrabble; a fountain to splash in; and a scavenger hunt to find 30 historic markers and plaques. Hop on the free Wharf Jitney to East Potomac Park to get a change of scenery, or take the free Southwest Shuttle Bus to the National Mall to museum hop. Note that The Wharf offers a free summer concert series every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Transit Pier.

When: See website for details
Where: 1100 Maine Ave., SW
Online: wharfdc.com

20. Yards of fun.
This place takes spraygrounds to another level – literally. Stop at the Dancing Fountains at the park’s entrance and then head to the Canal Basin and Waterwall, where guests can wade in the shallow pool or get blasted by the waterfall. Dry off by strolling through River Street Gardens or along the Boardwalk, a quarter-mile stretch that is part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail System. And if that’s enough, check out one of the special summertime events. June 6 there’s an ice cream social and game night during which guests get a free mini scoop of ice cream while playing oversize games such as chess and Jenga.

When: See website for details
Where: 355 Water St., SE
Online: capitolriverfront.org

21. Have some watered-down fun.
Fairfax County’s Our Special Harbor is a fully accessible spray park at Lee District Park. The Chesapeake Bay-themed sprayground has a spraying osprey nest, Chessie the sea serpent, misting sunflowers and a lighthouse. The beach area has low-ley bubblers and interactive water tables, but for more of a shock, stand under the dumping crab bucket. Aquatic shoes with a back strap are required for children 15 and younger. Adults can wear flip-flops as long as they also have a back strap.

When: Weekends only through June 9, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 14-Sept. 2
Where: 6601 Telegraph Rd. (Franconia, VA)
Online: fairfaxcounty.gov

22. Float a boat.
Although many kids like to spend the summer submerged in a pool or ocean, the Anacostia Watershed Society invites them – and their grownups – to the surface. The Anacostia River Discovery Series has weekly events through October to get folks acquainted with the water. There are one- to two-hour canoe tours, motorized boat tours and paddle nights during which participants take one of the organization’s canoes or kayaks out on their own. For landlubbers, there are nature hikes and bike rides, too. Everyone in a boat needs a flotation device, and if you’re bringing a child younger than 3, bring your own.

When: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., the first Saturday of the month through October at 10 a.m.
Where: Check website
Online: anacostiaws.org

23. Avoid summer brain drain.
Most public library systems have a program in which kids can read to dogs. The D.C. Public Library has the P.A.L. (People Animals Love) Dog Visit program for children ages 4-12. Kids can practice reading while snuggling or petting a furry friend. While at the library, grab a free summer reading program sheet, which many systems also offer. After kids read a certain number of books, they receive a coupon book or other reward.

When: Check website for details
Where: Check website for details
Online: dclibrary.org

24. Revel in the spoken word.
Twice a month, storytellers take to Mosaic District’s Strawberry Park to give interactive performances for the 10 and under set. In June, Barbara Effron of the Voices in the Glen storytelling guild will combine tales and music at the “Stories on Strawberry Lane” program. Stick around to play in the fountains or bring a ball or frisbee to toss on the expansive turf.

When: First and third Thursdays through Oct. 8, 10-11 a.m.
Where: 2905 District Ave. (Fairfax, VA)
Online: mosaicdistrict.com

25. Join a book club.
The American Girl store at Tysons Corner offers a monthly book club during which attendees can chat about American Girl stories, including the BeForever and Contemporary characters. Afterward, they do a craft and take home a goody bag. Reservations are required, and the age recommendation is 8 and up.

When: June 23, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Where: 8090 Tysons Corner Center (McLean, VA)
Online: americangirl.com

photo: erikvienneau via flickr

26. Find your Zen.
Bring a mat, towel and some water to the central plaza at Fairfax Corner to enjoy free yoga classes with instructors from CorePower Yoga. Classes are open to all levels, including kids. Afterward, grab a table or a spot on the comfy blue couch and cool off in the fountain.

When: Saturdays through Aug. 31, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Where: 4100 Monument Corner Dr. (Fairfax, VA)
Online: fairfaxcorner.com

27. Get a tattoo.
OK, don’t really get a tattoo, but we got your attention, right? The U.S. Army Military District of Washington’s Twilight Tattoo program is an hourlong military pageant featuring soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Old Guard) and the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” Listen as vocalists, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and others go back in American history.

When: Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 31, pre-ceremony pageantry at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
Where: Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, 204 Lee Ave., Fort Myer
Online: twilight.mdw.army.mil

28. Go back to school.
But just to the playground. Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, has a pretty sweet playground that is open to the public when school isn’t in session. The play equipment, made of natural materials – as opposed to brightly colored plastic and metal – includes a rock wall, ropes courses, slides, monkey bars, swings and balance challenges.

When: Daily, dawn to dusk with school is out, 6 p.m. to dusk when it’s in session
Where: 3500 Woodley Rd., NW
Online: beauvoirschool.org

29. Get rec’d.
Arlington County Parks and Recreation’s Rec on Wheels summer program brings recreation to you. Staff members will be at parks weekly to provide activities and programming for all ages. In July and August, there are special events on select Fridays, too.

When: Mondays-Thursdays, June 24-Aug. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Check website
Online: parks.arlingtonva.us

30. Skate through summer.
Get weekly free admission to Skate Zone through the Kids Skate Free program. Open to kiddos ages 12 and younger, skate rental does come at a cost of $4.50. Additionally, the rink has partnered with the Anne Arundel County Public Library for the 5th Annual Read and Roll Program. Kids who sign up for the Summer @ Your Library program get a Skate Zone bookmark that’s good for five free admissions.

When: Wednesdays, 6:30-9 p.m., Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 1-3 p.m.
Where: 1082 Route 3 (South Crofton, MD)
Online: sk8zone.com

—Stephanie Kanowitz

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10 Amazing Adventures You Can Only Find in Wisconsin Dells

by Erin LemMay 30, 2019

Well-known as The Waterpark Capital of the World, Wisconsin Dells does way more than provide waterpark thrills and adventures on more than 200 plunge drops, tube rides, racing speed slides, bowls, water roller coasters, surf machines, wave pools and lazy rivers. And, of course, there’s a plethora of other attractions for all ages as well. This family-friendly destination brings multigenerational relatives together—the indelible memories created here will be the fodder for stories told around the dinner table for years to come. Pack the kids in the car, set out on a short three-hour road trip, and see for yourself why Wisconsin Dells has been touted as one of the Midwest’s best-rated vacation hot spots. Here are 10 ways families can enjoy Wisconsin Dells.

Fun for Everyone: Noah’s Ark Waterpark

Noah's Ark Waterpark

Start your vacation by diving into one of the best waterparks to start your vacation: Noah’s Ark Waterpark, America’s largest waterpark, spanning a whopping 70 acres with three miles of waterslides.

The smallest littles of your group will love splashing around in one of the four children’s water play areas or with a parent in one of the two wave pools. Paradise Lagoon has special rides and slides built just for them. Older kids will have a hard time not screaming on Raja: The World’s Largest King Cobra, which starts six stories up in the air and ends with a trip through the snake’s mouth. The Black Anaconda is a raft jaunt that three people can experience, and Time Warp is a bowl design that four family members can enjoy. If you need a break from the sun, check out the 4-D Dive-In Theater or the Safari Adventure Mini Golf, ideal for the whole family.

Online: noahsarkwaterpark.com

Through the Trees You’ll Go: Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort

Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort via Facebook

Wisconsin Dells houses over 8,000 hotel rooms, so picking the right one might seem a herculean task. Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort wins for being America’s largest indoor and outdoor combination waterpark and resort, built to thrill with over 500,000 square-feet of waterpark fun—that’s the same size as 12 football fields! Spend your day splashing around in four indoor and four outdoor waterparks at this resort—cabanas are available throughout to enhance your stay.

If you’d like to check out the dry adventures, pop over to the: Click ‘N Climb Challenge Walls, indoor and outdoor Go-Karts, CYvrSPACE Virtual Arena, Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course, Wild West Bumper Boats, indoor and outdoor mini golf, Mega Prize Arcades, Room Escapes, Timberland Playhouse, Wilderness Canyon Zip Line, and Horse Drawn Wagon Rides. You won’t go bored here, that’s for certain.

Online: wildernessresort.com

Go on a Water Safari: Kalahari Resort Waterpark

Kalahari Resort Waterpark

The award for the largest indoor waterpark in Wisconsin, traversing 125,000 square-feet, goes to Kalahari Resort Waterpark. Everyone, from young to young-at-heart, will enjoy a stay at this resort, which features a world-class spa, with manicure, pedicure, facial and massage treatments even for kids; varied dining, including options for even the pickiest of eaters; and a huge indoor waterpark. If your kids have ever dreamed of becoming a mermaid, shark or surfer, the Kalahari Resort Waterpark’s trainers can help.

Of course, there are plenty of other activities to do here as well: bowling, arcade, escape room, and The Arena virtual reality experience. Tom Foolerys Adventure Park features 100,000 square-feet of interactive fun for the whole family with awe-inspiring rides, activities and games. Siblings will magically play together and have those bonding moments that all parents hope for.

Online: kalahariresorts.com/wisconsin

Get Your Thrills: Amusement Parks That Can't Be Beat

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

For thrill-seekers, or for people who like to watch from the safety of the ground, there are numerous amusement parks in Wisconsin Dells, perfect for the intrepid members of your family.

BigFoot Zipline Tours
Fly through the oak and pine trees, from tower to tower, on Wisconsin Dells’ first zipline. Seven separate paths will provide hours of smile-inducing fun for your family. For special savings, purchase a package and enjoy multiple area attractions like the Dells Army Duck Tours, WildThing Jet Boats and BigFoot Zipline Tours.

Online: bigfootzip.com

Big Chief's Go Karts
This family-friendly classic adventure is not only adventuresome but also, it’s affordable. For only $3.00, you’ll ride up and over hills and around hairpin turns with as much speed as you can muster. Grab some noshes and drinks afterward—definitely not before, unless your stomach is made of steel—at Pizza Pub, B-LUX Grill & Bar, Mr. Pancake, or Dairy Queen.

Online: wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-area/attractions/big-chiefs-race-mountain.htm

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park

Heightened Adventures
Heightened Adventures offers a Zip Line and Adventure Park located within Chula Vista Resort on six tree-filled acres. Seven zip lines and four ropes courses will keep your kids busy and active—it will be the best screen-free “online” experience yet. If mom and dad want to join in on the fun, there’s a Black Course for confident climbers over age 12, full of challenging obstacles and zip lines.

Online: heightenedadventures.com/

Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
Wisconsin Dells is known for having a lot of “firsts” and “biggest” attractions and Mt. Olympus is no different. It’s here that you’ll find the world’s first upside down wooden rollercoaster, with the world’s longest underground tunnel: Hades 360 Wooden Rollercoaster. Other must-visit attractions include: The Underworld Go-Kart Track, The Manticore swings, Almighty Hermes Swing, Cyclops Rollercoaster, Little Titans Rollercoaster, Kiddie Train, and more.

Online: mtolympuspark.com/

Canyon Creek Riding Stables Scenic Tour

vicki watkins via flickr

There are multiple ways to get in and around Wisconsin Dells through informative and fun scenic tours. Dells Trolley Tours, Ghost Boat’s “Journey to Haunted Canyon”, Lost Canyon Tours’ horse-drawn carriage rides, and Baraboo Tours for pedicabs are all standouts worth looking into for a memorable afternoon.

Canyon Creek Riding Stables is one of those adventures that sticks with you long after you’ve dismounted your horse. Go on a one-hour trail ride with your family, taking in nature’s beauty at every turn—ancient rock formations and a waterfall will delight every rider. Journey through a 200-foot tunnel, see Boot Hill Cemetery, and explore Canyon Creek’s Tombstone western town, where you’ll be greeted by the local sheriff and possibly Jailhouse Bob. Once you return, don’t forget to visit the petting zoo where you can feed farm animals.

Online: canyoncreekridingstable.com/

Magic, Oddities, and Wonder: Museums

Great Wolf Lodge

Wisconsin Dells abounds with interactive activities that are sure to spark your imagination and get your creative juices flowing. Challenge your brain power at Ripley Believe It or Not! Museum. Test your gem-finding skills and intuitive powers at Great Wolf Lodge’s MagiQuest and ShadowQuest collaborative games. Find the elusive golden skull at the Lost Temple. Pan for gold at Dells Mining Co. Learn about photography at H.H. Bennett Studio.

“Ooh” and “Ahh” at Wisconsin Dells' Live Shows

Tommy Bartlett Show

Circus World in Baraboo is entertaining for all ages, Palace Theater in the Dells showcases Broadway musicals and Disney classics, and the Crystal Grand Music Theatre is perfect for music lovers. For a classic Wisconsin experience, however, don’t miss the Dells Lumberjack Show. Watch brawny lumberjacks, made strong by that good Wisconsin dairy, compete in Canoe Jousting, Standing Block Chop, Ax Throwing, and Crosscut Sawing.

Popular amongst visitors is the Tommy Bartlett Show, a 90 minute, action-packed live event that will have you on the edge of your seats. With stunts, acrobatics and water skiers, this is anything but your ordinary show. It's been wow-ing fans for 67 years with extreme water skiing, incredible boat stunts and light-hearted comedy.

Online: tommybartlett.com/water-show/

Go Wild: Timbavati Wildlife Park

Timbavati Wildlife Park

Watch 70 different species of animals, roam around as you ride on the Old Fort Dells Engine Number 9 Safari Train Ride. You can see more than 400 animals here, including an Artic fox, sloth, kangaroo, wildebeest, lion, and tiger. Timbavati Wildlife Park has it all—Swine Time Pig Racing, illuminating wildlife presentations, giraffe and camel feeding stations, and a large petting zoo and animal nursery for hands-on animal encounters. For a great lay of the land, start your adventure at the observation tower. You’ll spot things that you never thought possible for a day in Wisconsin.

Online: timbavatiwildlifepark.com/

Explore Downtown Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells

A change of scenery, outside of the waterparks and adventure courses of the Dells, might be in order. Visit downtown, which is accessible and walkable and worth a look-see. Buy souvenirs at one of the many gift shops, sip espresso in a coffee house, and even get a photo keepsake at Capone's Original Old Time Picture Studio (there are a number of these photo studios). Downtown is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner, treat the kids to fudge and candy, see what you can find in one of the antique shops, and stretch your legs along the Scenic River Walk. You might just surprise yourself with what you’ll find.

Online: wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-area/attractions/scenicriverwalk.htm

Visit a Hands-On Interactive Exhibit

The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory

The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory – Interactive Science Center, formerly known as Robot World, will delight and inspire your family through interactive scientific discoveries and science. This exhibit is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) at its best, an educator’s dream. With 175 opportunities for learning, your kids will delve deep into science experiments, space exploration, technology-heavy activities and games of skill. This is the sort of place that a young kid can enjoy alongside an older sibling—in short, it’s fun for all.

Online: tommybartlett.com/exploratory/

Ready to start making more amazing memories with your family? Plan your family vacation now at wisdells.com

—Wendy Altschuler

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“Try your best to make goodness attractive. That’s one of the toughest assignments you’ll ever be given.”—Fred Rogers

Day 1: Mister Rogers’ Childhood: Latrobe, PA

Start Here: Fred Rogers Center

Take a Seat & Stay Awhile

Living History

Take a Little Drive

“When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong with the fearful, the true mixed in with the façade, and of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way.”—Fred Rogers

Don’t Miss: Idlewild

Spend Days 2 & 3: In and Around Mister Rogers’ Pittsburgh

“In every neighborhood, all across our country, there are good people insisting on a good start for the young, and doing something about it.”—Fred Rogers

Day 2: Head to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and Museum Lab

End your day with a vertical trolley trip: Duquesne Incline

Day 3: The Senator John Heinz History Center

“Love and trust, in the space between what’s said and what’s heard in our life, can make all the difference in this world.”—Fred Rogers

A Giant Among Men

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“What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”—Fred Rogers

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Fun for Everyone: Noah’s Ark Waterpark

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