ML Interest Tag: mammoth

This Is the First Fully-Certified Autism-Inclusive Air Carrier

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Traveling with kids isn’t always easy, but for kids with autism traveling presents a whole new set of unique challenges. One airline is hoping to help these families by becoming the first fully-certified autism-inclusive air carrier.

JetSuiteX has been working since last year to earn this special certification in order to help passengers with autism travel more comfortably. The certification process involves training airport services crew members, pilots and flight attendants to educate them on the important issues surrounding travel for those with autism. The training includes instruction on how issues may present in specific situations, and what JetSuiteX crew members can do to help minimize discomfort.

photo: Courtesy of JetSuiteX

As of now 80 percent of JetSuiteX’s fronting crew members have been trained and certified, putting the company on track to meet it’s goal of 100 percent certification. As a private carrier, JetSuiteX also flies out of private terminals which helps eliminate the need to wait in lines and crowds.

JetSuiteX has partnered with Autism Double-Checked on this initiative and will host a special event inviting families and kids with autism to participate in a mock flight. Those who register in advance can experience checking-in and boarding a plane without actually flying anywhere. The event takes place Apr. 27 at the Burbank Airport in Burbank, California.

JetSuiteX currently services local California flights out of Orange County (SNA), Las Vegas (LAS), Concord/East Bay (CCR), Oakland (OAK) and Burbank (BUR), as well as Coachella Valley/Thermal (TRM) and Mammoth (MMH) seasonally.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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The Dalles: 5 Adventures to Put on Your To-Do List

by Carrie Uffindell

Sun-drenched plateaus, Oregon’s oldest bookstore, a 13-foot Columbian mammoth — you and the kids will discover all this (and more!) in The Dalles, Oregon. Located about 75 miles east of Portland, this laid-back city makes an easy day trip or multi-day getaway. Read on to learn more about some of our favorite spots for family fun in The Dalles.

Hiking in the Tom McCall Preserve, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena

Get a bird’s eye view of the area (and stretch your legs) with a stop at the 231-acre Tom McCall Preserve, located on a plateau overlooking the Gorge. This is where the rainy, forested west side of the Cascades gives way to the grassy, sunny prairies of the east. You can also explore one of the preserve’s two trails: a one-mile trail that crosses the plateau, encircling a permanent pond, and the two-mile McCall Point Trail, which begins at the south side of the turnaround and gains around 1,000 feet in elevation.

Pro tip: Colorful wildflowers usually carpet the plateau from late February through June. No dogs or bicycles are allowed; this is to protect rare plants and sensitive wildlife.

Tom McCall Preserve
Hours: Open daily
Old Columbia River Scenic Highway (Highway 30), between Hood River and The Dalles
Online: nature.org

Exhibit at The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum

The exhibits in this impressive 48,200 square foot timber-and-glass facility explore regional plant and wildlife, eleven thousand years of local history and catastrophic floods that carved out the Gorge. An impressive life-sized Columbia mammoth dominates the Ice Age section of the center. Throughout are more displays where children can learn, touch, dress up and create, including the Kids Explorer Room. When you’re done inside check out the restored grounds, which are home to over 90 native plant species as well as walking paths, a pond and scenic overlooks.

Pro tip: Make a day of it by packing a picnic lunch or grabbing a bite to eat at the center’s Basalt Rock Café. (Think soups, sandwiches and burgers.) Live raptor presentations are in the main foyer every day.

Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center and Museum
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $9/Adult; $7/Senior; $5/Ages 6-16; Free/Ages 5 and under
5000 Discovery Dr.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-8600
Online: gorgediscovery.org

 

Columbian Mammoth, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Sorosis Park

Set high above downtown, this 45-acre city park is filled with the usual amenities: picnic tables, BBQ pits, softball fields, tennis courts and a disc golf course. But what makes this park truly great for families is the sprawling, castle-themed wooden play structure where you can kick back and watch the kids frolic for hours.

Pro tip: If time permits, be sure to check out the park’s wide-angle views of the Gorge.

Sorosis Park
Hours: Open daily
300 E. Scenic Dr.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-9533
Online: nwprd.org/parks

 

On the Riverfront Trail, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Riverfront Trail

Walk, bike and/or stroll along this wide, ten-mile long paved path hugs the scenic southern bank of the Columbia River between the discovery center and The Dalles Dam. Along the way you’ll encounter a learning garden, Lewis and Clark’s Fort Rock campsite, downtown The Dalles, Riverfront Park and more. Pets and strollers are welcome.

Pro tip: Start from the northwest terminus at the discovery center. While the trail has little to no elevation, younger children may tucker out before reaching Riverfront Park six miles away. Fortunately, the trail is accessible approximately every mile between the center and the park. A portion of the trail near The Dalles Dam isn’t complete, between miles eight and ten.

The Riverfront Trail
541-296-9533
Online: nwprd.org/rivertrail

 

Browing at Klindt’s Booksellers, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Klindt’s Booksellers and Stationers

To visit Oregon’s oldest bookstore, which opened its doors in 1870, head to the heart of The Dalles’ historic downtown. Here you can browse amidst the original wooden bookshelves and cabinets. Kids of all ages will love Klindt’s excellent selection of children’s, middle reader and young adult fiction. Unsure where to start? The friendly and knowledgeable are happy to offer recommendations.

Pro tip: Klindt’s hosts regular young adult and middle reader author events and fiction festivals. See their website for more info.

Klindt Booksellers and Stationers
Hours: Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.– 4 p.m.
315 E. 2nd St.
The Dalles, Or
541-296-3355
Online: klindtsbooks.com

What are your favorite family spots in The Dalles? Tell us in the comments below!

— Carrie Uffindell

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A “Mammoth” Brand New 3-D Experience

by LeTania Kirkland Smith

If you think you’ve done the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page Museum, think again. The iconic Los Angeles destination has revamped its old theater and is now offering an eye-popping 3-D experience. The whole family will love Titans of the Ice Age, the first film to screen here. It’s a new view of the Ice Age, the tar pits and how this LA treasure can help unlock mysteries of our past, present and future. Put on your 3-D glasses and step back in time.

photo credit: Page Museum

If you’re like us, you didn’t even realize the Page Museum had a theater!  After a complete overhaul, the theater has opened this summer and the first film they’re showing is a thrilling overview of what the ancient history of the area.

Have you ever visited the Tar Pits and left without a real understanding of the place? Titans of the Ice Age will clear things up for you and the littles. First, meet some of the scientist who have dedicated their lives to unearthing this great mystery. You may leave with little paleontologists in the making. Then enter a North America covered in ice 10,000 years before modern civilization. You will be introduced to the harsh conditions of Pleistocene era and the beasts like mammoths, ground sloths, saber Tooth Cats and Dire Wolves that adapted to survive this icy fate—all up close and personal with that 3-D touch.

photo credit: Page Museum

Watch as dire wolves go on the hunt and a pack of saber tooth cats seize the opportunity for some nourishment of their own. The food chain was not the only factor to contend with; learn how many of these beasts were trapped in liquid asphalt or the “tar pits” as we know them, which provides us with so much of the information we have today.

photo credit: Page Museum

If your little explorers are obsessed with what the paleontologist are working on behind the glass at the museum they will gain a bit more insight with this film. Meet Zed, the almost complete Columbian Mammoth whose skull was recently discovered nearly whole—an exciting find. Page Scientists and volunteers sift through fossils daily to recreate these beasts and a piece of their lives.

The Pleistocene wouldn’t be complete without humans. This film provides an opportunity to see how our kind survived these harsh conditions by harnessing fire, hunting mammoths and using every piece of those great beasts to create warm clothing, weapons and other tools for daily living and trade. Humans, climate change (it’s nothing new) and the natural shift of the earth contributed to the end of the Ice Age and the beginning of the Holocene era in which we live today. These great lessons of the past are clues to the changes our planet continues to experience. Everyone will leave the theater with something to chew on.

photo credit: LeTania Kirkland

While you’re here, be sure to explore the rest of the museum…from the hour-long Excavator Tour (where kids can see the work that continues in the pits today) to the Ice Ages Encounter (on Fri.-Sun, which features a life-size adult Saber-toothed Cat puppet and live performance) to rolling down the giant hill, there’s loads of interactive explorations on the site.  When you come, be sure to dress kids in old play clothes; they’ll love to really experience the tar by finding a big stick and poking in the actual puddles of tar that still bubble up all over the park. (And we can tell you from experience, this stuff does not come out in the wash!)

The film is appropriate for kids 2 & up, but Ice Age Encounters is even more realistic and immediate and can frighten kids under 5.

The Page Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The 25 minute film screens multiple times each day. Admission to the museum is $12 for adults, $5 for kids 3-12, and $9 for 13-17 year olds.  Tickets to the 3D Movie Titans of the Ice Age are an additional $3-$5.  However, your NHM membership not only gets you into the Page Museum for free, it also gets you unlimited viewings of the movie!

La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
323-934-7243
Online: tarpits.org

Have you been to the new show at the Tar Pit Museum?  What’s your favorite part of a visit to this “only in LA” site?  Let us know in the comment section below.

—LeTania Kirkland

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From Caving to Canoeing: These Adventures Will Rock Your Summer

by Helen Walker Green

From spelunking, canyoneering and canoeing to stargazing, fossil hunting and fly-fishing, America’s national parks offer up a ton of exhilarating activities for your tiny explorers. Whether it’s a program led by park rangers or by national parks-approved concessionaires, each one is a spine-tingling good time. Read on to see our 12 picks for coolest national park adventures. Bonus: Find out how to help them become Junior Civil War Historians!

photo: Zion Rock & Mountain Guides via Facebook

Canyoneering in Zion National Park, Utah
Climb, hike, swim and rappel through one of the most stunning landscapes in North America. Zion Rock & Mountain Guides will take the family on a canyoneering adventure—no experience necessary. You’ll rappel in amazing slot canyons, down-climb over rock chimneys, swim in pools and explore places very few people see. The guides tailor the trip to your comfort level, so little canyoneers can enjoy the challenge without being in over their heads!

Cost: Full Day (6-8 hrs) $150-$110/person depending on number of climbers. Short Day (4-5 hrs) $130-$115/person depending on number of climbers.
Ages: 4 & up Open: Year-round Zion Rock & Mountain Guides Family Canyoneering Adventure

1458 Zion Park Blvd.
Springdale, Ut 84767
435-772-3303
Online: zionrockguides.com

Photo: National Park Service

Meet Sled-Dogs in Denali National Park, Alaska
Skeeter has a silly side, Annie is a social butterfly, Red Top likes to snuggle—who are these guys? They’re the sled dogs of Alaska’s Denali National Park. These Alaskan huskies are the only sled dogs in the USA that help protect a national park and the wildlife that lives there. In winter they’re working dogs, but in summer they like to play and love being petted by visitors. Take a ranger-led tour of the kennels, and learn how a dog sled works. Who knows, this visit may inspire a future Iditarod contender in your family!

Cost: Free All ages Ranger-led tours in summer only (mid-May – mid-Sept.) Kennels open to visitors year-round. Accessible via courtesy shuttle bus from Denali Visitor Center bus stop. Be at bus stop 40 mins before your tour starts.

Sled Dog Demonstration & Kennel Visit
Denali National Park George Parks Hwy.
Denali Park, Ak 99755
907-683-9532
Online: nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/sled-dog-demonstrations

photo: Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater via Facebook

Dive-In to Acadia National Park, Maine
Diver Ed will take you and your crew ‘o landlubbers out on his ship, The Starfish Enterprise, to boldly go where only a few kids have gone before. Ed and his Playmobil sidekick “Mini Ed” dive down with special video and sound gear that lets you see and hear the ocean floor in real time from the comfort of the deck. When Ed and Mini Ed come back up, they bring the creatures with them! You’ll have a chance to get up-close-and-personal with sea cucumbers, toad crabs, scale worms, lobsters, scallops and more from the underwater world of Acadia National Park. Don’t worry, all the creatures are safely returned to their homes.

Open: Year-round

Good to know: You can also catch a tour with a park ranger/naturalist on board. These are extended tours geared towards grownups but children are always welcome too. Cool bonus: Diver Ed’s Newfoundland Water Rescue Dogs go along on the trips.
Cost: $15/4 & under, $30/5-11, $40/12+, $35/senior, Reservations recommended. All ages

Dive-In Theater with Diver Ed
105 Eden St.
Bar Harbor, Me 04609
207-288-3483
Online: divered.com

photo: Grand Canyon Railway

Take a Train to Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
“This is a stick up!” Watch out for wild west villains on the Grand Canyon Railway. Make your young cowgirl or cowboy’s first trip to the Grand Canyon extra special by throwing in a vintage locomotive ride (train robbery, shoot out and cowboy songs included) from Williams, Az to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. You’ll ride in your choice of classic train car: Coach Class, First Class or Observation Dome, all stellar spots for taking in the stunning views.

Cost: 2 & under are free. Coach Class Round Trip $45/ages 2-15, $75/ages 16+; First Class Round Trip $110/ages 2-15, $140/ages 16+; Observation Dome Round Trip $140/ages 2-15, $170/ages 16+
Age: All ages

Grand Canyon Railway Williams Depot
233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd.
Williams, Az 86046
928-635-4253
Online: thetrain.com

photo: Amy Moore via Everything Everywhere Travel

Hike IN a Volcano at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
A ranger-led hike of the Kīlauea Iki (little Kīlauea) trail will take you and your mini-volcanologists deep into the heart of Kilauea—a living volcano. You’ll see warm lava, hot steaming vents, cinder cones and spatter cones as you trek across the cracked floor of Kīlauea Iki Crater lava lake.  Peer into the vent that erupted in 1959, shooting lava 1900 feet into the air to form the crater – it’s below the Pu‘u Pua‘i cinder cone (Pu‘u Pua‘i means Gushing Hill in Hawaiian). Head over to the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park web site for upcoming tours. If there’s no ranger-led hike when you’re visiting, your family can enjoy the hike anyways.  Check out Amy Moore’s adventures on the trail with her 4 and 6 year-old kiddos on Everything Everywhere Travel.

Good to know: Be sure to wear sturdy footwear and a hat. Bring rain gear and layer clothing (you may need warm clothes when you’re up high). Take along lots of water to stay hydrated. Healthy snacks are a must too! Kīlauea Iki Trail Round Trip: 4 miles Elevation 3,874 feet, see Trail Guide.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
1 Crater Rim Dr.
Hawaii National Park, Hi 96718
808-985-6000
Online: nps.gov/havo

photo: Leon Reed via Flickr circa 1956

Fossil Hunting at Badlands National Park, South Dakota
If you’ve got a fossil nut in the family, Badlands National Park is the place for you. Prehistoric rhinos, three-toed horses, saber-toothed cats and more roamed here—and left behind one of the richest fossil beds in the world. Rangers will tell you all you need to know about the kind of fossils that can be find in the park, and what they reveal about the ancient life of the area. Visit the Paleontology Lab and watch paleontologists working with fossils. Then don a hat, sunscreen and closed-toed shoes (don’t forget the water bottle) and dig for fossils along the White River Badlands Trail.  Maybe your little diggers will come across an undiscovered ancient species!

Good to know: Ranger-Led Programs run Memorial Day Weekend to just after Labor Day Weekend.

Cost: Free
Age: All ages

Badlands National Park
25216 Ben Reifel Rd.
Interior, Sd 57750
605-433-5361
Online: nps.gov/badl

photo: James Marvin Phelps via Flickr

Stargazing in Death Valley National Park, California
“The sky begins at your feet!” says an old advertisement for Death Valley National Park. Death Valley has some of the darkest night skies in North America, which make it perfect for watching shooting stars, viewing the Milky Way, and even the distant Andromeda Galaxy. For your visit to the hottest place on Earth, check in at the aptly-named Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Park rangers offer night sky programs and hold stargazing events with astronomy organizations – kids can peer through a high-powered telescope for a stellar experience!

Open: Winter and Spring

Good to know: Death Valley is certified by the International Dark-Sky Association. This means the night skies are very dark there and minimally impacted by city lights.

Program Cost: Free
Ages: All ages

Death Valley National Park
Death Valley, Ca 92328
760-786-3200
Online: nps.gov/deva/index.htm

photo: Austria01 via TripAdvisor

Watch Bats Fly at Carlsbard Caverns National Park, New Mexico
Things are going batty in New Mexico! – Every summer evening, a swarm of Brazilian Free-tailed bats take to the skies in search of food. Your family can watch the bats’ exodus from the outdoor amphitheater at Carlsbad Caverns. Rangers tell you all about them and unlock the secrets of a bat’s life. Early risers can watch the pre-dawn return of the bats, and see their spectacular dives back into the cavern – reaching speeds of 25 mph!

Open: Summer

Good to know: The best bat flights are in July and August when baby bats join the flight.

Bat Flight Program Cost: Free, Reservations not required.
Ages: All ages

Carlsbad Caverns National Park
3225 National Parks Hwy.
Carlsbad, Nm 88220
575-785-3012
Online: nps.gov/cave

photo: National Park Service

Canoeing in Congaree National Park, South Carolina
Known as “the redwoods of the east,” Conagree National Park is home to rare old-growth bottomland trees – most of the old-growth forests in the eastern US were lost to logging but Conagree’s trees have been preserved. The 6 and up set can explore the wilderness on a ranger-led canoe trip down Cedar Creek. Look out for the towering Loblolly Pine, a huge Sweetgum, and Persimmons.  Watch out for swamps too!

Good to know:  Check out the just-opened “Kids in Parks” TRACK Trail – a 2.1 mile loop through some amazing forest in Congaree. Head over to Kids in Parks web site for bug spotting, scavenger hunts and more.

Guided Canoe Tours Cost: Free
Ages: At least one adult (18 or older) must be in each canoe. PFD’s are provided but participants must also know how to swim without the aid of one.

Congaree National Park
100 National Park Rd.
Hopkins, Sc 29061
803-776-4396
Online: nps.gov/cong

photo: Becky Gregory via Flickr  

Become a Young Scientist at Yellowstone National Park, Montana & Wyoming
Kids 5 and up can earn a Young Scientist patch (14 and over get a key ring) in a program that’s just at Yellowstone. Purchase a self-guiding booklet for $5 – then solve science mysteries in the park. Discover the science behind bubbling mud pots, spurting geysers and amazing hot springs – and the history of the fascinating animals that call Yellowstone home (including the return of the grey wolf).

Good to know: Let them test their animal instincts. Kids can take part in Wildlife Olympics—comparing their skills to animals’! Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at various locations. See schedule for details. Self-guiding booklets available at the Canyon and Old Faithful Visitor Centers.

Cost: $5 Ages 5-9: Self-guiding booklet available at the Old Faithful Visitor Center (where you’ll also need to borrow a Young Scientist Toolkit to help with investigations).
Ages: 10-13 and 14 & up (including grownups).

Yellowstone National Park
Wy 82190
307-344-7381
Online: nps.gov/yell

photo: National Park Service

Spelunking in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
No parents allowed! Kids 8-12 can take the Trog Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park; they’ll explore the subterranean life of the world’s longest known cave on this off-trail adventure. Young cavers will hike, crawl and belly-slide through secret passages and learn all about the animals of Mammoth Cave and how they survive in the darkness. The Trog Tour is cool (in both senses of the word) but they’ll be snug in provided coveralls (just bring shorts and t-shirt to wear underneath). The 10 and up set can even try a Beginning Caving class! All equipment (coveralls, helmets, knee pads and head lamps) is provided by the park. Visitors must provide their own boots. No personal caving equipment allowed. Parents, guardians and/or chaperones must attend the first 30 mins of the tour to assist when children “suit up” with their equipment.

Trog Tour Cost: $16; 2 p.m. daily Reservations strongly recommended.
Ages: 8 – 12

Mammoth Cave National Park
1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy.
Mammoth Cave, Ky 42259
270-758-2180 Online: nps.gov/maca

photo: Fly Fishing the Smokies

Fly Fishing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
“It was this big!” Little fishermen and women will be telling you tall tales of the one that got away after this awesome fly-fishing experience in the Smokies. Your family can explore the mountains and streams on a private fly-fishing trip – kiddos are supplied with kid-sized rods and waders. The patient guides will teach the kids to fly-fish (if they’re not already experts) – it’s easy to learn, and fun, especially when they catch the big one!

Cost: $87.50/person
Ages: No minimum age (5 & up recommended)

Good to know: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of several national parks and battlefields where kids can become a Junior Civil War Historian. Read on for more.

Fly Fishing the Smokies
Bryson City, Nc
828-488-7665
Online: flyfishingthesmokies.net
Become a Civil War Historian
History buffs can learn all about the Civil War at national parks and battlefields and earn a special badge too. Parks include: Natchez National Historical Park, where your family can see what life was like in the American South just before the Civil War; and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield where the first major battle west of the Mississippi was fought.

Online: www.nps.gov

photo: Helen Walker Green

Passport to Your National Parks
Do you and the fam like to visit as many National Parks as you can? Keep a record of the parks you’ve visited with the Passport to Your National Parks. Buy a Passport at most Ranger Stations and Vistor Centers and online at eParks.com and don’t forget to let your Junior Ranger ask a Park Ranger for a park passport stamp. The passport has tons of info and maps, and there’s even a Kid’s Passport Companion. Passport To Your National Parks $8.95 Kids’ Passport To Your National Parks Companion $6.95 Passport To Your National Parks and Kids’ Passport Companion Set $14.95 Check out other ways kids can enjoy national parks on the National Parks web site.

What are your favorite national parks adventures for kids? Do you plan on trying any of the activities featured here? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Helen Walker Green

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Bake Sale: 5 Spots to Score Chocolate Chip Cookies in Atlanta

by Phebe Wahl

In honor of National Chocolate Chip Cookie day on May 15th, we wanted to serve up some sweet spots in Atlanta where you can score the best of the batch. Whether you like your chocolate chip cookies crispy or soft, Atlanta offers an array of award-winning choices sure to please even the most discerning cookie connoisseur. Go ahead, try them all. It’s all part of the job, right mom?

The Cookie Studio
The Cookie Studio is often lauded for the “best cookies in Atlanta,” and their choclate chip is no exception. They offer an assortment of cookie and sweet treats including gluten-free options and coffees. While the price ($2 a cookie) might seem steep given the size, a percentage of each sale goes to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children so it is satisfing on many levels.

Address: 30 Pharr Rd.
Phone: 404-373-8527
Online: thecookiestudio.net

Muss and Turners
Who knew this popular brunch and burger spot also boasted a bakery with out-of-this-world cookies? Their mammoth chocolate chip cookie is packed with generous chocolate chunks. It is certainly big enough for wee ones to share—so mom can score a bite too, woohoo!

Address: 1675 Cumberland Pkwy., Smyrna
Phone: 770-434-1114
Online: mussandturners.com

Café Lapin
The chocolate chip cookies at this popular BYOB ladies-who-lunch spot are not to be missed. Hearalded as a “masterpiece” by Two time James Beard award winner Shirley O. Corriher, they are a little crispy & chewy, very thin, with the perfect amount of chips. You can taste the real butter and sugar, and know these are the real deal.

Address: 2341 Peachtree Rd.
Phone: 404-812-9171
Online: facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Lapin

BrickTop’s
Like an upscale Houston’s this place is a good spot for “family date night” if you  are feeling fancy. With complimentary valet and a full menu to please the whole gang, be sure to save room for dessert. They serve up their chocolate cookie warm in a skillet, with a scoop of ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce. If that ain’t enough to get them to finish their vegetables then nothing will!

Address: 3280 Peachtree Rd.
Phone: 404-841-2212
Online: bricktops.com

Ali’s Cookies
This cookie shop serves up an array of flavors (red velvet cookie, pecan praline, Georgia peach, white chocolate macadamia nut, double chocolate, german chocolate), but the classic chocolate chip is the real winner. They also sell custom cookie cakes for special occasions, or even by the slice if you just need your fix. How sweet is that?

Address: 4511 Olde Perimeter Way
Phone: 770-350-2547
Online: shipacookie.com

Who do you think makes the best chocolate cookies in Atlanta? Tell us in the comments section below!

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of Barbara O., Sasha R., Heidi P., and Carrie M. via Yelp, and Cafe Lapin via Facebook

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The Way to Play in San Jose: Children’s Discovery Museum

by Amber Guetebier

It’s big, purple, and your kids will love it. Nope, we aren’t talking about Barney (exhale sigh of relief). We took a recent trip to the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose where we had a blast playing with bubbles, stomping up musical stairs, and getting to know Lupe the wooly mammoth. Read on for our guide to one of the hippest kid’s museums in the greater Bay Area.

Photo by Allie Caulfield via Flickr Creative Commons 

Emergency Entrance
Once you get in the door kids are likely to bolt directly to the real, shiny fire engine parked just beyond the ticket counter. They can don hats and uniforms and climb inside the cab for one of many adorb photo-ops throughout the museum. You can probably pry them free of the fire truck by pointing out the upcoming ambulance they can climb in, or mention musical stairs and bubbles and get ready to rumble!

Insiders’ tip: there are restrooms (with a changing station) just to the right upon entering.

Stop, Drop, and Go!
The heart of this sprawling (but manageable) museum is literally an intersection. Stoplights and road markers lead you to a four-way crossroads. In all directions and around every corner kids will find activities at just the right height for them. The main floor includes a play farmer’s market, a stage-coach, and the popular Waterworks exhibit, which includes an area designated just for toddlers. The bubble zone is down a short set of stairs. The main floor also includes the Lee and Diane Brandenburgh Theater (near the front entrance) with ongoing disco lights and music, an outdoor amphitheater for regular concerts and events, and a children’s garden.

Insiders’ tip: All exhibit signs are tri-lingual: Spanish, English, and Vietnamese.

Visit an OLD Friend
Before heading up the musical stairs, take a trip into the Mammoth Discovery center. Kids can mingle with replicas of Lupe, the Wooly Mammoth found along the Guadalupe River, not far from the museum itself. The littles can play petite paleontologist digging for bones, document their findings, and play in the mini-dino room.

Insiders’ tip: Save the bubbles and water as the finale to your visit, or bring a spare change of clothes.

Toppermost Floor
The upper floor includes the Secrets of Circles, The Art Loft, and the Wonder Cabinet. The Art Loft, for ages 4 and up, is a space to paint, craft, and sculpt with clay. Kids 4 and under will be uber-excited when they enter the Wonder Cabinet. Think Victorian cabinet of curiosities meets Sesame Street. With mellow lighting and a bevy of activity, parents can relax while the kids explore the tunnels, stairs, and nooks and get crafty in their own special art room. New mamas will be stoked on the Crawl Space designed just for the non-walkers.

Insiders’ tip: Strollers are welcome throughout the museum except for inside the Wonder Cabinet, the theater, and West Wing. Restrooms are located on both floors. 

What to Wear
Dress kids in clothes that can get messy: painting, bubbles, water, gardening activities are all part of the fun! The museum is pretty big, and the location in Guadalupe River Park (home to the largest outdoor Monopoly board) means there’s plenty of room to run around, so comfy shoes for parents and kids are a must.

When to Go
The museum is closed most Mondays, except special holidays including Veteran’s Day (Nov. 10) as well as Dec. 22 & 29. Check the calendar before visiting. There are lots of varying daily events, and a great line up of special events including a two-day Diwali celebration (Oct. 18 & 19) and the Dia de Los Reyos Magos celebration—a two day party in honor of the Mexican tradition of Three Kings Day (Jan.10 & 11).

Where to Eat
The museum has a cafe and it’s recently undergone a compete revamping to offer fresh food and healthy choices. You can eat right in the heart of the action.

All Families
The museum includes programs for kids of all ages and needs. Their Autism Initiative program helps parents and caregivers of kids 2–15 with autism prepare for and maximize their museum visit. Check out this link for more info. They offer Play Your Way events, specifically for kids with autism. The next one is Nov. 15.

Getting There
Do you know the way to San Jose?Just under an hour south of San Francisco (without traffic) the museum is located in the downtown area of San Jose. There are several public and privately-owed lots within a few block radius of the museum, including Woz Way, Auzerais Street, and Almaden Boulevard. Prices range from $5–$7. For more parking info, click here. If you are more local to the South Bay, you can take the Light Rail, Alum Rock-Santa Teresa line to Discovery Museum station. There are also bus stops along Almaden Blvd. Watch for the mini-train bound for the museum going to and from the stops and light rail!

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
180 Woz Way
San Jose, Ca 95110
408-298-5437
Hours: Tues.­–Sat., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun., 12­–5 p.m. Sun., special members hour is 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Cost: $12; children 1 and under are free
Online: cdm.org

Have you an your family been to this amazing museum yet? If so, what’s your favorite part?

 ~Amber Guetebier

All photos credit the author unless othewise noted. 

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Your Guide to Maximum Mammoth Mountain Family Fun

by rtjessicaritz

With amazing conditions and a long ski season, thanks to its legendary dumps and base, Mammoth Mountain is a snow sport paradise where no plane tickets are required.  Telluride is for tourists and Park City is pedestrian –  Mammoth isn’t the sleepy little town you remember and now that it has hotels and restaurants you’ll love, and a drive you can handle (it’s about a two movie drive, with a break in between for a nap!), it just might replace Jackson Hole as your annual ski-cation.  Here are 5 ways the town of Mammoth Lakes has changed and become a ski destination worthy of your brood.

(Can’t make it during this winter? Plan ahead: Mammoth is still gorgeous when the days are longer and warm, and ski and boarding gear gets swapped in favor of mountain bikes and fishing equipment. Plus the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite is easily reached from the Mammoth Lakes area, for a mountain nice summer sojourn.)

It Takes A Village (With Public Transportation)
Historically it’s been a town without a center (Mammoth is all about the snow– and maybe the Eastern Sierra’s crazy awesome natural hot springs if you can break away from the kids), but now with the massive Village project, it’s easy to pick a gathering spot that also offers a sense of place. The Mammoth Village gondola runs from the Village to Canyon Lodge, and it’s free, which seriously comes in handy if you’re with tots who aren’t yet ready for lessons or ski school. So feel free to joy ride to your hearts content, which given some kids’ love of this novel and thrilling form of transportation, could mean many, many round-trips.

When it comes to comfort, nearby retail amenities, and mountain-access convenience, the Village’s accommodations can’t be beat. (The Westin Monache Resort is another upscale option nearby.) For some kids, the highlight of the trip is on Saturday afternoon, when mascot Woolly, who has seriously impressive ski skills, shows up for his weekly parade in the Village complete with music, live entertainment, and other perks.

Old School Meets New: Sierra Nevada Resort
We appreciate mid-century A-frame architecture kitsch as much as the next hipster, but we do not want to spend our family vacation in a 1960s time capsule. The longtime local favorite Sierra Nevada Lodge has been transformed under new ownership, with its rustic charm touches left intact, and the rest of the property given a major makeover. Beyond the homey mountain chic style lobby, the hotel’s 149 rooms come in all sizes and are ideally appointed for families (heated bathroom floors and fireplaces help everyone feel cozy and snug, too). Shuttle service runs regularly from the hotel up to the mountain’s lodges and to the airport.

Time to eat…  and you don’t even have to leave the hotel.  Rafters has the old school ski lodge feel where you can luxuriate in an après ski meal that also includes organic produce and rare bottles from a deep wine cellar, perfect when the kids are too tired from snow play to engage in their usual dinner antics. But kids left ravenous from the day’s adventures just might fight  over the freshly baked pita bread, at Jimmy’s Taverna (but be sure to try the grilled octopus, too).

Elbow Bending Options, Enhanced
Is it possible to overstate the importance of a reliable, high quality coffee source when spending 24/7 with the brood? We think not. Black Velvet Coffee is about as good as it gets in the coffee world, with a pour-over bar, snazzy Synesso machine, in-house roasted beans, and a seriousness of purpose (minus the attitude) you’d expect to find at any big city third-to-fourth wave coffee joint. But here, all equipment and brewing temps are adjusted for altitude, which makes for a pretty cool mini science lesson. In other exciting beverage news, Mammoth Brewing Company’s tasting room across from the Village offers extensive beer tasting flights, plus root beer on tap for your under-21 companions. Pick up some special brews, such as the nutty and rich Fire & Eisbock, to enjoy as a souvenir when you’re back home.

Food, Glorious Food
The Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana is no joke. Most cities boast more Shakey’s Pizza locations than there are AVPN certified pizzerias in the whole country. And yet, Mammoth is lucky enough to have one. An offshoot of the Reno restaurant, Campo Restaurant is located centrally in the Village, so hop on the gondola and opt for a satisfying lunch of roasted shishito peppers, a simple and delish dinosaur kale salad, super authentic pizza Margherita, carefully sourced meats, and other farm-to-table dishes. (There’s also a special menu of safe choices for children under 9, but it really would be a shame to not at least make the kids try some tangy, hand-stretched pizzas with quality toppings.) Come back later for a round of craft cocktails… Other great bets in town include Toomey’s, The Stove for home style breakfast grub, and Mimi’s Cookie Bar for well-deserved treats. Folks who prefer to eat by the fireplace in their own home should check out the largely California-produced, small-batch artisanal food, wine and beer on offer at Bleu Handcrafted Foods marketplace. Meanwhile, Mammoth old timers probably prefer the comfort of Schat’s Bakery in town and the original location in Bishop. (Also when passing through Bishop, don’t forget to stop for the famous beef jerky and smoked proteins at Mahogany!)

You Came to Shred, And You Will
If you just want to see snow, there are closer places to go. So let’s talk about the slopes – that’s why you’ve really come. The Mammoth Ski and Snowboard School is a stellar program, with patient pros who help the little ones become future shredders. (The ski school also includes a guarantee of offering unsatisfied customers an additional lesson.)

We’re not gonna lie — skiing isn’t cheap. But deals include free lift tickets for kids 12 and under at the reopened June Mountain and discounts on multiple day lesson packages. Bombing down the mountain not your cup of tea? Then check out Mammoth Mountain Ski Area’s other activities, including cross-country skiing by Tamarack Lodge (where the restaurant is also a local institution), Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures, and Woolly’s Tube Park and Snow Play zone. Or go low-tech and slow with snowshoeing.  Whatever you do, you’ll love your snowy getaway.

-Jessica Ritz

What’s your secret Mammoth spot? Let us know in the comment section!

Photos courtesy of the author and Mammoth Mountain. 

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8 Awesome Outdoor Artworks to See On the High Line

by Alice Perry

Since having kids, your days of strolling through Chelsea art galleries may be temporarily on hold. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still experience cutting-edge and contemporary art with your kids. Dotted along the High Line, right above all those art galleries, you’ll find a ton of public outdoor art that’s fun, free and forward-looking like the clever Sheep Station, a gas station turned faux sheep grazing pasture. And because this outdoor kid-friendly Chelsea art tour is like an open-air gallery, you and the kids will be outside and you won’t have to shush them once.

Gilbert & George, Waking

The Art: Gilbert & George are a British art duo, and their Gilbert & George, Waking is a mammoth self-portrait overlooking a parking lot on 10th Avenue. This 75-foot-wide billboard is a recreation of the British artists’ 1984 mural of the same name, which is part of Guggenheim Bilbao’s permanent collection.

Fun for Kids: The artwork’s gigantic size will stop kids in their tracks. They’ll love the intense colors of Joker green, cherry bomb red and Charm pop blue

See It: 10th Avenue between West 18th and West 19th Streets. Now through October 1.

All images courtesy of Alice Perry

-Alice Perry

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