ML Interest Tag: oasis

Massive New Amusement Park 4 Times Bigger Than Disneyland Is Coming to the US

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Look out Mickey Mouse! A new theme park is coming to the Midwest and it is going to be massive. The newly-announced Planet Oasis amusement park will cover 350 acres of land, or roughly four Disneylands.

The new theme park will be located in Sunbury, Ohio just outside of Columbus. Besides the traditional amusement park activities like roller coasters and a ferris wheel, the park will also feature some unique attractions including and indoor waterpark and surfing, BMX racing, skydiving, a 15 – 20 acre salt water lake with beach and boardwalk, a Medieval Times and a butterfly museum.

https://twitter.com/themeparknt/status/1027175339112378368

The park will also include several hotels, restaurants and a 160,000 square-foot indoor sports arena. Ohio already offers two of the most popular amusement parks in the country, Cedar Point and Kings Island, both of which attract millions of visitors annually. So it makes sense that a new theme park would fit into the midwest state perfectly.

Construction on Planet Oasis is set to begin later this year with an open date for nearly half the park set for 2019 and 75 percent complete by 2020.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Scott Webb via Pexels

 

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Flower Power: 18 Botanical Gardens with Awesome Kid Perks

by Christal Y.

Taking your kiddos to the playground is one thing, treating them to a dose of nature’s playground is a next-level experience they’ll want again and again. The following botanical gardens across the country are not only bursting with rare blooms and exotic trees, they’re also centers for learning about everything from saving the bees to fishing to fairies. And as it turns out, there’s plenty of fun for mom and dad, too. Click through the gallery to find out 18 sweet spots for budding botanists.

San Francisco Botanical Garden–San Francisco, Ca

The famous San Francisco fog brings about a different climate for unique greenery, including rare plants that can no longer be found in their native habitat. Story lovers can sit amongst the 55-acre urban oasis for story time, which is free for all. The Children’s Garden is also an activity center for crafts, gardening and botanical exploration.

Online: sfbotanicalgarden.org

photo: Kathryn Rummel

 

 

 

What’s your favorite garden to visit? Let us know in the comments below! 

— Amber Guetebier, Christal Yuen & Gabby Cullen

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Swing Time: Make Music at This Super Summer Installation!

by Yuliya Geikhman

Battery Park City’s Brookfield Place is making a name for itself when it comes to presenting fresh, fun — and frequently interactive —  art installations the whole family can enjoy. Past hits for us have included beautiful and magical wishing stations and oversized, illuminated bunnies. Now, the downtown spot is hosting The Swings, a playful, musical sculpture that invites the public to  collaboratively create an urban symphony. Read on and then get swinging — it closes July 7!

Collaborative Art
Walk into Brookfield Place and you find an oasis of calm away from the business and tourist bustle of the World Trade Center area — as well as some refreshing A/C and a killer food court if you need to recharge and refuel.

Step outside to the public plaza you’ll discover the center’s latest installation, The Swings. This interactive art exhibit brings music, collaboration and a little bit of physical activity to the space, turning it into a fun place for kids and adults alike.

Getting Into the Swing of Things
The Swings exhibit is the creation of Daily tous les jours, a Montreal-based design studio whose works aim to bring people together through collaboration and art. The exhibit is a giant swing set, designed to look, feel, and sound aesthetically pleasing. Each swing emits a sound when it’s used, and represents one of four instruments: piano, harp, guitar, and vibraphone.

A poster displaying the rules points out that The Swings are an art installation, not a playground; that is, they are meant to be played with collaboratively. (Most of the time, though, kids — and adults — just seem to swing to have fun, rather than composing a new musical masterpiece. That said, even with each visitor doing their own thing, the swings emit a pleasant tune, like a set of wind-chimes swaying in a gentle breeze. The effect is especially soothing thanks to the outdoor, waterfront location of the exhibit.

The Rules of Swinging
A set of swings naturally attracts plenty of kids, but adults are welcome to swing, too. Note: no matter how old you are, before you enter the area of the installation, you must sign a waiver. The waiver contains the usual “if you get hurt, it’s not our fault,” disclaimer and parents or guardians are required to sign for children under 18.

The installation is made up of 10 swings, so there is usually at least a short wait, and during peak hours, time on the swings is limited to five minutes per person. However when we stopped by, exhibit personnel were still determining when “peak hours” were, exactly. In other words, if you see an unusually long line, try coming back another time for a longer turn at the swings.

The exhibit area itself is large, with plenty of space in front of the swings to park your stroller, or stand back and let the kids enjoy themselves. Parents of kids shorter than 36 inches are required to swing with their kids on their laps. The rules also ask that all participants remain aware of their surroundings, don’t stand or horse around on the swings, and take turns. Of course, parental supervision is mandatory.

Swing Time
The Swings are open from Noon to 8 p.m. daily, but they close in poor weather. Stop by before July 7th to make some music, and keep an eye out for Arts Brookfield’s other exhibitions, artwork, and musical experiences throughout the city this summer.

The Swings
June 10 – July 7
12 p.m.- 8 p.m. daily
Brooksfield Place
230 Vesey St.
Battery Park City
Online: artsbrookfield.com

Have you and the kids visited The Swings? Tell us about your experience in the comments! 

—Yuliya Geikhman

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Social Butterfly: Where to Hang Out with Monarchs, Swallowtails and More!

by Meghan Yudes Meyers

Being swarmed by butterflies is nothing short of magical. Add a little “abracadabra” to your day at these exhibits and events, where you can walk among as many as millions (yes, millions!) of fluttering insects.

Photo: courtesy of Flickr

Wings of Fancy
Kids will be captivated by the array of color exhibited at this live butterfly and caterpillar exhibit which showcases species from North America, Costa Rica, Africa and Asia. Not only can you explore the lifecycle of a butterfly at these public gardens, you’ll also get tips on what to grow to create your own butterfly paradise. Housed inside a greenhouse, the exhibit can run ten degrees hotter than outdoor temps, making conditions near perfect in the early fall.

When: Open daily 10 am-4 pm through October 25
Cost: $8/ages 13 and up; $5/ages 3-12; Free/ages 2 and under
1800 Glenallan Ave. (Silver Spring, Md)
Online: montgomeryparks.org

The Great Migration
Even butterflies make rest stops; along the Monarch’s great 3,000 mile journey to Mexico the insects gather in the millions at the southern most point of the Delmarva Peninsula. The butterflies’ visit coincides with the songbirds’ and is celebrated with the annual Eastern Shore of Virginia Birding and Wildlife Festival.

When: Monarchs can be observed from early September thru late October;  The Birding and Wildlife Festival runs from October 8-11
Cape Charles, Va
Online: esbirdingfestival.com

Citified Butterflies
You don’t have to leave the city to immerse yourself in a fluttering rainbow: on the Smithsonian grounds there is both an indoor and outdoor attraction. On the Ninth Street side of the National Museum of Natural History is a butterfly garden featuring four distinct habitats. Inside the museum is the Butterfly Pavilion, an encapsulated oasis housing tropical butterflies. Visitors can walk through this miniature landscape for a fee; the exhibit is free on Tuesdays (but a timed-entry ticket is required).

When: Open daily from 10:15 am to 5 pm
Cost: $6/adults; $5/ages 2-12; Free/ages 2 and under
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. and Constitution Ave.
Online: butterflies.si.edu

—Meghan Meyers

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Just Opened: A Mini-Park on K Street

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Side street parking spaces are at a premium in downtown D.C. (especially for carseat-toting families), and to lose two of them in one clean swoop may sound catastrophic…that is unless you transform those spaces into a mini interactive park, which is exactly what Golden Triangle BID (the biz development arm that works to amp up the 43 blocks between the White House and Dupont Circle ) did.

It’s Interactive
The parklet (aka parKIT, a “toolkit for D.C. parklets”), which will stay open through October, features blocks that your pint-sized builder can rearrange to their liking. There are also funky triangle planters set at different heights that serve as barricades between traffic and are perfectly cheery for Instagram photo ops.

Mark Your Calendar
The goal of the parklet program–expect to see more of them popping up–is to provide parkland or natural space within a 10-minute walk of all residents by 2032. Yes, please. And just like any other park in the DMV, this little oasis hosts weekly activities (Tuesdays at 12 pm) throughout the summer with a kid-friendly theme of “Making the City.” One week, for example, visitors can doodle their own ideas for future parklets.

When to Go
Here’s the catch: This particular micro-park is located in an office district. You may want to skip the weekday lunch crunch, and bring kiddos here for an urban picnic on the weekends or during the week on off hours.

ParKIT
2020 K St., NW (Farraguat West)
Online: goldentriangledc.com

Have you ever hung out at a mini-park? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Photos: Golden Triangle DC

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8 Natural Playgrounds to Run Wild At

by rtkellyharamis

Bye-bye, plastic playgrounds. We’ve found a slew of natural oases to cut loose in. Made from wood, stones and good old-fashioned dirt, they’re Earth’s way of saying “Have a blast!” Click through our album to discover eight playgrounds made from natural materials. Who needs bells and whistles when you have fun like this?

Garfield Park Conservatory’s Play & Grow Garden

Let’s face it: Toddlerhood is no cakewalk. There are play dates, tantrums, intense coloring sessions. Show your over-hyped youngster how to get in touch with nature at this oasis of chill. After wandering around the labyrinth, kids can unleash their musical side by playing the wooden xylophone, or deploy their inner daredevil by tightrope walking on a fallen log. From pebbles to mud pies, this natural haven offers a great hands-on experience for even the most 9-to-5 of preschoolers.

300 N. Central Park Ave.
Garfield Park
312-746-5100
Online: garfield-conservatory.org

Do you know a natural playground that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the Comments below!

— Kelly Haramis

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The Best Playgrounds on the North Shore

by Kelly Aiglon

Looking for a new playground stomping ground? Go north! Chicago’s North Shore has lots of options for sliding, swinging, climbing and running like the dickens. Whether you live “up north” or are looking for a day trip, flip through our album to discover the ultimate playgrounds. You’ll go bananas at everything from mega splash pads to all-natural wood gems.

Crestwood Park – Northbrook

With all-new playground equipment in 2013, this oasis is in sparkling shape. (Fun fact: The Northbrook Park District donated its old playground structures to the non-profit Kids Around the World, which shipped it to Uganda for needful children to enjoy.) While Mom and Dad get their blood pumping on the new exercise equipment -- a chest press, leg press and elliptical trainer -- kiddos have a heyday on three slides, a lookout tower, lily pad stools and an adaptive swing. There's a smaller playground set for toddlers, plus plenty of picnic space.

1824 Milton Ave.
Northbrook
847-291-2960
Online: nbparks.org

 

What is YOUR favorite playground on the North Shore? Let us know in the Comments!

— Kelly Aiglon

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If You Can’t Stand The Heat: 6 Places to Get Soaked

by Phebe Wahl

Somehow Spring passed in a flash and Summer is already heating up. Great thing the metro area is packed with indoor and outdoor aquatic centers and splash zones perfect for cooling off. Check out where to get wet and keep your cool this season.

Piedmont Park Aquatic Center
As if you needed another reason to love the gem that is Piedmont Park. The clean, kid-friendly outdoor pool is surrounded by a current channel, perfect for little floaters, and fun fountains. If you’re just looking for a quick splash, the Legacy Fountain features more than 70 jets reaching up to 30 feet in the air and an amazing lighting feature sure to stimulate the senses. Opens Sunday, May 25.

Where: 1320 Monroe Drive NE
Cost: Aquatic Center, adults, $4; ages 6-16, $2; ages 5 and under, $1; Legacy Fountain, free.

Cherokee Aquatic Center
Just up the road from the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta and Downtown Woodstock, this center in Holly Springs rivals the best of water parks. With two wild water slides, a playground featuring water cannons, geysers, deck sprays and basketball hoops, it’s truly an outdoor oasis. The zero-depth entry and current channel make it great for toddlers and preschoolers, too. Since they do not allow any outside food or drink, the facility also prides itself on offering healthy concessions.  Outdoor oasis opens Saturday, May 17. The indoor pools are currently open.

Where: 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway, Holly Springs
Cost: Adults, $6; ages, 2-13, $5; under 2, free

D.H. Stanton Park Splash ‘N Play
Kids love the spray jets and stationary water cannons at this free splashpad, which also happens to be the first solar-powered park in the city. There’s something about cooling off in an eco-friendly way that makes it just a little more awesome – to mom and dad, at least. Opens Thursday, May 1.

Where: 1052 Martin Street SE
Cost: Free 

South Cobb Aquatic Center
Giant twisting slide, check. Lazy river, check. Little ones can take it slower down the smaller tube slide while the big kids splash it out on the big. Prepare for lots of fun for everyone and, if you have any energy left, Six Flags is down the street.

Where: 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell
Cost: Adults, $4.50; ages 2-17, $3.50; under 2, free.

Bethesda Park Aquatic Center
If there was ever a place to vent out sibling rivalry, the dunking buckets here are beyond perfect. This indoor center has a little something for everyone, including a play structure with a two-feet deep area especially for the younger set, 100 pounds or less. And, a 100-foot enclosed slide sure to cause some screaming. Did we mention the vortex, ceiling spray and hydrotherapy benches? They have those, too.

Where: 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville
Cost: Adults, $10; ages 4-10, $8, 3 and under, $4. Half price for Gwinnett residents and their guests.

Splash Zone at Wills Park
All swim-tennis communities aside, we love this family-centric public pool in the ‘burbs. With a dumping pelican, water tunnel and giant whale, this city pool offers kids 2,000 square feet of fun. Perfect for the pitter-pattering of little ones just starting to get their feet wet.  Opens Memorial Day weekend.

Where: 1815 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta
Cost: Adults, $3; ages 50 and older, $1; ages 3 and under, free.

Where will you keep cool this summer? Tell us in the comments section below!

—Nicole Williams

Photos courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy via Facebook, Cobb County Aquatic Center via Facebook, Gwinnett Park Life via Facebook, City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department and Play Atlanta

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Your Guide to Downtown San Francisco’s Secret (Public!) Gardens

by Yannina Pacis

Spending the day shopping downtown with a squirrelly toddler in tow? Before you let them loose in Bloomingdales to burn off some steam (they break, you buy!), check out our list of SF’s best POPOS, or privately owned public spaces. What downtown lacks in playgrounds, it makes up for in beautiful, landscaped and often art-filled atriums, roof decks and secret gardens—all completely open and free to the in-the-know public. A savior for families (as well as sun-starved office workers), these spots have been a development requirement since the passage of the 1985 Downtown Plan. Open mostly Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., these hidden gems are the perfect addition to any downtown field trip.

Photo via Sandy T.

Sansome Rooftop Deck
With breathtaking views of both the Transamerica Pyramid and the Bay, this is a picturesque urban retreat for the whole family. No need to check-in with lobby security—simply take the elevator to the 15th Floor to soak in the downtown views with your littles. Plan ahead and pack a lunch or snack, and grab one of the tables to enjoy the scenery.  Teach the kiddos about telling time in the era before the iWatch by explaining the colorful sundial smack in the middle of the space.

343 Sansome St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Photo: Courtesy of SPUR

Greenhouse
Enjoy this modern, indoor, five-story greenhouse at the corner of 2nd and Mission Streets in SOMA.  With floor to ceiling windows and open atrium-style layout, this makes for a balmy respite from San Francisco’s wind and fog. Order your favorite eats at one of the neighboring restaurants and cafes or pack your kiddo’s favorite snack and snag one of the designer tables and lounge with your little urbanite.

101 2nd St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

Photo via John H.

Crocker Galleria Rooftop Terrace
Trek to the two—yes TWO!—rooftop gardens at Crocker Galleria. The first sun terrace can be reached via the elevator at the corner of the historic bank at Montgomery and Post streets, and offers offer ledges and benches for ample outdoor seating. The second terrace—a truly urban, quiet oasis—also features plenty of benches to take in the San Francisco air. Grab lunch at one of the many restaurants within Crocker Galleria below, pack your favorite fare, but think picnic-friendly bites, as there are no tables, only seating available. Nonetheless, if you happen to be in the area and want an alternative downtown spot to hang with your little shadow, this is the spot to go.

Good to Know: Every Thursday from 11am-3pm is the popular Farmer’s Market on Crocker Galleria’s Level 1, so indulge in some farm fresh eats and head upstairs to the rooftop!

50 Post St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Photo via Kevin A. 

Empire Park
If you are near Chinatown and you and your little adventurer want to duck away for a moment, Empire Park is an ideal pit stop.  With a picturesque trellis framing the space, this is a nook you don’t want to overlook. There’s also tables and chairs scattered throughout, making it an enviable spot to unwind.

Kearny & Commercial St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open daily during daylight hours

Photo: Courtesy of author

View and Sun Terrace
For a truly beautiful view of downtown San Francisco, make your way to the gorgeous 11th-floor open-air terrace at 1 Kearny Street, near Union Square. Be prepared to sign in with lobby security, show ID, and listen to all the rules that must be adhered, but once you and your little ones are whisked away to this top floor hidden gem, it’ll all be worth it. This is a small space, with only a few benches—no tables—and shrubbery, but the view is absolutely breathtaking, especially with the top of the original French Empire style building acting as the background.

1 Kearny St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Photo: Courtesy of Citylab

Garden Terrace
Escape to this secret garden to experience a little slice of heaven in the city. Only six stories up, you and your family can partake in spectacular city views and get away from the usual hustle and bustle of FiDi. Check in with lobby security, then head to the second set of elevators and get off the 6th floor. Sculptured trees and an array of flowers adorn the space, and there’s tables and chairs where you and the kiddies can relax and get some fresh air. On a sunny Spring day, this is a great spot for you and your tiny tike to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.

150 California St.
San Francisco, Ca
Open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Photo via Tim B

Sun Terrace
Nestled between Ecker Place and 1st Street in Financial District, you’ll come across this rooftop oasis.  Enter through the staircase between the next-door parking garage and the building itself, then trek to the 2nd floor to enter this serene city getaway.  You’ll still hear all the sounds of city living – cars honking, ambulance blaring – but because it’s down below it feels miles away.  Enjoy the water sculpture, manicured greens, and ample tables and chairs, while your kiddie appreciates the wide open space to frolic, play, and stretch their little legs.

515 Mission Street
San Francisco, 94105
Open

This list is just a taste of the 68 (!!) Popos peppered around downtown San Francisco. For the complete list, check out SPUR’s comprehensive guide right here.

Have you visited one of San Francisco’s Popos? Do you have a favorite? 

—Yannina Pacis

 

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