ML Interest Tag: serenity

A Peace Offering: Your Stress-Free Guide to Serenbe

by Phebe Wahl

Being serene when you’ve got the wee ones around can be a challenge, unless, of course, you’ve ever spent time at Serenbe. Sure, you’re more likely to achieve a Zen-like tranquility if you go there sans small set—but an easy, breezy, and peaceful (on kid scale) experience is possible even with the baggage in the backseat. Read on to get the inside scoop on day-tripping to the modern Mayberry with your houseful of mayhem.

What Is It?
Serenbe is a lot of things. It is a planned community dedicated to preserving the greenspace of at least 70% of its 1000 acres. It is a mix of residential and commercial spaces (think Rosemary Beach meets Austin, Texas). And it is an event destination for theater, the farmer’s market, live music events, corporate retreats, and private functions.  But for ATL mommies with tots in tow, it’s an easy drive, a wide open space, just the right amount of agricultural adventure, and farm-fresh fun.

Where Is It?
Located 30 minutes south of the airport, Serenbe is an easy drive from Atlanta. Because much of what you’ll want to try with the kiddos is located outdoors, you’ll want to get an early start to your day. Try to arrive between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll make it in time for the Serenbe Playhouse production of The Wizzard of Oz, which runs about an hour long. The kids will love the runway-style stage because every seat (in the pine straw, so be sure to bring a blanket to sit on) is a front row seat. Running until August 2nd, The Wizzard of Oz is reason enough to make a trip down.

TIP: Bring hats, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and fans (if you’ve got ‘em). Even though the production takes place under a canopy of Georgia pines, the littles will wiggle less if you come prepared for the summer heat. But even if they wiggle, you’re in the right spot. This is more Summerstock than Broadway. It can’t get any more relaxed.

What Kids Love
If you can make a trip on a Friday or Saturday, The Wizard of Oz is a sure bet for wow factor. Beyond the production, your kids will think they’ve won the lotto when they realize that there are trampolines imbedded in the hillside in The Grange green space (just in case the sandbox and perfect hill to roll down doesn’t impress them). Take a picnic or head to the Farmhouse for a farm to table fried chicken lunch (Saturdays and Sundays only) before trolling the chicken, rabbit, and hog pens.

TIP: The tree house located behind the Inn is way cool, but it’s reserved for Inn guests only. However, there are woods to explore nearby and plenty of wide open spaces to race in.

What You’ll Love
Other than a break from PBS Kids one morning? You’ll love the chance to explore something new with the littles that’s as easy as it is cool. Not sure your kids are up for a sit-down lunch at the Farmhouse (although it’s very kid friendly) but certain you can’t commit to packing a picnic on your way out of the door? Be sure to hit The Blue Eyed Daisy to eat al fresco or get it to go. Don’t leave without running into the boutiques in town center for a little retail serenity.

TIP: Resource, an eclectic boutique for hip mommas and their houses, has kids books and toys for sale so you’ll experience a little bit of retail serenity while the littles browse the shelves. And everyone will love the ice cream, candy, and chocolate covered pretzels at Selborne Sweets.

What You’ll All Love
Looking for a little shared excitement? Have a houseful of cowboys and cowgirls? Explore Serenbe with the kiddos by horseback on horses as chill as the staff who’ll guide you.

Summer Camp
In June and July, kids ages 3-12 can experience the camper’s life at Camp Serenbe during weekly sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Want to make it a family experience? Family Getaway packages are available that include camp for the kids and family accommodations at The Inn at Serenbe. Imagine that, would you? Mom and dad get a little quality time together while someone else wears your littles out on the farm and returns them to you smiling and smelling like a real kid.

Have you taken the tots to Serenbe yet? Share your secrets with us in the comments section below!

—Shelley Massey

Photos courtesy of the author and Serenbe via Facebook

 

 

 

 

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A Brand New Playground in Highland Park

by LeTania Kirkland Smith

Highland Park has loads to explore with a mix of funky, historic and new cafes, restaurants, vintage shops and boutiques everywhere. But it’s always been a bit lacking in the “places for kids to play” department. No longer! The oh-so-hip enclave has reclaimed an old lot and created a brand new space for the kids to roam, right in the center of it all.

Making the Most of a Little Pocket
York Park was built on the site of a former gas station at the corner of York Boulevard and Avenue 50. The $3 million parklet covers just  a third of an acre, but is a little pocket of wonder the whole family can enjoy. The planners of this new park, which opened in late February, certainly made the most of every inch. While you won’t find much in the way of grass, the space is covered with a bright teal and orange, shock-absorbent surface and two main play surfaces.

Slither Down
One of the main hubs is a towering snake slide. Your explorer can climb up the ladder (spotting may be needed for toddlers) and slither down to emerge from the serpent’s mouth. Kids seem to be obsessed with fitting just as many bodies in there as possible so if you have a little one, make sure the space is clear.

Urban Forest
Once the kids have escaped the belly of the snake, they can hit the mini forest that resembles a hollowed out tree trunk. The unit is complete with a slide (it’s a fast one), monkey bars and three climbing surfaces. Adventurers can scale rocks to the top of the tree or slink across a rope web, super-hero style. Or, if they want a little space on the ground, they can retreat to the base of the tree trunk and hide out for a while.

Outdoor Symphony
If you have a musician on your hands, they’ll love the huge, community-style musical play equipment. There is a  xylophone, colorful bongo-style drums and 8 foot chimes that brings a bit of serenity to the active scene. Parents can sit in the mini amphitheater and take in the musical experimentation (that is if you’re not tempted to jump in and play yourself).

Get Fit
If the entire family wants to get moving, the park is outfitted with low-impact exercise equipment. You can get your legs swinging on the elliptical or do a few arm presses while you hang out. The kiddos treat these like an extension of the playground, so keep an eye out for falls if you can’t quell their fascination.

Get Reading
After all of this fun, everyone might be in the mood for a little stillness. What better way than a book? York Park brings everything full circle with a free community library where everyone is free to borrow (and donate) a good read.

Eats and Extras
Beyond play surfaces, there are also several benches, tables and chairs and the seats at the amphitheater, if you’d like to enjoy snack time or lunch in the park. The park is also surrounded by a lovely metal gate that makes for a lot less worry during play time. No escaping for little Houdini’s on this busy block! While there are a few trees planted, the playground is lacking shade so bring sunblock and consider heading there in the morning or early evening while it’s cooler. Also, the playground is on York and Avenue 50, so there are lots of food (including an old-fashioned ice cream truck most days), drink and shopping options to complete the outing. We’re partial to any excuse to visit Donut Friend, a mere block away.  There are also spacious public restrooms and water fountains on site.

Plenty O’ Parking
Street parking is free though some streets have two hour limits. And keep an eye out for restrictions on street cleaning days. If you want to keep it simple, there are also pay-to-park lots with ample spaces adjacent to the park.

York Park
4596 N. Ave 50
Highland Park
There’s no website for this neighborhood park, just GPS the address and head on over.

We love little neighborhood parks!  Do you have a favorite?  Do you know about a hidden gem?  Let us know in the comment section below!

—written and photos by LeTania Kirkland

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Babies on Board: Where to Play with Toddlers and Baby in Tow

by Phebe Wahl

When you add a newborn to the already hectic mix of life with littles, planning for play dates can be a conundrum. Go ahead and rest that weary baby brain, as we’ve gathered a list of tot spots perfect for managing your multiples.

Bowling
While the older kids happily lug and roll bowling balls around your lane, you can count on your baby to sleep soundly with air conditioning, music, and the constant roar of pins being racked. And, bowling alleys aim to please the parents too, with their snack bar and draft beers. Check out our review of swanky spot, The Painted Pin—or head to one of these solid classics: Midtown Bowl, 1936 Piedmont Circle, Atlanta, 404-874-5703, or Suburban Lanes, 2619 N Decatur Road, Decatur, 404-373-2514.

Parks and Playgrounds
The name of the game here? Wear. Them. Out. That’s right. As hard as it is to get everyone out of the house in the mornings now that sweet baby has arrived, you’ve just got to pour yourself a thermos of coffee, grab the baby carrier, and load up. Check out our favorite parks and playgrounds here. Be sure to avoid any place that involves a long walk, because you’re inevitably going to need to make a run to your car to grab some more wipes.

Rock Climbing Gyms
As an alternative to the bounce house, with its roaming hordes of germy older kids and impossible-to-climb-with-an-infant mazes (when you have to extract one of your older kiddos from a tight fit), plan your playdate at a local rock climbing gym. The big kids will love the challenge and you’ll be able to sit still and watch them climb someone else’s walls. Check out our favorite rock climbing gyms here.

Roadtrip
Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery. If your baby sleeps well in the car, nothing beats a short trip to make the older kids feel like they’ve had an adventure and you feel like you’ve gotten away. Luckily for us, Atlanta has a multitude of day trip options. Check out our guides to Serenbe if you’re seeking a little serenity (and in-ground trampolines), or Dahlonega to pan for gold, or Callaway Gardens for some high-flying fun in the tree tops. When you’ve had enough excitement, load the kiddos back in the car and enjoy a quiet car ride home. Entertainment and tandem naps? Yes, please.

Roller Skating
Similar to the bowling alley, roller skating rinks allow you the chance to sit still and enjoy a little Beyonce while the older ones cruise blissfully around the rink. The baby will most likely sleep soundly to the background noise, and if not, will love watching the constant activity on the rink. Check out Atlanta’s best rinks here.

Where do you take your kids when you have the babe in tow? Share your secret spots with us in the comments section below.

—Shelley Massey

Photos courtesy of the author, and Play Atlanta, Callaway Gardens via Facebook and kellyv on Creative Commons via Flickr

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Have Baby, Will Fly: 10 Awesome Travel Essentials

by Gabby Cullen

The tickets are booked and the bags are packed; the only thing left to prepare is baby. And we all know that’s an adventure in itself! Here are the absolute must-have items, plus some I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! products that could make your trip easier.

BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light
Parents rave about its simplicity and ease of use. Pull it out and set up in one fluid motion — no more dealing with random pieces clanking to the floor in the dark while baby screams. With a super-soft mattress and weighing only 11 pounds, it helps little dreamers get good sleep on the road. Available at rightstart.com, $250.

photo: BabyBjörn 

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Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind
It’s 5:30 a.m. and your bundle of joy will be cooing and giggling long before you are ready to greet the day. Block the sunlight (hopefully tacking on another hour or so of sleep) with these dark, portable shades. No more rigging up blankets and sheets that may slip and fall at any given moment. Velcro sides and suction cups will help you get a custom fit and help baby head to dreamland. Available at babiesrus.com, $50.

photo: Gro Anywhere Blind

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Aden + Anais Serenity Star
This the ultimate soother, for you and baby. It does everything from being a sound machine to clocking how long (and on what side) you last breastfed — all while keeping track of the room temp. Consider this all-in-one item instead of juggling five different apps on the iPhone. Available at adenandanais.com, $90.

photo: Aden + Anais

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Lobster Portable High Chair
Forget about asking the grandparents to pick up a high chair for your little chomper! Super easy to stow away, this fold-up version from Phil and Teds can live in the back of the car. A quick-clamping feature allows babies to join the whole family anywhere, anytime. Available at philandteds.com, $99.

photo: Phil and Teds

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B.Box Travel Bib + Flexible Spoon
Compact equals cool while traveling with a baby, and this travel bib-flexible spoon combo fits the bill. Best part about this piece of gear? When baby is finished, simply fold the bib into the catcher and zip closed. Wash and dry and it’s ready for the next adventure. Available at bbox.com, $18.

photo: B.Box

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Flyebaby Hammock/Harness
Imagine being able to feed your baby, change your baby and nap your baby, all without leaving that cramped seat in coach. Impossible? Not if you’ve got the Flyebaby Hammock. Not only does it create a little face-to-face action for baby but it also becomes a five-point harness seat and can even double as a high chair, streamlining the packing process when flying. Available at amazon.com, $50.

 

photo: Flyebaby

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Bebe au Lait Wet & Dry Bags
It’s the middle of the night, you’re making killer time on the highway and baby has a blowout. Keep it clean with a wet-dry bag. These stylish but functional plastic pouches have two separately lined zippered spaces, providing tons of room to keep the yucky stuff separate from the clean stuff. Just toss the bag in the back and keep on truckin’ (don’t forget to grab it when you get to your destination!). Available at bebeaulait.com, $20.

photo: Bebe au Lait

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UPPAbaby G-Luxe Umbrella Stroller
If you want to splurge on a fantastic set of wheels that does almost everything except push the baby, the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is your go-to pick for traveling. The lightest model out there, the seat can be positioned at all sorts of angles, making it easy for tired eyes to rest. It’s a snap to fold up, and parents will love the carry strap attached. Available at giggle.com, $250.

photo: UPPAbaby

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Skip Hop Grab & Go Stroller Organizer
Keep drinks cool or warm, get essential items organized and chat hands-free — all while getting your push on. This comes in handy when trying to get from one delayed plane to the next, before pre-loading time is over. Available at skiphop.com, $20.

photo: Skip Hop

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Jet Set Babies Delivery Service
Talk about packing light. Parents, consider placing an order with Jet Set Babies and having infant essentials delivered to your destination doorstep. From diapers to bottles and even toys, parents can browse the online store and put the “what did I forget?” worry to rest. Find out how to place an order here.

photo: Jessica Lucia via flickr

What is your favorite item to help when traveling with baby? Share with us in the comments!

— Gabby Cullen

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Alyssa Milano Shares Her Favorite Products for Family Travel

by Kelly Aiglon

Whether you’ve seen her on ABC’s Mistresses, the WB’s Charmed or — flashback alert — Who’s the Boss, Alyssa Milano has surely grabbed your attention. Now get to know a different, more personal, side of the hit actress. She’s mom to two-year-old Milo, who is a big part of her life, even when she’s traveling for work. (Milo was on the set of Mistresses with Alyssa every day she filmed.)

We chatted with Alyssa and she dished about how she balances her hot career with her equally busy role as a parent: “Every day is a new experiment,” she says. “I was a very Type A personality before having my child. I liked everything to be a certain way and was very much a perfectionist. I’m grateful for all my son is teaching me … to be present and in the moment.”

Turns out, there are products that help her do this, and make life more relaxed and fun when she’s on the road with Milo. Read on for the scoop.

Graco Low-Range Baby Monitor
Alyssa likes to keep tabs on Milo, but has a low-key approach. “I don’t do the video screen {thing},” she says. “I tried when Milo was first born and became obsessed with looking at the monitor.”

Homeopathic Medicine Kit
A love of natural remedies spurs Alyssa to pack this when traveling. “I pack herbs and homeopathic medicines for everything from teething to bumps to bruises to whatever cold we could possibly pick up,” she says.

White Noise Machine & Fully Loaded iPod
Both things cancel bad noise out and let relaxing sounds in. “I have an iPod that’s filled with his music,” says Alyssa. “It has Jewel’s lullaby CD — that’s our bath time music — and also The Beatles, a beautiful lullaby compilation from Africa, a Dean Martin lullaby album, and some of the Rockabye Baby CDs … like “Baby Coldplay.”

Skincare Products & Shampoo
Alyssa’s beauty essentials include Corrective Skincare products, which come from a small company out of Utah; and WEN shampoo, created by L.A. hairstylist Chaz Dean.

Febreze Sleep Serenity Bedding Refresher
Febreze’s new spray for sheets, pillows and blankets is part of the first line of scents designed specifically for the bedroom. It helps Alyssa get her beauty sleep. “Lavender relaxes me,” she says.

Her Dad’s PJs
“When I was seven months pregnant, my dad gave me his pajamas. They are the coziest things and I still wear them every night,” says Alyssa.

Go ahead — steal Alyssa’s secrets for what to bring on the road. And if you want to see her heat up the small screen, watch episodes of Mistresses online at abc.go.com.

Do you favorite products of your own to share? Let us know in the Comments section below.

— Kelly Aiglon

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Photos: ©(ABC/BOB D’AMICO), Graco, k14 on Flickr creative commons, Febreze Sleep Serenity

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Calling All LEGO Lovers: See the Art of the Brick

by rtjenniferwolfe

Let’s face it. We live in a LEGO world.  They are piled high in multi-colored mountains around the kids’ rooms, slowly but surely encroaching on every living space in our homes: hidden plastic pellets, laying in wait for hapless feet. Brick by brick our budding builders have erected interlocking worlds inhabited by space ships, robots, pirates, castles, cars n’ creatures –only to destroy and rebuild, destroy and rebuild.  We’ve spent a small fortune feeding the dragon but still they WANT. MORE. LEGO.

Before heading back to the LEGO store (where you inevitably will drop beaucoup bucks), detour over to The Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale which is currently hosting The Art of the Brick®, an exhibition featuring more than 30 astonishing sculptures crafted solely from LEGO bricks and rated by CNN as “one of the top twelve must-see exhibitions in the world.”  We’re talking life-size LEGO-people, towering crayons, and heady creations  that will blow minds and drop jaws, young and old.  This is LEGO art that will amaze you as much as your kiddo (and required neither the drive nor the money that a trip to Carlsbad will run you…).

The Ultimate Brick Master
The artist, New York based Nathan Sawaya, started out just like your little brickmaster, spending endless childhood hours in the LEGO land of his own room. Today he uses nearly one million standard LEGO bricks to construct his plastic masterpieces (try fitting that in the toy box at home) and spends six figures annually on supplies.

Interlocking Ingenuity
We love that Sawaya has abandoned the old LEGO stand-bys. You won’t find Starfighter vehicles or Hogwarts Castles here. (Although there is a castle of another sort…) These whimsical brick creations will no doubt inspire your kiddos to think outside the cardboard box they came in.

One of  Sawaya’s best-known sculpures, Yellow, features a, well, yellow man ripping open his torso as yellow plastic bricks tumble out.

Another one, Green, is a life-size man lifting his head off of his body. Gray (anyone else noticing a theme here?) depicts a man pulling aside curtains for a peek at the world.

Along with mind-bending pieces of an avant-garde flavor, there are also more familiar images that will stun and surprise with their precision. Check out a national monument….

…or imagine a world, like, more peaceful, man.

Kiddos thinking of trying this at home? Clear their schedules and a large room: they’ll need about a month and nearly 25,000 bricks for just one of these life-size LEGO-fellas.

But here’s a little secret: plans are in the works to bring your little brick artists their own mini-Yellows to build at home. Click here for more information.

Wanna make a day of it? 
The Art of Brick exhibit will only take a short time to walk through. But while you’re at the museum, check out the permanent displays, and enjoy the sweeping views and serenity from the gorgeous terraces outside.  You won’t find this at the LEGO store.

Forest Lawn is also a hop, skip and jump away from Travel Town and LA Live Steamers (should you happen to visit on a Sunday), so couple your LEGO adventure with a train adventure and you’ll have one happy little kiddo.  (Just remember to pack snacks, as none of those places have choice comestibles!  And nothing but nothing ruins an outing faster than starving kiddos.)

Nuts n’ Bolts
The Art of the Brick is on view now at the Forest Lawn Museum through July 21st, 2013. The museum is open every day except Monday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission and parking are always free.

Forest Lawn Museum
1712 S. Glendale Avenue,
Glendale, Ca 91205
323-340-4921
online: forestlawn.com  
 

Do you have any LEGO hot spots that we don’t know about? Tell us about it here! 

–Jennifer Wolfe

Art of Brick photos (in order of appearance): Think, Erica Ann, Yellow, Gray, Rushmore, Peace By Pieces, Xray by artist Nathan Sawaya, courtesy of www.brickartist.com; additional photos by Jennifer Wolfe and floodllama via Creative Commons

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