All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!
Last stop: Hogsmeade
How did the The Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade Station get on the U.S. side of the Atlantic? Magic. Duh.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort will be opening soon (Spring 2010) and will feature themed attractions, shops and a restaurant. It should be downright magical.
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
Photo Credit: Kevin Kolczynski, Universal Orlando Resort
St. Patrick’s Day in Columbia, South Carolina
The View on St. Patrick's Day in Columbia
It’s time for another holiday! Valentine’s Day is over, so that means that St. Patrick’s Day is just weeks away. The Irish holiday has always been popular in metropolitan areas and U.S. cities with a large Irish population; however, in recent years many southern cities have started to get in on the St. Patrick’s Day festivities with their own events, such as bar crawls, Irish food events and parades. Columbia, South Carolina has started to establish itself as one of the best southeastern cities for St. Patrick’s Day events.
St. Patrick’s Day in Columbia, South Carolina has evolved over the last few years to include multiple events over a week-long period. This year, the Columbia event gets kicked off this weekend — March the 5th is the Leprechaun Launch. This is the St. Patrick’s Day event to bring your entire family for. The day begins with dying the Five Points fountain green and features a scavenger hunt for kids. Children are given a list of clues to find leprechauns around the city and those who find the correct locations win a prize. The following day features a new event to St. Patrick’s day in Columbia when retailers will be hosting a sidewalk sale in Five Points with steep discounts.
The following weekend kicks off on Friday night with a battle of the bands on Santee Avenue with the winning band being selected to perform on the main stage during the Columbia St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Saturday is the headliner of St. Patrick’s Day in Columbia, as it’s one of the biggest festivals in the nation. Activities in Columbia that day include the Green Run first thing in the morning, the Columbia St. Patrick’s Day at 10 a.m. and live music and a children’s carnival throughout the rest of the day.
Most of the St. Patrick’s Day activities in Columbia are located in Five Points, with most of them free of charge.
Photo from horemhab on Flickr.
Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, PA
Betsy Ross House
One of our favorite stops in Philadelphia was the Betsy Ross House. The home of the storied first flag-maker has been preserved and is open to the public.
A self-guided tour of the home begins in the gift shop, where there were artisans such as musicians and candle-makers demonstrating their craft when we visited. The house itself is not large, but gives an interesting glimpse of life in colonial days. While most of the rooms are just for viewing, there is a small hands-on area in the basement for children.
A courtyard outside offers a place to sit down and relax.
The Betsy Ross House is separate from the National Park Service’s Philadelphia historic sites, and a small admission fee of $3 for adults and $2 for children is charged. The home is located at 239 Arch Street, near the Liberty Bell, Franklin Court and Elfreth’s Alley. Hours vary by season.
Photo credit: minnemom on flickr.
Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children.
Related Posts:
Chickie’s and Pete’s in Philadelphia
Luck O’ the Irish: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Boston
There may be no more Irish city in the US than Boston. During the Great Famine of the 1840’s many of the Irish fleeing to America landed in Boston- so many that the city’s Irish population jumped from 30,000 to 100,000 in just one year. As of the 2000 census over 23% of Massachusetts residents claimed Irish ancestry, making Massachusetts the most Irish state in the nation. So, if you can’t make it to the Emerald Isle for St. Patrick’s Day Boston is a great alternative!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Pipes & Drums Photo by JLHalsted www.familyrambling.com
The parade takes place in Southie (South Boston, the most Irish part of the city) and travels between the Broadway T station and Andrew Square. Pipes and Drums corps proudly march down Broadway in their plaid, some with step dancers twirling.
If you attend with children I recommend staking out a spot at Dorchester Heights as the open area gives the kids space to run and play. You can also learn a bit of Boston history- on March 17, 1776 the British evacuated Boston.
To get to the parade take the T the Broadway station. The parade begins at 1 pm and placing yourself anywhere along Broadway will grant you a view. Police presence is noticeable as many celebrate with alcohol. (The parade reaches Dorchester Heights around 1:30. I have tips for the parade listed at Family Rambling.)
The parade takes place the Sunday prior to St.Patrick’s Day. Cost: free.
Irish Heritage Trail
Photo from www.irishheritagetrail.com
Winding through downtown Boston and into the back bay area this path takes you from Rose Kennedy’s garden, through burying grounds, past multiple statues and memorials, and through the public library before ending at Fenway Park. Each of the 20 locations listed has significance to both Boston’s history and the story of the Irish in Boston. The most moving of these, at least to me, was the Irish Famine Memorial.
This tribute marked the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine. Eight plaques surrounding the statues tell the heartbreaking tale while the two statues show the pain and the promise of that generation of Irish.
Irish Famine Memorial, Boston Photo by JLHalsted
Irish Famine Memorial, Boston Photo by JLHalsted
There is no charge to walk the trail, though individual sites may have set operating hours and fees. Visit www.irishheritagetrail.com for more detailed information.
JFK Presidential Library and Museum
I’m not sure you can mention Boston and Irish without mentioning John F. Kennedy. Learn about the 35th President’s life and political career through his writings, video and exhibits.
Open 7 days a week (excluding holidays) from 9am- 5pm. Cost: Adults $12, Students & Seniors $10, Children ages 13-17 $9, Children 12 and under free.
Grab a Pint and Enjoy the Craic
There is no shortage of Irish pubs in the city of Boston. My personal favorite is The Black Rose. Located near Faneuil Hall and the T station it is easy to find. The food is tasty and hearty, the craic (pronounced “crack”; loosely translated it means fun) is always on and the live music is always worth dancing to.
At the Black Rose in Boston Photo by JLHalsted
Fortify yourself with the Irish Stew or the Shepherd’s Pie, both are wonderful, grab a pint of Magners or Guinness and settle in for an evening of celebrating all that is Irish.
Open Monday- Friday 11am- 2am; Saturday and Sunday 9am-2am. Children are welcome until the hours become late.
Other Happenings
Be sure to check the Boston Irish Tourism Association website for more events like Irish teas, concerts featuring music and dance and plays.
Where to Stay
Boston has no shortage of hotels. If you want to stay where a lot of the St. Pat’s action is check out the Seaport Hotel for great location, views, amenities and family friendliness.
Jody Halsted writes about family travel at her website Family Rambling. Her family lived on Boston’s South Shore for 3 months a year ago and can’t wait to return.Vacationing in the New Downtown Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville's New Riverplace Development
Since it’s not exactly a booming metropolis, you probably haven’t heard of Greenville, South Carolina. With the antics of Mark Sanford and others, South Carolina has probably left you with much to be desired. Yet despite this, Greenville, South Carolina is positioning themselves to be a premier vacation spot in the south.
Located less than an hour from the Smokey Mountains, Greenville offers a convenient location at the base of the mountains, a couple hours from the beach and a couple hours from Atlanta, Georgia. This is just the beginning of Greenville’s lure to tourists. However, this hasn’t been the case until very recently. To be honest, downtown Greenville was a dump just 10 years ago. You know the scene from movies where the tumbleweed rolls through Main Street of a desolate downtown? Well that was Greenville. Restaurants and bars had their regulars, but streets had little foot traffic and there was little entertainment on the weekends to attract patrons. However, this has recently changed with the revitalization of downtown Greenville.
Today is a different story as Greenville offers a bustling downtown area. Many Greenville restaurant patios are often filled even on weekday evenings with patrons enjoying drinks and even live music. Outdoor events such as Artisphere, Downtown Alive and Fall for Greenville bring national and regional musicians, artists and other professionals. After losing their professional hockey team a few years ago, the city is set to welcome a new professional hockey team next year. And maybe the biggest attraction, the Peace Center, brings the most popular Broadway acts to Greenville each year. The world-renowned show Wicked, which is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, recently produced 50,000 ticket sales over a three-week period with most of those sales from out of town visitors.
If you need more reasons to visit Greenville, then you may want to wait a couple months when Greenville opens Main @ Broad. Opening in May in time of one of the nation’s most popular art events, Artisphere, this complex, which is across the street from the Peace Center, will house a Marriott Hotel, restaurants and many boutique shops. Main @ Broad is located at what is quickly becoming Greenville’s city center with many other hotels, restaurants and attractions within a few blocks. With its debut in May, it opens just in time for the summer traveling season.
So if you’re planning a trip to the southeast this summer or just looking for a new location for your spring and summer vacation plans, then you may want to consider the vibrant downtown Greenville area, which certainly shows the potential of being a major attraction of the southeast.
Photos courtesy of the Hampton Inn and Suites Greenville Downtown Riverplace by Scott Holloway.
Spring Training 2010: Grapefruit League Ticket Info, Directions, Team Outlooks
Spring Training 2010: Grapefruit League stadium and ticket info, directions, team outlooks
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park
While the Florida Keys invoke visions of sun and fun, an alternative Key West experience can be had by visiting Dry Tortugas National Park and its history and nature. Fast ferries transport visitors from Key West to the national park, where they can enjoy the natural beauty of the area, learn about the history of the fort, and enjoy swimming, diving, and snorkeling in the beautiful clear waters.
Famous for: Bird and marine life; diving and snorkeling, pirate and treasure legends, Fort Jefferson.
Admission: $5 per adult (17+) for a 7-day pass. Additional charge for private charter boats or seaplanes to take you to the island from Key West.
Families with young kids will like: Earning Junior Ranger badges with the Junior Ranger program.
Families with teenagers will like: Diving and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters.
Other travelers will like: Self-guided tours of Fort Jefferson.
Easy sight seeing: Amazing views from the top of Fort Jefferson.
Best hotel in the park: There are no hotels in the park.
Campground in the park: There is a primitive campground near the Fort Jefferson dock.
Best months to visit for weather: Any
Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Any
Nearest major cities: Key West, Florida
More information from the National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/drto
Related posts:
Photo courtesy of: National Park Service
Post written by: Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
Embark From Charleston on a Carnival Cruise
Downtown Charleston
Unless you live in Hawaii and haven’t experienced winter to its fullest this year, then you’re probably tired of snow storms, black ice and work and school delays. For goodness sake, people were making snowmen on southeast beaches last weekend during yet another snow storm that affected most of the east coast.
With Groundhog and Valentine’s Day out of the way, it’s time to start beating the winter blues by preparing for spring and summer vacations. If you’re tired of making the drive or flight down to Miami to embark on your Carribbean cruise vacation, then your life is about to get a little easier.
In May, Carnival Cruise Line will begin embarkation of year-round cruise vacations from Charleston, South Carolina. You may already know that for years Carnival has been cruising from Charleston during the winter months, but this marks the first time the cruise line will be embarking year-round. The 2,000+ passenger Carnival Fantasy will be sailing 5, 6 and 7-day voyages to the Caribbean. Cruises will be going to Nassau, Freeport, Key West and the Bahamas.
The announcement of Carnival extending its service in Charleston can mean nothing but good news for Charleston tourism. In recent years, the port city has continued to be a popular tourist spot with its historic allure and luxurious resorts near Charleston. The historic waterfront is just blocks from Charleston’s popular shopping and restaurant district, making it the perfect location for embarking on a cruise. South Carolina has also recently announced plans to open up an additional half-mile of the historic Charleston waterfront for the public, in order to accommodate a new cruise terminal.
First impressions are that the addition of year-round cruising in Charleston with Carnival could bring up to 200,000 visitors to Charleston this summer to cruise. As summers are usually warm and sometimes unbearable for walking around Charleston, a summer cruise might be your best bet.
Photo from Spencer.
Part 2: Disney World’s Hollywood Studios With Preschoolers
Mickey Mouse's Legendary Hat at Disney World's Hollywood Studios
If you’re visiting Disney World with a preschooler in tow, you’ll find that the Magic Kingdom park has the most to offer your younger vacationer. But chances are, if you’ve spent thousands of dollars on airfare and hotel, you’ve also ponied up for the park hopper pass and plan to hit the other three Disney World parks as well.
What can you do with your preschooler while the older kids are hitting Hollywood Studios’ Twilight Zone Tower of Terror? Check out these preschool friendly attractions at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.
6 Things For Preschoolers To Do At Disney World’s Hollywood Studios
1. Toy Story Mania – ride
Arguably the most popular ride in Hollywood Studios, the fast passes for Toy Story Mania run out quickly. If you’re set on enjoying this (and you should be – it’s fun for the whole family), make this your first stop of the day. If you don’t get a fast pass, expect at least an hour long wait, which is actually pretty tolerable thanks to the ginormous animatronic Mr. Potato Head telling jokes in the waiting area. The ride itself features a series of interactive, carnival style video games. It’s a blast.
2. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
This 25-minute, Broadway-style musical raised its curtains for the first time on the same day that the Beauty and the Beast movie hit theaters. Your little one (and, let’s face it, everyone else in your family) will love the costumes, singing and dancing. You can be seated up to 20 minutes before showtimes.
3. Muppet*Vision 3-D – 3-D show
More than a 3-D movie, this attraction features a 12-minute long “pre-show”, muppet animitronics, and – of course – the 17-minute long main event 3-D movie. Of course, chances are that you’re more familiar with the individual Muppets than your preschooler is.
4. Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage
This is one show that will probably bore and annoy your older children, but absolutely delight the preschoolers. It’s a great option for entertaining little ones while the big kids go on “big kid” rides. The show features a host of Playhouse Disney characters, including Mickey & Minnie, the Little Einsteins, and Handy Manny. It’s a fun, interactive show that encourages singing, clapping, and on-your-feet dancing along.
5. “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure – free play area
This is the granddaddy of all free play areas. It offers 11,000 square feet of oversized props, including a 52-foot long leaking water hose, 40-foot tall bumblebees, 30-foot tall blades of grass and slides made from oversized film strips.
6. Voyage of The Little Mermaid – live action show
This 15-minute musical attraction is also very popular, so you’ll want to pick up a Fast Pass here. What’s all the fuss about? Stunning puppetry and sweeping sets let you become part of Ariel’s world instead of mere audience members. And who doesn’t love every single song that came out of The Little Mermaid?
Aaaaand… yeah, that’s about it for preschool fun at Hollywood Studios. But you can actually pack a pretty full day between character greetings and the onslaught of shows available here. If you hit Disney during the winter holiday season, Hollywood Studios is also home to the best light display on earth, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
If you’re headed to Orlando and Disney World to escape a colder season farther North, Hollywood Studios is a great option for a “half day at the park/half day relaxing in the hotel pool” – at least if you have preschoolers to keep entertained.
Photo by dawnzy58 on Flickr.
New England Flower Shows To Cure The Winter Blues
Plowing Flowers at the Flower Show in Boston
Lately I’ve been sharing outdoor skating spots and school vacation ski deals across New England. But all this cold weather is really getting old. The best fix I know for the winter blues, other than a trip to the tropics, is to spend a day at a flower & gardening show. Not only is it toasty and warm in there, but it is bright and beautiful, filled with tips, workshops and products to get you thinking about spring. And no weeding is required. My kind of garden! Here are the ones scheduled throughout New England over the next few months:
RHODE ISLAND:
Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show, Providence – 02/18 – 02/21. Tickets are $15 in advance/$17 at the door for Adults. $7 for Children. Free for Ages 5 and under. Hours are 10AM – 9PM (except Sunday when it closes at 6PM). Less crowded after 3PM. 30 floral displays and 250 vendors. Face Painting & Magic throughout each day for the kids.
CONNECTICUT:
Connecticut Flower & Garden Show, Hartford – 02/18 – 02/21. Tickets are $14 for Adults. $2 for Children. Free for Ages 6 and under. CASH ONLY. $2 off if purchased in advance. Hours are 10AM – 8PM (except Sunday when it closes at 6PM). 45,000 square feet of landscape & floral displays and hundreds of vendors. Bring 1/2 cup of soil for free testing. Up to 15 seminars daily on gardening, lawn care & floral arrangement.
VERMONT:
Gorgeous Gardens & Green Living Show, Manchester – 03/13 – 03/14. Tickets are $10 for Adults. $8 for Seniors. Free for Ages 11 and under. Hours are 9:30AM – 5:00PM (except Sunday when it closes at 4PM). Featuring 30 booths on Horticulture, Agriculture & Sustainability. 25 seminars covering all three categories throughout each day – including ones tailored towards encouraging young gardeners.
MASSACHUSETTS:
Boston Flower & Garden Show, Boston – 03/24 – 03/28. Tickets are $20 for Adults. $10 for Children. Free for Ages 5 and under. MA Horticultural Society members can order complimentary tickets in advance. Hours are 10AM – 9PM Wednesday – Friday, 9AM – 9PM Saturday, 9AM – 6PM Sunday. 30 garden displays, 2 divisions of floral design competitions and hundreds of vendors. Lectures as well as demonstrations on gardening, cooking and floral design.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
Seacoast Home & Garden Show w/Greenhouse Open House @ UNH, Durham – 03/26 – 03/28. DETAILS BEYOND DATES NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR 2010. 2009 tickets ranged from $4 – $8. Greenhouse Open House portion is Free. Features lectures, plant sales, cooking sessions with quality regional chefs, and scavenger hunts for kids.
MAINE:
Bangor Garden Show, Bangor – 04/23 – 04/25. Tickets are $5. Free for Ages 11 and under. Hours are 10AM – 8PM (except Sunday when it runs 11AM – 4PM). 8 gardenscapes and 60 vendors. How To demonstrations. Kids Grow Too classroom project competition for K-6.
By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog
Photo taken & provided by Danny Collins