The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘family activity’

California has so many outdoor activities to offer families year round.  With mild weather and lots of sunshine, Palm Springs is of course a popular winter destination.  For families, the lure of some great outdoor activities is all the more reason to visit. With another fee free day coming up on September 25th, 2010 (National Public Lands Day) we thought we’d take another look at Joshua Tree, one of our favorite National Parks.

Sandwiched between I-10 and Highway 62 just east of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park offers some unique landscape, beautiful scenery and easy hikes.  There are three entrances, Joshua Tree (west), Twentynine Palms (north) and Cottonwood (south).  If you are coming from Palm Springs, you’ll likely enter through Joshua Tree, just off Highway 62.  If you loop around, you can exit at Twentynine Palms back onto Highway 62, about 30 miles east of Joshua Tree.  You can also connect to the south entrance at Cottonwood Springs, hooking up with I-10.

There are visitor centers at all three entrances that are open year-round from 8AM-5PM, except Cottonwood, which is open 9AM-3PM.  With exhibits, videos, a bookstore and public facilities, this is the place to begin and end your trip through the park.  The visitor center at the Joshua Tree entrance also has a cafe, while the Oasis visitor center at Twentynine Palm boasts an accessible nature trail.

Tucked away in the northwest corner of the park is the Black Rock Nature Center, which is open daily 8AM-4PM, October through May (Noon-8PM on Friday).  You’ll find exhibits, a small bookstore, public facilities and a picnic area.  This is a dead-end road, so unless you intend to hike in the Black Rock Canyon, camp, or hike up to Hi-View to see Mount St. Gorgonio, there is nothing else to see in the area.

The two best features of Joshua Tree National Park are it’s cool campgrounds and picnic areas nestled among rock formations and it’s family friendly nature trails.  There are five loop trails that are half a mile or less, four of which are stroller accessible.  Bajada, Cap Rock, Oasis of Mara and Keys View are all stroller friendly or easy for kids to maneuver.

Another easily accessible, kid friendly activity is the Keys Ranch tour, which offers a 90 minute guided exploration of the old Keys family homestead.  Littered with lots of old cars, trucks and mining equipment, the ranch provides many interesting diversions for kids.  Tours are offered on weekends from October to May and on weekdays according to season.  There is a fee of $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6-11.  Kids under 6 are free.  Reservations are recommended during peak season.

In spring, wildflower viewing is a very popular activity.  March and April bring wildflowers that are in full bloom, adding an interesting color to an otherwise green and brown landscape.  Rangers also offer a variety of programs each day to keep both adults and kids entertained.

If you’ve decided to camp, well there are nine campgrounds in the park.  The largest and most family friendly are Jumbo Rocks (my favorite), Black Rock and Cottonwood.  Both Black Rock and Cottonwood offer fresh water and flush toilets along with dump stations for RVs for $15/night.  Jumbo Rocks, which is centrally located on the main park road is $10/night, but has no amenities.  All sites offer a picnic table and fire grate.  Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood offers ranger programs on Friday and Saturday evenings, while Black Rock offers a program on Saturday evening only.  Reservations may be made for Black Rock and Indian Cove up to six months in advance.  All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

There are lots of side roads and other interesting areas of the park to see too.  The park map will help you plan your route.  If you have just one day, start by stopping at either the Joshua Tree visitor center, then drive the main park road, stopping at Cap Rock, Keys View and Skull Rock.  Both Hidden Valley and the Jumbo Rocks area have picnic tables for a quiet family picnic.  You can exit back onto Highway 62 via the Oasis visitor center (and another nature walk while you’re there).

Joshua Tree National Park is an amazing contrast within itself.  The only warning is not to go during the summer…unless you like extreme heat.

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On one of our visits to Nassau earlier this year we ventured out to the Pirates of Nassau Museum in downtown Nassau. An easy three block walk from the cruise terminal, the museum is conveniently located near the British Colonial Hilton at the corner of King and George Streets. The walk and museum are stroller friendly so long as you can make a few fancy maneuvers and have a partner for some heavy lifting on and off curbs and up and down a few stairs (there is a lift in the main part of the museum).

At a hefty $12 admission fee for adults and a more reasonable $6 for kids 4-17, this museum is a bit overpriced for what you get. As you enter, the mood is set by the dark, spooky atmosphere and a life sized pirate ship that acts as the first backdrop for the self-guided tour through the history of pirating in the Bahamas. Again, the museum is very dark, so a little light won’t hurt if you have young kids or want to read the placards without straining.

Winding through the museum will take less than 30 minutes. Each “room” showcases a piece of pirate life, life onboard a pirate ship and pirating history in and around Nassau. The highlight of the tour is a pitch dark curtained room with a pirate show (highlighted by lightning and the obligatory moaning) that might scare younger kids – although our four year old thought it was cool. The self-guided tour ends in a small room exhibiting a few artifacts from the era.

For kids under the age of 6, the best part of the entire museum just might be the courtyard. With a stockade, larger than life pirate and cannons to climb on, the kids spent as much time here as they did in the entire museum. There are tables where you rest and have a small snack and restrooms are conveniently located nearby. Making your way to the small gift you’ll find a disappointing and pricey selection of “piratefinalia”.

For a family with young kids (under the age of 6) or teens, this museum isn’t going to be the highlight of your trip to Nasaau. For those in between, it is a good (albeit pricey) way to spend a hot or rainy afternoon. Set your expectations low and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9AM-6PM and Sunday 9AM-Noon. Be sure to check their website for holiday closures before heading out.

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It sounds so quaint, so New England and everything about it is so simple; it will take you in and make you feel like you’ve been a part of the community for years. Old Home Days began in 1899 when the then Governor of New Hampshire came up with an idea to invigorate the state and its economy. While thousands of wealth seekers were trudging westward in search of their feast or folly, the small New England towns were in much need of infrastructure. With a surge in manufacturing activities and a decline in farming, New Hampshire sought to lure former residents back to their state or at the very least, entice them to help build the infrastructure that was sorely needed as the state grew. Perhaps new found riches would be used to purchase a summer home, build roads, a school or library. This was a national undertaking, which would be unique and unprecedented. Invitations were sent out to former residents around the country, inviting them back to New Hampshire for Old Home Days each year.

Today, the tradition carries on in much the same way that it did over 100 years ago. Small towns solicit their former residents to return to New Hampshire each year to participate in a celebration of traditional values and family friendly activities and entertainment. Surprisingly, former residents still flock back for several days each year to share their talent, dedication and love of their birthplace with the families and residents who currently reside in the towns where these (now) world travelers grew up. Of course, these festivities attract plenty of tourists and visitors alike – maybe they too will be lured in by the homey atmosphere of these quaint New Hampshire villages.

In Hancock, New Hampshire, the tradition started 20 years earlier in 1879. What began as a family picnic soon blossomed into a reunion of town folk, past and present. Almost 10 years before New Hampshire would officially adopt the tradition, Hancock had its own annual picnic that drew hundreds of residents. Drawing over 10,000 attendees in 1929, even former first lady Grace Coolidge returned to enjoy the festivities. Although she did not reside in Hancock, her family had ties to the town and her fond childhood memories drew her back.

In 2010, the celebration began on a Friday evening with an ice cream social in the church vestry, a magic show for kids on the common, followed by the 18th annual Hancock Has Talent show. This year, the old meetinghouse was packed as one of Hancock’s finest musical talents (now living in New York), Abbie Gardner of bluegrass band Red Molly performed a selection from her album and a surprise selection (yet to be named) from an upcoming album (she is also an award winning songwriter). So far, Old Home Days had lived up to its promise.

Saturday was an activity packed day. A kids fun run kicked off the family activities, followed by a small, but interesting parade down Main Street. There was face painting, crafts, and even a kids market where local children had the opportunity to share their talent by crafting items that they then could sell. A rock climbing wall on the common, pony rides on Norway Hill, synchronized swimming in the pond and a pie eating contest and tug-o-war on the beach kept kids entertained and laughing all afternoon long. Adults could enjoy an exhibit by local artists, historical photo exhibits, a huge book sale at the local library and shopping at the craft market.

Hungry? Fresh cut french fries and onion rings, a traditional chicken BBQ, free kettle corn and watermelon and deep fried Snickers were just a few of the offerings. Of course, a bake sale also offered tasty treats that you could take home. Spreading out on the common for a picnic, you could listen to the upbeat tempo of the American Legion Band or the soothing bluegrass melodies of Hot Mustard.

Sunday brought several new activities to round out the weekend. Old Home Days had delivered on its promise. Traditional family fun, neighbors meeting neighbors and residents past and present coming together to unite in celebrating the traditions of New Hampshire. Every summer throughout New Hampshire, everyone can enjoy Old Home Days. You don’t need to be a resident to join in the festivities, but you too may be lured in forever. Check with each town for specific dates each year.

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Kids love going to the bakery. I remember when I was a kid; I used to sneak behind the counter and help myself to a cupcake. Of course, I’d be mortified if one of my kids did that…ahh how our perspective changes. While visiting grandparents recently, we had the chance to go to a bakery – or farm – or both – oh, they’re the same place. Wright’s Farm & Bakery in North Smithfield, Rhode Island offers a unique experience – a working dairy farm combined with a yummy bakery. We’re so there!

The farm maintains a herd of approximately 150 cows that produce lots of milk that is sold in their store every day. And if you go to the farm between the hours of 3 and 5 PM any day of the week, you can see them being milked.

As we made our way down a short trail to the big red barn, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. The trail is filled with wooden signs that tell you about lesser known and sometimes strange cow facts. There is also a group of picnic tables nearby where you could sit and have lunch, a snack or perhaps, a pastry? Once at the milking barn (aka the big red barn), there is a little viewing area set up for onlookers. It is quite small and can only accommodate a couple of kids or 2 adults comfortably, but it does get you up close and let’s say…utterly personal. The farm hand doing the milking that day didn’t interact with us while we were there, which was slightly disappointing, but I suppose they may have been able to answer questions if asked, but I didn’t.

After a few minutes of watching the cows at the milking machines, the kids grew restless, so we headed over to the other barn where most of the cows were penned. There were goats and chickens on the way, but I think my oldest son had cake on his mind because he didn’t seem too interested. When we arrived at the other barn, we were startled by a cow who came “galloping” around the corner of the pen! In fact, I think she may have been more frightened than we were because she almost lost her footing before finally catching herself and racing away. I had never seen a cow running up close before, so that was pretty exciting, although I did feel badly for both the cow and my youngest son, who was crying hysterically. “Not to worry”, I thought; I know how to quickly “fix” this situation.

A short walk later and we had arrived at the bakery. Ahhh, every child’s delight (and adults too)! People who haven’t been here in awhile will notice that it has been remodeled. With beautiful hardwood floors and lots of wood shelving, you take a small step back in time once you step inside. The kids, of course, ran directly to the glass enclosed pastry counters, filled with lots of yummy looking treats. While I was looking around at all of the breads, honey and specialty products, I suddenly had a vision of my 22 month-old peering at me through the other side of the bakery case. Thank goodness it was just a fleeting illusion.

After collecting our goodies, we said goodbye to the cows and thought about what tasty treats would await next time we visited. All in all, it was a fun trip for everyone. The kids enjoyed seeing the cows and who doesn’t enjoy going to the bakery? This is not a teaching farm, so don’t expect too much in terms of learning all about milking, but it is fun to be reminded about where your milk and dairy products come from once in awhile.

Wright’s Dairy Farm and Bakery is located in North Smithfield. The bakery is open M-Sat 8-7PM and Sunday 8-4PM. The cows are milked at 3PM daily.

If you’ve enjoyed these photos, please visit Photo Friday at Deliciousbaby for more.

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It was with trepidation that I first ordered Disney’s Family Fun magazine. After all, the last thing my family needed was another magazine on the ins and outs of how to have the perfect family. But a friend’s son was having a school fundraiser (you know the ones I’m talking about) and we needed to order something, so off to the computer I went to check reviews of potential picks. “This time was going to be different”, I said. This time I was actually going to get a magazine that was helpful and informative rather than the usual coffee table clutter.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Family Fun really catered to the notion that families should play together. No parental advice “experts” need apply. The idea is that families who make crafts together, cook meals together and simply enjoy spending their time together will have more fun. “How refreshing”, I thought.

So, I placed my order for a 1-year subscription of Family Fun and anxiously awaited my first issue. When it finally arrived in the mail, I took a quick look at the cover and was instantly intrigued by what I saw. With a remaining amount of skepticism, I opened it and read the table of contents. Hmmm, an article entitled “Low Cost Summer Camp Adventures at Home” – that looks promising. But then again, “How to Make a Dancing Balloon” and “Taking an RV Vacation With Your Family” soon had me delving straight into the pages. In what seemed to be just a few minutes time, I heard “mommy!” “mommy!”. I guess I was taking too much time reading because the kids were standing at my feet, waiting to go outside and play. Reading would have to wait until the kids went to bed!

That evening I began devouring every article until I had finished reading the entire magazine. I actually found it quick to read due to all the project idea pages. This magazine looked and read differently from all of the other family and children’s magazines that I’ve read in the past and I felt like I had hit a home run in choosing it!

Family Fun has 5 feature articles in each issue, covering topics such as Holiday crafts, fun neighborhoods, homemade gifts, kitchen science projects and more. Inside, there are 11 additional departments such as “Creative Solutions”, “My Great Idea”, “Everyday Fun”, “Let’s Cook”, “Our Favorite Things” and my husband’s favorite – “Family Getaways”. Each and every article is focused on quality family time. For example, in a recent “Everyday Fun” article, some of the craft project ideas were making butterflies from plastic egg cartons, turning bottle caps into bejeweled magnets, making a Jacob’s Ladder toy and fashioning an Easter Egg display stand. If you go to their website at www.familyfun.go.com you will find an amazing array of additional articles, stories and ideas, as well as how-to-videos and parent’s groups.

While this magazine is filled with lots of great things, I feel it is just as important to mention what it is not filled with. You will not find articles on how to stop your child from whining while at the supermarket, why you should get the latest vaccine or how mom’s should not feel guilty because they can’t do it all. Rather than focusing on what we aren’t doing right, Family Fun celebrates family togetherness and how to make the best out of the limited time that we do have together. Family Fun is published 10 times per year at a current yearly subscription price of $10.00. It’s a feel good magazine at a feel good price. Now that’s fun!

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