Tag Archives: museum

Educational Fun

Do you have big plans for spring break? The weeklong vacation from school is traditionally a time when families hit the road for warmer climates, but with the economy tanking, an increasing amount of clans are planning to stay closer to home. If you live in a large metropolitan area like New York finding educational attractions to visit during spring break is a piece of cake. The American Museum of Natural History is a hit with kids of all ages, many who are impressed from the moment they step foot into the building. The museum’s entry hall is home to … Continue reading →

Introducing Art to My Little One

Chances are that you are already introducing your baby to art whenever you look at a picture book or name colors and shapes, but why not go a little bit further and expose your toddler to more sophisticated fare. You might be surprised at how much he picks up and understands. I learned this lesson myself earlier today. A new friend invited us to an art program for children at a local museum. The program was geared for children aged three through ten with a parent. My two older children fall within this range and were excited about the prospect … Continue reading →

Going Hog Wild in Milwaukee and Revving it up in Philly

The city known for its beer and brats is going hog wild next month when it opens a new Harley-Davidson Museum. The iconic company’s hometown of Milwaukee is the site of a massive building that will house more than 400 bikes. The grand opening takes place on July 12th and will include a slew of festivities that highlight Harleys that once belonged to celebrities like Evel Knievel and Elvis Presley. Also scheduled to be on display is a motorcycle built in 1903. That was the year that two young friends from Milwaukee, William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson, first made … Continue reading →

Summer in New York: Superheroes Invade Gotham

If you struggle to persuade your children that a day at an art museum can actually be fun then you are in luck. If your kids are fans of Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman you won’t have any problem getting them excited to visit New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Iron Man, Spider-Man, and a slew of other popular comic book legends are being honored at the Met’s current “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” exhibit. The brawny super clan has been chosen by the Costume Institute to illustrate the worlds of fantasy and reality. Fashion designers who create outfits for mega-stars … Continue reading →

Education Vacation: The National World War II Museum

It’s the one place I wished my grandfather could have visited before he died. My grandpa was a member of the U.S. Army’s highly decorated 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. It is the only remaining Infantry unit in the Army Reserve force structure. Many books have chronicled the heroic actions of the members of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry. Many note that none have shed their blood more valiantly for America than the Japanese Americans who served in these units while fighting enemy forces in Europe during World War II. My grandfather was a proud member of this elite group … Continue reading →

D.C.’s Newest Family-Friendly Educational Destination

There is no question Washington, D.C. is one of the foremost educational vacation destinations in the world. And now families have yet another attraction to add to their list of must-see sites in the area. D.C.’s Newseum is a massive, multi-million dollar complex that celebrates newsgathering and teaches visitors “news is necessary to a functioning democracy.” The $450 million, 643,000-square-foot translucent structure held its grand opening ceremony today. The Newseum sits on Pennsylvania Avenue a few blocks from the Capitol near the National Mall and is preparing to host more than a million visitors in its first year. For $20 … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Free Gas, It’s a Gas, and a Ghastly Sight

FREE GAS It doesn’t get much cheaper than free, right? Then again, is anything in life truly free? You can ponder that while you are trying to win 9,000 gallons of gas from a West Virginia casino. Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack is offering guests who are considering canceling their summer road trip due to record high gas prices the chance to walk away with fuel that is estimated to be worth more than $30,000. It’s no joke. The casino is giving away a tanker of fuel to one lucky person on April 18th. Players can earn entries for the grand prize … Continue reading →

Summer Travel: A Saintly Destination

Have you ever wondered how city leaders decide what names to give the streets, roads and avenues we travel on day in and day out? I live near Titletown, U.S.A., home of the world famous Green Bay Packers, so it’s no surprise that the streets I frequent have names such as Brett Favre Pass, Bart Starr Drive and Reggie White Way. But in one of the country’s most populated cities, the art of naming streets has become the subject of a new museum exhibit. If you are looking for a family friendly summer travel destination that will provide more than … Continue reading →

Summer Road Trip: Cruising the Country

If your family enjoys spending the summer months cruising the countryside in search of unique attractions then you are in luck. Several popular travel destinations are bringing in one-of-kind treasures to their sites this summer in hopes of attracting a record number of tourists. For example, in St. Paul a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence is coming to the state as part of Minnesota’s 150th anniversary celebration. The document is the only one of its kind that travels the country. It is often referred to as the “Dunlap Broadsides” and was typed and printed shortly after the handwritten … Continue reading →

Stephen Colbert is Hanging at the Smithsonian

Well, a portrait of him is anyway. And the sight is shocking museum patrons all the same. Think about it… you are strolling through the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington near the “America’s Presidents” exhibit and right between the entrances for the men’s and women’s bathrooms is a gigantic portrait of the fake TV pundit standing near a fireplace. Who wouldn’t be caught off guard? The joke—-and it is a joke according to museum officials—-is supposedly on everyone who thinks Stephen Colbert has become a permanent resident of the prestigious museum. The portrait of the Comedy Central host … Continue reading →