Stopping Between Boston and NYC

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven

I grew up in New Jersey have a lot of family and friends in the NY/NJ/CT area, so we drive down that way frequently.  Sometimes we like to make stops on the way there or back to break up the drive and give my son the chance to stretch his legs, especially if we aren't in a rush.

For anyone else who does the drive regularly or plans to make a trip down there, here are some places on the way to help break up your trip.  I will add this as I find more activities.

Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT - This is a great aquarium and a bit cheaper than other aquariums in New England, like Mystic or the New England Aquarium.   You can easily spend several hours here.  The best part is the hands-on activities, like the ray touch tank!

Stepping Stones Children's Museum in Norwalk, CT - If you are a member of the Museum of Science or Boston Children's Museum, your membership card will get you into Stepping Stones!  This is a really fun children's museum.  It's spacious, clean, and has a lot to do.  We've been here a few times and would love to stop there again.

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, CT - This is a little pricey ($30 for out-of-staters to park their car) but it's pretty cool.  It has a nice lighthouse, a beach with lifeguards, a carousel, a splash pad, and concessions.  Pack a picnic and stay for a few hours.  Build it into your trip!

Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT - This is another museum that you can get in for free with a Museum of Science membership.  Otherwise, it's only $7 and kids 5 and under are free.  It's part science museum and part art museum.  It's not a big museum and you can get through it in less than an hour, but my son enjoyed it on our way home after Christmas last December.

Chip's Pancakes in multiple locations - After years of seeing billboards for Chip's, we finally stopped there a few months ago.  The billboards say they have the best pancakes in Connecticut and I must say, they were quite good and I am very picky with my pancakes!  Super kid friendly, inexpensive, breakfast all day, and a good place to stop for a quick bite when driving to or from NY.

Mystic, CT - If you take 95 home, stop by Mystic.  You don't need to spend money on the aquarium (which is quite costly) and you could just head to downtown Mystic.  There are restaurants including the famous Mystic Pizza, ice cream places, gift shops, and a draw bridge.  Nearby Stonington also has a lighthouse museum.

Lighthouses - You can check out my lighthouse blog that I haven't updated in years.  My husband and I love lighthouses and here are some that you can visit in CT.  Note:  you need to take 95 home to see most of these.

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI - Another place you can get in with your Museum of Science membership.  It's a really nice zoo and you could spend hours there.  It's also great for a day trip.

5 Things to do this Week!

After an amazing family vacation to the island where my mom grew up in Croatia, I'm back and ready to blog!  Here are 5 free/cheap things to do this week.

1.  Spray parks.  There are going to be a few scorchers this week - Tuesday is supposed to be 88 and Wednesday is supposed to be 90.  So why not hit up a spray park?  Waltham not only has some excellent spray parks, but during the week the Boys and Girls Club is at a few of the locations giving free lunches to kids.

2.  Frog Pond.  Keep cool in Boston by taking a wade in the Frog Pond.  Enjoy the shade in Boston Common, a picnic, a ride on the carousel, and cool off in the Frog Pond.

3.  See a free outdoor movie.  The Sandlot is playing in Newton Highlands after live Irish music.  The Hatch Shell has Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.  Both on Friday.

4.  Visit the MIT Museum or the Franklin Park Zoo for free on Friday, courtesy of Highland Street.  Get there when it opens, though!

5.  Check out tide pools.  Drive on up to Joppa Flats in Newburyport for tide pooling.  $2 per kid.  Afterwards, I suggest visiting Bob Lobster for some fresh seafood!

Summer Bucket List

Summer officially arrived this weekend and we couldn't be more excited!   Last year I created a summer bucket list and we did almost everything on the list, so I've decided to do it again.

• Salem Willows.  A great place for summer fun!  A historic merry-go-round, mini golf, arcade games, ice cream, right on the water.  Everything is inexpensive and it's a great beachy outing.  
• Look Park.  I'd love to head out to Amherst for a day trip and spend some time at Look Park.  There's playgrounds, paddle boats, mini golf, a little zoo, and spray parks.  I went there once before I had Isaac and I've been wanting to take him since last summer, but we never got a chance.  
• Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH.  A friend posted some pictures of her family at the Seacoast Science Center and it looked like so much fun that I'm looking forward to taking Isaac!  It's only $7 for adults and $3 for kids.  
• Frog Pond.  We can't get enough of wading in the Frog Pond!  I can't wait to spend an entire day at Boston Common this summer.
• Blueberry picking.  We had a great time strawberry picking at Ward's Berry Farm last week but next month we plan to pick blueberries at Tougas Farm.  
• Camping at the Cape.  The best way to do a Cape trip on a budget during the summer is to CAMP!  Last year we enjoyed Sweetwater Forest in Brewster. 
• York, ME.  We usually try to go to York once a year, but last year the summer just went way too fast!  Fun-O-Rama is always a good time with some bowling and skeeball and ice cream or candy at The Goldenrod is a real treat!  And you can't get much more New England than the picturesque Nubble Light.
• Walden Pond.  GO EARLY!   The parking lot fills up fast on nice days and it's also shaded in the morning.  
• Visit a new Mass Audubon location.  I'd like to visit a location where we've never been before!  
• Picnic and play at Artesani Park in Brighton.  The wading pool is wonderful on a warm day!  
• Boating.  I'm on the lookout for some inexpensive boating options.  Charles River Canoe and Kayak is expensive.  Stay tuned for cheaper alternatives...

What's on your summer bucket list?

Celebrate Kindness at Boston Children’s Museum on May 31!

KIND Snacks and Sprout, the TV channel, teamed up to launch Operation Kind Kids – a program designed to inspire kindness through everyday thoughtful acts.  On May 31, KIND and Sprout are hosting family-friendly events across the country, including the Boston Children's Museum, to celebrate kindness.

This event is included with paid admission and will feature a variety of activity stations, including:

· Get creative:  Kids will have the chance to express what kindness means to them and share their vision as part of a collage wall.

· A kind act a day: Attendees will take home a calendar to track daily kind acts

· Pay it forward: Nothing brightens someone’s day quite like a flower, which is why kids will be invited to pick a flower and share it with someone in their life.

· Strike a pose: The whole family will have the chance to capture their experience in front of a fun photo backdrop

· Snack better: KIND Healthy Grains bars will be on hand for parents and their little ones to enjoy

Visit www.operationkindkids.com for activities designed to encourage kindness at home and in the community.

TEN Inexpensive Indoor Ideas to do this Week!

Jump Around is a great place to get some energy out!

Updated on 1/27/14!

It's another cold week ahead of us, so here are ten (inside!) things for you to do this week.  I tried to find some good deals or otherwise inexpensive things to do.  Some of the indoor activities are so expensive - one thing I found was an indoor play area for $15!  That's more expensive than the Children's Museum!

So, here are some cheaper options to keep you warm while getting out of the house.

1.  Grab a Groupon for Jump Around in Framingham.  Seriously.  Do it.  I bought one and we went on Friday when the temperature was only about 12 degrees.   Isaac really needed to get some energy out and this helped!

2.  Or buy a Groupon for Kids Fun Stop in West Roxbury.   The deal is $30 for five drop-in play visits, so it's half off.   Best for kids 6 and under.

3.  Visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Their regular rates are quite affordable, but they also offer times to go for free for Massachusetts residents.  If you get there Sunday morning from 9:00 am to noon or on Wednesday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, you will get in free.  (Side note:  Free Sunday mornings happen year-round, but free Wednesday mornings are only from September until May)

4.  Spend Friday evening at the Boston Children's Museum.  Courtesy of Target, it's only $1 from 5-9 pm.

5.  Visit the Boston Fire Museum on Saturday morning.  It's only open on Saturdays, but there's no admission - just bring a donation.  It's not a big museum, but it's fun, especially if you have a kid who likes fire trucks!

6.  Stop at Kelly's Roast Beef for Kids' Night. It's every Monday in Saugus from 5-8 pm, every Tuesday in Danvers and Medford from 5-8 pm, and every Wednesday in Natick from 5-8 pm! There's storytelling, face painting, balloons, arts and crafts projects, and ice cream!  It's free to enjoy the activities, but the food is not free of charge.

7.  Skip cooking one night and go to one of the Boston-area kids eat free nights.

8.  Go to a Tuesday morning story time at Pottery Barn Kids.  It's going to be in the teens tomorrow (ugh) so head to an indoor mall with a PB Kids and maybe grab lunch and hit up the play area to kill some time.

9.  Meet Dora the Explorer tomorrow at the Patriot's Place story time inside Showcase Cinema De Lux.    (Showcase Cinema De Lux has these story times every Tuesday with a different character appearance!)

10.  Paint something at Plaster Fun Time.   You can keep this low cost by picking out lower-priced items.  They have magnets for under $4 and regular pieces start at about $9.  If you join their email list, you'll get coupons sent to you.   They have 9 locations.

Free and Discounted Museum Days

The Boston Children's Museum is only $1 on Friday nights.

There's no shortage of excellent museums in Massachusetts and luckily, even if you're on a budget you can take advantage!  Many museums offer specific days where you can go for a reduced price - or even free!

• Harvard Museum of Natural History is free for Massachusetts residents every Sunday morning (year-round) from 9:00 am to noon.  From September through May, it's also free Wednesdays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.  Don't forget to bring an ID; they will need to verify residency.
• Boston Children's Museum is $1 on Friday evenings 5pm to 9pm, sponsored by Target.
• Discovery Museums (both) in Acton are free on the first Friday of the month from 4:30-8:30 pm.
• If you're a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch customer, they have a "Museums on Us" program where you can into museums for free on the first weekend of the month.  Some area museums include: the Museum of Fine Arts, MIT Museum, American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Battleship Cove in Fall River, Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, Providence Children's Museum, and the RISD Museum.  Check their website for more.
• MIT Museum is also free on the last Sunday of each month.
• Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton is free on Thursdays, 5-9 PM.
• The Museum of Fine Arts has a bunch of free Open House days: Monday, January 20, 2014 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day); Saturday, February 8, 2014 (Lunar New Year); Monday, May 26, 2014 (Memorial Day); and Monday, October 13, 2014 (Fall Open House).  On Wednesday nights after 4 pm, admission is by voluntary contribution, though the suggested donation is $25.
• Worcester Art Museum is free on the first Saturday of the month from 10-12.
• In the summer, Highland Street offers "Free Fun Fridays."  Their schedule for summer 2014 hasn't come out yet, but you can see last year's schedule to get an idea of where you can visit for free.
• Don't forget to check your library for discounted passes!  Some of the deals are great.  

Know any others?  Leave a comment!