History is Fun: Review of Jamestown Settlement and The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown3/30/2018 by Micaela WilliamsonUPDATED: This post contains new and previously published information from Kid Trips. Repeat after me, "History is FUN!" Yes, you heard that right. If your memories of history include memorizing timelines and writing definitions in composition notebooks, then it's time to create new memories. The perfect place for hands-on history is the historic triangle of Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. Here, history truly comes to life. We've written about this area in the past, and as our children grow and change, it's a place that we keep coming back to learn more.
We especially love the immersive historical environments of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (read our previous post here) and Jamestown Settlement.
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By Amy SuskiOver the many years we've been visiting Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, the attraction map has become somewhat of a growth chart for my 3 kids. In the early years they happily toddled around the Forest of Fun, visited the horses, got their swim diapers wet in the fountains, circumnavigated the park on the Busch Gardens Railway, and then passed out from exhaustion in their strollers by 2:00.
By Amy SuskiAs a parent and history buff, I'm constantly searching for ways to engage our 3 kids in the stories of the past. Fortunately, Virginia's historic triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown is home to some of the best interactive history museums in the country. Recently, we visited the region's newest addition, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which officially launched in the spring of 2017 with a brand new 80,000 square foot building and outdoor living history museum.
We're big fans of the family-owned artisanal skin care company, Amalthea Ridge (see our previous blog, "Learn About Raising Kids and Homesteading From Local Mom and Founder of Amalthea Ridge"). Using goat milk from her own herd of goats, biochemist and founder, Sarah Wehri, Ph.D, creates dreamy lotions, face creams, soaps, and more. After being frustrated by the lack of products to relieve her daughter's skin irritation, back in 2011 Sarah began researching natural ingredients and decided to create something herself. Soon family and friends started making product requests, so selling them on a small scale seemed like the next logical next step. Sarah uses her knowledge of protein and lipid biochemistry to formulate unique, skin-supporting products. “From the first formulations, Amalthea Ridge has focused on high-quality, natural ingredients and our homestead fresh goat milk as the foundation of our products. We make a point of sourcing organic and fair trade ingredients with a preference for local ingredients whenever available. ” Together with her husband, Keyvan Moussavi, the family-run business is now ready for the next step. “We continue to experience increased demand for our unique skin care products from direct consumers and retail stores requesting to resell them. Our current equipment is unable to keep up with demand.” explains Sarah. “A successful Kickstarter campaign would mean the purchase of equipment to meet demand as well as materials to begin creation of the next generation of Amalthea Ridge products.” Kickstarter project backers can select a variety of rewards composed of Amalthea Ridge products. Amalthea Ridge products made special holiday gifts and gift wrap is included upon request. Sarah and Keyvan are working hard to ensure rewards ship in time for holiday gift giving! To learn more about Amalthea Ridge visit www.AmaltheaRidge.com, access the company’s Kickstarter campaign at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/570726383/amalthea-ridge-artisan-natural-skin-care, and email Sarah at homestead@AmaltheaRidge.com
By Amy SuskiWe've stayed at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites for two years in a row and both times we were impressed by how nice it is for the rate. A comfortable suite (shown above) has a separate bedroom for Mom and Dad while kids shared the fold-out queen sofa bed. This was the arrangement we preferred, but families can also get a room with 2 double beds and a fold-out chair, which works well for families of 5. Aside from providing ample elbow room for the whole family, we loved these features: Free Breakfast: One of the nicest cost savers of staying at the Woodlands is the free breakfast buffet. Every morning the kids helped themselves to an ample selection of fresh fruit, eggs, cereals, pastries, bagels, and (drumroll please)...two waffle bars! Even the pickiest kid will love that. And since the buffet is self-serve, there is no wait. You can eat as fast or as leisurely as you want and start your day without delay. A busy and friendly staff kept the breakfast room clean and well stocked at all times. It's not fancy (the cutlery is plastic and the dishes are styrofoam) but when traveling with kids, an easy non-breakable breakfast with carry-out coffee is just right. Spray Park: In addition to an outdoor pool, the Woodlands has added a nifty little spray park just for kids. Although it was too cold to try it out when we visited, I spied a pirate ship, water cannons, and sprinklers, all of which could keep a little tyke happy for hours. Huzzah! BBQ Grille: Although the hotel doesn't have room service, its easy to dine-in or carry-out food from the family-friendly BBQ Grille Huzzah! Huzzah's also has a cozy bar where we enjoyed some local microbrews before turning in for the night. What's nice for families is that Huzzah's does not attract a bar crowd like some other hotel bars do. When we're trying to settle our light sleepers at night, the last thing we want is a rowdy group returning to their room after carousing in the lobby bar. Huzzah's closes at a respectable 10:30 p.m. and is located just outside the hotel in a lovely courtyard where you're likely to see families enjoying the evening around a picnic table or firepit. Car-Free Convenience: As an official Colonial Williamsburg hotel, the Woodlands is convenient to all the Colonial Williamsburg attractions. Once you park your car in their free lot, there is no need for it to get around. The Visitor Center is located immediately adjacent to the Woodlands and the rest of the Colonial Williamsburg attractions are within walking distance or a short shuttle ride away. (Even though its close enough to walk I recommend taking the shuttle so that the kids don't get tired out too soon.) Discounts: Depending on when you stay at the Woodlands, there may be special discounts or packages including tickets to Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, and more. Be sure to check their website for the latest offers. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and do not reflect those of the businesses and organizations mentioned. We did not receive any special discounts or benefits on this trip. All rights are reserved by KidTrips © 2014. by Micaela Williamson Colonial Williamsburg is a Kid Trips family travel favorite. Visitors can explore 18th century life by visiting the many buildings, museums, tours, and programs the Revolutionary City has to offer. Go visit America's largest living-history museum, and check out some of the newest programs for Spring/Summer 2015. RevQuest: The King’s Advance: For those in search of an adventure that’s a challenge for the entire family, the popular text-message-based interactive spy adventure RevQuest: Save the Revolution is back with a new chapter. RevQuest: The King's Advance debuts on March 23 and will take Questors on a new spy adventure throughout the Revolutionary City. Nearly six years of war mostly spared the new nation’s biggest state until January 1781, when a force led by turncoat British Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold raided and burned its new capital city of Richmond. In April Williamsburg, the former colonial capital, fell under British occupation. Revolutionary leaders including Gov. Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette scramble to the state’s defense, and they are desperate for information about the size of looming British forces under Maj. Gen. William Phillips, already in Virginia, and Lord Cornwallis, who is bringing more troops up from the Carolinas. Collecting that intelligence falls to players who can carry out their mission this spring. Programming at the Taste Studio: Families are invited to tour the Historic Area’s gardens, pick herbs and vegetables and follow a cooking demo at the Taste Studio using the items collected in the gardens. Also, check out Hands-on with American Heritage Chocolate, a fun, hands-on workshop where families can make and customize chocolate truffles made with American Heritage Chocolate. Great Family Travel Packages: The Spring Revolutionary City Package creates an unforgettable and affordable experience any family will cherish. Starting at $49 per person, per night, the package includes:
Salute To Virginia Residents: From March 20 through May 31, 2015, Virginia residents pay for a day and get the rest of the year free. Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free: This offer, running June 12-September 3, 2015, allows children 12 and under to stay, play and eat free when accompanied by a paying adult. Package includes:
For more information about visiting Colonial Williamsburg, visit http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/
Images courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg newsroom. By Amy Suski
Attention thrill seekers, Busch Gardens Williamsburg's newest roller coaster, Tempesto, has opened! Not for the faint of heart, Tempesto is a whirlwind of a ride with super fast forward and backward accelerations, looping twists and turns, and launches that seem to go straight into the sky. The smooth ride is very close to the experience of flying. Our family rode it from the front row, back row and the middle. We agreed all spots were awesome but the views from the front row were worth waiting for. If you have coaster riders in the family, you'll definitely want to experience the newest addition to Busch Garden's coaster line-up. Along with Busch Garden's Griffon, Tempesto is now one of our favorite rides!
Learn the facts about Tempesto: RIDE MANUFACTURER: Premier Rides, headquartered in Baltimore, MD TYPE OF RIDE: Launch Coaster SPECIAL FEATURES: Three launch elements, High-speed station experience, 154-foot high-speed inversion TRACK LENGTH: 883 feet of track, Train travels approximately 1,945 feet total. MAXIMUM SPEED: 63 mph RIDE DURATION: 55 seconds SEATS/TRAIN: 1 train, 18 seats HEIGHT REQUIREMENT: 54 inches LOCATION: Busch Gardens Festa Italia For a sneak peak at the ride, check out the official Point of View (POV) video by Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Credit:Busch Gardens® Williamsburg Culinary Delights Await You At Busch Gardens Williamsburg 3rd Annual Food & Wine Festival! NEW THIS YEAR: The French Quarter comes to Busch Gardens Williamsburg! Get ready to indulge in a taste of New Orleans at Busch Gardens’ third annual Food & Wine Festival! With the success of two previous festivals, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is set to delight visitors with two new themed kiosks debuting at this year’s festival. Credit:Busch Gardens® Williamsburg Busch Gardens® Executive Chef Justin Watson is creating a French Quarter feast of Cajun- and Creole-inspired recipes—think Gumbo—that will bring the flavors of the Big Easy right here to Virginia. Chef Watson will also introduce guests to Eastern Asia cuisine. Visitors will sample the flavors of the Far East, including báhn mi, jiaozi and Thai tea. “With the addition of The French Quarter and Eastern Asia kiosks, guests can sample culinary traditions spanning fourteen geographic regions representing Europe, the Americas and Asia,” Chef Watson said. “We are pleased to offer these tastes of the world to our guests during this year’s Food and Wine Festival.” Credit:Busch Gardens® Williamsburg THE DETAILS: The event will run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 22 - June 28, plus Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day). The event will open at 11 a.m. until park closing. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival offers individual-sized tasting portions for sale at each of the park’s 14 themed kiosks stationed throughout the park. Represented regions include the American Southwest, Canada, Caribbean, Eastern Asia, France, the French Quarter, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, Scotland and Spain. View the menus online here. Admission to the festival is included with park admission, and individual tastings range in price from $3 - $7. Our Tips:
Have you been to the festival before? Be sure to share your tips and comments below. Bon Appétit! Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA Offer Free, Unlimited Admission for Preschoolers2/2/2015 by Micaela WilliamsonEven though we are in the dreary days of winter, it's never to early to start planning for spring and summer family fun (we promise!) Back in its six consecutive years, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA are offering their popular free, two park pass for kids ages 3-5. This pass allows youngsters unlimited admission to both Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA through September 7, 2015. (Children under two are already free and do not need to register.) Busch Gardens offers more than 50 KIDsiderate® attractions, including Sesame Street®Forest of Fun™ and Land of the Dragons®. Kid-sized roller coasters like Grover’s Alpine Express at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA’s Kritter Korral™ are among the can’t miss attractions waiting for little ones to enjoy. Plus, for a limited time, the Williamsburg parks are offering a great deal for the whole family on a 2015 2-Park Fun Card. For just $75, guests receive unlimited admission to both Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA through September 7, 2015. Register for the free preschool pass today by visiting http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-williamsburg/pages/preschoolpass/ before May 31. Proof of the child’s age is required at the time the Preschool Pass is redeemed and must be redeemed at either park by May 31, 2015. Examples of valid identification are an original certified birth certificate or travel passport. Learn more by reading the Preschool Pass FAQ Below: by Micaela Williamson Long gone are the days of boring dioramas and glaring at dead insects through glass cases. Modern science museums are fun, hands-on experiences where visitors engage with exhibits and each other. With the appeal for multiple age groups, we highly recommend science museums as an alternative to children's museums, which are often geared towards early childhood. Whether part of a family vacation or just a day trip, the east coast is packed with so many wonderful science museums. In geographical order from North to South, here are our top favorites: If there is only time to visit one museum in Boston, make it this one. The Museum of Science has hundreds of interactive exhibits on topics such as dinosaurs, the human body, conservation, energy, live animals, physics and much more. Don't miss the indoor lightning storm in the Theater of Electricity (occurring multiple times a day,) and the live animal shows. The museum is also host to New England's only IMAX® Dome screen and an amazing Butterfly Garden (additional fees apply.) Liberty Science Center Jersey City, NJ This massive museum has tons of hands-on things to do on subjects such as sound, communication, animals, electricity, robotics, the human body and more. Besides discovery exhibits, there are also a lot of physical challenges. One of the most popular exhibits, the Touch Tunnel, is a dark maze where visitors crawl through by using their sense of touch. It can be scary for children, so parental supervision is recommended. Also, check out the new Infinity Climber is a suspended multi-story play ,and learn about cityscapes and view 9/11 artifacts in the Skyscraper exhibit. During warmer months, visit the Wildlife Challenge, where kids can crawl and climb like an animal through an outdoor obstacle course. For just a few dollars more than general admission, an IMAX of 3-D movie can be added onto admission tickets.
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