Visit the Columbus Zoo- in the winter? You bet!

February 4, 2012 by 16 Comments

What kind of zoo visit can you have in a snow storm? A surprisingly fun one, actually. Especially at a zoo which is open year round as the Columbus Zoo and Aquariumis.

The morning we decided to check out the zoo, we pulled into the parking lot as some small flurries started to fall from the sky. As we found our parking spot, the snow storm picked up. We bundled up and began our trek. The zoo was very quiet in terms of visitors and also animals. We did a quick walk through a few exhibits, but unfortunately most of the animals were not out and about. We saw the gray wolves which were out and very active. Also, the interactive barn was open. The sheep and goats were very happy to see others walking about. Our main objective was to see the polar bears in their new enclosure.<br/>

Their [Read more…]

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Travel Photos of the Day

February 3, 2012 by 3 Comments
no nails were used in the building of this church

[Read more…]
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A Few of My Favorite Travel Photos….

January 31, 2012 by 12 Comments

It’s cold….and I want to be someplace warm….so I am sitting here wishing I were elsewhere…..le sigh!
A few of my favorite places, and photos of them. Just looking at them brings back warm memories 🙂
Think [Read more…]

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The Beach Waterpark- Your Next Day-Cation

January 31, 2012 by 18 Comments

OK, so it is not summer time in the slightest. But it will be here before you know it- so think warm thoughts!
If you start day dreaming of hot weather and water parks, it will come true, right? (Or, eventually, seasons will change, haha.)

Have you ever heard of The Beach Waterparkin Warren County, Ohio? The Beach Waterpark is a huge water park, and a great way to spend a hot summer’s day. From the Kahuna BeachWavepool to the massive amount of water slides ranging from tame to insanely twisty. For those more interested in the cooling properties of the water and not so much the the wild or thrilling, there are “lush palm trees” to lounge under and a huge lazy river to slowly float your day away.

For the bigger kids, Splash Mountain offers tons of attractions including otter slides and a pool with waterfalls and fountains. There is also the Toucan Lagoon which is a zero depth slide with a miniature body slide.
Have Sippy Disclosure- not my favorite place for little [Read more…]

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@COSI – #1 Science Center in the Country- and it’s closer then you think! @DiscoverOhio

January 25, 2012 by 22 Comments

CoSI is the Center of Science and Industry, and it’s almost within walking distance of the center of Columbus. Voted #1 Science Center in the country by Parents Magazine, CoSI is a wonderful science learning center where children of all ages (even ones over 18) can learn and interact with science in new ways.
Their exhibits are ever expanding and changing. At the time of our visit, we saw a new exhibit being built called Race, which is about diversity through the eyes of history and science. Sounds pretty interesting, and I am excited to see what they do with this topic. I wish we were able to see it, and am hoping to be able to get back to CoSI during the events duration (January 28-May 6, 2012).

The exhibits which we were most interested in were Ocean, Space and Gadgets. All of the exhibits are fun and engaging, but our favorites were these 3. Ocean has visitors walk through an ‘underwater cavern’, which is actually just a dimly lit cavern to an underwater exploration deck. On this deck there is a submarine you can get into, as well as a one man partially submerged submarine. Also, there is a classroom with lots of ocean critters and educational experiences to partake in. I liked how it felt like we were transported under the sea, while still being open enough for those of us who are a touch claustrophobic to feel comfortable. The kids really liked the submarines and getting to have a hands on experience with them. That was very unusual and super fun for both of them- and I did see a few older kids (and their fathers) go into it as well.

Next we explored Space. Space is all about space exploration and science. Including space shuttles, planetary rovers and even a space toilet to sit on. We had a ‘gas’ trying that out. There is an exhibit all about Niel Armstrong, who was born in Ohio, you can drive a radio controlled Mars Rover over martian terrain, and land a space shuttle. All right there in the safety of CoSI!

“Enter COSI’s Space exhibit through a dizzying black hole, then ride in a space capsule, test your skills as an “armchair” astronaut, or maneuver a rover through a Martian landscape. Explore the effects of gravity on different planets. Learn about life in orbit inside a mockup of the International Space Station or watch NASA TV live in the Galaxy Lounge.”

Last but not least [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, family, travel

Kings Island- Now With Dinosaurs Alive!

January 21, 2012 by 25 Comments

Where else can you go on one of ten roller coasters while your kids play on one of eighteen Peanuts themed attractions (ok, while mom takes the kids and dad rides the coasters, in our case)? King’s Island is one of those places that make you realize what an amusement park should be. It is clean, family friendly, the lines are manageable, and they have a waterpark that is included in the price of the theme park- what??? Yep- that is what makes Kings Island my favorite theme park of all time. Mark it down. I have been all over the world, to 29 countries, and all up and down the coast and to about half the 50 states- and if you have only 1 theme park to go to- I’d make it Kings Island, for sure. And it just got even better!

Right now there is also a really neat exhibit called Dinosaurs Alive!, only $5 with park admission, which is a recreation of a half dozen dinosaur scenes. These scenes vary from carnivores setting up a mud pit trap to long necked sauropods. These scenes are astoundingly accurate and kind of surreal when you get down to it. They are on motion sensors, so they move and roar as you walk by. Eerily, you can pass by a recreation flash flood scene from a dinosaur era. Then a second scene showing the deceased dinos and a third showing the fossilized remains of said dinos- sort of strange- not scary, though. Very interesting and mesmerizing. Not only for adults but also for kids. The dinosaurs are realistic but not overly scary for kids.

“Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island features more than 60 life-sized dinosaurs in a 12.5 acre Jurassic forest setting, including 56 animatronic models.
Highlights of Dinosaurs Alive! include the vicious-looking Irritator and its cousins the Baryonyx and the Spinosaurus, the lizard-like Stegosaurus, the meat-eating Tyrannosaurus Rex, the three-horned Triceratops and the flying Pteranodon.

Four [Read more…]

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Little Toot Dolphin Sighting Boat Tour in Clearwater, Florida

January 15, 2012 by 18 Comments

Little Toot is an adorable dolphin adventure, perfect for couples or families. If you are in the Clearwater, Florida area and you are looking for a great way to spend a couple of hours, I can’t recommend Little Toot Dolphin Adventure enough!

Little Toot is a small dolphin sightseeing boat tour in Clearwater, Florida.
The Little Toot is the only Dolphin boat that can go into the shallows as well as the Gulf to ensure more Dolphin sightings and closer Dolphin contact. GUARANTEED to see dolphins or your next trip is FREE! Plus, since it has a “tug boat” quality, they can create waves that the dolphins like to play in.

My kids had so much fun. Not only was the boat itself just too cute (nothing ordinary, it looks like a little tugboat right out of a children’s storybook) but the crew was as nice as can be. There were passengers of all ages aboard, and nothing was overlooked, from comfort (there was a place to purchase drinks and snacks and the seats were shaded- Florida is HOT!) to safety. Don’t worry about a thing- just enjoy the ride, and find yourself a dolphin or two!

The scenery was lovely as we sailed along- seeing [Read more…]

Filed Under: animals, family, kids, travel

Major Benefits of Learning a Second Language Early

January 15, 2012 by 3 Comments

Global communication has grown increasingly easier and more important, thanks to the advent of
technology. Americans, who traditionally lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to the number
of languages they can read or speak fluently, could benefit strongly by learning at least one other
language. And since children learn languages quickly and more easily than adults, teaching them at a
young age seems to make the most sense. Here are a few of the benefits of starting them out at an
earlier age:

Understanding different cultures. If Americans want to continue to compete in the global market,
future generations are going to be forced to understand not only the languages of other countries, but
at least a surface knowledge of the cultures represented therein as well. And it isn’t just capitalism that
drives people to communicate. Understanding and being able to speak the language of another culture
is an important way to build a bridge that connects people and can lead them to strive for social justice,
especially for the downtrodden in foreign countries.

First language. Learning the verb structures and vocabulary of a foreign language, particularly other
Romance languages such as French or Spanish, is an excellent way of improving your child’s English
reading and writing skills. A child studying the mechanics of another language will develop a greater
understanding for the similar mechanics of English. As an added bonus, they will undoubtedly increase
their own vocabulary and develop more advanced reading abilities.

Higher education. Colleges and universities place a heavy emphasis on learning a second language. A
child who enters high school with a background [Read more…]

Filed Under: education, travel