NYC with a Toddler? YES!

Hi there! I’m Tina and you can find me over at my little blog,  Twinkle Toes, where I write about sewing, crafting and little anecdotes from our everyday life. I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for 10 years and am mom to one precious girl. I recently left my corporate job to be a stay at home mom as our little family prepares for our biggest travel adventure yet – my husband's company is sending us on a 3 year expatriate assignment in Europe!

New York City is, hands down, my favorite city in the world. Living in NE Ohio, it’s always been easy to hop on a quick, cheap flight to The Big Apple. Since it is such a short flight, it makes for a great little weekend getaway. Before our daughter was born, the mister and I did this quite often.

Last fall, my husband had a business meeting in Queens and at the last minute, he sent me a text and asked if we’d like to join him and spend a few extra days in Manhattan. Umm…yes, please!
So I booked our tickets, packed our bags and we headed to the airport with him.
I can’t tell you how excited I was to introduce our daughter to The Big Apple.
We started out with her very first cab ride from the airport into Manhattan.

Then this happened. So much for the city that never sleeps, right?

After settling in to our hotel, we headed out for some NYC pizza. One of our favorites is John’s Pizzeria on 44th Street. The pizzas are huge and delish!

I admit - Times Square is not my favorite place in the city, but I wanted to make sure my daughter got to see it. We zipped through, took in the sights and then headed to Toys R Us.

My opinion is that this store is more of a tourist attraction than an actual shopping experience, so if you want to buy anything, well, I’d probably just wait until you get home.  The Ferris Wheel, however, is another story.  As you can tell from my little girl's face, it was worth every penny and minute spent standing in line.
We rarely take cabs in the city, mostly because my husband loves the subway system.  Over the years he's become quite an expert and can get us where we want to go almost without looking at the map.  Don't knock the subway, he'll tell you, because it's the fastest way around town. 
Just make sure you carry some instant hand sanitizer in your bag, mmmkay?
Since my daughter was just shy of 3 when we took her to NYC, a stroller was a must.
The only problem? Getting down into the subway stations.
The solution? My husband carried her, stroller and all.

A must see for anyone visiting NYC is the top of the Empire State Building. Here we are on our way down 34th Street…

And, finally at the top. We tried to make it in time to see the sunset, but when we got there, it was already dark.  We didn't mind.  Either way it is an incredible view and an amazing experience to leave the noise and  view the busyness of the city from the 86th floor observation deck.
The weather was perfect one of the days we were there, so we spent some time in Central Park, specifically the southeast section which is known as “the children’s section." There is so, so much to do here – The Carousel, The Central Park Zoo and the boat pond, where you can rent remote controlled boats and race them around.

Our final day in the Big Apple was cold and rainy, so we headed to the American Museum of Natural History, located on Central Park West at 79th Street, where we spent a significant amount of time looking at the dinosaurs.

As I was working on this post, I thought who better to ask about traveling to NYC with kids than my own kid?
"What was your favorite part about our trip to New York City?"
"Jumping on the bed at the hotel!"
Of course.  Jumping on the bed at the hotel.

I could probably list 100 more things to do with kids in NYC, however, we have found that slowing down and enjoying a few things is better than cramming it all in.  We also try to stick to regular nap and bed times when we travel with our daughter.  While this limits time available to visit sights, it really makes a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
As you can see, our spontaneous weekend trip was a complete success. 
And I'm happy to report that this little girl loves the Big Apple as much as her parents do.

What a wonderful recap of a fun weekend trip to NYC with your toddler, Tina!!  Thanks!

We would love to feature your weekend trips, vacations, or local fun.  Please email me to get signed up!

rebecca@rwethereyetmom.com

Tuesday Travel Tips: Preserving Travel Memories!

One of the best ways to "hold" onto those travel memories is by finding unique ways to preserve them.  And as your kids get older, have them become involved in creating them!

Keeping track of your trip is not only fun while you are doing it but it also preserves the adventure to look back on in the future.  Once your kids have the task of collecting mementoes, they will start to see things with new enthusiasm and learn even more while traveling!

Here are some fun ideas to preserve your vacation memories:

Written Journal
One of the most common travel records, this works best for children who are very comfortable writing.  You can start off the trip with a decorated blank journal and give it to your child as a gift before heading out the door. Encourage them to write in it at the same time every day and you may give them some prompts (what was your favorite thing you saw today?  How long did we travel for? etc.) to get them going.  Collect postcards, brochures, and tickets to any attractions to add to the journal.

Keep in mind that if yo have to force your child to write and it becomes a chore....this may not be the best way to preserve those memories......

so try one of these....

Photo Journal
Make your kids photographers for the trips.  Give them a disposable or inexpensive digital camera and ask them to take pictures of what they like and want to remember about the trip.  Maybe even give them an assignment with a list of things they need to take pictures of?

When you get home, spend an afternoon making a photo journal together with them.  Make sure they pick out the pictures and add their own captions, making it completely their creation.

Post Card Journal
Have your child pick up a post card at ever stop you make - really every stop - including the dingy truck stop for coffee & potty breaks.  Ask them to jot down a few thoughts on the back of each postcard regarding what they were doing, favorite things to see, etc.  When you get home, string them all through a ring.  Instant Vacation Journal!

Video Diary
You know the video camera can't be beat for bringing the adventure home with you, but how about giving your child the chance to make his own video for the trip?  Especially now, in the age of iPhones & iTouches that all have video recording abilities.  Have them do a daily video diary where they talk directly into the camera, telling their experiences...good & bad.  Have them "interview" people along the way - grandparents, the tour guide, the waiter at the local deli, etc.  Or simply have them take the scenic shots, providing their own commentary.

When you get home, you will have so much fun putting a movie together of your trip.  And you will laugh for years to come!  Precious!

Family Travel Times
Have each member write small articles about their vacation: how they got there, what they saw, what they loved or hated about the weather, the food, the cultural differences, etc.  Be sure to take photographs or draw pictures to accompany your articles.

When you get home, cut & paste these articles and pictures on sheets of 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper & photocopy them for friends, neighbors, or mail to family members.  Some software programs may have the ability to make a newsletter format for you.  Or step it up a notch - if you have a blog, allow each family member to "post" their article online.

These are fun ideas!!  I'd love to hear how you best preserve your vacation memories.  Leave us a comment telling how you do it.  Or better yet, drop us a note at rebecca@rwethereyet.com and we may feature your ideas in a future post.

Charlie Parker's ~ Springfield, IL

One of my favorite things to do while on vacation is try local cuisine.  I love to try that "famous" hot dog or unbelievable pizza.  I ask around for recommendations on places I need to try and rely one of my favorite iPhone apps, Yelp.

While in Central Illinois this summer, my in-laws insisted that we try this local diner, famous for it's ginormous pancakes and heavenly horseshoes.  What's a horseshoe you ask?  Well, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives asked the same thing and took a trip to this famous local diner - Charlie Parker's in Springfield, Illinois.

The quanza hut does not look like a diner from the outside, but once you step inside, the decor takes you right back in time.

Love the neon lights, albums, and nostalgic posters on the wall.

But we weren't here for the decor.

We wanted one of these!

Yep!  That's a 16 inch pancake!!!!!

And because I love me some Illinois horseshoes, I just had to try the Breakfast Shoe:

And while it may not look all that appetizing, it was heavenly!

Texas Toast

Ham

Scrambled Eggs

1/2 Cheese Sauce 1/2 Country Gravy

Topped with Hashbrowns

Oh yum!!!

There is something for everyone at Charlie Parker's...including chocolate chip pancakes and Mickey Mouse cakes for the kids.

And did we finish off the 16-incher?

well, we made a good attempt at it!

Illinois on Dwellable

Friday Daydreamin: 8.26.11

Hello and welcome to Friday Daydreamin'! Are you ready to end this week with a little "vacation photo hoppin'"?  Well, after the first week of school, our house could use some down time.  Which is why Friday Daydreamin' is the perfect way to start your weekend off right!  So, link up your photo, grab a cup of coffee, and off you go!

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

   

Even though I lived in Central Illinois for a few years, AND go back to visit at least once a year, I have never made a point to visit Abraham Lincoln's tomb.  As the kids and I were up north for several weeks this summer, we took in all the local history - President Lincoln's home, his law office, the courthouse he practiced in, and yes, we finally made it to his burial site.  

While there, we all participated in the local folklore that by rubbing Mr. Lincoln's nose, we would receive good luck.  You can see all the rubbing poor Mr. Lincoln's nose gets, as it is nice and polished!  As the baby watched his older brother & sister rub away, he insisted in joining in the fun.  

So Bubba, here's to your good luck!

Make sure you link up your Friday Daydreams below.  Visit a few of the other Daydreams and leave some comment love!!

Eversave Winners!

Last week R We There Yet Mom? teamed up with Eversave to offer our readers 2 incredible "Saves".  Eversave offers some of the best local deals on everything from restaurants to yoga classes to kids fun.  And the best part? The Saves come right to your inbox!

One reader won a voucher to KAOS-Kid's Salon AND $20 in Save rewards to spend on a future Save.  The winner is............

Vivienne from The V Spot

And another reader won a voucher good for admission, skates, & snacks from Red Bird Skate Land!!  The winner of this save is...............

Jessica from Suitcases & Sippycups

The nice folks at Eversave are offering all my readers $2 towards their first Save just by signing up!!! That's free $$ to spend on a cool adventure with the kids y'all!  What are you waiting for??  Eversave is in most major cities!  Sign up today!

I was not offered any compensation for posting my opinions about Eversave.  These are my opinions of Eversave.

Friday Daydreamin 8.19.11

Hello and welcome to Friday Daydreamin'! This little Friday fun is picking up steam!!  We had 16 daydreams to visit last week!   It was fantastic!!  I enjoyed seeing your pictures of Colorado, pictures of you camping, and even a fun picture of a pigeon!!  I can't wait to see where this week takes us!

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

Today's daydream is in honor of my sweet kiddos.  They return to school next week and I am going to miss them.  We had such an incredible summer together and had many fun adventures.  One of which  involved a date in a really fun pit of B-I-G balls!  This was just one of many amazing things to do at the City Museum in St. Louis.  The 3 of us had a day of fun crawling around in tunnels, racing down crazy slides, riding a ferris wheel on top of a 13-story building, and finishing with HUGE ice cream sundaes.  We laughed all day.  It will go down as one of my favorite days of the summer.    

Make sure you link up your Friday Daydreams below.  Visit a few of the other Daydreams and leave some comment love!!

"Savin'" the Love: 2 Eversave Deals 2 Win!

How many of us love a good deal??

(this is me, waving my hand up and down!  woot! woot!)

And I get even more excited when good deals are delivered right into my Inbox!

$8 for a 3-visit punch card to LocoMotion Inflatable Play?

Yes Please!!

$15 for a Zoobooks magazine subscription?

Where do I sign up? My kids would love this!

$49 for a 6 hour Mountain Climbing class?

Well, we are going to Colorado next summer, we all need this one!

These are just a few of the amazing deals that I have received from Eversave over the past few weeks.  There have also been incredible ones for all inclusive Puerto Vallarta vacations, dinner deals at delicious local restaurants, deals on Hair Salons, and more.  In addition to their local daily deals, Eversave offers "Saves" from online merchants too.

I have taken advantage of many of these "savings" websites for a few years now, but what I like most about Eversave, is that they customize your "Saves" for the city you live in.  I think the deals they offer are very unique and get me out of my suburban bubble, trying new things as a family.  And as a mom who loves to try local "treasures", Eversave offers the best savings on these places!

When you first sign up for Eversave, in addition to receiving daily emails with local Saves, you will receive $2 to use towards your next purchase just for creating an account!

And even cooler - Eversave rewards you for "sharing the love" - every time you share a deal via email, Facebook or Twitter and someone you've referred to the site makes his or her first purchase, Eversave will add $10 in Save Rewards to your account - y'all are getting paid to "save" the love!

The lovely folks at Eversave want you to learn more about their fantastic deals as well and have offered my readers 2 very cool deals:


I know these "deals" are in Austin & Dallas/Fort Worth, but if I have a national winner, you will get the $20 in Eversave deals!  So please enter if you live elsewhere in the US!!!!

Today's Save in Austin, Texas comes from KAOS- Kid's Salon.  They are offering $15 worth of children's haircuts for $7!  Hello??  Half-off kids haircuts???  With 3 moppy-headed munchkins, I need this one!  What I really LOVE about this deal, is that it will introduce me to a new kid's salon!  Can't wait to grab this "Save"!

And one of my local readers has the chance to win ONE of these vouchers to KAOS-Kid's Salon.  And Eversave is generously throwing in $20 is Save rewards for you to spend on a future Save!  Lucky!


AND there's more......


Eversave also wants to reward one of my Dallas/Fort Worth Readers as well......

On Wednesday, for the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Eversave will feature a Save for Red Bird Skate Land: $18 for admission, skates, & snacks (a $45 value). What a great family fun afternoon!! If I lived up there, I'd be grabbing this Save fro sure!

One DFW winner will win one voucher for Red Bird Skate Land. So fun!!

How do I win???

Please leave a comment for each one of the following you do (with your location A or DFW), cause you get an entry for each one!! Whoo Hoo!:

1. Join Eversave, by clicking here.  You must be a winner to win to receive your voucher & Save Rewards.

2. Like R We There Yet Mom? on Facebook-  Already are? Thank you!! Make sure you let me know!

3. Follow R We There Yet Mom on Twitter - Already get my Tweets?  Awesome - let me know!

4. Follow Eversave on Twitter: @EversaveAUS http://twitter.com/Eversaveaustin

Or EversaveDAL http://twitter.com/Eversavedallas

5.Like Eversave on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/eversaveaustin or http://www.facebook.com/eversavedallas

6. Tweet about the giveaway!

This contest will stay open until Thursday at Midnight (CST).  

So what are you waiting for - go sign up at Eversave and start "Savin'" the Love!


Don't live in Austin or DFW??  If I pull your name as the winner of the deal, you will get the $20 in Eversave rewards!!!!  

Off the Beaten Path: Washington D.C.

When were not traveling, we like to fill our time exploring the local scene - with just a little homework, you can find so much to do with the family in your own backyard.  Paige, from All Over the Map, gives us an example of some unique places to visit in her home town, Washington D.C.

You've been there. The kids have endured the hours-long car ride with relative ease. They've sat through a play or walked through a museum without a tantrum. They've maybe even endured a meal without throwing food or crawling around under the tables. And then something snaps. Their inconsolable shrieks are eliciting sympathetic stares from other parents, glaring accusations from non-parents. It's known as a frolic attack in our world, and it hits all kids at some point. Sometimes kids just need to get their frolic on.

Washington, DC has no shortage of green space, especially near the most popular tourist destinations along the National Mall. But if you'd like to get off the main drag for your frolic, try one of these:

The Yards Park

Near Nationals Park and just south of Capitol Hill, on the site of the old Navy Yard Annex, a lovely new park has sprung up, winning lots of design awards as well as much love from the toddlers who love to splash around in the fountains. A stunning bridge sets off a lovely river vista, and a large lawn begs for picnickers and tag-players. Visit on the first Sunday of the month in summer and you'll find Marcatus, an arts/crafts/food/music festival.

The Riverwalk Trail, currently in development, will stretch 16 miles along the banks of the Anacostia River when it is complete in 2014. Today a long section is open from the Yards Park to RFK stadium. Pick up some bikes from one of the two Capital Bikeshare stations in the neighborhood and explore.

Adjacent to the park is the DC headquarters of the Trapeze School New York, where in a 2-hour class, you can learn to fly through the air with the greatest of ease. Classes are appropriate for ages 6 and up. Metro: Navy Yard

National Building Museum

A few blocks north of the Mall, the National Building Museum offers a great indoor atrium space for someone who might just need to run back and forth for a bit. Though unlike the Smithsonian museums, admission to the exhibits is not free, the Great Hall does not require a ticket. Nor does the gift shop, which is one of the best museum gift shops in DC. There is also a cafe in the Great Hall run by Firehook Bakery and Coffee House, offering a variety of gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods, and beverages. You may find yourself purchasing a ticket to get into the very popular Lego Architecture: Towering Ambition exhibit, featuring large-scale artistic models of some of the world's most famous structures including the Empire State Building, St. Louis' Gateway Arch, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. As an added bonus, there's also a place to create your own lego towers and place them on a city map, so that a new city is built each day.

Metro: Judiciary Square

Calleva at National Harbor

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, and a car at your disposal, you might consider a trip to Calleva at National Harbor, just outside the city limits in Maryland. Kids will be enthralled by the giant ship at the center of this pay-for-playground, but be warned, you'll shell out a lot of dubloons for this pirate party. A ropes course, zip line, climbing wall and giant swing will run you up to $200 for a family of four. But it does look fun. And someone's got to pay for their insurance.

Glen Echo Park

Traveling the other direction up the Potomac you'll find Glen Echo Park, a turn-of-the-century amusement park turned arts center. It has a quaint charm, nowhere more evident than its Dentzel Carousel, a 1921 wonder of wooden horses and other animals restored in 2003. The park is also home to one of the best playground in the DC area, as well as an outdoor education center open on weekends only.

This post originally appeared on AllOvertheMap.net and is reposted here with permission of the authors. Paige Conner Totaro is a co-founder of AllOvertheMap.net, an online resource for experiential family travel.


Have unique places in your city where you like to take the family?  We'd love to feature your town in our "Off the Beaten Path" series.  Contact us for more information.

Washington DC on Dwellable

Friday Daydreamin' 8.12.11

Hello and welcome to Friday Daydreamin'! Last week was our inaugural week to share daydreams and we had 14 blogs to visit & daydream!  It was AWESOME!!  I enjoyed seeing you pictures of Mexico, pictures at the beach, pictures of SNOW, and more.  I can't wait to see where this week takes us!

Ready to Daydream your Friday away? It's simple!

1. Post your favorite vacation picture and tell us a little about it.  

2. Grab the "Friday Daydreamin'" button and link up your post below.

3. Visit some of the other amazing vacation photos that have linked up (and leave some comment love!)!

4. Let the Daydreamin' begin!

Today takes me to cooler summer temperatures, as we are dying in this 110-degree days down here in Texas.  A few summers ago, we had the chance to attend Family Camp in Washington.  It was the perfect weather for it - chilly in the morning and just barely warm enough to swim in the afternoons.  We rode horses, did arts & crafts, canoed, swam, toasted marshmallows by the fire, and even slept in a boxcar. But the best part of the week?  Waking up each morning with Mt. Ranier in my backyard.

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Amazing Travel: Why won't the Guinness Book of World Records Recognize it?

I read the below story last week on my sweet travel friend's website, Suitcases & Sippycups.  It moved me to see these 2 young men attempt such an amazing feat, only to get knocked down after they did so.  Please take the time to read their story and help get them recognized.  Thanks Jessica!

The Vogel Family and their Train of Bikes

I've been thinking about the "good ol' days" lately. Days when young people were encouraged, nay even expected to tackle difficult and independent tasks. Days when parents made decisions for their children and no other entity would think of interfering. Days when someone gave their word, they kept it.

Daryl and Davy~Just your typical preteens~

So, what has me pining for these days gone by? It's the story of Davy and Daryl Vogel, thirteen year old boys from Boise, Idaho who decided at the age of ten to break the Guinness World Record for the youngest people to ever bike the Pan-American Highway. This highway begins in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and extends all the way down the coast of two continents to the tip Argentina 17,300 miles.

The final destination at the tip of Argentina

At the start of the trip, the Vogels contacted Guinness World Records to be sure they understood the guidelines of the record. Throughout the trip, the Vogels maintained contact with GWR to ensure that they were following the guidelines to the letter. Often this meant adding long miles to their journey, or rerouting to ride instead of taking a ferry. When the Vogels returned from their trip and filed the paperwork to complete the record, they were informed that the category no longer existed and they would not be receiving the record or any formal recognition.

The Difficult Uphill Climb

Let's completely ignore the obvious magnanimity of this accomplishment. Forget, for a moment, that these two boys put more miles on their bike than I put on my car. Or that my own kids would only make it 5 miles before the whining started. (In all honesty, I wouldn't make it much further than that before I started a whine fest of my own.)

Taking Shelter from the Wind and Cold

What really makes Daryl and Davy deserving to receive the recognition for their accomplishment is that they dared to rail against societal norms. In a world where kids compete in apathy like an Olympic sport, the Vogels had the gumption to get up and go far. While other kids their age were engrossed in unending marathons of video games, not bothering to stop long enough to string together a coherent sentence, these two young men steeled themselves for another day of riding dirt paths and sleeping in the wilderness.

Schooling on the Road

Davy and Daryl both agree that the journey was its own reward and that the recognition would just be the cherry on the sundae. The life lessons they learned in those two and ½ years of travel can never be quantified. But Davy and Daryl haven't stopped learning just because they sleep in the same place and use an easier form of transportation. They are still young people who are forming their opinion of the world. For me, I refuse to let them learn that the world is full of corporations who will not honor their commitments. I refuse to let them learn that hard work and determination will be met with the cold shoulder. I rail against a society that wants to limit the potential of young people with the disease of low expectations.

Near the Beginning

I realize it may be idealistic to fight for a world where these things exist. But I believe in idealism. After all, it was idealism that put a man on the moon. It was idealism that produced the Sistine Chapel. And it was idealism that propelled two young boys to travel 17,300 miles from one tip of the continent to the other. That kind of idealism is worth fighting for.

How Can You Help (from the Vogels Website)


1. Sign this petition

2. Blog about it - anybody who has a blog or knows anybody who has a blog, please do a quick write-up about this issue and it’s unfairness. I think we should be grandfathered in and then they should close the category. We understand the record the boys broke no longer exists; we would be happy with some sort of official recognition from Guinness – maybe a certificate stating that they met all the requirements as laid out in the guidelines they gave us? I would be happy to talk with bloggers, but most likely will not consent to interviews with the boys.

3. Social media is powerful. They have a facebook page (search Guinness World Records) and their Twitter account is @GWRnews Flood them with messages about this.

4. Contact the press – if you have a good, trustworthy source. This is one of those stories that could easily go haywire and I don’t want it twisted every which way. If you know someone in radio/TV/newspaper/magazine media, please contact them. But – don’t just throw it out there for all the kooks to pick up.

You can read more about the Vogel's travels and follow the boys' story at Family on Bikes.

~All photo credits courtesy of Family on Bikes.

Dr. Pepper Museum ~ Waco, TX

As a native Texan, I grew up drinking Dr Pepper.  I mean it's a must, being that it was created in a small Texas town called Waco.  Looking for something fun to do one Spring day, we took a quick trip to the Dr Pepper Museum.  Located in the bustling town of Waco, better known as the home of Baylor University.  

Dr Pepper was created in 1885 in Morrison's Old Country Store in Waco, Texas by a pharmacist, and no, his name was not Dr. Pepper.  It was Charles Alderton and he made it out of 23 unique flavors.  What are they?  The museum never tells, as it is supposed to be a secret.  However, my little friend Google shared with me that some of the 23 flavors are vanilla, black licorice, carrot, rum, and yes, pepper.  Most people think that it has prune juice in it...nope, not a drop!

           

And why was it named Dr Pepper?  They are a lot of rumors out there that involve young love of a girl with the last name of Pepper, but none have been proven.  As the museum says, "we don't know the true origin of the name, Mr. Morrison came up with it and it stuck."

It was a great little museum that had the original drugstore countertop where Mr. Alderton created Dr Pepper,  the history of the bottling plant, and actually showed the deep well where the water was brought up to make the original Dr Pepper.  

It is proud to have one of the world's largest collection of soda pop memorabilia.  It displayed lots of the old Dr Pepper ads.  Do you remember this one? Just a catchy little tune that I used to sing as a child.

             Now the original Dr Pepper was made with Imperial Cane Sugar, not the high fructose corn syrup that is used so much today.  You can get a Dr Pepper in the soda shop at the museum, made the original way with the syrup and carbonated water mixed together.  It has the real sugar in it and it is yummy.  And of course there is a gift shop where you can buy anything you want with the Dr Pepper logo - from a tie to a salt & pepper shaker to a pair of boxer shorts!

         Other things we learned that day?

Around 1950, the period was taken out between Dr and Pepper.  They wanted to take the "medical connotation" away from the soda.  Never realized there wasn't one there until they pointed it out to me.

The Beatles originally named their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band as "Dr. Pepper's" but had to change it based on the U.S. soda owning the name.

Many people like to drink hot Dr Pepper, made with lemon and boiled on the stove.  Eww??

Dr Pepper is the oldest "major-brand" soft drink in the United States. Coca-Cola did not come a long until 1886 and Pepsi was invented in 1898.

Was the Dr Pepper museum a hit with my kids?  Well,  I told you all you need to know about Dr Pepper, so consider yourself as having been there.  But being a native Texan, the Dr Pepper museum is a must.  It's a part of our pop-culture history!

Tuesday Travel Tips: Car Ride Games

EVERY PARENT KNOWS THAT:
Children in a confined space + a long period of time = territorial disputes and innumerable squabbles caused by real or imagined indignities. *


What's the solution?? Keep young minds & hands busy playing games!!  Take a look at some of these fun car ride games:

1. Are We There Yet? (appropriate, right?)
Take a copy (copies) of the route you are traveling ~ an atlas works great! ~ Show the kids the road you are taking.  Pick a town up ahead that you will come o.  Now each player guesses the exact time he thinks the car will arrive at that town.  The one who comes closest to guessing the exact time wins the game.

2. Math Whiz
A great game for kids just learning to add or multiply.  Every time a car passes, multiply (or add) the numbers on the license plate as fast as you can.  Play this game alone and see how fast you can tabulate the answer, or call out the numbers and race to see who can come up with the correct answer first.

3. Time Travel
Guess the amount of time it will take until you see the next billboard, bridge, highway, cow or whatever you can think of.  You can try to guess the distance between towns, road signs, landmarks, bridges, lampposts, or whatever else strikes your fancy!

4. Color Cars
Each person chooses a color.  Then each player counts how may cars of his color he finds in a certain period of time.

5. Tall Tales
This game is fun to play in the car, or while waiting in line at the amusement park.  One player begins telling a "tall tale" and stops at an exciting point.  The next player continues the story and stops for another player to construct the action.  Set a time limit for your story and see where the plot goes.

* Quote found in The Penny Whistle Traveling with Kids Book

The Gateway Arch ~ St. Louis, MO

St. Louis....a town we have driven through oh so many times, but hardly ever stopped and enjoyed what the city had to offer.  I always seemed to snap a picture of the Arch as we drove over the bridge of the Mississippi, but we never stopped.  Until this summer. My kids had always asked us to stop and take them up into the big "steel-rainbow". Well, they had a lot to learn about the Gateway Arch!

So, did you know:

 ~ The Gateway Arch was built in February 1963 and was completed 2 1/2 years later?  And they didn't have fancy computers to help with the surveying and building like we do now....

 ~ The Gateway Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet?

 ~ These tiny trams to get to the top of the Arch have been in operation for 30 years?  They only sit 4 people and take about 4 minutes to get to the top.  But it's a long 4 minutes......

 ~ The room at the top of the Arch fits about 100 people and has lots of tiny windows to "look out" onto St. Louis?

~ The Arch can sway in high winds???  Yikes!  Glad it was a nice & sunny day in St. Louis when we were up there!

 ~The Arch was built to honor the westward expansion that was started here, in St. Louis, along the Mississippi River?  This muddy, brown, still river is the Mississippi.  Somehow, not as I pictured it when I read about it in History.  

~ Lastly, the distance from one foot of the arch to the other is the same as the height, 630 feet?

And how'd ya like that little lesson in history?  Your welcome.  The experience was great.  The kids loved it and the museums that are underneath the Arch as well. They give the history of Louis & Clark, why St. Louis is nicknamed "Gateway to the West" and where & how the Gateway Arch was built.  

I think my kids were amazed at how big it actually was when you are on the ground looking up, yet how tiny & cramped the upper deck is.  They could have spent all day peering out those windows, but after 15 minutes, this momma had enough - I was ready to have my 2 feet firmly planted on the ground!

All-in-all, it was a wonderful tour and one that I highly recommend.  No more "driving through" anymore...you can meet me in St. Louis anyday!

Bay Saint Louis on Dwellable