Tours and Experiences - Pitstops for Kids

Most haunted destinations in the US (and why kids should visit)

October 17, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Curious about touring one of the most haunted destinations in the US? The following family travel destinations have tales to tell. Visit with ghosts in mind, or opt for a spirit-free experience with educational tours, historical sites, and kid-friendly attractions.

Gettysburg, PA:

It’s no wonder Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is haunted, given the significance of this intense three-day Civil War battle. However, it’s not just the battlefield that’s haunted in Gettysburg. In town, visitors can see the house where the sole civilian casualty took place, that of beloved Jenny Wade. According to local lore, Jenny was baking bread for Union soldier when she was shot through the window. In addition, the unmarked graves of numerous Confederate soldiers still dot the landscape of the town, including, apparently, in the flower beds of the Rupp House, shown above. Ghost tours in Gettysburg range from the truly intense to family-friendly. We recommend Sleepy Hollow of Gettysburg Candlelight Ghost tours.

Why families should visit: Gettysburg is among the most significant, meaningful destinations we’ve toured as a family. Best visited with school-aged or teen children, Gettysburg National Military Park brings the Civil War alive. We recommend spending at least two days here, and taking the tour with a licensed battlefield guide.

Virginia City, NV:

Never heard of Virginia City? This mining boom town (now near-ghost town) is located about 45 minutes into the high desert from Reno, NV. Once pocketed with thriving silver mines, Virginia City is now both a historical and tourist gem. Haunted sites are too numerous to list, but here’s a spoiler alert: nearly all of them are saloons that span the main street. Virginia City ghost tours tend to be pretty intense; most are geared toward adults only.

Why families should visit: We absolutely loved learning about mining history in Virginia City. Families can visit ramshackle museums (some of the best kind!), see the gambling tables where (supposedly) cheaters were shot during the Wild West, and even walk into a mine shaft that opens from the back of a saloon. Historic house tours are a must, as is the town trolley.

San Diego, CA:

In San Diego’s Old Town, the Whaley House has been thought to be haunted for decades. Built on the site of San Diego’s first public gallows in 1856, the Whaley House is supposedly haunted by Jim Robinson, a thief hanged there four years before the house was built. He can allegedly be heard walking in the halls, opening and closing doors, and making chairs rock and chandeliers seem to swing of their own accord. If that’s not enough, Whaley’s own daughter committed suicide here, adding to the heavy atmosphere of the location.

Why families should visit: San Diego’s Old Town remains full of history and lively culture, ranging from historic building tours (of the non-haunted variety) and storefronts selling everything from old-fashioned candy and candles to modern-day art and handcrafts. This is the place to start an Old Town Trolley Tour, which includes tidbits of history around the city. And yes, you can attend a ghost tour at the Whaley Museum (ages 12 and up).

Philadelphia, PA:

Philly is packed with early Colonial and Revolutionary history, of course, with sites ranging from Independence Hall to the site of Ben Franklin’s home. For a haunted location, however, visitors need to head out to Fort Mifflin, the only preserved Revolutionary War battlefield still in existence. It was here that nearly 400 malnourished, nearly frozen, and ill soldiers refused to give up, successfully defending the fort against British forces. Families can tour the fort in the day time, or if you’re really daring, you can even ‘sleep with the ghosts’ during a fort overnight.

Why families should visit: A visit to Philadelphia should be on every family’s bucket list. Go when kids are school-aged to get the most out of the historical sites, and plan to spend at least two days to cover a whole historical itinerary. A visit to nearby Valley Forge is also a must.

Would you visit a haunted location? Have you gone on a ghost tour with kids?

Photo credit: Jim Bowen

Washington DC with kids: When you have an hour or less

October 1, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

There’s so much to do in Washington DC with kids, families cannot possibly do it all in one visit. However, sometimes, you may find yourself with an hour or so free on our around the Mall. Here’s what we recommend:

National Archives:

Unless you plan to do some serious research on your family tree or a historical event, the main attraction in the National Archives is the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, all located in the Rotunda. Tickets are free, but run with timed entry, and should be reserved in advance. Reserve your time here. Be advised there is a $1.50 service charge, and no refunds. If you’re rather skip the charge, you can get timed tickets at the archives on the day of your visit (but may need to wait).

Once inside (past security) at the time of your visit, there will—depending on the season—be a wait to see the Charters of Independence (the documents listed above). We waited about 25 minutes for our turn. Was it worth it? Yes, absolutely. Adjacent to the charters is a small museum that shows how the archives work to store so much information, and includes some fun exhibits like letters to the president that have been archived. The museum is worth about 20 more minutes of your time.
Location: The archives are located at Constitution Ave between 7th and 9th streets, and open from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

Ford Theater:

Ford Theater, where Lincoln was shot, and the adjacent home where he died, take about an hour to tour, depending on the season. It requires a free timed ticket, but even in peak season, we were able to get one the day-of, at the time we wanted, without a problem. Once you have your ticket, you go right in at the time designated, and sit in the theater, looking directly at Lincoln’s presidential box. Tip: for the best view, sit on the left-hand side. A park ranger gives a 15 minute presentation, describing what happened that night—John Wilkes Booth’s plan, how he accessed the box, and the timeline of the president’s evening. It’s very interesting.

Afterward, your ticket also allows entry to the house across the street where Lincoln died. Unlike in the theater, where every ticket-holder is allowed in en masse, ticket-holders are allowed into the home in smaller numbers. This means waiting in line outside. During our visit, we decided to skip this stop, because of the heat. If you wait to do it, allow closer to two hours to tour the whole Ford Theater site. There’s also a small but good museum to tour (also free, and included in some timed tickets…if you want it, your times are more limited.)
Location: Ford Theater is located at 511 10th Street NW, about three blocks up from the Mall.

Festivals on the Mall:

During most times of the year, the National Mall hosts ongoing outdoor festivals and street fairs. The Smithsonian institute runs several, including the Folk Festival in June and July. These festivals are free, educational, and colorful. They make for a good break from museum touring while in the area. During our most recent visit, we explored booths and checked out artisans from China and Kenya.

We were told the National Park Service has begun to limit permits for Mall festivals, so catch one while you can!

What’s your favorite pit stop in Washington DC?

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Washington DC with kids: How to take a White House tour

September 29, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Going into the White House was one of the highlights of our Washington DC trip. Many families are unsure how to take a White House tour. It’s not as complicated as most think! The tour is self-guided, and takes about one hour door-to-door. (In DC, ‘door-to-door’ to us means security check through exit.)

The tour takes guests through a visitor entrance on the side, through a ground floor corridor. Families see 8-10 rooms, some of which can be entered (others are roped off). Rooms include the East Room, which is used for press conferences, among other things; the Green Room, used for receptions; the Red Room, famous as the First Lady’s place of reception and meetings; and the State Dining Room. The oval-shaped Blue Room is the closest visitors come to that better-known circular-shaped room upstairs, but it’s still very cool to see these ground floor rooms that are very much still in use.

In each room, Secret Service agents are on-hand to answer any questions. Definitely take advantage of their knowledge; you can practically make this a guided tour if you ask lots of questions and listen to the answers to others’ questions. They may be reluctant to tell stories of events they’ve seen recently in each room, but will be able to say what type of events take place. At the end of the tour, you go out on the South Portico overlooking the lawn, which is fun, too.

How to book:

Booking a White House tour is not complicated; however, it does take significant planning. Here’s what you need to do:

Six months before your trip (yes, really), start by deciding the exact day you want to tour. Go to this White House tour page to see which days of the week the building is open for tours (and if they’re even offering tours at all). You’ll need this information for the next step.
Go to the homepage of one of your members of Congress. (If this takes a Google search of representatives, don’t feel bad…) On the homepage, there will be the option of ‘requesting a White House tour’ on the member’s contact page. Email the Congressman or woman, listing the date you want.
A staffer of your representative will email you back with further instructions. You’ll need to submit the Social Security numbers and full names of everyone in your group.
Wait. You’ll be notified that your tour request has been submitted fairly quickly, but you won’t know whether you got your tour until two weeks before the tour date.
5. When you get notice you’ve been approved for your tour, print the attached form with your reservation number.

What to expect the day of your tour:

Be at the tour start location—15th Street and Alexander Hamilton Place—15 minutes before your tour. Tours can be cancelled at a moments’ notice, so call this number the day before, to make sure your tour is planned to go as scheduled: 202-456-7041. We got there 30 minutes before our tour start time, and were glad we did; the only restrooms are a block away at the White House Visitor’s Center, so we used the extra time to make that stop.

At your tour start time, you’ll be led in a line through two security check points. At both, you’ll need to give your name and show ID (age 18 and older). Kids don’t need ID, but ours were questioned casually by the Secret Service agents. They asked their names, then singled one out (the youngest) and asked him to list his brothers’ names (also touring). It was done in a friendly way, but was clearly to ensure the kids were who I said they were.

Do not bring a backpack or even a purse on your tour. You won’t be allowed in, and there’s no place to store them. You are also not allowed any food or drink, including water bottles, nor cameras. I brought my cell phone and my wallet, and that’s it. (Cell phones are ok, but cannot be used.) Bring your confirmation number, but once we give the guards our name, they looked up our reservation and we didn’t need the paper.

Do not try to bring other people: only the people on your reservation will be permitted in, without exception. Also: don’t let your kids pet the guard dogs. The security experience is serious, but conducted in a causal way; my kids were not alarmed.

Tip: The White House tours are conducted by the National Parks Service. When in line, kids are offered a Junior Ranger booklet. We didn’t try to fill it out while on tour—there’s too much to see!—but right afterward, we took the booklet to the Visitor’s Center on the Ellipse, and earned Junior Ranger badges. It was a novelty to have a badge from the White House!

No photos are permitted inside (nor social media), so forgive the lack of photos in this post. Guess you’ll have to go yourself to know what it looks like up close!

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Photo credit: Flickr commons.

Washington DC Bike ’n Roll Monuments at Nite Tour

September 26, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We love patronizing Bike ’N Roll whenever we’re in major cities (and want to save our feet from lots of walking). We’ve reviewed Bike ’N Roll in NYC, and didn’t hesitate to book a tour with Bike N Roll DC during our trip to Washington DC with kids.

We opted for the Monuments@Nite tour, because we visited DC in the heat of the summer, and hoped for a cooler ride. We also got a prettier one: the monuments lit up at night are fabulous! We booked our tour for our first evening in the city, which was perfect timing:’biking the sites’ gave us a nice orientation to the area, and allowed us to see all the major monuments in one evening. After biking them, I am convinced we could not (read: would not) have walked to them all in one day, let alone in three hours.

The Monuments@Nite tour took us from Bike ’N Roll’s location at L’Enfant Plaza (an easy Metro ride from almost anywhere) to the Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, FDR memorial, the new MLK Jr memorial, all the war memorials (including the new WWII one), and of course, the Lincoln memorial and Washington monument. We saw the White House from a distance, as well as the Capitol. About half of the three hour tour was in daylight; we switched on our bike lights around the halfway mark at the Lincoln memorial.

Our guide—without exception—was the best tour guide we had in DC. This includes all the official guides we had in the Capitol, White House, and Mt. Vernon. He was great with kids, engaging them in the conversation constantly, and had a wealth of information. He impressed me right off the bat by remembering every kid’s name on the tour, and ensuring they were all safe on their bikes. I learned so much about the monuments that I never would have guessed from just looking at them myself.

Our guide also had lots of tips for how to spend the rest of our trip, making us doubly glad to have booked the tour at the beginning of our stay in DC. He had lots of info about the city in general, the various controversies about each monument, and general historical trivia.

Our tour ran from 7 pm to 10 pm, but we actually went overtime, and were not back to the Bike ’N Roll kiosk until almost 10:30 pm. Because of this, and the nature of the tour (on bikes), I’d recommend it for kids 6 and up. DC is very flat, so it’s not strenuous, but kids definitely have to be able to follow directions. We were given a water bottle and a snack en route.

A few tips: If arriving via Metro, head up the stairs to your left the moment you come out of the station to the street. The kiosk is at the top of those steps. We made the mistake of continuing out to the sidewalk and walked around the building…making us late. Gratuities are nice at the end; we always recommend tipping 10% of the cost of the tour.

Date last visited:

June 2014

Cost:

Adults are $45 and kids are $35. And it’s worth every penny. Families can book other types of tours as well, or rent bikes without a guide.

Directions:

L’Enfant Plaza is just past Independence Ave (on the far side of the Mall). Take the Metro to the L’Enfant station. If you can’t find the kiosk, give them a call…they answer right away and can guide you there.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Washington DC with kids: Touring the US Capitol

September 24, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

I always promise honest reviews here at Pit Stops for Kids, but this one will be brutally honest…and maybe a tad unpatriotic. While vacationing in Washington DC with kids, it’s hard to skip a tour of the Capitol Building. It’s iconic, right? It’s full of history. It’s the site of our ongoing democracy. But in my opinion, touring the US Capitol is mediocre at best and most the stops along it are boring to kids.

washington-dc-with-kids

I’ve toured the Capitol twice, and both times, I’ve been disappointed. Not by the building itself: if I’ve been impressed walking up to it (and I always am), I’m doubly impressed looking up from the floor of the cavernous Rotunda. However, both times I’ve visited, our guide has been uninspired and many of the points-of-interest offered have not been what I’d select. Still, if I had my itinerary to do over again, I’d book a Capitol tour yet again. Why? It’s the Capitol, and it does have things I want my kids to see. I just wish they were presented differently.

us-capitol-tour

On our most recent visit, the Rotunda was actually closed, due to an unnamed emergency. This didn’t help matters, of course, as the Rotunda is the most dramatic stop on the tour. And the omission of it left our guide scrambling to fill the 30 minute tour time. He was good with kids, but seemed a bit at a loss as to what to show us.

Confined to the first floor, we toured the crypt and talked extensively about the statues erected by each state. (We didn’t discuss the statue subjects, per se, but only that the statues existed, and why.) We saw the bust of Lincoln missing his ear (a mistake of the sculptor), and historic court chambers. And that was about it.

Because the Rotunda was closed, our guide presented us with admission passes to the House of Representatives floor. This proved to be the most interesting part of our tour. (To my recollection, this was included in the standard tour in past, but perhaps it’s not now.) Congress was not in session, but we were still able to sit at the top of the gallery and observe where everyone sits and votes, and check out the C-SPAN cameras. This stop required an extra security checkpoint, and we had to check our backpacks, but was well-worth doing. I’d ask the tour guide for admission at the end of any tour.

The other attraction open to the public in the Capitol is the Capitol Museum, located in an underground section attached to the Capitol. Again, uninspired. Compared the the Smithsonian museums or even the various historical museums we toured throughout our trip on the East Coast, the Capitol Museum was downright drab. There’s a replica of the Rotunda (but you’ll be seeing that anyway, at least in theory) and explanations for various bills made into law, but the best thing about it during our trip was definitely the free air conditioning. Harsh? Yes, but fair.

us-capitol-tour

Date last visited:

July 2014

Admission:

Admission is free. You do need a timed ticket, which can be obtained when you arrive, or in advance online. We reserved online, as recommended for a summer visit. We brought our printed receipt to the ticket agent who issued us tickets. Easy-peasy.

Directions:

The Capitol is located at the far end of the Mall, off Constitution Ave. To access the Visitor’s Center (where you get tickets and start your tour, and where the museum is located), proceed to the back of the building (or rather, the side not facing the Mall), and go down the stairs.

Wondering where to stay in DC? Check out our review of Grand Hyatt Washington.

Get more Washington DC itinerary picks.

Educational Travel: Sending your child on a teen service trip

September 10, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Remember that post from a few months back, where I discussed our preparation for our teen Nate’s teen service trip with Adventures Cross Country? We’re back with a full trip report! If you’re considering sending your teen on a service trip next summer, read on! Spoiler alert: he loved it!

Last July, Nate embarked on Adventures Cross Country’s Costa Rica Classic trip, which comprised of 14 days of awe-inspiring jungle, cultural immersion, new friendships, and character-building insects throughout rural Costa Rica. Were we nervous when we sent him so far from home, without anyone he knows? I’ll admit it: yes. Even though we travel fairly extensively, it was harder than I anticipated to leave Nate solo at San Francisco International, en route to San Jose, Costa Rica (where he met his leaders and group). He had a rocky travel day, which turned into an overnight delay in Dallas/Fort Worth (which you can read about here), but thanks to stellar communication from the Adventures Cross Country (ARCC) team, he was quickly caught up with the group and off and running.

Service, adventure, and fun:

I really like the structure of ARCC trips, which combines service projects with cultural interactions and fun outings. Nate’s trip was basically broken down into four sections of approximately three days each:

river rafting along the Pacuare River, including zip lining and a river lodge stay
teaching English at a rural grade school, which including play time with the kids
helping better a mountain community as they harvested crops and repaired buildings
learning to surf at a Costa Rican surf camp

During each of these travel segments, Nate’s team leaders, Sally and Bolo, built group community and bonds without the kids even realizing it was happening. They had fun everywhere they went, engaging local kids in soccer games, playing silly games among themselves, and taking side trips to waterfalls. So much was packed into their two weeks, in fact, that even now, over a month later, Nate is still remembering details and regaling us with tales of adventure.

Read about Nate’s day-to-day itinerary in his own words.

I’ve detailed what to look for in a teen service trip, and why we picked ARCC. But what I could not have known before Nate’s trip is this: teen travel changes lives. True, service trips may or may not change the lives of the local residents of the countries visited on a long-term scale, but one thing is undoubtably clear: it changes the life of the teen. Nate was a responsible kid before ARCC, but after, we noticed a quiet confidence in him that wasn’t there before (or at least wasn’t well established). He told us that while in Costa Rica, he observed other teens who “knew who they were, and were strong enough to be themselves,” a trait he decided he wanted to own himself.

In order to get himself to San Jose unaccompanied, he had to be strong, make decisions, and be responsible for himself in confusing airports, stressful situations, and sometimes, in a foreign language. He had to navigate customs solo, and meet a brand new group of people on the other side. Was he nervous? You bet! Did he come out of it stronger and more self-assured? Definitely.

Nate talks about his time in Costa Rica with a smile or a laugh as he tells antedates about snakes and bunkmates and funny jokes, and sometimes, with downright wonder. “I learned how different cultures can be, and how that’s ok,” he told me, “and I was so grateful how the Costa Rican kids accepted me and brought me into their world.” Will the service projects Nate helped with stand the test of time? Maybe. He hopes the beans he picked in the mountains can be sold for insulin for the farmer, Pepe’s, wife. Will the kids remember the English nouns and phrases he taught them? Perhaps. He’s optimistic, as he reports “all his kids were super smart”. But either way, the change in Nate is permanent.

Still not sure about sending your teen on a service trip?

Consider this: before Nate left, he knew no one (some kids arrived with friends from home), and had never been out of the country without his parents before. Even so, he was not homesick (they’re too busy!), and at the end of the trip, he said he’d recommend it to anyone and everyone he talked to. Check out his video:

Nuts and bolts of an ARCC trip:

I can’t speak for every ARCC trip, but on Nate’s, here’s how things broke down:

Nate’s Costa Rica Classic trip comprised of 13 kids (4 girls and 9 boys ages 15-16)
The trip lasted two weeks (14 days)
The trip cost was $3895, plus airfare, and included all meals, accommodations, projects, activities, everything
Nate had two leaders (check out ARCC’s leader criteria)
The kids on Nate’s trip were from all over the US, and lasting friendships were formed
The ARCC home office is quick with communication and assistance, professional, and competent
We were given a very detailed packing list, and offered everything we needed to prepare
cell phones were permitted for planned phone calls home only, and held by leaders otherwise
recommended spending was about $75 per week: Nate didn’t spend all of his
communication between phone calls came in the form of a private blog to parents, with updates

I felt very comfortable with ARCC at all times, and never questioned Nate’s safety or well-being. Yes, I worried about him so far from home (I told him I was homesick on his behalf!), but my worries were unfounded. Nate grew up profoundly in two weeks, and we highly recommend ARCC to others. In fact, Nate’s younger brother is now eying the catalogue!

Disclosure: Nate attended his ARCC trip as a guest of the company, for the purpose of review. Our opinions are our own.

A day with Santa Fe Walkabouts: tour of Santa Fe

June 11, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Families looking for an active way to see the New Mexico desert outside of Santa Fe will definitely want to book a tour with popular local tour company Santa Fe Walkabouts. These guys offer more than a tour of Santa Fe: they take you outside the city limits either on foot (for a hiking tour), on bike, or in their unique Pinzauer off-road vehicle.

We decided to try their half-day (3 hour) Pinzauer Tour to La Bajada Mesa, which takes families from downtown Santa Fe to the historic (original) Route 66 in the high desert. This 4×4 adventure starts out calmly enough along dirt roads to the national forest boundary, where the Swiss military vehicle gets the challenge the rocky, steep, and sometimes daunting descent down the La Bajada hill road. Guests ride in the back of the Pinzauer, on cushioned benches with lap seat belts. There are roll bars to hang onto. We were in great hands with our driver (and owner of the tour company) Georges. During the tour, it was clear to me that Georges and his partner Sue love their jobs: they were able to point out many natural and historical sights along the way, while keeping us safe in the vehicle.

The ride in the Pinzauer was certainly windy, but not uncomfortable. I recommend the tour for families with older kids, as there are long periods of sitting and riding. My tweens and teens would get a big kick out of the many steeps grades and rugged terrain navigated. At times, the vehicle listed (safely) over 20-40% in either direction, and took at least 30% grades.

Along the way, we were lucky enough to have a Route 66 expert with us, who was able to point out remains of the original Camino Real trading route and road. We also stopped to see petroglyphs and even spotted a rattlesnake (and then gave it a wide berth).

Keep in mind that bathrooms are not available during the tour, and you’ll want to bring layers to wear during the windy ride. Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must!

Tip: for parents who want to dig deeper into area history and culture (and have a sitter at the hotel), we recommend attending a lecture by Southwest Seminars . The team here has rich knowledge of the region, and incredible insight. Lectures are held almost every Monday evening at 6 pm at the Hotel Santa Fe.

Tour cost:

The 3-hour Pinz ride and hike we experienced costs $83/person, very standard for this quality of tour. We were offered bottled water as needed, but bring your own snacks if you’ll want them. You’ll be back in time for lunch.

Contact information:

Santa Fe Walkabouts picked us up at our hotel. Call the company to book a tour and find out where to meet them: 505-216-9161.

As I disclose whenever applicable, Santa Fe Walkabouts hosted me during my tour, for the purpose of review. Without their hospitality, I would not be able to share this experience with my readers.

Philadelphia with the kids: where to go and what to see

June 4, 2014 By Sharlene Earnshaw

If a fun-packed trip with the kids is planned, Philadelphia with the kids should make the shortlist of top places to visit. Situated in the mid-Atlantic region in the south eastern part of Pennsylvania, Philly is a big city with big-hitting attractions to match. Being the fifth most populous city in the United States, Philadelphia gives places such as New York and Chicago a run for their money in the bustling metropolis department. If the kids want a high-octane, energy-packed city break, it’s hard to get it wrong in Philadelphia.

Disguised learning

Okay, so this is a vacation, right? School’s out and the kids are just up for having a great time, but parents love it when they can combine a bit of learning with the fun and Philadelphia has many opportunities for such skullduggery. First place to visit on the list should be the Please Touch Museum in the historic setting of Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall. There’s a clue in the name that this is no ordinary museum, children are actually encouraged to learn through play in this enormous homage to childhood. There are themed sections from Alice in Wonderland, a fairytale garden and a supermarket experience; children can sit behind the wheel of a bus or make believe they’re sailing a boat. With a focus on interaction there are many things to spark the imagination and the Please Touch Museum is especially popular with younger children. The highlight of the visit is likely to be a ride on the stunning, lovingly restored carousel with painted, prancing horses. This museum is a joy to visit any time but makes a wonderful option when rain interferes with outdoor plans.

Next stop is the Franklin Institute. Since 1934 Philly families have been coming here to enjoy the science related exhibits. Kids love learning about how things work and when it comes to bodily functions, they really relate. A new exhibition investigating the working of the brain is sure to please them, as is the walk-through giant heart. There are also movies to enjoy in the IMAX theater and exhibits designed to help us learn how electricity works, in a fun and interesting way. Covering all things from sport to space, the Franklin Institute will excite children and adults alike.

Last stop on the disguised learning tour of Philly should be the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing. Ever wondered what it was like in a World War II submarine or how about riding the waves in a 1890s Navy cruiser? These exhibits give an insight into the maritime heritage of Philadelphia, making the museum is a great port of call for young and old.

It’s show-time

There are few better family bonding experiences than sharing a great show together. Whatever the tastes of your brood, there will be something to tempt them at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia’s leading events and entertainment venue. Buy Wells Fargo Center Tickets for a range of family friendly spectaculars including Philadelphia Flyers games, Disney on Ice shows, Harlem Globe Trotters exhibition games, wrestling, Sesame Street and many musical acts. With a thrilling program packed with quality and variety, it won’t be difficult pleasing everyone.

Let’s get active

For burning off excess energy, Philadelphia is blessed with some wonderful open spaces. Try the colonial surroundings at Franklin Square for its mini golf, carousel and picnic area; there is plenty of room for children to run about. Alternatively, The Smith House and Playground offers six acres of wooded parkland with a 44 foot wooden slide, ‘play mansion’ and an enormous play-pod with jungle gyms and see-saws galore. If they’re not totally exhausted after all that, take them to the slightly more sedate Camden Children’s Garden, an interactive four acre space where youngsters are encouraged to get in touch with their inner horticulturalist. For children showing a budding interest in all matters gardening, this place will seem like heaven.

Critter capers

Most families have at least one budding zoologists or veterinarians keen for a bit of animal fun, so why not take them to the wonderful Philadelphia Zoo? Marvel at the Primate Center, the Avian Center and The Big Cat Falls; this zoo has been here for 150 years, so they really know what they’re doing. If water-based creatures are preferred take a trip to Camden Adventure Aquarium where the new hippo exhibition is wowing visitors. Along with the penguins, sharks and crocodiles, there are some fascinating creatures to see up close in a wonderful setting.

Finding great things to do with the kids in Philadelphia is not a problem, the hardest thing will be persuading them to leave this brilliant family destination once the vacation is over…

Photo credit: Flickr/Vic15

An ideal day itinerary using Old Town Trolley Tours

May 19, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

San Diego’s Old Town Trolley Tour is an excellent way to get an overview of the city for first-time or infrequent visitors. The trolley drivers are entertaining and most stops are well-worth your time. However, admission is not cheap, so to make the cost of an Old Town Trolley Tour worth your while, plan to spend the whole day utilizing it.

After a day on the trolley as visitors already familiar with San Diego, we designed what we consider the perfect all-day San Diego Old Town Trolley Tour itinerary for families:

The trolley begins running at 9 am (in most seasons) and makes stops every 30 minutes at 11 points of interest (two of which are hotels). The tour takes two hours to complete if you remain on the trolley, but the real beauty of this tour is the hop-on, hop-off feature, so you’ll want to utilize that. However, you certainly don’t need to get off at every stop.

Step 1: Unless you’re staying at one of the two hotels on the tour route (Marriott Marquis or Hilton Bayfront), you’ll want to start at Old Town.

Arrive at 9 am at Old Town (the trolley station is located at the edge of Old Town Market on Twiggs). You’ll want to tour Old Town, but wait: the market is much more lively later in the day. Instead, board the trolley and start the tour.

Step 2: Get off at Stop B: San Diego Harbor.

Most families will want to either tour the USS Midway LINK or the Maritime Museum. Either will take about two hours to visit. If you don’t want to spend that much time, it’s still worth hopping off to walk along the harbor front to see the various ships docked: the historic Star of India, the Midway aircraft carrier, an historic submarine, and the odd cruise ship or two.

Step 3: Enjoy the trolley through stops C-H.

Get back on the trolley when you’re done with the harbor, and ride it through the next six stops (this will take approximately 30 minutes). The trolley will take you through the downtown area and give you the history of the founding of the city, plus point out Petco Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Horton Plaza. You’ll then head over the Coronado Bridge (with great city views) to Coronado Island.

Step 4: Hop off at Coronado-Orange Avenue.

Don’t get off at the first Coronado stop (on the bay side) but rather wait until the second stop near the ocean side. This is a great place for a causal lunch at any number of sandwich shops, plus a walk on the beach by the famous Hotel Del Coronado. Plan to spend an hour, then re-board the trolley.

Step 5: Hop off again at Balboa Park.

The very next stop is Balboa Park, home of San Diego’s many kid-friendly museums and the San Diego Zoo. We recommend saving the zoo for a separate visit (as it deserves a full day) but definitely get off the trolley to walk the grounds of the park. The botanical garden is free, as are several smaller museums. If you want to spend a few hours (which we recommend), our top picks are the Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum, or Reuben H. Fleet Science Museum.

Step 6: Stay on through Little Italy.

Unless you need a meal (the dining in Little Italy is stellar), stay on the trolley through Little Italy after Balboa Park and take it to Old Town. The nice thing about hopping on and off: each driver has different tidbits to share, making the tour entertaining no matter how many drivers you get.

Step 7: Disembark at Old Town.

You’ll want to visit Old Town Marketplace and the Old Town State Historic Park for at least two hours, after which Old Town is a great place to get an authentic Mexican meal for dinner. Our favorite sites in Old Town include the visitor center and historic exhibits in the Old Town State Historic Park square, the marketplace with lively colors and (mostly) cheap souvenirs, and the many snacks and old fashioned candle, soap, and candy shops. Look for the lady making tortillas!

This tour itinerary should take you from 9 am to past 6 pm. Of course, adjust according to your interests, but we found this to be a great use of the trolley (plus you skip the hassle of parking at all these locations).

Trolley tickets:

Trolley tickets are $39 for adults and $18 for kids, making it a serious investment for your day. All the more reason to plan the perfect day’s itinerary to utilize it! Get trolley tickets online or at the Old Town or harbor kiosks.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the trolley as guests of the company, for the purpose of review. Without hosted activities, we wouldn’t be able to bring reviews to Pit Stops for Kids.

Top summer attractions in London UK for kids

May 8, 2014 By Sharlene Earnshaw

The following guest post is written by Kaamna Dhawan of Momaboard.

My family of four moved to London a few months ago and I can honestly say that as major cities in the world go, London is probably the most kid-friendly in the world. As my two and five-year old and I have been exploring our new hometown, we have been delighted to find summer attractions in London ranging from parks, theaters, cinemas, museums, and restaurants dedicated to educating, entertaining, and inspiring children.

If you are headed to London for the summer, here are some of our favorite things to do:

Be one with the fossils at The Natural History Museum: This exquisite, free museum will keep your kids intrigued for hours. The biggest attraction is the beautifully (and realistically) executed dinosaur exhibit but the other sections are definitely worth a visit too. Loads of interactive options as well.

Get your Cap’n on at Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground: The beautiful Kensington Gardens are worth a visit for themselves and are an easy stroll across the lake from Hyde Park, but for the kids, it’s worth a trip over to the playground to explore the giant pirate ship and many other fantastically creative parts of the park. Please note that London parks take their security seriously: adults cannot enter without a child.

Enjoy the view from The London Eye: Ever been on a giant standing-room giant wheel? (Ever paid $30 to do so?). Expensive as it is, the London Eye is worth the experience once in your life. On a clear day, the views of London are spectacular. The Southbank area in which the London Eye is located is also very well developed and fun to hang around on a sunny weekend with street performers and restaurants.

Ride the top of a double decker bus. It’s amazing what a thrill kids get out it!

Grab a show: This is the land of Shakespeare and the Queen’s English. Theater is a must. You can catch one of the well-known shows like The Lion King, Matilda or Billy Elliot but I would recommend finding something uniquely London. Time Out has a great roundup of what’s going on at any point of the year.

Get a lux haircut in Notting Hill: Bella and Beau on Ledbury Road take kids’ cuts very seriously. Not only did my son get some serious styling there, he did it sitting in a very fancy car chair watching Thomas on an iPad. A day in the life of the rich and famous indeed!

Visit the London Transport Museum: Even though London has many beautiful free museums, I would definitely recommend a visit to the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden to experience the London tube simulator, pose as the driver of a double decker bus, or check out the history of transport from man-drawn carriages to how we do it now!

Eat! Although cuisine is not the UK’s most prominent contribution to the world, you can find some of the best ethnic cuisines in London: Indian, Lebanese and Chinese in particular. You will also find much innovation in the London restaurant scene so if you are a foodie, do your research before heading over to see what’s new and hot. A lot of good restaurants welcome children but it’s best to call and ask. It’s also fun to experience a pub lunch, and you will find that even these staunch London institutions are shaking it up these days. The Churchill Arms, for instance, is known for its amazing Thai food!

Want more? Check out Momaboard’s Ultimate Guide to London with Kids.

Kaamna Bhojwani-Dhawan is the founder of Momaboard.com, a website for globetrotting kids and their parents. Join the community on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.