University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology

Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology is the perfect first stop for visiting families (and a great option during rainy weather, too). Much more comprehensive than we thought it would be, the Museum of Anthropology, or MOA, features not only an impressive main gallery of First Nations totem pole carvings, but also room after room of artifacts of native peoples (both of Western Canada and elsewhere). You come away with greater respect and understanding of the first people to live on this land.

museum of anthropology

MOV focuses on ancient artifacts and cultures, but throughout the exhibits, it’s evident that pains are taken to bridge the displays with the modern-day people whose stories they tell. While a tour through the totem poles is a must see, most fascinating to us was the first-hand accounts written by the ancestors of those first inhabitants, many of whom donated various artifacts to the museum.

The Great Hall is the first thing kids will see, and features totem poles, house posts, and carved figures (most from the mid-19th century) from several Northwest Coast nations. These artifacts become meaningful as kids read about the reasoning behind various carvings, and learn the different uses for totems and the stories told through the carvings.

MOA

An outside exhibit includes two Haida houses and several more totems. Visitors can walk around them on their own, but you get twice the meaning out of the experience if you tag along with one of the guided walks, which will take you inside the houses and teach about village life, the different types of totems, and the purposes of the two dwellings. The guided talks are only about 30 minutes, and squirmy kids can always exit.

Date last visited:

July 2012

Distance from the interstate:

15 minutes from BC-99.

Hours of operation:

10 am to 5 pm daily during summer months. Winter hours vary by day.

Admission:

Adults: $16.75 Kids: $14.50 Age 6 and under: free. The museum does offer a family rate of $44 for a family of two adults and up to four kids.

Dining options:

There’s a museum cafe, but no outside food or drink. It would be possible to eat around the grounds near the parking area.

Directions:

From downtown Vancouver, the museum is 20 minutes by car. Located on the University of Vancouver campus at 6393 NW Marine Drive, it’s accessible from BC-99 to 4th to Marine. There is a parking charge (only parking is in an adjacent garage), so come prepared. Our charge was $6 for 2 hours.

We experienced the Museum of Anthropology as guests of Tourism Vancouver. While we appreciate this chance to review quality attractions for our readers, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

Vancouver on Dwellable

A stay at Omni San Francisco with kids

When we first stepped into the opulent lobby of the Omni San Francisco with our three excited kids, lots of luggage, and a cooler of snacks, I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ It was so beautiful, and so peaceful, and somehow smelled so good (citrus?) I couldn’t imagine this elegant San Francisco hotel could be a good fit for families. I was completely wrong. From the moment of check-in, my boys were greeted with smiles from everyone from the doorman to the valet, offered fresh fruit and herbal tea (the former was welcome after a day in the city, though the latter was a bust) and gifted Omni Kids lunch sack-style backpacks filled with goodies. No sooner had we arrived in our adjoining rooms, than a tray of freshly baked cookies and milk arrived.

Omni san francisco lobby

We found out both perks come as part of Omni’s Sensational Kids program, which is their way to welcome children to the hotel. The kids’ packs contained frisbees, hacky sacks, candy, and a map of the city with fun activities to complete, like crosswords, word searches, and puzzles. (They’d come in handy while waiting for food in restaurants, but I would have traded them in a second for a complimentary continental breakfast bar.) The rooms were spacious, and included all the nice touches you’d expect from a high-end hotel: high ceilings, window molding, nice views, and top-of-the-line fixtures. The oversized tubs were great for kids, and the coffee makers doubled nicely for us while making hot cocoa and instant oatmeal in the mornings.

omni san francisco

The service at Omni San Francisco is fantastic, and what it lacks in extra amenities like the free breakfast I mentioned or free parking (a rare find at urban hotels), it makes up for in convenience. Located on California Street just steps from the TransAmerica Building, the Omni is directly on the California Street Cable Car line and only two blocks from a BART station. It’s also only steps from MUNI bus lines. Every day, we stepped outside and were on our way via cable car or bus within minutes. Chinatown is a block away, and Nob Hill is in easy walking distance. The on-site concierge was always happy to give us (and our itinerary) full attention, guiding us with routes and recommendations.

sensational kids

Could you book a cheaper room elsewhere in San Francisco? Absolutely. We spent the evening before our Omni stay at Fisherman’s Wharf, where the room rates were less but we hauled our own luggage, fought with slow elevators, and got lost a lot. What you’re getting at Omni is luxury, location, and service…amenities that come at a higher price point. For a beautiful hotel experience in the heart of San Francisco, it can’t be beat. While we encountered mostly business travelers during our stay, it was clear at all times that children are welcome.

Deal! Save up to 49% on San Francisco’s Muni and Cable Car rides plus admission to the 4 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Minutes from Highway 101 (via the Golden Gate Bridge) or I-80.

Room rates:

At the time of our visit, room rates for standard and premiere rooms ranged from $300-339. Omni Kids Fantasy suites, which feature bunk beds, toys to use during the visit, and bean bag chairs (with a connecting room for parents) is additional, but a very nice set-up, and still less than the cost of two adjoining rooms.

Included amenities:

Kids are automatically welcomed into the Omni Sensational Kids program (with packs and cookies). Concierge service is also included in the room rate, and some room packages include valet parking. (Otherwise, valet parking is over $40 a night, and does include in and out privledges.) Self-parking at an adjacent garage is an option, but will still cost upwards of $35 a night. The Omni San Francisco does not have a pool, but room service is available, and high speed internet access is free for guests in the Select Guest Loyalty Program (free to join). Otherwise, wifi is $9.99 a night.

Dining:

Room service is offered day and night, and there is a restaurant on-site, though it seems a bit too spendy (and grown-up) for our family’s purposes. Within steps of the front doors, however, many options await. We ate in Chinatown one evening, and along Calfornia Street the next.

Directions:

Omni San Francisco is located at 500 California Street, at Calfornia and Montgomery.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced the Omni as guests of Omni Resorts, for the purpose of review. While their hospitality was appreciated, it came with no expectation of a positive review.

San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina

The Marriott Marquis and Marina is located in the heart of San Diego, California’s Gaslamp Quarter, situated directly on the bay. It does not include beach access, but the water is in easy reach via the harbor, where kids can watch the boats and parents will appreciate the family-friendly dining.

Marriott_Marquis_San_Diego

A major convention hotel, families can count on plenty of business and conference traffic during their stay, but the hotel is large enough that it won’t matter. My stay was during the 3,000+ person BlogHer conference (for which I was an attendee), and the public spaces didn’t even feel crowded. Located within the hotel is a Starbucks, a large gift and necessity shop, a UPS store, pool and lobby bars, and full room service. The outdoor pool is large and kid-friendly, and opens out onto the marina. Within walking distance are Gaslamp District eateries and shopping, and within minutes by car is SeaWorld San Diego, the San Diego Zoo, and the Wild Animal Park.

parrots_marriott_marquis

Rooms are fairly spacious, but be aware that standard room beds are on the narrow side! If you’re sharing them with kids, you may prefer to order a roll-away bed. Wireless internet is free in all public areas, but guests are charged $12 a day for in-room wireless. As is standard in most downtown city hotels, parking is $26 a day for guests with cars, and unfortunately, in San Diego, you’ll probably need one.

Date last visited: August 2011

Distance from the interstate: Five minutes off I-5.

Room rates: Standard rates are between $215-240 per night.

Directions: The Marriott Marquis is located at 333 West Harbor. From I-5, take the Front Street exit straight to the hotel entrance.

Downtown on Dwellable

NYC with kids: making sense of subways, taxis, and trains

During our four days in New York City this past June, we relied exclusively on subway trains, taxi cabs, and our own feet to get us where we needed to go. Despite being accustomed to using public transportation in other cities, I will admit we found the NYC subway system to be overwhelming with kids…at first. By the time we were ready to leave, we (almost) felt we had it figured out, but to help other traveling families get a head start, below are my tips for navigating this busy, crowded, and exciting city.

subway-nyc

1. Get a good map. Because multiple subway lines go similar directions (but deposit you in different destinations) and the first subway station you see may not be the one you need (that one may only be a block away!), it’s imperative to have a map detailing both subway lines and stations.

2. Follow the colors. More than one New York resident advised us to disregard the color system assigned to subway lines, instead focusing only on the subway number. We tried this…and ended up in the opposite direction of our intended destination more than once! I have a feeling this advice is more of the advanced variety, and we needed a beginner course. What we found worked better for us: relying on color to direct us to the station we needed, then number to direct us to the right train.

3. Ask, and then ask again. New Yorkers all seem to have their own way of navigating the subway system. They know the routes they take frequently, but seem as confused as we were when asked about other destinations. I wish I’d taken a photo of the moment we stopped to ask three beat cops standing on a street corner how to get from Union Square to East 50th on the subway, and all three of them scratched their heads and got out their iPhones to look it up. So certainly ask fellow subway passengers their advice, but once at the next juncture of your journey, ask again. The conflicting advice can be confusing, but like pieces of a puzzle, they usually fit together.

4. When navigating confusing routes, such as cross-town journeys that require transfers to up or downtown journeys, consider taking a cab. For our family of five (and we had six people with us while in New York), piling into cabs was sometimes cheaper than subway tickets, especially when our destination was close enough to keep the fare low. Other times, it’s simply worth the time savings to take cabs.

5. Last but not least, just get out there and GO. The only way to really get the hang of the subway system is to get on one (or two, or three, depending on how many wrong trains you take). And when in doubt, walk! (We often took a train up or downtown, then walked the cross-town distance to simplify matters!)

walking in nyc

The details:

1. Subway and bus fare is $2.25 per person. It’s easy to purchase pre-paid subway cards, then refill them when necessary (and this is certainly the quickest way to go about it).

2. Our cab fares throughout Manhattan cost between $6-$15 a trip. Keep in mind, however, that NYC cabs only fit four passengers. If you have a larger group, you’ll need to take two cabs wherever you’re going. We opted for cabs a few times, bur relied much more heavily on the subway.

3. Whether taking subways or taxis, we planned on a budget of $50-60 per day for NYC transportation, and found that amount to be realistic for our group of six people.

4. A great way to travel between cities on the Eastern Seaboard is via Amtrak. After leaving NYC, we took the Amtrak train to Boston (from NYC’s Penn Station), and found it to be a very easy and relaxing way to travel. The four hour journey was comfortable, food services were available on the train, and the scenery was fantastic. Fare was low for daytime passage as well (it’s Amtrak’s sleeper cars that give me and my wallet a heart attack).

amtrak-with-kids

A word about airport transportation:

Before arriving in NYC, I was told by several sources (including the NY Transit Authority) that cab fare from LaGuardia to Manhattan would be $45 per cab (not including tip), so I considered opting for one of the various town car and limo services that offer rides from both airports (and Newark) to Manhattan hotels; the cheapest I found for our group size was $130 (be sure the price you’re quoted includes toll fare and tip). I’m very glad I did not use a limo service (due to a mis-communication) because our cab fare was only $25 per cab from LaGuardia to midtown Manhattan, definitely saving us money.

New York City with kids: what to do in Central Park

Central Park is not only an iconic stop in New York City, it’s a welcome respite from the noise, crowds, and outright stimulation of city touring. During our three days in New York, we ducked into this leafy green sanctuary more than a few times, and discovered something new with each trip.

central-park-with-kids

Since it can be hard to get your bearings while in the park, a good place to start (before you leave!) is this Central Park informational site for top attractions and maps. Once in the park, below are our favorite stops with kids:

Heckscher Playground. This play space near the Columbus Circle entrance to the park (8th Avenue) features water play areas, climbing structures, sand, turf, and swings, and is framed by a generous outcropping of the large granite boulders seen throughout the park. Within minutes of setting foot inside, Calvin had joined in impromptu soccer game on the turf circles at the center of the park, Toby had made a friend in the sand box, and Nate was scaling a boulder. Needless to say, it was an hour or more before we left. (Note: this park does close at dusk.)

central-park-with-kids

Tip: For an easy meal before or after leaving Heckscher, a great hot dog stand with sausage dogs, veggie dogs, and beef dogs (with all the toppings) is located near the 8th Ave. entrance).

Captaining sailboats on Conservatory Water. located near the East Side of the middle of the park, the Conservatory Water features a model boat house where kids can captain their own vessels (for $11 per half hour). I was afraid they would be hard to operate, but all three boys (ages 6-12) manned theirs easily, and had a great time adjusting the sails and speed to navigate the pond. A nice cafe is on-site, and there’s plenty of shade and seating. An Alice in Wonderland play space is nearby.

central-park-boat-sailing

Central Park Zoo. Located on the East Side of the park between 63rd and 65th streets, this zoo is not meant to be an entire day’s activity. Instead, it serves as a nice detour while walking along 5th Avenue or a morning’s distraction while other members of your party may be in the Met or other museums. Toby loved it, and the way the zoo fits into its part surrounds made it a pleasant retreat. Cost: $12 for adults, $7 for ages 3-12. Open from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Find out more at Central Park Zoo.




Museums near the park. On the East Side, you’ve got the Met and the Guggenheim. I’ve never taken my kids to the latter, but the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art, located at 1000 5th Avenue) is a great introduction to the greats (especially the impressionists). It also has a full floor of Egyptian art and artifacts that draw kids’ attention immediately. On the West Side, a stop at the American Museum of Natural History is a must. Located at 79th and Central Park West, it warrants at least a half-day of your time (we did it in the morning and paired it with a full afternoon in the park). Keep in mind that temporary exhibits are extra, but with so much to see, you may not have time for them anyway. (We did watch a planetarium show, and it was excellent…a perk of using our CityPASS tickets for this location.)

museum-of-natural-history-NYC

Tip: if your kids are fans of Night at the Museum, have them look to find the T-rex fossil skeleton and the naughty monkey from the movie. But note: the army, mountain men, and Native American diaramas do not exist. (This is, as a museum docent told me quite hautily, a NATURAL history museum.)

Food near the park. Worth noting are the delicious food options just a few blocks out of the park. On the West Side, you won’t be disappointed in Cafe Lalo, located four blocks from the park on 201 W. 83rd. A bustling, airy, and fun restaurant featuring brunch (all day) from all over the world, this is a great spot to grab lunch after visiting the Museum of Natural History. It also has a full bakery counter!

cafe-lalo

Dylan’s Candy Bar is located on the East Side on 1011 3rd, and offers three floors of candy, ice cream, and snacks. We found this place while seeking out Serendipity 3 (located on 225 E. 60th one block away), which is considered the ice cream and dessert hot spot of the city. (And they have a Kidscore of 99. Learn more about Kidscore.) When we went, the wait time was over an hour, and I’m assured it’s worth the wait. We were on a schedule, however, so we detoured to Dylan’s, where we (quite willingly) spent a small fortune on triple-scoop make-your-own sundaes.

dylans-candy-bar

Tip: we considered renting bicycles in the park, until we noticed all the signage alerting visitors of their many restrictions. Bikes aren’t allowed on most park paths, and since we weren’t interested in riding on the main thoroughfares, we opted to rent them to ride over the Brooklyn Bridge instead (offered by NYC’s Bike and Roll and NY Water Taxi). Horse-drawn carriage rides are also easily secured in the park, but be advised that these rides cost from $20-50, and almost all carriages accommodate four or fewer people.

New York City with kids: Times Square and Rockefeller Center

There’s lots to do in the vicinity of Times Square and Rockefeller Center with kids, and the nice part is, you can easily walk from point to point. Start out in the afternoon to visit the Rockefeller shops before they close (which is surprisingly early) and save the Times Square portion of this pit stop for evening, as this is its time to shine. (I liken visiting Times Square in the day to visiting the county fair before dark…fun, but not in its full glory.)

lego

Rockefeller Center:

Adults will enjoying seeing the plaza where NBC’s Today Show is produced, and 30 Rockefeller, the site of Tina Fey’s 30 Rock (not to mention the Rainbow Room), but kids love this area, too. In winter, they can skate of course, but in summer, there’s still much to see. Our kids spent much more time and cash than we’d budgeted at the Lego Store (on 50th), home of the tallest ‘pick a brick wall’ in the world, where kids can view a miniature version of the center they’re standing in and create their own Lego people at various stations. Nintendo World (10 Rockefeller) is just around the corner, housing two floors and 10,000 square feet of gaming heaven (including lots of opportunities to try out new games). We didn’t even buy a thing here; just considered it an attraction!

The observation deck at Top of the Rock is a great place to view the city (especially if you have a CityPASS, as it’s included), though I recommend visiting the iconic Empire State Building as well (more on that below), and nearby, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (on 50th) is breathtakingly beautiful and often open to the public (just remind kids to use their quiet, respectful voices).

empire-state-building

It’s possible to walk from this area to the Empire State Building (350 5th Ave), but while the views are fabulous at night, this stop is best as your first of the day. Why? Crowd control. Wait times later in the day and at night can stretch for literally hours, and it can get very stuffy and hot in that building while waiting. We recommend visiting the Empire State Building early in the morning (it opens at 8 am) to avoid lines! (If you really want a night-time view, try Top of the Rock; it’s always less crowded.) And bring your own quarters if you think your kids will want to use the view-finders at the top; there are no change machines! This is a great attraction to use your CityPASS, as you get to skip the ticketing line. (Note: help boost the Empire State Building’s Kidscore if you find it kid-friendly! Learn more about Kidscore.)

ferris-wheel-times-square

Times Square:

If you’re fortunate enough to take in a matinee Broadway show (Disney’s The Lion King and Wicked are highly recommended by my kids), you’ll already be in Times Square as you exit, but if not, plan to explore Rockefeller Center then make your way here (only a few blocks). After staring slack-jawed at the brightly lit marquees surrounding the square, start at Discovery Times Square, the Discovery Channel Center at 226 W. 44th, as it closes first (at 8 pm). This center features limited time exhibits that are part show, part museum artifact, and completely engaging. Right now, it’s featuring the Harry Potter Exhibit, which we naturally had to check out. It took us about an hour to go through it, and we weren’t disappointed. The exhibit takes visitors through many props, costumes, and displays used in the movies, from Hagrid’s cabin to OWLS tests, the Weasley twins’ stash of joke shop contraband, and Professor Umbridge’s office, complete with kitten plates and all things pink. We saw all the main characters’ wands and robes, firebolts and Nimbus 2000s, and tried our hand at throwing a Quaffle. At the gift shop, the boys stocked up on Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. The cost of admission is steep at $19 for kids and $25 for adults, but is well worth it if you have true Harry Potter fans in your midst.



Tip: We saved money off admission price to this by including it in our ala cart Go Select passes from Smart Destinations. And we skipped the ticket line!

Kids will also love a visit to Toys R Us (i.e. kid heaven) on 1415 Broadway. I resisted, thinking we could visit a Toys R Us in any city in the U.S., but I’m glad the kids coaxed me in: the indoor, three-story ferris wheel won Toby’s heart (even if he did end up in a pink Barbie compartment) and the older boys went crazy for the huge Lego section, animatronic dinosaur, and life-sized Star Wars figures on the third floor.

After you’ve dragged them out, the rainbow ‘wall of color’ in the My M&M’s Candy Store is worthy of a visit, but don’t plan to buy any unless $12 a pound seems reasonable to you. This store is otherwise filled with retail junk, but all the bright colors and fun gizmos kept my kids entertained. It’s also fun to give the M&M mood machine a try; when you stand on it, it will determine your personal M&M color based on your mood.

M&M

Getting there: A cab ride from any part of Manhattan will probably cost between $7-$12, and via subway, you’ll want to get off on the 42nd Street/Times Square station. Both Rockefeller Center and Times Square are within walking distance of most locations in midtown, including our hotel, Affinia 50.

New York City with kids: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

While visiting NYC with kids, the Statue of Liberty is a must-do. We found, however, that Ellis Island’s Immigration Museum is an even more interesting stop, so be sure to do both. You’ll want to start your trip planning with a visit to the Statue Cruises website, where you can purchase your ferry tickets (you can also purchase them at the New York Visitor’s Center at 234 W. 42nd).

Ellis-island-statue-cruise

Because the limitations of these tickets are confusing, I’ll explain further. What your ferry tickets will do for you: get you to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (and into the free Ellis Island sights and museum). What it will not get you into: the Statue of Liberty (unless you upgrade online). When picking up your ticket, you can ask for a free pedestal access upgrade (gets you into the pedestal) but they are first come, first served (and they were gone when we got there at 11 am). If you want to try for one of the crown tickets (climbing the stairs inside), they are not offered every day, and are an additional cost. Ask when you reserve. Since the statue is a national monument, you can find out more at the national park site, or you can ensure your pedestal ticket by reserving online through Statue Cruises.

Once on the ferry, you have the option of stopping at both or either monuments. Because we didn’t have pedestal tickets, we opted to stay on-board at the statue (snapping some great shots) and got off at Ellis Island only. The free historic site and museum here is extremely well done, and you’ll want to dedicate at least an hour and a half to two hours to it. We ate lunch at the museum café first (there’s a nice outdoor seating area overlooking the greenery and water), then ducked into the theater to catch the 45 minute documentary on the history of the island. This movie gave a great overview, and was age appropriate for all but Toby (age 6), who got restless at about the half-hour mark. Younger kids may want to opt out with a parent, but I’m glad we went: it really put the monument in context for the older kids.

statue-of-liberty-ellis-island

After viewing the movie, there are three floors of the main building (processing headquarters for millions of immigrants over the span of decades) to tour. It was interesting to see the Great Hall, the medical examination rooms where millions endured ‘six second physicals’ that determined their mental and psychological status, and the sleeping quarters of the immigrants, but most fascinating were their stories: in every room, their memoirs, letters home, and photos are preserved, depicting a sobering history of the trials they faced.

Tip: If your goal is only to see the statue up close, not to stop, a better option would be the free Staten Island Ferry or the New York Water Taxi (which actually slows near the statue to give passengers time to snap some shots). You can board both in the Battery near the Statue Cruises terminal.

Getting there: All ferries depart from Battery Park (easy to find via Subway if you take a downtown train to the end of the line at South Ferry, though Rector Street will also work). Once in Battery Park, you’ll want to go to Castle Clinton National Monument, where you can buy (or pick up) your Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry tickets.

Cost: The monuments are free, but ferry tickets cost $13 for adults, and $5 for kids 4-12. (Under 4 is free.) You can reserve tickets online ahead of time, or buy them at the booth.

Tip: CityPass allows you to skip the ticketing line and get right in line for the ferry, a big time saver (keeping in mind that you’ll still have to ask for pedestal tickets on the day of your cruise, should you want them). If you use Go Card USA: Discount Attraction Passes from Smart Destinations, head past the battery monument (Castle Clinton) to the Bike and Roll booth (blue sign) to pick up your tickets.

Visit New York’s “Statue of Liberty” and 5 other attractions a savings of up to 40% at CityPASS. Shop Now!

Website: www.statuecruises.com

New York City with kids: a stay at Affinia 50

We chose to stay at Manhattan’s Affinia 50 for our kids’ introduction to New York City, and within moments of checking in, I knew we’d made the right decision. It was instantly made clear to me that Affinia 50 does things differently than standard big city hotel chains: they’re small enough to be personal, but large enough to provide the amenities families need.

Affinia-50-hotel

First off, they deliver on space, a precious commodity in midtown Manhattan. Just as importantly, they know how to use it: their second floor communal Club Room serves as an extended living room for families, not a stuffy lobby. They’re able to provide personalized touches like custom-ordered pillows, walking tours and rubber duckies, and they let families know they’re wanted and welcome with special efforts like movie nights and wine receptions (at the same time!). In fact, from the time we arrived at the doorstep of the Affinia 50 (somewhat bedraggled from a day of cross-continental travel) to the time we departed for Boston, we considered it our oasis in a city that sometimes embraced us, and sometimes kicked our behinds.

Affinia-50-hotel

During our stay, we got to know names and faces at Affinia 50, from the friendly doorman who always offered us a ‘Cheers!’ (and put up with greetings from Toby’s souvenir plush dog every time we went in or out) to the front desk staff to the concierge. We’d had the opportunity to customize our reservation before we arrived, with options to choose selections from their pillow menu, various experience kits (completely complimentary), and concierge services. I’d asked for a Swedish Memory Foam pillow (simply because I love them), and a ‘Walking Tour Kit’, which was waiting for us in our room. Included was an iPod Nano pre-loaded with walking tours and a pedometer (for use during our stay), which the kids loved using to record their daily mileage through New York.

But what truly makes the Affinia is their Club Room. Located on the second floor, this space is part den, part home entertainment center, part office, and part breakfast nook, and served as our go-to location for recharging our batteries in the late afternoons, as well as our morning escape for complimentary coffee, newspapers, and wifi.

Affinia-50-view

Comprised of three rooms of sofas, arm chairs, fireplaces, and flat screens, there’s enough space that business men and women can be working in some sections (the wifi is free here, though not in the suites or rooms) and kids can be watching a movie or playing games in another. On Sundays, Affinia hosts a movie night with popcorn for the kids coupled with a complementary wine reception for the adults, and on week nights, various themed nights for the kids are on offer (on the day we left, it was to be a Nintendo Sports game night).

Before arriving at the Affinia 50, I was a little worried about the midtown location. Would we be close enough to the park? To the theater district? What about the neighborhood? Would there be kid-friendly restaurants nearby? I shouldn’t have worried. I loved that Affinia 50 is within easy walking distance of Rockefeller Center (straight up 50th) and Times Square (15 minutes). A grocery store is only three blocks away (useful for stocking your full-sized refrigerator), and the Lexington/53rd Street subway station easily gets you uptown or downtown (don’t ask me about crosstown…I never did master that).

Affinia-50-hotel

We stayed in one of Affinia 50’s a one bedroom deluxe suites, which are amazing for families: first off, they’re huge by Manhattan standards (heck, their standard rooms are huge by Manhattan standards). Booking a suite gets you a full kitchen, living room space (with pull-out double bed), large separate bedroom (ours had two queens), and a decent-sized bathroom. Oh, and a balcony with a fabulous view! They brought us a rollaway too, and we comfortably slept six. The decor was what I’d call comfortably chic, and the bathroom was clearly recently updated. The kitchen was functional and very convenient but not newly appointed (I have a feeling these things are being done in stages) and the balcony was large and a welcome respite in the evenings.

A buffet breakfast is served in the Club Room every morning ($16.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids). We tried it on our last morning and all gave it two thumbs up, but otherwise took advantage of our full kitchen to make breakfast in the room.

Affinia 50 does house a far more extensive exercise room than I expected. Normally, this is just the type of amenity I look for and take advantage of, but this trip, I never used it once…with so much walking in NYC, I didn’t need it…or so I told myself!) There’s no restaurant on-site, but room service is available through Mint, located across the street.

Date last visited: June 2011

Room rates: Ranging from approximately $250-under $400 per night.

Website: Affinia 50

Directions: Affinia 50 is located at 155 E. 50th. Extensive driving directions can be found online, but if you’re without a car and arriving from either airport, I suggest a taxi. Note: I was told by the transit authority that standard fare from either airport to midtown Manhattan would cost $45. Our drive from LaGuardia to Affinia 50 cost me under $30.

As I disclose whenever applicable, I received a substantial media rate for my deluxe suite at Affinia 50. While the hotel’s generosity is appreciated, this rate came with no expectation of a positive review.

The New England Aquarium and Boston Children’s Museum

Both The New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum are perfect half-day activities, especially if the day in question is as cold and rainy as ours was! We decided to spend one afternoon at each, and could have easily spent more time!

rays and sharks

My nephew and niece joined us for our time in Boston, so we had kids aged 8 months to 12 years touring both attractions. We loved the aquarium because it was comprehensive without being overwhelmingly large; only a few signature exhibits dominated, allowing plenty of time to explore the additional dozens of smaller tanks and displays. The aquarium is famous for their penguin habitat, but the highlight for our family was the hands-on sting ray and shark petting tank. This feature gets crowded, but the staff does a good job of monitoring the number of visitors at any one time; all our kids got plenty of chances to touch the marine animals.

At the Boston Children’s Museum, kids enter to see a three-story rope and plank climbing structure twisting its way toward the ceiling, and from there, they hit the ground running. In addition to the New Balance Climb, our older kids spent the most time at the Kid Power exhibits (aimed at kids age 8-12) where they played games of dodgeball on a computer-powered light-up floor, lifted themselves upward by their own power on pulleys and levers, played basketball on funky courts, and challenged themselves on climbing walls.

childrens-museum

The younger members of our group (8 months old, two years old, and five years old respectively) loved the Construction Zone with working mechanisms, building toys, and structural bridges, the community area complete with corner market and barber shop, and the infant play space.

Tip: If you have fair weather, you may want to pair the aquarium with a whale watch (which departs right from the entrance)!

Hours: The aquarium is open 9 am to 5 pm, and the museum is open 10 am to 5 pm, weekdays. On Friday evenings, the museum offers extended hours and discounted prices, and is only $1 from 6 pm to 9 pm!

Admission: Admission to the aquarium is $22 for adults and $15 for kids. The children’s museum is $12 per person (adults and children). If you hold a children’s museum membership card to any museum, be sure to present it! We were given free admission for two adults and two children thanks to our ScienceWorks card from Oregon. Both attractions are also available for discount through Smart Destinations’ using their Go Card USA: Discount Attraction Passes, or with CityPASS (see below for a deal).

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Websites: www.neaq.com and www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Directions: The aquarium and children’s museum are located within blocks of one another, on opposite sides of the bay. The aquarium is located at 1 Central Wharf (there’s an easy T stop directly to its door), and the children’s museum is located at 308 Congress Street (right over the Congress Street or Seaport Blvd. bridges).



Boston with kids: walking the Freedom Trail

A must-do when visiting Boston with kids, the Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 historic sites, every one an important piece of the road to American freedom. I’ve heard of families worrying this tour would be too dull for kids, but we didn’t find that to be true at all! Not every site garners kids’ full attention, but it’s ok to gloss over a few in order to fully investigate the ones that interest your group most. Allow older kids turns navigating along the red brick path and reading aloud about the stops along the way, and you’ll be surprised at how much time they spend learning more.

paul-revere-freedom trail

If you opt to go the self-guided route (which I recommend if you have young kids whose interest may web and wane), you can start and end anywhere, but it’s best to begin at Boston Common. There you’ll find a useful visitor information center, where you can pick up a Freedom Trail booklet with descriptions of the sites you’ll see and a map to mark your progress along the trail.

USS Constitution

The whole trail could take you half a day if you stop to enter the various sites (which you definitely should!) or longer if you also stop for a meal or shopping. The map is useful mostly to alert you to what you’re looking it; the trail is well marked in red brick, so you can’t get lost or go wrong. For our family, the highlights were Paul Revere’s house (which you can tour), the Granary Burying Ground (where many American revolutionaries, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Ben Franklin’s parents are buried, among others), and the U.S.S. Constitution, moored near the end of the trail (and also open to visitors). In fact, the promise of boarding ‘Old Ironsides’ is what kept Toby (age 6) going for the last half mile or so! Once there, touring the ship is free (though wait times do exist in the middle of the day during high season).

freedom-trail-with-kids

Date last visited: June 2011

Admission costs:The trail is itself is free as well, but you’ll pay small admission prices to visit Paul Revere’s House and the Old State House. (I recommend both, and you can buy a combination ticket.) ‘Walk into History’ tours are also available for $13 for adults, $7 for children if you’d like a guide, but they run 90 minutes and don’t include the whole route (plus may be over the heads of kids 10 and under). Audio guides are great for older kids, however: you can get them for $15 at the Visitor Information Center at Boston Common.

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Tip:A stop at the National Park Service building (across from site of the Boston Massacre near Faneuil Hall) is a must if your kids have National Park Passports to stamp. You can also pick up great maps there.

Website: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

Note: The Freedom Trail has a Kidscore of 85. Learn more about Kidscore.