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Ireland’s Historic Science Centre at Birr Castle in Ireland

April 16, 2013 By Jody Halsted Leave a Comment

When people think of visiting Ireland it is for the dramatic landscapes and castles. If history is considered, it has more to do with ruins than science. Few people realize how many scientific discoveries were made in Ireland… many of them at Birr Castle in County Offaly.

For nearly a century the Great Telescope at Birr Castle was the largest in the world

Housed in the estates converted stables is Ireland’s Historic Science Centre. Galleries are spread throughout the rooms, sharing the achievements of scientists and engineers closely associated with Birr over the past 2 centuries; most of whom were part of the family of the Earls of Rosse. You’ll learn about the design, creation and discoveries of the Great Telescope- which still stands on the grounds; view the pioneering photography of Mary Countess of Rosse- as well as her cameras; and learn about Sir Charles Parsons who invented the steam turbine.

After all that science, it’s almost relaxing to walk into the final galleries which focus on the family’s horticultural pursuits, including plants collected from around the world and the amazing gardens.

Click to continue reading Birr Castle Demense- Ireland’s “Green Jewel” at Ireland With Kids

Looking for more places to visit in Ireland?

Filed Under: Ireland Tagged With: Children's Museum, Fun for Kids, history, Ireland, science museum, Travel Resources

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Visiting The Dinosaur Museum in Atlanta

April 9, 2013 By Jody Halsted Leave a Comment

Family travel isn’t travel for travel’s sake, but instead travel to expand the understanding and awareness of the people who will, one day, run the world. For that reason, family friendly museums are high on our list of places to visit. Of course the kids love them- they are fun! But a little “sneaky education” never hurts! Guest author Lesli Peterson takes us to her son’s favorite museum in this post.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History, known affectionately in Atlanta as ‘The Dinosaur Museum’, is an interactive experience that proves science really is cool. Region-specific, life-size dinosaur statues greet you as you walk to the museum from the parking lot. Once inside, the largest plant-eating dinosaur that roamed the planet welcomes visitors, towering three stories tall in the Great Hall of the museum. Yes, this is indeed a ‘dinosaur museum.’

Aside from the relics of ancient past, Fernbank offers an IMAX theater, an interactive science exhibit, and a naturalist center highlighting Fernbank’s work in finding ruins from DeSoto’s mission in Georgia. There is ‘A Walk Through Time in Georgia’ which introduces visitors to plant and animal life over the various terrains in the state. There is a shell gallery, a rose garden, and an expansive forest for which this museum gets its name. However, when my four-year old exclaims his desire to visit Fernbank, I know he means that it’s time to head to NatureQuest.

NatureQuest is a child-friendly, highly interactive experiential learning exhibit that will amaze you (to say the least). Six years in the making, this environment was designed by the Fernbank Education team in conjunction with a host of designers from the land of Mickey and Donald. Children can immerse themselves in over 100 different interactive encounters across six habitats.

Imagine a large play area with a grand tree in which to climb, bridges, tunnels and waterscapes. There are live animal encounters in each habitat, and learning experiences tucked in every nook and cranny. In the center is the clubhouse which connects all the pieces together – there is even a habitat under the clubhouse.

My son loves NatureQuest because it’s fun. Parents and teachers appreciate that it is an educational immersion as well. Should you make your way to Georgia, come visit Fernbank. Gaze at the dinosaurs, walk through the forest, see Desoto’s treasures, but plan to spend several hours exploring nature in a new and exciting way at NatureQuest.

About the Author: Lesli Peterson is co-founder and editor at Expedition Mom, a North American family-travel website specializing in experiential “KNOW before you go” Adventure Guides and City Itineraries, with a Southern twist.

Save over 40% on admission to Atlanta’s 5 best attractions- including the Fernbank Museum!

Filed Under: Georgia, South, USA Tagged With: Atlanta, Children's Museum, entertainment, Fun for Kids, history, museum

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Fort Worth’s Wonderful, Walk-able, Cultural District

April 2, 2013 By Jody Halsted 2 Comments

A family vacation is the perfect opportunity to get your kids to accept culture. Where they may balk at visiting an art museum in their hometown, family travel sets a new stage for them to explore, and even welcome, new experiences in new locations.

The Fort Worth Cultural District is the perfect place for families to explore art, science and history- all within a family friendly, walk-able area.

The Fort Worth Cultural District

Located just minutes from downtown Fort Worth, the cultural district’s tree lined streets and more relaxed atmosphere are an urban oasis in one of Texas’ most vibrant cities. You’ll find plenty of parking (much of it free) and a wide variety of options- surely you’ll find something your entire family can agree on!

The Museums of the Fort Worth Cultural District

The museums of the Fort Worth cultural district are laid out in an awkward “L” shape; I recommend parking at one end or the other if you plan to spend a good part of your day visiting the district.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

With a focus on modern and contemporary art, the Modern Art Museum is certain to get your family talking. Whether you understand it or not (and I fall into the “not” category), there is something here that will catch your interest and spark your imagination.

If the weather is nice, step outside the museum to the lawn overlooking the still pool to view the sculptures. And let the kids step into Vortex near the entry- it’s a terrific echo chamber.

The Modern is open Tuesday-Sunday; closed holidays. Admission is $10 for adults (age 13 & up), $4 for students and seniors and free for children under 12. The museum is free the first Sunday of every month and half price on Wednesdays.

Kimball Art Museum

Often referred to as “America’s Best Small Museum”, the Kimball has pieces ranging from the ancient to 20th century pieces. While the collection is’t large (or overwhelming), each piece represents the very best of that period. You’ll find plenty of names you know here: Picasso, Gainsborough, Monet, Rambrant, Donatello, and Michelangelo’s earliest known work (painted when he was 12 or 13). Be sure to grab a Kimball Art Museum Kids pack when you arrive- this fun packet is part guide, part scavenger hunt and part art class. It’s a great way to get your kids involved in the art they see!

The Kimball also hosts films, workshops for children and adults, and family festivals.

The Kimball is open Tuesday – Sunday; closed holidays. Admission to the permanent collection is always free; special exhibitions do require ticket purchase. Exhibition tickets are half-price on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and on Friday evenings from 5–8 p.m.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

With over 200,000 objects- though only about 400 are on view at any given time, the Amon Carter Museum is one of the best places in the country to see American art of all types. Walking through the galleries is like walking through American history. Western art, collected by the museum’s benefactor, is displayed proudly at the entrance of the museum, giving you a glimpse of the man who said, “As a youth, I was denied the advantages which go with the possession of money. I am endeavoring to give to those who have not had such advantages, but who aspire to the higher and finer attributes of life, those opportunities which were denied to me.”

This statement is in evidence in the museum’s research library, supporting the study of American art and history, as well as the multitude of family events and programming the museum provides- much of it at no cost.

The Amon Carter Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday; closed holidays. Admission is free.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Inside the Museum of Science and History is the Fort Worth Children’s Museum with plenty of hands on “educational play”. The fun outdoor water stations are especially attractive to kids.

You’ll also find exhibits like DinoLab where you’ll see Texas’ official state dinosaur Energy Blast where you learn how electricity is created and the Fort Worth History Gallery which features an ever-changing series of stories from Fort Worth’s history. Be sure to venture to the second floor Cattle Raiser’s Museum to try rounding up cattle or try operating your own virtual ranch.

The planetarium, IMAX theater, special exhibitions and exciting lecture series, keep this museum ‘fresh’ every time you visit.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is open daily; closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission is $14 for adults (age 13 and up), $10 for children, toddlers and seniors. The planetarium, IMAX theater and special exhibitions are additional cost.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

This charming museum showcases the cowgirl, an often overlooked -but vital- part of Western history. Kids will be entranced by the push-button rotating display of rodeo outfits and their opportunity to ride a bucking bronc. More hands on displays include mini-jukeboxes playing classic country western music and the theater with saddle seats. A particularly favorite display features Jessie, the sassy red-headed cowgirl from Toy Story 2 & 3. The small theater invites you to ‘sit a spell’ and enjoy a bit of Americana- on a saddle.

The Cowgirl Hall of Fame features cowgirls as we picture them- think Dale Evans and Annie Oakley, but also those pioneer women who may not immediately come to mind- like the women of the Ingalls family. An incredible tribute, the “wall of fame” along the rear of the room hosts an image of every Hall of Fame inductee, while glass kiosks showcase recent entries. On an opposite wall you can search for inductees by state or last name, making it easy to learn the stories, and in some cases see video or hear audio of the women.

The Cowgirl Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday; closed holidays. Admission is $10 for adults (13 and up), $8 for seniors and children (ages 3-12), 3 and under are free.

Family travel isn’t always about exploring new places, but sometimes about exploring new ideas and experiences. The Fort Worth Cultural District is a terrific destination to add a dose of culture and ‘sneaky education’ to your family’s vacation.

Family Vacation
Fort Worth

Family Rambling would like to thank Visit Fort Worth for arranging our visit to the Fort Worth Cultural District, including tickets to the Modern Art Museum and the Bernini Exhibit at the Kimball.

Filed Under: South, Texas, USA Tagged With: entertainment, Fun for Kids, history, Texas, Travel Resources

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Higley Cabin, Where “Home on the Range” was Written

January 11, 2011 By Jody Halsted 4 Comments

"My Western Home" became "Home on the Range", the state song of Kansas

Home on the Range: The State Song of Kansas

“Home on the Range” is an iconic song of the United States. Within its words you are transported to a vast open land, free from skyscrapers, and filled with frolicking animals. It’s words are known the world over and has been recorded by greats such as Sting, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Alvin and the Chipmunks… I seem to recall Bugs Bunny singing it and adding his own bit (…and the rabbits).

And while there are few that haven’t heard this song, there are very few that know the cabin in which it was written in 1871 still stands today in Smith County, Kansas near the town of Athol. A stop at the Higley Cabin was a must during our Kansas roadtrip as Dr. Brewster Higly is an ancestor of my family’s.

Dr. Brewster Higley seems an unlikely man to have had such poetic words (see the full song lyrics) spill forth. He had lost three wives to death and a forth to divorce before moving to Kansas and staking claim to a piece of land along West Beaver Creek as part of the Homestead Act of 1862. The poem, written for himself and titled “My Western Home”, was tucked inside a book and forgotten until it was found in 1873 by Trube Reece who had brought a man to Dr. Brewster to be treated for a gunshot wound. Waiting, Mr. Reece opened a book and the poem fluttered to the floor.

At the urging of Mr. Reece, Dr. Higley allowed the poem to be printed in the Smith County Pioneer in 1873 and the Kirwin Chief in 1874. The poem was set to music in 1873 by Dan Kelly and was performed publicly by Judge John Harlan and his family who added the refrain, “Home, home on the range…”, and thus creating the song we all now know as “Home on the Range”.

The Higley Cabin

The Higley Cabin is not near anything, really. I imagine Dr. Higley liked it that way. It is 9 miles north of US-36 (or 16 miles south of Franklin, NE) on K-8. A carved limestone sign points you to your destination, another mile to the west.

To eyes used to large houses and spacious buildings the Higley Cabin is very tiny. The building was, amazingly, never torn down and stands today, much similar to how it looked when Dr. Higley built it. A simple building of native trees and stone, it most likely had a loft at one time and the fireplace was removed, the stones used elsewhere, when it was no longer used as a home.

The Ellen Rust Living Trust

Years after Dr. Higley’s death claims were made by an Arizona couple that the now popular “Home on the Range” was written by them. A New York lawyer was assigned to investigate the claim which took him on “a three-months’ tour of nearly every state west of the Mississippi” and eventually led him to Smith County, Kansas. When the site was legally proven to have been homesteaded by Dr. Higley and the cabin to have been constructed by him the land was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pete Rust. They were twice offered large sums of money for the cabin (once by Pioneer Village in nearby Minden, NE) but chose, instead, to maintain the cabin, leaving it in its rightful place in American history.

The Ellen Rust Living Trust owns the Higley Cabin and is responsible for restoration and maintenance of this National Historic Site. The trustees are committed to restoring and maintaining the cabin. For more information on the Ellen Rust Living Trust or if you would like to schedule a visit contact El Dean Holthus (phone: 785-695-2347 ; email). Special thanks to El Dean for taking the time to meet my family and talk with us about the cabin and its history. To hear about upcoming restoration projects, please watch the short clip below.

This article from the Wichita Eagle came out just a couple days after I published this article. It has a bit more Higley Cabin history for you.

The Center of the United States

If you’re already rambling about north central Kansas you’ll want to make a quick stop at the geographical center of the contiguous United States near Lebanon, Kansas (about 15 minutes east of Athol). The site, located a mile off US Route 281 at the intersection of K-191 and AA is endearingly unassuming. A stone marker, American flag flying from the top, marks the spot. A few picnic tables rest under a shelter and a tiny four pew chapel is available for travelers to give their thanks- or for those looking for a truly unique (and small) destination wedding.

When we visited I was surprised to find the spot rather busy. A few bikers were there, leather clad in the 100 degree heat, as was a man who was cycling from Denver to Nashville to raise funds for cancer research, and a couple who seemed to be buskers preparing to perform for whoever stopped by.

Unless you bring a picnic there isn’t much to do here, but don’t let that deter you. There is only one center of the United States… You’ll want to get a souvenir photo.

Filed Under: Kansas, Midwest, USA Tagged With: history, Kansas

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Visit Dinosaurs at Union Station in Kansas City

May 25, 2010 By Jody Halsted 3 Comments

The Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit at Kansas City’s Union Station was a treat for my family. From my nephews who, at 7 and 8, think dinosaurs are the coolest things to ever walk the Earth to my daughters who, at 3 and 5, see dinosaurs as friendly creatures on Dinosaur Train, to my husband and brother-in-law (geeks to the core), the exhibit was fun, informative and educational.

Before entering the actual exhibit you see items from Science City’s Dino Lab- plaster moldings, bones and information about how the lab prepares dinosaur fossils for exhibition.

As you enter the exhibit you encounter a “dinosaur dig”. As you learn about the bones on display you will read about their discovery- who, when and where. Trying to imagine finding something like this is beyond my imagination!

Animatronic dinosaur

Twenty-four of the dinosaurs are full size and animatronic, which can be a little overwhelming for smaller children. Caelan wasn’t impressed by the triceratops that turned it’s head and looked at her. She was much less intimidated by the ones she could control with the push of a button.

Paleontologist

We all learned something from the paleontologist standing near the triceratops who showed us triceratops teeth- and explained how a new tooth would replace the old but, unlike humans, the cycle didn’t end- and let us touch a real pointed plate from the back of one.

Other very cool things to see and touch in included dinosaur eggs and dino poop. An interactive display showed the head of a T-Rex and explained that a sneeze from the great beast would release up to seven gallons of snot. The kids loved that tidbit! It was also very interesting to see a “living dinosaur”- the chicken- and see why it is referred to as such.

Apatosaurus skeleton

Baby T-Rex

Skeletons were positioned throughout the exhibit, as were fossils. Some were huge (like the leg of a mastadon that was more than twice my husband’s height) and many were so tiny I wondered how they weren’t overlooked. But what I found most interesting was the difference in what I learned about dinosaurs when I was in grade school and what scientists believe now. For example: it is now believed that a baby T-Rex had a coat of fur that he lost as he matured. Or that many of the raptor species (like the velociraptor, shown below as previous thought and current thought) actually had feathers.

Velociraptor

The exhibit was interesting and informative. We spent just over an hour in it; if you have a mini paleontologist with you it could easily take an hour and a half to two hours.

Union Station Dinosaurs Unearthed Facts

The opening weekend of Dinosaurs Unearthed! brought a record 2700 patrons into Union Station. Because of the popularity of the event exhibit hours have been extended : Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The exhibit will run through the summer. There is no end date yet and Union Station hopes to keep the dinos there well into the fall!

Plan a dino birthday party, have a Dino Date Night or attend a Beer and Bones event (Date Night & Beer and Bones coming in June).

Ticket prices:

* Adults (13-59) $13.50
* Seniors, college students & military with valid ID $11.50
* Children 3-12 $9.50
* Children 2 & under FREE
* Groups of 15 or more $9.50 per person

A gift shop is at the end of the exhibit and has all kinds of dino goodies (including a Dino Poop book that comes with a chunk of poo) and Dinopoly.

If your kids are like mine, though, they will want to head back upstairs to the Build-A-Dino® by Build-A-Bear Workshop®, temporarily located in Union Station just for the exhibit.

The temporary shop is located on the lower level near the Extreme Screen; you can’t miss it as you take the escalator down to the exhibit.

Just like Build-A-Bear Workshop® you choose your dino (choices include a velociraptor, T-Rex, brachiosaurus, triceratops, and a wooly mammoth, among others), include a roar (extra charge), stuff it, add a heart and pick out accessories (clothing with a dino theme, dino dish set, a dino backpack so you can tote your new friend around on your back, shoes, bags, shades…) and create your birth certificate (which now has a code on it to register your new friend at Buildabearville.com for more online fun.

The girls with "Hearts" and "Diney"

We brought home Diney and Hearts. The girls used the money they had been saving and were quite proud to purchase their new friends themselves.

Disclosure: Union Station provided tickets for my family to view this exhibit. All thoughts and photos are my own.

Family Vacation
Kansas City

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: Children's Museum, Fun for Kids, history, Kansas City, Missouri

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Dinosaurs Unearthed!

May 4, 2010 By Jody Halsted 1 Comment

It’s not often you see a T-Rex standing outside one of Kansas City’s most well known venues- and looking like he can easily stomp the school buses behind him. Luckily he wasn’t on the loose but is there to promote Dinosaurs Unearthed!, the new exhibit at Union Station.

From the Dinos at Unions Staion site:

Dinosaurs Unearthed is the largest and most exciting dinosaur exhibit in the history of Kansas City with 24 full-size animatronic models, five fully-articulated skeletons (some more than 62 feet long), and nearly 40 fossil replicas which includes eight feathered fossils from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. This multi-sensory, dynamic and interactive dinosaur exhibition is both entertaining and educational showcasing recent new discoveries including evidence that many dinosaur species may have been covered in feathers!

My family will be heading down to Kansas City in about 2 weeks to check out the exhibit, so I’ll have a full review when we return. A few fun things to note in addition to the exhibit:

5 of the animatronic dinos can be controlled by you!
Dinosaurs Alive in 3-D on the Extreme Screen
Dino Lab at Science City. View and interact with real paleontologists as they prep real dinosaurs for display.
DinoDig
Build-A-Dino® by Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a temporary store offering nine plush dinos and other prehistoric friends to make so you can take your dino experience home with you.

Exhibit Information

The opening weekend of Dinosaurs Unearthed! brought a record 2700 patrons into Union Station. Because of the popularity of the event exhibit hours have been extended : Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The exhibit will run through the summer. There is no end date yet and Union Station hopes to keep the dinos there well into the fall!

Plan a dino birthday party, have a Dino Date Night or attend a Beer and Bones event (Date Night & Beer and Bones coming in June).

Ticket prices:

Adults (13-59) $13.50
Seniors, college students & military with valid ID $11.50
Children 3-12 $9.50
Children 2 & under FREE
Groups of 15 or more $9.50 per person

Union Station Membership

Union Station just announced a new membership program that is incredibly flexible and affordable. I am probably going to get it for my family as we are in Kansas City at least 6 times a year and it would pay for itself in about 2 visits.
Plus, new and renewing members who join by June 15, 2010 will receive two FREE movie tickets to Dinosaurs Alive! 3D showing on the area’s only 4-story tall 3-D Extreme Screen along with multiple discounts to current and future exhibits at the Station, KC Rail Experience, Science City, the Planetarium and the Extreme Screen.

The Friends & Family levels are:

5-8 individuals $125
3-4 individuals $85
2 individuals $60
one individual $45.
Seniors (60+), college students (w/valid ID) and military (w/valid ID) receive $5.00 off any annual membership level.

I like the simplified breakdown of membership. Though there are only 4 members in my family we usually take at least one person along with us to Kansas City. For $125 we could get benefits for up to 8 people- and they don’t have to be family.

Membership benefits include

RAIL RIGHTS: Members go to the head of any attraction waiting lines and can purchase discounted tickets online.
FREE unlimited visits to Science City, the recently enhanced Planetarium, the KC Rail Experience and the new Model Train Experience. (This is HUGE!)
Unlimited number of discounted $5 tickets to the Extreme Screen movie theater.
Discounts on Union Station traveling exhibits, birthday parties with Mad Science, most City Stage events and many Theatre District stage shows and productions.
Discounts at Union Station retail stores and restaurants of 10 percent or more.
Insider invitations to members-only previews and events.
FREE or discounted admission to more than 290 museums in the U.S. and worldwide through ASTC, including the Kansas City Museum. See www.astc.org/passport for a complete list. Many attractions are located in the Midwest.
And, of course, you are supporting Union Station, a Kansas City treasure.

Disclosure: Union Station is providing my family tickets to the Dinosaurs Unearthed! exhibit.

Family Vacation
Kansas City

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: history, Kansas City, Missouri

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Model Trains at Union Station

January 10, 2010 By Jody Halsted Leave a Comment

Union Station in Kansas City is still an active depot for Amtrak. During the height of train travel in 1917 nearly 80,000 trains came through the station. Though you won’t see as many trains going through the station these days the heart of Union Station is still with that golden age.

One example of this is the amazing Holiday Village Train display in the main lobby. It opens the day after Thanksgiving and stays up until the Sunday after New Year.

It’s really quite an incredible display. There were at least 7 full trains (including the Polar Express) and a handful of trolleys rolling on the miles of track. It’s truly astounding.

It takes a couple of months to get this display built and running so if you visit in the months of September and October you may see just what goes into the creation of such a huge display.

Not visiting during the holiday season? Not to worry. Hidden off the side of the North Waiting Room is the Kansas City Lionel Club’s model train display. This display is staffed by the members of the club, so it may be “hit or miss” on the display being open. Though the set up is permanent the trains running are brought in by the members. And they are happy to answer questions. If you’re really good they may even let you blow the whistle!

Things To Do
Kansas City

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri, USA Tagged With: history, Kansas City, Missouri

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Chocolate at Union Station in Kansas City

December 9, 2009 By Jody Halsted Leave a Comment

On our way home from Houston we’ll be making a stop in Kansas City to enjoy Chocolate the Exhibition at Union Station.

Did you know that Americans eat, on average, 12 pounds of chocolate per person per year? Or that each chocolate pod is about the size of a pineapple and holds enough seeds to make seven milk chocolate or two dark chocolate bars?

This Saturday (December 12) you can enjoy a chocolate chip pancake breakfast before exploring the exhibit. YUM! Or head down on Thursday, December 17 for chocolate and vodka tasting (advance registration required). Chocolate samples are also available- while supplies last.

Disclosure: Our tickets to Chocolate the Exhibition were given to us in exchange for this article.

Filed Under: Midwest, Missouri Tagged With: Fun for Kids, history, Kansas City, Missouri

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Images from Prelude to Christmas in the Amana Colonies, Iowa

December 8, 2009 By Jody Halsted 1 Comment

We spent Sunday in one of our favorite Iowa areas: the Amana Colonies. I’ve written many times about the Amana Colonies but I just wanted to share some photos from our day.

We visited the Tannenbaum Forest in the Festhalle Barn behind the Visitor’s Center. The girls were both happy to see Santa- he had candy canes!

In the Tannenbaum Forest were dozens of trees decorated by various Amana entities and a huge 3 story German Christmas Pyramid.

Of course we can’t go to the Amana Colonies without eating wonderful German food… Wursts, schnitzel, chicken, kraut… Mmmm…

And we stopped at the woolen mill because I forgot to bring gloves. We saw ladies spinning alpaca wool. Apparently they can also spin dog fur…

We wandered the village, stopping in shops for toys, wine, cheese and other “necessities”. I loved the gingerbread house contest displayed in the General Store.

We love the Amana Colonies. It’s a great Iowa getaway any time of the year.

Things To Do
Iowa City

Filed Under: Iowa, Midwest, USA Tagged With: Amana Colonies, food, history, Iowa

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Levens Hall – History for kids with a Tasty Twist!

September 13, 2009 By Jody Halsted Leave a Comment

Today’s guest post comes from Zoë Dawes from The Quirky Traveller. I “met” Zoë on Twitter and she offered to share her views of travel with her 12-year-old son around the UK. I hope you enjoy her stories. I know they make me want to hop a jet and “cross the pond”!

“Race you to the Witch’s Hat”, Alex, my 12year old son, shouted to his mate Charlie, as we wandered around the beautiful historic topiary gardens of Levens Hall, South Lakeland, Cumbria, UK. We were at Cumbria’s annual Chilli Fest, which takes place within the grounds of Levens Hall www.levenshall.co.uk just outside Kendal. It’s famous for its Grade 1 listed Gardens, originally designed in the 1690s. Children just love the topiary, which is cut into some quite extraordinary shapes including the wonderful ‘hat’ shown opposite.

The Chilli Festival happens every August, and has lots for both adults and children to amuse themselves with. Chilli Roulette was a big favourite; spin the wheel and have a 1-in-6 chance of getting a chilli choc instead of a milk choc. Alex ‘won’ one – his face was a picture as the chilli exploded in his mouth!

Another big attraction was the Puppet Theatre, which had a witch who tried to put her victims into a cauldron to make chilli soup – a big hit with the younger children, as you can see.

Brightly coloured stalls sold every kind of chilli flavoured products imaginably, including jams, chutneys, crisps, nuts, and, of course, hot, hot, hot sauces. Other attractions which we enjoyed included Salsa dancing, a Mexican band and the Children’s Chilli Trail which took them all over the grounds.

NEW FOR 2009 – A LIVING WILLOW LABYRINTH (HUNT FOR THE HARE)

Created from willow cuttings grown at Newton Rigg, near Penrith, the Labyrinth has been created by Chris Crowder & his team of gardeners during the winter months. The Labyrinth will grow during the summer months to form a green hedge and a maze will provide paths for children and adults to explore as they hunt for the elusive hare in its centre.

Historic Gardens Play Area
A new children’s play area has been established in the historic topiary garden with challenging climbing and slides for children under-12s and picnic tables for families.

The House has lots to keep children engaged. There are cabinets full of unusual things, old costumes, swords and the Bleeding Chair … you’ll have to visit to find out what that is! But perhaps the biggest draw is the many ‘Spooky Spirits’ who supposedly live there. They include ‘The Grey & Pink Ladies’, ‘The Phantom Black Dog’ and ‘The Traffic Ghost’…

The Chilli Fest happens annually in August and Levens Hall is open from Spring until October each year. Nearby are the varied many attractions of the Lake District. For more details www.golakes.co.uk

Filed Under: UK Tagged With: castle, Fun for Kids, history, Zoe Dawes

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Ireland’s Historic Science Centre at Birr Castle in Ireland

Visiting The Dinosaur Museum in Atlanta

Fort Worth’s Wonderful, Walk-able, Cultural District

The Fort Worth Cultural District