Interactive aquarium programming for children makes the Monterey Bay Aquarium a cut above the rest.
A trip to California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium (886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940; 831/648-4800) turned out to be an unexpected adventure for our 9-year-old daughter, Anna. On arrival, we discovered that the aquarium offered more than just tanks and fish. The Aquarium Adventures programs provide marine lovers young and old with an array of unique experiences (at an additional cost).
The options include Sailing Adventures: Day Sails (ages 10+), which invites guests to ride along on the Derek M. Baylis, a 65-foot ocean research sailboat. Help the marine naturalists gather plankton and test water samples, and stay on the lookout for whales, dolphins, and sea otters. Morning Rounds (ages 8+) is another great adventure, where you can help the staff prepare food and feed animals. Learn the history of this interesting town on a 1.5 mile Cannery Row Walking Tour. This tour provides the historical background of the town, ending with a stop at the Maritime and History Museum of Monterey, near Fisherman’s Wharf.
But what caught Anna’s interest was the Underwater Explorers for ages 8-13. Since our trip was in celebration of her upcoming birthday, we couldn’t resist. The price was $59/child for members while non-members pay $79/child.
Underwater Explorers gives children the opportunity to surface scuba dive and interact with the sea life in the aquarium’s Great Tide Pool. From start to finish, we found the program to be safe, well organized and professionally run. Children and parents are first shown an introductory slide presentation as a preview to what the children will see and do. Then the children are broken into small groups of no more than 12, with 4 instructors.
They are led outside to get more details about the dive and get fitted for their diving equipment (dry suits, masks and regulators). In full gear and with a tank affixed to their back, they make their way into the aquarium’s tidal pool and are taught how to flip over from one side to the other. This way they will be able to enjoy both the underwater life as well as listen to their dive instructor’s descriptions and stories.
Once everyone is comfortable with their equipment and surroundings, the groups take turns exploring various parts of the pool. Their guides dive down and bring up lots of different creatures to explore. Anna’s group came face to face with crabs, algae, sea stars and even a monkey-faced eel. The groups spent over an hour in the water. At the end of the dive, the children were given a logbook to write about what they experienced as well as the details of their day, much like a certified diver would complete after a dive.
Overall, Anna truly enjoyed the marine interaction. “The water was freezing, but it was still really cool,” Anna described after her adventure. “To get up close and personal with the marine life was really fun.” The program is available four times daily from June-September.
For families with younger children, the Behind the Scenes Tour offers an exclusive look at the beautiful exhibits, interaction with the staff, dive shows, and feedings. This 50-minute tour is open to ages 6+.
Our overall experience at the aquarium was extremely positive. The aquarium has an abundance of exhibits, tanks and hands-on activities as well as special programming to make your day both educational and fun.
To save time in line on busy travel weeks, tickets can be purchased at the Monterey Bay Aquarium online in advance, or families may opt for a yearly membership that provides unlimited free admission for a year, express entry, special evening hours, bookstore discounts and more. Membership rates range from $90-$250.
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Are you ready for a Road Trip? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.!
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I love spending time in London. I think if you want to spend time out of the city, Brighton is also a great place to visit, especially as it’s close by. There are a number of family-friendly hotels, too, like The Brighton Hotel:
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It’s a steam excursion train, shorter ride, probably many kids on board. This would be better suited to younger children. Much better choice for the under-12 set.
Ralph
Originally created as a recreation area for employees of the Hershey Chocolate factory, today Hershey Park boasts plenty of chocolate paraphernalia, as well as roller coasters and a water park. Tickets include admission to the nearby ZOOAMERICA. Originally owned by the Knott’s jam producers, Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park is one of the older parks in the US, Knott’s Berry Farm is a classic for those looking for thrill rides, water rides and family fun.
Hi Ralph, thank you for your reply. I haven’t booked it yet as I had similar reservations that since it’s an 8-hr journey, it will not be wise to take the kids at this age but would love to take them on a shorter train tour, I’m currently looking at the Jacobite express (here in the UK).
Hello Zeb,
For children under 10, It would simply be too long a day in too confined a space for them, might get a little boring for them after the first 20 minutes; it’s an eight-hour journey.
If they are active, there isn’t a lot of room to run around on the train, which is smaller than the ones we are used to here in the U.S.
If you have already booked a space, and will have toddlers or young children, suggest you bring lots of things to keep the little ones entertained.
Ralph
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Have been to Switzerland but missed the Glacier Express, I’ve heard it really one of the best train journeys in the World with amazing mountain/alps view. Is it good to travel with kids 7 and 4 years old) too, since it’s 8 hours long?
Sunlight, particularly in late summer and fall, sets off the production of anthocyanin. Cloudy weather dampens production and leads to less colorful displays. Many scientists argue that warming temperatures do not have much to do with the intensity of color, only with its timing: when it appears and how long it lasts. But Howard Neufeld, a professor of biology at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said climate change could eventually affect the complex processes in leaf senescence and lower anthocyanin production, dulling the autumn reds.
Gladiator School – My new favorite thing to do in Rome. We did this on our last trip to Rome and both kids and adults absolutely loved it. Instructors are great. Highly recommended. Book far in advance. (Pictured above.) Walking Tour: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill – Excellent guided tour of Ancient Rome. Skip the line to enter all three sites. Very kid-friendly.
Deer Valley caters to families with kid-friendly skiing, child care programs and a limited child-to-instructor ratio. Because Deer Valley sells a limited number of daily lift tickets, tiny tots and pint-sized groms have plenty of room to work on their pizza wedge and French fries. Other amenities include a Children s Center, Adventure Camp and furry mascots on the Adventure Trails. I grew up skiing here and learned to love the mountains and snow at this resort. The amenities are top notch and the food is amazing. As a young kid, when the skiing got tough, I would always head inside and get delicious food and hot cocoa. See more Deer Valley reviews here .
Fall is very busy in the mountainous regions with the influx of leaf peepers from the New England area, around the United States and the world. In these extremely popular areas, you ll want to make lodging reservations at least several weeks ahead, especially on weekends. Columbus Day weekend (Oct 7-9, 2017) is another time in which advanced booking is advised throughout the region.
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Traveling to other cities with your kiddos? Don’t miss Curbed’s maps of the best family activities
Good to know : West Valley is open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Apples are $0.85 a pound. Follow their Facebook page for updates on U-pick apples. And be sure to bring containers for their popular juice pressed right on site!
Minneapolis, Minnesota is a great pick for outdoor-loving families thanks to kid-friendly (and free) favorites like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to more than 40 outdoor works of art
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The K Bar S Lodge, built in 2006, is located a short distance from Mount Rushmore. It is quietly secluded on 31 forested acres and away from busy streets. Battle Creek winds its way throughout the property and the large meadow in front of the Lodge is often a playground for deer and turkeys. As a single traveler it was so fun to be with this group. It s much nicer to be with others when you share a great experience or see something wonderful. And, it s safer than traveling alone. I m hooked on Road Scholar.
Rockefeller State Park offers seasonal activities including hiking, running, bird-watching, fishing ( New York state fishing license required), picnicking, horseback-riding, carriage-driving, photography, painting, and geocaching (park permit required). Sleepy Hollow and neighboring Tarrytown have a deep immigrant history resulting in a rich mix of cuisines: Italian, Greek, Mexican, Indian, French, Portuguese, Irish, Japanese, Dominican, Chinese, Ecuadorian, Thai, Moroccan, and Chilean. Foodies should not miss the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow farmers market at Patriots Park where you ll find fresh Hudson Valley produce, meat, bread, and wine.
Speaking of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, don t miss out on seeing the Rockettes show-stopping leg kick precision chorus during the holidays at Radio City Music Hall.
Jimmy Buffet s restaurant is a short walk from the Comfort Suites Paradise Island Hotel and Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. What could be better than eating a literal Cheeseburger in Paradise? Pairing it with a yummy margarita, of course.
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What s more exhilarating than seeing the city from 108 floors above the world-famous Las Vegas Strip? Jumping off it. Strap in and face your fear as you jump off the side of SkyPod at The STRAT.
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own ice sculpture? The Quebec Winter Carnival has just what you’re looking for! Bring your group to our Ice Sculpture Workshops under the guidance of a team led by none other than Marc Lepire, chief sculptor of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace! During this one-hour event, you will learn the workflow of master sculptors and enjoy the unique experience of carving your own solid ice block with your group of 2 to 4 people. Free all-you-can-drink hot chocolate will keep you warm throughout the frosty fun.
When you’re travelling with your kids, indoor-fun options are a must no matter what the season. Montreal saves the day with all kinds of activities, from adventurous physical feats to skill-testing games and educational entertainment.
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We have traveled through several airports in Germany but never Munich. We will keep Munich on our list for the next trip through Europe since it sounds like the best place to have a stop over with kids. Thanks for the review and the information for kids to do in Munich Airport.
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