Travel – Page 2 of 14

Golden Spike

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

August 5, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

When we first arrived in Utah, we traveled to the Golden Spike national park for a re-enactment.

It was hot and dry and out in the middle of nowhere.

The kids were young, but we’ve shown them the pictures each history cycle since to refresh their memories as we learn about American history.

And then there’s an interesting story.

Golden Spike National Historic Site is open year round and receives nearly 60,000 visitors a year. Visitors come to explore the site and connect with one of the most transformational moments in our nation’s history. The most popular attractions include stepping out to the site where history was made, viewing the site’s replica steam locomotives, participating in historic re-enactments of the famous “Last Spike” ceremony and exploring the nearly 150 year-old railroad grade on the auto tours and hiking trail.

Learn more.

Hours and Re-enactments.

150th anniversary events on May 10, 2019.

The girls got their Junior Ranger badges. It’s a great way to get kids interested in history and learning.

We like hands-on history.

Pin2

2 Shares

You might also like:

Johnston Farm and Indian Agency

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

July 30, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

One of our favorite field trips this year was Johnston Farm. We enjoyed the museum and canal boat ride.

Johnston Farm Museum

Exhibits trace the story of the Eastern Woodland Indians of Ohio and the Pickawillany village site.

We loved learning about the Native Americans of the area.

The exhibits were very respectful of and educational about how Europeans exploited the Natives.

There were several sections about Indian stereotypes throughout history and how we still exploit them today in sports and advertising. It’s so infuriating.

We learned all about Ohio canals. Then we got to ride in one!

General Harrison Canal Boat

A replica 70-foot-long canal boat used for transportation of passengers and cargo in the 19th century.

Adena Indian Mound and Earthwork

Other Sites

Farmhouse – 1815
Double Pen Barn – 1808
Springhouse – 1815
Cider House – 1828

Visit Johnston Farm and Indian Agency.

Hours of Operation

April, May and September, October: 9 AM to 2 PM — Monday – Friday
June, July, and August: 10 AM to 5 PM — Thursday and Friday
and Noon to 5 PM — Saturday and Sunday
Closed Holidays and November through March

Pin3

3 Shares

You might also like:

Serpent Mound Historical Site

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

July 22, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The Great Serpent Mound is a 1,348-foot-long, three-foot-high prehistoric effigy mound on a plateau of the Serpent Mound crater along Ohio Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio.

Researchers have at different times attributed construction of the mound to two different prehistoric indigenous cultures. Originally thought to be Adena in origin, scholars now believe the mound was built by members of the Fort Ancient culture around 1070 CE. More recent research places the mound’s construction at around 300 BCE, once again suggesting Adena construction. Serpent Mound is the largest serpent effigy in the world.

There’s a great little museum about the Indigenous culture and Mound artifacts and history.

View from observation tower of the serpent coils:

There’s a lovely little woods path near the river and then we found the end of the serpent’s tail:

There are several burial mounds nearby:

There are Homeschool Days throughout the year.

Visit the Serpent Mound.

Hours

Serpent Mound is open daily, year round, from 9:00 am to dusk.
Winter Warning: Park roads are not plowed. During snowy or icy conditions, the park is open to pedestrian traffic only and parking fee is waived.

Museum Hours

Jan-Feb: Closed
March: Open weekends only 10am-4pm
April: Open daily 10am-4pm
May-Oct: Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm; Fri-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 9am-5pm
Nov- the weekend before Christmas: Open weekends only 10-4pm

Parking Fees

$8/Vehicle
$4/Motorcycle
$15 Annual Parking Pass
Fees waived for Arc of Appalachia Members & Ohio History Connection Members

Pin5

5 Shares

You might also like:

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

July 15, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is a great field trip!

We sang Barbara Manatee:

Lioness does the blep:

We were all so tickled watching the baby rhino romp and frolic.

I bet the poor polar bear was awful hot.

I wonder what she’s thinking about?

The viewing area for Baby Fiona was madness, but I snapped a photo!

Visit the Cincinnati Zoo.

Price Ranges

Adults: $15-22 Child: $9-16 Senior: $9-16

Buy tickets online before you go.

Parking is $10.00 and is purchased at the Zoo.

Military discount for all military personnel and their families. This discount is for $3 off adults and $2 off children. Military ID is required to receive discount and may only be obtained at the Cincinnati Zoo ticketing windows and is NOT available online.

Hours

The Zoo is open January 1st – December 31st at 10am. The Zoo is closed on December 25 only.

January 2 – March 8: 10am-5pm
March 9 – May 24: 10am-5pm
May 25 – September 2: 10am-6pm
September 3 – October 31: 10am-5pm
November 1 – November 15: 10am-5pm
November 16 – January 4: PNC Festival of Lights – 10am-9pm (Sundays-Thursdays)/ 10am-10pm (Fridays-Saturdays)

Pin3

3 Shares

You might also like:

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

July 8, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We went to Columbus zoo for their FREE military day over the July 4th holiday weekend.

We arrived at 9 AM opening and went straight for the aquarium and Australia part in the back, took an ice cream break, then worked our way around the front part – North America, Africa, and Asia. We finished by about 2 PM.

We loved the manatee rehabilitation center!

Three kookaburras were in the aviary.

We were able to walk through the kangaroo habitat. We were *this close* to the roos!

We were tickled to see the gibbon baby!

Their fur ranges from white to black and everything in between.

This gorgeous Komodo dragon posed for me!

We were very, very hot by this point. As were the lionesses, apparently.

We really, really love bats.

Red pandas are in fact Pokémon.

We had a great time at the zoo!

Visit Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Summer hours 9-7.

$10 car parking fee.

Adults $21.99 Children 3-9 $16.99 Seniors $16.99 Under 3 FREE

Active and Non-active duty military personnel receive a $2 discount on up to 6 tickets when they show a valid military ID.

Pin3

3 Shares

You might also like:

Newport Aquarium

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

July 8, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We visited Newport Aquarium in July 2018. It’s technically in Kentucky, right over the river.

Read about about the white alligators at Newport Aquarium.

We loved the Ray Tunnel.

We were amazed and fascinated by shark egg cases and baby sharks!

Jellyfish are so beautiful and peaceful.

This is why we came!

The Shark Tank Overlook!

Shark Bridge is the one of the only suspension bridges in North America where guests can walk just inches above over a dozen sharks. This V-shaped rope bridge is 75-feet long and is suspended over the open water of the 385,000 gallon Surrounded by Sharks exhibit. The Shark Bridge experience is included with admission or annual pass.

Visit Newport Aquarium.

There are usually lots of deals and coupons, so be sure to check online before you go! Hours are generally 9-7.

ADULTS – AGES 13+	CHILD – AGES 2-12
^$25⁹⁹	^$17⁹⁹

Pin3

3 Shares

You might also like:

Day Trip to Cologne

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

February 11, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

We had long wanted to visit Köln or Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany.

We were counting down to our move back to the States and had to make it a day trip. We had to get a special emissions test and sticker to travel into the city.

We parked and walked around the Cathedral.

Our first stop was Früh.

Even though 90% of the city was destroyed during WWII, the brewery was spared.

While we didn’t partake in traditional Halve Hahn, we did have a lovely meal of fish, cold beef, potatoes, veggies, and salad.

After lunch, we toured the Cathedral.

One of my favorite carols is I Saw Three Ships.

The lyrics mention the ships sailing into Bethlehem, but the nearest body of water is the Dead Sea about 20 miles (32 km) away. The reference to three ships is thought to originate in the three ships that bore the purported relics of the Biblical magi to Cologne Cathedral in the 12th century. Another possible reference is to Wenceslaus II, King of Bohemia, who bore a coat of arms “Azure three galleys argent”. Another suggestion is that the ships are actually the camels used by the Magi, as camels are frequently referred to as “ships of the desert”.

St. Agilulfus altar and shrine:

The Shrine of the Three Kings is the largest reliquary in the world.

We watched a chalk artist and some musicians in the courtyard.

It was a very warm day and we dipped our toes in a fountain!

We had some lovely ice cream before heading home.

More Things to Do and See in Cologne:

Fragrance Museum
Chocolate Museum
Cologne Zoo
Boat Trip on the Rhine
Hänneschen Theatre
Köln Triangle Panorama
Olympic Museum
Kolner Seilbahn Cable Car
Groß St. Martin
St. Maria Im Kapitol
Ludwig Museum
Romano-Germanic Museum
Wallraf-Richartz Museum
Museum Für Angewandte Kunst Köln
Kolumba Museum
Schnütgen Museum
Belgian Quarter
Cologne’s Old Town
St Gereon’s Basilica
Botanical Garden
Hohenzollern Bridge with Love Locks
National Socialism Documentation Center
Rheinauhafen District
FC Köln
Gamescom
Christmas Market Cologne

We had a great time in Cologne!

Pin16

16 Shares

You might also like:

Fort Ancient Archaeology Park

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

February 11, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Fort Ancient Archaeology Park offers exploration and learning both indoors and out. Visitors will enjoy watching an introductory film in the indoor theater, viewing artifacts and learning about the history of the Village and its inhabitants in the Interpretive Center, and immersing themselves in the 800-year-old lifestyle by visiting the reconstructed structures, located in their original, exact locations.

The indoor museum teaches about Ohio native peoples and how European white people came for trade and decimated the native populations. It’s very accurate.

There are lots of artifacts that are family-friendly like clothing, musical instruments, and toys.

Native houses and a garden are in the courtyard.

We attended a special event last year to learn about native food.

Our Boonshoft membership is reciprocal.

Guides taught us about native foods – growing, preparing, and preserving.

We tasted some stew with hominy and bear meat.

Native foods and preserving

There are lovely hiking trails along the river.

There are events all year round for families to learn about the area and the native peoples who inhabited this area.

We’re excited for summer field camp!

Fort Ancient Archaeology Park Hours and Admission

April–November
Tuesday-Saturday
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon-5:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays

December–March
Saturday
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday: noon-5:00 p.m.
*Closed Monday-Friday, except by appointment

Closed: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter

Adults $7.00
Seniors (60+) 6.00
Students (6-17) $6.00
Members are always FREE!

Pin2

2 Shares

You might also like:

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure. Please see my suggested resources.

December 9, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Our favorite event every month is the Boonshoft Homeschool Day.

It’s the first Thursday of the month from September through May.

I purchase a membership each year since we all attend the homeschool days each month and it pays for itself in two sessions.

My middle girls attended invitation only Summer Field Camp and loved it.

There are homeschool science activities all day long. The earlier activities are geared for younger kids.

We like to show up for the 1:30 Do Lab activity.

They usually have stations set up at lab tables around the theme of the day. My kids like to learn together.

Safety first!

We’ve learned about ponds.

They have great equipment we don’t otherwise have access to, like microscopes.

The kids have learned about coding and robotics.

We’ve learned about African American inventors and their inventions.

We’ve learned about Native American history and archaeology.

We like chemistry and physics.

Testing water salinity from the pond.

We all shocked pennies and watched them change color.

Biology is not a favorite.

Bone density day was ok.

We dissected eyeballs and a heart for the last homeschool day last year!

After the 1:30 Do Lab, there are often animal meet and greets at 2:15 and science theatre at 3:30.

Boonshoft offers a small zoo, StarLab, hands-on science exhibits, special exhibits, NOVA weather station, archaeology exhibits, space exhibits, a children’s museum with a fun playground, treehouse birdwatching, pond and walking paths through the woods. There are fun special events throughout the year.