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Chicago with Kids

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October 14, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 14 Comments

We spent a long weekend in Chicago last April.

The kids have never been to Chicago. Aaron grew up about an hour south of there and Liz and I have been twice with him.

We found an apartment (with a hot tub!) near Guaranteed Rate Field. We were close to the train station, just a few blocks of a walk. There was a huge Mariano’s store, a Kroger affiliate just down the street.

We ate breakfast, then set off to explore each day. We wound down in our hot tub each evening.

Day 1: Chinatown

We drove a couple train stations away to Chinatown and parked near the Nine Dragons Gate. We walked around and bought some tea and looked in windows.

We had the most amazing Mandarin Chinese food I’ve ever eaten at Potsticker House.

Day 2: Cubs Game

We took the train to Wrigley Field.

We got there early to get some cool Cubs gear.

The kids got certificates for their first Cubs game!

The kids watched the warm-up. It was nice in the sun.

It was free blanket day and I am sure glad because it was freezing!

CUBS WIN!

We ate local Chicago pizza for dinner near our apartment at Ricobene’s.

Day 3: Art Institute

We took the train downtown and viewed the street art down to the Art Institute.

I love, love, love the street art in Chicago.

This vermilion steel 50-ton, 53-feet tall flamingo by Alexander Calder:

The Four Seasons mosaic by Marc Chagall is 70 feet long, 14 feet high, 10 feet wide.

The Picasso is 50 feet tall and weighs 162 short tons.

We Will by Richard Hunt is a welded stainless steel sculpture – 35’H x 8’W x 8’D

Bronze Cow Statue – 57 inches high, 92 inches long.

Depicted as reflections in the eyes of the cow are two famous Chicago landmarks, the “Chicago Picasso” sculpture and the Historic Water Tower.

The plaque reads ….
In 1999 a herd of fiberglass cows united citizens, visitors, artists and businesses through a unique community-based public art event. This bronze cow is a gift to all Chicagoans in gratitude for the support of the cows and other art in public places.
A gift to the city of Chicago from the Hanig family and anonymous donors.
November 2001.
Bronze Cow cast at Wagner Foundry, Inc., Chicago, IL.

The Cloud Gate sculpture is nicknamed The Bean because of its shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. It measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet and weighs 110 short tons.

At the Art Institute, the North Lion is “On the Prowl” by Edward Kemeys. The South Lion is “stands in an attitude of defiance.”

We ate a lovely lunch at Terzo Piano.

The Art Institute is open daily 10:30–5:00 and Thursdays until 8:00. Adults $25. Illinois residents on Thursdays, military members, Chicago children under 18, all children under 13 are FREE.

We saw so many favorites we have studied!

Lucent is a shining 13-foot sculpture created by English artist Wolfgang Buttress, with the help of astrophysicist, Dr. Daniel Bayliss, made of 3,115 lights, the number of visible stars in the Northern Hemisphere. It is amplified even more against a mirrored ceiling above and a reflecting pool below. It hangs in the lobby of the John Hancock Building.

We walked down to the American Girl store at Water Tower Place.

We had dinner at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch.

Day 4: Shedd Aquarium

We saw more lovely street art on the way to the Shedd Aquarium.

Reproduced from the original historic Metro entrances of Paris, designed by Hector Guimard:

Bird Boy Mural

Agora is designed by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, on the southwest side of Grant Park, and is made up of 106 9-foot headless and armless torsos fabricated from cast iron.

Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium with permanent saltwater exhibits as well as freshwater habitats. It opened on May 30, 1930.

Regular hours
Weekdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekends: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Extended summer hours (June 15-Aug. 18, 2019)
All days: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the exception of July 27

General admission: Adult $39.95*, child (3-11) $29.95*
Chicago residents: Adult $19.95*, child (3-11) $14.95*

Active-duty U.S. military personnel receive FREE general admission with proper ID.

Blue Star Families Program
Memorial Day through Labor Day, active-duty U.S. military and up to five family members receive free general admission to Shedd. Proper ID is required.

We loved the Belugas, Aquatic Presentation, and all 8 around the world exhibits. We’re so pleased with how much conservation they support.

Shedd is a full day of fun!

We had dinner at Santorini.

We stopped by one last monument before heading home the next morning, the old stockyard gate:

There’s never enough time to see everything, but I think we used our time well and saw so much!

What’s your favorite thing in Chicago?

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Cincinnati Art Museum

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August 27, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

There’s a pretty good selection of various art from around the world and across the ages.

We like the Islamic Art wing.

We visited the Albrecht Dürer exhibit in February 2018.

Dürer made six prints of Jerome, one of the most popular saints of the German Renaissance.

We visited the Terracotta Warriors in August 2018.

I never really expected to view these and we jumped at the chance to go see them. It was almost at the last minute because this was a busy time for us. They only had 5 tickets left that day and we nabbed them!

Also, the Art of Robert McCloskey was another exhibit at this time. It was cute.

Visit Cincinnati Art Museum.

Special Exhibition Ticket Pricing

General public	Seniors
(ages 18 and up) $12	(ages 65+) $6
Children	Children 5
(ages 6-17) $6	and under FREE
College students	Thursday
(with valid ID) $6	5–8 p.m. FREE

General Admission is always FREE!

Parking is FREE in Museum lots.

Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thursdays 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

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National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

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August 26, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

This museum is too big to do all in one day!

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force galleries present military aviation history, boasting more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display in 12+ galleries.

We first went in September 2017.

We returned in August 2018 to see the Memphis Belle.

Tori did space camp this summer and there are lots of family events throughout the year.

For our first visit, we focused on WWI and WWII.

Eighty silver goblets commemorating each man who flew in the Doolittle Raid over Japan in April 1942.

In December 1946, Gen. James “Jimmy” Doolittle and his fellow Raiders gathered to celebrate his birthday, and that event turned into an annual reunion.

At every reunion, the surviving Raiders meet privately to conduct their solemn “Goblet Ceremony.” After toasting the Raiders who died since their last meeting, they turn the deceased men’s goblets upside down. Each goblet has the Raider’s name engraved twice — so that it can be read if the goblet is right side up or upside down. When there are only two Raiders left, these two men will drink one final toast to their departed comrades.

Retired Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” Cole, the last of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, died on April 9, 2018. He was 103.

We viewed the Memphis Belle and everything else on our 2nd visit.

Visit National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Some museum exhibits have special hours.

Admission to the museum is FREE.

There is a charge for the Air Force Museum Theatre and flight simulators.

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National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

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August 19, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

We had an incredible visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I highly recommend it for all.

The 8,000-square-foot exhibit From Slavery to Freedom provides historical context about 300+ years of slavery from the Middle Passage up to the Civil War. Artifacts include the rope from which abolitionist John Brown was hanged to Frederick Douglass’ hat and trousers to first-edition copies of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Three pavilions celebrate courage, cooperation, and perseverance.

This humongous exhibit was very intense, full of lots of reading and historical artifacts.

It was so educational for me, who grew up in the South and had very skewed American history, even from Black teachers.

I love learning along with my children. This is very, very important history and I want the truth. Even if, especially if, it makes me uncomfortable.

In this age of information, there is no excuse to be ignorant.

We were literally exhausted and overwhelmed by the end of this exhibit. It was just so much to process. It was really hard.

Escape! Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad allows children and adults to play a game that gives them the perspective of a fugitive slave.

We’ve read lots of books about this, but seeing where escaped slaves could hide and how they traveled and were cared for was eye-opening.

It made us confront ourselves and the question of what would we have done?

Freedom’s flame continues to light the way, no matter the weather.

Muhammad Ali and first lady Laura Bush jointly lit the eternal flame of freedom when ground was broken for the center in 2002.

Poignant with a gorgeous view of Cincinnati and the Ohio River.

People knew once they crossed that river, they were mostly safe from slavery, but new laws kept cropping up that made it legal for them to be captured back into slavery.

The Hall of Everyday Heroes pays tribute to ordinary people who resist tyranny. Important history everywhere.

Again, what would we do?

What are we doing in the face of tyranny?

The Struggle Today examines the legacy of the Underground Railroad and contemporary freedom movements.

We actually did not do much more than peek inside this one. We were emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted at this point. We will have to gear ourselves up to return.

There are often new exhibits and we could barely process it all.

“Journeys I and II” is an ongoing piece created by artist Aminah Brenda Lynn.

The Slave Pen, the principal artifact at the Freedom Center, is a 21 by 30-foot, two-story log slave pen built in 1830. Originally owned by Captain John Anderson, it is “the only known surviving rural slave jail,” previously used to house slaves prior to their being shipped to auction. The structure was moved from a farm in Mason County, Kentucky, where a tobacco barn had been built around it.

This was especially horrific, with manacles still inside. It smelled evil.

Upwards of 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world, more than at any other time in human history.

Americans still won’t admit what our history did and is doing to our citizens.

Visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Tickets – Buy online.

Adults: $15
Seniors 60+: $13
Children ages 3-12: $10.50
Children under 3: FREE

Hours

Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday-Monday Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Tickets sold until 4:00 p.m.

Outside the museum, is a piece of the Berlin Wall.

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Ohio Caverns

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August 12, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We visited Ohio Caverns in May 2019. We chose the Natural Wonder Tour.

I recommend wearing raincoats and boots. The guides do provide ponchos.

We loved the rock formations and colors from the minerals.

Lots of water down there. There were water lines from past floods.

Visit Ohio Caverns.

Natural Wonder Tour Info

Historic Tour Info

Ohio Caverns is Open All Year. We only close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Hours

Summer Session (May 1 – September 30) : 9 am to 5 pm (Last tour starts at 5 pm)
Winter Session (January 1 – April 30; October 1 – December 31) : 10 am to 4 pm (Last tour starts at 4 pm)

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Golden Spike

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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.

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Johnston Farm and Indian Agency

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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

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Serpent Mound Historical Site

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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

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Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

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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)

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Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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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.