• Travel & Vacation: Boston Museum of Science

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    Our visit to the Boston Museum of Science

    Another fascinating place to visit with kids is the Boston Museum of Science!  The girls LOVED the Boston Museum of Science.  We spent the first two hours in one room they enjoyed it so much.  They probably could have spent an entire day going through everything.  We covered the majority of the museum in several hours, but they would have been happy to stay longer if we had the time.

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    We went to the Lightening Show!  It was awesome!  If you look closely there is a lady in the giant “bird cage” which was struck by a large bolt of lightning.

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    Anything with animals is a hit with our girls

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    Mesmerized by the tornado display.

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    Karlie showing her electricity capicity.

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    The computer, electronics, and robotics room was a huge hit with the kids.  In this picture they are putting together pieces to build robotic components that make noise, light up, turn on fans, and more!

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    Really Mom, it wasn’t me making that beeping noise!!!

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    Watching to see what robotics challenge is being giving.  This was really neat!  One of the workers kept giving them harder tasks to accomplish!

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    Working together to get the robotic to get through the course.  They both finished their missions and earned their certificates.

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    Jake teaching Brina some computer coding skills!

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    One huge dinosaur!

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    Silly mirrors!

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    The musical steps were neat!  I think the girls did several sets of stairs just so they could create music!

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    Yes, she is holding a skunk in her arms only a few feet from us!

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    Playing for a few minutes on the seesaw!

    It was a blast exploring the Boston Museum of Science.  The girls loved it!  The only sad part is we had to go because the Museum was closing and we had to get moving on to our next stop.  We stopped outside of Boston at a Ninety-Nine restaurant!  Instead of serving bread before the meal they brought out fresh popcorn.  The kids meals included an ice cream sandwich.  It was nice to sit, relax, and talk about our fun adventures for the day.  The food was delicious too!

  • Travel & Vacation: Learning About Old Ironsides & the USS Constitution Museum

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    Our family inside Old Ironsides next to the cannons!

    We split up the Old Ironsides tour and the USS Constitution Museum into two days which actually worked out really well for our family.  If you are planning on visiting Old Ironsides make sure you are carrying your driver’s license otherwise you will not be able to get into see it.  We left my driver’s license at the hotel since I wasn’t carrying my wallet and we would be riding on the subway and trolley.  Oh well!  It let us spread the adventure out a little bit more.

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    Visiting the U.S.S. Constitution (aka Old Ironsides)

    The first day we explored the USS Constitution Museum.  Both girls really enjoyed the museum, history, and all the cool activities.  They did a great job making fun and interactive displays for the kids at this museum.  It was not huge, but we still spent at least a couple hours doing everything (some activities the girls did multiple times).  I highly recommend going to this Museum if you visiting Old Ironsides, it’s right across the street.  The kids will enjoy it (especially the second floor)!   The second day we explored Old Ironsides the ship!

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    Brina put together her ship!

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    They both managed to build their ships using the diagram.

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    Huge model of Old Ironsides

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    Our little sailor girl.

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    This was a lot harder than it looked.  They had to stand on a tight rope, pull up the sails, and tie them up without falling off.  Took a little coordination, but they both had a blast pulling up the sails!

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    Yikes!  The boats rocking the hammock a little too fast for Karlie!

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    Brina lounging in the hammock!

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    We were up early and ready to go the next day.  The girls enjoyed riding on the T in Boston.  Brina was very worried that I was too close to the subway or that I would get left behind if I didn’t hurry when it stopped.

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    Went from riding the MBTA (Boston’s subway) to riding the Boston’s Old Town Trolley!  Jake and Brina sitting across the aisle from us!

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    Karlie loving her time exploring Boston!

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    Ready to go abroad the U.S.S. Constitution otherwise known as Old Ironsides!  I am glad we visited Old Ironsides because we just recently found out that they are pulling it out of the harbor for the next 3 years to do restoration work on it.

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    We got there just as it opened so it was less crowded and cooler!  Old Ironsides is still an active ship.  Every year on July 4th they take the ship 1 mile out and bring it back into harbor.  We were there a couple days before July 4th so they were preparing for their big annual one mile trip out to sea!

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    Checking out the cannons on Old Ironsides!

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    Karlie climbing down the steep steps!

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    We stopped to talk with one of the sailors for a few minutes.

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    Demonstrating one of their fighting drills after showing us how to load the cannons!

    Exploring Boston, MA - Old Ironsides and Boston Museum of Science

    She’s thinking about something….I sense a question about to come!

  • Travel & Vacation: Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History

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    Standing at the banister looking down on the elephant and floors below.

    The girls were thrilled to go to the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.  Brina especially loves anything associated to animals.  Since we did the Smithsonian Institution of National Air and Space Museum yesterday we thought this will be a great next adventure.  Thankful for some fun times together!

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     Touring the National Museum of Natural History

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    OOOOOOOUCH Karlie!  This one has a lot of teeth!

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    Brina and Jake checking out the armadillo shell!

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    Doing their names with stamp calligraphy

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     Having fun exploring with my Brina Bee

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    Brina reading the sign and soaking it all in

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    Learning more about animals

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    Wow!  Some cool looking animals!

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    One big giraffe

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    Checking out the fun displays

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    They had a huge elephant in the middle foyer of the building.

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    Touching a piece of rock from Mars…..fascinating!

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    Karlie thought this rock was so cool

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    Whoa….look at those rocks!

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    The Hope Diamond is a 45.52-carat dark blue diamond.  It has traveled from India to France to Britain and now the United States.  The Hope Diamond is also described as the “most famous diamond in the world.”

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    It looks like the elephant is coming toward them!

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    Super excited to visit the Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of Natural History

  • The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

    Heading to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

    While we were in Charleston over Spring Break we made a trip to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.  We haven’t been there before so the girls were very excited.  We headed out first thing Wednesday morning to downtown Charleston so we could be there when it opened to go exploring. The girls had a blast playing in all the rooms from being creative in the art room to checking out all the nooks and crannies in the castle, splashing around in the water wise room, experimenting with golf balls using Newton’s Laws, steering the pirate ship, shopping for groceries, and all the neat games outside too.

    We had only been there for a little while and McCown Bridges came to welcome us as well as let us know about the upcoming events.   If you are in the Charleston area and want a fun place to take the kids you should check out the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry!  Here are some of the highlights of our trip to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

    Karlie having fun exploring the castle room!

    Brina and Karlie having fun

    Brina and Karlie at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

    What things happen in Spring?

    Walking the plank

    Brina steering the pirate ship

    Our little Karlie pirate!

    One of Karlie’s paintings. Both girls loved hanging out and doing several crafts & paintings in the art room

    Brina really liked the art room and the colored rice

  • Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry (Two for One Admission Coupon)

    Our family loves Charleston, South Carolina and we especially enjoy all the amazing family activities in the area.  Whether you live in the Charleston area or love to visit it one neat place explore with the kids is the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

    Nine interactive exhibits, including a two-story Medieval Castle, a pirate ship and a dedicated Art Room, allow your children to explore the arts, sciences and humanities through their own hands-on experiences. Weekly classes expose children to the arts, movement and foreign languages. 

    Regular admission: $10 per person over 12 months old, $8 for SC Residents, free for children under 12 months old.   The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and US Family Guide are giving my Readers Receive Two For One Admission to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry with this exclusive coupon!

    A special thanks to U.S. Family Guide and Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry for offering a special discount to my readers.  Any specific product information was provided by Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and U.S. Family Guide, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own.