Holiday Trains

We had a full day last Friday hitting a train show by day and a light show at night (a post on that coming soon)!  We were in the Philadelphia area for Thanksgiving and took advantage of some of the holiday-themed events going on.  

Our first stop was the Brandywine Museum, a beautiful small museum in a former gristmill featuring many works by the Wyeth family, some of whom still live nearby.  

The museum features a nice train show every year but one of the highlights for me is checking out the trees decorated with "critters" made by museum volunteers out of natural objects such as pine cones, seed pods and sticks.  

Each of the trees has a theme and the kids loved figuring out what the ornaments represented.  On the sports-themed tree, an equestrian:

and a football player:

Pinocchio, on the fairy tale themed tree:

and on the all bears tree:

The critters are offered for sale (check the website for details) and make a sweet addition to any Christmas tree.

The train show is relatively small but there is lots of detail to take in.  There is a winter carnival in full swing, a drive-in showing Polar Express and a train with an actual steam engine.  Be sure to look out for Santa and his sleigh flying over all the action!

Something else to check out is a special exhibit going on through January 4th entitled "Enchanted Castles and Noble Knights," featuring several illustrations by N.C. Wyeth and other artists for books such as The Boy's King Arthur.  The exhibit also includes an amazing medieval castle constructed in 1927 by Nathaniel Wyeth and painted by N.C. Wyeth as a Christmas gift for Nathaniel's younger brother, Andrew.

Don't miss the huge dollhouse (on Ava's Christmas list) and the handmade Noah's Ark once you leave the exhibit.  

Not surprisingly the museum has a very nicely curated gift shop with a great kids section.  Lots of books and art supplies are available as well a few toys and stuffed animals.  There is a cafe which had a good selection of soups and sandwiches and has a lovely view of the Brandywine River.  Also, there is a Christmas market going on outside with local artisans selling their wares.

If you are planning a trip to the museum be sure and check out it's website for events as there are a lot of great things on offer for families throughout the month of December and beyond.

Winterthur Museum and Gardens

All this week I am posting ideas for things to do over the long holiday weekend.  Winterthur is a great day out as it gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs and get some fresh air after a day around the Thanksgiving table!

We have been taking the kids to Winterthur for years.  Located in Wilmington, Delaware (about an hour's drive from downtown Philadelphia), it was the country  home of Henry Francis du Pont and is now a public museum and garden.  The museum houses one of the largest collections of American decorative arts but unfortunately I haven't seen much of it.  When we go, it is all about the gardens, specifically the Enchanted Woods.  This place is like a magical fairy land sprung to life.  

There is the bridge with the troll hiding underneath:

A bird's nest complete with eggs:

Harvey, an enchanted frog sitting on a rock by a watering hole:

A tree house made out of a tulip-poplar:

And everyone's favorite, the Forbidden Fairy Ring:

This list isn't exhaustive and there is lots more here to discover.  It appeals to boys and girls, although Ava seemed to be a little more into the fairy lore than Jack was.  If you have a fairy lover in the family, be sure to print out the letter from the Enchanted Wood faeries and the Tale of the Enchanted Woods on the Winterthur website.  

After you have thoroughly explored the Woods, there is still plenty of things to see in the gardens.  The reflecting pool always has a frog or two:

Inside the museum there are many kid-friendly options including a touch-it room, a preschool pack to use as you visit the galleries, and guided tours (there is a seasonal Yuletide tour for the holidays).

Also on special exhibit through January 4th are some of the costumes of Downton Abbey.  We toured this during our last visit and everyone (kids and adults) enjoyed it.  The costumes (including Edith's wedding dress and the dress Mary was wearing when Matthew proposed) are so beautiful and if you are a fan of the show this is a definite must see.  

If you are looking for a bite to eat, there are two nice options.  The Cottage Cafe is more casual and offers salads, soups, and sandwiches as well as lighter snacks, smoothies and coffee.  The museum shop is nicely stocked and we always spend a little time browsing before we head home.  Last time I picked up some local honey from the estate's beehives!  

Christmas Day Trip - NYC

This week I will be posting some ideas on what to do over the long holiday weekend once all the turkey has been eaten and the football games are over.  First up is a day trip to Manhattan to kick off the Christmas celebrations.

New York is a fabulous place to get in the holiday spirit and there is so much going on at this time of year that it is hard to choose what to do.  We always try to make it a mix of old and new, keeping some traditions and trying out some new things each year.  Last year we were in the city the day after Thanksgiving and while all of the decorations weren't up, there was enough to make us feel properly festive.  

We started at Grand Central and took in the constellations on the ceiling of the main hall and then headed to the small outpost of the New York Transit Museum to see their annual holiday train show.  This is on a relatively small scale but it is big enough and has so many small details that it will keep the kids fascinated for quite awhile.  In the meantime you can browse the store's nice collection of goods and pick up something for the train lovers in your life.  

There is also a large indoor holiday market with 70+ vendors selling an eclectic selection of items such as soaps, art, handbags, and toys.  If you haven't eaten breakfast or just need a little pick-me-up, visit Magnolia Bakery on the lower level dining concourse or Joe the Art of Coffee in the Graybar passage.  

From here we headed south for our meeting with Santa in Union Square, stopping to make a quick detour to see the holiday windows at Macy's.  

For the last several years we have visited Santa at ABC Carpet and Home in Union Square.  Over the years the crowds have grown but the experience has stayed the same.  This is not your Macy's Santa.  The line is made up of mostly local families and the wait is usually no longer than 20-25 minutes.  There is no fee, you snap a picture with your own camera, and each child is presented with a small gift after telling Santa what he or she would like for Christmas.  We love the low-key vibe and the kids are convinced that this is the real Santa!

One of our earlier visits and...

Last year's visit

If you haven't visited ABC before, prepare to fall in love with everything you see and to keep a firm hand on whatever child(ren) you have with you!  This is a great place to look for a special gift for someone on your list or simply a little something for yourself.  Their holiday decorations change every year and I always find a new ornament to add to our tree.  Be sure to check out their holiday windows on the way out.

If you and the kids still feel like browsing, the Union Square Holiday Market is one of the best holiday markets in the city.  There is something for everyone here and our kids love exploring the stalls and their wares such as handmade puppets, puzzles and treats to eat.  You could easily find enough food choices here to have lunch while you stroll or for a picnic in the park.  Also in the park is a nice playground if the kids need a chance to burn off a little energy.

Photo via Urban Space NYC

There are lots of options for a sit-down lunch in the area but one of our favorites is Chop't located on E. 17th Street.  Chop't has a selection of salads and sandwiches made to order or you can create your own.  Alan and I usually have a salad while Jack and Ava enjoy the wraps.  This is a quick and easy meal and a nice chance to get some greens into the kids between the cookies and hot chocolate.

After a quick stop for the aforementioned hot chocolate, we were ready to call it a day and head home.  If your group is still up for more, you could take in a movie at the nearby movie theater or head back uptown and see the holiday windows at Lord & Taylor, Barney's and Bendel's.  Along the way take a peek at the tree at Rockefeller Center (it will be up and decorated but not lit) and the ice skaters and then stop in at the Food Hall at the Plaza and grab a bite.

Ideas for a Holiday Getaway

If you are hoping to go away over the holidays but haven't decided where yet, here are some last minute ideas.

Beach: 

We stayed at Jake's years ago before we had kids and it was fantastic.  Located on the southwest coast of Jamaica about 2 hours drive from Montego Bay Airport, it is miles away from the typical Jamaican vacation at an all-inclusive resort.  I've read in recent years how kid-friendly it has become and we are dying to go back with Jack and Ava. They offer cottages and villas perfect for a family, two on-site restaurants, a spa and yoga classes.  I see they also offer nanny services with 24-hour advance notice.

Besides the saltwater pool, you can take many excursions.  We hired a local fisherman to take us through the nearby Black River, home to saltwater crocodiles!  We also took a trip to YS Falls  with a stop for lunch at a local spot along the way.

Photo via Jake's

This was our room when we stayed at Jake's which is perfect if you are looking for a cozy couples getaway.

Photo via Jake's

City:

Chicago is a great choice for families anytime of the year.  There are plenty of museums to keep the kids happy (and warm) such as the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry just to name a few.  Alan and Jack visited Chicago last December and Jack came home raving about how great the Museum of Science and Industry was.

 In addition, the city has fantastic restaurant choices to suit both grown-up and children's palates.  For great Chicago style pizza, check out Pizzeria Due.  One of the original two restaurants of the Pizzeria Uno chain, either arrive early or be prepared to wait for their delicious deep-dish pies.  

To get in the holiday spirit the city has lots to offer.  The Magnificent Mile has plenty of holiday lights and store windows to take in and the Christlkindlmarket is a huge outdoor German-American Christmas market with beer and sausages to munch on as you shop.  There is a large Christmas tree on display and the Winter WonderFest at the Navy Pier features an ice skating rink and amusement park.

Image via Travel and Leisure

If you want to stay in an apartment (which would be my choice), this one looks great and has availability over the Christmas break.  For a hotel, the Hotel Monaco Chicago is a good option.  The Hotel Monaco is part of the Kimpton chain of hotels and we stayed in one of their hotels in Virginia and found them to be incredibly kid-friendly.  They have a KimptonKids program that includes having a goldfish delivered to your room to keep the kids company during your stay, a kids happy-hour complete with cookies, candies and lemonade and animal-print kids' bathrobes.  

Snow:

We haven't taken the kids on a skiing vacation yet (mostly because I don't ski) but Durango, Colorado will be my choice when we do finally decide to book that trip.  There is plenty to do when you are not on the slopes, such as exploring Pueblo dwellings in nearby Mesa Verde National Park or taking a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad.  

The Blue Lake Ranch looks like a great place to stay with a family in tow, as it has many suites available that sleep 4 or more persons and many units come with a kitchenette and whirlpool tubs.  The inn  has cross-country skiing trails on the property as well as a lake for ice skating and downhill skiing is only a short drive away.  

Wanderlust Friday

Photo via CN Traveler

Koehohe Beach, New Zealand