Vacation.
This coming weekend starts a long overdue family vacation through northern Ohio visiting several Children’s Museums and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, before slicing down through the mountains of the Virginias and Carolinas, taking in some scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway of the Appalachians for a few days and eventually heading out via Nashville and my old stomping grounds of Southern Illinois and the Shawnee.
Overnights are preliminarily planned at Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Charleston, two nights in the Appalachians, and finally Nashville.
Our plans are loosely formulated, so I’m open to any suggestions of sights to see or things to do with four kids in tow.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
As an official Pittsburgh native, I’ll point you towards the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in the Burgh. One of the greatest dinosaur collections around if that tweaks the kid’s interest. Also, depending on time available there, a ride up Mt. Washington on the Incline(d Railroad) is pretty cool and it takes you up to an unparalleled view of the city, from the southwest looking back at the Point and the Three Rivers.
Have fun. Or as much fun as one can have after a few days with four kids in tow.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Ah the Griswold station wagon…. I spent Saturday with the Griswolds. Really!… and yes the ‘dad’ really is named Clark. Dbl yes, they were big on station wagons back in the day as well.
Smokey Mtns? There is a ‘lodge’ on top of one of the taller mountains in the park that we wanted to go to. You have to hike up the mountain to check in.
http://www.lecontelodge.com/
July 7th, 2008 at 8:14 am
In Ohio, you can visit the home of the Wright Brothers. (Not actually in North Caroline.) Also, the site of the first lift off and where they initially built their planes. (Also, not actually North Caroline.)
If you’re checking out Children’s Museums, I grew up going to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, so I’d recommend that one.
And, if you’re making your way into Penn, you can tour the Frank Lloyd Wright home ‘Falling Water’. I did this last fall and it is a pretty cool place.
If you’re making your way into Columbus, Ohio. The world’s largest independently owned bookstore is located in the old German part of the city. Plus, you can get some pretty good German food in that area of town.
Just a few suggestions.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Best suggestion:
Avoid Toledo like the plague that it is.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Had a bad experience there, Anon?
July 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
If going through Ohio, maybe you’ll get to see the Big Butter Jesus?
July 7th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9786
Interesting to be sure, and but I think I’ll take a pass on this roadside phenomena.
July 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
If you are sliding through northern Ohio, the kids will likely love a day at Cedar Point. It is truly a family amusement park. It is clean, well-run, and has the best selection of roller coasters in the U.S.A. You might want to stay on the grounds. It is more expensive, but is so convenient to be able to walk back to your room(s) if someone needs a break. Cedar Point is easy to get to from I-80 (Ohio Turnpike). See CedarPoint.com.
A trip to Put-In-Bay on South Bass Island in Lake Erie by the Jet Express ferry out of Port Clinton is a fun day also. You can rent a golf cart for six, then toodle around the island to various attractions including Perry’s Victory monument (there, you got something educational in), as well as swim at Stone Beach at the Lake Erie Islands State Park. Parasailing is available for ages 3 and up. Great vacation memories
The more mellow Kelley’s Island is also a nice stop. The Village Pump on Kelley’s Island has delicious Lake Perch.
In Pittsburgh, the Kennywood Amusement park is also a nice family stop.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Hershey Park in Hershey PA?