West End Creamery & Mini Golf

We didn’t have room last week to talk about West End Creamery, so we are featuring it this week. We happened upon it when leaving Purgatory Chasm and were delighted with the great find! It’s right down the street from the chasm, which we reviewed last week, and is worth including in a trip to the chasm or to visit by itself. West End is open until 10:00 pm to it’s easy to include in any trip.

West End Creamery is a family run business that offers more than just a cold, tasty treat. It includes an 18-hole miniature golf course, a farmland petting area, and large fields to create your own activities such as Frisbee, running around, or rolling down the hills (which we saw many kids doing).

We’ll start with the important part, the ice cream! While they do not make it on site, it is local to Massachusetts. West End offers close to 50 flavors of hard ice cream along with frozen yogurt, sherbet, and several low/no fat options. Standard vanilla, chocolate, and swirl soft serve is available as well as frappes, iced coffee, fountain drinks, Rickies, and Del’s lemonade. They have a small ice cream on the menu for children 3 and under, and it’s priced right at 95 cents. You can bring your dog, too – “Puppy Licks” is a feature for your canine child.

A large outdoor deck overlooks the West End Creamery property and provides ample outdoor seating to enjoy your ice cream. Go inside for additional seating and a view of the model train that snakes its way around the inside perimeter of the building. Our kid tried his hardest to follow the train all the way around, but we had to stop him from entering the ice cream work area!

Any time we encounter those 18 plots of artificial turf it’s hard to resist, and the West End Creamery mini golf course is fantastic. The course is superbly decorated with traditional farm equipment, gardens, 7 different ponds, 2 waterfalls, and a working 6 foot gristmill. Great, but how does it play? This one is tough with the hills, but doesn’t have too many crazy obstacles, so if you can play the hills right you should do well. Golf costs $7.50 for adults, $6.00 for kids 4-12 and is free for those 3 and under.

A new attraction to the West End Creamery is the Farmyard, which is setup in the barn down the hill from the golf course (following the paw prints on the ground to get there). This barn provides viewing and petting of some small farm animals. This isn’t a full-fledge zoo of course, but kids always love to see animals and it’s a nice add-on when visiting West End.

If the outdoor deck is packed or you just want to get away from the crowd, take a walk down the hill (or roll like the kids do) where there are a few picnic tables and a path to walk along Swans Pond.

Mom Says: Waffle cones are made right in front of you so you know they are fresh. For an extra treat, ask for a warm one; otherwise they are served cooled off to avoid melting the ice cream.

Dad Says: I rarely pass up an opportunity to get ice cream and play mini golf, so I loved this place. The ice cream was great and the service was solid from the local employees.


West End Creamery
481 Purgatory Rd
Whitinsville, MA 01588
www.westendcreamery.com

Posted in Places to Go, Sites | No Comments »

Purgatory Chasm

The weather is not perfect, but we have started to get some good days, and there is no better way to spend a beautiful, dry day than to visit Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, MA. Put on your hiking gear, pack a picnic, and maybe even bring the dog. Definitely bring your camera. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round, and is free to the public.

As you drive down Purgatory Road there are several parking lots, all of them being fairly close to the entrance of the chasm, which is the major attraction. Approximately one-quarter of a mile in length, the trail brings you over and under granite rocks with walls of granite on each side as high as 70 feet. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear to avoid slipping. We went a few days after some of the rain and there were still a few muddy spots, so be prepared to get a little dirty. Blue paint marks the path of the trail as you go along. You do not have to follow it, but it can be helpful if you are looking for an easier way through. Rock climbing is prohibited without a permit.

There are several trails around the chasm through the woods. Maps are available at the entrance to help guide you. There are five main trails, the shortest being .25 miles and the longest being 1 mile; of course, you can (and in some cases, have to) put some of them together. The trails on either side of the chasm are great to take as they offer spectacular views of the rocks below. Five of the rock formations have clever names, such as ‘Fat Man’s Misery’ and ‘Lover’s Leap.’ Look for the signs as you hike along.

The visitor’s center is a small building on the opposite side of the street of the chasm entrance and has some basic information as well as bathrooms. Beyond this building are several areas with picnic tables and grills as well as a very nice playground, which has three main areas: the main structure, a swing set, and a spinning, webbed ride. The playground itself is very new and safe for the kids. The spinning thing is worth talking about a little more. Picture your standard playground carousel and add a webbed netting that creates a cone from the outside of the platform up about 10 feet, so it looks like a big upside down ice cream cone. Kids get inside, hang on the outside, or climb to the top and the adults spin it around. We are not sure who had more fun, the dads running around trying to spin this thing as fast as they could or the kids hanging on as they screamed in pure joy!

The picnic areas are located throughout the park and are perfect for a family outing or a large play date with friends. There are plenty of picnic tables and outdoor grills available to use. You may want to bring some money: an ice cream truck is known to park near the entrance of the chasm.

Mom Says: This was one of my favorite places to go hiking when I was young and I am excited to share that with my husband and son. The best part about the chasm is that the granite rocks keep it cool, so even on a hot, humid day you can stay outside and cool down. Fall is a beautiful time to go to check out the leaves changing color.

Dad Says: This place was jammed packed with adults, kids and dogs and was a great time. I was surprised at how many youngsters were able to navigate their way through the Chasm. You know it’s a good place when you hear “This is awesome” and “Look Dad, I’m sliding like Spiderman” from the kids.

Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
Purgatory Road, Sutton, MA
www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/purg.htm

Posted in Parks, Places to Go | No Comments »

Davis Farmland

We finally drove out to Sterling, MA, to visit Davis Farmland, a children’s discovery farm. Sounds like a simple idea, but the Davis family has taken farm fun to a whole new level by mixing the old in with the new. This place is a MUST-SEE. Be prepared with bathing suits and towels as you will want to get wet! During the summer they are open 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is $16.95 per person (children under 2 are free). Discounts and memberships are available, so check the website.

Let’s start with a little history, which makes the farm very intriguing. Seven generations of the Davis family have run the farm from the beginning. Their mission is to ensure that rare breeds of farm animals live and repopulate for years to come. You may not recognize some of the animals on the farm, but they have posted very detailed signs so you can identify them. Their website boasts that “Davis Farmland is the largest private sanctuary of endangered livestock in North America.” They have even teamed up with San Diego Zoo to preserve DNA of endangered farm animals. Yes, the admission is pricey, but think of it as helping to save some of these animals for your future grandchildren to see!

Upon paying this admission your group is given wristbands for security. Your group must leave together and no one can take your child home. Many venues have similar security measures, but a staffed and locked gate to exit made this a bit more secure than some play places we have been to. In addition to your entry fee, you can purchase cups of feed for the animals for $2.00 each. This is highly recommended by our son. A few short steps past the ticket counter and you are smack in the middle of the action. Watch out! The first animals you see are kittens, and they are up for adoption. We were able to walk away easily, but if you are a sucker for fuzzy paws that attack your fingers through the wire, then you have been forewarned. Don’t worry – there are tons of other animals to pet. Rabbits are in the cages across from the kittens. You can touch them if they are close to the edge of the cage, but also listen to the staff’s shout-outs throughout the day. At one point they took out some rabbits with angora hair and put them on a picnic table to be brushed and petted by the children (and adults that want to act like children, like us). Some of the farm animals are in cages, and others are roaming free in an open area that you can stroll through. Our son loved to chase the chickens around, though I don’t think they liked it as much… Beware of the younger goats as we found that they liked to chew on our clothes.

Don’t like animals? The farm has plenty of other activities. The face painting station is equipped with all the paint and mirrors your child needs to create a masterpiece on their body, including sketches for them to use as guides. A sink is nearby for easy cleanup. There were several play areas for kids of different ages and interests. The toddler area (under 3) had some plastic treehouse-type (think Berenstain Bears) buildings to play in, a wooden train, some sandboxes, and swings. The best feature in this section was the speedway. This road course was adjacent to the play area and had lots of coupe-style cars for the kids to drive around or be pushed by adults. This area also has a play market, campground, farm, sand area, maze, and water tables. At the other end of the farm is a play area for the next oldest age group. Along with the usual playground buildings, they have a sand area, Peek-a-boo huts, dinosaur bone dig, pedal track, and scooter bugs. We’ll leave it to you to find out what those are on your visit! Sufficed it to say, Davis Farmland has enough to keep a family busy for a complete day if you plan your visit right.

The Adventure Play & Spray is a definite for those hot New England summer days, so pack the bathing suits and towels. It’s a zero-depth spray ground where your child can run through the sprinkler all they want! Prepare to get wet – you know you won’t be able to resist running through it a little as well!! The toddler area is separate from the main play & spray and has a rubber floor and only a few sprayers. Locker rooms and changing areas are available, and swimmy diapers are a must for the little ones.

Davis Farmland opens their well-known attraction, Davis’ Mega-Maze, on July 30. This year’s theme is ‘The Lost Tomb.’ Keep an eye out for our review later in the summer.

Mom Says: The Davis family really thinks like parents and keeps a stash of safety items on hand everywhere you look: wipes, sunblock, bug spray, and ‘Boo-Boo Stations.’ The food choices they offer are good (they even have baby food!), but they also have an abundance of picnic tables so you can pack food for the family and bring it in with you.

Dad Says: It’s hard to summarize Davis Farmland as there was so much to do, see, touch, feel, and experience. We caught a special exhibit called ‘Birds of Prey.’ Check the website as there are many more special events throughout the year. I was impressed with the staffing levels (OK, sounds like my day job) at Davis as every time you turned around, there was a friendly employee asking if you needed help or telling you about one of the animals.

Davis Farmland & Davis Mega Maze
145 Redstone Hill
Sterling, MA 01564
www.davisfarmland.com

Posted in Places to Go, Playplaces, Water Parks, Zoos | No Comments »

4th of July Prep and Day Out With Thomas Preview

Two-for-one in our blog this week: our 4th of July Planning Guide and “Day Out With Thomas” preview!

Edaville Railroad kicked off its 2009 season last weekend featuring “Day Out With Thomas” in addition to the usual attractions. Thomas will offer up train rides on three more weekends this summer and is a must-visit for fans of the show, books, and movies.

Our sister website in Chicago reviewed this event last year and said “If your kid wants to be a useful engine, Day Out with Thomas is a quick burst of excitement” and “It was really exciting for him to see the engine in person.”

Tickets for Thomas are $18.00 for anyone two and older. This price includes admission to Edaville and all rides and attractions, as well as the 25-minute ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, meeting Sir Topham Hatt, and other entertainment involving Thomas. Thomas will be at Edaville June 26-June 29, August 29-30, and September 4-7.

We’ll be heading to Edaville later this summer, so look for our complete review of that and Thomas then.

Your Massachusetts 4th of July Planning Guide

With all of this rain, it’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is quickly approaching next weekend! We want you to be prepared and have a great time wherever you may be, so we have compiled this guide with all the various events happening around Massachusetts. In alphabetical order…

City/Town: Acton
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, at 6 p.m. (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: around 10 p.m.
Details: Enjoy live music, face painting, and food vendors at NARA Park, located off Route 27. Shuttle buses will run from Nagog Park starting at 6 p.m.
Website

City/Town: Amherst
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 5 p.m. (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: 9:30 p.m.
Details: The UMASS fields behind Alumni Football Stadium set the scene for the celebration. Activities include live music, a children’s carnival, a juggler, a clown, face painting, field races… the list goes on and on.
Website

City/Town: Assonet
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 from 6-10 p.m.; parade on July 4
Fireworks Time: not mentioned
Details: Hathaway Park is the host of games, booths, and concessions, ending with the fireworks display over the Assonet River.

City/Town: Ayer
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4
Fireworks Time: dusk
Details: Stop by Pirone Park for a parade, food concessions, crafts, and children’s activities, followed by fireworks.

City/Town: Boston
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 from 8:30 pm until 11:00 pm
Fireworks Time: 10:30 pm
Details: This may be better to Tivo for the kids to watch the next day, but if you kids are a little older and you are willing to brave the 500,000 other Bostonians, check out the web site for parking and other FAQs. The TV broadcast starts at 8:00 pm on WBZ-TV, so check that out if you didn’t make it to any other shows.
Website

City/Town: Bourne
Date & Time: Sunday, July 5
Fireworks Time: Dusk
Details: On Main Street, Buzzards Bay

City/Town: Bridgewater
Date & Time: Thursday, June 25 & Friday, June 26 from 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, June 27 from 12-6 p.m.
Details: Three Day Carnival at Bridgewater Middle School, 166 Mt. Prospect St.

City/Town: Chicopee
Date & Time: Thursday, July 2 through Saturday July 4
Fireworks Time: Saturday, July 4 at 9:30 pm (rain date: Sunday, July 5)
Details: Szot Park (700 Front Street, Chicopee, MA) has tons of activities spread across three days this year. Starting on Thursday there will be softball games and several inflatable activities and train rides. On Friday there is a kids 3-on-3 soccer tournament, a Junior Karakoe Idol contest, and astronomy sessions. Saturday is the big event with fireworks at 9:30.
Website

City/Town: Clinton
Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 (rain date: June 28)
Details: Fireworks at Clinton Middle and High School, located on Route 110. Sponsored by the Clinton firefighters.
Website

City/Town: Dracut
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m.
Fireworks Time: not mentioned
Details: Concert and fireworks at Dracut Junior High School

City/Town: Edgartown
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, at 5 p.m. (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: 9 p.m.
Details: The 4th of July parade starts and ends at Edgartown School, then go to Memorial Wharf for the fireworks.
Website

City/Town: Fitchburg
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 from 5-11 p.m.
Fireworks Time: dusk
Details: Downtown Fitchburg is the scene for the Civic Days 2009. The fun starts this weekend with a multitude of events; check out the Doll Carriage and Bicycle Parade at the Riverfront Park on Boulder Drive on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Block Party is on Friday on Main Street, including live entertainment, classic cars, food, and other vendors. Look for more events on July 4.
Website

City/Town: Gloucester
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 6 p.m.
Fireworks Time: 9 p.m.
Details: Gloucester Horribles Parade starts at 6 p.m. featuring bands, floats, and costume competitions, followed by fireworks over the harbor. Look at the website for more events on July 4.
Website

City/Town: Hampton Beach
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4
Fireworks Time: 9:30 p.m.
Details: Hampton Beach hosts fireworks 15 times throughout the summer, though usually on Wednesdays.
Website

City/Town: Harvard
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 starting at 11:00 am (rain date: Sunday, July 5)
Fireworks Time: Dusk
Details: At Fruitlands Museum this start up at 11:00 am where you can tour the galleries, check out the art, listen to music or enjoy food and drink in the restaurant tent. Get a seat on the lawn for the fireworks at dusk.
Website

City/Town: Hingham
Date & Time: Fireworks are on Friday, July 3 and Parade is on Saturday, July 4 at 10:00 am. A road race and breakfast are before the parade.
Fireworks Time: 9:00 pm
Website

City/Town: Hyannis
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 4 p.m.
Fireworks Time: 8 p.m.
Details: Check out Aselton Park for a parade followed by a concert, then fireworks at Lewis Bay.
Website

City/Town: Marblehead
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 8:45 p.m.
Fireworks Time: 9 p.m.
Details: The Harbor Illumination begins at 8:45 p.m., followed by the fireworks. Email your pictures of the event to them and they will be posted on the website.
Website

City/Town: Milford
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: not mentioned
Details: The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra is unable to perform at this year’s festivities, but the fireworks will go on as planned at Plains Park, Route 85, Cedar St.

City/Town: Natick
Date & Time: Wednesday, July 1 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fireworks Time: No fireworks this year due to construction on the Natick Mall
Details: Featuring a kids parade at 6:00 pm and other family fun Natick Friends of the Fourth of July host this event.
Website

City/Town: Orleans
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: Dusk
Details: Rock Harbor

City/Town: Pepperell
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks Time: Dusk
Details: Music, games, concessions, and fun start at 6:00pm. Fireworks start at dark.
Website

City/Town: Salem
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 4 p.m.
Fireworks Time: around 9:15 p.m.
Details: Festivities begin with Kids’ Space, which has a DJ entertaining the young ones with dancing, contests, and prizes. The fun continues all afternoon for the kids with face painting, games, and crafts. At 7:15 p.m. is the opening ceremonies, which includes an Air Force flyover, a Hillyer Festival Orchestra concert, and a performance of Footloose by the Salem State College Summer Theatre cast, concluding with the fireworks set off from Derby Wharf.
Website

City/Town: Salisbury Beach
Date & Time: Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5
Fireworks Time: Saturday, July 4 at 10 p.m.
Details: Family events run all weekend! Sand Sculpting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, including tips and tricks on sand castle building at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Bruce Marshall Group performs a concert starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday and is followed by the fireworks over the beach, which are set off from a barge in the ocean.
Website

City/Town: Sharon
Date & Time: July 4 at 4 p.m.
Fireworks Time: 9:15 p.m.
Details: Check out Memorial Park Beach for classic field games, such as tug-o-war and potato sack races. Beech Tree Park is the start of the Bicycle & Doll Carriage Parade and travels to the bandstand, where you’ll find music for your enjoyment. The concert starts at 6:30 and runs until the fireworks over Lak Massapoag.

City/Town: Springfield
Date & Time: Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Fireworks Time: not mentioned
Details: Mix 93.1 will provide the musical entertainment while the fireworks are going off from the Memorial Bridge. Live entertainment and food as well.
Website

City/Town: Upton
Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 (rain date: Sunday, June 28)
Fireworks Time: 9:45 pm
Details: Tons of different events throughout the day including an auto show, skateboard expo, motorcycle show, tractor race, dance show, a magic show, kiddie train, rock climbing wall, and various food vendors on hand. This one looks great! It’s at the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical (BVT) High School located at 65 Pleasant St. Upton, MA
Website

City/Town: Westfield
Date & Time: Friday, July 3 at 5:30 p.m. (rain date: July 5)
Fireworks Time: 9:15 p.m.
Details: Concerts begin at 5:30 at Stanley Park, including the Young Singers of Westfield, The Soul Sensations, and Brass Attack, concluding with the fireworks. Don’t forget to look for the strawberry shortcake.
Website

City/Town: Worcester
Date & Time: Thursday, July 2 – concert starts at 8 p.m. (rain date: July 3)
Fireworks Time: 8:30 p.m.
Details: Join the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra for a concert at Cristoforo Columbo Park (East Park) on Shrewsbury Street. Concessions and 4th of July toys and gadgets are for sale.
Website

Posted in Events, Places to Go, Sites | No Comments »

Tri-State Speedway

We are always very excited to find a hidden gem in a small town in Massachusetts and did just that this weekend when we visited Tri-State Speedway in Dudley, MA. For those wondering, Dudley is south of Worcester, right on the Connecticut border. In an unassuming old warehouse, Tri-State Speedway offers a multitude of indoor activities including go-kart racing, mini golf, billiards, video games, Bowlingo, and many more.

Tri-State is split between two floors and is currently expanding to include some outdoor activities. The second floor of the building is where the 10-turn speedway is located. You must be 54 inches tall to drive the go-karts or 42 inches to ride as a passenger. An annual license must be purchased for $10 (good for the year), and each ride is $8.00 for kids under 12, $12.00 for adults, and $14.00 for a double seater. If your kids are into go-karts, we recommend taking advantage of their weekly specials, which give you unlimited racing for certain time periods (for example, Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm for $30.00). In addition to the racing, the upstairs has a snack bar, a birthday party room, and a small arcade room.

Downstairs, which just opened in 2008, has a lot more variety of activities. This floor has its own birthday party room and is where you will find ‘The Islands Mini Golf,’ an 18-hole indoor golf course that is in perfect condition – no worn-out carpet here. The holes are not as long as some outdoor courses and don’t have the same diversity in hole layout and hazards, but it’s a fantastic indoor mini golf course and a great part of a day at Tri-State. Mini golf costs $6.00 per person with kids under 2 playing for free.

For the younger kids who don’t meet the 54 inch height requirement upstairs, a Kiddie Karts area for kids aged 4-8 or 36 to 48 inches is available. At $5.00 for five minutes, we weren’t sure this was worth it, but it’s hard to stop a dedicated race fan sometimes. There is also a train for the younger kids to ride on in this area.

If you haven’t seen Bowlingo, it’s an interactive, electronic four-lane, scaled-down bowling alley – the lanes are shorter and narrower than traditional lanes, but fully automated. The balls are a little larger than candlepin balls, and you have 10 minutes to throw 10 frames. This is a fun version of bowling that costs $2.00 per string.

The arcade, which is scattered throughout the entire facility, has a good variety of games, some of which reward you with tickets to be redeemed for toys and candy. Classics like Skee Ball and air hockey are available, as well as at least three different dance games and numerous shooting games. Tokens are used for all the games, and as usual, take a walk around before buying your tokens to gauge how many you will need. The games vary from one to four tokens per player. Three billiards tables are also available in the main arcade area. This is obviously focused more towards older kids and adults.

From the outside, Tri-State Speedway looks like a warehouse, but once inside it’s full of action-packed fun that would keep a family busy for several hours. We recommend doing some planning for your trip as buying everything a la carte will be expensive. The management at Tri-State seems to be constantly putting together new packages. They are also expanding soon by adding a bungee run, a trampoline apparatus, and a kiddie swing ride, as well as a bar for adult entertainment.

Mom Says: This is not a place to take a group of toddlers, but if you have one or two you can find something for them to do. Older kids would have a blast on their own or as a family outing. This would be a great birthday party place for tweens.

Dad Says: I have been to Dudley before and know it is a small town, so wasn’t expecting much, but boy was I wrong. Now that I have my license, I plan to go back for some more Go Kart racing for sure! Oh yeah, the kids love this place too!

Tri-State Speedway
35 Chase Ave.
Dudley, MA 01571
(508) 671-9030
Website: www.tristatespeedways.com

Posted in Places to Go, Playplaces | No Comments »

Boomerangs Playland

We had heard from a few family friends that Boomerangs Playland was worth checking out, so we headed to Carver, MA this weekend to give it a whirl. Located in a strip mall off Route 58 in one half of an old supermarket (the other half is a gym), Boomerangs offers 12,000 square feet of play space, birthday party rooms, an arcade, and an adult-only relaxation room. The entry fee is $8.95

Monday through Thursday and $11.95 Friday through Sunday, with kids under 2 costing $6.95 and $8.95. In addition to the entry fee you will want to purchase some tokens. These can be used for the arcade games and cost 25 cents per token or 100 tokens for $20.00 and a bonus of 10 tokens. We went with this option as we had two uncles with us that wanted to shoot some hoops and play air hockey while their nephew had his fun. We’d recommend scoping out the games before making this investment though, as most games only require one or two tokens.

The first attraction directly behind the front desk, and something you can’t miss, is a large inflatable activity apparatus. An employee told us that the inflatable activity changes monthly. When we visited, an obstacle course called the ‘Boomerang Challenge’ was there allowing kids to race each other over and around a few obstacles, climb up about 20 feet and then slide/jump down to complete the course. This one would be best for kids 4 and up and all the kids we saw on it were having a blast.

To the right of the front desk is an Animaland factory (similar to Build-a-Bear), which lets your kid build their own stuffed animal, complete with an outfit and accessories. We didn’t partake in this, but noted that prices started around $24.95 for the base animals and go up from there.

The Paradise Lounge is the next area you arrive at when walking through the facility and is directly adjacent to the toddler area. This room is for adults only and features 5 massage chairs, computer work stations, and a flat-screen TV. With windows providing a pretty good view of the facility, this room is a great place to escape the craziness and wind down. This is an opportunity to take turns supervising the kids allowing the parents to enjoy the facility as well. We tested out the massage chairs, and after some tinkering with a very complex remote control, we got the kneading and shiatsu working our back, legs and feet.

The toddler area is sectioned off for the little ones and has a large and small ball pit, soft climbing blocks, push and pull cars and trucks, and other toddler-friendly toys. While this section does have a height requirement, we had to keep our eyes out as older kids couldn’t resist a quick flop into the ball pit.

The featured attraction of Boomerang’s is the Mega Climber, boasting three levels of soft and safe activities. With a loosely enforced height requirement of about 3 feet, this structure is geared towards kids 3 and up. Parents can go inside with their kids to help them navigate the corridors or to just play alongside them. The climber is fairly open, so you could track your kids from the outside, but there are several blind spots throughout the maze-like complex. Kids that can navigate to the top corner are rewarded with a trip down the 3-story spiral slide.

Buccaneer Bay is next to the Mega Climber and has several different themed areas encouraging creative play. Kids can dress as a pirate, mermaid, or surfer and create an adventure in four different play structures. These looks like the sets from a theatre production, allowing your kids to get creative and develop their own adventure. The dock area doubles as a stage where your kids can see themselves on TV.

The arcade stretches along the left-hand wall and features standard games such as Skee ball, basketball, air hockey, and several driving games. For the older kids (and adults) there is a decent selection to choose from in this small arcade. Tickets are rewarded by most of the games and can be exchanged for small toys and candy on your way out. Koala Kafe is at the very back of the complex in between the birthday party rooms and offers ample seating and standard kid food such as pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, and slushies. It wasn’t lunch time yet, so we didn’t dine, but the food looked pretty good.

Dad Says: Boomerangs was clean and just big enough to keep our kid busy for a couple hours, but not too big that you feel lost. If we lived closer, we’d definitely do a birthday party here. The adult lounge was nice for even a quick break from the madness that can occur at any playplace.

Aunt Says: I was put off by a big hole in the ceiling (construction in progress?) and some duct tape on the Boomerang Challenge. However, the little guy had a blast in the ball pit, which made the whole trip worthwhile, and Buccaneer Bay is a great opportunity for older kids to get creative. I would really like some stricter staff supervision in the toddler area, as some kids got pretty rowdy with the ball pit, which was annoying. And I could have spent a lot more time at the Paradise Lounge, although I had a tough time figuring out how to adjust the settings on the massage chair.

Uncle Says: This would be a great place to have a birthday party and it looks like they have 4 different rooms for hosting parties. I must admit that I had a lot of fun playing the basketball game and air hockey.

Playland Boomerangs 160 N Main St Carver, MA 02330 phone: 508-866-2228 Website: www.boomerangscarver.com

Posted in Places to Go, Playplaces | 1 Comment »

Green Thumb

Think it’s too late to start a garden? That your kids don’t want be involved? Think again. We all know how much kids love to be outside at this time of year, so it’s a perfect opportunity to show them the rewards of planting and nurturing a garden. Your first stop should be at the Green Thumb in Westborough, where you can pick out your plants while your kids play.

The Green Thumb just opened their new complex this spring. The old building and greenhouses were knocked down and they moved everything into their upper greenhouses and built a huge new main facility that resembles a barn. The aisles of flowers seem never-ending, so it can be fun for the little ones to look around at the possibilities of plants and pick out their choices. If that doesn’t sound like your kid, mom can browse aisle after aisle in the greenhouses while dad keeps the kids happy and busy… or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, there’s something to do for the whole family.

When you first pull into the parking lot you notice a huge swing set and grassy area. It advertises for the company that builds them, so you would think that you can’t play on it, but that is what it is meant for! Parents can sit and relax and watch their little ones burn off some steam. Be careful as you walk from here to the barn – the first thing the kids will notice is the windows for ice cream. You can order it at the window and sit outside or you can go inside, where they also have candy and popcorn. The seating area inside has a train that goes around the ceiling of the first floor and lots of flower gifts that you can buy, so it has a nice ambiance. The registers are also located here, so you can check out what other people are buying as they walk by. In the barn is a loft on the second floor, which provides for more exploring by the kids. Finish the afternoon in the petting zoo with the goats. Hand sanitizer is provided.

Now you may be thinking, what kind of plants do I buy? It depends on what kind of garden you want to make. When working with kids, try to keep it simple; you can always make the garden bigger next year, and the year after that, and the year after that… oh, wait a minute, that’s my yard! If you don’t have a yard you can still plant in pots on any balcony or deck you may have. First, choose the type of garden you want, vegetable or flower. Throughout the day watch the area where you plan on planting the garden and write down the hours of sunlight it gets. You’ll need this information when buying your plants or seeds. If you still aren’t sure when you get to the nursery/store, someone is sure to help you.

If you plan on buying seeds and have a young child that is helping you, you may want to buy a plant that has bigger seeds; they’ll be easier to manage with their little hands. Let your child help choose the plants that are going into the garden. If they choose something that won’t fit in well (for example, a plant that needs more sun than it would get in that spot), take a moment to explain why it won’t work, then remind them of the types of plants you are looking for. You may even want to indulge them and buy something that wasn’t in your master plan. Keep reminding yourself to be a little lenient – your idea of a garden may not be the same as theirs, but they will be more involved in the process if you let them have a little artistic license.

Some ideas for vegetable gardens: sunflowers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and pumpkins. Easy to manage flower ideas: sunflowers, impatiens, petunias, morning glories, zinnias, and geraniums.

A few safety measures to keep in mind:

• Use tools that are the right size for children; it’ll be easier for them to hold a tool that fits in their hand, not yours
• Leave the pesticides and chemicals in the shed/garage and out of your child’s reach
• Watch out for poisonous or toxic plants. You may already have some in your yard! One great resource I found is linked here
• Test the soil for lead, especially if your house was built before the 1970s
• Check for ticks

Gardening teaches many great virtues, the first and foremost being patience. It takes time to plant everything, water it, weed it, and feed it. It can be frustrating at times, but imagine the look of joy on your child’s face when he/she picks their first flower or vegetable that they grew. The best part about gardening: no batteries required! This is a great time to get outdoors and work together as a family, so leave the iPods on their docking stations.

Mom Says: If the garden doesn’t quite hold their attention, try incorporating some bird feeders into your yard and buy a bird book for your child to identify the birds they found. This may help pass the time as you are waiting for those seeds to sprout…

Green Thumb
185 Turnpike Rd. (Route 9)
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: 508-366-7478

Posted in Places to Go, Sites | No Comments »

On-Line Edutainment

Note: This week’s post is from our sister site, CrazyKidsChicago.com, from Larry and features reviews of several Edutainment web sites. 

These sites teach your kids reading and math by trying to make it fun. This seems to be a major trend as competing sites are consistently cropping up with the realization that kids are getting so familiar with computers so early. Our four year old is already pretty navigational with a web browser as he browses for Transformer toys, plays Spider-man games, and practices his numbers, words, and letters. In this Blog, we review Voyager, SmartyCard, and KidzClix. Each of these sites has their own take on how to educate our kids, provide rewards, and help them find fun in learning.

KidzClix.

KidzClix is a startup out of Evanston, Illinois. Began by an educational psychologist out of National Louis University, this site leverages a magazine paradigm. Each month, the site comes out with new “issues.” These issues provide new content to the site. KidzClix is $6.95/month with discounts for multiple month pre-pays. There is a thirty day trial to allow you and your kids to give it a test run.

KidzClix has an enormous amount of content divided into sections including: Science Time (Chemistry), Build It (Physics), Into The Future (green topics, technology trends), Imagine This (crack codes, play detective), Math Mania, Chess Club, Poof (learn about magic), Games and Puzzles, Artz Studio (sculpture, painting), Surprise (something different every time), Kidz Kitchen (learn to cook), and How It Works (explanations of biological and mechanical functions). Within each of these sections are 8-10 choices of content to view and experience.

KidzClix has a really interesting combination of on-line learning, digital activities, and off-line experiments. I played a balancing game, learned about invisible ink, and the ice cream section taught me how to make ice cream with ingredients and utensils in the kitchen. The site also comes with social media aspects where kids can ask questions, share artwork and projects, and create a home page.

The only complaint you’ll have about KidzClix is where to start and how to find the right content because there are so many things to try and it is a little clunky to move around. The “issue” paradigm works for the site so you can constantly try new things. If you use the free trial, be aware that the guest login has a different link (see your confirmation email) than the regular login on the home page.

Review KidzClix.

SmartyCard. SmartyCard’s slogan is Learn Stuff/Earn Stuff and it pretty much says it all. SmartyCard’s approach is to award points to kids who try their activities and take their tests. Parent’s then buy SmartyCards which allow them to trade points for virtual (logins and points on other sites like Zookazoo) and physical gifts (like light sabers, an Incredibles DVD, Wii Games, or board games).

SmartyCard really focuses on 3rd grade and up though they have plans to move downstream later in the year. You specify in your profile the child’s grade and then the site will test them on age appropriate material. Like KidzClix, the site reinforces school learning and isn’t to be used to learn from scratch. To choose an activity, you can pick between Easy, Medium, and Hard in categories like vocabulary (antonyms and synonyms), reading comprehension, multiplication, ecosystem/ecology, science, fractions, and many others. Each activity is very flash card oriented and points are awarded based on difficulty and how many questions you get right (at least 70%).Parents can review their kids’ scores, site usage (categories played), time spent on site, and what they have redeemed. Redeeming rewards is easy for kids to do on their own. The site will only allow them to pick what has been purchased by their parents. As a new site, SmartyCard can be a little pokey at times, but overall SmartyCard provides an excellent opportunity for kids to set goals for themselves, learn, and achieve those goals.

Review SmartyCard.

Voyager. Voyager has been providing on-line learning programs for school districts and schools for several years. This year they have announced an initiative to sell directly to parents. They are offering their Ticket to Read and Vmath set of learning activities for $29.95.

Ticket to Read leverages your child’s grade and proposes age appropriate learning activities. Kindergarten was the lowest setting, so that is what I played with my four year old. Ticket to Read provided great graphical displays of letters and fun ways to test your kids knowledge. The game we played had a teacher explaining a small and large “A” and how an A is pronounced. The site then showed an apple tree with letters on the apples and asked him to pick the Apples with an A. We did a similar exercise with soccer balls that flew into a goal when you picked the balls with an “S”.

Vmath starts at the third grade level and is extraordinarily extensive. It is not available directly for parents yet, but you can try the free trial or petition your school to get it in the classroom. You have a choice to “Prepare” for live games or play live games. Preparation teaches about 10 different categories of math lessons like whole numbers, fractions, borrowing, and carrying. The activities provide kids with instruction and activities to test what they have learned. But the real activity is the Vmath Live games. The games allow you to choose a level of difficulty and then compete against other students across the world in different types of flash card games (addition, multiplication, combination). At about 10:00 at night, there were over 4,000 people on the site and I played adding games against a girl in Australia (I started to feel bad and threw the game at the end).Vmath is extremely elaborate. Because of their school district history, I felt that they did not consider the network bandwidth at a residence because some of the intensive graphics in the reading section were a little bit slow. Voyager is a time-tested learning tool and the Vmath live was an extremely unique experience.

Review Voyager.

Larry

Dad Says: How can computers not be a great way for your kid to learn? Using the computer at home, my kid has been able to feel comfortable with the computers at school. I would recommend trying all of these sites to see which one fits your style and let young and old kids reinforce their studies at school.

Posted in Online | No Comments »

Noodle Noggin’ ‘N Bean

We had heard quite a bit about Noodle Noggin’ ‘N Bean (NNNB) and finally brought our son there this past weekend. The place is fantastic! The creators of NNNB really understand how children like to play and the importance of it, especially the interaction between kids and their parents.

NNNB dubs itself as an “EDU-tainment parent-child experience for children ages one through six,” and is located in Northborough, MA. Featuring 5,000 square feet of open play and learning space split into 12 themed rooms, NNNB will keep your kid(s) entertained for hours. The entry fee is $9.99 per child and $2.99 per adult, and is good for the entire day so you can come and go (after all that play everyone needs some food!).

What really struck us about NNNB was the variety and quality of activities for the kids and parents to participate in, and unlike traditional playplaces, NNNB encourages parents and caregivers to participate right alongside their kids. We won’t attempt to detail each of the twelve themed rooms that make up NNNB, but will tell you about some of the highlights from our visit.

Old Town Square is where we entered and were immediately struck by the large wooden vehicles that you could climb aboard to start your adventure – one is a train and the other is a fire truck. This room is covered in murals, giving it a nice warm feel. Kid-friendly music is playing throughout the entire facility. Some noteworthy tunes we heard were kid versions of
Chumbawamba’s ‘Tubthumping’ and House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around;’ the the songs were sung by kids and the lyrics were changed a bit to remove anything inappropriate (‘Whiskey Drink’ became ‘Soda Drink’).

Off of this room are several other themed rooms including Bean’s Bricks & Blocks, Inc., Mona Lisa’s Art Studio, Pirate’s Cove, Dr. Bone’s Body Shop, and Noggin’s Knock Knock Nook. Each room features unique activities for your kids to try out. Bean’s Bricks & Blocks is full of different building systems—Duplos, Quartros and Lincoln Logs—allowing your kid to perfect his craftsmanship. Mona Lisa’s Art Studio has a huge chalk board as well as a large wall covered in paper waiting for young artists to adorn it with their work. The Knock Knock Nook is filled with musical instruments, costumes, and sheet music, encouraging your kid to express himself musically. We were even able to follow the colored notes and play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ on the xylophone. Our son really enjoyed this room, especially the kid-sized cymbals and the life-sized floor keyboard al-la Tom Hanks in ‘Big.’ We didn’t have time to go into Pirate’s Cove, but it looked like a lot of fun. It had a full-size pirate ship and a long water trough where kids can play with various water toys or use a fishing pole to catch a live one (don’t worry, there are no real fish).

Walking from one side of the complex to the other, the hallways feature different types of activity toys mounted to the walls. From rollercoaster bead mazes to circle spinners, the folks at NNNB have covered all the bases to keep your kids entertained, even when walking down a hallway. We spent 15 minutes playing with the toys in one of the hallways.

The opposite side of the building is laid out in a similar fashion, with a central room, aptly named Central Park, and a few smaller themed rooms. Central Park is meant for younger kids and has soft mats and padding allowing for the little ones to tumble around. There is a diner where your kids can cook up a feast or be a guest and sit down for a nice meal. Before cooking, you can hit up the kid market, a well-stocked supermarket complete with shopping carts and a cash register. The sea-saw and ball pit were big hits for our kid on this side of the building.

As you can tell, Noodle Noggin’ ‘N Bean packs quite a punch under a single roof. We’d encourage you to check out their site, especially the ‘Rooms’ section, to get a better feel for the variety of offerings. When visiting, we’d also recommend taking a walk around the entire facility to gauge your kids’ interest and plan your visit. NNNB has two rooms for birthday parties and is definitely in our list of venues for future birthdays.

Mom Says: Clean and cute!!! No food allowed in the building except for the party room, so there aren’t any wayward crumbs. The toys were very gently used – I wasn’t disgusted with anything that my kid touched. I even got in the ball pit with him and found it to be clean. Next time I’m planning on staying for at least 2 hours.

Dad Says: This place knocked our socks off! It is clear that NNNB understands how to create an engaging and fun environment for kids and adults. The idea of playing and learning with your kids is great and I know we’ll be doing more of it at Noodle Noggin’ ‘N Bean.

Noodle Noggin’ ‘N Bean
38 Southwest Cutoff (Rte 20)
Northborough, MA 01532-2159
Phone: 508-351-7060
Website: http://www.noodlenogginnbean.com/

Posted in Playplaces | No Comments »

Fenway Park Tour

With baseball season in full swing and the weather being so nice here in New England, we recently decided to check out the Fenway Park Tour to get a behind-the-scenes look at a Boston landmark. The tour costs $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $10 for children 4-15. It leaves every hour from 9 AM until 4 PM (or three hours before game time, whichever is earlier), so there are plenty of times to check this one out during a visit to the city.

The tour starts in the souvenir shop on Yawkey Way, and after a quick security screening, you walk in a large group throughout the park, learning about its history and many interesting facts about the team. Our tour guide was energetic and knowledgeable about Fenway and the history of the Red Sox. She even antagonized the one Yankees fan in our group of 100 with Yankees commentary throughout the entire tour, which added some comic relief.

Our tour had four main stops, each of which gave you the opportunity to sit down or stand and listen to the various facts and stories the tour guide offered up through a megaphone. Before the first stop, you get your photo taken by the Fenway Fan Photo team, and it is conveniently available to you at the end of your tour for purchase. Our picture didn’t come out that great so we ended up having fellow tour-goers take a few snapshots of us with our own camera.

The first stop was the upper deck of right field, which offers great views of the entire park. After 10 minutes or so of Fenway stories and some Q&A, we then headed over the Pavilion Club area in upper left field, where our entire group took seats and listened in to more Fenway facts. We learned about the history of the Green Monster and the red chair, amongst other cool stories. Since it was game day, we even got to see some batting practice. From this area, we headed over to the Green Monster seats, which are the most coveted in the park. Everyone got a chance to sit and enjoy the sights from this vantage point. Our last stop was the left-field grandstands, which are the smallest seats in the park and not very comfortable.

Overall, this was a great experience for us and our son. There was plenty of time allowed to take pictures and check out some of the nooks and crannies of America’s most beloved ball park. We recommend calling the tour phone number (617-226-6666) before planning your trip to see if there are any changes to the schedule. They are now offering batting practice tours as well, but no information is available on the details of this yet.

When our son gets older, we’ll plan a Fenway day where we do both a tour and game in the same day.

Dad Says: Seeing Fenway with very few people walking around was great fun, and the history and facts were very interesting to hear. I really would have liked to see the clubhouse or the press box. Hopefully they will continue to expand this tour in the future.

Mom Says: The tour was about an hour and it flew by. Don’t worry about rushing to be the front people in the group as you won’t hear or see anything any better than the last people. Trust me – we were the last people!

Web Site: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/

Posted in Parks, Places to Go, Sites | No Comments »