Ausable Chasm in the Winter

This Christmas break my family hopped in our Toyota Prius and road-tripped to the Lake Champlain region of the Adirondacks.  Although the ski conditions near our home in Massachusetts were just awful due to the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been experiencing, the conditions were great in the Adirondacks.

To start, we traveled to Plattsburgh by way of Vermont, taking the Grand Isle to Plattsburgh ferry.  It was incredibly easy to take the ferry, which runs every few minutes twenty-four hours a day, and saved us lots of time.  Once we arrived in Plattsburgh, it was just a short drive to the Comfort Inn and Suites, where we were staying for our trip.

The next morning, we bundled up (it was cold – about 12 degrees), and headed out to Ausable Chasm, a popular summer attraction that is now offering winter tours.  Guests can choose from a 30-minute self-guided tour, or a one or two-hour guided tour.  We did both the 30-minute tour and the guided tour, and absolutely loved them.  Our guide was incredibly informative and helpful, and the kids loved walking on the paths right by the cliffs and falls.  When the paths are icy (as they were on our trip), guests are provided with ice cleat to put on their shoes, and if it’s snowy, guests are provided with snowshoes.

The next day, we drove about an hour and a half to Titus Mountain Family Ski Center for a morning of skiing.  The kids were enrolled in ski school, since they’d only skied one time.  Of course, by the end of the lesson, my daughter was whizzing by me on the mountain, as I struggled in my class (I’m very much a beginner).  Titus Mountain seems to be the perfect place for families to visit – it’s small enough to be approachable, but had lots of really great instructors.

We’ll definitely be back to this area – perhaps in the spring or summer so we can see the gorgeous Ausable Chasm at a different time of year!

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: We received complimentary lodging, ski rentals, lift tickets, lessons, and tickets to Ausable Chasm for purposes of review.

Wonderland Express

Chicago beckons with holiday events galore, from ice skating in Millennium Park to Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderland. But no tradition excites kids (and the young at heart) more than the miniature trains that chug through the Chicago Botanic Garden during the annual Wonderland Express event.

Located just outside Chicago in Glencoe, Illinois, the Chicago Botanic Garden offers free displays of gardens and exhibits every day of the year. The Wonderland Express rolls out every year on November 25 and continues through January 1 with a glittering spectacle of lights, trains and holiday activities.

The garden comes alive with 750.000 lights sparkling from trees, branches and trails. Inside the Regenstein Center, an exhibit of  10,000 square feet of miniature trains glide through replicas of Chicago landmarks — spot Soldier Field, the Art Institute, Navy Pier and more as the tiny trains wind past.  All the buildings are constructed from natural materials like moss and leaves and most of the lights are energy conserving (LED) certified.  A wreath display, a gingerbread village and decorated trees offer more dazzling views.

Family drop in activities provide arts & crafts, and live carolers are featured on select days. Top off the festivities with hot chocolate at the Caboose Cafe.

Admission to Chicago Botanic Gardens is free but tickets for Wonderland Express are $8 for adults and $6 for children.   Enjoy a fun-filled holiday weekend and stay at the nearby Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel and sample an American Bistro meal at the hotel’s  Rooks Corner Lounge.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

Orange Hill Inn

Nassau, Bahamas is a beach lover’s paradise with pristine, uncrowded shores and pearly sand. But if you can tear yourself away, there’s more to this island than just sun and surf. One of the hallmarks of the local culture is the weekend fish fry on West Bay Street in New Providence.  It offers not just an endless variety of seafood possibilities but an lively connection to local music and customs.

Filled with dozens of shacks and restaurants offering delicacies like conch salad, fresh lobster tail and grilled snapper, the choices can almost be overwhelming. except if you watch the locals.  Everyone I asked suggested Twin Brothers as the best place to visit and sure enough when I arrived, the palm tree-fringed diner was filled with locals eating and ordering carry out. There were tourists too but a strong local presence is always a good sign.  Twin Brothers was overseen by a kindly man in a pistachio-colored suit with matching shoes. I assumed he was one of the original twin brothers but if not, he literally  added a colorful presence to my experience. I sipped a guava daiquiri and ordered fried red snapper which came with cole slow, fried plantains and peas and rice.  My plate arrived spilling over with food, which was lightly spicy and delicious.  As I ate, local musicians set up and played  bouncy Junkanoo music.  Soon, the fish fry transformed to a crowded nightclub as revelers danced and drank. I made my way back to the quiet Orange Hill Inn on the other side of Nassau, and sat in the garden as I watched the sun go down.

Photo by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

All this time traveling with my family has changed the way I view a city and given me a new perspective on what I consider family-friendly. Before I give a city the family-friendly stamp of approval, I look for a few important factors.

Is the nightlife the biggest draw?

A place like Las Vegas is amazing – for adults. But I wouldn’t even want to take my kids out of the hotel room after dark for fear of stumbling into a drunken bachelor party. I was surprised to find that Nashville also had very little to offer families when the sun went down – some of the most popular restaurants in town were bars.

Are there free (or very cheap) things to do?

This is a big one for me. When you’re traveling with a family of four, even low admission prices can become budget busters. A $20 attraction ticket becomes an $80 event for us. This was my biggest beef with Myrtle Beach: lots of things to do, but only one (the beach) came without a hefty price tag. I tend to favor cities with great public park systems, historic districts, or really inexpensive museums. Savannah is great for families looking to travel on a budget.

Are there good learning opportunities?

Sure, you might be on vacation, but if my kids aren’t seeing, doing, or learning something they couldn’t do at home – what’s the point? We don’t have to be in a museum to learn. Cities with rich histories or cultural diversity tend to have learning opportunities intrinsically woven into most experiences. A perfect example? Philadelphia’s Chinatown or Reading Terminal.

What do you look for in a city when planning a family vacation?

Photo: Britt Reints

The view from Mount Royal

Montreal is the most European, cosmopolitan city that I’ve seen in North America but one of the best and most unusual aspects about this stylish metropolis is that it boasts a mountain smack in the middle of the city.  Okay, some people might refer to it as a hill but at 764 feet, Montreal’s Mount Royal offers the best place to grab panoramic views of the city.

Bikers, hikers and walkers fill the trails as this is one of the most popular green spaces  in Montreal.  The mountain is surrounded by a lovely park landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same architect who designed New York’s Central Park.  The mountain can be a steep climb so sturdy shoes are a must but if you just want to sight see, a quick drive to the top is also an option. There are telescopes scattered around the lookout point and the view is gorgeous.  Just below Mount Royal is Beaver Lake, a favorite spot for ducks in the summer and ice skaters in the winter. The lush prettiness and great views make Mount Royal a must see. Recover from your mountain climbing at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, located in the heart of downtown Montreal and connected to the Underground City of walkways, it’s the most centrally located and accessible of  the downtown hotels and it’s mod decor makes cocktails at its bar a stylish treat.

Photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Tile and supplies

For interior design fans and art lovers in general, a visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Motawi Tileworks  supplies lots of hands on fun and loads of art history. Founded by artist siblings Nawal and Karim Motawi in 1992, this shop and studio sells one-of-a kind tiles as well as provides workshops for visitors to create their own.

Preparing clay to create tiles

I was one of those crafty kids who loved to make things from discarded items like shoe boxes and old socks. Like a lot of people, I grew out of hoarding crayons and art project supplies but not the urge to create. Motawi Tileworks transports you back to childhood when the sight of clay, paints and brushes inspired squeals of delight.  Greatly influenced by the Arts & Crafts period of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the studio supplies glazes and a palette of muted colors in keeping with that style. Of course I chose the brightest color available for my tile, which was a rich ocean blue.  Sitting down at a long table filled with dozens of buttons, beads and knick knacks to decorate my freshly made tile, I felt giddy with the chance to lose myself in creating art again.

An elegant set up at Tea Haus

The tiles are made with local clay and glazes mixed on site. I witnessed the  fascinating tile-making process before I sat down to create my own and I was eager to design my own piece. After fiddling with various shapes, I ended up using beads to mark the boarder of my tile  and ceramic letters to spell out my favorite phrase, “all is well.”  The shop fires and glazes the tile and then ships it to you.  Mine arrived washed in an even deeper blue after the firing, complete with a ridge on back for hanging.  Motawi Tileworks offers free tours on Thursdays at 11AM but reservations are required for the make-a tile workshops. After an afternoon stirring up your creative juices, head to the charming Tea Haus in downtown Ann Arbor to relax. The elegant tea room serves up a range of artisan teas along with a freshly prepared weekly menu that includes scones, finger sandwiches, soup and pastries.

Photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Disclosure-The tile workshop and tea samples were part of a sponsored media trip.

A display of hand-crafted carvings at the African Festival of the Arts

Every Labor Day weekend, thousands of  Chicago visitors travel to a bustling African village and experience the richness and diversity of the continent.  Expensive plane tickets and complex itineraries aren’t even required because this village is conveniently located on the lush grounds of historic Washington Park, in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. This 22nd annual event is Chicago’s largest neighborhood festival and attracts 300,000 attendees during four days of festivities.

Vibrant rows of traditional necklaces

Filled with an array of vendors, activities and performance, it typically takes a couple of days just to see everything at the festival. This year’s event runs September 2-5, 10AM-10PM and trust me, you need a lot of that time. My strategy is to go on the first day and scope out all the sellers I’m interested in and then go back on subsequent days to take a closer look. But that’s just for shopping. There’s also films, giveaways, art displays, an exotic food court and musical performances to demand your attention. The festival is divided up into pavilions to make navigation easier. There’s the Bank of the Nile for the food court displaying dishes from Africa, the Caribbean and points in between, a Film Pavilion that presents short and feature length films by directors of African ancestry, a Fine Arts Pavilion which showcases artists from all over the African Diaspora, an author and Book Pavilion which features book signings and sales, the Drum Village that provides interactive music and educational sessions, a Children’s Pavilion that supplies, games, arts and crafts, storytelling, dance and music, a Spirituality Pavilion that allows visitors to engage with African healers, priests, herbalists and spiritualists, a Health and Wellness Pavilion that highlights exercise, dance and sports demonstrations as well as health screenings and a Quilting Pavilion which explores the beauty and history of the quilting tradition in the African Diaspora.

Oil paintings by Nigerian artist Dayo Laoye

If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. This festival definitely requires pacing.  After browsing the range of sights and taste sensations, the live performers top the whole experience off.  This year’s headliners include funk icon Bootsy Collins, Grammy-Award Winning neo soul singer India Arie, gospel stars Mary Mary and a host of musicians representing Nigeria, Brazil, Haiti, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mali. Advance tickets are $10 and $15 at the gate. A $30 4-day pass is also available.  For a long weekend getaway, stay at the nearby Ramada Inn Lake Shore Chicago, which is close enough for families to take cat naps and then return to the fest for the evening performances.

Photos courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

The festival underway

The spirit of Montreal, Canada is vibrant and electric. It grabs you immediately and inspires you to explore this lovely and complex city. Although Montreal hosts scads of festivals, the one that truly embodies the free-spirited vibe is the Mount Royal Tam Tam Festival or Les Tam Tams  Du Mount Royal. Tam Tam means drum in French, which is the main language you’ll hear in Montreal, although most people speak English as well.  You’ll see very version of this percussive instrument played by every kind of person at this weekly Summer festival.

Spreading out at the foot of the famous Mount Royal and surrounding a statue of Sir George-Etienne Cartier, crowds of revelers, dancers, tourists, musicians and party people drum and dance from noon until sunset.  Excitement floats through the air as you approach the festival.  Although I attend dozens of festivals every year, the Tam Tams is special. Locals and visitors drop any inhibitions and connect through music.  For over 20 years, the festival has unfolded every summer Sunday in Mount Royal Park and I could see the joy that the ritual has created.  I witnessed a grandmother in a sari dance with a shirtless teen. I watched a man with a long gray beard twirl around with his dog and I saw pre-teen girls in ponytails grab tambourines to join men pounding on djembe drums.  People bring instruments or they borrow them from revelers and just join in. Vendors line up under trees  and sell handmade clothing, jewelry, hats and instruments . There’s also a cart selling cones, frozen treats and water so you can stay all day if you want. I tore myself away after three hours. The festival runs until September 25 and is free.  After spending hours under the intense sun, I headed to Hyatt Regency Montreal  and sank down at the chic bar to sip a custom made cocktail.

Photo courtesy of Montreal Tam Tam Festival

Some of the best(?) Public Art is found on university campuses. Even artists experiment in college. Who knew?

Now you, the avid reader, get to guess where this piece is located. I’ll give you some hints. The answer is at the bottom.

Things to do: Are you a fan of Oscar Anderson’s house? Of course you are. Now in museum form!

If you like your museums a little more gun-filled, check out the Law Enforcement Museum (where rules are strongly enforced).

Do you like the food? Who doesn’t? Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria has what you’re looking for (as long as you’re looking for beer and pizza). But that’s not all! The Sourdough Mining Company gives a historic look at how early settlers used to mine for sourdough bread until someone realized they could just bake it.

Have you guessed it yet?

Here’s an easy one:

The Puffin Inn offers a great place to stay for families with young children. Wait. That didn’t really help. How about, you can also stay at the Anchorage Grand Hotel. They have cable!

If you said Anchorage, Alaska then you are a genius. Seriously, it’s true. This piece of public art can be found on the campus of the University of Alaska in Anchorage. You can’t miss it.

This post is part of the UpTake Public Art Series.

Photo: echoforsberg via Flickr

North Carolina Capitol, photo credit

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

This underrated little city is a great place for a family on a budget. The downtown area offers free museums and inexpensive children’s programs all summer long. Hop on a bike or go for a walk to explore the historical residential neighborhoods that surround the business district. You can also catch a play or checkout the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in August.

While you’re in town, make a point of seeking out one of the many restaurants that serve dishes made with local ingredients. For dessert, head to the nearest Locopops for a truly unique after-dinner treat.

2. Baltimore, Maryland

Often overlooked because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore is a city worth visiting all on its own. Catch a baseball game at Camden Yards, visit the visually stunning aquarium at the Inner Harbor, or checkout one of the world’s most impressive comic book collections at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum.

If you like to squeeze a little learning into your trips, be sure to make a stop at the B&O  Railroad Museum. The entire city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011 through 2014, and you’ll find an extensive display at the museum that goes far beyond really cool trains (although there’s plenty of that!)

Myrtle Beach, photo credit

3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Leave the books at home and head out for a vacation of pure fun on the Carolina coast. You can spend your time visiting aquariums and playing mini-golf on some of the crazy put-put courses you’ll ever see, or just hit the beach for sand castles and body surfing. For a special night on the town, grab tickets to the Carolina Opry, a show that will make kids from 6 to 96 laugh out loud.

While you’re in Myrtle Beach, head south for a day or two to Murrells Inlet. You’ll find fish shacks, dynamite seafood, and a state park with a home that looks more like a castle than a house.