meb123's Passport
 | Been to 186 Attractions |
 | 135 Reviews |
 | 68 First to Review |
 | 439 Photos |
 | 66 Helpful Votes |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
We are a family of 5. We love to travel and to see new things. We look for a educational experience in everything we do and my we do a lot. Our kids are so used to being on the go that they have tremendous stamina. We try to plan 2 large trips every year and supplement them with weekend get-aways, staycations and a day jaunt now and again. Our kids are always wondering what the next spot will be.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, energetic
We Just Got Back From
Marco Island and the Florida Everglades
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Rhode Island beaches
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Africa
Favorite Vacation Memory
Watching the kids lug their car seats through the airport on their first plane ride.
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
My youngest got sick with the stomach bug at 4 am in the morning 1 hour before our plane ride to get to St' John USVI. We had to make it through 2 plane legs, 1 long taxi ride, a ferry ride and a 45 minute rental car ride to our villa with her being sick!!!
Websites I Like:
Kid-friendly ideas for spring break in New England
Want to escape the cold this winter for break? Pick one or a couple of these spots nearby depending on the time you have to enjoy some family fun.
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, Connecticut
Comment:
Mystic Aquarium is mostly indoors and given this mild winter heading outside in April should be beautiful. Outdoors there are frog pond, Sea lions and penguins. Also in Mystic you can visit the Seaport or even head to the beach.
reviewed on: January 07 2010
"Great day trip for CT residents"
We have 3 animal lovers in our family and they love to spend the day at the aquarium. We have been members here for a couple of years, and for a family of 5 or greater if you visit 2 or more times it pays for itself. It is a smaller aquarium, but there is much to see both indoors and out. Indoors there is a touching pool which all the kids love. You can pick up crabs, starfish, clams etc...and there is always a docent on hand to answer questions.Additionally indoors is the only show the aquarium has regarding sea lion training. In a semi-outside covered spot is a ray feeding area. For a $2.00 fee you can feed cow nosed rays (stingers removed). Our kids would spend all day doing this if we let them. Outside you can see rescued seals(a pet project of the aquarium), penguins, beluga whales, sea lions and seals. Seasonally for the past 2 years there has been a Birds of the Outback exhibit where you can feed free flying parakeets and related birds. We parents are not too keen on this one as the birds are easily spooked, seem to never be hungry and of course always seem to be looking for a clean head of hair to do there business on. The kids really enjoy it however and it becomes a test of wills to see if we can get them out of there or if they will get a bird to land on their food stick before we shoo them out!!! There is also a fantastic display about underwater exploration and a 3d movie ride. Our kids (ages 5,8,8) ask to go here all the time and expect to go during our annual shore vacation as it is close to where we stay.
250 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, Connecticut
Comment:
The Connecticut Science Center is a hands on science museum for kids of all ages. We enjoy the mind control and weather exhibits. In Hartford you can also visit the Mark Twain house.
281 Greenfield Road
South Deerfield, Massachusetts
Comment:
Get warm and cozy in the Magic Wings conservatory. This place feel like a tropical island all year long and is annually a part of our spring break ritual. We can sit for hours waiting for the butterflies to come land on us and pretend we are in the islands.
reviewed on: August 21 2009
"kids love to have butterflies lan on them"
We go to Magic wings every year in April. The kids love to have the butterflies land on them. They also have some lizards and other insects on site. There is also usually chicks hatching. You can easily spend a couple of hours looking at the butterflies, taking pictures and waiting to have one land on you. Be prepared..it is hot and muggy. If you want one to land on you wear a flower colored shirt and put a little apple or pineapple juice on the backs of your hands. BUT do not touch the butterflies.
21 Edwards Street
Springfield, Massachusetts
Comment:
In Springfield spend the day or a couple of days exploring the historic Quadrangle museums. Check out the Suess sculptures outside and feel like your part of the book.
reviewed on: August 21 2009
"changing exhibits"
The kids have enjoyed going to this museum (ages 7,7,4) and the different exhibits they bring in. The planetary section always seems to catch their interest the most. The sculpture garden outside is interesting because many of the Dr. Suess characters are familiar to them and those they are not familiar with they ask to read about. A good day diversion. Chech if you are a memeber of your local museum,they may have a reciprocity agreement and you may not have to pay to enter.
Boston, Massachusetts
Comment:
With the Boston City Pass use is to discover up to 5 attractions including the Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Harvards Natural History museum. Then spend some time strolling through beautiful Boston.
95 Main St.
Freeport, Maine
Comment:
Check out the beautiful Maine beaches and the flagship store of LL Bean in Freeport.It will still be cold but you can also head for Acadia and do some camping.
424 Bellevue Ave
Newport, Rhode Island
Comment:
Newport has much to offer on its beautiful beaches. Check out the mansions from Newport's last gilded age. You can even imagine yourself sipping a lemonade on the lawns of these imposing cottages then do it.
reviewed on: March 12 2012
"Magnificent Homes and History"
We recently visited the Elms an historic mansion in Newport RI. This is one of several mansions from Newport’s gilded age including The Breakers and the Marble House among others.These magnificent summer cottages were built in the days of steel and railroad tycoons and in the days of no income taxes. Families such as the Vanderbilts and Berwinds spent their money on these fabulous homes that they used only in the summer months every year.
The Elms was fantastic. The mansion was built in the early 1900’s for Mr. Edward Berwind, a coal tycoon. It was a good lesson in history and economics for the kids to see how the wealthy people from another era lived. The rooms were marvelously decorated by French designers and then restored for the public in the 1960’s and 1970’s by the Newport Preservation Society which saved and now owns these historic homes and is constantly restoring them. Draperies, wall-covering s, magnificent works of art, household items and furniture are intact and visible while you walk through the home and learn about the function and history of the rooms on a self-guided audio tour. Other mansions offer docent guided tours and only the Breakers is open year round. The others are open during special times and on weekends before summer’s arrival.
Children are welcome to visit the mansions, but strollers and carriages are not. Obviously nothing can be touched so it is important that you consider the age and maturity of your child when you visit. Our youngest is 7 and she did not have a problem understanding and abiding by the rules as she was very interested in learning about another way of life. I imagine this would not apply to all kids. She was eager to hear about how the kids played and stayed in the house and the way of life during the gilded age. We were all interested in the maintaining of such a grand house and property. We also viewed the kitchen in the bellows of the home to learn about cooking for such a large staff and the many guests at the house.
We would have liked to have toured another mansion but ran out of time. I think the mansions are best appreciated in small doses for most kids (and adults) so a multi-mansion tour might be too much. We would like to head back and visit a different one so we could remember and compare to this one.
Admission into the mansions is most economical when visiting more than one. The 5 property package is $31.50 for adults and $10 for kids aged 6-17. One property tour cost $5.50 for kids and $14.50 for adults.
Disclosure: I was provided complimentary admission to the Elms for myself and family as part of a VIP tour of Newport. I was not asked to provide any specific review, nor did this influence my opinion.
4323 Vermont 108
Jeffersonville, Vermont
Comment:
Use Smugglers Notch as a base for your Vermont explorations. Skiing might still be going on, but if you do not want to ski go for a hike then head back to Smuggs for some pool and hot tub relaxation.
310 Mount Washington Hotel Road
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire
Comment:
The Omni provide luxurious accommodations in the beautiful and historic Mount Washington resort. Spring activities include hiking,biking, lift rides,golf, year round skating, an equestrian center and magnificent meals and amenities.
