Q: We're going to Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York City this October. What activities there would appeal to our sons, ages 7 and 10?
- Craig Kurtz, Phoenix
A: Craig sent me this question awhile ago and has been patiently waiting, so he gets today's superlong reply.
In Connecticut, Mystic Seaport (mysticseaport.org) offers a slew of activities that appeal to kids (and, quite frankly, to me!): exploring sailing ships; taking a short cruise aboard a 100-year-old steamer (or a choice of several other ships); strolling the streets of a 19th-century seafaring village; taking part in the Dead Horse Ceremony; and visiting the Children's Museum and Discovery Barn, where kids can learn to furl a sail, use signal flags to send messages, swab a deck and clean clothes using a washboard (somehow laundry is more interesting when it's historical). And on Oct. 11-13, the seaport is hosting Chowderfest, which features chowder, of course, but also cider, music and a "clammy" art project for kids.
Or, if nature has cooperated and given you gorgeous fall colors, the family can take in the autumn foliage with the Essex Steam Train and Steamboat (essexsteamtrain.com).
Now, here's something cool and possibly a little slimy: At the Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Conn., in addition to tours of lighthouses and forts, there's a "touch tank" program. Visitors can hold live sea creatures from the Long Island Sound. Normally this is for school groups, but I talked to Terry McCool with the East Shore park rangers, and he said if you call him at 203-946-8790, he can arrange to meet you there one afternoon and let your family explore the touch tank. Details: cityofnewhaven.com/parks; click on "Parks Information," then "Lighthouse Point."
Newport, R.I., is known for its beautiful old mansions; find information on touring 11 properties at newportmansions.org. There are aspects of the mansions that especially appeal to kids (the Green Animals Topiary Garden, etc.), but you know your family best. If a drive-by view would suit them better than a tour of the buildings, check out oceandrivenewport.com for detailed directions on a 10-mile Ocean Drive that includes Fort Adams.
If the kids need to burn off some energy, the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk (cliffwalk.com) has views of mansions on one side, rocky coastline on the other, plus a tunnel, a bridge and other fun.
Also in Newport, see living history at the Astors' Beechwood Mansion (astorsbeechwood.com), where actors play the parts of a Victorian family and servants. Visitors are treated as guests of the family and get a glimpse of a time gone by.
If you'll be in Providence the evening of Oct. 11, there will be a lighting of Water Fire, an art installation of 100 bonfires on the three rivers of downtown, with musical accompaniment (waterfire.org). I figure boys always like fire, and reviews on TripAdvisor call it amazing.
New York City could be a column on its own. A few tidbits to get you started: Introduce the kids to the city with a double-decker bus tour (one such company is Gray Line, coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing), find a fun Broadway musical or children's show, check out Chinatown, see the Statue of Liberty (www.nps.gov/stli), visit the American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org) and try out two kinds of "stellar" dining with Mars 2112 (mars2112.com), a 35,000-square-foot space-themed restaurant, and Ellen's Stardust Diner (ellensstardustdiner.com), both at Broadway and 51st Street.
Be warned: Reviews are mixed of the food at Mars 2112, but really, when you have aliens wandering around and a three-story "Crystal Crater," I'm not sure food should be the priority.
Have a travel question? E-mail traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com. Put "Compass Points" in the subject line, and include your name and city.
- Craig Kurtz, Phoenix
A: Craig sent me this question awhile ago and has been patiently waiting, so he gets today's superlong reply.
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In Connecticut, Mystic Seaport (mysticseaport.org) offers a slew of activities that appeal to kids (and, quite frankly, to me!): exploring sailing ships; taking a short cruise aboard a 100-year-old steamer (or a choice of several other ships); strolling the streets of a 19th-century seafaring village; taking part in the Dead Horse Ceremony; and visiting the Children's Museum and Discovery Barn, where kids can learn to furl a sail, use signal flags to send messages, swab a deck and clean clothes using a washboard (somehow laundry is more interesting when it's historical). And on Oct. 11-13, the seaport is hosting Chowderfest, which features chowder, of course, but also cider, music and a "clammy" art project for kids.
Or, if nature has cooperated and given you gorgeous fall colors, the family can take in the autumn foliage with the Essex Steam Train and Steamboat (essexsteamtrain.com).
Now, here's something cool and possibly a little slimy: At the Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven, Conn., in addition to tours of lighthouses and forts, there's a "touch tank" program. Visitors can hold live sea creatures from the Long Island Sound. Normally this is for school groups, but I talked to Terry McCool with the East Shore park rangers, and he said if you call him at 203-946-8790, he can arrange to meet you there one afternoon and let your family explore the touch tank. Details: cityofnewhaven.com/parks; click on "Parks Information," then "Lighthouse Point."
Newport, R.I., is known for its beautiful old mansions; find information on touring 11 properties at newportmansions.org. There are aspects of the mansions that especially appeal to kids (the Green Animals Topiary Garden, etc.), but you know your family best. If a drive-by view would suit them better than a tour of the buildings, check out oceandrivenewport.com for detailed directions on a 10-mile Ocean Drive that includes Fort Adams.
If the kids need to burn off some energy, the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk (cliffwalk.com) has views of mansions on one side, rocky coastline on the other, plus a tunnel, a bridge and other fun.
Also in Newport, see living history at the Astors' Beechwood Mansion (astorsbeechwood.com), where actors play the parts of a Victorian family and servants. Visitors are treated as guests of the family and get a glimpse of a time gone by.
If you'll be in Providence the evening of Oct. 11, there will be a lighting of Water Fire, an art installation of 100 bonfires on the three rivers of downtown, with musical accompaniment (waterfire.org). I figure boys always like fire, and reviews on TripAdvisor call it amazing.
New York City could be a column on its own. A few tidbits to get you started: Introduce the kids to the city with a double-decker bus tour (one such company is Gray Line, coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing), find a fun Broadway musical or children's show, check out Chinatown, see the Statue of Liberty (www.nps.gov/stli), visit the American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org) and try out two kinds of "stellar" dining with Mars 2112 (mars2112.com), a 35,000-square-foot space-themed restaurant, and Ellen's Stardust Diner (ellensstardustdiner.com), both at Broadway and 51st Street.
Be warned: Reviews are mixed of the food at Mars 2112, but really, when you have aliens wandering around and a three-story "Crystal Crater," I'm not sure food should be the priority.
Tales-of-woe contest
We're still debating the winners; look for those next week.Have a travel question? E-mail traveleditor@arizonarepublic.com. Put "Compass Points" in the subject line, and include your name and city.
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