Tag Archives: fun

Educational Adventures, Fall Family Adventure, Halloween, Parenting, Things to Do, Travel

Salem, Mass–Haunted Happenings, Witches and Halloween Fun

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As I write this I’m sitting here watching a show on the travel channel about what went down in the 1600s in Salem. It’s still so hard to understand that a whole town went crazy over a bunch of kids trying to get out of doing housechores and this crazy puritanical cult life they found themselves in.

But last October we took a ride up to Salem to check out the scene and we had a great time. We went to the witch museum and learned more about the story. Did you know if you coveted your neighbor’s property and would like to see it up for auction so you can take a shot at it, all you have to do is accuse them of being a witch. What a crazy time.

But how ironic is it that the place is now an awesome place to rock out Halloween. Here’s some of the details:

Places to Go for Family Fun: Salem Massachusetts

Salem Massachusetts is one of the oldest seaports in America, and infamous for what happened to twenty innocent people back in 1692. These people, puritans, became victims of mass hHalloween in Salem Mass , Places to Travel with Kidsysteria known as the Salem Witch Trials and it’s been chronicled in the famous book by Arthur Miller, The Crucible.

 

Salem During Halloween

One of the beHaunted Happenings in Salem, Places to Go with The Kids for Travel Adventurest times to visit Salem is during the month of October, during it’s Haunted Happenings season.

Haunted Happenings in Salem, Places to Go for Family Fun on Halloween

Over 250,000 people come to visit and be a part of the grand parade, fireworks, masquerade balls, live music, haunted houses and chilling theater.

Check out the fun show at the Gallows Hill Theater

Even spookier is the Psychic Fair and Festival of the Dead. 

The future with a psychic reading at Salem’s longest-running psychic fair! Hosted by Christian Day, Brian Cain, and the Witches of Salem, The Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo features the Witch City’s most gifted Psychics, each one officially licensed by the city of Salem! Wander an emporium of magical gifts, meet real practicing Witches, and make an appointment with one of Salem’s talented psychic readers as you delve into your destiny!

Besides all the witchy stuff, Salem is also a great place to learn about colonial seaport life.

Salem’s History

Salem also played a major role in American History. Located at the mouth of the Naumkeag river at the site of an ancient Native American village and trading center, Salem was first settled by Europeans in 1626, when a company of fishermen[16] from Cape Ann led by Roger Conant arrived.

During the Revolution, the town became a center for privateering. Although the documentation is incomplete, about 1,700 Letters of Marque, issued on a per-voyage basis, were granted during the American Revolution. Nearly 800 vessels were commissioned as privateers and are credited with capturing or destroying about 600 British ships.[34] During the War of 1812, privateering resumed.

Now, tourism is the backbone of Salem’s economy. Tourism based on the 1692 witch trials dates back to at least the first half of the 20th century, when dry goods merchant Daniel Low sold souvenir spoons with witch images. Such tourism expanded significantly in the 1970s, when the television situation comedy Bewitched filmed several episodes in the city.[134] Witch-related tourism expanded significantly in the 1990s

How To, Parenting, Summer Adventure, Summer Travel, Things to Do, Travel

Surfing Lessons for the Kids (and You) Waikiki Beach, Honolulu Hawaii

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Surfing is a great sport for kids. It gets them out in the fresh air, surf and sun, teaches them balance and is something the whole family can do. But you don’t want to take them out into the big surf without being prepared. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Hawaii is where surfing was invented. There’s a great section of the beach that for all intents and purposes makes for a perfect bunny hill for wave riding. There are non stop lessons going on everywhere you look.  We visited Waikiki to check out the surf and we weren’t disappointed. We got together with friends and took lessons through Big Wave Dave’s Surf Shop. It was a great day of mom and daughter bonding. At one point we even got up on the boards at the same time. That’s something we’ll never forget. Big Wave Dave is where my friend, a Hawaii local takes her kids for lessons and I couldn’t recommend them more. Prices are reasonable and you can get a package of professionally shot photographs (with a long range telephoto lens) to capture the moment. Click here to sign up for surfing lessons   kids learning to surf Hawaii Waikiki Beach

Fall Family Adventure

Take the Kids Apple Picking This Fall

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It’s always a bit sad to have to say goodbye to summer but the upside to it is that Fall is on it’s way, in all its colorful glory. And one of the fun things about the fall is of course apple picking.  Just about every state has some form of pick your own apple farms.

There’s nothing like getting out in the country with your family and friends and spending the day in the apple orchards. Of course with that often comes sampling homemade doughnuts and apple cider.

Don’t forget there’s also a range of other things to do while you are out there. Puppet shows, baby animal petting zoos, games, hay rides, mini-villages and towns for kids to play in. There’s always something to do at the orchard besides just picking apples.

Here are some tips to make your trip the best it can be.

1) Check the hours of the orchard. Also it’s a good idea to check their websites for updates on when the apples will be ready.

2) Leave the pets at home. There are usually a lot of people and not every facility is pet friendly. It’s best to leave the pup at home.

3) Don’t eat the apples in the fields. The orchards make their money once a year on apple picking and they work hard to make it a great experience for you. Don’t cheat them. Make sure to bring your apples back for weighing, then wash them and chow down.

4) Line up the recipes. You will never be able to eat all the apples that you pick whole. You will of course, pick far more apples than you need, if there are any kids involved in the process. Plan to do some apple pie baking. Apple sauce is a great idea.

5) Make it a tradition. Kids look forward to annual expeditions with you. It’s an adventure your family will always remember.

For the best places to go apple picking, check out this list.

Apple Picking in Any State

Varieties of apples and seasons vary

Places to Apple Pick in New York Area

New York season usually starts after labor day and ends in October. Don’t wait until Halloween, there’s usually not much left on the trees by them.

Picking apples in Massachusetts

September to mid October marks the peak of apple picking season in Massachusetts

Pick your own apples in California

New England doesn’t get to have all the Fall fun, so too do the left coast dwellers. Sept to October is prime season for apple picking.

San Francisco Bay Area

Apple Picking in the Oak Glen Area

Here’s a video that explains how to pick the best, healthiest apples.

How To, Summer Adventure, Things to Do

Taking The Kids on A Whale Watching Adventure Canadian Style

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If you’re like me, you’ve probably gone on at least one whale watch in your life. Maybe it was a big tour boat, while at the Jersey shore. But if you are ready to up your game in some serious adventure-quality whale watching, then you need to take a ride to Les Escoumin in Quebec. It’s about a 12 hour drive due north of New York City so a four day weekend, is definitely doable.

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Les Escoumin is a little town of about 2000 people located on the St Lawrence River that offers so much for the adventure seeking parent. It’s one of the oldest “high north country” towns on the river. There’s fishing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, scuba diving, kayaking, and blueberry picking, but today we’ll focus on whale watching. In my opinion, whale watching is particularly awesome in Les Escoumin. For starters you can take a ride in a zodiac, the kind you see GreenPeace zipping around in to get between the whaling ships and whales. They are rubber dinghys with a motor and they allow you to get super up close to whole pods of whales.  Here’s a good video I found that shows what you can expect. The boat launched from a nearby town. 

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For your adventure you’ll don an survival suit (The St Lawrence is super cold with Arctic water). Yes, a survival suit. The next thing you’ll do is zip out with the crew to find the whales. There are minkes, blues, beluga, orca, dolphins, and seals. When I went I didn’t know which way to look first. If you really want to get eyeball to eyeball with a whale this is the place.

At LES ÉCUMEURS DU SAINT-LAURENT, the season is from May 30 to early October. Prices at start at $48 Canadian for adults and $38 for kids under 14.
When you are finished with your amazing whale tour, you’ll be happy to know you are in French Canada. And what are the French known for? Food! There are wonderful restaurants, cafes and bakeries in Les Escoumin.To book a room or find out more about Les Escoumin, click here.

More places to book a hotel and tour.