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Five Family Fun Features For: Phoenix

It's been a while since the last FFFF, so here's a new list of five things to do with kids, this time in Phoenix.  Mind you, although each of these activities was researched for their kid-friendly appeal, we didn't experience all of them with TJ on our recent Phoenix trip because we raised the white flag and focused much of our time on item number one:

1. Do Nothing.  Okay, technically it's not nothing, but even pre-TJ, our favorite things to do in Phoenix were just enjoy the weather (at least for non-summer visitors) and whatever hotel we're staying at.  TJ seemed to agree, as his favorite activities on this trip included checking out the Phoenix playground scene and spending as much time possible at the hotel pool.  Which leads to #2:
2. Room With A Pool.  Again, if you're like us, one of the reasons you're traveling to Phoenix is for the weather.  So, if you're going to be spending some time at the pool, try to choose a hotel with a good one.  We really like the Hilton Tapatio Cliffs, which we've stayed at both with and without TJ.  They have a great pool setup, with several smaller pools spread throughout the sprawling cliffside resort. They also have the Falls Water Village, which contains a number of gorgeous pools, cabanas, mini waterfalls, a 138-foot water slide, and even a zero-depth entry to one of their main pools for the little ones.  In addition, the Falls Village hosts a "Kids Korral" in the summer, with programs for kids 5-12 (or younger if accompanied by an adult)  On top the great pool scene, Tapatio Cliffs is an all-suite hotel, which gives both kids and adults all the space they'll need.  Or, in TJ's case, absolute silence to sleep. 
3. Airport to Fiesta in 15 Minutes.  Phoenix has tons of great Mexican restaurants.  You almost can't go wrong picking a place.  Of course, Mexican food tastes even better when eaten with happy kids, which is why you might want to stop at Tradiciones in the Phoenix Ranch Market, just a few miles from Sky Harbor Airport.  The food and margaritas are great, but the huge restaurant's family friendly touches make it a must-stop.  If your kids are entertained by either strolling mariachi bands or made-to-order balloon animals (or in TJ's case, a made-to-order balloon mariachi) you may have time for appetizers, entrees, and dessert.  If you could possibly find room for it all. 
4. Spy Ten-foot High Cacti.  If you don't think your kids will get excited about a trip to the Phoenix Botanical Garden, just tell them you're dropping them in the middle of the desert (because who wouldn't love that?).  That's really what this garden feels like.  The 50-acre exhibit contains more than 100 desert-based plant species, but the true stars are the enormous cacti that greet you at seemingly every turn. 
5. Do Stuff.  We had a long list of kid-friendly Phoenix attractions we never managed (nor actually tried) to cross off, including: the Phoenix Zoo (which was voted one of the nation's top 5 zoos for kids and is right next to the botanical garden); Out of Africa Wildlife Park; McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park; Steele Indian School Park; Arizona Doll & Toy Museum (right across from Pizzeria Bianco, but it unfortunately closes an hour before the pizzeria even opens), and Castles and Coasters.  Again, since we weren't industrious enough to actually get to these places with TJ, the links will provide more information than I ever could.  Let me know how they are. . . .

Five Family Fun Features For: Milwaukee

I'll admit, Milwaukee doesn't usually jump to mind as a family travel destination.  Actually, unless you're watching a Laverne and Shirley rerun, Milwaukee may not jump to mind at all.  But anyone who has been to Milwaukee can tell you what a great, underrated city it is.  And it's got some fun stuff to do with kids, too:

1. Swim in the Winter.  Your kids don't have to join the polar bear club to swim during a Midwest winter.  Milwaukee's Hilton hotel has Paradise Landing, a 20,000 square foot indoor water park.  Sure, there may be bigger indoor water parks elsewhere, but how many of them are smack in the middle of a sizable city?  You don't necessarily have to stay at the Hilton to use the water park, but the hotel is a little cryptic about non-guests using it.  Their policy states that, while you don't have to stay at the Hilton, guests are given preference if there's a capacity issue (hard to imagine).  You also have to check directly with the hotel to determine a rate-- they don't post one on the website, except for special room rates that include Paradise Landing admission.
2. Get Artsy.  Although kids and art museums often go together like peanut butter and, well, peanut allergies, consider the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) a more hypoallergenic museum for kids.  The main attraction is the building itself, featuring architect Santiago Calatrava's Burke Brise Soleil, a movable, wing-like sunscreen comprised of 72 steel fins, resting on top of the glass-enclosed reception hall.  I lifted most of that description from the MAM's website because, to me, it's almost indescribable.  Wings or a sail are the two simplest descriptions, but I'll cop out with the old adage you've got to see it to believe it.  Once you get inside the museum, the art collection is almost as impressive.  The museum itself is also quite kid friendly, offering up family-friendly viewing tips and even a children's audio tour.  Just don't get so caught up in the collection that you forget to watch Calatrava's shell open or close.
3. Witness the Running of the Encased Meats.  Any baseball fan worth his sodium knows about the Miller Park sausage race.  After the bottom of the sixth inning, five different seven-foot sausages line up for a race around the stadium:  bratwurst, hot dog, polish sausage, Italian sausage, and (since 2006) chorizo.   Needless to say it's just about every kid's (and many adults') favorite minute of the game.  Oh, and while you're there, you can watch the Brewers play baseball before and after the race. 
4. Have A Taste of Germany.  Milwaukee has a rich German heritage.  What better way to experience it than through your stomach?  Take the family to one of Milwaukee's old-school German restaurants, like Mader's or Karl Ratzsch's.  Both have a distinct German feel and menu (although other menu options exist, including children's menus) and both are family-friendly.  I've only eaten at Mader's, so that'll get my vote for now, although I'm hoping to educate myself on the other party's candidate sometime soon.
5. Ask Mom(s).  Frankly, I wasn't sure what to put as a fifth family-friendly option in Milwaukee, so I did some web searching to brainstorm.  Instead of a place or event, I'll give you a resource I stumbled upon:  MilwaukeeMoms.com.  This site acts like a lilaguide for Milwaukee, offering some useful topics for visitors, like listings of kid-friendly restaurants, places, and parks. 

Get a sitter and: Have a "big city" night out at smaller-town prices.  Although Milwaukee certainly doesn't have the quantity of great restaurants that places like New York or Chicago do, it has a few that can match in quality.  If you'd like to start at the top, visit Sanford.  Consider chef Sandy D'Amato the Jean-Georges or Charlie Trotter of Milwaukee.  Sure, Sanford is probably Milwaukee's most expensive restaurant, but a similar meal would cost you at least double in the other cities mentioned.  And, speaking of starting at the top, a great place for a pre- (or post-)dinner drink is Blu, the martini bar at the top of Milwaukee's grand old Pfister hotel.  Although the bar doesn't have any of the antique-y charm the rest of the hotel possesses, it makes up for it with great cocktails, great views, and, on Friday and Saturday nights, some pretty good live music. 

Five Family Fun Features For: Montreal

Want to take the kids to Europe, but dread the six-to-nine hour flight?  Not sure if your children would enjoy Europe at their age?  Why not test the waters with a much shorter trip to Montreal?  The city's official language is French (although most everyone speaks nearly flawless English as well), it has a decidedly European feel, and, although the loonie has gained about 40% on the U.S. dollar the last few years, it's still looking a lot better than the Euro, exchange rate-wise. 

And, there's plenty to do with kids in both their nice summers and brutal winters (I haven't been in spring and fall, but I'm guessing there's stuff to do then, too):

1. Biodome.  No, not that awful Pauly Shore movie (which your kids may also like), but a great place to explore when it's too cold to do much outside.  The Biodome is a huge, well. . .  dome, containing four different ecosystems.  In layman's terms, you can go from seeing sloths in a tropical forest to penguins in the Antarctic in about 10 minutes.  All the ecosystems have great layouts so that you're walking right through the middle of the exhibit, surrounded by plants and animals (safely on a railed walkway). 
2. Mont Royal.  At a little over 750 feet, it's not exactly Everest. But, for a mountain in the middle of a major city, Mont Royal is pretty cool and offers several activities.  You can: take in great views at the Chalet du Mont-Royal; go for horse-drawn carriage or sleigh rides, picnic in the summer; and zoom down the hill on rented inner-tubes in the winter (Travelin' Mom's imitation of the "agony of defeat" ski-jumper from the Wide World of Sports opening still remains a personal travel highlight.  At least after determining she was unharmed).  Or you can just join the masses of tourists and locals going for a nice walk.  That being said, it's also a long walk, so getting transportation to the top and then walking down is the way to go.
3. Jean-Talon Market.  If you ask your kids what they'd like to do today, "Walk around an outdoor food market" probably won't crack the top 20.  But, the Jean-Talon Market is no ordinary market.  It seems like it's where tout de Montreal comes for its produce.  There's a flurry of activity on the weekends and an equally dizzying array of free samples to keep kids interested and happy.  And, if all else fails, bribe them with the best ice cream and sorbet in the city at  the Havres aux Glaces' store in the market.  They have tons of unique flavors, but ignore the vanilla at your own peril. 
4. Vieux Montreal.  Old Montreal, although a tad touristy compared to some other areas, is the most European-looking part of Montreal (which probably explains why it's a tourist magnet).  Old Montreal has beautiful architecture and there's plenty to do with kids.  The entire area is easily walkable and contains tons of fun shops and restaurants (along with a few too many t-shirt/souvenir shops).  The Notre Dame Basilica, which dates back to 1829 and rivals some of the best European churches, is a must-see, while kids will enjoy the Old Port area, with skating (ice in winter, in-line in summer), biking, a giant maze, and more.   
5. Jardin Botanique.  I'm not much for botanical gardens, but this one's pretty cool, with 30 different themed gardens and ten greenhouses open year-round. 

Get a sitter and: eat to excess.  Montreal is a great food city and Au Pied de Cochon has been catching a lot of foodie buzz lately.  With ribs the size of your arm and a pork chop as thick as a dictionary, you won't go hungry.  And don't get me started on the foie gras.  I think APdC has a team of scientists working around the clock to discover new places to stick duck liver.  While APdC is somewhat pricey, it's also sort of casual and definitely loud, so you could even bring your kids with you.  I don't think they have a children's menu, but I'm sure they could fashion you a four-pound chicken nugget if you ask nicely. 

Five Family Fun Features For: Austin

Same rules, different week.  Here are five fun things to do with your family in Austin, Texas:

1. Park it.  If your kid had to describe his dream park, it would probably sound a lot like Zilker Park.  Where to begin?  Probably at the playground, which is massive and includes a full size-antique fire engine that the kids can climb on and pretend to steer.  TJ logged about 50 fake miles our last visit there.  Now you're probably saying, "Big deal, every town's got a playground."  But does every town's playground also have  a miniature working train?  The Zilker Zephyr is a 3-mile ride that loops around the playground and other parts of the park.  And, if your kids gets overheated in the Texas sun from all that activity, they can always cool off in the Barton Springs pool, a massive 3-acre swimming pool fed by underground springs that keep the water temperature a cool (refreshing?) 68 degrees year-round. 
2. Go Batty.  From about mid-March to early November (with the best time being the summer months) kids of all ages will be amazed by the nightly flight of the million-strong Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony.  The bats take off around sunset in search of food.  If you're looking for a more specific time, check in at the desks of one of the hotels Near Town Lake and the bridge, like the Embassy Suites or the Four Seasons, or call the bat hotline (no, its not a red phone) at 512-416-5700.  For best viewing, try the bat observation area at the bridge's southeast corner. 
3. Longhorns and Turtles.  You'll figure out pretty fast that the University of Texas resides in Austin, as every other item of clothing you'll see is either burnt orange, contains a longhorn, or both.  But, that's a good thing, as the campus is a fun place to visit.  There's the UT Tower, which, in 1966 was the infamous site to one of the earliest school mass shootings.  Between that and subsequent student suicide jumps, the tower was closed for many years.  It reopened in 1998 and provides great views of the campus.  There's also fun shopping and eating along "The Drag"-- Guadalupe street between 19th and 29th.  If you're lucky to go during a football weekend, you'll see the campus at a whole different level.  Pre-game tailgates abound, with locals usually welcoming a visitor with a Shiner beer and whatever meat product they're grilling this week.  Should you go to the game, you may be more impressed by Memorial Stadium's new "Godzillatron", one of the largest high definition video screens in the world, than by the 2005 national champs.  If you're looking for something a little more serene, check out the turtle pond just north of the UT Tower.  TJ loved watching the fish and turtles bobbing through the water. 
4. Dinner at Chuy's . . .  Chuy's may only be a Mexican restaurant, but it's a destination unto itself.   Chuy's serves fresh, inexpensive tex-mex and great frozen margaritas while doubling as an Elvis shrine.  Kids love the tacky decor and laid-back attitude.  Chuy's also has a great kids menu, with everything from Mexican offerings to the usual burger and chicken fingers (and even those are really good).  There are three Chuy's in Austin, with the original at Barton Springs Road.  The one warning-- they don't take reservations and waits can easily exceed an hour or more at peak times. 
5. . . . Dessert at Amy's.  If you miraculously still have room after eating at Chuy's, head to one of the ten Austin locations of Amy's Ice Cream for dessert (if not, go the next day!).  Although the 14 percent butter fat ice cream is fantastic (you haven't had vanilla until you've had Amy's Mexican vanilla), it's never too tough to win kids over with ice cream.  But, Amy's has an equally impressive floor show to match its flavor.  After picking your ice cream, you choose what "crush'ns" you'd like mixed in.  Then, the usually eccentric, always entertaining counter help will furiously chop and flip the ingredients together like Benihana chefs, usually throwing in a few aerial tricks for good measure  (think Tom Cruise's bartending moves in Cocktail, but not nearly as cheesy).  The end result:  some entertained, well-fed, and happy patrons. 

Last but not least, 

Find a Sitter and:  Hear some live music.  Austin bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World."  With all the different offerings available every night, I won't argue.  Pick up the free weekly Austin Chronicle for show listings. 

Five Family Fun Features For: New York

Same rules as last week, different city.  Here are five fun things to do with kids in New York:

1. Park it.  There's so much to do in Central Park, it could take up all five spots on this list.  It's like the Park that ate all the other parks.  Because it covers 50 city blocks north to south, you shouldn't try to do the whole park in a day.  But, some fun activities to choose from include: the Central Park Zoo and Children's Zoo, the carousel, a walk around the reservoir, a visit to the turtle pond, or just hanging out on the Great Lawn.  There's also a great lunch or dinner spot in the park:  The Central Park Boathouse restaurant.  In nice weather, you can sit outside and enjoy casual fare while overlooking the lake.  Or, you can go a little more upscale and eat at the restaurant inside.  Although the prices may seem high, considering your location (New York in general, overlooking a body of water in particular), they're really not too bad. 
2. Skate by.  When people think ice skating in New York, they think Rockefeller Center.  And they should, it's fun, it's iconic . . . it's also very crowded-- which can be uncomfortable and cause waits at popular times.  If you don't have your heart set on skating in the shadows of 30 Rock, a giant Christmas tree, and the Prometheus statue, Wollman Rink (yes, it's in Central Park, but we'll discuss it here instead of #1) is another excellent option.  You have a little more room to skate, much less chance of a wait, and you can still enjoy a picturesque view of the city while skating.  It all depends on what you prefer, but you won't be disappointed by either venue. 
3. Look down on people.  You may have heard that New York has some tall buildings.  There's that Empire State Building, which has been around since a little before King Kong took Fay Wray up there in 1933.  You can head to the 86th floor observatory for about $20 per adult and lower prices depending on your kids' ages.  The coolest part of the ESB is that it has both indoor and outdoor observatories, something lacking from tall buildings in many other cities.  So, if you want to see what the weather's like 86 stories up, this is the place for you.  If you prefer something more from the King/Kong/Naomi Watts-era, you can check out Top of the Rock, the observatory that opened at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in late 2005.  Although "only" 70 stories up, Top of the Rock also has an outdoor observatory and boasts arguably better views than the ESB. 
4. Give your regards to Broadway.  While not every show is family friendly (I'm looking at you, Spring Awakening and Avenue Q (both great shows, by the way)), there are always a couple of shows appropriate for children of most ages.  For example, depending on your children's ages, right now you could go see The Lion King, The Little Mermaid or Hairspray.  If you haven't been to New York in a while, I'm sorry to inform you that Cats was finally put to sleep.  You can get tickets in advance from each show's site or at a general site like Broadway.com.  Or, play it by ear and get discounted (up to 50% off) day-of tickets at one of two TKTS booth locations:  either the well-known and extremely crowded Times Square location or the much less well-known and much less crowded South Street Seaport venue (note:  no credit cards taken at either location). 
5. See New York's only palm trees.  The World Financial Center may not be a destination worth traveling across town to see by itself, but it's a very cool stop if you're in the area.  The gorgeous atrium has plenty of room for kids to roam, great views of the Hudson River and, yes, what I believe are New York's only palm trees.  There are also plenty of lunch spots and other shops.  If you're in the area, you might also choose to visit the former World Trade Center site, which was right next to the World Financial Center.  Admittedly, I haven't been back to the site in a couple of years, so I can't provide any updated visiting information.  In addition, the ferry to the Statue of Libery and Ellis Island is only a short walk from here.

Enjoy!

Five Family Fun Features For: Chicago

We're going to try a new weekly installment.  Since it's Friday and since I like alliteration, we're going to discuss "Five Family Fun Features" for a given city each Friday.  FFFF will be a firsthand account of fun things to do while traveling with kids in various cities.  Because it's a firsthand account, this series will probably run out sooner rather than later (we've only been so many places with Travelin' Junior and, sadly, we were somewhat oblivious to potential family activities during our pre-TJ travel experiences).  But, I'll hope to add to the list as we add to our travels.  Here are some other basic disclaimers:

• These lists are just what they say they are:  five things to do with kids in a given city.  It's not the five must-see attractions or the five things kids will enjoy doing most.  It's simply five suggestions of things a family might enjoy when visiting a particular city.  Think of it more as a brainstorming tool than a definitive list.
• Unless a specific age group for a particular activity or destination is mentioned, you can assume that it's generally good for, in the words of Nat King Cole, kids from one to ninety-two.  But, you can probably tell from the descriptions what age groups will get the most enjoyment out of a particular spot. 
• Many of these activities may be weather dependent.  I'll try to mix in a few indoor and outdoor activities on each list, but it should be easy to figure out what can be enjoyed when. 

Okay, with all the preliminaries out of the way, here are five fun things for families to do in Chicago:

1. The Lakefront and/or Beaches.  Chicago is one of those rare cities where you can take in an impressive skyline while walking along (or swimming in) an equally impressive body of water.  A flurry of activity occurs on the walking/jogging path that winds along Lake Michigan for miles.  You can bring your rollerblades, rent bikes, or just walk.  If your kids like the path, they'll probably love the beaches.  Walking from the northern end of Michigan Avenue, you can have the sand of the immensely popular Oak Street Beach between your toes in about fifteen minutes.  Since there's no parking there, if you're driving, consider North Avenue Beach, just about a mile north of Oak Street and almost equally popular.  Because of that popularity, parking can actually be quite a hassle.  So, if you're willing to trade a great skyline view for an equally nice and more easily accessible beach a few miles north, you can try Foster Avenue Beach.  But, if you're making it a day at the beach, Foster has only a little snack bar, while both Oak Street (Oak Street Beachstro) and North Avenue (Castaways) have very good dining options.   
2. Millennium Park.  Words escape me when trying to describe how great Millennium Park is.  You've got the amazing "Cloud Gate" sculpture (better known as "the Bean"), the kid-favorite Crown Fountain (containing two 50-foot video screens/water walls that flow into a reflecting pool  full of wading kids in the warmer months), and, if you're traveling to Chicago in February this year (not that I recommend it), a new, 95-foot long ice creation called "Paintings Below Zero."  If you'd rather hear your art than see it, you can bring a picnic and catch a free outdoor concert at the Pritzker Pavilion.  Don't worry about disturbing other patrons-- the running, dancing kids probably outnumber the more serious concert-goers some nights.  Set up shop near the back of the pavilion and nobody will even look twice.  If you work up an appetite from these activities, the Park Grill serves up great food both in a more casual, outdoor setting and in a fancier (but still kid-friendly) indoor setting.  In the winter months, the outdoor portion of the bar and restaurant converts into a skating rink. 
3. Navy Pier.  Yes, Navy Pier is "touristy."  So, what, you're a tourist!  Your kids will be too busy checking out the fantastic Children's Museum, the musical performers, fun house, ferris wheel, and beautiful Lake Michigan views to worry about the local vibe.  There's also an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants, as well as a large food court stocked by mostly local Chicago restaurants.  During the summer, there are often free nighttime fireworks shows, too.  The only downside to all these activities in one place?  The parking, while available, is expensive.  If you're staying downtown, ask about the free Navy Pier trolley service that runs about every 20 minutes from select locations. 
4. The Notebaert Nature Museum.  A couple of miles north of downtown, the nature museum provides an excellent wintertime activity for stir-crazy kids.  There are tons of hands-on activities, with the main attraction being a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse containing more than 1,000 butterflies.  It's the closest thing you'll get to an outdoor activity when the weather turns brutal. 
5. Shedd Aquarium.  The Shedd bills itself as the "world's largest aquarium."  I've never measured, but it's got, like, a lot of stuff.  Some of the best include:  (1) the "Caribbean Reef"-- a 90,000 gallon circular tank where a diver feeds the animals while talking to the visitors through the speaker system; (2) a huge oceanarium with regular dolphin shows; and (3) a "Wild Reef" exhibit containing more than two dozen sharks.  There are several other great exhibits and two kid-friendly dining options:  a food court and a nicer sit-down restaurant with beautiful Lake Michigan views.  Come to think of it, several parts of the aquarium have amazing views of Lake Michigan and the city.  It's definitely one of those spots the adults will enjoy as much as the kids. 

So, there are five suggestions of things to do with kids in Chicago.  And, because this entry isn't painfully long enough, I'll throw in an added bonus:

Find a Sitter and:    Go see sketch comedy at Second City.  The comedy troupe that launched careers from John Belushi to Tina Fey is still going strong.  Unfortunately, many of the topics covered are a tad "mature" for younger audiences.  Plan ahead, because weekend shows usually sell out a week or two in advance.  If the main stage is booked, try for a ticket at the smaller E.T.C. stage, whose revues are usually equally funny.