The City of Rochester was blessed with being home to the very philanthropic entrepreneur, George Eastman, the inventor of modern film and founder of Eastman Kodak. As a result of the enormous amount of wealth Eastman personally donated to the arts, and other philanthropists that were largely connected to Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY is home…
A visit to Philadelphia often includes lots of history stops and it can be fun to get off the beaten path a bit. One unexpected treat in Philly is the historic site at the old Eastern State Penitentiary. The exhibits are really well done, and carefully curated historical information is both interesting and informative. As…
Along with my quest to introduce more positive female role models (sorry Cinderella) we’ve been reading fabulous children’s books about the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. I know at nearly 5, the Bean is too young to fully comprehend how lucky she has it today, but when…
The Salem Witch Dungeon Museum offers “a unique educational experience with a chill or two” – and they deliver! Salem, Massachusetts is a fun city. Not too big, so walking is the best way to get around. There are interesting shops, quaint inns, great public parks and statues, and historic buildings. You can visit the…
I’m a big fan of exposing kids to local history as young as possible. They may not always fully understand it but my hope is that as my children get older they will develop an appreciation for history and cultivate a love of learning. My family made a recent day trip up to Fort Ticonderoga,…
On our recent trip to Philadelphia I took my tween and teen kids to one of my favorite shops from when I used to visit Philly back in the early ’80s, I Goldberg Army & Navy. In their surplus area, on the basement level, we found a treasure-trove of all kinds of clothing and equipment…
What’s the best way to teach your kids history? Start with what they find interesting! The home of Judge John Corwin is a perfect example of 17th Century architecture and one of the few remaining high-end homes from the architectural style known as First Period. It was built right in the middle of the 1600’s;…
When I think of big amusement parks, my former thinking was that theme parks are better geared for school-age and older kids and that there isn’t much for toddlers and preschoolers. Then we went to Six Flags Great Escape outside of Lake George, NY. This place was awesome for little kids! I will disclose that…
When I took the whole family to Philadelphia for a visit while I went to the US Mint media tour, we stayed at the brand spanking new Homewood Suites in the University City section of town. What a beautiful hotel! It just opened May 2012, so everything is still shiny and new, and everything is…
Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State, but what lies under those mountains? At the Rock of Ages quarry, just outside of Barre, you can get a chance to see. Back in 1885 a man named George B. Milne opened a granite manufacturing business. Ten years later, he and quarry owners James Boutwell and…