Three great books to help young kids learn about our government

January 26, 2017 by Beth Shepherd

“Why is that man yelling? “ my daughter asked recently when she heard a protester on the radio. This and other government-related questions have been frequent topics in our home lately. Whether it’s questions about voting, the president (past and current), or why mom and dad talk endlessly about something she has no clue about, the U.S. government has been at the center of many conversations.

My husband and I both do our best and try to explain Why this and Why that to our daughter, but it can be a challenge so I decided to bring in the big guns: BOOKS! There are a lot of books out there to help kids learn about our government, politics and U.S. history. You can find lists like this on Amazon, ParentMap and even the U.S. Senate! I’m going to introduce three books that are great for younger kids, like our daughter, who is 5.

Bad Kitty for President

Bad Kitty for President, by Nick Bruel, is one book in the beloved his ‘Bad Kitty’ series. In this story, the Neighborhood Cat Coalition must elect a new president. Of course no one knows who will win (wink, wink). Will it be the candidate picked by kitties on the right side of the street or the one chosen by the kitties on the left side of the street? There will be suspense because one candidate never registers to vote! There will be surprise in the form of a last minute absentee ballot sent by Old Kitty. But mostly there will be an entertaining and very informative book about the election process and democracy. It’s no secret that kitties are #1 in our house, so this book is a huge hit. This is a great choice for the age 5 and up club.

Duck for President

“Ha-ha-ha,” my daughter laughed. “Guess who Peter (her BBFF) and I voted for? DUCK!” Snort. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin tells the tale of a humble duck who lives on a farm and describes how he works his way to farmer, then governor, and then possibly the highest office in the land. We love Click Clack Moo, and this is another hilarious book by Cronin. There’s a little math and a lot about the electoral process. The illustrations are a hoot and Cronin’s books always share a lesson (like working hard but having fun in the process). This book works for ages 4-8.

This Little President

This Little President: A Presidential Primer by Joan Holub is a board book that kids age 2-5 will enjoy. The Little President is a rhyming book and covers 10 Presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, and Obama. This book is really cute and colorful, and the rhymes help kids learn names as well as a little bit about the presidents Holub includes.

I have always been a book lover and I must say that when you’re a mom (or dad) trying to explain life to your kid, there is nothing like a good book to ease the way. Happy reading!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Four fun—and FREE—family holiday photo-op spots in Seattle

December 6, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

‘Tis the season for holiday family photos. Yes, of course, there are always the usual spots to catch a photo session with Santa, but if you want to shake it up for a change, consider these four Seattle locations for fun—FREE—family holiday photos.

Pacific Place

Want to get a couple presents for the good kids on your list and snag a some fun photos at the same time? Then head downtown to Pacific Place and search each floor for the illuminated GIVE, LOVE , and JOY marquee signs!

Beginning December 2, for three weeks, a word will be “dedicated” each week. If you to take a photo in front of the marquee sign (by yourself, with a family or with a friend, or just of the sign itself), and upload to Facebook and/or Instagram (with that week’s corresponding hashtag: #PacPlaceGIVE #PacPlaceLOVE or #PacPlaceJOY, you will automatically be entered to win a $250 gift card to the Pacific Place store or restaurant of your choice. One winner will chosen each week. December 2-8: GIVE; December 9-15: LOVE; December 16-24: JOY.

And—If you’re visiting Pacific Place at 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, look out for snow flurries. Indoors! November 25th through December 24th you can enjoy the Snow Show in the Atrium.

Bonus: Want to practice your night and lights photography? New this year there is a 3D projection mapping show on the 6th Avenue street side of Pacific Place—a magical lights begin at night-fall each evening from November 25 – December 31st.

Last year, 2015, we had a blast going up and down the escalators (what kid doesn’t like that) to check out the creatively painted Nutcrackers hidden around each level of the mall.

Archie McPhee

Is Bigfoot more your bag than Elf on the Shelf? How about a snowy white unicorn? Got folks on your holiday list who thrill at a quirky gift? Archie McPhee is the place to be! On the corner of 45th and Stone Way in Wallingford you can get some great photos against the really cool murals on the outside walls of their building. And then? Head inside for all gifts bacon and cat lady!

We used the photo I took of our daughter against their glorious red wall (in her Santa mustache that we purchased inside the store) for this year’s holiday card.

Swansons Nursery

You can buy your tree and your poinsettia at Swansons Nursery in north Ballard. But did you also know you can see real reindeer, a camel (the famous Curley), and a model train with a unique theme every year (this year’s theme is the Grinch)? Plus you can take photos in one of their two decorated sleighs. Swansons’ annual Reindeer Festival runs from November 12 through December 24 at 3:00 p.m.

Bonus: This year, if you post photos of your Swansons’ holiday traditions on Instagram or Twitter through December 12th, (using hashtag #sharingswansons) Swansons will share the holiday spirit by donating one food item to the Ballard Food Bank for every photo posted. At the end of the 12 days of sharing, one lucky participant will win 12 fabulous Swansons’ prizes!

McCaw Hall

Love the classic feel of the Nutcracker but can’t count on your kids making it through a 2-hour performance? Then go check out the lobby at McCaw Hall at the Seattle Center which opens 2 hours before each performance! You can find cute photo-op spots like the enormous Mother Ginger statue with the “peek-a-boo” skirt, and giant mouse, three mini-stages, plus Seattle’s tallest Christmas tree.

Sometimes when the stress of holiday happenings gets you down, you need to think outside the box a bit. Wishing you a fun and photographic holiday season!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Rock on! Hidden artistic treasure on Whidbey Island

November 16, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

It was a cold and windy day as we made our through the woods towards the shoreline on Whidbey Island. We were hiking along a trail near Swantown, which is at the north end of the island near Oak Harbor. As I glanced up at the dancing trees, my eye caught a glint of sparkle on a branch. Looking more closely I could see there was a rock, tucked in the crook of a branch. A beautiful painted rock. A ‘Whidbey Island rock.’

This wasn’t our first Whidbey rock. Credit for that goes to the kindness of a stranger who gifted a rainbow rock to my delighted daughter as we strolled down the pier in Coupeville. Soon after, we learned these lovingly created treasures are the nature girl, or guy’s, equivalent of capturing a wild Pokémon à la Pokémon Go.

Rock communities have been cropping up all over the Pacific Northwest, and this new take on treasure hunting is growing in popularity. With a little help from social media in the form of community Facebook pages, Washington residents are getting on their creative groove and sprinkling a little love around the state, rock by rock.

The sweetness is in the simplicity. Scout for a “good” rock (flat and paintable), buy some acrylic paint, sealer and paint brushes…and then the fun begins! Get your inner artist on and paint your rock. Seal it. Write instructions on the bottom of the rock that tell the finder which Facebook group to post a photo to once it’s found. Then, go hide your rock. Rocks are being hidden in all sorts of family-friendly sites: hiking trails, playgrounds, parks, town centers, and on the waterfront.

You can choose to focus exclusively on creating and hiding or you can be a finder too. Some people keep their first rock or rocks they find with special meaning and re-hide the rest. It’s all up to you!

I just love this! Anyone can do it: toddler, teen, moms, dads, grandparents. The entire family can get into the rock painting, hiding and hunting action. And it’s a fantastic way to connect with nature and community.

Rock projects are also a great way to help kids learn other life lessons, like you may not always find what you seek, though you may discover unexpected treasures along the way: wildlife, flowers, an historical tidbit—it’s all out there.

We picked up trail litter on our hike too which is a great segue for talking about taking care of the environment so everyone can enjoy it. But the best lesson, in my opinion, is that you can have fun and adventure by taking your eyes off your screen or phone, stepping outside and enjoying looking the beauty of our surroundings with those we love.

Interested in rocking out with your neighbors?

Facebook is exploding with community groups ranging in size from a few hundred members to over 28,000 like the group Vancouver, Washington, which was one of the largest I found. I saw rock group Facebook pages for: Kitsap, Port Angeles, Mount Vernon, Edmonds, Gig Harbor, Port Townsend, Mercer Island, Snohomish County, Tacoma, and Whidbey Island, and many more!

To find the group nearest you, search with the name of your community and the term “rocks.” Can’t find a group in your community? Consider starting one yourself! All you have to do is create a public Facebook page. This YouTube video shows you how. Then post simple guidelines such as no hiding rocks in national or state parks, on private property or cemeteries, along with reminders to be respectful to properties (don’t hide it where someone could run over it with a lawnmower or get hurt!) and ‘Be nice‘ when posting on the community Facebook page.

Want to be a rock artist?

Head on down to your local art store or purchase the following supplies on Amazon: Acrylic Paint Set, Clear Acrylic Sealer, Paint Brush Set. The next step is to paint your rock with colorful, creative images and messages, making sure to write the name of your community group on the back of the rock. The rocks we found said this: Whidbey Island Rocks. Rehide or keep. When found, please post on Facebook. Some rocks also include the date or year and the artist’s signature or initials. Our Whidbey rainbow rock said ‘KU, 2016.’

Then hide your rock! If you find one, you can either keep or re-hide it—and make sure to post your find on the Facebook page corresponding to the rock group. I’ve heard people are finding rocks in one county and hiding them in another. Have rock, will travel!

Rockin’ Tips ‘n Tricks

Make sure to seal each rock so if it rains (as it so often does in the PNW), your artwork won’t wash away.
Don’t attach anything to your rock. These rocks will be found by people and animals–be nice to wildlife!
Rocks should enhance, not harm the environment. Be respectful. Follow set guidelines, and do not hide rocks at national parks or state parks, on private property, or on Washington State Ferries.
Give and ye shall receive! Herein lies the joy. Remember when you search, you might not find anything.
Don’t expect to see your masterpiece on Facebook, though it’s fun if you do.
Share the love and the rocks. Some rocks we found, we kept; others we re-hid, which was a lot of fun too.
Get into the spirit with others. Throw a rock painting party. Paint a rock family with your family. Check out the Facebook pages for inspiration and connect with your community.

We kept two of our finds and re-hid several others. I’ve seen some rocks with mind-blowing artistry, and I’m itching to go exploring and discover some more. I will say that we first learned about the hidden rocks, I found myself searching everywhere which, while fun, sort of got in the way of just enjoying the beauty around me. After awhile I forgot about the search and the element of surprise made discovery a lot cooler. Next trip to Whidbey, I think we might even paint and hide a Seattle rock of our own.

So if you’ve ever wanted to join a rock group, now’s your chance. Rock on!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Postscript: One of the Whidbey Rockers told me about a map that has been created to show groups from all over the world. Each pin has the name and web address for a group. Find a group in your area, and discover new groups as they are discovered and created. Here’s the link.

Five hot tips on taking photos of kids who hate having their picture taken

July 22, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Summer is here. Kids are out of school. Families take vacations. You swim, play in the park, take road trips and go camping. There are endless opportunities to take photos of kids, especially your own kids: frolicking in the waves, blissed out by the campfire or lying in a field of daisies. This is the time of the year when children are freest to do what they do best–be a kid.

But what if you’re the parent of a kid who hates having their picture taken? I understand, because I am that mom. Left to her own devices, my daughter rarely stops moving and will do her best to look anywhere but at the camera. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks with infrequent or limited success like mounting a cute Pez container on my camera’s hot shoe, bribing her with various edible and non-edible treats, and making jokes about an [imaginary] bird pooping in my head (however using the word “poop” does work, at least once or twice). There have been plenty of times where I just gave up and went outside to take pictures of real birds who I have good success capturing with my camera, despite their flighty ways.

Don’t despair. There is hope! Take it from me, the mom who struggles on a regular basis to get “a good shot” of her daughter Here are five hot tips that work!

Shoot like there’s nobody’s watching

What would happen if I stopped worrying about whether my daughter smiles for a photo? What if I quit begging, pleading and bribing her to please look at me? Why do I feel like I need to sell my soul so my kid’s eyes will be in the picture? These are questions I’ve asked myself a lot in the past six months. I know it’s said “the eyes are the window to the soul,” but I’ve discovered the truth is I can catch the essence of my daughter when she’s not watching me, not dutifully looking at the camera. The “trick” lies with me, not her. When I shoot with my own eyes, and stop caring about hers, those are the moments I get some of my best “captures.”

Make them laugh

Saying “cheese” never works, unless you like cheesy, fakey photos. And do as I say and not as I sometimes do because “Look at the camera” rarely works either. I’ve also tried “Where are my eyes” from time to time. That usually ends with her reaching out her arm and pointing her index finger in the direction of my eyes…which covers her face. The way to get natural smiles, easily, is to forget about any and everything having to do with SMILE. Tell a joke. Get goofy (you too mom). Ask her to tell a story or you tell one, “Remember the time the cat chewed holes in your shoe?” Or ask her not to smile, no really I mean it, don’t you dare smile.

Think out of the box

Or under it and over it. Almost every “tips” article I’ve read talks about getting down to kid level, like kneeling or lying down on the floor. And that works, but also think about shooting from above, from behind and from a distance. BONUS tip–Sometimes shooting with a longer lens, like 85mm-105mm, helps you get”closer” than you might shooting with a 35 or 50mm. Being stealth is what it’s all about, especially if your subject is camera shy or downright camera averse like my kid. This resonates with me too. When someone sticks a camera lens right in my face, I know I’m not my most photogenic self.

Embrace worse for the wear

Yes of course she looks cute in that adorable dress her grandmother bought her, but I can guarantee you’ll get better shots if she plays dress up instead of getting dressed up, even if all you do is give your kid a pair of sunglasses to put on. What kid doesn’t love sunglasses? Plus, she puts them on and her eyes “are covered.” She feels safe in that comforting, “I can’t really see you and you can’t really see my eyes…so, we’re cool” sort of way. Try not to worry so much if her hair is messed up (and my girlie is the Queen of Messy Hair), whether her shirt clashes with her skirt, or even a smidge of yogurt on her lips or snot under her nose–it’s all part of kid-charm, plus there’s always Lightroom and Photoshop for the really egregious boo-boos. In fact, sometimes, the best part of the shot is mismatched socks, hair flying wildly about and pants that are on backwards. You can save coifed and color-coordinated for the Santa photo booth.

The bottom line? When my daughter is in her own fantasy land (instead of mine) is when I get the best photos. I’m not sure at what point in life we get so concerned about the right outfit and the perfect smile, all poses and matchy-matchy. It’s kind of a shame, really. Because it doesn’t get any more authentic than when you shoot kids in their element.

Find the story

Do you really need all of your kid in the shot, or maybe just a close up of just her tiny feet in bunny slippers? Could you crop out half her face, just shoot her from the neck down, take a picture of her hands drawing? And now for the big kahuna of questions: Does it really matter if your kid looks at the camera? As it turns out, no. If you look through this post, there is only one photo where you can see my daughter’s eyes–well, an eye and it’s underwater at that. So much for all my attempts to get my daughter to look at the camera and not make a silly face. That said, even though I now know this, I still keep trying more than I’d like. Thankfully I am solidly on my way to recovery.

In the past six months since I started my 366 Project, I have learned a lot about photography. Some of the things I’ve learned have come from trial and error, a LOT of trials and a lot of errors. I once joked (but it was “for real” and not a joke) that all it took was three shots to get a good picture of a bird and 53 shots to get a good picture of my daughter. You know who else has my back? Other photographers, particular photographers who are moms like me, so a shout out to my beloved Mamas with Cameras who have given me encouragement, shown me creative angles (literally) and are always inspirational.

Rock the shot!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Note: I used her exclusively because I have a ‘her,’ but everything in my post applies whether you’ve got a boy, a girl or more than one of either.

Go nuts at CB’s Nuts in Kingston, Washington

July 14, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

We huffed, puffed and pedaled for peanuts last weekend at CB’s Nuts in Kingston, Washington. In fact we pedaled so hard, for a moment, I thought I saw smoke bellowing out of the bike’s rear tire. Had that been the case, we were in the right place because CB’s Nuts is housed in an old fire station. But wait–that smell–it wasn’t smoke at after all. It was peanut butter!

CB’s Nuts started in a Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come” sort of way, except Clark Bowen (the C.B. of CB’s Nuts) got his brilliant idea at a baseball game–he didn’t build a baseball field. Armed with a bag of fresh roasted peanuts he bought from a vendor on the way into a Mariners-Orioles baseball game in Baltimore, Clark realized how much the smell and flavor of peanuts said “baseball” to him, and how there was nothing like this in his hometown of Seattle. It wasn’t long before he pushing a small roaster near Safeco Field and selling warm peanuts with the goal of making enough to pay for tickets to the game and beer.

Time passed and Clark, now married to Tami, became increasingly interested in “old fashioned” roasting equipment and techniques. In fact making peanut butter with the nuts they roasted only started when they received a large shipment of peanuts that arrived sans shells, sort of a When life gives you peanuts, make peanut butter moment. CB’s Peanut Butter puts the A-1 into artisanal because there is only one ingredient in their peanut butter–peanuts. Yep, that’s it. Just really delicious, expertly roasted and ground peanuts.

Oh, and back to those pedal-powered peanuts. As it turned out, someone had hooked up the grinder backwards–no wonder we were making smoke and not peanut butter! But that didn’t stop us from picking up a jar to take home and tasting samples of fresh peanuts. CB’s Nuts, by the way, isn’t just about peanuts and peanut butter. You can find pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cashews and hazelnuts. So…you know, GO NUTS!

CB’s Nuts are sold at PCC Natural Markets, Whole Foods and a number of other retailers. But if you want to pedal for peanuts, head over to their retail store in Kingston at 6013 NE State Highway 104, just west of Kingston Ferry. A fun place to visit for kids–and adults–who like peanut butter. Although the main roasting operation is no longer at the fire station, a few batches of peanut butter are still made there using a 100-year-old roaster Clark restored (an Adam’s Peanut Butter’s original roaster from Tacoma in the 1920’s).

If you don’t feel quite ready to brave the Edmonds-Kingston ferry lines, you can sit a spell…on a section of the original Seattle Mariners dugout from the Kingdome days! Plus you can sit on it with a local microbrew from the cooler or an ice cream in your hands. And a bowl of peanuts, of course. If, after that, you’re feeling a bit more like a slug than a slugger, there’s always that bicycle. Just remember, you might want to work out at the gym for a few weeks first!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Kids love the cool pools: Port Townsend Marine Science Center

July 8, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Look Mom, my finger is getting a hug!

That’s what my five-year-old said when first the anemone and then the sea urchin gave her tiny finger a squeeze at the Port Townsend’s Marine Science Center. Kids love the cool pools! And adults do too. At this seaside aquarium you’ll find interactive, hands-on exhibits–literally. PTMSC is a fantastic place to get up close and personal with countless sea plants and animals of the Salish Sea. On site, visitors will find touch tanks, microscopes, and a hydrophone to listen to whales off shore. There is also a fully articulated Orca skeleton (one of only six in the U.S.) available for viewing. Port Townsend Marine Center also offers low-tide beach walks, summer camps, and classes, including Plankton and Crab Lab; Introduction to Marine Mammals; Tails to Scales; and, Birds of Shore and Sea.

Founded in 1982 by two teachers, Judy D’Amore and Libby Palmer, the center was initially run entirely by volunteers. I first visited the science center in the early 90s and it has changed over the years. Volunteers, now number more than 100 and the touch tanks are much more accessible and user-friendly than when I visited over 20 years ago.

We had a fantastic time poking and prodding sea cucumbers, clams, urchins, anemone, barnacles and even one sand dollar (the first time I’ve ever seen one alive). My daughter squealed with delight watching the tiny sea creatures retreat into their protective homes or wrap their tentacles lightly around her fingers.

The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable and in the summer they employ several AmeriCorp volunteers. I peppered one with a number of questions and she was so enthusiastic and knew so much about the marine life we were touching (thanks Zofia!).

Then we meandered over to the Natural History Exhibit where we learned about the history of ancient marine life and got to check out a full-sized Orca skeleton. There were a lot of interesting “see, do and learn” opportunities here, especially for kids grade school age and older.

If you find yourself in the Port Townsend area, make sure to visit the Port Townsend Marine Science Center! They are located at the water’s edge, below Fort Worden, at 532 Battery Way. Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Admission prices: Adults $5; Kids $3; Members–free. And take a look at their website: http://www.ptmsc.org.

Want to find more cool things to do in Port Townsend? Check out Visit Jefferson County and the Enjoy Port Townsend for ideas and the latest happenings!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Hopscotch your heart out in Seattle’s Central District

June 10, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Live in Seattle (or visiting)? Looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend? Come on over to my Seattle neighborhood, the Central District, and hopscotch your heart out on Saturday, June 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. because Hopscotch C.D. 2016 is happening!

We’ve had a blast the past few years: Yard sales, free hotdogs, bouncy house, music…and as much hopscotch fun as you want. So HOP TO IT! Come join the festivities.

This year’s event is sponsored by Centerstone, a Seattle nonprofit who helps Seattle residents in need meet their basic needs and get on the path to self-sufficiency by providing food and immediate financial relief to pay energy bills and avoid eviction.

2016 Hopscotch C.DD. festivities include:

1 mile hopscotch route through the neighborhood (*route map coming soon)
Free lunch from Dante’s Inferno featuring hot dogs, toppings galore, and chips
Live DJ in Centerstone’s courtyard
Kid Zone featuring a bouncy house, face painting, Play Street toys and activities, temporary tattoos, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and playground in the Firehouse Park adjacent to Centerstone
Flavorful cuisine from local food trucks (available for purchase)
Free tours of Centerstone’s historic firehouse building

Evening festivities (4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Live music featuring Lady A, Meter Music, and JeMonica
Beer garden
Live entertainment with comedy, a magician, hooping, break dancers and more!

Centerstone is located at 722 18th Ave. Most of the main events take place across the street at the Firehouse Mini Park at 712 18th Ave. (18th Ave. just north of E. Cherry St.). You can also get more up-to-date information and route maps for this year’s event on the Hopscotch C.D. Facebook page—HERE. The one-mile Hopscotch course winds through the nearby neighborhood, going as far south as 18th and E. Union S.

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

Additional event sponsors: Swedish Medical Center, Vulcan, Sound Oil, Sprage Israel Giles, Peterson Sullivan, and Capitol Hill Housing

Five unique things to do with kids in Paris

March 31, 2016 by Beth Shepherd

Ride a hot air balloon? Jump on trampolines? In Paris?! Everyone knows Paris is the city for lovers, but you might be surprised to find out Paris is also a great city to explore with kids. You can always enjoy the classics: checking out the view from the Eiffel Tower, eating ice cream at Berthillon and gliding along the Seine on the Bateaux Mouches, but there are also few unique adventures that can be found in the City of Light. Here are four:

Jump to your heart’s content on trampolines in the Tuileries

If you have kids, the trampolines are one of the Tuileries best kept secrets. They are located at the end of the park closest to the Place de la Concorde entrance, Rue Rivoli side. I went to the Tuileries many times before I finally saw them. They are a fantastic place to take your kid and blow off some steam (Adult tip: cafes with wine not far away). Each five minutes on one of the six very springy trampolines costs 2.50 €. There is also a pretty fabulous playground in the park.

Look down at the Eiffel Tower from a hot air balloon in Parc André Citroën

Parc André Citroën is a public park located on the left bank of the river Seine in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. It is a bit out of the way but worth, because if the air is calm you can go for a ride in a hot air balloon. Balloon de Paris is not just any hot air balloon. It’s the biggest hot air balloon in the world! You get a unique bird’s eye view of the Eiffel Tower and all of Paris. Flights depend on weather conditions, so contact Ballon de Paris on the day of your visit. You can check out their website where they give weather conditions and let you know if you can go up in the balloon that day: www.ballondeparis.com or +33 1 44 26 20 00. Prices: Adult €12, Children (3-11) €6, Children under 3 ride free.

Fly though the air on a zip-line in Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg is one of my favorite gardens in Paris. Located between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the gardens were built in the 1620s for Marie de Médici, Henri IV’s consort, because she was homesick for the Pitti Palace in Florence, where she had spent her childhood. Beautiful states, lawns, chestnut groves and the Fontaine de Medici aside, the garden also has an amazing children’s playground–Parc de Jeux–with one of the coolest zip-lines I’ve ever seen.

They do charge an entry fee (so worth it!): 2.60 € for kids over 18 months, 1.60 € for adults. The playground has it’s own toilets and covered seating area, and you can purchase drinks and snacks at the entrance as well. Parc de Jeux is located next to the Les Marrionettes du Luxembourg puppet theater and also one of the oldest carousels in the city. Be forewarned, Parc de Jeux does close promptly at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Get creeped out looking at skulls in Les Catacombes

Want to go underground in Paris? Hang out with the bones of 6-million Parisians–now dead? If this sounds like it’s right up your kid’s creepy alley, then head over to Les Catacombes in the 14th arrondissement. Walking through the dark subterranean passages, you’ll learn fascinating–if not macabre–tidbits about the history of Paris and how this labyrinth of tunnels became the graveyard for millions of Paris’s former residents.

Kids under 18 are free but since lines can get very long, you might want to consider booking online. Make sure you print your tickets with the bar code before you go, otherwise you won’t get in. Not for young children or anyone with claustrophobia. Also no flash allowed so bring a camera with high ISO!

Pretend you’re a Roman gladiator at Arènes de Lutèce

Arènes de Lutèce is really cool. Hardly anyone, even Parisians, know about it, partly because it’s hidden in the 5th arrondissement. And I mean really hidden. The arena is semi-concealed by a few large apartment buildings situated around it. You could easily walk by the main entrance without noticing it. I did.

There are actually three different entrances but the easiest one to find is on Rue Monge. The entrance is at number 47 (on the left as you’re walking uphill on Rue Monge). You will think you’ve arrived at the entrance to one of the apartment buildings until you see the big cement gladiator helmet looming over the doorway. You found it!

Arènes de Lutèce has a long history (literally). The amphitheater was erected in the 1st century but then destroyed during invasions of the 3rd century. It was rediscovered in the mid-1800s when Rue Monge opened and the site of the site of the arena was uncovered by demolition work. But it wasn’t until 1917 that it was restored to its current state.

I’ve been to Arènes twice and it was quiet–a great place to eat your baguette and cheese while your kids run around. Occasionally you’ll find a children playing soccer, men flying kits or engrossed in a game bocce ball or a few people sitting on the stone bleachers. If you think you might enjoy a non-touristy spot with a history that dates back to the 1st century A.D., this is your place. Plus, how often do your kids get to pretend they’re gladiators in a real 2,000-year-old Roman arena?!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth

4-year-old chef wannabe makes her own pizza

August 5, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

Are you excited about our upcoming trip to the Tri-Cities?

Yes.

What are you looking forward to?

I get to make my own pizza.

For several weeks prior to our Tri-Cities weekend adventure, whether we were standing in the check-out line at Safeway, playing on the playground, or stopping to pet the random dog on the street, she would announce–to anyone who would listen–I get to make my own pizza. And that’s exactly what one 4-year-old girl got to do this past Saturday at Stick+Stone Neapolitan wood-fired pizza in Richland, Washington.

We arrived at the eatery on Duportail Street at noon, hungry and excited. Stick+Stone serves pizza made with fresh dough, salads, appetizers and desserts. They also offer local wines and have several craft beers on tap. We might have been seated for one minute when my daughter queried our dining companion Karisa Sawyers:

When do I get to make the pizza?

Are you going to show me how to make the pizza?

Thus began the line of questioning as she pointed to the server who brought our water, and then Michael Miller who manages the restaurant and stopped by our table to say hello:

Are you going to show me how to make it?

Is he going to show me how to make it?

Until our waitress arrived and started taking our order.

I want to make my own pizza.

What kind do you want to make?

Pepperoni.

Do you want cheese?

No cheese.

Dada was incredulous. No cheese? You love cheese!

No.

A few minutes later her pizza making “kit” arrived and included: one wood paddle with dough, flattened and ready to go, sauce and pepperoni at the ready (and some apples, for snacking I presume).

With that, one 4-year-old chef wannabe was off and running or, more accurately, painting her first pizza.

Next step was careful placement of the much beloved pepperoni.

Pizza project underway.

A little taste testing, of course. Any chef worth her salt would do the same.

Okay, so she didn’t make her own dough from scratch but thank you Cameron Hall dough maker extraordinaire. Cameron informed us dough tossing wasn’t part of his usual routine, but he was willing to do a performance for one very interested little girl.

And she didn’t place her personal pizza in the scorching (upwards of 900-degrees Fahrenheit in some spots) wood oven. However, she did enjoy watching it circle round and round.

It’s like our microwave, Mama.

Pretty soon one happy girl was eating her very own–made pretty much by hand–pizza. She deemed it tasty. Pizza making 101 was a resounding success. Sadly, Bunny was not offered a slice.

If you find yourself in the Tri-Cities, go make yourself a pizza! Stick + Stone is located at 3027 Duportail Street in Richland, across from the Gold’s Gym off of Queensgate.

Our pizza-making experience was complimentary and provided by Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau but all opinions expressed are my own.

And if you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Take the road less traveled, Beth

56 degrees and swimming in Puget Sound

July 17, 2015 by Beth Shepherd

Average temperature of the water in Puget Sound is 56 degrees in July.

Swimming in Puget Sound is downright chilly, at any time of the year. Even in July, the average temperature is 56 degrees.

But that didn’t stop one 4-year-old from swimming in the waters off Gig Harbor.

Granted, by the time she was fully wet…

…and had splashed around for fifteen minutes or so, she confessed to feeling a little bit cold.

With teeth chattering and lips turning blue one little girl headed for dry land. Her mama suspects her motivation to get out of the water may have been due to the really cool rope swing hanging from a tree over the sand. The perfect place to dry off.

And if you want to read more about all things Pampers, follow me on Facebook, Twitter or RSS/email.

Take the road less traveled, Beth