Story Book Ending

We looked forward to sleeping in our own beds, but I knew the boys would be sad to end our vacation. To keep them hopeful and make sure to end on a high note, I planned a fun outing for our last day on the road. The final adventure of our trip took place at Great Escape/Splashwater Kingdom, a Six Flags Theme Park near Lake George, New York. The boys and I had never been there before, but Paul remembered going as a child.

I bought discounted tickets in advance from Shelburne Parks and Recreation. The tickets cost $25 each and I bought three -- kids two and under are admitted for free. At the gate it would have cost us $41 each, so I saved $48, and the proceeds benefit Vermont State Parks and Recreation. I believe all Vermont municipal parks and rec offices offer the same deal. The tickets can be used any time during the 2009 season, so if we had not used them Sunday we could have used them later.

We arrived by 9:30. Parking was readily available and there were no lines for the attractions. The crowds starting coming about an hour later. Parking cost $10 in the lot across Route 9 from the park. There's a walkway over the road that brings you directly to the entrance. You can park closer to the entrance, for $25. We lathered up with sunscreen, filled the backpack with water bottles, gold fish crackers, swim suits and diapers and put Zac in the stroller.

After passing a dozen hawkers, picture-takers and merchants near the entry, we met Cinderella! She was dressed in a blue gown and was very charming. She was waiting for her mice to turn to horses so she could give kiddies rides around her castle. We promised to return later, and went straight to the carousel. Adam and Paul rode up and down on horses, and Zac and I floated round and round on a comfortable bench.

Next stop: Storytown village. Into the cobbler's house, through Jack's home under the beanstalk, around the giant pumpkin and a visit with live geese at Mother Goose's place. We cruised in a swan boat down the River Dee with live ducklings swimming next to us.

Thunder Alley was a hit. Paul and Zac drove their own little cars with dad and mom in the passenger seats. "Travel my way on the highway that's the best!"



The Storytown Train was so-so. There is very little scenery, just trees and storage sheds. Zac was bored, and I know he would have enjoyed it more if we passed creatures and castles. He and Adam were amused by the walk through Alice's Wonderland, with the Cheshire Cat, Tweedledee & Tweedledum and the Queen of Hearts on display.

Adam rode the Little Dragons and motorcycles by himself. Zac is too small and Paul and I are too large. Adam was the only kid on this ride.

The big winner of the day was Wiggles World, an area geared for young children. My kids aren't familiar with the Wiggles, the campy kids band from Australia (I don't know how I have avoided that!). But they loved Wiggles World's bright colors, fun music on the PA system and slow kiddy rides. The Big Red Planes were especially fun. They go round and round, and we could make our plane go higher by pressing a button.

The best part of Wiggles World is the Wiggles show. Kids LOVE it! I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself: happy 1, 2 and 3 year olds dancing and waving and screaming like teeny boppers at a Jonas Brothers concert. I laughed hysterically watching Zac bump and grind and wave his arms around with Captain Feathersword, Wags and Dorothy Dinosaur. He was hesitant to meet the cast after the show, but Adam was thrilled to pose with the costumed characters.

It was a hot day, so we headed over to Splashwater Kingdom. Zac fell asleep in his stroller on the way there. I parked him in the shade and Adam went in the water with Paul. Adam's favorite section was Noah's Sprayground, geared for young children, with shallow wading pools, fountains and slides. We had to drag him out of there so we could get home at a reasonable hour.

On our way out, we made one last stop, at Cinderella's coach. The horses pulled the pumpkin coach around a pink castle, and Adam jumped up and down begging us to let him take a ride with the princess. Of course, little one, we will not deny you this storybook ending to our family adventure!

And we all lived happily, ever after.

Country Breakfast at The Silo Restaurant

I couldn't stomach the thought of continental breakfast at the smelly Econolodge in Glens Falls, so we decided to hit the road right away. Pulling out of the driveway we saw a great looking breakfast place right next door. Hooray!

www.thesiloqueensbury.com

The Silo Restaurant of Queensbury (within Glens Falls) is a popular spot on Sunday mornings. Although we got a table for four right away, the families that came in just after us had to wait for tables. I don't know if they accept reservations, but it's worth a try: (518) 798-1900. The ambiance reminds me of Sugar & Spice in Mendon, Vermont, with a maple smell in the air and country-quaint gifts for sale.

Service was fast and the food was very good. The kids' menu featured "twin mini pancakes" which I thought were large, each about 5 inches across. I ordered one plate for each child, but they should have just shared. Each plate came with two pancakes and two sausage links, and I also ordered mixed fruit for each. They gobbled up most of their food, but each left a whole pancake uneaten. The waitress then offered them a choice of goldfish crackers or Oreo cookies to take home.

I savored my banana walnut pancakes and was glad I ordered the short stack, as each of the two pancakes were the diameter of my plate and about a half inch thick! And I ate all of it! I figured it would get me through lunch at Great Escape. Paul said his French toast was delicious.

The restaurant is within a country store stocked with quaint and cutesy items, from fresh fudge to wind chimes to jewelry to toys. There are multiple rooms within the wooden building, with varying themes. One room is is dedicated to toys, like Melissa & Doug puzzles, stuffed animals and old-time play things, the likes of which you would find at Vermont Country Store. They also carry adorable kids' rain boots and gardening tools.

Vroom Vroom

The Econolodge of Glens Falls has spotty wifi, so I was unable to blog for a while. I'll catch you up to the Franz family road trip.

On Saturday, on our way to Glens Falls, we made an impromptu stop in Saratoga Springs. There are many things to do in this hopping town. There are museums for horse racing, dance and gambling history, none of which would interest young children. A jazz festival at SPAC was tempting, but we didn't have time for that. Saratoga Spa State Park has walking trails, mineral springs, swimming pools and picnic areas. There's a children's museum in the middle of town.

We decided to visit the Saratoga Automobile Museum. Adam was watching "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" on the portable DVD player, so it seemed appropriate. The SAM, located in Saratoga Spa State Park on Avenue of the Pines, opened in 2002 in a restored 1935 water bottling plant. Vintage autos and race cars are displayed along with exhibits tracing the development of motor vehicles. Admission is $8 for adults, $3.50 for ages 6-16, free for kids 5 and under.

Adam enjoyed sitting in an old race car that was missing its outer body, reminiscent of Chitty before Mr. Potts fixes it up. Zac had a great time pushing toy cars up a ramp and putting them into a basket. Paul and I liked looking at the classic cars and talking with the curator, who was very friendly and great with kids. All four of us enjoyed coloring "little tree" air fresheners in an exhibit dedicated to the history of these pine scented rear-view mirror hangers. It was a pleasant air-conditioned break, and I was delighted to find a clean bathroom with a changing table and a bubbler full of cold water.

You Get What you Pay For

We are working on spontaneity now. No reservations, no plans, just a goal to be in Glens Falls, New York, by Saturday night. Following our impromptu picnic at Great Lakes State Park we settled in for the night in Batavia, New York, at an Econolodge off of I-90.

I gathered we were fortunate to find a nice hotel with available rooms: There was a concert at Darien Lake Theme Park and the hotels off the Thruway were booked. Perhaps we should have planned for Darien Lake in our itiniary -- I wonder what it's like. Do you know if Darien Lake Theme Park is a fun place for young kids? It's not too far from Vermont -- a half-day drive -- perhaps we can return at a later date.

With two sleepy kids in the car, I figured I'd better take the bird in the hand, although the price for a room at the Econolodge was about $15 more than our previous accomodations. We were happy to see that our room was new and clean, with a refrigerator and microwave. Paul and Adam enjoyed the outdoor pool while I got Zac ready for bed.

Our dinner at Miss Batavia Family Restaurant, a venue featured in the AAA tour book as a good place for families, was disappointing. I picked Miss Batavia, described by AAA as a recently renovated period diner with local fare, because I envisioned something like Libby's Diner in Colchester: fresh ingredients, tasty meals, comfort foods. What we ate was pre-packaged, highly processed stuff that we could have cooked in the microwave in our room. After all, I did bring microwave mac'n'cheese just in case, and I believe that is what was served to Adam. Zac had a fried fish fillet, because a kid with 8 teeth can't eat hot dogs and I knew he would not eat (nor did I want him to) the other, fried options on the kids menu. The only vegetable Miss Batavia offered was corn. I inquired about other choices, such as raw carrots (Adam's current favorite vegetable). The waitress told me that the salads are prepackaged and the only vegetable available was corn. Canned corn. That's not even a vegetable! So many kids menus offer over processed, fried foods served with French fries. Is it any wonder that obesity among American youth is an epidemic?

Paul and I suffered through our sandwiches, and I was grateful that it was fast and cheap. Dinner for four was about $30 plus tip, cheaper than a tank of gas. But I would not go there again.

Today, our pendulum swung the other way. I again referred to the AAA tour book, and we perused the main drag in Glens Falls to see what the places looked like. We settled on Davidson's Restaurant and Brewery, a brew pub with pub-style fare. We were delightfully surprised to find that Davidson's kids' menu had fresh choices and the regular menu showcased innovative cuisine. The boys had grilled chicken, rice and a variety of vegetables: carrots, asparagus, summer squash. Paul and I enjoyed fresh, innovative meals and microbrews. Our dinner bill was $100, a wee bit higher than the Miss Batavia.

Our room at the Econolodge of Glens Falls was disgusting, and I highly recommend avoiding this hotel. Upkeep and cleaning are not high on their list. I insisted that the boys wear socks or shoes to walk around the sticky floor. We could hardly wait to get out of there in the morning.

But we had much to look forward to: A day at the Great Escape!

Lake Erie State Park: Worth a Return Trip

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/

Ohio is a big state, especially when you drive caddy-corner from the southwest to the northeast! We got a late start on the road after playing putt putt golf and climbing the tunnels and slides at the Quality Inn & Suites in Richfield, Ohio, but we're in no hurry now. We're making good time back to Vermont. Zac fell asleep shortly after we hit the road, so we kept going until way past our usual lunch time, and decided to stop again at Lake Erie State Park since we had so much fun there on our way out. A known entity is a good thing when you are dealing with children.
Lake Erie State Park is in Brockton, New York, about 5 miles from I-90 exit 59. We arrived at the park at 2:00 and had our picnic PBJ's, apples and cinnamon crunch cereal at a table by the lake. The weather is so much more pleasant here than in the midwest. We had sunshine and a nice breeze off the lake. If only the flies would stop biting. Luckily, I had bug repellent for us all. After lunch, we walked the beach, played in the waves and skipped rocks. It was a pleasant hour and a half break from driving. Paul and I agreed that we should come here for overnight camping in the future. We could see the campsites in the distance, and it is much more scenic, private and natural than all those roadside campsites we saw off the highways in the midwest. Recreation in Lake Erie state park includes swimming, boating, hiking, volleyball court, playground and nature programs.

Quality In or Out?

I was about to write off Quality Inn hotels as grungy, cheap places that I don't recommend. Our hotel in downtown Cincinnati was in disrepair, with ice machines that did not work, a broken elevator and a continental breakfast that none of us could eat. I couldn't even finish my morning coffee because it tasted so bad. It did have some redeeming qualities, the reasons for which I chose it in the first place: It provided comfortable beds and pillows for a few overnight hours and it was near the Newport Aquarium, where we planned to visit the next morning. But I thought I would not again choose a Quality Inn.

Then we found the Quality Inn & Suites of Richfield, Ohio, off I-271 in the Cleveland region, on our way back to Vermont. This hotel is listed in the AAA tour book, and when I called within 30 minutes of our arrival at the exit, it provided a better rate than the only other hotel listed for Richfield, the Hampton Inn.

We were delightfully surprised to find that this Quality Inn is a great place to stay with kids. It is clean and kept up and has an on premises restaurant for dinner and breakfast. It features an indoor recreation area with adult and kids' swimming pools, complimentary putt-putt golf course, large climbing structure with steep slides and tunnels and an area with mellow climbing slides for toddlers. Our room was adjacent to this indoor rec center. The boys were very happy here. Adam said it was the best hotel of the trip. We stayed an extra few hours in the morning so the kids could enjoy the amenities.


Quality Inn & Suites, 4742 Brecksville Road, Richfield, Ohio. www.choicehotels.com

Out of the Way, Into Our Hearts

Today, at Newport Aquarium, without prompting, Adam hugged me and said, "Thank you for bringing me here!" That was all I needed to know that this side-trip on our route home was completely worth the time and expense. Today, we made memories that will last our lifetimes.

www.newportaquarium.com

Newport Aquarium is in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. It is adjacent to a pedestrian-friendly area called Newport on the Levee, on the "river walk" level where there are street vendors, shops and restaurants and regular outdoor concerts. It reminded me a little of Church Street in Burlington, but with a view of a river.

We'll never remember that the morning started out rough:
* We had a lame breakfast at the run-down Quality Inn in downtown Cincinnati. So I packed some peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches and fruit in the backpack for the snacks I knew we would soon need.
* We got lost on our way to Newport and Adam worried about missing the 9:15 Penguin Parade. (The Tom Tom wasn't cooperating; it didn't recognize the aquarium or address.) But we had allowed plenty of time and Paul is a master of road navigation on the fly, so we made it there by 8:50.
* We had trouble negotiating our way into a parking area, having missed several entrances and feeling panicked. By pure chance, we landed in a lot directly under the "river walk" adjacent to the aquarium, and it cost just $2 to park for the entire day IN THE SHADE of an underground garage.

I had ordered our tickets by phone in advance, because the aquarium website warned that the line for tickets might be long. Admission fees are $20 for adults, $13 for kids age 2 and up. So our total was $53, and the tickets were waiting at the "Will Call" counter. I was second in line and there was no problem.


Our good fortune continued when Adam was selected to lead the Penguin Parade! Each day, one or two lucky kids are picked to lead the parade, and we had talked about this possiblity for weeks. Adam and another little girl got to go into a special area prior to the parade and put on a royal robe and crown (he got to keep his crown), then walk in front of the carriage that transported three African penguins along a red carpet. Following the parade a staff person gives a talk about penguins. We learned that penguins eat twice their weight in fish each day and poop about every 20 minutes. It was too hot to listen to the whole thing, so we went inside to the museum. And we stayed for five hours, because it was so much fun!

We looked into gigantic tanks featuring aquatic life from all regions of the world. We watched crabs and lobsters walk, gazed at unusual fish and marveled at translucent jellyfish.
We watched sharks and stingrays swim toward and past us and talked with a young man who told us everything we ever wanted to know about these ominous, majestic creatures. We strolled through a river environment and watched otters play. We walked through glass tunnels through tanks filled with sharks, turtles, rays and colorful fish. Zac and Adam laughed and played next to a tank of penguins that seemed to be doing the same. Adam pet sharks.

Just looking at the aquatic creatures fascinates kids of all ages. I saw plenty of babies, in front carriers and backpacks, who seemed content to look at the pretty fish and turtles. During busy periods, such as now, strollers are not allowed because it gets too crowded. (During our visit, a group of senior citizens arrived in wheelchairs, each one pushed by a caregiver, which made me wonder about the double standard.)

The aquarium is arranged so that you pass by the exhibits one by one and end up at the cafeteria and gift shop. Some smart marketing people helped plan that architecture. We walked through the entire length of the aquarium, which is said to hold "A million gallons of fun." Then we rested in the caferia where we purchased drinks to wash down our brown-bag PBJ's. Then we walked the aquarium in reverse so we could experience all of it again. We had to go through the gift shop to get to the exit -- those clever architects! -- so, after a brief shopping excursion , we emerged onto the river walk plaza at nearly 2:00 p.m.

Money spent on souvenirs: a photo of our family in the jaws of a shark, $21; a stuffed ray shark for Adam, $15; a frog grabbit stick for Zac, $5. A day with my family at Newport Aquarium: Priceless.