No time to hit the gym with the kids out of school for the summer? No problem! We’ve got a full-body workout at the playground. From park-bench dips to swing planks, there’s nothing like working out at the playground with the kids right in your line of sight! All moves can be modified to fit your fitness level, mama, and best of all, it’s free! Read on for our expert tips.

Plan the Workout

Colby Lindeman

Before lacing up and hitting the playground, it’s important to prep your workout. We asked Colby Lindeman, mom of two, physical trainer, and owner of Fit by Nature SLO, how long and how many circuits will do the trick. Check out her tips and a few favorite moves below.

Intervals are awesome because they work for any level of fitness—from beginners to pros. For beginners, opt for 30 seconds of work and 15 seconds rest, then either jump to the next exercise or repeat before moving on. If a challenge is needed, ramp it up to 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds rest. For a super-charged workout, try the Super Setting: alternate between two exercises, two times each for 45 seconds work, 15 seconds rest. Complete the full circuit two or three times depending on fitness level.

One of the coolest things about a playground circuit is the ability to mix it up and change the sequence whenever you need a challenge. Feel like doing more sprints? Go for it! Too many kids on the slide? Focus on your upper body instead! The flexibility is perfect for parents. The moves below can be arranged in any way, on any day.

Rope Climb: Biceps, Shoulders, Quads, Core

Stella Spagnello

Rope climbing is super popular in CrossFit; it really is a total body workout. If you see one, take the opportunity to climb up, jump down, climb up, and jump down for the interval time. This also works with a climbing bar, which you’ll find at most playgrounds.

Playground Kicks: Glutes Lift

Sonia Gandiaga

Start on a tabletop position and then lift one leg up at a ninety-degree angle, kick it up 20 times, and then alternate the other leg. For extra added difficulty, extend the opposite arm and work that balance and core strength!

Park Bench Dips: Triceps

Gabby Cullen

This move is a classic because it’s effective and can be done just about anywhere. Face outwards from the bench while keeping your knees at a 90-degree angle and arms straight; dip down until arms are parallel to the ground, then return to the starting position keeping your back straight and core tight; repeat for the allotted interval.

Bench Step-Ups: Cardio Blast

Sonia Gandiaga

Alternate legs as you climb up and down a bench. Continue moving along the bench as you alternate the climbs, and when you reach the end move along the opposite way.

Monkey Bar Crunch: Abs and Arms

Stacey Blackstone

Not only will you be using major upper-body strength hanging on the monkey bars, but your midriff will get in on the action too. After pulling your legs up from the ground, use your abs to bring your knees as close to your chest as possible before lowering your legs to slightly touch the ground. Lift and lower for the entire workout interval.

Swing Planks (optional alternating legs): Core

Sonia Gandiaga

There are several ways to do a swing plank. One option is to rest forearms on the swing with legs stretched out in a V, which provides more stability. Another option is to have legs in the swing seat, arms out on the ground in a pushup position, which allows for swing pikes and other core moves. A final, more challenging option is to keep arms in the swing seat and legs as straight as possible in the plank position for the entire interval. To add a little extra challenge, alternate legs as you keep the plank position and your core engaged.

Slide Climb: Biceps, Shoulders, Quads, Hamstrings

Stacey Blackstone

This move is best left for an early morning visit to the park when there aren’t a lot of little kids around! Firmly grab the side of the slide, then step by step, climb up to the top; this helps build agility as well as gives the shoulders, thighs, and core a great workout.

Playground Side Plank: Core, Glutes

Sonia Gandiaga

Another super effective move to work your core muscles is the side plank. You can start with your right knee down, right forearm on the floor and left arm extended towards the sky and hold for 15-20 seconds (and then the opposite arm and leg). When you are ready to lift both legs, you can stack the ankles, or if it’s a little easier you can also try to move your top foot in front of the back like in the picture above.

Playground Push-Ups: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps

Gabby Cullen

Start with arms out, keeping the body straight and weight on your toes, then bend elbows until your arms have hit a 90-degree angle, and then return to starting position. Repeat until the rest period.

Slide Lunges: Quads, Glutes

Stella Spagnello

Start with one foot balanced at the bottom of the slide. Place hands on your hips and bend your front leg until your knee has reached a 90-degree angle (don’t let knee stick out past toes), then slowly straighten your leg and return to starting position; continue movement until rest period. This move is great for your backside and legs, but be sure to keep an eye out for kiddos wanting to take their turn on the equipment.

Playground Wide Lunges: Quads, Glutes & Abs

Sonia Gandiaga

Wide lunges are great to build up core strength, and at the same time work out your quads and glutes. There are many variations like stepping on your tippy-toes as you move up and down or moving sideways to add some cardio and extra sweat to the routine (and make the most out of your time).

Park Perimeter Sprints: Cardio Burst

Gabby Cullen

This move is an easy cardio burst that’ll boost calorie burn. Simply sprint around the perimeter of the playground or to a designated spot and back for the duration of the interval.

Monkey Bar Legs Up & Down: Core Super Burn

Sonia Gandiaga

Grab onto the monkey bars and lift your legs to a 90-degree angle. Then move both legs at the same time down and back up again or alternate legs and even add a little twist to strengthen the side of your abs. It’s harder than it looks!

Swinging Criss Cross: Core

Sit on the swing, then lean back to a 45-degree angle. With your legs tight and toes pointed open legs to a V position, then criss-cross back and forth, calf over calf, while attempting to keep the swing as still as possible.

—Sonia Gandiaga & Gabby Cullen

Featured image: iStock 

 

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Whitney Popa

Whitney Popa is a Communications Consultant and mom of two toddlers. She lives where the mountains meet the sea near Seattle. She has very strong opinions about baby books.

I’m not great at giving people proper reaction faces, so baby showers are uniquely stressful for me. When I was pregnant with our son four years ago, I made several requests to open gifts after the main event. My requests were swiftly rebuffed. So, I sat on my throne in front of my admiring guests, leaned over my massive belly, and tried to give them the ooohs and ahhhs and “SO cute!” they came to see. By the time it was over, I was sweaty, out of breath, and exhausted, especially because I received multiples of almost every classic board book on the market.

Look, I enjoy Little Blue Truck as much as the next mom. However! At my baby shower, I received four copies of it. Two I kept, storing one on each floor of our house. I gave the two others to grandparents to keep at their houses. It worked out fine, but I sure would have preferred more variety in the baby books I received that day (as grateful as I am that people cared to give us gifts at all!).

There are thousands of incredible books I could mention and we’ve read countless already (we even have a book box subscription from Amazon), so I thought I’d help out moms like me who want fun variety in their baby books and, quite honestly, don’t want to be annoyed by the stories their toddlers ask to read over and over. Anyone who has met a toddler knows they have their little fixations that can last months at a time.

This list includes books with beautiful messages, gorgeous illustrations, and in various styles (board books, picture books, a sneaky looks-like-it’s-for-the-kiddos-but-is-actually-for-mom book). I hope it helps you think beyond Pout Pout Fish and Brown Bear, Brown Bear—two other stories I love, and that live in multiple copies within our family.

Happy reading!


1

You Belong Here

If you take just one of my recs, make it this one.

$14.49

My husband can't read this book very often because it makes him cry. It's probably the most gorgeously-illustrated book we own and the message is poetic and pure: you and your child are bound together no matter where the world takes you.

BUY NOW

2

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander is all of us.

$7.17

I grew up reading Alexander and was so excited to add it back to our library when we had kids. I love that the story is told just as Alexander would say it—with run on sentences and carpool and brothers and mischief and Australia. Alexander always helps put our bad days in perspective.

BUY NOW

3

Forever

Another tear-jerker with glittery illustrations that make the story even more magical.

$9.99

This was one of the best baby shower books I was gifted. It's the perfect storm of a sweet story that will make parents weepy, animal illustrations, and glittery backgrounds. Prepare the tissues!

BUY NOW

4

Not Quite Narwhal

Unicorns and narwhals in the same book? Okay!

$10.14

This sweet -You're perfect exactly as you are- book has an important message woven into the cutest illustrations and rhyming story. Our son gets sick of me asking if we can read it every night before bedtime—that's how much I love it.

BUY NOW

5

My Heart Is Like a Zoo

A catchy little board book that doesn't get annoying after the 100th time reading it before bed.

$7.99

What's so cute and clever about this board book is that every animal in it is made out of multiple hearts. How can you not love a book like that? This was the first in our collection that our son was able to read with us (aka he memorized it and filled in much of the story when we would take a dramatic pause). Now that we have two kids, the ending that references a tired zookeeper feels particularly relevant.

BUY NOW

6

Little Bitty Friends

A charming little board book about appreciating sweet moments in nature.

$6.99

Cute rhyming stories can very much have bigger messages. This charming tale teaches your littles how to count, about creatures they might see outside, and about kindness. Plus, it ends with a great, big hug!

BUY NOW

7

Jane Foster's Black and White

A display-worthy book full of Scandinavian-inspired illustrations that will mesmerize any baby starting soon after they're born.

$12

My favorite thing about this book is that our three-year-old son flips through it with our one-year-old daughter. He points to the cow and she says Moooo! and it's the cutest thing in the world. This is a simple and beautiful book that grows with your kiddos, and it is so pretty you'll want to keep it around long after they've moved on to longer stories.

BUY NOW

8

Otis

I am very much a sucker for stories about unlikely friendships.

$14

In the 10th anniversary edition of this classic, the author/illustrator included a section about the evolution of Otis's character and scene development. We always see the end product, and not necessarily the process, so as a big book nerd, I loved that addition. The story, too, is a charmer: a little tractor lulls a brown calf to sleep with the purr of his motor. They become best friends and help each other out of a pickle.

BUY NOW

9

I Love My Happy Mama

It may look like a board book for your baby, but it's also a board book for you, mama.

$5

The central message in this book is about a child who loves spending time with her mama, even when her mama isn't feeling herself because of postpartum depression/anxiety. It reminds moms that our children love us just as we are and shows children that mama putting her needs first is better for the whole family.

BUY NOW

10

I Like Me

Teaching our kids self love starts early.

$7.99

I can't keep myself from smiling every time we read this book. The message is an important one: that happiness is an inside job. Through a series of affirmations, the little pig in this story does a fabulous job relaying that it's important to be your own best friend. That's something we could all stand to hear more often.

BUY NOW

You may feel like your house is a zoo, but it’s still not as wild as the real thing. If your kids are starting to think tigers only exist in memes…it’s time to break free!

The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are back with a roar and thrilled to welcome you again! Their top priority is the safety and well-being of their guests, team members and their wildlife—which they’ve kept safe for over 100 years. Read on to learn more about safety measures in place, meet the newest additions to their family and to get excited about planning your trip!

Welcome Back to Wonder at the Zoo

After the zoo’s longest closure in its history, the team members and animals are excited to welcome you back! Visit old friends and meet some new ones, as you stroll through the zoo, getting up close and personal with your family’s favorite animals. With over 3,500 animals and 650 species and subspecies, you know you’ll be in for a wild adventure!

New at the Zoo

Two words: baby animals! While the San Diego Zoo was closed, they got a few adorable new additions. Akobi, a pygmy hippo calf (the first born at the zoo in more than 40 years!) and Agapito, an Andean bear cub are two of the not-so-little ones that your kids can see. The zoo also welcomed two Amur leopard cubs (an endangered species) and twin ring-tailed lemurs!

Welcome Back to the Wild at the Safari Park

Get up close to your favorite wildlife at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! With a diverse array of habitats, including Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled the world! The Safari Park’s expansive grounds give your family freedom to roam and explore at your own pace—meaning you can spend as much time with the giraffes as you’d like!

New at the Safari Park

The Safari Park also welcomed a few new friends! Come meet the babies: an adorable cheetah cub, two porcupine pups (aka “porcupettes”) and an already-famous giraffe calf whose name, Zahara, was chosen by her online fans. You can also meet one-horned rhino calves, a zebra foal and the park’s first-ever echidna baby, which is also called a puggle!

Get Close to the Animals–Not Other People

Now you can always skip the crowds and experience the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park like never before. Capacity is reduced to less than half of full capacity to allow for social distancing, meaning you get to spend more time watching your favorite animals, all with a front-row view.

In order to keep people at a safe distance, the zoo has also modified how guests move through the park. The changes include posted signs, some one-way direction routes, ground spacing markers to indicate six feet of separation and socially-distanced seating.

Face masks are required for guests age two and up, and you can even purchase your own special zoo face mask with your kid’s favorite animal at ShopZoo.com! You’ll also see team members throughout the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park to remind guests of facial covering and social distancing.

Plus, they’ve got extra cleaning covered, with additional and more frequent cleaning and disinfecting throughout the facilities on an ongoing basis each day. Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations are readily available in the parks for guests to use, as well.

Hours, Tickets & More

The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are open every day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are subject to change, so check their zoo and safari park websites for the most up-to-date hours and information. Due to limited capacity, tickets in advance are recommended.

Please visit their website for additional information including a full list of safety measures, what to expect during your visit and FAQ’s.

Now get out there and go wild!

 

–Jamie Aderski

 

Photos courtesy of the San Diego Zoo

When it comes to investing in a stroller, most parents want the field of options narrowed down considerably to save precious time and sanity. There are hundreds to choose from after all! If you’re looking for one single stroller to take your kiddo from birth to kindergarten (and probably beyond) it’s a smart move to check out Nuna’s ​new TRIV stroller.

Lightweight and flexible, with the ability to stand on its own, the TRIV is built to last with features and functionality unrivaled in the insanely crowded baby gear world. Plus, it looks good enough to practically walk a runway.

 

Revolutionary features

3-position recline

UPF 50+ canopy

Quick-release, 5-point no-rethread harness

Leatherette accented pushbar and armbar

Height adjustable pushbar

Adjustable calf support

Spring suspension technology

All-terrain rubber tires

Sleek and stylish functionality

Ultra-compact

Easy, one-handed fold

Seat faces both forwards and backwards and folds flat both ways

Functional from birth to 50 pounds

Travel system ready with included ring adapter

Car seat ring adapter conveniently folds with the frame

Best of all, the Nuna TRIV is highly versatile with a seat that can face forwards or backwards, easy conversion from a 5-point to a 3-point harness, and a one-handed fold when you’re switching from walking to driving, or ready to wrap it up for the day. Pair it with a Nuna PIPA infant car seat to make it a fully functioning travel system thanks to the ring adaptor included. The fully featured compact stroller weighs a very liftable 19.4 pounds (without insert, armbar, or canopy). So toss it in your trunk and never miss a beat.

 

Strolling around town with the TRIV means supreme comfort and safety for you and your baby, no matter the circumstances. Brave all types of weather with a Merino wool insert for winter and a mesh seat for summer. The agile rain cover is ideal for gray and damp days, while the UPF 50+ canopy fully extends with an eyeshade and window when the sun is strong.

Adjust the pushbar to your perfect height, then cruise in confidence with spring suspension technology to keep the ride going smoothly. A smart storage pocket and oversized basket provide plenty of places to stash bottles, diapers, wipes, snacks, and everything else you’ll need along the way.

Nuna has been at the forefront of modern baby gear since 2007. As a global brand with Dutch origins, Nuna is keenly focused on both manufacturing and design, ensuring that all materials and processes are safe, superior, and truly mindful. Chances are, you’re probably familiar with Nuna’s contemporary collection of car seats, strollers, kiddie cots, chairs, and carriers. But if you haven’t become educated on Nuna gear, we highly recommend perusing the video gallery to see and learn more.

Shop the stylish and reliable TRIV stroller at ​https://www.nunababy.com/triv-usa

–Whitney C. Harris

It’s time to dust off the driving gloves and say sayonara to the city because a just-opened drive-through adventure is calling. It’s a close encounter of the animal kind, where you and the kids, tucked safely in your car, get up close and personal with bison, moose and caribou who are roaming free. Start your engines!

Buckle Up

courtesy Northwest Trek

Northwest Trek’s Wild Drive is probably the most fun your fam will have in the car this year. The new program gives families a chance to be part of a car caravan that travels through the park’s 435-acre Free-Roaming Area. Each guided tour is led by an experienced naturalist, who shares entertaining tidbits and facts via an app you download to your phone. That’s right, you’ll have all the educational entertainment your kids need piped right to your car. Plan to spend about an hour on this all-car-all-the-time tour you won’t soon forget.

Shift into Gear

courtesy Northwest Trek

As you make your way through the grassy meadows and forested hillsides, the kids should be on the lookout for the eight Pacific Northwest native animals that call the park home. We’re talking Roosevelt elk, mountain goats, caribou, big horn sheep and elusive moose that take a keen eye to spot. Don’t forget the bison, who always seem to steal the show. They love to sit close to the road and pose for pictures. Who knows, with the springtime baby boom, you might even spy a bison calf close to mom along the way. The cars will move slowly through the grounds so you’ll have plenty of time to see the animals that are out and about. Clearly the hardest part of this trip is deciding which parent has to drive and keep their eyes on the road.

Safety First

Sean O-Neill via flickr creative commons

Be reassured this adventure puts health and safety first, as every aspect can be no-contact, if you choose. Tickets are purchased in advance online, and are shown to an attendant through your car window. Staff will wear masks (you can too!), and stay socially distanced from cars. And other than a possible pit stop, there’s no need to get out of the car or come in contact with anyone other than your car mates.

What to Bring

courtesy Northwest Trek

Unlike a typical visit to Northwest Trek, this adventure is all about car time, and that means being prepared. Put food and drink at the top of your list, as eating while you make your way through the park is totally fine (just don’t feed the animals). Hand sanitizer, masks and any other safety items you would normally pack during this time come next. Finally, plan some silly road trip games and activities to keep the kids busy on the way down and back.

Pit Stop

courtesy Northwest Trek

If your crew needs a break from car time, consider packing a picnic or getting out for an easy hike. For a picnic, try Spanaway Park, just off of Highway 7, outside Tacoma. It sits along a lake, so you can eat with a view, and there’s plenty of room to stretch your legs. Remember restrooms and playground equipment are closed here. Families can also check out Nisqually State Park, a little beyond Northwest Trek. It’s a smaller, little-known state park, so socially distancing along the riverside trails should be a cinch. Remember to pack your Discover Pass for this one.

Good to know:
1. Cell reception can be spotty at the park, so download mobile tickets and the audio app you need for the tour to your device before you head out.

2. Plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before your tour starts. There’s no joining the group once they’ve departed.

3. Families will have limited access to restrooms at the park before and after the tour.

4. Car capacity maxes out at eight people for this experience.

5. Some time slots are already sold out, so if you want in, get your tickets soon.

11610 Trek Dr. E.
Eatonville, WA
360-832-6117
Online: nwtrek.org

Days: daily, starting May 27, 2020
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $70/vehicle, members; $80/vehicle, non-members

—Allison Sutcliffe

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It’s a boy! Last month Mabel, a 4-year-old pygmy hippopotamus at the San Diego Zoo gave birth to her first calf. This is the first successful pygmy hippo birth at the zoo in more than 30 years. 

baby pygmy hippo

The male pygmy hippo calf was born just before 9 a.m. on Apr. 9, and weighed 12.4 pounds.

The zoo announced the birth on May 15  in recognition of Endangered Species Day. The zoo said, the calf, which has not been named, is meeting and surpassing milestones, including the ability to go underwater.

There are fewer than 2,500 pygmy hippos living in rivers and streams in the forest of West Africa, and their species are threatened by logging, farming and human settlement in their habitat according the the announcement on the zoo’s website. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: iStock

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It’s here! The third trimester of my second pregnancy has arrived. I am so grateful my baby boy is healthy and growing like a weed. In a short twelvish weeks, I will get to meet him for the first time and kiss his fat little adorable face. In the meantime, I am enjoying feeling him kick and move around in my ever-growing belly. And with a growing belly comes a growing me, an everything growing me.

It’s so weird, but it’s like someone flipped a switch on the first day of the third trimester. I feel more pregnant, more tired, more moody, more hungry and more ready than ever to meet my tiny little human. With that said, I have had some major third-trimester failures. I thought I would share. They may make your life a little easier one day.

Don’t cry because you grew cankles overnight. I woke up this morning and realized that my legs resembled stumps with feet on the end. I put on a knee-length dress with flats and made the mistake of looking in a full-length mirror. Nothing makes you feel less attractive than not being able to tell where your calf stops and your ankle starts. I miss you, ankles, come back soon. Please.

Don’t examine your stretch marks and cry again. Stretch marks happen. There is no secret cream that keeps them away. I didn’t get them until 36 weeks with my first pregnancy. This time, they were out in full force from the beginning. They will fade with time, and until then, I will wear them with pride. Those stretch marks came from growing a tiny human, and that’s pretty freaking awesome.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. When I found out I was pregnant, my husband and I decided that we should get our kitchen remodel done before the baby arrived. Well, it has gotten pushed back a few times and won’t start until May 1st. I am due mid-July. Fingers crossed that I don’t have construction workers welcoming me home from the hospital. Remodels never take longer than expected, right?

Don’t feel bad for forgetting things. Baby brain is real. They did a scientific study showing it exists! I am normally on top of my game when it comes to remembering things and multitasking like a freaking champ. But the last seven months have been crazy hard. I forget things, don’t remember what I am supposed to be doing in the middle of a task and lose concentration easily. I have been really hard on myself, but you know what, this too will pass. I am just hoping I don’t drive away with Henry’s favorite blankie on the back of the car again.

Don’t feel guilty for napping. Growing a human is hard work, people. You deserve a nap! Or ten!

Always have snacks available. Hangry has taken on a new meaning the last couple weeks. Throw some granola bars and a cheeseburger in your purse in case of emergency. Along with a bottle of Tums. You never know how long a meeting may last. Better safe than sorry.

Make sure your toddler is ready for the new babyHahahaha! This could be a real disaster. I had an amazing plan that I would have my two-year-old potty trained by the time baby #2 comes. Except that he shows zero interest in using the potty. Having two kids in diapers isn’t that expensive, right? This is me praying for a potty-training miracle.

Don’t feel bummed when none of your clothes fit. Even my maternity clothes are starting to feel too tight. I went through my entire wardrobe the other morning and could not find a single top that fit over my large belly. Then I had a genius idea. I wore what used to be a knee-length dress as a top. I even got a compliment saying it was a cute outfit. I did wear a cardigan over the top/dress because it was a little tight here and there, but in the words of Tim Gunn, I made it work. I will be winning no fashion awards in the next couple of months and plan to wear only black maxi dresses that hide my cankles.

Don’t weigh yourself! You have to see it every time you go to the doctor. Don’t make it even worse by weighing yourself at home. It’s going to go up. A lot. That’s just the way it is. Enjoy your tacos and give yourself a break.

Don’t try to wear cute heels, even if just for a short amount of time. I tried it. I was miserable. I ended up walking around barefoot after about twenty minutes. I don’t care if you think heels make your cankles look less cankle-ish. You will hate your life.

The third trimester is tough. Don’t beat yourself up over things that are out of your control. This too shall pass and life will be back to (maybe) normal soon!

Until next time, Jamie

This post originally appeared on Hashtag MomFail by Jamie Johnson.

I am a full time working mom with two little boys, Henry and Simon. I write about real life and real life gets messy. Contributor for Motherly, HuffPost Parents, Scary Mommy, Today Parents, Love What Matters and Her View From Home. 

From sharing your favorite cookies to catching vomit in our hands, most of us would do anything for our kiddos. Canadian mom Jamie Packard took it to another level by baking a rather interesting (to say the least) birthday cake for her son Benz’s fourth birthday. While most four-year-olds request cartoon characters on the top of their cake, Benz requested…(drum roll please)… a cow giving birth to a calf.

Photo: Today

Slice, anyone? Jamie commented on the cake on her Facebook. “I’m thinking to myself, no Mother is ever really prepared for this kind of stuff. And as I’m applying cherry pie filling as afterbirth, I found myself thinking…Thank goodness it’s only family coming to this party!”

What was a weird request you’ve received from your son or daughter? Let us know in the comments below!

H/T: Today

Love farm-to-table? You can’t handle this farm-to-table! (Actually, you can, and you really should.) That’s right, we found a super family-friendly vacation at a real, live working farm, complete with pastoral vistas, home cookin’, your own private cottage and more cute animals than you can shake a stick at. Plus: actual farm work the kids will love. (Your toddler can milk a cow. Need we say more?)

photo: via Hull-O Farms Facebook page

Welcome to Hull-O Farms!
Looking like something straight out of one of your kids’ story books, Hull-O Farms is located in a beautiful area of the Catskills, about a two hour drive from New York City. The farm itself has been in the Hull family for over 200 years, and seven generations. The Hulls — Farmer Frank and his wife Sherry (you’ll think of her as a second mom by the time you leave) head the daily operations of the farm with their sons, and have been welcoming guests to be part of the family for 22 years. (The duo has dubbed the visits, “Family Farm-stay Vacations.”)

There may not be a pool or beach here, but this is an actual working farm and your family will get to join the ranks of farm hands during your stay. At the center of the farm is a picture-perfect white farmhouse surrounded by a barn and rolling fields filled with farm animals. At any given time, you may happen upon a calf, kitten or sheep, to name a few of the properties’ four-legged inhabitants.

photo: milking a cow via Caitlin Dowling

Daily Chores
When we say “working farm” we mean it (in a good way of course!). Upon check-in, visitors are given a schedule for their stay. The main chore of newbie farmhands (that’s you) is to feed the animals, which eat twice a day: once in the morning and again in the early evening. Rest assured, this will quickly become the highlight of your little farmer’s day, and you will probably like it, too. (The calves and goats need milk, the chickens and pigs need feed, and the bunnies need their grass and hay.)

photo: feeding a calf via Caitlin Dowling

After having your own breakfast it’s time to hit the chicken coop to collect eggs. Don’t worry if your less than delicate two-year-old breaks an egg, consider it a rite of passage.

photo: chicken coop via Caitlin Dowling

Don’t worry, in between chores there’s plenty of downtime for relaxing or a day trip. However, if the family gets really into it, there’s always something to do to keep the farm running.  Visiting and snuggling with the kittens and bunnies is also always an option — yet another Kodak moment at Hull-O.

photo: bunnies on the farm via Caitlin Dowling

Food: Come and Get It!
Yes, Sherry Hull really does ring a big old dinner bell when it’s time to eat (regardless of the meal). Make sure you come hungry because she’s is going to make sure you get your fill of her home cooking, and it’s likely you’ll want seconds and thirds.

photo: breakfast on the farm via Caitlin Dowling

Meals are served in the farmhouse dining room and it’s a communal affair with all the other guests. Expect homey dishes and ingredients like farm fresh eggs, sausage and pancakes for breakfast and homemade lasagna, roast beef, fresh vegetables, homemade pie and brownies for dinner and dessert. For those picky eaters in the family, there are also kid meals upon request. Breakfast and dinner are served daily and included in your stay.

If you like what you’re eating, the farm sells products to take back home, including pancake mix, farm eggs, and fresh meats.

photo: Hull-O Farms

Country Living
After a fun day on the farm, your family will return to its own private country home. Hull-O farm has three different houses available for rent, which range in size from two- to four- bedrooms, all of which are outfitted with bathrooms and full kitchens.

Prices vary depending on the day and season, and rates start at $250 for a four person family in the winter and spring and increase during the more popular summer months. Sheets and towels and soap are provided, but consider this similar to a B&B stay, so make sure to pack your own toiletries and other necessities. There are stores within driving distance if you forget to bring something, but remember, you’re in the country and there isn’t a 24-hour Duane Reade on the corner.

photo: Gifford House via Hull-O Farms

More Fun on the Farm, in All Season
As if the animals weren’t enough, Hull-O Farms offers more opportunities for additional country fun. Spend your free time fishing in the pond, cruising the fields on a hayride, or spinning on tire swings. And you can expect a good old fashion bonfire party at least one night of your stay, complete with the making of s’mores.

At the end of summer, a corn maze is open where you can go ‘get lost’, and in the fall, visitors can check out the pumpkin patch.

 

photo: via Zoom Flume Water Park

Local Attractions Beyond the Farm
During the afternoon you’re encouraged to get out and explore. If you do nothing else, go for a simple drive and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Catskills. While you’re out cruising consider stopping in to one of these popular local spots.

Zoom Flume Water Park
During the summer months, you may want a way to cool down. Right down the road is a waterpark filled with slides and pools where families with kids of all ages can make a splash.

 

photo: Howe Caverns via Caitlin Dowling

Howe Caverns
A scenic 45 minute drive from the farm is Howe Caverns. Take an elevator 156 feet below the Earth’s surface to explore a prehistoric underground cavern six million years in the making; you even a short boat ride as part of the tour. (Tip: it gets cold that far below the Earth’s surface, so even in the summer, bring a sweatshirt.)

Hull-O Farms
10 Cochrane Rd.
Durham, NY 12422
518-239-6950
Online: hull-o.com

Has your family ever taken a farm vacation? Let us know in the comments below!

—Caitlin Dowling

For the lovers of “Why?” OMSI’s newest exhibit is perfect for them. The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! goes beyond wowing your little ones and gives them a little scientific 411 to Ripley’s famous discoveries. Your tots can compare themselves to an animatronic replica of the world’s tallest man or find Bumblebee from Transformers and see exactly what makes his gears churn. Intrigued? Read on to discover more about this interactive exhibit.

                                                                                                              photo: Anna Doogan

Going Beyond the Wow Factor
Seeking “the odd, the unusual, and the unexplained” since 1918, Robert Ripley traveled to over 200 countries in 35 years, gathering incredible stories and interesting artifacts from around the world. Today, his collections are housed in over 32 museums all around the world, dazzling audiences with exhibits that must be seen to be believed.

This newest exhibit from Ripley Entertainment Inc., demonstrates the “how” beyond Ripley’s fascinating and peculiar discoveries. Visitors of all ages will find their curiosity satisfied as they explore a room of Perceptions and Illusions to the wild Gallery of the Unexpected. They’ll also be able to witness how advanced technologies and tools can unravel and explain the mysteries of our world.

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

What to See (and Believe):

The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has an eyeful of curiosities to check out, but here are a few that you and your little explorers won’t want to miss:

Learn about extreme biology and see how your height measures up against the towering skeleton of the extinct Elephant Bird. Then, check out the enormous Bumblebee transformer made out of used car parts. For real eye-opening amazement, watch daring footage of actual sword swallowers and learn about their precise techniques.

Head to the Gallery of the Unexpected, where you can peek through a microscope to observe incredible sculptures that fit on the head of a pin, before cruising by a Rolls Royce made out of over one million matchsticks. Don’t miss the portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. made out of postage stamps, or the Justin Bieber created from candy! It’s no science how those are made, but your little one will love the quirky aspect of it.

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

What to Get Your Hands On:

Ready for a more hands on experience? Let your young adventurers investigate and explore the interactive parts of The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Don’t leave these things off of your agenda:

Climb up into a giant Chippendale chair that was built for one of the world’s tallest people. Explore the science of height while testing the “How Tall Will I Be?” computer activity. You can even measure yourself with a giant ruler next to the animated likeness of Robert Wadlow, a man who grew to be almost nine feet tall. (Be sure to stick around for a few minutes to see him stand to his full size before sitting down again).

Then, crawl through the open jaws and into the body of a life-sized Titanoba replica—the largest species of snake that ever lived.

Visit the Weird World area to touch a real meteorite and examine dinosaur fossils. Visit the Perceptions and Illusions room to create colorful silhouette art with your body, or test your skill at unlocking and opening the perplexing Mystery Gate. Finally, finish your visit by posing for a great family photo inside the jaws of an enormous Megalodon shark (that’s one for the holiday cards).

                                                                                                                photo: Anna Doogan

 

Know Before You Go

Some of the more eye-popping displays in the exhibit can be a bit startling, including a collection of shrunken heads, a calf with two faces and large animal skeletons. Know your little science lover’s temperament and keep an eye out for the displays you may want to steer away from.

When: May 21-Sept. 7
Hours: Tues.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Cost: $9.50/youth (3-13) and seniors (63 and up); $13/adults; FREE/members and children under 2
Parking: $5
1945 SE Water Ave.
503-797-4000
Online: omsi.edu/ripleys-believe-it-or-not

Have you checked out The Science of Ripley’s Believe it Or Not!? Let us know what you thought in the comments below!

—Anna Doogan