Back again for another year, this free National Parks pass for fourth graders is something you definitely want to take advantage of
If heading back to school meant heading into the fourth grade for your tykes, then your family has a very awesome perk to enjoy. Every American household can sign up for a free National Parks pass for fourth graders.
America’s National Parks system wants to get more kids and their families outdoors and exploring the protected natural wonders that make our nation so great. Through the Every Kid Outdoors initiative each new school year all American fourth graders are invited to sign up for a free National Parks pass.
Parents can sign up their fourth graders for a free pass on the Every Kid Outdoors website. The pass is good for entry into hundreds of National Parks, as well as monuments, across the country for one year, expiring Aug. 31, 2024 (we even used it to visit Alcatraz for free!).
Who is included: The pass covers entry for 2023-2024 school year fourth graders along with any kids under 16 in their family and up to three adults. All you have to do is sign up, print out your pass, and bring it along to show to a park ranger or display on your car dashboard. Homeschoolers are also included, of course.
So why is it fourth graders and not second or first that can snag this awesome perk? According to research, from ages nine to 11, kids are really starting to observe the world around them and are more likely to be open to new ideas and connect with nature. This program is repeated every year, so eventually, all American kids have an opportunity to participate.
Similar programs are available for many state parks around the country (like California!) so check to see if your state park system has a similar offer.
Learn where to find discount LEGOLAND tickets and how to skip the lines for free
If you have a LEGO lover in your house, you need to plan your next family vacation in sunny Florida at LEGOLAND. You’ll enter a world filled with tradeable Minifigures, thrilling rides, and the best LEGO shopping in the world. So whether you want to find the best ticket price or the perfect LEGOLAND ride for a toddler, we’ve rounded up the top tips to plan the perfect family trip to LEGOLAND, Florida.
How to save money on your LEGOLAND Florida vacation.
Chip Litherland for LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Find Discount Tickets Start by choosing a time of year when LEGOLAND offers discount vacation packages. It's the perfect way to save on almost every part of your theme park getaway. And you can try your local big box store (Costco or Sam's Club) for the best prices if you just need tickets.
Brave Hurricane and Back-to-School Season LEGOLAND offers the best discounts in September. Yes, it is hurricane season, but the park also provides excellent inclement weather policies. If you choose to brave hurricane season after everyone is back in school, make sure you buy travel insurance in case of bad weather. September discounts include vacation packages with resort deals and meals.
Pro Tip:If you plan to combine your visit to LEGOLAND with other theme parks, such as Disney World or Universal, January is the best time for discount prices, cooler weather, and fewer crowds.
Pack a lunch (and snacks) Thankfully, LEGOLAND offers a generous food policy. But the rules are pretty specific. You are allowed soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.4' wide x 6" high x 6" deep. So lunch for your crew can stay within your budget. The Publix across the street has affordable food options for the whole family.
Top tips for making the most out of your LEGOLAND Florida visit
CHIP LITHERLAND for LEGOLAND Florida
Get the App Before you even pack for your trip, download the LEGOLAND app. It has an interactive map to aid in exploring the park, a height guide for rides, directions, and even a car finder to help track where you've parked. Most importantly, the app lets you track ride wait times in real-time so you can skip the lines for free. You won't need to pay for FastTrack tickets if you follow the ride wait times on the app. You can get in line when the wait is short. The app is a must-have if you are willing to stay flexible with your schedule.
Shopping Made Easy You don't need to worry about buying the 3000-piece LEGO set while in the park. Since you'll be able to browse the most extensive collection of LEGO products in the world, the park makes it easy to shop all day. You can purchase from any of the shops throughout LEGOLAND, and they will have your goodies waiting for you when you are ready to leave.
Timesaver Hack: Start at the Back Any seasoned theme park goer knows the lines by the entrance are often much longer just after the park opens. After you arrive and stop at the Height Check for an armband, walk straight to the back of the park to skip the early lines. Use the app to check wait times, too.
Pro Tip:If your kids missed the height mark this visit, you could stop at the Heigh Check Center for an armband. It makes ride choices so much easier.
Plan your day at LEGOLAND around the best rides.
Chip Litherland for LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Best rides for toddlers Start your day with the Grand Carousel, and when you plan how much time to spend on this ride, triple it. Your little one will ask to ride this double-decker carousel with moving LEGO horses and sensory-friendly sleighs at least five times. Then, take the DUPLO® train ride around the city, where LEGO characters are fishing and enjoying family time. These LEGOLAND rides are perfect for toddlers.
Best rides for big kids Experience a dark castle, a massive dragon, and indoor and outdoor roller coaster fun when you ride The Dragon. And no LEGOLAND trip would be complete without a ride on The Great LEGO Race. The high-speed rollercoaster features a 50-foot drop and a lot of fun for the thrillseeker in your crew. Remember to check out the view of the lake at the very top of the ride.
Pro Tip:LEGOLAND offers Parent Swapping when one child in your group doesn't meet the height requirement of a ride. Each parent gets a chance to ride; just ask.
Sensory-friendly options Don't forget the no-cost "Hero Pass" that allows you to skip lines or wait in quiet rooms equipped with noise-canceling headphones. In addition, the park stocks weighted blankets, squishy toys, and tables where kids can build with LEGO bricks. Finally, ask for one of the illustrated, step-by-step walkthroughs of rides and shows with loud noises, periods of darkness, bright lights, or other overwhelming or potentially frightening aspects.
Find the best hotels near LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND Florida
Where to stay You'll want to choose one of three LEGOLAND hotels or you'll have to drive a bit further each day to stay at an Orlando-based budget hotel option. Unlike Disney World or Universal, the local hotel and rental options are limited. However, the LEGOLAND hotel room rates and vacation packages are reasonable, especially during a discount period. The nearby major hotel chains might be the best option if you have hotel points.
Did you know? LEGOLAND Florida offers all-inclusive vacation packages. In other words, you don't have to plan anything other than how you get there. The packages include everything from meals and accommodations to nightly scavenger hunts with LEGO souvenirs and photo memory packages.
Plan Ahead: Trade Minifigures at LEGOLAND
LEGO
You can bring minifigs from home or build your own at the stop just inside the entrance of the park. Model Citizens (park staff) throughout LEGOLAND wear lanyards with tradable Minifigures. It's almost like a scavenger hunt that only ends when you stop trading.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort One LEGOLAND Way Winter Haven, FL Online:legoland.com
In September, Smithsonian Magazine will celebrate its 18th annual Museum Day! That means hundreds of museums, zoos and cultural centers across the country will wave their admission fees for a day, giving families free entry.
Over 1,000 museums nationwide are expected to participate in this year’s Museum Day, which will take place on Saturday, Sep. 17. Families will be able to take advantage of free admission and a special curation of exhibits related to this year’s theme.
Richard Hirajeta/Unsplash
The theme of the free event will be “The American Experience,” and will focus “a spotlight on wonderful arts, culture, sciences, innovation and history exhibits across the country” reports Travel+ Leisure. “We are so thrilled to be able to bring Museum Day to the public for the 18th year and to once again be able to highlight many of the museums and cultural institutions that make America so special,” says Amy Wilkins, the chief revenue officer at Smithsonian Media.
Not sure which museums are included? You can head to the Smithsonian Magazine website and search by location to find a participating museum near you. According to USA Today, museums are still signing up to be included as part of the free day, so continue to check if more locations are added in your area.
While the event makes museum entry free, you still need to register for a ticket. You can register for a ticket starting on Aug. 15. A single ticket provides entry for the ticket holder and one guest and only one ticket is permitted per email address. Check out the full list of participating museums and download your free ticket at the Smithsonian Magazine website.
LEGO bricks are easily some of the best creative toys for kids of all ages, but they can be a pricey investment for those living on a tight budget. But thanks to an awesome initiative, LEGO Replay, all kids can get a chance to develop those important STEM skills, and not to mention enjoy hours of creative play with LEGO.
LEGO introduced a new give-back program called LEGO Replay back in Oct. 2019, which allows families to box up LEGO bricks they no longer want and send them to kids in need for free. The program has continued to run and give your LEGO bricks new life.
LEGO
All you have to do is visit www.lego.com/replay to print out a free UPS shipping label and ship it off for donation. Currently, the program only accepts: LEGO® System, DUPLO® and Technic™ Bricks and Elements from single or multiple sets, LEGO® Minifigures and Mini-dolls (no need to disassemble) and LEGO® Baseplates.
“We know people don’t throw away their LEGO bricks,” said Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group. “The vast majority hand them down to their children or grandchildren. But others have asked us for a safe way to dispose of or to donate their bricks. With Replay, they have an easy option that’s both sustainable and socially impactful.”
LEGO
The bricks will be given to kids in need and distributed to Teach for America (nationwide) and Boys and Girls Club of Boston and Teach for America and currently, the program has received over 597,000 pounds!
“Learning through play can have a tremendous impact on a child’s cognitive development. Through play, children develop fine motor skills, think creatively, and can learn how to problem solve throughteamwork,” said Susan Asiyanbi, Teach For America’s chief operating and program officer. “But not everyone has access to such resources. LEGO Replay, and the instructional resources they provide educators, will help give more students access to this opportunity.”
The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is Mar. 2 this year and the world’s first and only streaming platform that brings storybooks to life through animation is celebrating! Vooks (rhymes with books) is launching its “Read Along With Vooks” initiative, a special 7-day free preview that opens up the platform’s entire library.
From Mon. Feb. 28 through Sun. Mar. 6, kids can read anything they want on Vooks for free! Perfect for kids ages two to eight, the website helps inspire a love of reading at a young age.
As part of the “National Reading Month,” Vooks is also debuting a new friend at their special Read Along release party on Mar. 6, so be sure to mark your calendar.
Vooks is packed with animated storybooks that are specially curated for kids. Young readers and their parents can choose from books centered around SEL, STEM, vocabulary and more.
You can access Vooks available worldwide and on most devices including Apple’s iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV, in addition to Android platforms and devices, Roku and Amazon TV Fire Stick. If you’d like to sign up for unlimited access going forward, you can sign up for just $4.99 per month or $49.99 a year. Not sure yet? Sign up between Feb. 28 and Mar. 6 and get the entire month for free!
The Green Bay Packers game against the Chicago Bears looked a lot brighter this NFL season. On Sunday, Dec. 12, Packers’ running back Aaron Jones wore custom-designed cleats, in partnership with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, to support children battling childhood cancer.
The special NFL program, “My Cause, My Cleats”, raises awareness and funding for causes that are near and dear to players’ hearts. Participating athletes sport a custom cleat design that represents their passions beyond the field on game day, then auction off the cleats at the NFL auction to raise proceeds for their selected charity.
Earlier this year, kids with cancer and their family members submitted their original hand-crafted designs for Aaron’s cleats, from which he personally selected his favorite. This year marks Aaron’s second time partnering with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation for the “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign to support and raise awareness for childhood cancer.
On November 13, Ashley Herman of Marshfield, Wis. was selected as the program’s winner. The 18-year-old cancer hero was invited to visit Lambeau Field in Green Bay with her mom, dad, brother and boyfriend, where Aaron surprised her with the news that he selected her design for his cleats.
“You’re definitely strong and resilient. Never stop fighting,” Aaron shared on a virtual call. “I want you to know that I’m in your corner forever.”
Ashley was surprised and delighted to speak with Aaron about her design and thought process behind the artwork. When selecting her design, Aaron was particularly drawn to the phrase “be the change” on the cleats—a phrase that stuck with Ashley throughout her treatment. “All it takes is one person,” Aaron told Ashley. “And now when I wear those cleats, everyone will see be the change.”
To top off the victory, Ashley was not only gifted a pair of her own custom cleats but also learned she and her family would attend the Packers’ game on December 12 to see her design in action.
Cleats designed by childhood cancer heroes seem to bring a little bit of magic to Aaron’s game. He scored back-to-back touchdowns in Ashley’s cleats to help boost the Packers’ to a 45-30 victory over the Chicago Bears, while, last year, he ran for his longest career touchdown in Ethan Haley’s cleats.
Finding Hope and Courage Through Art
Both art and sports played a large role in Ashley’s everyday life growing up. When she wasn’t in school, she would spend her time painting or sketching or playing volleyball for Columbus High School.
This past winter, however, Ashley was faced with news that would change her life. On Jan. 27, 2021, the Wisconsin native was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—cancer that affects specialized white blood cells within the body’s immune system, which hinders it from defending against bacteria, parasites, or viruses.
Despite receiving this startling news, Ashley’s perpetual positive attitude kicked in and her first words to her doctors and families were, “okay, what do we do next.” Today, her cancer is in remission.
For Ashley, “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign means more than just winning. She plans to continue to share her story with others battling cancer to help them keep pushing forward and to encourage them to share their own experiences.
Aaron also hopes his participation with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation will inspire others to make a difference. The Foundation, which launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012, has worked vigorously to find better treatments and cures, provide family and patient support and offer aid to children who struggle with the long-term effects of treatment. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed over $35 million towards its mission and also funded more than 455,000 hours of research.
Sesame Workshop is helping families in yet another way! As part of its Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Childreninitiative, the organization is launching new resources to help families cope with challenges, create new routines and embrace flexibility.
Julia continues to be at the center of Sesame Workshop’s program, a four-year-old with autism. In partnership with Exceptional Minds, the pair are releasing a new animated video that follows Julia along as she copes with her fear of the dark.
Not only will families be able to tune in to the new video, but they can also take advantage of new coloring pages, activity sheets and Good Night routine cards to help children develop a healthy bedtime routine. Printables will all be available at sesamestreet.org/autism and are free to everyone.
Additionally Sesame Workshop is partnering with Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) to launch new versions of We’re Amazing 1, 2, 3 digital storybooks in both Mandarin and Cantonese.
Calling all American Girl fans! The most popular doll brand is welcoming three new dolls, and they all have unique stories reflecting important issues the world is dealing with today.
Say hello to Makena Williams, Evette Peeters and Maritza Ochoa, all a part of the “World By Us” collection. The girls and their backgrounds touch on issues like immigration, the importance of working together to make the world a better place, environmentalism and racial equality.
As part of the new collection, each girl will have their own book that details their back story and overlap with others. To make the stories as authentic as possible, American Girl collaborated with acclaimed writers like Angela Cervantes, Denise Lewis Patrick and Sharon Dennis Wyeth.
Art is all around us—you don’t have to go to a stuffy museum to introduce your kids to the fine arts. We’ve rounded up 18 jaw-dropping outdoor art installations across the country that the whole family will appreciate. Some are interactive and others are just larger than life, but all of them are well worth a visit. Keep reading to see them all.
Isak Heartstone | Breckenridge, CO
Kate Loweth
From a downtown full of sculptures to live theater performances, Breckenridge is full of ways to explore the arts. Track down the famed Breckenridge Troll while you are there. Named Isak Heartstone, this 15-foot tall wooden troll sculpture is located on the Trollstigen Trail next to Illinois Gulch Trailhead. This massive sculpture is by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is known worldwide for bringing awareness to recycling and upcycling by building great things out of trash. Bonus: you can even explore the area's public art using the self-guided audio tour.
Created by a husband-wife pop artist duo, this larger-than-life spoon and cherry sculpture can be found at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Admission is free, so you can also check out the garden’s other pieces, including everything from a giant blue rooster to wind chimes that make soft music. Here's our guide to other kid-friendly Minneapolis activities.
Wynwood Walls was started in 2009 to showcase international street art. Stroll through the rotating collection of more than 50 murals at this outdoor museum, then head out into the Wynwood district to check out the surrounding art galleries and eclectic shops.
Like a colorful mirage, this weird and wonderful exhibit is in the middle of the desert outside Las Vegas. Kids will get a kick out of these 30- to 35-feet high sculptures, made from painted and locally-sourced boulders. Check out our guide to other kid-friendly Las Vegas attractions.
The BeltLine is a fantastic family-friendly pedestrian loop that’s expanding around Atlanta, and, as a new and very popular initiative, has a growing collection of artworks exhibited. There’s a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits, and even musicians and performers on occasion. Even cooler, as the Beltline expands, so will the collection (there are currently 110 different works exhibited). Grab your strollers and bikes, and hit the trail!
This magical place is the only American sculpture garden and the last major international project created by artist Niki de Saint Phalle. It’s inspired by the mythic, cultural, and historic roots of California, and it’s a wonder for kids of all ages. There's a bright mosaic snake wall, a maze entrance to the garden and nine free-standing sculptures, which include totems inspired by Native American, Mexican and pre-Colombian culture. Don't forget to look for Queen Califia herself, a mythical warrior queen! Looking for more outdoor art in Southern California? We’ve got the best places right here.
If you head to the Portland Avenue stretch of the Minnehaha Creek Trail, you’ll find Jeff Barber’s "Cottontail on the Trail.” The rabbit (or Minnehaha bunny) is an iconic trail marker and landmark, and on most warm days, you’ll find kids crawling, playing, and jumping all around the impressive bronze sculpture.
Art that looks good and can be touched? Sounds like our kind of place. In 2014—using repurposed concrete for water play areas and salvaged logs for climbing—environmental artist Adam Kuby collaborated with GreenWorks Design Firm to create a playspace that reflects the recent, and nearby Crystal Springs restoration efforts. A popular spot for kids and adults alike, take a peek at our insider’s guide to find out more.
Affectionately named “Lupe,” this metal pipe rendering of a wooly mammoth was designed by LA artists Feyja Bardell and Brian Howe. It was installed on the Guadalupe Trail in 2015 and represents the spot where the bones of a 12,500-year-old mammoth were discovered 10 years earlier. While kids can’t touch or climb on the structure, it’s a perfect way to get them excited for a day of science and fun before heading to the nearby San Jose Children’s Museum, where a replica of the prehistoric animal can be found. Search for more cool outdoor art in the San Francisco Bay Area by clicking here.
This woodsy, magical garden inspires creativity for all. Not only is it a wonderful place to wander through at your own leisure, but the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum caters to families as well. The permanent collection is filled with the works of Charles Umlauf, a prestigious sculpture who taught at the University of Texas, Austin for 40 years. Each sculpture is gently waxed, and touching is okay (climbing is not). Stop by on family day, the second Sunday of each month, for art-making, sculpture demos, family yoga, live music, and storytelling. Family days are free, and the rest of the time, admission is just $7 for adults and free for kids under 12. Get more information about the museum here.
You can check out both permanent and rotating exhibits at Socrates Sculpture Park. It's free to get in, there are a lot of events (yoga, music performances, kid workshops), and the former landfill is landscaped with over 90 varieties of plant life. Plus, there’s plenty of other fun stuff to do in the area. Hallets Cove, which you’ll find just north of the park, is a public beach and kayak launch during the warm months of the year. Find out more here.
Modern art at its finest comes to Chicago in the form of Crown Fountain. With its two 50-foot glass video installations of Chicagoans as new-age gargoyles spouting out water and visitors running around in swimsuits just like any public splash pad, it’s definitely a bucket list hit for all ages. Bonus: it's super close to The Bean. Check out this guide for other famous fountains in Chicago and this story on everything fun to do in Millennium Park.
This Spokane playground is basically a toy that’s built to scale so playground runners can slide out of the big red wagon’s handle. This sculpture was built in 1990 and is 27 feet long—at least we know it’ll fit Clifford! Get more info here.
This museum can be also described as a larger-than-life art sculpture that kids and parents can run around in. Jump on a plane, climb through a wire tunnel… It’s constantly “under construction” by a team of 20 different artists to ensure that every visit will be different. Get more kid-friendly St. Louis hot spots here.
Four huge tunnels sitting in a desert leading nowhere might not seem like art, but there’s definitely more than meets the eye with this installation. Just looking through one of these can reframe how you see your surroundings, and the shadows they cast can teach little ones about sun orientation. Plus, they are just totally awesome to run through!
555 Mission St. Sculpture Garden | San Francisco, CA
A quiet sculpture garden in the SOMA district of San Francisco is like jumping into a colorful children’s book. Pixelated silhouettes and cousins of Jack Skellington live here. The plaza is also perfect for a downtown picnic.
A free park devoted to 22 sculptures with unbelievable views of the Seattle waterfront makes for a perfect day out with the kids. Unfortunately, these sculptures are hands-off, but there’s a nearby museum with interactive exhibits that your littles can touch to their heart’s content.
Heavy Metal is an uber-fun playground of sound, where your kids can make music with friends or be a one-man band! This sculpture was created in 2000 and is a part of Chattanooga's city public art collection.
American families have proven the urge to travel after being cooped up from home, with demand for accommodations higher than ever. And while vaccines may be more accessible in the U.S. than ever, the spread of new variants and lower vaccination rates in developing countries continue impact our ability to move freely through the world.
Which is why Expedia Group, the travel giant that includes brands like Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo and more, is working to make sure those who are traveling again are doing so safely and responsibly in a way that ultimately slows the spread of COVID.
5 Tips to Help Keep Your Family Safe while Traveling
1. Mask up while traveling. This one is obvious, as masks continue to remain one of the most simple and effective ways to limit the transmission of the virus, aside from the vaccine. Traveling requires being in close quarters, like planes, trains, in rideshares, etc. so it’s important to mask up to reduce the spread.
2. Travel for the greater good. Expedia Group recently announced an initiative to support UNICEF’s global COVID-19 response by donating of $10 million to vaccine efforts. To get involved, travelers can download any app from one of the Expedia Group brands, such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity and Vrbo, plan and purchase a trip through the platform and in turn, they can help get a vaccine to someone in the world who needs it.
3. Enjoy the great outdoors. Nature destinations have provided solitude for travelers over the last year, due to the ability to easily socially distance and, essentially, disconnect. This trend is here to stay, with beaches, mountains, lakes and national parks remaining the popular areas to visit, even as we head into the fall.
4. Don’t get left behind. More and more businesses, attractions and destinations are requiring people to show proof of vaccination. So, if you haven’t felt motivated to get your shot(s), know that you might not be able to have access to dining, entertainment or other activities during your next vacation without it.
5. Be a savvy traveler. Travelers are eager to get out there again, but with travel guidelines changing so frequently, it’s important to stay up to date with restrictions and policies around your travel bookings. Double check your accommodations’ cancellation policies, keep local advisories like curfews or closures in mind and be prepared to submit documentations like COVID test results or vaccine cards.
Of course, it’s up to each individual family to decide their comfort level for taking trips again, and all are encouraged to check and adhere to local and national health guidelines and travel restrictions. Travelers are known to be passionate about exploring the world and making connections, but now it’s time for each individual to do their part so the world can truly open again.
Melanie Fish is Vrbo’s travel expert and speaks to journalists daily about the fastest growing segment in the travel industry – vacation home rentals. She has shared travel trends and tips at the New York Times Travel Show, in magazines including Glamour, and on regular #TravelTuesday TV segments.
