Got too much Halloween candy hanging around? Try these Halloween science experiments to use up that candy you don’t want to eat
Looking to unload some of your kids’ massive candy stash? Make like Bill Nye and use it up in Halloween science experiments. From melting marshmallows to growing Gummy Bears, make good use of your leftover Halloween sweets with these 10 yummy science experiments for kids. Bonus points for making a hypothesis and taking notes on each science project!
Try putting certain candies like candy corn into test tubes and see the different reactions! Try it with vinegar, soda, or whatever you can come up with.
Skittles Rainbow
Melissa Heckscher
You'll be doing more than just tasting the rainbow. Put some Skittles into water and marvel as the colored coating dissolves into an Instagram-worthy design. Head to Little Bins for Little Hands to get the science behind the sugar.
Exploding Peep Geysers
Melissa Heckscher
Poor Peeps; they're just so much fun to torture. This easy science experiment teaches your kids a little bit about how microwaves work—at the expense of a few marshmallow candies. Just put those Peeps into a bottle, stick ‘em in the microwave, and watch as they erupt. It's quick and sticky fun, but kids will love watching those sugary faces expand and explode. Get all the details at Housing a Forest.
Kids will happily hand over an entire pack of Mentos to watch a soda geyser explode skyward. Just drop a few Mentos into a bottle of soda and stand back! Charlene at My Frugal Adventures explains how it's done.
Gummy Bear Science
Melissa Heckscher
Plunk a few Gummy Bears into different solutions and let them sit for a few days to see what happens. Kids will love checking in on their bears every day for a status update. Get more ideas on how to do it here.
M&Ms may not melt in your hands, but it turns out they may not last so long when plopped into a cup of water. Kids will love watching the "m" peel off their m&ms; parents will love the patience this experiment requires of their little scientists. Little Bins for Little Hands has the scoop.
Dancing Gummy Worms
Bitz 'n Giggles
Observe as a simple chemical reaction makes a bunch of yummy Gummy Worms come alive. Younger kids will think you've actually put life into candy; older kiddos will be simply mesmerized. Sara at Bitz 'n Giggles takes you step by step through the process (Note: Make sure your baking soda is fresh; we tried this with long-opened baking soda and our worms hardly moved).
Jellybean Taste Test
Christie at Childhood 101
Your child might say he likes blue jelly beans the best, but is it a taste thing? This experiment explores the relationship between sight and taste as kids are asked to identify the kind of bean they’re tasting without seeing it. Christie at Childhood 101 has more.
This experiment lets kids make a hypothesis and test it. Which candies will sink, which will float— and why? Get more ideas here.
Balancing with M&Ms
Inspiration Laboratories
Give kids a simple physics lesson with this experiment that lets them balance various objects against a handful of m&ms. Another opportunity for kids to hypothesize— and a great excuse for them to eat enough m&ms to make the scale even. Get inspired from Mama Trisha at Inspiration Laboratories.
Candy + Balloons + Soda = ?? See what happens when you fill a balloon with Pop Rocks and dump it all into a bottle of soda. Then, try it again with Nerds candy. Your kids will be amazed at which one blows the bigger balloon. Get the simple steps over at Learn Play Imagine.
Whether you are spending your days tending to little humans or simply limiting your trips to the store, chances are you have investigated the many wine subscription services, alcohol delivery apps and online wine clubs out there. We gathered up a slew of our favorites with unique offerings like wine in a can (hooray!) and by-the-glass subscriptions. There’s even one that will send you everything you need for a virtual wine tasting and book you an expert to guide you on your wine journey via Zoom. Make it a mom’s night and open up your new favorite bottle!
The McBride sisters were raised on different sides of the globe, and when they came together in California in 2005, their shared love of all things wine allowed them to create what is now the largest Black-owned wine business in the country. You can choose between bottles or cans and whether or not you want six bottles or twelve bottles in your shipment that arrives every six weeks. The wines are carefully selected just for you based on the time of year, but you are free to adjust your shipment to your liking as well.
Laithwaites is a leading wine home delivery that offers exclusive wines through vineyard partnerships all over the world. You have the option to pick by wine styles, countries & regions, and collections (red mixes, white mixes, etc.) Try out their collection for $49.99 which includes six bottles plus two extra and all the tasting notes to go along with them. Their monthly subscription program can be canceled at any time, or skip when you don't need a delivery that month.
Firstleaf Wine Club
Firstleaf
Firstleaf is the only wine club that tailors its wine choices to an individual member’s preferences. That means that with every new shipment, you can discover new wines that are selected to fit your flavor profile. Rate your wines after they arrive so that Firstleaft knows what to send you next. Don't like something you are sent? Firstleaf will give you a refund.
Not ready to commit to a subscription but want to try some tasty wines? We've got you covered. Here are three of our favorites for fall and winter wine drinking. You can order them for delivery via Drizly or Instacart, or search for distributors near you.
The Noble Vines Pinot Noir offers aromas of black cherry, currant, and a touch of vanilla and flavors of ripe black cherry, plum, and delicate hints of vanilla. This decadent red wine pairs well with salmon, lamb and more, and will make for a beautiful addition to your Valentine’s Day table.
The Double Black Red Wine Blend has Rich aromas of blackberry, mocha, caramel and vanilla, setting the stage for concentrated core flavors of plum, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow and allspice. Gift this wine to that special someone in your life for a truly special night.
Tasting Flight from In Good Taste
Taste your way through eight different less-traditional wines with this too-cute tasting flight from In Good Taste. You'll get eight varietals in glass-sized servings shipped right to your door for you to enjoy. You can evenschedule a virtual tasting to enjoy your wines with an expert leading the way! Shipping is free on orders of $100+.
You'll love this family wine business if not for their delicious wines then definitely for their hilarious family videos (we want to know the secret to getting their teens to participate because that is true parenting brilliance). With clever names like The Starry White, Chardonnay Monet, Pinot Renoir and Cabernet Manet, you'll love these wines on so many levels. Their twice-yearly 6-bottle subscription service is an excellent option to get you started.
Take the Winc quiz and learn what wines suit your taste. Then order up a few and have them delivered right to your door. Save $20 on your first order of $50+.
Ship the celebration right to those you love with the oh-so-cute mini champagne bottles from The Sip. This SF Bay Area company was created by two moms who have been friends for over 15 years! You can choose a one-time shipment or up the ante and go for the bi-monthly subscription service to say "I'm Grateful for You" over and over.
Feeling like you want to be a little adventurous with your wine selections? Underground Cellar is a great option for you! This service connects you with premium wine you likely can't find at your local liquor store. Instead of offering discounted bottles that typically harm local winery businesses, Underground Cellar uses innovative “gamification” technology that rewards consumers with free upgrades to rare and private-stash bottles from prestigious wineries across the nation. A $30 bottle of bubbles could be upgraded (for free) to a magnum of vintage champagne.
The service also allows the everyday wine consumer to become a bonified collector with CloudCellar, their unique storage feature that allows customers to virtually store up to 500 bottles of wine for free, making it easier than ever to build your own collection. Just request your shipment when you are ready to receive it. You'll get free shipping when you request 12 or more bottles at one time.
If you are looking for sustainably-sourced California wines to enjoy by the glass, Usual Wines has you covered. With fresh-from-the-bottle taste and no added sugar or sulfites, it's only the best. Shipping is free when you order a 12-bottle shipment for $96, or sign up for monthly deliveries for $80.
Revel is a personalized wine service tailored to your taste, budget and lifestyle. They make fabulous award-winning wines, including the leading organic and sulfite-free wines. You have the option of browsing their wine collection or you can join the club which entitles you to receive member discounts and other great benefits including complimentary tastings at their California wineries. Save $20 on your first order of $50+.
Canned wine is pretty much a summer dream come true. Enter Cratejoy where you can get hooked up with monthly canned wine delivered to your door. Snag a variety pack or just one variety. $39.99/month, cancel any time.
Support independent winemakers with Naked Wines. In this unique program, wine drinkers can sign up as "Angels." This supports winemakers up front and gives you access to independent wine labels at up to a 60% discount. Don't like a wine you've picked? They offer a full refund.
If you need your drinks and you need them in a flash, Drizly should be your go-to choice. Get beer, wine and liquor delivered in under 60 minutes. Send the champagne to a friend with a new baby or welcome a new family to the neighborhood. Get $5 off your first order when you sign up on their website.
If you like wine, then you need to check out Guilford Green. Inspired by the village market concept, their wine selection rotates with the seasons. They focus on family-owned wineries, natural wines and wines you can’t find anywhere else. They hope to bring small businesses and small vineyards to a larger audience.
Looking for that perfect gift for a grown-up? Whether it’s for your S.O., your in-laws, your boss or anyone totally into the taste of hops, Costco’s German beer advent calendar is the gift of the season.
The Brewer’s Advent Calendar is back for its seventh year and continues to boast lots of hoppy deliciousness. It’s packed with 24 different 16.9-ounce cans of German beer and comes in at just $59.99!
If a surprise beer isn’t your thing, you can totally check out all the inclusions on the display at your Costco warehouse. But let’s be honest, nobody does beer better than the Germans so chances are you’ll be counting down the days to Christmas with some tasty hops.
If you see this advent calendar, buy it quick. They usually sell out as early as October.
Whether you prefer a perfect french press or regular ol’ drip, when it comes to the morning time, it’s really about getting some form of caffeine into your bloodstream ASAP. To make your early a.m. routine the best it can be, we’ve rounded up 14 of the best subscriptions that do practically everything except brew the coffee. From single-origin offerings to blind tastings, read on to find your new cuppa joe.
The Best of Coffee Tasting
Bean Box partners with small-batch, award-winning roasters throughout the U.S. Choose between the Coffee Tasting Subscription, which features four specialty roasts (1.8 oz. each) delivered once each month, or the Coffee Bag Subscription (12 oz.), delivered weekly, biweekly or monthly. The coffee is guaranteed fresh and comes with tasting notes, roaster profiles, roasting tips, and a treat. Bean Box also offers unique coffee gifts, including a World Coffee Tour Box and a Coffee and Chocolate Tasting Gift Box, as well as add-on purchases such as cold brew and gourmet chocolates.
Why You’ll Love It: Bean Box survives and thrives in the land of Seattle, so you know these folks are the real deal.
Cost: $16.50/mo for the Coffee Tasting Subscription, $24/mo for the Coffee Bag Subscription
Subscribe at BeanBox.com (Sign up now and start tasting for only $5!).
The Pro Selection
Courtesy of Lady Falcon Coffee Club
Lady Falcon Coffee Club was founded by master roaster Buffy Maguire. With over 30+ years of experience in a typically male-dominated industry, Maguire put in thousands of hours in her garage to perfect her skills. What started as a single coffee truck in Alamo Square in San Francisco, CA, has become a successful DTC online business with products launching in Nordstrom's this holiday season.
Why You'll Love It: This artisan coffee is unique to Maguire's skill and knowledge. She's traveled all over the world for her beans and has even added a rare cáscara tea (a superfood) to her repertoire.
Cost: The Fan-Club Coffee Subscription comes every 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks, starting at $34.50 & up. You can pick your two bags on your own or let them choose for you.
A Mistobox subscription means you'll get a coffee expert who personalizes your monthly coffee selection of over 605 coffees worldwide and to fit your specific taste buds. When you subscribe, you are supporting local farmers worldwide, with many brands also certified as fair trade.
Why You'll Love It: With cost options that start at $10.95 for 24 cups of coffee, this subscription is an affordable choice for still getting personalized coffee options.
Launched in 2018, Trade Coffee is uniting coffee lovers and top roasters to offer over 400 roasted to order blends. Take the company's coffee quiz to get matched with the best brew for your palette and enjoy tons of picks for both cold and hot brew.
Why You'll Love It: Coffee lovers will jump over the diversity Trade Coffee has to offer. Enjoy tons of unique options, while continuing to update your taste preferences so that you get the perfect roast that's meant for you.
Cost: Starting at $12.50 for two bags per order or one bag for $15-$22 for premium roast coffees. Subscriptions always get 15% off and free shipping!
LA-based and female-owned business, Copper Cow Coffee is officially on our radar. The sustainably sourced and all-natural brand is all about Vietnamese coffee––and they're darn good about it. Copper Cow has designed filters and coffee that are biodegradable, compostable and are just like traditional Vietnamese coffee and the Vietnamese phin. Enjoy your freshly made java at home or on the go, and if you're feeling it, you'll want to check out the company's Thai Iced Tea or Coffee and Tea Trio bundle!
Why You'll Love It: The single portion packets of both coffee and milk make enjoying your morning cup a breeze––a must for parents. Just add water!
Cost: Starting at $30 for 20 classic coffees and $37 for 20 coffees + 20 milks!
Verve Coffee is committed to seeing its product through, from "seed to cup" and when you buy their coffee, you're helping support the Farmlevel Initiative which impacts communities at the local and global level. The company pays farmers premiums for quality coffees using direct trade relationships which exceed Fair Trade minimums, so your morning cup of joe does more than just bring you joy. Originating in Santa Cruz, California, Verve Coffee not only produces and delivers coffee for free, but they also have several cafés!
Why You'll Love It: Coffee subscriptions from Verve allow you to pick out your roast, grind and frequency. They also have canned Nitro flash brew and on-the-go drip kits so you never have to leave your fave coffee at home.
Cost: Starting at $19.75 for one 12 oz bag, you decide the frequency!
This java startup might be based in Austin, Tx, but Atlas Coffee Club's goal is to take customers on a trip around the world—one cup at a time. Each month highlights a new country’s unique culture and coffee. From Tanzania to Burundi to Congo, you won't be disappointed. You’ll receive coffee from the chosen country in a bag design inspired by local textiles and landscapes, a postcard from each country, a card with coffee facts, tasting notes, and the recommended brewing method. For a true coffee connoisseur who thinks they’ve tried it all, you can't go wrong with this one!
Why You'll Love It: In addition to serving up a killer cuppa Joe, this subscription gives customers access to coffee gear giveaways, as well as other perks.
Cost: Select between two or four-week deliveries, and $9 half bags, $14 single bags or $28 double bags
Crema's motto is "life's too short for bad coffee." Each month (or however frequently you want your coffee), you'll get a bag of coffee from around the world—and you rate it. As you continue to try and rate different coffees, Crema will learn your preferred tastes and start sending you recommendations. With a system like that, it's almost impossible to have a bad cup of coffee.
Why You'll Love It: Not only does Crema give customers the option to give their coffee as a gift (via emailed gift card), but they also have a subscription service for offices. See you later K-cups!
Unlike most services that ship within 48 hours, Moustache roasts their beans and ships their coffee the same day. Each bag even comes with a "Start Drinking On" date on it to ensure you don't brew your coffee too soon after the roast. Moustache was started over the frustration of having to pay a premium for "two-week-old" coffee. Also, they will rarely send you the same coffee twice, which means you're guaranteed new and interesting coffee in every shipment.
Why You'll Love It: To support small businesses, Moustache Coffee Club will let you redeem your Starbucks gift cards on their website. They also offer a "try it for free" option; they'll send you one 2 oz. bag at no cost.
If you want to give your palate superpower-like abilities when it comes to telling where your coffee comes from, a subscription to Angel’s Cup is the answer. Each week, four new samples arrive at your doorstep; you can conduct blind coffee tastings and use the accompanying app (available on iTunes and Android) to make tasting notes and compare findings with the pros. If there’s a sample you don’t like, the 100% refund guarantee and no-cost return policy mean you’ll get your hard-earned cash back without any stress.
Why You’ll Love It: The same sample is never shipped twice, which means you’ll be able to taste upwards of 208 different roasts.
Cost: There are three subscription options: The Cupping Flight includes four 1 oz. samples for $10.99, The Black Box includes four 2.75oz samples for $22.99 and the All-Stars for $19.99 for one large bag.
Blue Bottle Coffee roasts your coffee to order and ships it to your home within 48 hours, so you know your morning cup will always be fresh. But that's not the best part. Blue Bottle lets customers try their coffee for free for the first time—all you need to cover is the cost of shipping. Choose from their famous coffee blends or espressos; it's completely on them. Now that's a win-win.
Why You'll Love It: In addition to their coffee and espresso selections, Blue Bottle also sells some pretty sweet products on their site, including a carafe for making cold brew at home. They also periodically offer events, classes, and seminars. Check their website to see what's brewing in your area.
Cost: A changing selection of their blends starts at $8 for whole beans; single-origin selections start at $9.50.
Not everyone wants their coffee delivered to their house ground—or even as a freshly roasted whole bean. Some coffee fanatics like to do the roasting themselves. Enter Roast Coffee Company, which delivers green, unroasted coffee beans in bags ranging from one to five pounds. You need a coffee roaster if you're going to go this route, but hey, if anything is going to take your coffee game to the next level, it's this.
Why You'll Love It: Not only is it pretty dang cool to roast and grind your coffee, you'll save tons of money cutting out the middleman (Also, Roast Coffee has great deals on roasted coffee, as well.).
Cost: $4.99 for a one-pound bag of unroasted coffee; $9.99 for a one-pound bag of roasted coffee.
If you want to try a new and exciting coffee but don’t know where to start, let Craft Coffee do the work. Get started on the website by choosing your normal store-bought beans from a list, and they’ll suggest one of their roasters as a comparable choice. Do you like Major Dickason’s from Peet’s? Try the Streetlight Blend! There’s an option to choose their famous three-coffee sampler (each month, the expert tasting panel evaluates over 50 coffees and each month, only three make their way to your door), which will give you 4 oz. of three similar roasts. There’s no commitment, you can choose your plan, and shipping is always free. Craft Coffee is also fierce about freshness. They roast their beans in Brooklyn and ship them off to you within 24-72 hours.
Why You’ll Love It: Craft Coffee has a price match guarantee, which means they’ll match the price of your grocery store beans to the penny.
Cost: 12 oz. bags start at $6.99, the three-coffee (4 oz. bags) sampler is $24.99.
Started by three guys who love java, Grady's recipe is a New Orleans-style cold brew made with coffee, chicory and spices. There are several ways to get your Grady’s. You can choose from a pour-and-store pouch, a bean bag can (DIY brew kit) or a bean bag single—whether you drink it straight, water it down or add milk is up to you.
Why You’ll Love It: You can do so much with a cold brew. Be sure to check out the online section with recipes for tasty eats like coffee cake, coffee popsicles, chocolate shakes and more. Yum!
Cost: Start with 12 ready-to-drink black coffees for $40, or save by ordering a 3, 6 or 12 month supply. Bonus: New York City residents can also order single servings or concentrate brew to be delivered for free.
Already thinking of summer 2022? Yeah, us too. You are in luck as our top adventure from summer 2021 is back for another year and you can get in on the action. We checked out Camp Navarro’s Weekend in the Woods and it was quite possibly our favorite camping experience, ever! Gourmet meals cooked for you, a massive property for exploring, archery, rope swinging into the river and so much more. Read on for the full scoop on how you can add this to your summer 2022 must-do list.
Everything You Love about Camping & MORE
Kate Loweth
This former Boy Scout camp typically welcomes corporate groups, weddings and wellness retreats but COVID changed everything. For the first time in Camp Navarro's 100-year history, they opened the camp up to families for a few select summer weekends. Camp Navarro introduced their Weekend in the Woods protram and families in attendance got to explore the property's 200+ acres from Thursday through Sunday. Here's what the weekends brought:
The friendly and helpful staff was there to welcome you the minute you arrived on the property. What you'll love about Camp Navarro's Weekend in the Woods is that there are just enough planned activities to keep the kids from jumping on the (super fast) WiFi, but not so much that you have flashbacks to family camps of yesteryear with mandatory crafting and skits.
During our weekend, activity highlights included an amazing stargazing night hike, trying our hands at archery and scurrying up the rock wall. Everything was optional and all could participate! There was a crafting station if you wanted to paint some rocks and there were hiking trails for exploring. Everyone enjoyed picking blackberries that grew along the creekbed and watching the deer visit in the meadow.
Water Play
Kate Loweth
While the summer of 2021 brought low water levels at Camp Navarro, there was still plenty at the rope swing area to keep the kids busy. Parents set up their camp chairs on the rocky creekbed while kids climbed trees, swung from the rope swing and tried to catch minnows. The rope swing was just a 10-minute walk from the main camp area and super easy to access along the property's trails.
The Best Part of Camp Navarro: The Food!
Kate Loweth
What's your least favorite part of camping? If you said cooking then this is the camp for you! Weekend in the Woods come with a delicious breakfast and dinner service and it's way beyond any family camp meal service you might have had before. Scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives, fresh berry yogurt parfaits and hot coffee topped the breakfast menu. When the staff overheard my son ask about cereal, homemade granola magically appeared. They really were there to make your experience the best it could be.
Everyone's favorite dinner was definitely the night they made TONS of pizzas on the woodfire oven. Each kid pretty much got their own along with grilled peaches and a number of salads.
During the evening hours, you could order up a bottle of local wine or a pint of beer to go along with your meal. Exactly what you wanted after a day in the sun!
S'mores were offered in the evenings (a kid highlight, for sure!).
The Sleeping Options
Kate Loweth
When you come to a Weekend in the Woods, the big decision is whether you want to sleep in a cabin, teepee or Adirondack. There are options for families up to six or you can snag two neighboring cabins for bigger groups. The cabins and Adrinodacks have bunk beds for sleeping and you bring your own sleeping bags, pillows and linens.
You'll find hammocks and picnic tables scattered throughout the property and there are gathering areas near the cabins if you come with a group. While none of the sleeping options have their own bathrooms, the communal bathrooms were large and exceptionally clean throughout the weekend. You can even choose the outdoor shower if you want to shower under the redwoods!
Nearby Adventures
Kate Loweth
Located in Navarro, the camp is 2.5 hours north of San Francisco just past Booneville in Mendocino County. A 20-minute drive will get you to the coast. Navarro Beach is a great spot to set up your gear and enjoy the water. Temps are often significantly cooler here so definitely bring layers.
If wine tasting is more your style, there are plenty of options in Navarro and Booneville. Then swing by the farm stand at the Philo Apple Farm to snag some apple cider and dried apples to take home.
Pennyroyal Farm is another fun stop along the road to Camp Navarro. Here you can do wine tasting (they have a grape juice flight for the kids!), see the resident goats and try their delicious goat cheese.
How to Sign Up for Weekend in the Woods 2022
Kate Loweth
The good news: Weekend in the Woods will be back for summer 2022! While the dates have not yet been released, you can sign up on the Camp Navarro website to be the first notified when the dates are announced. You definitely won't want to miss it!
This year, skip all that time slaving away in the kitchen for Thanksgiving. Just grab a bag of BRACH’S Turkey Dinner Candy Corn!
The unique candy has made a splash in year’s past so this time, Brach’s is adding even more fun to the mix: by adding apple pie and coffee, too!
Each bag comes with flavors that include green beans, roasted turkey, cranberry stuffing, apple pie and coffee. Is anyone else totally getting Violet Beauregard vibes remembering when she ate that gum that tasted like a full dinner in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory?
You can find a 12 oz. bag of this Brach’s mix exclusively at Walgreens stores nationwide for about $3.49.
The day has finally come! Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is now open!
After a year-long delay due to Covid, the Avengers are ready to assemble at their new home. Red Tricycle got into the new land a day early and got all the details on attractions, character experiences and of course, food. Keep scrolling to see all the details!
The new home of the Marvel Universe superheroes lies on the old site of Bug’s Land, adjacent to Radiator Springs. Guests can enter next to the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction or across from the Grizzly Run waterfalls.
The wide-berthed campus means plenty of space to oogle at the hundreds of tiny details and catch a prime view of Spider-Man literally swinging around, not to mention the Quin jet atop HQ.
The sprawling campus also means plenty of options for interacting with your fave Marvel character. While health and safety protocols are still very much in place, and you may not actually get a hug from Loki, you can still spy plenty of heroes at HQ, the Sanctum or hanging around the Worldwide Engineering Brigade, known as WEB.
When it comes to attractions, every member of the family will want to snag a spot in the virtual queue for WEB SLINGERS, the brand new ride and the first to feature Spider-Man. Pop on a pair of 3D glasses, then get your webs slinging on this interactive ride where you need to help Peter Parker take down the ever-multiplying Spider Bots!
There are plenty of tasty options for food and drinks at the new campus. For sit-down dining, check out the Pym Tasting Kitchen, where we have personally sampled everything on the menu and can attest: it’s all delicious!
The best part? The oversized portions make it great for sharing. Adults can also get beer, wine and beer cocktails next door at the Pym Tasting Lab, where you can also watch the magic of a reverse tap fill your beer from bottom to top.
There are two additional food carts that offer Shawarma and dessert options, all of which have plenty of Avenger film inspiration.
While the Avengers Campus boasts only one new attraction, the brand new space is the first of its kind to bring the Marvel Universe together. Take your time taking in all the detail, enjoying the best food the resort has to offer and getting as close as possible to your heroes.
Top three things parents with younger kiddos need to know?
Wear lots of sunscreen. Since the campus is on the newer side, you won’t find a ton of shade from mature trees. The hot California sun knows no bound on warm days!
Be aware that the vast Marvel universe contains some bad guys. There will be times when scarier characters like Taskmaster will battle your heroes, which could be a little dramatic.
WEB SLINGERS will operate like Rise of the Resistance, where guests must use the Disneyland app to get a spot in a boarding group. No boarding group = no riding! Be sure to try for a spot at 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Whenever you get the chance to visit, tell the Avengers we said hi!
No need to traipse from store to store looking for the perfect gift this Mother’s Day when the best gift you can offer is time well spent. We’re helping you out with ideas that appeal no matter what brings a smile to mom. From moms who dig the great outdoors to those who prefer a big-time thrill, take advantage of these Mother’s Day activities in Chicago. Read on and get planning, May 8 will be here before ya know it!
For Moms Who Love the Outdoors
Human + Nature at Morton Arboretum
Morton Arboretum
Five massive outdoor sculptures created exclusively for Morton Arboretum by artist Daniel Popper rise above the natural landscapes in the Human + Nature exhibition. The 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures are installed across the 1,700-acre site and lead guests to areas they may not otherwise explore. Using thought-provoking human forms paired with elements of nature, each piece will bring attention to the deep connections between humans and nature.
What was once a former elevated train line is now Chicago's 606 trail. Connecting six neighborhood parks at ground level with numerous art installations along the route, the 606 gives moms a sweet (rooftop) view of the city. Stop into one of the many restaurants for a lunch or dinner break!
Spring is fantastic. . . but add fresh air, unforgettable blooming scenery and a chance to spy on animals in their natural habitat and you're guaranteed a memorable family day. Lace up your hiking boots, strap an infant to your back and hit one of Chicago's many low-key hiking trails.
Walk In Beauty at Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden
Smell flowers, walk the greenhouses, breathe fresh air and run around outside at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe; Online: chicagobotanic.org
For Moms That Like Good Old-Fashioned Fun
Be Old-School Cool & Go Roller Skating
Stock
Impress the family with your 8-wheeled dance moves at one of these retro-fun spots that have stood the test of time.
For Wine-Loving Moms
Wine Tasting at Morton Arboretum
Perfectly timed for Mother's Day Weekend, mom can savor seasonal wines among beautiful spring blooms at Morton Arboretum's wine tasting event. A ticket includes 25 1-ounce wine samples from a selection of more than 80 wines. The grounds will remain open until sunset for anyone who wants to take a scenic stroll after their tasting. You must be 21+ to purchase a ticket, but kids are welcome to come along.
Frida: Immersive Dream focuses on the art and life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). This beloved 20th-century Mexican artist is best known for compelling self-portraits and radiant pieces inspired by life in her native country. Her best-known works will be brought to life and set to music.
Ongoing; Lighthouse ArtSpace, 108 W. Germania Pl., Lincoln Park; Online: immersive-frida.com
Museum of Science & Industry's The Art of Brick
Museum of Science & Industry
MSI's The Art of Brick features intriguing works of art made exclusively from LEGO bricks. The collection of creative and inspiring pieces was created by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya.
Immersive Art Experience at WNDR Museum
WNDR Museum
WNDR Museum, the ever-evolving, immersive art and technology experience features one-of-a-kind installations from artists, collectives and studios globally and locally.
WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St., West Loop; Online: wndrmuseum.com
For Moms Who Like a DIY
Have a tea party: The Kids' Table
Let The Kids' Table help your family create and enjoy a Mother's Day Tea Party. As a family, you'll make tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs with honey yogurt dip, mini strawberry cupcakes & lemonade. Yum!
May 8, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.; The Kids' Table, 2337 W. North Ave., Wicker Park; Online: kids-table.com
For Thrill-Seeking Moms
Pretend It's Summer at an Indoor Waterpark
Great Wolf Lodge
Lazy rivers. Wave pools. Slides that go so fast you’ll forget to breathe. No matter your water park speed, or the age of your kids, you’ll find anindoor water park near you that will make you forget you're still in Chicago's chill.
Six Flags
If mom likes to feel the wind in her hair and has a need for speed, take her to the midwest's largest theme park! Six Flags has over 45 thrilling rides, shows and attractions ranging from pulse-pounding to low-key activities geared toward tots.
Six Flags, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee; Online: sixflags.com
For Moms Who Like to Feast
Get mom's hands deliciously dirty: Lowcountry
LowCountry
Playing on phones at the table is a no-can-do with hands busy digging into a bag of juicy shrimp, crab, sausage, corn and potatoes. Lowcountry welcomes families to savor low-key authentic Southern-inspired seafood boils, complete with menu options to please the whole group—even vegans can enjoy!
Lowcountry locations in Lakeview, South Loop & Chinatown; Online: lowcountrychicago.com
If you’re needing a fun family outing to pump up your quarantine this fall, the lovely folks at Farm 2 Fork Tours have got you covered. With transportation, snacks, meals, and adventures all included (along with extra careful safety precautions), they’re here to make sure your day exploring our corner of Oregon is amazing. Read on for more!
The Basics
Farm 2 Fork tours provide families with an exclusive opportunity to witness our food is grown while tasting the seasonal offerings. You and your kiddos get to learn first hand from regional farmers and really connect with the people that grow and craft their food.
Farm 2 Fork currently offers a few different tour “themes” to choose from depending on the area of Oregon your family wants to explore the most. Offerings include the Willamette Valley, Oregon Coast and more. All tours are family friendly and can be adjusted to fit your little one’s carb-only diet choices or stroller-toting needs.
Owner Ali Noyer has curated a relationship with farms and owners all throughout the region, so tours are carefully designed to offer you the best experience of the day. The drive from Portland is a great time to learn about the farms, the valley, farming practices, and more. Ali is incredibly knowledgeable about the areas and the farmers and is happy to chat about all of it.
On the Willamette Valley tour, for example, you might stop at places like these:
Marion Acres and Helvetia Market
Near the sweet hamlet of Helvetia, Marion Acres is a chicken farm and processing plant. You’ll learn all about the ins and outs of pasture-raised, local, humane, sustainable farming chicken raising, which produces high quality meat and healthy farms. The pastures are teeming with life like cows, pigs, chickens, bugs that the chickens eat, and even some hawks up above. Yes, the “processing” plant does what you suspect, and while they’re very up front about it, you can keep as much distance as you’d like from it (or peek inside the clean facility with the tour if you’re curious!).
Enjoy lunch, snacks, or a shopping break at Helvetia Market, offering a huge quantity of local goods like produce, their own and others’ pasture-raised meats, beer and wine, fresh baked bread, and other grocery items.
Learn all about cheesemaking and the loving art of raising milk cows. Their line-up of adorable big-eyed cows are called “cowlebrities,” and each come with a big name tag so you can address them properly. You’ll get the chance to offer them hay and even pet them, while learning about the careful and caring stewardship the small dairy farm upholds for their animals. You might even get to see the milking process! Top it off with a tasting of cheese curds, gouda, or even “Miss TMK,” an entire cheese made from the namesake’s single cow milk. Also, there’s ice cream.
Other tours head out to the coast for the Taste of Tillamook or a fully focused Cheese and Dairy Tour. And don’t skip the Coastal Exploration, where your gang can learn how to shuck oysters, safely filet a fish, or even go crabbing right off the docks. Your kids might come away inspired to become fishermen or women! And it’s ok if the little ones aren’t big oyster eaters—options abound (and that leaves more for the seafood loving adults!)
The only requirement is a sense of wonder and curiosity about the food and farms of the Pacific Northwest. Questions welcome, adventures promised.
$149/adults, $110/children 5-21, free for children 4 and under
Children pricing assumes full meals and snack tastings, please inquire for adjusted pricing (as in, if your children are likely not going to eat a full seafood lunch, the cost can be reduced)
Airbnb and Eva Longoria are inviting guests to a month-long (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) fiesta to showcase Latinx communities and to recognize and celebrate the positive impact they have made in our society. The celebration will feature more than 25 culturally rich Online Experiences from across the United States and Latin America that honor Latinx and Hispanic traditions and will culminate with a one-time online cooking class hosted by Longoria. Additionally, Airbnb is unveiling a curated list of stunning Homes from all over the country that keep the Latinx culture alive.
“There’s no better time to come together and celebrate the vibrant traditions, diversity, and richness of our heritage,” said Longoria. “There’s a deep-rooted connection between our culture and food, and I’m delighted to invite you into my kitchen and share some of my most cherished memories as we cook one of my favorite TexMex dishes that remind me of home.”
Airbnb Online Experiences will feature Longoria hosting a live streamed TexMex cooking class, and a variety of culturally rich Hispanic Online Experiences available to book in English and Spanish from across the United States and Latin America.
100% of proceeds from bookings for Longoria’s Social Impact Experience will benefit the Eva Longoria Foundation which helps Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship.
A curated list of stunning local Homes from all over the country that keep the Latinx culture alive.
From salsa dancing and cigar tasting, to learning about Día de los Muertos, these Airbnb Online Experiences will open up your world to the diverse traditions of Latin America and help reconnect with your roots or discover new passions:
Join Eva Longoria in the kitchen to cook up a TexMex feast featuring her most cherished recipes and bring to life one of her favorite dishes
Led by a tourist guide passionate about pre-Hispanic cultures, explore the Traditions of Mexico’s Day of the Dead, and learn how to make the famous Mexican “papel picado” and colorful sugar skulls
Unfold the mysteries and etiquette of cigar smoking, rum and coffee pairings with a
Become your own barista! Led by a Mexican National Coffee Judge, and boasting more than 1,000 five-star reviews, the World’s Top Coffee Masterclass will teach you what it takes to make a great cup of coffee
Transport yourself to the Caribbean with a Puerto Rican Salsa Dance Party. Learn how to dance to the rhythms of Salsa de Calle or street salsa from local experts
Learn techniques and secrets about the most emblematic and delicious Peruvian dish and cook the Best Ceviche with Chef Melissa
Engage in conversation about Gin & Gender. Learn about the background of the drink, the seeming relationships between gender and alcohol, and how we can start changing stereotypes
Guided by an expert with 30 years experience, blend dance, music and martial arts through Conditioning with Capoeira
Hispanic Heritage Month Experiences will range from $6 to $100 per person. See the entire collection starting today.
Eva Longoria’s one-time TexMex Cooking Online Experience will be open for booking on Tues., Sept. 22 at 9am PT, and the Online Experience will take place on Tues., Sept. 29 1 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. Mexico City Time.
