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Midwest Virtual Field Trips
Stuck at home and can’t make it on a field trip? Take a virtual tour via one of the many Midwest destinations that are striving to assist students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. While you can’t patronize your favorite local museum or attraction, you can support them in many ways.
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For me, Madison County with its romantic Covered Bridges perfect for a movie set, John Wayne fans and a famous winery always felt tailored for adults. However, our family was delighted with a Kid-friendly Weekend in Madison County to Winterset, the City Park, Clark Tower, Pammel State Park and a visit to a covered bridge!
Kid-Friendly Weekend in Madison County
Winterset Town Square
Confession time! I guess I didn’t really understand what a town square was…maybe that’s a sad commentary on today’s society. Visiting Winterset Town Square at 112 N 1st St, Winterset, IA 50273 was so much fun!
Our first stop on our Kid-friendly Weekend in Madison County was to the Winterset Town Square and The Madison County Chamber of Commerce. This is a great little place with helpful volunteers. We picked up trail maps, got directions to the City Park and saw a mini replica of the Hedge Maze. I tried to keep the kids from seeing the replica because I wanted them to be surprised!
Next we circled the whole courthouse and the kids found an unlocked tool shed door along the outside which they thought was a dungeon! The courthouse was closed when we were visiting but I would love to take a tour in the future.
The Madison County Courthouse sits in the center of the square with lawns and walkways all around the grand building. Across each lawn are stores, restaurants and businesses.
Winterset City Park
Winterset City Park, located at S. 9th Street on SE corner of town, is amazing! There is a stone bridge (like the Ledges State Park), a campground, covered bridge, shelters, playground, hedge maze, monuments, historic exhibits and Clark Tower.
We were impressed with this obviously popular park. There was a wedding party taking photographs, a family reunion and visitors of all ages.
After Clark Tower, our favorite part of Winterset City Park was the hedge maze. Chasing daddy through the maze increased the children’s joy and this activity was repeated multiple times.
Clark Tower
Clark Tower in the Winterset City Park deserves its own spotlight! This amazing three level, 25 ft high monument sits towering on a hill overlooking beautiful Iowa countryside.
A long one-direction dirt road leads up to Clark Tower. Vehicles longer then 20 ft are not allowed. There are no restrooms or drinking fountain at the tower.
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Clark Tower is a monument honoring early pioneer settlers Caleb and Ruth Clark. Dupont Castle lists some interesting historical information.
For young kids – the castle is an escape into their imagination and a fairytale that comes alive! Kids can be explorers through the woods, stumbling upon an old abandoned castle, fight dragons (a.k.a daddy) and take pretend play to a whole new level!
Don’t forget your camera! Photo ops are endless here!
The views are beautiful. Clark Tower Winterset is just overall fabulous and makes such an awesome Kid-friendly Weekend in Madison County!
Covered Bridges
Madison County is home to five remaining covered bridges. Use the download map provided by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce to help you find all the bridges.
We were fortunate to visit Cedar Bridge before it was tragically destroyed by arson. The children really enjoyed this visit and we are sorry that this bridge is no longer available for families.
Pammel State Park
Pammel State Park in Winterset is full of rich history and lots of family fun! It all starts off with the only highway tunnel bridge in Iowa as the entrance to the park. (maximum clearance is 12′-6″). If you are bringing a large RV, then you have to take some back roads in from the south side of the park.
After you pass through Harmon Tunnel, turn right into the Middle River Ford parking lot. It’s a very short walk (less than a city block) from the parking lot to the tunnel.
Middle River Ford seemed to be the local teen hangout. You can walk through barefoot but I would recommend water shoes. Sandbars are accessible if the water is low enough. There is no sand beach here, but there is a small sandy area which little ones would enjoy with a pail and shovel.
Pammel State Park hosts hiking trials and something I had never heard of before, water trails (for canoeing). Hiking the Lodge Trail was enjoyable but parts of the trail are washed out and had some obstacles like fallen logs across the trail.
We also hiked Backbone Trail from the campground to Middle River Ford and back…this was about an hour-long trip because we stopped to play at the ford.
The main trail is nice and easy for any age, but we chose to go down the steeper hillside which would be more challenging for younger hikers.
Enjoying a sunset hike going down Backbone Trail to Middle River Ford. FYI – There are no bike trails in this park or in the Winterset area. They would like to work on connecting to the other major routes in Iowa. Check back with them for future availability.
More To Do
While enjoying a Kid-Friendly Weekend in Madison County, stop by Howell’s Dried Florals & Gift Barn. The pumpkin patch is open in the fall along with lots of kid’s activities including the Mud Pie Kitchen. Our kids played for over three hours at this farm in the fall.
Don’t forget to give tribute to John Wayne and visit the museum right in Winterset.
We had a wonderful Kid-Friendly Weekend in Madison County and hope your family does also!
Kid-friendly Weekend in Madison County For me, Madison County with its romantic Covered Bridges perfect for a movie set, John Wayne fans and a famous winery always felt tailored for adults.
The North Shore makes the perfect weekend or week long family trip! Stunning state parks, cozy cabins and plenty of R&R can be found along the shores of Lake Superior. Just six hours from Des Moines, Iowa, the adventure begins in Duluth, Minnesota!
A Weekend Guide to the North Shore with Kids
Duluth
With a population of around 86,000, Duluth Minnesota feels surprisingly small. Built up between a rocky ridgeline and the largest body of water in North America, there is much to do and see in this unique city.
Duluth offers the North Shore’s only sand beach! Five miles of clear water beauty at Park Point just a quick fun drive over the Aerial Lift Bridge.
A parking lot and public access to the beach are located on the left hand side of the street a couple blocks after crossing the bridge.
What separates Duluth from other communities is the outdoor natural landscape. Duluth has 6,834 acres of city parklands and 178 miles of wooded trails.
We had a great time visiting Enger Park and climbing the tower. The views are incredible! There is a charming Asian garden, several nice walking paths and picnic spots.
Duluth has the usual collection of family entertainment with an aquarium, zoo, children’s museum, railroads and entertainment parks. A SCI membership gives free admission to both the zoo and children’s museum.
Lake Superior Zoo hosts the stunning Kingsbury Creek, which sadly experienced flooding a few years back resulting in the loss of some animals and exhibits. That being noted, the zoo is still a fun visit with a fantastic Nocturnal Animal Building, petting zoo and Griggs Learning Center which features lots of hands-on encounters and learning. We spent around two hours visiting the zoo and really enjoyed our time there.
Duluth Children’s Museum has a few unique exhibits like a Hover Chair. The museum is overall smaller than the children’s museums in Iowa and geared more toward preschool aged children, although my first graders did enjoy our hour-long visit. Driving directions can be confusing.
Our family visited Spirit Mountain to ride the Alpine Coaster. While we had fun, our overall feeling was that the price didn’t reflect the value. We probably just tend to lean more toward the free natural experience in the region.
Highway 61
Highway 61 along the North Shore begins in Duluth, MN were Interstate 35 ends. HWY 61 is the main route all the way north to Canada. There are limited side roads or backways.
There are two portions of HWY 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors; old HWY 61 along the shoreline (one lane in each direction) and new HWY 61 which is a fast four lane HWY).
Along old HWY 61 between Duluth and Two Harbors is the Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen. A cute play area for little ones and hammocks hung from trees great a relaxing yard where you can snack on all the yummy treats.
Look for Tom’s Logging Camp, Betty’s Pies north of Two Harbors, historical museums, overlooks, water access roads, state parks with water falls and more!
The best way to plan a trip is to pick up a North Shore guide which lists all the attractions, lodging and more in terms of miles along highway 61 from Duluth.
Grand Superior Lodge
With so much outdoor entertainment, lodging takes on a special role along the North Shore and the Grand Superior Lodge doesn’t disappoint.
The best thing about the Grand Superior Lodge is how close you are to the water. We slept at night with the windows open, listening to the crashing waves. Read our full review HERE and weekend meal plan!
Gooseberry Falls & the Superior Hiking Trail
Gooseberry Falls is an amazing state park along Highway 61 about an hour north of Duluth.
The Upper, Middle and Lower falls are all easily accessible by stroller along smooth hard-surfaced walkways. A modern visitor center with gift shop is the entrance point to the falls.
Swimming is not recommended at Gooseberry Falls State Park, however you can bring water shoes and wade in the edge of the river or climb the slippery rocks. Our family loved this state park and spent over three hours here.
Superior Hiking Trail overlaps park trails and it worth the hike to Fifth Falls. Our seven year-olds had no trouble on these more challenging fun trails!
SHT is over 310 miles of foot paths along the rocky ridgeline of Lake Superior. It was named one of the top ten best hiking trails in the world by Backpacker Magazine.
The continuous trail is has lots of access points and runs through state parks along Highway 61. This makes it easy to hike smaller portions with your children.
We did two-hour hikes with our seven year-olds in Gooseberry and Tettegouche state parks. The trails are well maintained and along neat geological features like water falls and rivers. Daddy carried a day pack for us with water, snacks and other necessities like wipes and tissue.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Don’t miss a venture down to Agate Beach and the rocky cliffs overlooking the lake! It’s worth the $5 day pass fee which will also allow you to visit Split Rock Lighthouse State Park pebble beach which is just a few miles away from Gooseberry Falls State Park.
We studied about lighthouse before our visit, reading books like ‘Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie’ and The Lighthouse Family Series. We skipped the tour of Split Rock lighthouse and visited another lighthouse in the Apostle Islands.
We spent our afternoon hiking along the rocky shore line and enjoying the pebble beach. Our son threw rocks into the water for 30 minutes straight and daddy hit an all time record by falling sleep on the rocks.
The leisurely afternoon was relaxing and peaceful. Several times I caught the children just staring off into the water and thinking. I loved that this special place gave our children the opportunity to ponder.
We hope you enjoyed Weekend Guide to the North Shore with Kids! Please let us know what adventures your family is having.
* We do our best to maintain accurate information, but please check with designations before planning a visit.
Weekend Guide to the North Shore with Kids – Minnesota The North Shore makes the perfect weekend or week long family trip! Stunning state parks, cozy cabins and plenty of R&R can be found along the shores of Lake Superior.
Spend a weekend or a whole week enjoying all the natural beauty and small town charm on an Eastern Iowa Family Road Trip. This unique portion of Iowa is rich in history with many exciting opportunities for fun and learning.
Families really will have to visit more then once to enjoy all that Eastern Iowa has to offer. Follow along on our adventures as we camped out at Backbone State Park, climbed the hills of Effigy Mounds & Pikes Peak and uncovered little Iowa treasures along the way.
Backbone State Park
Our exploration of northeastern Iowa started with enjoying Backbone State Park. A variety of rental cabins at Backbone are available for a minimum of two nights stay during the off-season. Between Memorial Day-Labor Day cabin rental is for 7 nights, from Fri-Fri.
The smaller cabins are perfect for our family of four. Cabins come equipped with modern conveniences including A/C & heat, running water (i.e. a bathroom and shower) and a full-sized kitchen.
Reserve America has detailed cabin photos and information. During a night of unexpected storms, we stayed snuggle safe, dry and received a quite nights sleep.
Cabins are perched atop unique geological rock formations along the East Lake Trail just up the road from the sand beach, home to the famous “castle” structure boat house. Our children delighted in climbing around the rock formations and finding a “cave”.
But that wasn’t the real cave! One of the many features of the park, including 21-miles of trails, a C.C.C. Museum, shallow streams, a deep lake, rock climbing opportunities and several picnic locations, is the Cave.
We were surprised to find a live, wet, cave. It’s deep, dark, damp and has bats! Yep, I said that, for real, a bat flew right by me and totally scared me crazy! This was nothing like our guided cave tours in MN or MO which were both amazing but felt way safer with lights and peppy young tour guides.
Prepare to get dirty and bring a headlight flashlight. We don’t recommend using a cellphone to light your path. 🙂
Once you’re done playing around inside, hit the awesome trails! The Backbone Trail has made the news this year due to a couple of tragic deaths, a child and an adult. From our experience, 99% of this trail is safe. There are a few locations with extreme drop offs. Instruct young children to not run ahead on the trail and keep everyone in your group way back from the edge. This trail is not stroller friendly.
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Deer and wildlife are abundant at Backbone State Park and we saw half-dozen during our evening walks. The sunset from high above on the Backbone Trail was breathtaking.
Day Trip
Using Backbone as our “base camp” we headed off on our Eastern Iowa Family Road Trip to the River Bluffs Scenic Byway making our way about an hour east to the Great Iowa River Road.
We logged an awesome gadget Geocache, passed by the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge, went shopping at the Paper Moon (awesome bookstore with kitty cats) and enjoyed the simplistic beauty of Amish country.
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Elkader Iowa
As we were driving along and enjoying the scenery, daddy recognized the small town of Elkader. Years ago he inspected the famous Keystone Bridge. In excitement of a new adventure, we quickly took a detour. We would highly recommend stopping by this unique small town. If you are wanting some challenging fun, check out their white water rapids.
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Effigy Mounds
Effigy Mounds has long been on my Bucket List and during this trip, we saw a small portion of the massive park. I would highly recommend doing a little advance planning before visiting this park.
In the visitor center kids can enjoy the hands-on learning station. There is a small museum, gift shop and other educational opportunities. We purchased our first National Park Passport books and we can’t wait to start filling in our books. I wish we had learned about this earlier.
Outside of the visitor center is a small mound that can be viewed without taking the trail. A challenging, steep hike takes visitors to the first series of mounds and overlook points. Once you get past the gigantic steep hill, the two-mile hike is relatively easy. Our suggestion is to save this hike and portion of the park for older children who can handle the climb and appreciate the cultural value of the mounds.
For those who do make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded handsomely with woodland beauty and stunning vistas.
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Pikes Peak State Park
Just down the road from Effigy Mounds is Pikes Peak, offering beautiful overlooks and Native American mounds similar to those at Effigy Mounds. Bear Mound and the main overlook are all located along a paved, easy to use path. But don’t let that fool you. With over 11 miles of trails, this park can keep you busy all day.
We only saw a small portion of the park and enjoyed finding a waterfall along Bridal Veil Trail.
Lock & Dam 10
I absolutely fell in love with all the beautiful, small river towns along the Great Iowa River Road and Guttenberg didn’t disappoint. Alongside charming historic buildings, Lock & Dam 10 is exciting and fun to watch.
You’ll find the Lock & Dam located behind the school. Drive through the gated area and down to the viewing platform. Enjoy the ships passing to your heart’s content!
Phew! What a Trip! Daddy says this was one of his favorite short trips and we all agree. With so much to see and do on an Eastern Iowa Family Road Trip, plan to visit for a week.
Eastern Iowa Family Road Trip Spend a weekend or a whole week enjoying all the natural beauty and small town charm on an Eastern Iowa Family Road Trip.
Travel always inspires. It allows time to ponder. Time to consider. Time to renew. ✨During our most recent excursion, I was drawn to light. Coming home, I added warm glows of light in our home via stringed decor timer lights. ✨ little points of light fill our automatically fill our home each evening from the front porch, to the back fireplace mantel and throughout to the dining room table. 💛 * How do your travels inspire you? What do you bring anew onto your home and life? ~ #iowa #lights #glow #timerlights #travelinspiration #travelinspires #bringithome #makeitlovely #homesweethome #welcoming #insperation #decor #traveldecor #peaceful #formyfamily #MWTBlogger #MWTBlogs #fieldtripiowa (at Iowa)
Going on a Cave Tour! It's nice and cool at 57 degrees. This is our 2nd cave tour ever! 🔦 Check out the blog link on my profile page for more details! * @mostateparks AWESOME park & tour! It's so close to Interstate 144. * #missouri #missouriadventure #southernmissouri #midwestisbest #discovermidwest #midwest #midwestmoment #MWTBlogger #MWTBlogs #fieldtripiowa #onondagacavestatepark #park #explore * #vacationidea #Tripwithkids #familyvacation #cave #cavetour #gooutside #underground #insidecave
the Visit Neighboring States Series
I have said it before, Kansas City offers more attractions and fun for families with children than in any other major city within a three hour drive from central Iowa! TripAdvisor list 26 museums in KC.
The Money Museum was a fun and educational stop. We took a self guided tour and spent around 45 minutes enjoying the exhibits. Place/Event: The Money Museum Location: 1 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, MO 64198. Within walking distance from Crown Center and Science City. Parking: Free on west side of building Cost: free *Adults Must Have photo ID to enter through security. Grade/age range: All ages Group size: large or small Hands-on: Yes Stroller friendly: Yes. Bathrooms: Yes Food: No
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There are several hands-on activities for younger students. The museum is not large but the exhibits are full of information. Older students could use the displays for research projects.
There are guided tours for larger groups which need to be reserved fifteen days in advance. I overheard one tour guide and he sounded very knowledgeable. I would like to bring my children back to the Money Museum in Kansas City again when they are older.
The Money Museum in Kansas City the Visit Neighboring States Series I have said it before, Kansas City offers more attractions and fun for families with children than in any other major city within a three hour drive from central Iowa!
the Visit Neighboring States Series
Wallace State Park is about an hour south of Lamoni, two miles off exit 48 on I35. It’s easy to miss from the interstate but should definitely be a stop on your way to KC!
Place/Event: Wallace State Park Location: 10621 MO-121, Cameron, MO 64429 Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: unlimited Hands-on: Yes Stroller friendly: Only playground/parking lot areas. The trails are not hard surfaced and are uneven narrow terrain. Bring a carrier. Bathrooms: Yes Water: Yes
We stopped for about an hour on a late fall evening as we were traveling down to Kansas City. The park is beautiful,serene and peaceful!
This was just what our kids needed to stretch their legs after a couple hours of traveling. We hiked the .60 mile Rocky Ford Trail in about 30 minutes, which included lots of exploring and play.
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I would LOVE to come back here in the summer when there is more water flowing in the creek. The water level doesn’t look too deep and would be a great place for kids to wade. Next time we are bringing water shoes!
The water goes back about a foot or so under the rocky ledge.
The trail along the creek can be narrow and uneven at times. Several places had large tree roots growing across the trail. The smooth rock creek bed is unique and different from anything I have seen in Iowa.
The pictures don’t do the landscape justice. I am sure this would be an amazing photograph had we been there two weeks earlier but I find the bare late fall emptiness intriguing. There is something nostalgic about late fall, a feeling of timelessness…and I just love it.
The park isn’t large, but there are lots of fun surprises! Old Quarry trail was a huge hit and we could hardly keep up with the children as they raced along the edges of Lake Allaman.
We would highly recommend a stop at Wallace State Park! There is also a nice lodge and a large parking area. It would make a great meeting place for a family reunion.
Wallace State Park off I35 in Missouri the Visit Neighboring States Series Wallace State Park is about an hour south of Lamoni, two miles off exit 48 on I35.
the Visit Neighboring States Series
A library is not typically on the vacation destination list, however, the Kansas City Public Library is worth a stop! A painted book wall and “book” steps decorate the south side of the parking garage located west of the main branch library.
Place/Event: Kansas City Public Library Location: 14 W 10th St, Kansas City, MO 64105 Parking: garage on west side of library. Free with validation. Ask at a reference or help desk. Cost: free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: unlimited Hands-on: Yes Stroller friendly: Yes. Bathrooms: Yes Food: No
Our favorite thing at the library was the life size chess set on the roof. The kids wanted to play a full game but we didn’t have enough time.
Honestly, it was kind of hard to play. The new perspective made it more challenging.
The entrance to the children’s library captivated our kid’s imagination. The children’s library contains the typical stuff but does have a very large story area.
What you don’t want to miss is the Vault in the lower basement level. The button in the elevator for this level is a V (for vault).
Why is there a giant vault in the basement of a library? Because the library is housed in the old First National Bank building and is rich with history.
Ask a staff member about the vents that used to hide security guards.
The library is large with many unique displays.
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The parking garage was easy to access and free with parking validation from a staff member in the library.
Kansas City Public Library the Visit Neighboring States Series A library is not typically on the vacation destination list, however, the Kansas City Public Library is worth a stop!
the Visit Neighboring States Series
Don’t think, ‘just another science center’! Science City at Union Station in downtown Kansas City is perfect for all ages. Your family or school group could easily spend a full day of learning and play! Plan for a 4-6 hour visit.
Place/Event: Science City at Union Station Location: 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108 Parking: at Union Station is not difficult or expensive. Just follow the directions from the webpage for the different options. Cost: $11.50-13.50 Science City is a member of the ASTC Reciprocal program and SCI members receive four free tickets. Grade/age range: All ages Group size: unlimited Hands-on: Yes Stroller friendly: Yes. A stroller parking nook is available at the front near the entrance. Two elevators in the main area make it easy to get around. Bathrooms: Yes Food: Yes (see bottom of post)
I have said it before, Kansas City offers more attractions and fun for families with children than in any other major city within a three hour drive from central Iowa!
We had a list of over a dozen places we wanted to visit during our last trip and Science City at Union Station was NOT top on the list. I really thought it was ‘just another science center’. Boy was I wrong!
First off, It’s HUGE! There are over 50 hands-on displays.
Second, most of the displays are things that my children have never experienced before at other science centers. There was only one display that was not functioning properly. Everything we encountered seem to be in complete working order.
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Note to moms with younger kids – finding the bathrooms can be tricky. We ran into the issue twice. So plan ahead before you find yourself in need of an instant potty. There is a mother’s nursing station that is across from Science City in the Sprint Festival Plaza.
Two separate areas are designated for children seven years and younger. However, your little ones will enjoy most of the displays.
Several displays are specifically tailored to middle and high school students and were beyond the scope of our younger elementary ages.
I really wish we could have tried making something out of 4D but we didn’t know that some stations have specific hours. On your visit, check ahead of time to make sure you can do all the different programs and activities.
Luckily, my kids weren’t disappointed, but they were both too short to write the Sky Bike.
There are a few classroom spaces for large groups. If you want to go as a co-op or organized school group, check with the education director for all the info!
I found the displays to be very educational and the signs were helpful. There were several displays that supported what we have been studying in science this fall including the magnet sand table.
Fun surprises are everywhere in Science City including the Nature Center which is home to a talking bird that said “here kitty” and meowed like a cat. Don’t skip this!
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We were able to squeeze in a Planetarium show which gave us and the kids a much needed rest. The screen size was very large and they offer comfortable seating. The Planetarium is a separate part of Union Station. It is not attached to Science City and therefore has its own ticket pricings. For SCI members, this is a little different then what we are used to.
Near by the Planetarium was this very fun piano which my daughter enjoyed!
Food choices at Union Station are limited, so plan ahead. We took a 15 minute walk through The Link (sky walk) to Crown Center.
The kids remembered Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant from our last visit to KC and really wanted to return. Fritz’s is fun because a train delivers your food out in a basket. Prices are reasonable.
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Overall, we had a BLAST! I wished I had planned more time. We didn’t get to enjoy all of the displays and experience everything that Science City had to offer, even though we were there for four hours! Science City is definitely on our return list.
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Disclaimer: Our visit was hosted, however, all opinions expressed in this article are completely ours and based on our own family’s unique experience.
Science City at Union Station – Kansas City the Visit Neighboring States Series Don't think, 'just another science center'! Science City at Union Station in downtown Kansas City is perfect for all ages.
Place/Event: High Trestle Trail Bridge Location: Madrid Iowa Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: unlimited Hands-on: Yes Stroller friendly: Yes Bathrooms: Yes Food: Yes Water: Yes
If your not up for biking from Des Moines, there are two easy ways to access the trail from Madrid.
The Johnson Family Trailhead at Dalander Park along Highway 17 is just two and half miles east of the bridge.
Here you can find water, bathrooms and restaurants like the Flat Tire Lounge. There are lots of picnic tables and seating if you want to bring your own food. No playground.
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For a shorter trip, the QF Lane Parking lot is only half a mile east of the bridge. Garbage cans are only located at the trailheads.
Don’t be intimidated by the grandeur of it all! While there are plenty of professional bikers utilizing the trail system, there is also room enough for all.
During our trip on a warm late fall Saturday afternoon we saw several large families out for a stroll, grandparents in wheelchairs, parents with strollers, a skate boarder carrying a cooler (I think his girlfriend and he were on a picnic) and everyone in between.
A fun sense of community surrounds the trail system which is reflected in the trail user’s attitudes and behaviors.
Most users are patient with our children and are happy to see families on the trail. We have worked with our kids on keeping to the right and they now think it’s fun to call out “passing on the left” when they want to move around someone.
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The park/trail ranger can be reached at 515-230-9093. For emergencies, call 911.
We rode the two and half miles from Dalander Park to the High Trestle Trail Bridge. The trail was smooth, free of debris, and seemed like a short ride. Our girl started to get tired when we were pretty close to the bridge but overall the kids handled the trail great.
Toby got to ride along in his K9 Sports Sack. He loves to go for bike rides and hates to be left at home. We get amused by all the different responses people have when seeing a doggy in a backpack on a bike ride. Most people love it, some think we are crazy.
The ride was beautiful!
I think biking outdoors through Iowa’s beautiful countryside is one of my favorite ways to exercise.
This is a Pinterest Worthy location that is easily accessible to all!
There are special viewing nooks as you go along the bridge. Each nook has informational boards that explain the area’s history, native wildlife and more.
Continue past the bridge to head towards the town of Woodward. We saw some friends on the bridge. They let us know that the trail west of the bridge was not too hilly and their eight-year-old daughter has no trouble biking on it.
We hope your family can hit the trails sometime soon and enjoy!
High Trestle Trail Bridge – Madrid Place/Event: High Trestle Trail Bridge Location: Madrid Iowa Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: unlimited…
Wild and Free Day at Margo Frankel Woods State Park - Des Moines
Wild and Free Day at Margo Frankel Woods State Park – Des Moines
Margo Frankel Woods State Park is the perfect place to have a #WildandFree Day!
What’s #WildandFree? It’s a community of “mothers and homeschoolers who want their children to not only receive a quality education, but also to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood.”
I have totally fallen in love with their Instagramand vision. This past week I invited a few friends together to…
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Place/Event: Iowa Public Television Studio Tour Location: 6450 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131 Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: max 30 Hands-on: Limited Stroller friendly: no, per IPTV’s request Bathrooms: Yes Food: No
I was impressed with our field trip to the Iowa Public Television station! Karen was our tour guide and she was great with the kids. Our group had students who were 2nd grade and younger. The tour was adjusted to their needs.
The children were given a scavenger hunt and pencil. This helps keep little hands from touching all the equipment.
The tour lasted around an hour but was fast paced and held the kids interest.
I have to confess that I never realized how much work and effort go into producing and airing the shows on IPTV! I learned a lot on this trip too!
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As an adult, I have a new appreciation for IPTV after our tour. I would highly recommend this program for all age groups!
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The highlight of the kid’s day was going on to the Kids Clubhouse set. Hosts Dan Wardell and Abby Brown came out to greet the kids and show them around. They spent lots of time with the kids and had a few fun surprises to show them.
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IPTV provides educational resources for Iowa teachers. Visit the Iowa Public Television station and get connected in your classroom!
Iowa Public Television Station – Johnston Place/Event: Iowa Public Television Studio Tour Location: 6450 Corporate Drive, Johnston, Iowa 50131 Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages…
Place/Event: State Historical Museum of Iowa Location: 600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319 Cost: Free Grade/age range: All ages Group size: up to 90 for school tours Hands-on: Limited Stroller friendly: Yes Bathrooms: Yes Food: Yes, but not little kid friendly
The State Historical Museum of Iowa is a wonderful complement for many different areas of study. Admission to the museum is free and so is parking. The parking garage at Grand Ave & Pennsylvania Ave is also used for State Capitol visitors.
The highlight for younger students is the mammoth skeleton and animal exhibit. The exhibits are thorough and valuable to older students for research.
My younger elementary students enjoy the museum for about an hour. They took pictures of exhibits with their camera.
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We have visited the museum on a few occasions and I find it most useful to visit for one or two exhibits that complement our study. When the children were in preschool we stopped just to see the mammoth after reading a picture book about them.
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The exhibits are done creatively and contain more information then one visit would allow. The museum offers educational programs for school groups.
There is a café, however the menu is geared toward older adults and the atmosphere is more sophisticated.
Iowa is full of historic sites and the State Historical Museum of Iowa can help you find resources to enhance your historical study. We will be utilizing this resource over the upcoming school years.
State Historical Museum of Iowa – Des Moines Place/Event: State Historical Museum of Iowa Location: 600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319 Cost: Free…
Place/Event: Salisbury House & Gardens Location: 4025 Tonawanda Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312 Cost: $2-12 (see website) Grade/age range: All ages are welcome, older students will receive the most benefit Group size: small or 20-60 people for guided tour Hands-on: No and touching of everything including walls is prohibited Stroller friendly: No. Babywearing for front carriers only, no back carriers allowed. Bathrooms: Yes Food: No
We visited the Salisbury House & Gardens on their Homeschool day. The unique architectural character of the home and the historical collections are a perfect complement to our renaissance study in the Story of the World vol. 2.
I wanted the children to have the sense and “feel” of a castle. When building their home, the Weeks found their inspiration during a trip to England and Salisbury House reflects elements from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries.
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The Salisbury House has an impressive collection of artifacts, art work and furniture that are centuries old. My young students don’t have an appreciation for the value and rarity of these items, but this is just our first visit. We will be back for many more trips in the future.
The Salisbury House website has additional information and photos of their collections on their website. This is a great resource if you would like to study or prepare before a visit.
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Exploring the Salisbury House is easy and enjoyable. There is a self guided tour or a guided group tour. The parking lot is on a hill and it can be a long walk to the house for little children. Strollers are allowed outside on the grounds but not in the house.
A scavenger hunt provided by Salisbury House helps keep little hands busy. My children enjoyed searching for the items. With no hands-on activities and a limit for my children’s appreciation of the family history, our visit was around an hour. Older students could enjoy a couple hour visit to the house.
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Several informational display boards throughout the upstairs bedrooms provide fascinating facts.
Charles’s bedroom is full of displays and information. Film clips from old black and white movies which were filmed at the house play on a loop.
I asked my kids lots of questions about how they would feel if they lived in a home like this. Do they think the boys used to bounce balls in the hallway? How would they feel if they slept in a room like this one? My children thought it was strange that the house does not have a “living” room.
It takes a lot of resources to maintain the Salisbury House & Gardens. Signage throughout the house remind you to thank the businesses and public who sponsor the house.
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Every County in Iowa has historical homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Find a place to visit today!
In Western Iowa, visit Joslyn Castle in Omaha NE.
Salisbury House & Gardens – Des Moines Place/Event: Salisbury House & Gardens Location: 4025 Tonawanda Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312 Cost: $2-12 (see website)
The local Renaissance Faire was the perfect way to kick start our study of the Renaissance period in history using The Story of the World Vol 2 (SOTW).
The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow runs for 3 weekends each September and features a different theme each weekend. We visited the first weekend with Knights & Royals. Plan a trip to a ren faire for your family!
You’ll notice a difference in a ren faire compared to Living History Farms. A ren faire isn’t strictly focused on educational presentation. However, you can learn a lot by asking questions and getting involved.
Here are 7 educational experiences at the Renaissance faire!
Knight Fight
Raven’s Armored Combat team is incredible!!! These guys and one girl go at it full force, all-in, no script or rehearsed scenes. A viewer gets a true sense of how utterly exhausting and dangerous being a knight was. My son was totally absorbed and loved watching this demonstration.
Knights are epic in any study of the renaissance period and the Raven team doesn’t disappoint. SOTW covers knighthood in chapter 17, pages 152-159
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Vikings
Unless you are planning to travel to The Field Museum in Chicago, here is your best opportunity to encounter the Vikings. Living history reenactment camps for the Warriors of Valhalla and Olskipan Vikings are ongoing daily at the ren faire.
Enthusiasts are dressed up in period costumes and share their knowledge about weapons, communication symbols, daily life and cooking a meal over an open fire. Be sure to ask specific questions and spend time chatting with these nice folks!
You’ll find the Vikings in chapter 14 and throughout SOTW Vol 2.
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Joust Match
Trained professional actors delight a crowd and the royal court with a joust match. This reenactment makes the stories on still, quiet pages come to life.
Read aloud page 154 & 155 in SOTW and your children will become the knight racing to fight, wearing their heavy padded armor and bringing victory for the kingdom.
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Medieval & Renaissance Daily Life
A cluster of tents give a peak into daily life in the 1500’s. Try on a knight’s helmet, watch blacksmiths work or learn about rope making. The living history camp is ongoing daily during the ren faire.
SOTW explores these different roles and daily life experiences throughout the book and on page 145-147.
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Royal Court
Behold the Royal Court and all of its splendor! What would be a day at the ren faire with out a king and queen.
Read about Dynasty’s and rulers throughout the SOTW including Queen Elizabeth in chapter 38.
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Fine Arts
As key staple in the Royal Court and on the corners of any medieval square – musicians still play an important role in defining culture. Many musical performances are center stage during the ren faire. Musicians are mentioned on page 147 in SOTW.
Children and adults alike will also appreciate connecting present day art with the past. My daughter loved watching the potter create bowls. I could hardly get her to leave.
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Magic & Myths
Enjoying a little fun, the ren faire embraces all things childlike and mythical from fairies to dragons. There is a cute little fairy house hunt game your child can play. The game card is given to you upon arrival. (Bring a pen). We loved the idea, however, we found the hunt too difficult and gave up without receiving our prize.
Dress like a fairy and visit the fairies in their home. Encourage your child’s imagination and enjoy! Little glass beads are handed out as “dragon tears” and my kids came home wanting to find more.
William & Blackjack put on a hilarious show with audience participation. If you have little ones then be sure to check out the Children’s Stage. My children actually think that William can change bubbles into glass marbles.
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You can read lots of myths and legends throughout the SOTW about talking animals, gods, warriors and more.
Don’t forget to look for Robin hood. He wanders around with a few of his merry men. Read that story on pages 180-185 in SOWT.
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Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration and other Ren Faire locations! Bring medieval history alive for your family and visit a faire this year!
Discloser: Our visit was hosted, however, all opinions expressed in this article are completely ours and based on our own family’s unique experience.
7 educational experiences at the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow – Des Moines The local Renaissance Faire was the perfect way to kick start our study of the Renaissance period in history using The Story of the World Vol 2 (SOTW).
The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow is a fabulous event to interact with history. Here’s everything your family needs to know to have a terrific day!
Location
The faire is located in a 30 acre woodland with open fields in east Des Moines. The setting is beautiful and adds a whimsical charm to the faire! Bring sunscreen and bug spray just incase. Pay attention to where you park in the grass lot and how to get out because the exit directions are a bit confusing.
To enter the faire, you cross over a little stream on an old steel bridge and walk up a gravel lane. The faire cannot be seen from the parking lot. It’s mystical and exciting as you come around the path to the gates!
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The faire is large and stroller friendly. Plan on walking a lot throughout the day!
Expense
Parking fee is $2. Gate admission is $8 for 5-12 yrs old and $18 for adults. *NO CREDIT CARDS! Bring cash! There are different group rates (see website) and discount coupons at Casey’s General Store. This is about the same price as a trip to the Living History Farms. The difference is that almost every activity cost additional money; $1 to pet a pig, $5 for pony rides, $1 to throw 3 arrows etc. The performances are free to watch but the performers do ask for a tip.
The children did receive lots of fun little free gifts!
Don’t forget to bring extra money for shopping! There are over 40 vendors at the faire and you won’t find anything cheaply made or plastic here! Beautiful hand-crafted items at reasonable prices!
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Opening Gate Ceremony
The opening gate ceremony is a great way to kick off the day with interactive performers and lots of play!
There is a unique intimate feel between the performers and the guests, almost a community feel. The faire is small enough that you continue to meet the same actors or actresses and guests throughout the day but diverse enough that you always see new things.
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While standing in the ticket line, waiting for the opening gate ceremony, performers delighted our children with magic tricks and play.
Comforts
Sleepy Hollow has been working on updates and improvements to the faire grounds including modern restrooms. While nice and convenient, there are a few areas left to be fixed, such as water pressure. I am unaware of a baby changing station.
The modern restroom is located on the north side of the Joust Field and expect a line for the ladies room.
We never did find a drinking fountain and I used a refillable water bottle bag at the sink in the bathroom. The faire’s website does not state any policy about outside food or beverages. While there are over a dozen food vendors with kid friendly food like pizza, the parking lot is not an unreasonable distance away if your family would rather do a quick car picnic.
You’re going to have a GREAT time at the faire and our family stayed four and half hours. This is one of those family adventures where you want to have a meal plan for when you get home.
Family Friendly
The Renaissance Faire is a perfect outing for families! There are lots of activities, programs, shows and fun geared toward kids. But the faire is also a grown-up costume party. A few areas of the fair are not suitable for young children including the Dungeon Tour and some of the shops which sell weapons like sharp swords.
It is acceptable at a Ren Faire to chat with the performers before a show to find out if your child is age appropriate for their audience. While hilarious and entertaining, Molotov’s show with adult humor was borderline for younger children.
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And then there is Stranger Danger! So before I go on, let me say, we never felt threatened or unsafe at any point during our visit to the faire. However, parents should know that guest dress up in full costume and it could be difficult for a child to tell an actor from a visitor.
Make a family safety plan for the day. One simple thing a child can do is to go into one of the many shops and let the people know they are lost. All the vendors will have access to staff and be able to comfort your child.
Which brings me to my last piece of advice for a family friendly day at the Renaissance Faire…Dress-up and have Fun! Looking for ideas! Check out our Pinterest board for inspiration and other Ren Faire locations!
My kids didn’t want to dress up for our visit, however, right away when we got home they started playing “pirates and fairies”. I can clearly see the addictive nature in wearing elaborate costumes with like-minded friends! Guess we all caught the Renaissance Bug!
Disclaimer: Our visit was hosted, however, all opinions expressed in this article are completely ours and based on our own family’s unique experience.
Family Guide to the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow – Des Moines The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow is a fabulous event to interact with history. Here's everything your family needs to know to have a terrific day!