Peabody Essex Museum Salem, Massachusetts
On a recent trip to Salem, Massachusetts (read my full review here) I was given a press pass to check out many of the local sites from Destination Salem. Check out salem.org for well researched resources for everything to see, eat, do, and where to stay in Salem. At the very top of my list of places to explore was the Peabody Essex Museum. My parents, who live in Massachusetts, visit at least once a year and always share how much they enjoy the Peabody. It is bright, airy, and has lots of open spaces.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem Village, now known as the town of Danvers, dates back to 1626 when Puritans came to the area from England, seeking religious freedom. The town of Salem, where most of the now famous, and infamous, sites are located is on the North Shore of Massachusetts, about 30 minutes north of Boston, and has a beautiful harbor downtown. It’s most well known for it’s involvement in one of America’s darkest period, the witch hysteria of 1692.
I grew up visiting Salem each October and I have been wanting to recreate some of those memories with my own children. However, I wanted to wait until they were old enough not to be too scared. This year seemed like the perfect time and I started planning back in June. The fall is the most popular time of year to visit Salem (yay for Halloween!) and I wanted to visit early in September. I started my research on Salem.org. This website is the perfect planner: it’s well organized, has frequent updates of events, and plenty of suggestions of places to stay, eat, and explore. I used this website to research every stop we made.
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts
here’s a Hall of Fame for just about every sport in America, and my family has visited six athletic halls of fame to date. Halls of Fame are a great way to learn the history and rules of a sport, the evolution of the game, and the background and stats on famous players. There are always plenty of interactive exhibits to keep children entertained. The “do not touch, please stay quiet” rules of many museums are non existent at athletic halls of fame.
Recently, when my family was in Springfield, Massachusetts, we stopped at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. I’d plan on at least a half day at the Hall of Fame, but if you find yourself with extra time, take a quick five minute drive and visit the Dr. Seuss Museum (read my tips here) or the Springfield Armory (read my tips here).
Springfield Armory NHS Springfield, Massachusetts
I’ve visited Springfield, Massachusetts many times to meet up with my husband’s relatives and to explore some of the many family friendly activities (like the Dr. Seuss Museum and the Basketball Hall of Fame- tips coming at the end of the week) the city has to offer. However, until recently, I haven’t had the chance to explore the Springfield Armory, part of the National Parks Service. Since my family has been learning a lot about the the beginning of America’s formation (see my posts on Saratoga National Historic Site, Minute Man National Historic Park, and Fort Stanwix), I figured visiting the Armory would be the perfect complement.
Armories were places to create weapons and arsenals were places to store those weapons. After the Revolutionary War, George Washington proposed having armories built on the east coast so that the United States did not have to rely on other countries for production. He designated Springfield in Massachusetts and Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia ideal locations for armories.
Minute Man National Historic Park Lexington & Concord, MA
Concord and Lexington Massachusetts are two towns located northwest of Boston steeped in the history of the “birth” of America. The National Park Service has done a wonderful job of preserving many important sites in these towns associated with the battle of April 19, 1775, when colonial milita fought British troops (called “regulars”) in a battle that began the American Revolution. Collectively, these sites are known as the Minute Man National Historic Park. It’s well worth your family’s time to spend a day (or two or three!) visiting the area. Here are my top picks:
EcoTarium, Worchester, MA
During a recent trip to visit my dear friend, Sandy, and her family in Natick, Massachusetts, we spied rain in the forecast. Sandy found a great spot for us to meet in nearby Worchester, Massachusetts (more on family fun in Worchester coming soon!): EcoTarium.
EcoTarium participates in the Association of Children’s Museums and the Association of Science-Technology Centers reciprocity programs. This means that my friend’s membership to her local science center (or I could have used my membership to our local children’s museum) allowed her to bring us as guests- for free. This is a wonderful program that my family has taken advantage of dozens of times. Look for an upcoming post about all the benefits.
Part science center, part zoo, part outdoor classroom,EcoTarium also has a planetarium, outdoor train ride, plenty of hands on exhibits, and is tons of fun for toddlers, children, and adults alike! Here are our favorite parts: