Five Ways to Explore the Woods Hole Science Aquarium on Cape Cod

The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is part of the Woods Hole Oceanic Institute (WHOI), which is a nonprofit education facility that focuses on marine science and engineering. The WHOI has a campus spread out throughout the village of Woods Hole and it includes a Visitor Center and Discovery center, both of which are open to the public and offer a variety of programs and events. Opened in 1875 and welcoming over 80,000 visitors every year, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium is the oldest public aquarium in America and home to 140 species of marine life who live in the Atlantic and Northeast waters, including harbor seals.  The aquarium also has a rehabilitation program for sea turtles.

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City Guide: 12 Places Kids Will Love in Palm Beach County, Florida

While most people head to the pristine beaches or pools of Palm Beach County, Florida, there is plenty to do off the sand and surf. We’re lucky to have family who live in Delray Beach and over the years, we have enjoyed exploring a wide variety of family friendly attractions.  Palm Beach County includes 39 cities, towns, and villages from Jupiter (the northern most part) to Boca Raton in the southern part of the region- see the full list here.

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10 Family Friendly Winter Activities in Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock, Vermont is a quintessential New England town. Located one hour south of the Vermont capital of Montpelier and just over two hours from Boston, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut, Woodstock has a population of just over 3,000 but swells with visitors in both the popular foliage and summer seasons. Many of the activities center around nature: skiing, hiking, fishing, biking, and swimming, but there are also plenty of historical museums, hands-on centers, tons of family fun, and plenty of beautiful shops (if the kids can be entertained). We visited Woodstock in the summertime many years ago, but found that winter is also a great time to visit when we returned last month. While fact checking logistics, we found woodstockvt.com helpful with places to explore, dining and shopping suggestions, and  calendars of events.

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18 Ways to Have Fun at The Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT

On a recent trip to Woodstock, Vermont, one of our first stops was the Montshire Museum of Science, located in nearby Norwich. I had heard many positive things about Montshire from other bloggers, and the museum did not disappoint. The four floors of indoor museum exhibits are light and open and we were shocked to learn that the current space opened in 1989- we swore it must had been recently renovated  because it looked so updated and clean.

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10 Ways to Have Fun at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, VT

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, Vermont is a 47 acre complex that includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Forest Canopy Walk, three hiking trails, a Meadow Walk, a Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, adventure playscape, and plenty of classrooms and exhibition spaces. Opened in 1972, the programs featured at VINS focus on conservation, preservation, and rehabilitation of wildlife. The center is the perfect, family friendly way to explore nature and learn about the local wildlife.

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inside entrance to Kirby Science Discovery Center

15 Ways to Explore the Kirby Science Center in Sioux Falls, SD

This summer, we spent an unexpected few days in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We were supposed to stay overnight as a layover on our way to Wisconsin, but when we saw all of the family friendly activities, we decided to extend our visit. We had a wonderful 3+ days exploring the area. One of our favorite spots was the  Kirby Science Discovery Center, located in the Washington Pavilion. 

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