Search Results for: aquarium

family travel | Long Island | Mansion museums | New York
11 Ways to Explore the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum on Long Island
ByJennRecord June 3, 2025June 19, 2025
One of the only remaining “Gilded Age Gold Coast” mansions on Long Island in New York, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is the former estate of William K. Vanderbilt and his third wife, Rosamond. The great-great grandson of shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, William purchased the 43 acre property in Centerport on Long Island in 1908 and began with a small “English Cottage”. Over the next two decades, he expanded the property and grew the “cottage” into a 24 room Spanish Revival mansion named “Eagle’s Nest” along with several museum buildings. Vanderbilt chose the Northport Bay location because it is the deepest port closest to Manhattan where Vanderbilt could moor his boats. William and Rosemond lived on the property from May through October, although they also commuted into their home in Manhattan.
Read More 11 Ways to Explore the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum on Long Island
family travel | history | Long Island | Mansion museums | New York
Nine Places to Explore at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park on Long Island, New York
ByJennRecord May 27, 2025June 19, 2025
The fall and spring weekend home of William and Mai Coe and their four children during the “Gilded Age” of the 20th century, Planting Fields is a 400 acre estate, home to dozens of designed gardens, five miles of woodland trails, two green houses, and a 65 room Tudor Revival style home. William Coe, a Brit who came to America as a young child and made his fortunes in marine insurance (he insured the Titanic!). The family primarily lived in Manhattan and spent their summers on a Wyoming ranch. They enjoyed Planting Fields for the outdoor spaces and often spent time horseback riding and hiking.
Read More Nine Places to Explore at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park on Long Island, New York
Children's Museums | City Guide | Connecticut | family travel | hiking | history | maritime history | museums | Mystic | nature | nature center | New Haven
10 Kid Friendly Spots Along I-95 in Connecticut to Enjoy this Spring
ByJennRecord May 6, 2025July 1, 2025
We’ve lived in Connecticut almost 25 years and LOVE all of the museums, historical sites, cultural attractions, beaches and parks, and overall beauty and friendliness of the Nutmeg State. We’ve shared many of our adventures throughout Connecticut on the blog over the past 8 years: City Guides for New Haven, Coastal Connecticut, Hartford, and Mystic; food trails all over Fairfield County; hiking adventures in Fairfield County, in Western Connecticut, in Central Connecticut, and in Mystic County.
Read More 10 Kid Friendly Spots Along I-95 in Connecticut to Enjoy this Spring
family travel
Playing “I Spy” at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA
ByJennRecord March 18, 2025March 19, 2025
The Harvard Museums of Science and Culture are a collection of four renowned museums on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The museum showcase the wide variety of collections of its members and donors and the ongoing research and work of Harvard educators, students, and curators. The largest museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, has 16 galleries spread across three floors (and the adjacent Peabody Museum) dedicated to dinosaurs, meteorites, gemstones, animals and insects in addition to several rotating exhibits. There are also several family programs and special events offered throughout the year that the whole family will enjoy.
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Gift Guide | gifts
Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Gift of Time
ByJennRecord November 19, 2024November 20, 2024
Holiday gift guides are EVERYWHERE this time of year- every blogger I know and follow has multiple post filled with items to purchase for every relationship, personality, and interest possible. I have had some luck finding a few things for people on my list, and I am always especially happy when I see small businesses and creatives supported in these posts- I love to shop local as much as I can (but am also known to search Amazon, too).
However, I personally prefer to gift experiences that allow families and friends to enjoy the gift of time together. “The gift of time” is both one of my favorite phrases and one of my firmest beliefs; I truly believe that the one of the greatest gifts we can give someone is to spend time with them. So this week, we’re updating an old post offering suggestions of experience to gift your families and friends in the hopes you’ll be able to carve out time to spend together. #priceless.
Read More Holiday Gift Guide 2024: The Gift of Time
art | art museums | Canada | City Guide | family travel | history | Quebec
City Guide: 11 Places to Explore in Old Québec City during the Winter
ByJennRecord October 8, 2024October 7, 2024
Last year, we were fortunate to spend during the December break exploring the beautiful city of in Old Québec City. The port town is filled with rich history, vibrant culture, inviting people, and tons of family friendly attractions. Algonquin for “where the river narrows” , the area now know as Québec was first founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The land is on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River and provided ideal access to transport good to various parts of Canada. While the city is bustling with activity all year long, winter is an especially good time to visit- the city is still decorated for the holidays well into the new year and there are plenty of outdoor adventures to enjoy (with or without snow).
Read More City Guide: 11 Places to Explore in Old Québec City during the Winter