The Three Hits of X-Mas Part Three: Going Godzilla for Quadrilla

     About three weeks before Christmas I took Jackson to my favorite toy store to see if we were missing anything he might like. By the end of the visit I was pretty sure I was going to need a tranquilizer dart gun when it was time to make our exit.  At The Dancing Bear my son encountered his favorite marble run ever. Quadrilla!! Jack is the proud owner of a few plastic marble runs that he had gotten hours and hour of entertainment building and watching, tearing down and building again. A Quadrilla marble run however is the major league of marble runs.

Jack's Red Rider BB Gun for 2010

     Manufactured by Manhattan Toys Quadrilla is a toy that I imagine will be in the family for generations to come. It's sturdy construction and multiple assembly options completely justifies the rather expensive price tag that comes along with it.

     Initially the 105 piece Twist set we selected can seem daunting to construct, especially when a hyped up 3 ½ year old bouncing on your back and screaming for you to hurry up. After a few attempts however it becomes quite easy, even enjoyable for Mom or Dad to put together. After a few dozen times you begin to see the educational value of the toy.

Every Configuration Brings The Same Smile

     For lack of a better term Jackson's engineering imagination began to take hold in a way I had never seen before. If I placed one of the color coded pieces in the wrong place, he would be there to point it out. When something isn't quite right he follows the marbles very closely and helps adjust the imperfection.

     This toy is without a doubt a 10 out of 10. One of the best investments we have made for our child thus far, swing by your local toy store to check one out.

The UTZ Potato Chip Factory

     

      For us and parents through out the land potty training our boy has been a total nightmare, um adventure. So when he started to turn the corner we decided to reward him with a better than average potty treat.

     One of the tools we used to get him interested in even sitting on the toilet was our laptop and YouTube. For hours a day Jack and I sat and watched uploads of railroad crossings and episodes of How It's Made. You know, like the end of Mister Rogers where he showed us of a video of where things came from. Jack and I can tell you how pencils are made, crayons, gold chains, ATV's, Modulated homes etc...etc.

     Sometimes during the most mundane moments, such as me eating potato chips in front of the boy our best idea are given to us. “How are potato chips made?” Jack asked enthusiastically. Light Bulb! “Would you like to see how they are made..up close” I asked “Yes!!” Jack replied as he gasped.  So we made a potty chart, and when he gave us five #2's we would go to see how potato chips are made.   

     This trip really depended on locale, we are located less than an hour from Hanover Pa, home of UTZ potato chips and Snyders Pretzels. Ultimately I chose UTZ's b/c you have to schedule a tour at Snyders and UTZ had a self guided gallery tour, that was free of charge.

A very unassuming entrance adds an element of authenticity.

     The facility itself can be a little hard to find in Hanover, a classic blue collar Pennsylvania town with spectacular Victorian style houses at the city center with it's major manufacturing facilities dotted on the out skirts. One wrong turn and you will find yourself heading into farm country and you'll know you've headed the wrong way. (I got lost).

     The facility is straight forward and small. In fact they have only two dedicated parking spaces for the tour itself. The entrance has a small display of the original potato slicer the Utz's used to make chips in their summer home back in 1921. On the 2^nd floor there is another small display that showcases the history of the Utz Chip and the products they make. There is no one to greet you, they are not kidding when they say “Self Guided”.

     The tour leads you to the observation gallery where you see the Potato chip process from the raw unpeeled potato to the warehouse the chips are stored for shipping. To an adult no big deal. But to our boy it was amazing. He stood for the 1^st few minutes wide eyed as he watched the workers sort the potato's put them on the conveyor belt, into the slicer, on to the fryer, up the tiny elevators, under the flavor sorter and into the different bags. He liked it so much he went back and forth to watch the process a couple of times. After about 15 minutes he had had enough and wanted to go back to the car. On the way out you can pick up a free sample of regular Utz chips. And home we went. A nice half day trip, no stress.  If I could some it up in one word, it would be Authentic.

Jackson Enjoying His Free Sample

      Now before you say it to yourself let me offer that this may not be the most exciting idea for a day trip. But you would be surprised at how rewarding it was to see his face watching things happen. And this is a great trip to spark your child's curiosity.

     If you live in the D.C. Area I wouldn't suggest you make the trip just for the tour. But you can easily combine it with a trip to Gettysburg National Battlefield or the outlet mall nearby. For those of you that have a Mommies group, you can schedule a tour with Snyders for the same day to get more bang for your buck.

     For others that are further away, what do they make near you? Is there a product you have always enjoyed? Most likely they offer some sort of tour, and it's just as likely that the offer it for free.

    These tours are a great way to connect your children with your local history and culture without putting a dent in the wallet.  So look around with them, see what you find with them, and explore with them.

Only a Few Days Left For Xmas Myrth.

Only a few days to go until Christmas Day and if you have you stuff together than you have most of your shopping done, and are making plans to entertain family.  Heck maybe you will manage a few afternoons off if things are slow at the office.  This is a great time to find those hidden treasures that are out there in the Baltimore/Washington area.  I will Highlight a few that The Traveling Tots try to make annual pilgrimages to.

Today...The Festival of Light at the Mormon Temple.

Located just outside of Washington D.C. the Temple is one of the most unique sights on the capital beltway.  Every year the Temple sponsors a free light display that rivals any of the drive thru pay displays.  Located near my childhood home this destination was a yearly event for my family and though I live a little farther away these days I try to make it down every year. 

The display is quite vibrant, yet markedly humble.  No gaudy blinking Santa lights, or synchronized dancing lights broadcast from a low F.M.  It is an appropriate tribute to the beauty of the season and the warmness of the temples followers.  Parking is free and usually organized well.  You do have to drive through a residential neighbor hood so please be respectful!!

I also recommend the visitor center which has a Christmas Tree display from LDS temples around the region.  There is also a well done museum outlining the history if the LDS Church.  I have never been approached by a volunteer and been solicited to join their faith, so I suggest leaving stereotypes at the door and just enjoy the spirit of the holidays.    

If you get there early they have top notch choirs perform nightly as well.  All is all this is one of the quintessential local D.C. experiences for family to enjoy.  And it's Free!!!

Here are the directions:

DC LDS Temple

And here is official website with a list of performers:

http://dctemplelights.lds.org/

Attraction Rating: 8 out of 10

Experience Rating 9 out of 10

Driving on Ice to see ICE!! at the National Harbor

     My wife Becky and I like to think of ourselves as experts on traveling with children.  We have one trip to New Orleans, dozens of trips to local destinations without so much as a flat tire, or forgotten necessity for the children in 3 plus years of child rearing. 

      Two things snuck up and chomped us right in the tooshies this week. 1.) Always check the weather in the winter before buying the tickets. 2.) NEVER!! EVER!! Let them get hungry.

       This past Thursday the wife I took the Travelin Tots to see ICE!! at the Gaylord hotel in the National Harbor.  For those of you not blessed to live the Washington D.C. area and equally blessed not to have driven the Capital Beltway a killer mistake a traveler can make is not checking the weather when you purchase non-refundable tickets to an event that is on the opposite end of the beltway. 

        What was supposed to be a light dusting of winter weather quickly turned into a two inch slushy mix.  Being a life long D.C. resident I quickly recognized the dilemma and sped up the preparation for our 1 P.M. entrance time.  We figured a two hour head start from Frederick Maryland to the National Harbor in D.C. was a good bet. 

Fail!

    Snow fall + Idiots + Construction on the VA side of the of the Beltway = a two hour trip in what was supposed to be non-rush hour traffic.  Can someone tell me why the VA side of the beltway always looks like Optimus Prime and Megatron just fought it out in a lame slow motion fight sequence?

     After getting to the Gaylord, well after our entrance time we rushed into the facility to find that we had made the right call by going on a weekday.  500 feet of empty serpentine ropes and foreboding signs approximating wait times cheered our effort.

     As we approached the entrance we were given a bright blue Parka which, which no matter how many layers you have worn is completely necessary.  For such an ordeal ICE seemed smaller than I expected.  However the event was a huge hit with our 3 Y.O. Jackson. 

     

     The artistry was impressive and the slides were super cool.  It would have been better if the slides were closer to the end of the display b/c it  wound up being very difficult entice Jackson out of the room.

     Upon exiting the exhibit failure#2 reared it’s ugly head.  Jack had had a small breakfast b/c of the rush getting on the road, and it was now 2pm. Never ever allow such stimulation and hunger to intersect in your travel plans.  The temper tantrum was a top ten episode in the life of our child.  After 25 minutes of calming him down we had to do something I never wanted to do again.  Eat at the Gaylord.  For those of you that have not to have done this…Don’t!!  Pack a lunch.  Two adult meals at a small coffee shop $30.16.  But it did allow us time to enjoy the fountain and the lovely view of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. 

     If you follow this experience up with a slow slog through rush hour traffic that put another 2 ½ hours on our “half day trip” and you get some tired cranky parents and two sleeping children upon arrival at home.

Overall Rating

Attraction: 7 out of 10     ICE at the Gaylord National Harbor

Experience: 6 out of 10

National Harbor: 5 out of 10