Conference moira::parenting_v3

Has AJ ever ridden the train or the subway?  Most kids think it's a lot of 
fun.

Take the train to Boston, or drive to Alweife Station (Cambridge) and take the 
subway in.  If you take take the subway, you get a very nice view of the 
Charles River.  Once in Boston, you can browse around on the Boston Common or 
have a picnic on the esplanade, and watch the sailboats, weather permitting, 
of course.

Check your local library.  Many of them have FREE admission passes to the 
New England Aquarium or the Museum of Science available on a first-come, 
first-served basis.

You can also get reduced admission, through Digital Employee Activities to 
many attractions.

Clay    

While on the red line, stop off at the Kendall Square subway stop.  There
are wonderful chimes.  I think a grownup would probably need to work
the lever, but it is interesting "subway art".  The chimes are hanging
between the trains, but the lever is on the wall.  It takes maybe 20 times
swinging the fairly heavy lever back and forth and then the chimes start
to sound.  The music they make is marvelous.

Well, if you're not interested in swimming, the beach might be a great place
to go for a day.  It wouldn't be crowded like in the summer, you could bring 
a picnic, a kite - these autumn winds might be great for kite flying, frisbees,
balls etcetera.  Or just walk and collect shells and stones, and other flotsam
& jetsom.  When my sisters and I were kids, we lived near Plum Island and went
there off-season quite often.  More often than in the summer in fact.  We could
run around and be as wild as we pleased, and jumping off edges of the sand dunes
was always fun.  Plus there was the reservation area there with the boardwalk 
thru various areas - marshes on one side of the road, woods and dunes on the 
other, and the observation tower.  And then you can always head over to 
Newburyport after you're done with the beach for a lunch, supper, or snack 
somewhere.  The beach can be very cool and breezy now, so bring warm sweaters,
and jackets, scarves and or hats to bundle up with - you can add & subtract 
layers as needed.

Boston is great can also be fun.  I like those chimes at the Kendall Square 
station too.

Leslie

    Thanks for all the ideas so far, I am looking forward to some NON work
    days!  As a former 'burb of Boston Brat maybe it is time to show our
    son some of the neigborhoods his mom grew up in.  It was within
    walking distance of Aleweif station, Powder House Park, Tufts U.  We
    did do the swan boats when he was almost 2, and had a ball feeding the
    birds and ducks, maybe it is time for a replay, although I suspect the
    swanboats are put away for the season.  We could always do a Bailey's
    sundae..... (memories...!!!)
    
    Does anyone have any input on the Hudson Valley area of NY state,
    and/or the Upstate area.  We used to do the wineries in the Hudson
    Valley, pre AJ, and wonder if it would be inappropriate taking him to
    some of those, and there are some mansions to tour as well.
    
    Picture opportunities would be welcome ideas, my husband is very
    heavily into photography, and I usually have an eye for good photo
    shots, any where in the northeast would do.
    
    Thanks, I'm getting psyced already!!
    Lyn                                                       

    >Does anyone have any input on the Hudson Valley area of NY state,
    >and/or the Upstate area.  We used to do the wineries in the Hudson
    >Valley, pre AJ, and wonder if it would be inappropriate taking him to
    >some of those, and there are some mansions to tour as well.
    
     I grew up in Columbia County and there's a beautiful mansion called
    Olana just south of Hudson, NY. It's open to the public. The grounds
    are large and pretty in case AJ isn't into the indoor side of things.
    I think that there are some easy walking trails.  I'm pretty sure it's 
    on route 23. 

    If you really want to travel and have nice sightseeing views. Travel to
    the White Mtn. region in New Hampshire.  There are alot of attractions
    up there and some are still open at this time year. The motel rates are
    quite cheap this time of year up there.  The views are breathtaking
    and the foliage is fantastic. There are kids attractions like Storyland 
    and Santa's village. And Tram rides. I could  go on and on. We took our
    little one there over the summer and she had a ball. 
    
    Sandy

    Re .6 -- Story Land may be closed for the season, but I think
    Santa's Village may still be in full swing -- provided AJ won't
    get so totally psyched up about Christmas that he drives you
    crazy with Santa This and Santa That between now and Dec. 25.
    
    How about Cooperstown, N.Y.? The Baseball Hall of Fame is there,
    and there are a lot of other attractions nearby -- working farms,
    historic houses, etc.  Again, the word from this corner is CALL
    FIRST.  
    
    Old Mystic Seaport in COnnecticut might be fun, too.  I've never
    been, but I do like the Connecticut shore and the Mystic Aquarium
    is supposed to be terrific.  This could be done in a day, but it
    might be pretty tiring.  Since it is off-season and you are going
    midweek, you may be able to find some wonderful hotel bargains so
    you could stay overnight and really relax and enjoy yourselves.
    The Pocono mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania are very nice,
    too -- this is definitely an overnight trip, but foliage is probably
    still nice there.

    Mystic Seaport is wonderful....but pretty pricey.  We went there
    for a day this summer and it was $24 per adult for admission!!
    If you're interested in going there, you might want to call to 
    see if they have off-season rates before you drive all the way
    down.
    
    How about Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA?  I love borrowing a
    kid or two and going.  If you want to do an over-night, you can
    then go to Plymouth and go to Cranberry World (Ocean Spray) and
    also see "the big boat in the water" (as the kids call it) too.  
    
    Conni
    

    
    I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard Edaville RR closed!
    

    OK, I'm baaaack!! and guess what, we really didn't do much of anything!
    But..... the next vacation is already in the works, the week of
    Thanksgiving, and I've already stockpiled all the ideas.
    
    What did we do you ask?  Well, we sent him to preschool as usual, maybe
    a little later than usual, but hubby and I had time for US, as adults. 
    We did breakfast, just the two of us, shopping for some things for the
    house, just us, with no "put that down, don't touch", it was wonderful!
    Am I being selfish, feeling guilty for not including him, YUP!
    
    My guilt finally got to me over the weekend, so I took him to a great
    playground in an ajoining town, and what did my charming child do?  He
    fell three feel off a tube slide and ended up with stitches, and an
    afternoon at the emergency room, complete with ambulance ride and
    spinal immobilization precautions!  Next day we visited the pedi with
    ear and eye infection, it was wonderful.  The only namable thing we did
    do was the children's museum in Acton with his preschool yesterday.
    
    Oh well, we'll try again in a couple weeks, so keep the ideas coming!
    Plus we always take the days between Christmas and New Years off.
    
    Meanwhile, he's discovered the Service Merchandise flyer with the 24
    pages of Christmas toys, he wants One Of Everything!!
    
    Lyn