The People Mover to Tour Detroit

Detroit People Mover

Ages- 4 and up

Cost- $0.75/person

Locations- Station Guide (stations are in a circle; you can ride around the whole thing)

Parking- You can park at any of the stations, but parking tickets are now $45.  I’d park at the Joe or 

Cobo, easy in, easy out.

Other attractions nearby- You can access anything in downtown: Comerica/Ford Field, the museums, Wayne State, Renaissance Center, and the riverfront.

Places to eat nearby- If you click on the Station Guide, you will find all the stations.  Each station is listed with the places to eat nearby.

Why to go there: It is a great way to experience the city.  Detroit does not have any double-decker red buses cruising around, but it does have the people mover, an object of derision because of its simplicity.  It is

a little bit run down, but my kids, who have been visiting Detroit frequently over the last year, were able to point out many of the places we’d been.  There also is a tunnel.

Max and Will, both 4, love trains, so they really enjoyed just riding on one.  Compared to the $100 I spent to see Thomas the Train show, I’d say they liked the People Mover way better.

The best part of the day was the smile my son, Will, who has been saying he’d like to live in New York City since he was 2, had on his face throughout the ride.  He pointed to the Ren Cen and asked, “can we live there, Daddy?”

For a person who wants his kids to love cities, that was magic.

What to do before hand: History of Detroit, things to do there, and why cities are important.  Read up on the different sites you will see so you can talk to the kids about them.  Bring quarters and single dollars (for parking and tickets to the People Mover).

Be careful:  Park somewhere you can pay an attendant.

Summary:  Under $5 for a family of 5 to see Detroit.  One of my kids’ favorite activities this summer.

How To Train Your Dragon II: Movie Review

How To Train a Dragon II Review

from dippost.com

Ages:  4-10 (there are a few scary parts and frightening bad guys).  If your kids have been raised on PBS, Disney, and Nick Jr, 4 is the youngest I would go.

 Summary- Hiccup, the dragon trainer and adolescent introvert, stumbles upon a bad guy trying to take over the world with dragons (and hurting them while he does it).  Hiccup also finds his mother.  Lots of action and fighting ensue.  A tragic death, a boy’s rise to become a man and a leader of his people, and a friendship for the ages all are included.  Funny parts too, with all of Hiccup’s friends.

Opinion- When I got see a movie, I like to see engagement from the kids.  I also like to see a fast moving story line that will prepare them for future and important story lines.  I also like character development, funniness, and a few jokes for me.  I do not want to see bad messages passed along quietly like everyone has to fall in love, heroes have to be strong, and violence pays off.  I also like good music and cool looking backgrounds.

All of that being said, I thought How To Train a Dragon II delivered.  I hadn’t seen the first one, so that took a few minutes with the medieval names and all the dragons.  The kids and I picked things up pretty quickly.

The story introduced who the characters were in an exciting way.  I liked the themes of respecting nature and animals (in this case, dragons).  Though “finding your birth mom” is as old as the hills, it was okay in this one, as it was a manner to explore how to respect nature.

I also liked the way Hiccup, the main character, tried to “talk things out.”  We could use a little more talking out in our house.

In terms of connections to future stories, I like the Lion king/Hamlet rise of Hiccup and Toothless (Hiccup’s dragon).  I’d love to see a national leader like Hiccup.

A side comment: I’ve seen 3D movies now several times (this one wasn’t).  I like the backdrops and the artistic flair of this movie far more than any 3D movie I have seen this year.  Cool colors, lots of depth.

Hiccup and the rest of the characters changes throughout the story.  The funny characters, of course, stay the same and are funny.  Really was able to track that with my 4 year olds.
 

Rating- I had low expectations because I hadn’t seen the first movie.  I thought it ended up to be an energetic and neat movie.  The kids were totally into it.

Official Preview from Youtube

Updates on the Detroit Zoo Tips- June 2014

Visited Detroit Zoo on Father's Day and Royal Oak Brewery for dinner.  Good time.  Here's some tips.

• Get the full package with all of the attractions, even adults.  We enjoyed the Rio show and Journey to the Center of the Earth (well, a few of us got a little nauseous, but the kids loved it).  We rode the train to the back to start the day and walked toward the front.  Good move.  We also loved the carousel.
• You can take strollers on train, despite the signs that say otherwise.  I had to run to the back to catch up to the train and the back train station is not clearly identified.
• Canvas shoes are cool for pics.  Not cool for walking around the zoo.  Big blisters.  Will, one of my twin boys, had to take his shoes off for almost 2 hours.  A little unsanitary, but his blister was bulging.
• Wild Kratts watching enhanced the zoo experience. 
• Bring your own waters.  They are plenty of places to fill up the water.   Waters there cost $3.
• Sunscreen a must.  I suggest shades for adults and hats for kids.
• Now that the youngest in the group is 4, a lot more fun.
• Lions, peacocks, and rhinos were big hits.
• Royal Oak Brewery has good kids' food, nice bathrooms, and Korean tacos.  
• 3 hours is all you need to make the rounds.

Specific questions?  You always can email me.

Toledo Zoo

Toledo Zoo- https://www.toledozoo.org/

Ages- 4 and up

Cost- Under 2 Years FREE             Children (under 12) $12.00           Adults $15.00

Seniors $12.00                                   ($2 off for Lucas County)

They also have memberships detailed here

Location- 2 Hippo Way, Toledo, OH 43609- (419) 385-4040

Parking- $7 per vehicle
Members must present a Toledo Zoo membership card to receive free parking in the Anthony Wayne Trail lot.
*When the parking lot is at high capacity, a Zoo parking shuttle may be in service to transport visitors to the main entrance.

$15 for RVs, campers, motor coaches or any vehicle that takes up more than one parking space.
* Please note that large vehicles may be asked to park in the rear of the parking lot.

$7 per school bus used for pre-registered field trips

Other attractions nearby- Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Imagination Station (hands-on museum), Fossil Park in Sylvania, Sandpiper Cruise,  and Toledo Firefighters Museum.

Places to eat nearby- Places to eat at the zoo, Mancy’s (steakhouse), Old Spaghetti Warehouse, Scrambler Marie’s (breakfast/lunch), Charlie’s Pizza and Italian, and Sakura (Japanese).

Why to go there: It is a massive zoo that feels bigger than the Detroit Zoo.  It has over 5300 animals representing over 750 species.  The architecture makes it feel like an old city zoo.  There are lots of programs and interactive things to do.  The Lights Before Christmas have been epic since I was a kid.  For me, it is a long drive, but worth it, once I got there.  Oh..and the carousel.

What to do before hand: Their website is very interactive, with a lot of things about which you can chat and think before you go.  The most interesting is the animal cams.  Check out what other things you want to do.

Be careful:  There is a ton of walking.  It is pretty pricey.  It is packed on weekends.  If your kids are little, bring the stroller.

Summary:  If you live south of 94 in Michigan, it is well worth the trip.  If you live further up, once a year (maybe in winter) would be fun.

Detroit Historical Society Museum

Detroit Historical Museum

    

Ages- 4 and up

Cost- Free

Location- 5401 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202- Phone- 313.833.1805

Parking- On site or across the street at the Park Shelton ($5)

Other attractions nearby- DIA is across the street; Wayne State campus surrounds the museum; Wayne State Center for Creative Studies; and Detroit Public Library is next door.

Places to eat nearby- Circa (bar and grill)- walking distance, Slow’s BBQ- 10 mins drive, Union Street- 5 min drive, Mexican Village- 10 mins drive, several eateries on Wayne State’s Campus  

Why to go there: They have a great number of exhibits, all accessible and appropriate for children starting at age 4.  The basement permanently features two sure-fire hits.  The first is 1800s Detroit streets.  Barbershop, candy shop, and cobbler all with replicas.  The second is the train set, which kids can manipulate from controls.  They have a working assembly line and the Kid Rock music lab.  It is free.  The only cost is parking.

What to do before hand: To go the website and find the new exhibits.  Talk to the kids about the history they are going to experience.  It also is understandable to children.

Be careful:  Arrive early, parking fills up.  Plan your eating (no easily accessible restaurants).

Summary:  An annual “must do” for our family.  It is living history.