Follow Us to Emus and Apples: Belkin Lookout Farm, Natick, MA

Follow us to Emus and Apple
Belkin Lookout Farm
89 Pleasan Street
Natick, MA

Reasons to venture:

• Trains, trains, everywhere. Lij was in heaven with a train to the orchards and a caterpillar kiddie train when you get there.
• Emus, really. I mean emus, and cows, goats, and donkeys. Don't forget the poney rides too.
  
• Ok, it's gonna be $52 for the four of us next fall when he turns 2, WITHOUT APPLES!!! but, they did throw in free pumpkins.

When did picking apples become an international event?

Fall Foliage Fiesta: Callahan State Park, Framingham, MA

Fall Foliage Fiesta
Callahan State Park
Millwood Road
Framingham, MA
Reasons to venture:

• Sunday afternoon on the coach with Pats vs. Bucs (0-6) or a little fall foliage?
• 7 miles of trails in Metro West and no one there on a perfect fall day.
• Stop in at Sichuan Gourmet on the way home, our fav chinese in the burbs and see if you can brave the spicy cold bamboo.

Where do you go to get your foliage on?

High Plains Drifters: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie,Wilmington, IL

High Plains Drifters: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
30239 South State Route 53
Wilmington, IL
Reasons to venture:

• Who doesn't need a little time on the prairie with their kids?
• Only an hour from Chicago with over 18 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horse back riding.
• Support the end of the Cold War where ammunitions factories have been replaced by tall grass. If only every military base could look like this some day for our kids

Favorite Big Sky activity?

Art, Indoors and Out: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL

Art, Indoors and Out: The Chicago Art Institute
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL

Reasons to venture:

• The New modern wing is spectacular... and a great place to run your toddler 'till he drops.
• The giant bean at Millenium Park is just one of the kid-friendly sculptures lining the grounds.
• Take the El over the marathon route, the T never gave you this good a bird's eye view.

Where do you like to take your kids to get their art on?

Sliding Glass Doors for Great Apes: The Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL

Sliding Glass Doors for Great Apes
The Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL

Reasons to venture:

• We are picky about our zoos and this was clean, up close and personal and had plenty of opps for well-fed animals to get out and run around.
• The carousel of endangered species was old-timey and faaaaassssst.
• Did I mention it's free?
• Throw in a trip cross town for the kielbasa of your life at Jim's Original. The kids will down the Chicago style hot dogs (hold the hot peppers for your kids) and the tasty fries.

Best Zoo in the U.S.?

Giant Bugs, Stuffed Owls and a T Rex: The Museum of Science, Boston, MA

Giant Bugs, Stuffed Owls and a T Rex
The Museum of Science
1 Science Park
Boston, MA

Reasons to venture:

• There is a little something for all ages... demonstrations with live owls for the older ones and hatching chicks to watch for the younger ones.
• The Laser Light Show may be a little old for my kiddos, but what amazing stuff for tweens and teens.
• The best in national traveling exhibits. We hit Frogs: A Chorus of Colors this summer, and have been to Darwin and Baseball in the past few years. With Harry Potter in the batter's box, how can you go wrong.

What's your favorite way to spend a rainy Saturday in Beantown?