Touring Buckingham Palace, Royal Mews, and Queen's Gallery

I have a bit of a history bringing my children to Buckingham Palace. Our first visit ended like this and included Big Arrow getting his head stuck in the gate.

A photo posted by Nicole Wiltrout (@arrowssentforth) on Sep 16, 2015 at 11:44pm PDT

Memories of London's Paddington Trail

My husband first learned of our opportunity to live here in England on a business trip 2 years ago. He spent his last night of the trip in London, and wandered over to Hamley’s to buy the boys each a little gift. He was hoping to get them excited about our potential British adventures. His present to Little Arrow was a small Paddington Bear stuffed animal, and it has sat on a shelf in his room ever since. 

Beyond that bear, the boys were basically oblivious to Paddington. Let’s be honest, he doesn’t have quite the modern appeal of Frozen, Harry Potter, or the current favorite at our house, Lego Ninjago (ugh).

But I saw the trailer for the new Paddington Bear movie a few months ago, and I knew I absolutely had to introduce one of Britain’s most iconic and beloved children’s characters to my kids. In fact, when we went to see the film a few weeks ago, it was Little Arrow’s first time at the cinema. They adored it from the opening scene to the credits and now they’re hooked on all things Paddington. I’m excited to start reading the books with them.

Our Christmas Eve day trip to London came at the tail end of a temporary exhibit of more than 50 Paddington Bear sculptures around the city, called the Paddington Trail. Each was uniquely designed by a celebrity and Big Arrow quickly made it a goal to see as many as possible throughout the day. Fortunately several of them were along our planned route for the day so we were happy to indulge him.

Oslo Opera House

Most guidebooks and knowledgeable people would tell you that Oslo's Opera House is the city's "must-do" attraction. In fact, its nearly impossible to avoid it, given its prime real estate along the Bjorvika harbor. 

Vigeland Sculpture Park

I have probably mentioned before that while I love art, I know so very little about it. There are some cities so closely tied to a particular artist that I find myself longing to learn more after visiting (Barcelona and Gaudi, for example). That's exactly how I felt about Gustav Vigeland after exploring his work throughout Oslo. I'll admit to having never even heard of him before I started researching the city. But his brilliance is inescapable when you visit Oslo.

Minted.com Review and Giveaway

I am far from an interior decorator, but I do enjoy adorning my walls with travel memories. My dining room features a canvas print of this picture. My living room is decked out in photos I have taken on various trips to Europe. My hallway has black and white prints from Paris. When we decorated Big Arrow's big boy room, we chose airplanes as a theme. We use a blanket my husband got in India as our bedspread. I love to be inspired by and reminded of travel adventures all over my home.

Because of our upcoming move to England, one of my goals for 2013 has been to be braver. I know this experience will force me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. But I want to embrace the experience with open arms. When else in our lives will we have this chance? One way to encourage this is to, once again, surround myself with positive messages.

So when minted.com (you might know the site as a popular place for wedding invitations) contacted me to host a review and giveaway, the first thing I did was type "travel" into their search feature. When this print popped up, I knew it had to be the first thing to hang on the walls of our new home in England:

Artsy Travel Memories

Just like I can never pass up a photo opportunity with a beautiful flower, there's rarely a piece of public art that I walk by on our travels that I don't snap a picture of. Perhaps I just appreciate their stillness, when I'm usually trying to grab a shot of a running 3-year-old or a baby who refuses to look at the camera and smile.

But I think these beautiful sculptures, statues and landmarks are worthy of their photo moment. Here are a few of my favorites.

Found outside the Field Museum on the grounds of the Museum Campus in Chicago:

In downtown St. Petersburg, Florida:

Outside the University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor, Michigan:

I only wish I knew more about these pieces. But did I mention the 3-year-old and the baby? Doesn't leave much time for delving into the finer points of art history as we walk around.

Speaking of not having much time, we're off for a week on the lake in Michigan next week (the first of two trips this month to our neighbor state to the north!) I won't be blogging until we get back, but I'll try to update Facebook and Twitter with tales of our adventure there, so be sure you're following.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

A Day in Bloomington, Indiana

This spring we spent a day in one of my favorite Indiana towns, Bloomington. While it's best known as the home of Indiana University, it's a lovely spot to leisurely wander. So I wrote descriptions of some of my favorite walks around Bloomington for Visit Indiana here.

Our morning was full of science fun at WonderLab, the children's science museum in town. And for lunch we did up Yogi's, a Bloomington staple.

But our afternoon was my favorite part of the day. We tucked Little Arrow in the Ergo* to snooze away, and let Big Arrow skip, hop, run, walk, and ride on dad's shoulders as we made our way through IU's beautiful campus.

Talk a walk with us, won't you?

My husband showing Big Arrow his old stomping grounds, the graduate business school building.

Love the old limestone buildings...

... constrasted with modern public art.

This isn't our first trek through a college campus. We've walked around Notre Dame and Harvard, too. Maybe it'll inspire both Arrows to higher study someday!

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

*Affiliate link.

Tips for Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago with Kids

One of my most rebellious moments in high school came during a field trip to Chicago with my art class. We were supposed to spend the day at the Art Institute of Chicago. The moment we learned our teacher was leaving us completely unsupervised, we ditched the museum and explored the city streets, a la Ferris Buehler playing hookie from school (although he actually ventured inside this museum...)

Fast forward a few years (ok, more than a few), a slightly more mature cultural awareness, and a couple of kids. As I was planning some upcoming weekend trips to Chicago, I asked for kid-friendly ideas from my traveling friends. Jessica from Suitcases and Sippy Cups said her family had fun at the Art Institute of Chicago (and she's got her own great tips for a visit, including these flash cards), so I decided to give it another go.

During one of our trips to Chicago this year, my husband and I were traveling only with Little Arrow (at the time, 4 months), so I thought this was the perfect time to explore the Art Institute. Without Big Arrow, we didn't get the full "visit with kids" experience, but we spent a lot of time checking out the Ryan Education Center. I have to say, never have I missed Big Arrow more than while we were here. He would have loved everything, from curling up with a fun, art-inspired book in the Vitale Family Room, to touching art in the Elizabeth Morse Touch Gallery, to getting crafty in the art studio.

Vitale Family Room in the Ryan Education Center

Here are some tips if you're visiting the Art Institute of Chicago with kids:

• Read the Art Institute of Chicago's family visit planning guide. It's full of really useful info and will help you better determine what you should do during your visit depending on the ages and interests of your kids. There are family-friendly tours, tips for checking out the galleries, and advice for looking at art with your kids.
• Invest in a Chicago CityPass.* The Ryan Education Center is free (that's a STEAL, people!) but if you want to explore any of the galleries (and you should), you'll need to purchase admission for anyone in your family 14 and older. A Chicago CityPass greatly reduces your admittance cost (and gets you into a lot of other great Chicago attractions at reduced cost, like the Museum of Science and Industry and the Museum Campus attractions).
• Tag team with your traveling partner. If you bring your spouse, friend or a grandparent along on your travels, you could spend even more time in the galleries by trading off with another adult (one stays with the kids in the family area, while the other enjoys the rest of the museum, then you switch).
• Introduce some of the famous pieces to your kids in advance of your trip. I laughed out loud (sorry, fellow art patrons!) when I saw Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grande Jatte at the Art Institute. I can't tell you how many times Big Arrow and I have read Baby Einstein's Master Pieces,* and that's the painting on the final page of this book. He would have been so excited to see it in person. There are a lot of other extremely famous and well known paintings (like American Gothic and Nighthawks) that you could show your kids and discuss. There's also this suggested list of children's books.

Seurat's Sunday Afternoon

• Wear the kids out before or after by visiting Millennium Park. Just north of the Art Institute is this iconic Chicago park. And the best part for parents is that there is ample room for kids to run around (especially as you get further away from some of the popular attractions there, like the Cloud Gate sculpture). Just south of the Art Institute is Grant Park, another great Chicago landmark. This kind of green space is rare in a city so large, so use it to your advantage!
• Time your visit to experience some hands-on learning in the art studio. A calendar is available here. The kids we saw were having so much fun that I wanted to join in, but thought it might seem a bit awkward since Little Arrow is a little young for finger paint.

Artist's Studio, overlooking Millennium Park

In my opinion, the Art Institute of Chicago is a model for making visits to a more adult-oriented museum not just family friendly, but family fun. I'm glad I've grown a little wiser since my high school days.

If You Visit:
Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Open 10:30-5 daily except Thursdays when it closes at 8 p.m.
Adult admission: $18 (children 14 and up is $12, under 14 is FREE)

This post is a part of Travel Tips Tuesday at Suitcases and Sippy Cups and Walking On Travels.


* Affiliate links.

Tips for Visiting Chicago's Museum Campus

I mentioned last week that I'm Expedia's Kids in the City Chicago representative. You can read my write-up on some of Chicago's highlights here. You'll notice that I lead with Chicago's world-class museums. Chicago's museums rival any you'll find around the world. And three of the best are clustered within the Museum Campus.

At this lakeside area of downtown Chicago, you'll find the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. While each of these museums could easily fill a day in their own right, you can also take advantage of their close proximity and hit a couple in one day. Here are some more tips for visiting Chicago's Museum Campus:

• Make time to explore the park land surrounding the campus. The grounds are really breathtaking, beautifully landscaped, and truly an attraction themselves. You'll be right along the lake with the towering skyscrapers of the Chicago skyline as your backdrop. It's a great spot for pictures!

• Pack a picnic. The best way to enjoy this area would be to dine outside. Sure, each of the museums has a cafeteria, and that's a great option if the weather is lousy. But I'd recommend picking up some food at the Trader Joe's along Roosevelt, or in a town known for its hot dogs, order this Chicago specialty at any of the many carts around the campus.
• Go to Shedd Aquarium first. If this great aquarium is on your must-see list, then make that your first stop. The entrance lines can get extremely long as the day progresses, particularly on the weekends.

By 11 a.m., the entrance line to Shedd was already stretched outside the building.

• Get a Chicago CityPASS.* Speaking of lines, you can avoid ticket lines altogether by getting a CityPASS. Plus, you'll save considerably on admission to all three Museum Campus attractions. It's valid for 9 days so you can spread out your museum visits. 
• Take public transportation. There's an 'L' station two blocks from the Museum Campus on Roosevelt, and the red, orange and green lines all stop here. (There are parking lots throughout the campus, with the bulk of parking available at Soldier Field. But the 'L' is much cheaper.) By taking the train, you'll also get to see Agora, a famous and whimsical sculpture that you'll pass as you walk from the station to the Museum Campus.

Agora near the Museum Campus

Want to hear more of my thoughts on Chicago? Watch the video below, where I chat about my top 5 things to do in Chicago with kids. You can bet the Museum Campus made the list!

Be sure to check out the other cities profiled in Expedia's Kids in the City campaign. In addition to their general write-ups and videos on Expedia's page, each blogger is also offering up more specific info on their city at their own blog. So far, the following cities have been featured, with more to come in the next few days. (I'll continue to update this post with additional links.)

• Philadelphia at The Mother of All Trips
• San Francisco at Ciao Bambino!
• Denver at The Vacation Gals
• New York City at NYCityMama
• Boston at Ciao Bambino!
• Washington DC at Poshbrood
• Los Angeles at The Vacation Gals
• San Diego at Travel Mamas
• Minneapolis at The Vacation Gals
• Portland at Pit Stops for Kids
• Seattle at Delicious Baby

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in Expedia's Kids in the City campaign.

*Affiliate link.

Guest Post: Brain Extravaganza in Bloomington, Indiana

I'm a big fan of kid-friendly art. Museums and exhibits that go out of their way to ensure that kids can experience culture right alongside their parents are some of my favorite attractions. For example, we visit 100 Acres at the Indianapolis Museum of Art every summer because the art is both interesting and family-friendly.

So when Matt Herndon, a freelance writer and father of three from Indianapolis, contacted me about writing a guest post previewing a new public art project in nearby Bloomington, Indiana called Brain Extravaganza, I was excited to share this new attraction with all of you. Matt explains why Brain Extravaganza is both fascinating and unique.

BRAIN EXTRAVAGANZA

The human anatomy has been the subject of countless works of art: from the astonishingly beautiful illustrations in Gray’s Anatomy to the morbidly fascinating exhibits from Body Worlds, we have used art as a way to better understand our bodies. But an art exhibit that’s both interesting and family-friendly can sometimes be hard to find.

Brain scientist Jill Taylor is doing her part with the Brain Extravaganza, a collection of 22 giant fiberglass brains designed by a host of different artists and sponsors. Taylor, a neuroscientist whose study of the human brain included her own self-study after a devastating stroke, wants the exhibit to raise awareness about the role the brain plays in the body, as well as how powerful the organ is.

The exhibit will debut in April of this year, and the decorated brains will be placed on street corners all over Bloomington, Indiana. For residents, visitors, and students who attend Indiana University, the brains will serve as works of art that encourage viewers to see their brains in new ways.

So, how can a parent use the Brain Extravaganza to teach their kids about the brain? And how can a bunch of giant brains be a major attraction?

Thought-provoking art

If I can find an activity that keeps my kids interested and gives them a chance to learn, I feel like I’ve hit a jackpot. And Bloomington is a great town for a short road trip: walking through the streets and examining each brain on a warm spring day could be fun for both kids and parents. The five-foot tall fiberglass brains will be decorated to represent a variety of functions and themes: illnesses like bipolar disorder, or themes like memory and communication. The idea is to inspire viewers to think of the brain in new ways, and to teach them about the millions of tasks the brain performs each day. 

Q&A time

The pieces are also designed to raise awareness of rare brain disorders and diseases—one of the exhibit’s sponsors, IU Health Proton Therapy, is one of less than ten facilities that provide proton therapy for patients suffering from specific brain cancers. While you might not have a common knowledge of brain cancers, or how the brain processes thought in fractions of a second, you could use the trip to discuss the science of the brain with your kids. Try to answer their questions—and, if you don’t know the answer, you could use the opportunity to do some research together to discover the answers. The Brain Extravaganza is designed to be one town-wide conversation piece—and getting kids interested in science is always a good thing.

Bloomington is also home to plenty of other attractions—bookstores and cafés, parks and museums—so if you manage to see every piece of art in the Brain Extravaganza, you’ll have other activities to keep you busy throughout the day.

Thanks Matt! I look forward to taking the Arrows on an art walk around Bloomington this summer and see how many brains we can spot. Brain Extravaganza disappears in October, so be sure to get there in the next 6 months or so.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor.

This is a guest post about an exhibit sponsored by IU Health Proton Therapy. I was not compensated for this post, I simply thought it sounded like something that might be of interest to my fellow Hoosier readers and their families.

Chicago Bound

My husband is heading to Chicago next week for work (and the Arrows and I are tired of being left behind!), so we're tagging along to to visit a few friends, hopefully hit a museum or two, and enjoy a little getaway. It's been over a year since I roamed Chicago with Big Arrow. I'm looking forward to doing it again with both Arrows. Expect to hear more about that soon, but for now I'll post a couple of photos of The Bean, just one of many iconic Chicago landmarks.

Hard to believe Big Arrow was barely walking in this picture! Now he'd probably try to see how many times he could run around it.

You can read more about our visit to Millennium Park here.


What's your favorite thing to do in the Windy City?


This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Chihuly in St. Petersburg

The skies have been pretty gray and dreary around Indiana this week. Which is just fine since I'm mostly snuggled up at home with my two little boys (still getting used to saying two...) But as I stare out the window, I can't help but daydream of our trip to St. Petersburg, Florida last February when we woke up to beautiful sunny skies everyday.

I especially loved the way that sunlight reflected on the beautiful sculpture by Dale Chihuly during our walk around downtown St. Petersburg.

I'm a big fan of Dale Chihuly and would love to go on a world tour of his works of art. Unfortunately Big Arrow wasn't too cooperative when we walked by the exhibit in St. Petersburg so we didn't duck inside to see it all, but at least they had this work outside on display for all to see.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

I know it's been quiet around here lately... I hope to post more in 2012, so be sure to check back! I have several fun adventures to share, like our trip to the Indiana State Museum and our return to Robert's Tree Farm. And I'm happy to report that Little Arrow is a pro at daytrips already! Can't wait to take him on his first vacation. Which just might be a return to sunny Florida this winter.

Native American Baby Wearing

I spent a lot of time researching baby carriers before Little Arrow was born. It was the one thing I wanted to splurge on (turns out some sneaky family members knew all about this and surprised me with my favorite choice, the Ergo Baby Carrier*). Expect to see lots of pictures of Little Arrow tucked inside in the months to come. I already put it to great use on our trip to the Christmas tree farm last week.

While I was in the midst of my research, I happened upon this carrier during my trip to the Eiteljorg Museum. Apparently even Native American parents consider a good carrier essential baby travel equipment!

You can read about my trip to the Eiteljorg Museum here, or see my guest post about the Eiteljorg at Midwest Guest here.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Disclosure: I was invited to tour the Eiteljorg Museum as part of a White River State Park press trip, which included my admission. I was under no obligation to write about my time at the museum, and all opinions expressed are my own.

*Links to my Amazon Affiliate account. A small portion of any sales made through this link will come back to support this blog, but this does not in any way increase the cost of purchase for you.

The Flying V at the NCAA Hall of Champions

Football season is in full gear around here. We're cheering on our favorite teams (c'mon Peyton, we NEED you!), I'm cooking up a big pot of chili this weekend, and our city is even preparing to host the biggest of all football celebrations, the Super Bowl!

Not only is Indy home to this enormous sporting event in February 2012, but it's also where you'll find the NCAA Hall of Champions, a museum dedicated to collegiate sports. This statue will greet you as you enter the museum:

If you know anything about football, you might recognize this formation at the Flying V or Flying Wedge. It's because of the Flying V and it's dangerous impact on the sport that the NCAA was formed. It was causing serious injuries, even deaths, and colleges and universities began to organize in order to address the situation. Soon the NCAA was formed. The Flying V has since been banned in nearly all organized sports. (More about the history of the NCAA is here.)

If you're visiting Indianapolis with kids, particularly those interested in sports, the NCAA Hall of Champions would be a great spot to burn off some energy!

If You Visit:
NCAA Hall of Champions
700 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis
Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5, and Sunday, 12-5.
Adult admission is $5. Kids 5-18 are $3. 5 and under are free.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook! And speaking of fun attractions in Indianapolis, I've got a great giveaway planned for next week if you live in the area. Be sure to check back and enter!

Disclosure: I was invited to tour the NCAA Hall of Champions as part of a White River State Park press trip, which included my admission. I was under no obligation to write about my time at the museum, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Eiteljorg Museum: Inspiring Travels Westward

Last week, Dominique at Midwest Guest (one of my favorite Midwestern travel blogs) offered me the opportunity to guest post. I wrote about my time at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. The Eiteljorg Museum, devoted to Western and Native American art, may seem a little misplaced situated in the center of the Hoosier state. But I loved the way it transported me to an entirely different region of the country.

My post at Midwest Guest provides an overall synopsis of a visitor's experience. And while I would have never guessed it, the Eiteljorg is also very kid-friendly. I hope to take The Arrow to the museum's Western Family Experience and Jingle Rails exhibits in November before Baby Arrow comes.

But what lingers for me, weeks after my afternoon at the Eiteljorg, is a strong pull to visit New Mexico and other regions of the American Southwest. My time in this area of the country is limited--aside from a couple of trips to Phoenix that mostly involved laying around the pool (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

It would be a chance to introduce to The Arrow to scenery so foreign to him. Like the red hills that Georgia O'Keeffe so beautifully depicts here:

Or the pueblo she paints here:

In fact, I love Georgia O'Keeffe's work so much that I really want to plan a trip to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Sante Fe.

And I'd love to get back to Sedona and see images like this by Arturo Antonio Chavez:

What about a night camping in a tipi or wigwam?

It may be quite some time before I make a trip like this out West. For now, at least the Eiteljorg and its spectacular collection of art can take me there in my imagination and introduce even more of our country's unique landscapes and cultures to The Arrow when he visits.

If You Visit:
Eiteljorg Museum
500 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis
Open Monday-Saturday, 10-5 and Sunday 12-5
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for kids 5-17, under 4 are free.
Insider Tip: You can park for free in the White River State Park garage just west of the museum.


This post is a part of Mondays are for Dreaming at The Mother of All Trips. On Wednesday, I'll be posting about the great southwestern food you'll find at the Eiteljorg's Sky City Cafe.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Disclosure: I was invited to tour the Eiteljorg Museum as part of a White River State Park press trip, which included my admission. I was under no obligation to write about my time at the museum, and all opinions expressed are my own.

A Day in Ann Arbor, Michigan Without The Kids

A few weeks ago, my sister called me out of the blue and invited me to join her in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a kid-free overnight (scheduled for the very next day). I'm sure she thought I'd say no, afterall, she's the spontaneous one in the family and this trip required jumping in the car without much thought. Not really my style.

But I hung up the phone and thought, if not now, then when? Baby Arrow's arrival is quickly approaching, and impromptu road trips will become a thing of the past (temporarily, I hope!) My sister and I both have young kids, so the time we spend together is typically consumed by wiping noses, fixing lunches, and desperately trying to get all the kids to nap at the same time (which we are rarely successful at doing). So 24 hours without those obligations and lots of time to chat in the car sounded really good.

Off we went... she was there for a conference, leaving me with several hours in beautiful Ann Arbor to roam and explore on my own. Heaven.

Kerrytown Market

I spent the first couple of hours at Sweetwaters Cafe, a coffee shop in the Kerrytown Market to finish up some writing deadlines that were breathing down my neck. While it sounds a bit boring, any stay-at-home mom will tell you that a couple of hours in a coffee shop is just about the best present you could give her.

From there, I was off to explore the shops themselves. A little too upscale for my taste, but it was fun to browse without worrying about little hands breaking valuables.

Zingerman's

Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor

By now I was hungry for lunch, so I headed to an Ann Arbor institution--Zingerman's. The deli location of this restaurant/mail order business was just a few blocks away from Kerrytown. Read more on my lunch at Zingerman's Deli here.

University of Michigan Museum of Art

Finally, I thought I'd better get myself to the University of Michigan's campus, the lifeblood of Ann Arbor. I've toured campus before: after my husband was accepted to U of M's business school for his MBA, we gave serious consideration to moving to Ann Arbor. But this time, I got to enjoy it from a tourist perspective.

University of Michigan Museum of Art

I chose to spend a quiet hour wandering through the University of Michigan Museum of Art. It was so quiet and peaceful inside. I didn't know much about the art itself (no time to plan, remember?), but it was heavenly to take my time and read about pieces that caught my eye. If you visit, don't miss the Amalia Pica exhibit. I found it totally fascinating (and modern art typically isn't my forte!)

If you're interested in more details about UMMA, I look to Dominique at Midwest Guest for all things Michigan, and she doesn't disappoint with her knowledge of UMMA.

Then I quickly breezed through the union before heading out to pick up my sister and get home to our babies. (The ride home is a story for another day... we sat in horrible traffic for three straight hours due to an accident, and what's normally a 4 1/2 hour ride quickly grew to a 7 hour extravaganza.)

Days like these are few and far between for me. That's fine--I love having The Arrow as my nearly constant companion. But their rarity makes them all the more special and appreciated. And I love rediscovering who I am as a traveler and adventurer when I'm me, and not just Mom.

This post is a part of Mondays are for Dreaming at The Mother of All Trips. Today Mara is dreaming of a bike ride around Madison, Wisconsin. I actually have one more kid-free road trip up my sleeve to that very city for a friend's wedding later this fall before I become a mom of two, and I hope to enjoy it to its fullest. I'm also dreaming of a return trip to Ann Arbor: I saw so many spots The Arrow would have loved. (I never said I didn't think about him all day...)

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow at the Indianapolis International Airport

My husband travels pretty regularly for work, and his international trips almost always begin with a Sunday afternoon departure out of the Indianapolis International Airport. So it's become a bit of a tradition to drive up, have lunch together in the sprawling atrium, and then bid him farewell for the week.

Civic Plaza

I can't say enough about how great it is to have a brand new airport terminal as your traveling homebase (even when you're not the one traveling!). The arrow loves the spaciousness of the airport's Civic Plaza. He wanders from pod seat to pod seat, crawling on top and pretending to be quite the king once he's mounted on his perch. The ceiling must be at least 3 stories above us, the windows stretch just as high, and there is ample room for everyone to feel as though their personal space isn't being invaded. There's a pretty good view of the planes pulling up to their gate, as well as phenomenal public art.

Airport Dining Recommendations

And the food is great, too. When designing the new terminal, it was determined that several food vendor slots would be dedicated to local, independent restaurants. So there's some unique local cuisine to sample while you wait for your flight. Our favorites are Cafe Patachou and Giorgio's Pizza (which you can access without a ticket since they are located in Civic Plaza), and Harry & Izzys, Shapiro's and King David Dogs in the Concourse areas (ticket required).

No one likes to be stuck in an airport, and it is certainly sad to say goodbye to dad for the week. But The Arrow and I like to make the best of things, so we've come to take comfort in our Sunday "travel" tradition!

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook!

Then and Now: In Pictures

Last week, the arrow and I returned to two of our favorite outings from last summer, and the difference in his abilities, interest, and interaction with the world in just the past year amazed me. He's gone from basically being in our arms or in the stroller to getting his hands on just about everything. And he'll do it all by himself, thank you very much.

Indianapolis Museum of Art's 100 Acres

100 Acres is a fantastic outdoor art and nature park on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It's also a toddler paradise. (I wrote about it for Visit Indiana this week.) In 2010, exploring Los Carpinteros' whimsical sculpture Free Basket looked a little something like this:

In 2011, he owned the court.

In 2010, I don't think he even noticed Atelier Van Lieshout's enormous Funky Bones. The plane flying overhead was far more interesting.

In 2011, I had to pry him off of this chain of benches that form a giant skeleton.

Insider Tip: 100 Acres is a great spot for a toddler playdate in Indy and a great alternative to playgrounds. Moms and dads can talk as you walk from sculpture to sculpture and even while the kids play at each "stop." A lot of it (but not all) is in the shade. Great spot for a picnic lunch, too. More tips from my original post about 100 Acres here.
Bartholomew County Fair

July is the month that most of Indiana's county fairs take place, in anticipation of the Indiana State Fair in early August. In 2010, we visited the Bartholomew County Fair on a quiet weekend morning. The arrow loved seeing all the animals. He was oblivious to the dozens of carnival rides beckoning him just a few yards away.

In 2011, he wanted to ride everything.

In 2010, fair food was a foreign concept. In 2011, he stole his mom's ice cream cone.

(Didn't you know the double hat look is the summer's hottest trend? The arrow thinks so.)

Summer is a great time to explore new places. On Monday, I'll post about a visit to a new-to-us state park. But it's also a great time for traditions, places you visit year after year. These are two of our favorites. What destinations do you make sure to return to each year?

In case you missed my other "then and now" post from Monday, you can see some cute video of the arrow here (you'll also learn his real name!). And one more plug for my new Facebook page... you can keep up with Arrows Sent Forth by liking us over there.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

More fun at T.C. Steele State Historic Site

Last week, I shared photos highlighting the fun we had on our family hike at T.C. Steele State Historic Site. And while I mentioned that it now ranks as one of our favorite hiking destinations, there was more to see and do then just wander the woods.

After our hike, we let the arrow explore the Dewar Cabin. As I mentiond in my post at Visit Indiana about our trip there, 18 kids were raised in this 2-room cabin. Puts the Duggar family to shame, huh?

The arrow loved running in and out of the cabin, and peaking at us through the windows.

He also thought the cemetary was great fun. We might need to schedule a lesson on showing proper respect for the dead. I hope T.C. Steele doesn't mind his light-hearted attitude. (We did keep him from climbing on the gravestones though. We have a little bit of class.)

The beauty of the grounds is something that those of all ages can appreciate. I thought this lilly pond looked like a great spot to read a good book (you know, if I had time for that sort of thing these days...)

And while we visited before the buildings opened, we got a glimpse of the artist's home and studio. Letting the arrow walk about freely is just another reason this site is great for young kids. (Although I doubt he would have enjoyed a formal tour.)

More information about the T.C. Steele State Historic Site is available at their website.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Things we'll be a little quiet around here next week, as we head to Boston tomorrow for the July 4 festivities. Can't wait to share all about our fun adventures there!

The Commons opening

Other than writing about some adventures we take around town, I haven't written much about the uniqueness of where we live: Columbus, Indiana. While in some ways, it's an average town in the middle of southern Indiana, in other ways, it's very "unexpected" (a word I'm stealing from its tourism tagline!). It is ranked 6th in the nation for outstanding architecture (behind Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Boston and San Francisco... pretty good company). There are architectural tours offered daily around town, and it's not unusal to see tourists milling about taking pictures as we make our way into the library or ride our bikes downtown.

But we try not to just let outsiders enjoy all these beautiful buildings and public art. While I'm no student of architecture, I love the variety you see around town, the innovativeness, the fact that even our jail looks like a fancy hotel. Next month, The Commons will open. Two months ago, while it was still very much under construction, I got to get a sneak peak during a tour of this amazing new community center. I wrote about The Commons opening for the Indiana Insider a few weeks ago. In this post, I mention that I'm particularly excited for the indoor playground, the performance hall and the unveiling of Chaos.

Here are a few photos of what will be the playground area when it opens next week. I have no doubt than an enormous indoor playground will dramatically affect our quality of life in those cold winter months.

Floor-to-ceiling climbing tower

The concert space will be a wonderful resource for our community. I can definitely envision some date nights here to listen to live music. Just like the playground, my favorite feature is the floor to ceiling windows. So much natural light.

Chaos is a whimsical, yet industrial sculpture that will delight visitors to The Commons. It wasn't yet "moving" when I visited, but eventually all these gadget and gears will come to life in a noisy but fun piece of public art.

This will be a place where we can make lots of new family memories in the years to come.

If You Visit:
The Commons
300 Washington Street, Columbus, IN
(Scheduled to open to the public sometime in May.) Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m on Sunday.
Admission is free of charge. Events in the performance hall may be require tickets, prices will vary.
Insider Tips: Make a day of it. Zaharako's Ice Cream Palor and Soda Shop is directly across the street and makes a really unique place for lunch, dinner or an ice cream treat. Kidscommons, our local children's museum, is also across the street. For more ideas on how to spend your time in Columbus, see my Backyard Adventures page.

This post is a part of Mondays are for Dreaming at The Mother of All Trips.

Thanks to the Columbus Visitors Center for inviting me on a tour of The Commons before it opened.