Then And Now: In Video

This week marks the first birthday of Arrows Sent Forth. (Go ahead, have a cupcake!) It's hard to believe I've been working on this blog for a year now. (I also can't believe how embarassing some of my first posts were... ) So much about our lives have changed since then, and since the beginning of our family travels. I'll be indulging in a bit of reminiscing here this week.

I'm a terrible videographer and if our video camera even gets packed to come with us on vacation, it's a miracle. I tend to only shoot video around home, because I hate having one more thing to lug around while we're out and about. But I did get some footage of the arrow on our first vacation--a long weekend in South Haven, Michigan. And you're in luck... these were the days before the blog began, so the arrow's name is revealed in this video! (In case you miss it, it starts with B and rhymes with pen!)

Jumping in South Haven

I hope that didn't make you seasick. He sure was cute, though! The arrow has moved on to sitting at the dining room table and coloring to keep himself occupied (although I'm sure he'd love to get a few minutes in that jumper now!) I had to shoot some video for HomeAway while we were in Boston, so here's a taste of what the arrow is like at 2, not six months. (And you'll notice we don't actually call him in "the arrow" in real life!)


Breakfast in Boston

Apparently the arrow is much more interested in hamming it up for the camera than his father is.

I know we have so many more adventures and traveling ahead of us (and soon, two arrows to film!) I hope you'll keep reading, commenting, and getting to know our family better in Year 2 of Arrows Sent Forth. We've had lots of fun getting to know so many of you.

I'll have another "then and now" post to share on Friday. It won't involve terribly unprofessional video (you can thank me later). And tomorrow I'll be participating in the My 7 Links Project that Tripbase has put together.

For now, I'll leave you with a bit of housekeeping. It only took me a year, but I finally started a Facebook page for Arrows Sent Forth. If you're looking for an easy way to keep up with us, feel free to "like us" over there.

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

Street Performance in Christopher Columbus Park

I haven't written much about the arrow's temperament. In many ways he's a typical 2-year-old: loves to throw the occasional tantrum but also knows when to turn on the cute. He can be somewhat serious and focused, but has the cutest belly laugh. He's also be a bit shy and reserved in public, although if you get him comfortable, he'll talk your ear off.

While many kids would love an opportunity to be the center of attention during a street performance, the arrow needed to warm up to the idea. I loved watching him slowly come out of his shell and join in the fun of creating large bubbles with this very kind (and patient) street performer in Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston.

Is he talking to me? Can't we just watch?

Dad, I'll let you do it.

Let me get a little closer.

Ooh, can I pop them?

Ok, I'll do it if Dad helps me.

Having so much fun I didn't even realize Dad left!

Just another reason to travel with you kids: you never know when they might surprise you. And they're always making new discoveries.

This won't be the last you'll hear about Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Boston... it's a great haven for families visiting the city with young kids who need to stretch their legs! You can also read a summary of our five days in Boston with a two-year-old here.

Be sure to stop by next week. It's Arrows Sent Forth's first birthday, and I'll be doing a little "then and now" reminiscing!

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

Book Review: Around Boston with Kids

My husband has often commented that he thinks I enjoy planning our trips more than actually going on them. He's wrong, but he has a point. I think it's fun to dig in to a new location in advance, learn about its attractions and what makes it special. While I certainly don't plan our vacations down to the minute, I like to have a general sense of some things we might do once we get there, what attractions might be good to do in one day together, and some restaurants we might want to check out.

But when it came time to plan our trip to Boston, I was still pretty under the weather until just a few weeks before leaving. That left me with not as much planning time as I'm used to having. While the trusty internet provided some general ideas, I was searching for a more comprehensive source, and something that might be geared toward kids. Fortunately, my local library had a copy of Around Boston with Kids by Lisa Oppenheimer.* It's from Fodor's, a popular publisher of travel guidebooks.

Around Boston with Kids, 2nd edition, by Lisa Oppenheimer

The version my library had was from 2003. So I definitely still needed the web to confirm admission prices (ooh, it would have been nice if the prices from 2003 were still valid!), hours and such. (An Amazon search shows that a 3rd edition was published in 2007.)

What I loved about Around Boston with Kids:

• There were an abundance of ideas (a total of 68) and they ranged from the typical (aquariums and children's museums) to unique (arboretums and art parks).
• While all the attractions listed are kid-friendly, they're not all kid-exclusive. The inclusion of George's Island is a great example--it's actually more geared toward adult visitors, but kids have a blast running around the grounds of Fort Warren and playing on the small playground. I share this approach to traveling planning since becoming a mom. I don't think travel should completely revolve around the arrow. I think he can have fun at places adults find interesting, too. And he usually does.
• For each attraction listed, the author provides at least one or two kid-friendly restaurants nearby. Sometimes when traveling with a toddler, our biggest challenge is figuring out where to eat on the fly. We visited one of her recommendations and it was spot on--not only was it a great place to take the arrow, but the adults had some wonderul food as well.
• The attractions are listed and described in alphabetical order, making them easy to find if you know what you're looking for. But the book also contains some general groups and listings in the back that make sorting our your ideas much easier. Categories included the usual "Free Activities" and "Rainy Day Ideas," along with lists for specific interests like "Sports" and "Animals." I really liked her ideas for "Tiniest Tots" and "Tire Them Out." You can also search by neighborhood, which was helpful when we made a somewhat spur of the moment trek out to Cambridge.
• I especially appreciated the inclusion of specific age recommendations. As the parents of a toddler, we often find that just because a place is listed as "great for families," it's not so great for our family. What a 10-year-old enjoys has very little to do with what a 2-year-old likes. And vice versa.
• If you're renting a car during your visit to Boston, she includes lots of ideas outside the city as well.

Since my far-fetched dream is to someday write a family travel guidebook of my own, I can't help but point out what I might do differently.

What I'd Improve:

• I wish the author had included a few sample itineraries. It would have helped me to formulate how I might combine some of the attractions in one day.
• Along that note, a map with each attraction marked by number would have been helpful, to get a sense of what was near what. (I read a review of the 2007 version* which praised the maps found in it... so I bet they worked that issue out in the newer version.)
• The inclusion of each attraction's nearest T stop or public transporation directions would also have been of great help and saved me a little time in additional research.
• I'm always a bit dismayed when I see national chain restaurants recommended in a guidebook. Am I the only one who prefers to eat in local establishments when traveling? (Or frankly, even when not!) The author didn't include many chains, but there were a few listed. Just a little personal pet peeve of mine.

If you're planning a trip to Boston with kids, I'd definitely seek out Around Boston with Kids* (even if you can only get your hands on a 2003 version*). A quick search on the web suggested that Fodor's has also published similar guides for San Francisco, Washington DC and New York.* If you're a little more 21st century, Amy at Pit Stops For Kids wrote the Ultimate Boston with Kids Guide... Lots of great suggestions here.

What are you favorite go-to guidebooks when trip planning? Or am I the only old school enough to still be cracking open books and visiting the library?

This post is a part of Works-For-Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

*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.

Trip Report: Boston

I'm excited to share how we spent our five days in Boston. It was definitely our most ambitious family travel experience to-date, and our first big city adventure with a 2-year-old. We managed to pack in a lot of fun, but also tried to keep our son happy with naps and bedtimes. While it may have meant we didn't get to do everything we would have liked, it was a good strategy when tackling a very crowded place on a hot holiday weekend with a toddler.

Day 1: Arrival in Boston


Dinner on the patio at Bella Luna in Jamaica Plain

We departed Indianapolis around noon, and arrived at Logan around 2:30. The arrow managed to sneak in a quick nap on the flight, so he was ready to ride the "train, train, train!" when we landed. (We had prepped him very well for the many T rides we'd be taking in advance of the trip!) We hopped a free shuttle bus from Logan to the Airport T station, and from there headed out to our HomeAway rental property in Jamaica Plain, a great neighborhood just outside of downtown Boston (that we soon learned the locals call JP).

We were greeted warmly by our property owners (who live on the second floor of the house), and sent on our way toward City Feed and Supply for some basic groceries. It's a cute, organic grocery store and the walk there allowed us to get a sense of the neighborhood. We loved it--diverse, safe, artsy and walkable.

By 5 p.m., my brother-in-law and his fiancee arrived from Iowa to join us for the rest of the trip, and we were all famished. So we headed to Bella Luna, a hip pizza place just a 2-minute walk from our house. Is there anything better than pizza on a sunny patio to kick off your first day of vacation?

Day 2: Walking Downtown Boston and Harvard



Swan boat rides in Boston Common

We were up and ready to tackle the city today, and the weather cooperated with temperatures in the low 80s and sun (it would turn out to be the coolest day of our trip). We headed straight for the Swan Boat Rides at Boston Common, and after our 15-minute ride in the boat, we walked more of the beautiful park. Then we picked up the Freedom Trail and walked along, slowly meandering our way toward Quincy Market. (Along the route, we were greeted by a couple of different performances from historical reenactors. We saw Red Coats and a Minute Men but managed to avoid getting caught in a battle between them!) We grabbed an early lunch at the Salty Dog Seafood Grill, and then explored a bit more of the market. From there, we decided it was best to let the arrow stretch his legs at the Christopher Columbus Park. This location proved to be one of our favorites in the entire city, mostly because it was so close to many attractions, but we could let the arrow run free and be a 2-year-old for a few minutes here and there. We stopped in a few times throughout our trip. (Read about a fun street performance we participated in at Christopher Columbus Park here.)

By now the arrow was worn out, so we headed back to Jamaica Plain for a nap. Later that afternoon, everyone met back in Cambridge for dinner at the Border Cafe, followed by a romp through Harvard's campus and ice cream in Harvard Square. What a great first full day!

Day 3: Celebrating the 4th at Georges Island

Our family enjoying Fort Warren on Georges Island

This was July 4, and we decided to escape some of the crowds that were already gathering for fireworks and festivities in downtown Boston by hopping on a ferry headed toward Georges Island. This is one of the Boston Harbor Islands, a network of 34 islands and peninsulas in the Boston Harbor. The ferry ride itself is only about 20 minutes and offers great views of the Boston skyline. After we arrived on the island, we picked up a map and began exploring Fort Warren, which is mostly known for housing Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. While you'll quickly realize you're in a prison-like atmosphere, it's natural surroundings out on the water make it a beautiful spot to spend an hour or two. And its history is pretty fascinating as well.

After the ferry ride back to Boston, we walked to the North End and had lunch at a little Irish pub. Then our group split--the arrow and I headed back for a nap, while the rest of the gang took in a Red Sox game at Fenway. That evening, the baseball group was worn out and sunburn, so I picked up take-out at Canary Square in Jamaica Plain for an easy dinner at home.

Day 4: Boston Children's Museum

Playing at the Boston Children's Museum

This was our last full day in Boston, and since the arrow had been such a trooper for our first few days, we wanted to end on a very kid-centric note. So we headed to the Boston Children's Museum, where he spent a few hours exploring the many exhibits (several of which cater specifically to toddlers--love that!). After a quick lunch near the museum, we headed back to Jamaica Plain. Following his nap, we spent some time at the Southwest Corridor Park, a portion of which was just outside the front door of our rental house. Then we headed to dinner at Doyle's, a famous pub that was featured in several movies, such as Mystic River. (This was one of our only regrets of the trip--the food and service were very average, and we didn't even recognize the place.)

Day 5: Goodbye Boston

Unfortunately, this day entailed only a very early wake-up call and a ride on the T back to Logan for our flight home.

So what did we miss? Plenty! Fortunately, my husband and I had been to Boston just a few years earlier, where we did the Freedom Trail in great detail, the JFK Museum, and long walks around MIT and Harvard. But on this trip, I would have really liked to make it to Mike's Pastry in the North End for cannolis. And on our last night, we should have walked toward Jamaica Pond for dinner instead of settling on Doyle. Certainly, I would have loved to experience the July 4 fireworks and Boston Pops concert, but everything I read and everyone I talked to suggested that it's just not very manageable with a 2-year-old.

I have a lot more on my to-see list in Boston, like the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Arnold Arboretum, the Franklin Park Zoo and the New England Aquarium. But that's why there's always "next time."

I have so much more to share about our trip, so stay tuned. For advice on planning your own trip to Boston with kids, check out my review of the guidebook Around Boston with Kids.

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

Disclosure: As the winner of HomeAway's recent blogging contest, HomeAway paid $2,000 of our travel expenses to Boston. For us, this meant they covered all of our lodging costs and a portion of our flight costs. We paid all other expenses. All opinions expressed about the trip, the contest and HomeAway are entirely my own and I was not asked to share a particular point of view.

Beautiful Boston

I have rarely traveled on the 4th of July holiday. With fireworks, cookouts and parades, there's usually too much fun to be had around home to be motivated enough to leave. When I learned that I won HomeAway's BlogAway competition a few months ago, I was really excited to spend this very patriotic holiday in Boston. It is a city so infused with patriotism that it is infectious. I can happily report that it did not disappoint.

So while I didn't partake in my usual backyard cookout or fireworks show, I'll never forget this holiday. I spent much of it watching my son run wild on the very ground that centuries earlier our nation's forefathers were taking the very steps that made our independence possible. (Besides, the delicious lobster roll I ate that day beats any hot dog I've ever had!)

Next week, I'll be posting our Boston Trip Report so that you can get a sense of how we spent our time. And there are many more posts to come about our trip... as soon as I "free" myself of the mountain of post-vacation laundry! If you're interested in info on visiting Boston with a 2-year-old, check out Devon's post at Trekaroo. It is fascinating that both our families managed to fill three fun days without doing hardly any of the same things!

This post is a part of Capture the Everyday at Adventuroo. The theme this week is celebrate freedom. I am also linking up with I Should Be Folding Laundry's You Capture this week, where the theme is patriotism.

Disclosure: As the winner of HomeAway's recent blogging contest, HomeAway paid $2,000 of our travel expenses to Boston. For us, this meant they covered all of our lodging costs and a portion of our flight costs. We paid all other expenses. All opinions expressed about the trip, the contest and HomeAway are entirely my own and I was not asked to express a particular point of view.

Happy 4th of July From Where It All Began!

I just wanted to write a quick message to wish everyone a fun holiday. We are spending it where it all began for America, and we are reminded of the sacrifice of all who have served nearly every time we turn the corner in this great city. It really is an amazing place to spend July 4.

We have had so much fun exploring. Highlights include swan boat rides in Boston Common, playing at the Rose Kennedy Park just past Quincy Market, and a great morning out on Georges Island. And there's still more to come!

I can't wait to share all our fun adventures. Many, many thanks to those of you who voted in HomeAway's BlogAway contest to make this trip possible. And special thanks to HomeAway! More details to come!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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!