Orlando, Florida – Today is High School Senior Day at Universal Studios. Ugh. Staff advised that both “land parks” would be packed, despite our best efforts to come during a off-peak period. What a great opportunity, we decided, to check…
Dinosaur Books & Toys for Little Paleontologists
Somerville, Mass – I always liked the TV show Dinosaur Train, but my kids never really got on board with it. In fact, they were always ambivalent about the whole dinosaur thing. I mean, they liked examining the skeletons at…
KidSafe at Impact Boston
Medford, Mass – At age seven, the twins are becoming more and more independent at a rate I can barely manage. It did not seem like a super big deal last year when they started going to the park by…
Dequindre Cut
Detroit, Michigan – In case you haven’t heard, Detroit is experiencing something of a revival. This is my hometown, and I feel like Detroit’s imminent comeback was supposed to happen throughout my entire childhood. (Ie, since the construction of the…
Somewhere Over Greenland
We are homeward bound, en route from Helsinki to Boston (via Reykjavik), aka somewhere over Greenland. The Earth is amazing, isn’t it?
Pakka Adventure Park
Kalajoki, Finland – Imagine a treetops obstacle course, with tight ropes, slack lines, rope ladders, hanging bridges, zip lines, and all manner of challenges. That’s what you get at Pakka Adventure Park. These types of outdoor adventure parks are opening…
Lapland Specialties
Kalajoki, Finland – This is as far north as we’re going to get on this trip. So this is my best chance to sample some Lapland specialties at Ravintola Pihvitupa. We started with smoked reindeer soup, followed by Finnish squeaky…
Mariehamn Maritime Quarter
Mariehamn, Finland – The capital of Åland, Mariehamn is a seafarer’s paradise. The waterside Mariehamn Maritime Quarter has long been a center of boat building. Nowadays, the atmospheric quay has ship-building workshops alongside art galleries, cafes and local boutiques. You…
Raseborg Castle
Raseborg, Finland – We had a blast exploring the 15th-century Raseborg castle.
Hanko Front Museum
Hanko, Finland – We stopped at the Hanko Front Museum for a history lesson. The Hanko peninsula was the focus of the Continuation War between USSR and Finland in 1941-44. The museum is an excellent introduction to the conflict. Would-be…