7 Things You Need to Know About Visiting The Rhode Island Newport Mansions with Kids

If you live in the Boston area one thing you really have to see are the Rhode Island Newport Mansions.  It’s not to bad of a drive (2 hours from Boston) and the mansions are like nothing I’d ever seen before.

You can get tickets to see a whole bunch of mansions from the Preservation Society of Newport County but if you only have time to see one… or really the one you have to see is the Vanderbilt Summer Cottage.. which is about as far from a cottage as I can imagine.

7 Things You Need to Know About Visiting The Rhode Island Newport Mansions with Kids

The Vanderbilt mansion is huge and the Vanderbilt’s spared no expense when building it. They were part of New York’s elite Millionaire club and the home was built in the late 1800’s for a sweet $11 million.  We found out that a wall in one of the rooms was made of platinum,  the ceiling of the study had gold pressed over leather to give it a decorative texture of books and on the lower floor most of the rooms had rich gold and marble ornamentation.

I wish they would have allowed pictures inside because it was amazingly lavish.  At least I got some good ones of the outside and the incredible yard/lawn they had.  It was huge and went right to the cliffs edge, and was very very enviable.

After seeing the house we walked around the garden and finally ended our trip by walking along the Breakers cliff walk (thankfully most of it was fenced in).

Breakers Newport Mansion

Things to Note:

1) Price
The prices vary, but it’s a fairly expensive tour.  You can see 5 of the Newport mansions for $30/Adult, $11/children ages 6-17 (children under 6 are free)

To just see the Breakers $21/Adult, $7/children ages 6-17 (children under 6 are free)

2) Tour Options
At the Breakers you have the option of touring the place via audio tour.  There is an adult version and child version… personally I thought the child version was more entertaining, though you will learn slightly different things depending on what tour you listen to.

3) Stroller Friendliness
Zero amount stroller friendly.  They don’t even have a place for you to check a stroller should you bring one and instead ask you to leave it your car.  The reasoning being that they are abrasive and damaging to the historic surfaces.  :/  This was kind of lame since I ended up having to carry my giant two year old all around the place to make sure that he didn’t run under the velvet ropes to touch all the off limits things.

4) Child Friendliness
Children are welcome at the Newport Mansions, but if you have younger children you’ll need to keep a close eye on them since many parts of the mansion are only roped off by velvet ropes.  We went with a friend and she ended up having to chase her young daughter across those off limits sections…

5) Parking
There is free parking available right out side the front of the Breakers and most of the other mansion as easily within walking distance from there.

Breakers Newport Mansion Yard Green

6) Green space
After you tour the mansions you’ll definitely want to tour the gardens and lawns, they are huge, amazing and a great place for kiddos to get some energy out after having to be hands off during the tour.

7) Photography
None of the mansions allow you to take pictures inside of them, but you can take all the pictures you want of the outsides and gardens.

8) Cliff Walk
There is an amazing cliff walk that runs along the backside of the mansions, most of it has bars preventing young ones from getting too near the cliffs and we really enjoyed the scenic view, but again you’ll want to keep a close eye on your tots.  Also the cliff walk is a couple of miles long, if you did happen to bring a stroller this is where you would want to use it.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Summary & Rating ★★★★☆

Four Stars.  Honestly I thought that being able to see and tour a mansion of this caliber was incredible, if only it wasn’t so dang expensive!  I found myself fascinated seeing the lavish decor used in something as trivial as a summer home… one that was only used for a handful of years and to be able to imagine what it would have been like to live such a life style.  I feel like the opportunities to see this kind of wealth are fairly limited and in my opinion it was totally worth experiencing.

Newport Mansions (The Breakers Mansion)
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport, RI 02840

Phone: 401-847-1000
Website: http://www.newportmansions.org/explore/the-breakers
Hours: Vary

Review – Begin Again Toys Wooden Dinosaur A-Z Puzzle

I adore wooden toys. I love how resilient they are.  They don’t fade or break, they have a little bit of substance when you hold them in your hand, and they last forever! By forever, I’m talking generations. My grandma has a freestanding wooden elephant puzzle in her house with about four pieces. (It’s white and was a white elephant gift.  Ha!) Growing up my cousins and I loved playing with it. It was always out around the house, and as I grew older the silly elephant stuck around. The only up keep it needed was a paint job every now and then because the white started to look a bit dingy with so many little hands carrying it around, but it never broke and it never grew old. Twenty years later my grandma still has that puzzle!
I first saw BeginAgain Toys as part of a Zulily promotion for wooden toys. Since I already love the idea of wooden toys I was enthralled with the whole list of toys but I was absolutely mesmerized by the BeginAgain Puzzles. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia seeing the free standing animal family puzzles (they even have an elephant!) and pulled in by the beauty and simplicity of their designs. The patterns on their puzzles are unique, the painting is colorful, and they’ve made them even better learning tools by having numbered or lettered pieces on some of the puzzles (uppercase and lowercase depending on the side of the puzzle you’re looking at).
Plus I can really get behind the BeginAgain company and their “Workshop Rules” aka moto for toys:
  1. Kids are the true noisemakers!
    – No batteries, no electronics, ever!
  2. Share your ideas, then build
    – Collaborate, share, and build in partnership.
  3. Don’t leave a mess
    – Take OIL out of play, use plant based materials whenever possible and always reduce, recycle, and seek improvement.
  4. Great products have greater purpose
    – BeginAgain gives 1% to the community.
These puzzles are fairly expensive ranging from $10-$30, but my grandmas puzzles had lasted through multiple generations and these puzzles looked like they were built for the same kind of multi generational love.  To me it seemed worth the price.  And so we got the wooden alphabet dinosaur puzzle.  A puzzle I knew was a little advanced for my young son, but it seemed like a puzzle he could grow into and one that I could use as a teaching tool in a lot of different ways as he did. 
The puzzle came with a nice wooden tray, great for storing the pieces in when the puzzle if finished or still in pieces (though I wish the tray had a lid…). One side of the puzzle has capital letters the other side has lowercase letters so your child has a chance to learn both, and the puzzle can be built face up, face down or standing on it’s feet.
The puzzle is well crafted and the pieces are solid and easy to put together. I was a little surprised by the difficulty of the puzzle, I thought it would be a breeze since it’s more or less alphabetized, but I think I relied on the alphabet a little too much and it took me a try or two to piece the thing back together. I thought it was surprisingly fun to piece together and I really love how big the pieces are the 3D feel of the puzzle.
My son LOVED that this was a dinosaur! But the actual puzzle part was still a bit beyond his ability. While he wasn’t able to build the puzzle, but he did get a good chance to work on his fine motor skills as I helped him piece little bits of it together and he had a blast identifying the different letters on the pieces and sorting the colored shapes into piles. And the great thing about puzzle is, it’s wood, it’s not going to fade or break and we can play with it all over again when he’s ready to start piecing the whole thing together.

Begin Again toys wooden puzzles review

Begin Again toys wooden puzzles review
I guess I really got this puzzle in part for me.  On their website they have a whole range of puzzle, many with much more simple pieces (like the cat puzzle pictured above). I have a feeling that my two year old would have had a lot more success piecing those together.. and possibly also enjoyed being able to play with the individual cat pieces in the process.

They have a butterfly that is a tint but more intense than my dinosaur puzzle suggested for 5 year olds, a food assortment puzzle (Alphabites) that is suggest for 3+, and adorable wooden block puzzles for 18+ months. The Alphabites Puzzle, has pieces shaped like a bunch of food, and when all the pieces are removed from the tray, the tray is shaped like a serving tray, complete with plate and napkin and the flip side of the tray is shaved like a stove top! It sounds like some fantastic, dual use play food to me.



BeginAgain Puzzle Pros: 
  • Super Sturdy Puzzle
  • Duel Use Puzzle 
  • Brightly Colored 
  • Made Sustainably 
  • Teaching Tool
  • Easy to Hold Pieces 

BeginAgain Puzzle Cons: 
  • Expensive
  • The storage box doesn’t have a lid
Anyway.  I’ve been really happy with my puzzle.  It’s as awesome as it looks and it’s fun to build.  I really think these puzzles and this company is worth checking out! See more BeginAgain Toys on: 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

We love puzzles at our house, if you’ve come across any great or unique ones please tell me more about them in the comments section,

Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting the USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) with Kids

The Freedom Trail is pretty well split into two parts, the city part, where everything is pretty close together – you can easily see many famous buildings in a short amount of time, and the monument part (I guess I’ll call it?)…

To get to this second half/monument part you walk away from the main city, over a huge bridge and then are rewarded by seeing the USS Constitution and the Beacon Hill Monument, which are fairly close together.

Touring Boston - What to Know About Visiting the USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) with Kids

The USS Constitution, or Old Iron Side, is the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy.  In order to keep her title she has to sail at least one nautical mile every year, so on Independent Day they sail her half a mile out into the harbor and half a mile back in. She was also named by President George Washington after the constitution of the United States.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) plaque

The ship was incredible, and fierce.  It totally looked like a pirate ship, and you could walk onto it and see the different levels.  Mostly I just felt like barking orders and saying “Land Ho” which my husband might have found a little obnoxious.  🙂

In any case being able to walk all over the ship and explore it’s nooks and crannies was something I had been missing out on and is easily my new favorite part of the Freedom Trail.

Things to Note:

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) rigging

1) Price
Free… with a suggested donation.  This amazing ship is sitting in the harbor just waiting to be visited by you and yours at whatever price you fancy… or don’t fancy.  You can walk through the gift/shop museum, then past the navy officers stations at the ship right onto the boat.  No charge, but an amazing chance to walk around a very cool ship.

2) Identification
Because this is still a navel ship they require some form of identification for anyone over 18.  This can be in the form of a passport, driver’s license, or state issued ID, and you will have to pass through a security check.

3) Stroller Friendliness
You can bring your stroller through the gift shop, but not onto the ship.  We were able to leave ours with one of the navy people stationed outside the gift shop and we carried our son onto the ship.  It makes a lot of sense since once you’re on the ship there is no space for a stroller and it would be impossible or at least very dangerous to try to bring one up and down the steep ship stairs.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) boat ship

4) Child Friendliness
Yes!  They love kids and they love seeing children being able to explore the ship.  There are giant wheels to see, cannons, port holes and all sorts of interesting things to touch, but you will be on a ship so you’ll want to keep an eye on your little ones to make sure they don’t try to climb on anything to dangerous.

5) Parking
Off street parking is available at the Nautica Parking Garage, located at 88 Constitution Road, Charlestown, MA 02129 (Validation is available at the museum and the National Park Service Visitors Center). The Museum is few minutes walk from the garage. Street and metered parking are available around the area.

USS Constitution (or Old Iron Side) boat ship

Summary and Rating: ★★★★★

Five Stars. I thought this ship was amazing!  I loved being able to walk around and both touch and see it, and being able to do it all at the price I choose was great.  The ship was amazing and though my son was fairly little at the time I think he is only going to be more and more interested in seeing it as he grows older.  I would highly suggest walking the second half of the Freedom Trail to experience this gem.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

USS Constitution, or Old Iron Side
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone: 617.426.1812
Website: https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ 

 Museum Hours 
 April 01 – October 31 Open Daily | 9:00 – 6:00
 November 01 – March 31 Open Daily | 10:00 – 5:00

USS Constitution Hours 
October 1 – October 28 Open Tuesday – Friday | 2:30 – 5:00 Open Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 – 5:00 Closed Mondays
October 29 – March 13 Open Saturday & Sunday | 10:00 – 4:00* Closed Monday – Friday, *Last tour leaves at 3:30

Toddler A-Z – 100 Objects That Start with the Letter “G”

Big List of Object and Things that start with Letter G

 

A group of my friends started doing something we are calling Toddler Time and each week we choose a letter to focus on.  I realized that finding objects that start with the letter of the week can be a challenge and I thought it might be helpful to have a long list of “G” letter objects them on hand.  If I’ve missed something drop me a note in the comments, I would be thrilled to add even more letter “G” objects.
  1. Gallery: A space or building where works of art are displayed for public viewing.
  2. Galoshes: Waterproof overshoes worn to protect shoes from rain or mud.
  3. Game: An activity or sport with specific rules and objectives, often played for entertainment or competition.
  4. Gander (Male Goose): A male goose, typically larger than a female goose.
  5. Garage: A building or space used for storing vehicles or other large items.
  6. Garbage: Waste or discarded materials that are no longer needed.
  7. Garden: An area of land used for cultivating plants, often for food or decorative purposes.
  8. Garland: A decorative arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other materials, often hung as a decoration.
  9. Garlic: A pungent bulbous plant used as a seasoning in cooking.
  10. Garlic Bread: Bread that has been flavored with garlic and often butter or oil, commonly served as an appetizer.
  11. Garment: A piece of clothing or fabric that is worn.
  12. Garnet (Red Gem): A deep red gemstone, often used in jewelry.
  13. Gas: A substance that can expand or contract to fill a container, often used as fuel for heating or transportation.
  14. Gas Tank: The container in a vehicle that holds the fuel.
  15. Gate: A barrier or entrance that can be opened or closed to control access.
  16. Gauze Pad: A medical dressing made of loosely woven fabric, used to cover and protect wounds.
  17. Gecko: A small reptile known for its ability to climb walls and ceilings.
  18. Gerbil: A small rodent often kept as a pet, similar to a hamster or mouse.
  19. Giant: An exceptionally large person or thing.
  20. Gift: A present or something given voluntarily to someone without expectation of payment.
  21. Giftwrap: Decorative paper or material used to wrap a gift.
  22. Ginger: A spicy root often used in cooking or as a natural remedy for digestive issues.
  23. Ginger Ale: A carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger.
  24. Ginger Snap: A type of cookie flavored with ginger.
  25. Gingerbread: A sweet and spicy cake-like bread often flavored with ginger and molasses.
  26. Gingham: A lightweight cotton fabric with a checkered pattern.
  27. Giraffe: A large African mammal with a long neck and distinctive spotted pattern.
  28. Girl: A female child or young woman.
  29. Girl Scout: A member of a worldwide organization for girls, known for its focus on community service and skill-building activities.
  30. Glass: A hard, transparent material often used to make windows, drinking containers, or decorative objects.
  31. Glazed Donut: A type of donut that has been coated with a sugary glaze.
  32. Glitter: Small, shiny particles used for decoration or to add sparkle to something.
  33. Globe: A spherical representation of the Earth or a celestial body.
  34. Glove: A covering for the hand, typically made of material such as leather or fabric.
  35. Glue: A sticky substance used to join or adhere things together.
  36. Gnocchi: Small dumplings made from potatoes, flour, and sometimes cheese or eggs.
  37. Goal: An objective or aim that one hopes to achieve.
  38. Goat: A hoofed mammal often kept for its milk, meat, or wool.
  39. Goat Cheese: Cheese made from the milk of a goat.
  40. Goggles: Protective eyewear that covers the eyes to shield them from hazards or to enhance vision.
  41. Gold: A precious metal with a lustrous yellow color, often used for jewelry or as a store of value.
  42. Golden Eagle: A large bird of prey known for its impressive size and golden feathers on its neck.
  43. Goldfish: A small freshwater fish often kept as a pet, known for its bright orange or gold color.
  44. Golf: A sport played on a large outdoor course, in which players use clubs to hit a small ball into a series of holes.
  45. Golf Ball: A small, dimpled ball used in the game of golf.
  46. Golf Club: A specialized instrument used for striking the golf ball in various situations.
  47. Goose: A large waterbird with a long neck and webbed feet, similar to a duck.
  48. Gorilla: A large primate native to Africa, known for its strength and intelligence.
  49. Goulash: A meat dish, often made with beef or pork, and seasoned with paprika and other spices.
  50. Gourd: The hard-shelled fruit of various plants, often used for decorative purposes or as containers.
  51. Gown: A long, loose-fitting dress, typically worn for formal events.
  52. Graham Crackers: Sweet, slightly sweetened crackers often used as an ingredient in desserts.
  53. Grandma: Informal term for grandmother, a female parent of one’s parent.
  54. Grandpa: A term used to refer to one’s father’s father or mother’s father.
  55. Grandparent: An individual who is a parent of one’s parent; often associated with the older generation.
  56. Granola: A type of breakfast cereal made from rolled oats, nuts, honey, and dried fruit.
  57. Granola Bar: A snack bar made with granola and often mixed with chocolate, nuts, or dried fruits.
  58. Grape: A small, round fruit that grows in clusters on vines and often used in making raisins or wine.
  59. Grape Juice: A beverage made from pressing grapes, often sweet and used as a drink on its own or as a base for other drinks.
  60. Grape Leave: The leaf of a grapevine.
  61. Grape Nuts: A dry, crunchy cereal made from wheat and barley, often used as a breakfast option.
  62. Grapefruit: A large, citrus fruit with a yellow or pinkish flesh and a sour or semi-sweet taste.
  63. Grass: A green plant with narrow leaves that cover the ground and form lawns or meadows.
  64. Grasshopper: An insect with long hind legs for jumping, typically found in grassy areas.
  65. Grate: To shred or wear down into small particles by rubbing against a rough surface.
  66. Grater: A kitchen tool with sharp, raised edges used for shredding or grating food.
  67. Gravel: Small, loose stones or rock fragments often used for paving or landscaping.
  68. Gravy: A thick, savory sauce made from meat drippings, flour, and broth, often served with meat.
  69. Green: A color between blue and yellow on the spectrum, often associated with nature and environmental awareness.
  70. Green Beans: Fresh, unripe pods of various bean plants, often cooked or used in salads.
  71. Green Jello: A gelatin-based dessert that is green in color, often flavored with lime or other fruit flavors.
  72. Green Peppers: Bell peppers that are green in color before ripening, often used in cooking or salads.
  73. Greeting Card: A decorative card with a message, usually sent to convey well wishes or greetings on special occasions.
  74. Grey: A color between black and white, often associated with neutrality or maturity.
  75. Griffin: A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
  76. Grill: A device used for cooking food over direct heat, often made of metal bars.
  77. Grilled Cheese: A sandwich made with cheese that is melted between two slices of bread, typically grilled or toasted.
  78. Grinder (Salt and Pepper): A manual or electric device used for grinding or crushing salt and pepper.
  79. Grits: A dish made from cornmeal that is boiled and often served as a breakfast porridge.
  80. Grizzly Bear: A large bear native to North America, known for its size and aggressive nature.
  81. Ground Beef: Minced or finely chopped beef, often used in recipes such as burgers or meatballs.
  82. Groundhog: A small, burrowing mammal known for its annual prediction of the arrival of spring.
  83. Grove: A small group of trees.
  84. Grub: A term colloquially used to refer to food, especially in a casual or slang context.
  85. Guacamole: A Mexican dip made from mashed avocados, often mixed with lime juice, tomatoes, onions, and spices.
  86. Guard: A person or object that provides protection, surveillance, or defense.
  87. Guava: A tropical fruit with a strong, sweet fragrance and a tangy taste.
  88. Guitar: A stringed musical instrument with a long neck and a flat-backed body, typically played by strumming or plucking the strings.
  89. Guitar Pick: A small, flat tool used to pluck or strum the strings of a guitar.
  90. Gum: A soft, sweet substance that is chewed for enjoyment or to freshen breath.
  91. Gum ball Machine: A vending machine that dispenses small, round candies known as gum balls.
  92. Gum balls: Small, round candies often sold in vending machines and typically chewy in texture.
  93. Gumbo: A thick, stew-like dish that originated in Louisiana and is often made with a mixture of meat or seafood, vegetables, and a roux.
  94. Gummy Bear: A small, fruit-flavored candy shaped like a bear and made of gelatin.
  95. Gummy Worm: A soft, chewy candy shaped like a worm and typically fruit-flavored.
  96. Gunny Sack: A coarse, woven bag made of jute or similar material, often used for carrying or storing items.
  97. Gutter: A trough or channel along the edge of a roof or a road to collect and direct rainwater.
  98. Gym Matt: A cushioned and padded mat used in gyms for various exercises and activities to provide comfort, support, and protect against impacts on the body during workouts.
  99. Gym Shoe: Also known as athletic shoes or sneakers, gym shoes are specially designed footwear that provides stability, cushioning, and grip for physical activities and exercises performed in a gym or sports facility.
  100. Gyro: A popular Greek dish consisting of seasoned meat (usually lamb or chicken) cooked on a vertical rotisserie, typically served in a pita bread with a variety of toppings and sauces.
  101. Gymnast: A person who practices and performs various gymnastic exercises, such as tumbling, balance beam routines, vaulting, and uneven bars, often as part of competitions or exhibitions.
  102. Gyroscope: A mechanical device consisting of a spinning wheel or rotor mounted on a set of revolving gimbals, used to measure or maintain orientation, stability, or angular velocity in various applications, such as navigational systems and aircraft controls.

Big list of objects that start with letter G
Can you think of any other letter “G” words?  If so please comment and let me know, I’d love to get them added to the list.

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Toddler Letters – “H” is for “House”

 

Letter H Craft - Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft H is for House with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables.

Supplies Needed:

  • Brown, Green, and Blue Craft Paper
  • Letter “H” Cutout
  • Small Piece of Paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors or Exacto Knife
  • Markers

Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft H is for House with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables.

Set Up:

I had our “H” cut out and ready to go along with a strip of green paper cut out to look like grass.  I cut little window-like-holes in the “H”.  The my son glued down our extra strip of paper to the inside of the “H” creating the door.  After that we glued the “H” with attached door to the blue paper.  He glued the grass to the bottom of the “H” and glued the strips of brown to the top of the “H” to form the houses roof.  Then he took his markers and colored in the doors and windows creating peek-a-boo spaces.

We finished by talking about and looking at pictures of the different kinds of places people can live (houses, apartments, tents, igloos etc.)

Toddler/Preshooler letter of the week craft H is for House with related craft, tracing sheets and fruits/vegetables.

Tracing Letters:

Have you made this craft?  What was your experience like and do you have an suggestions to make it better?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.

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