Tennessee: An Elvis Fan Visits Graceland

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"It's Elvis!" our five-year-old daughter, Bria, squeals, reminiscent of his hordes of screaming fans.

It doesn't matter that he passed away before her mother was born. Our little girl is a great big Elvis fan. So when our road trip was taking us through Tennessee, one point on our itinerary was abundantly clear. We were headed to Graceland.

In celebration of Elvis Week, here are some tips and tricks we learned from our visit to the home of the King.

When to Go

I strongly recommend going early in the day. The first tour is at 9 a.m. We were on the 10 a.m. mansion tour, and when we returned to visit the other museums, lines were starting to get really crazy. Save yourself some headache, and arrive as early in the day as possible.

Parking

Parking at Graceland is $10, but Graceland Crossing is a block away, and was free when we were there. RVs are $15. Another option is to do the Sun Studios tour and utilize their free shuttle. Pickup is at the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum on Beale Street.

Strollers

You're going to want to wear that baby. Imagine trying to push your stroller (no matter how compact) up and down the halls of your grandmother's 1950s Colonial. Now throw about 30 people into the mix and consider your sanity.

(Edited to add: I have learned that strollers aren't allowed in the actual mansion, but can be used for the rest of the tour. I still wouldn't recommend it, except maybe on the parking side of the street.)

Camera Happy

Cameras are welcome throughout the tour, though they do ask that flashes be kept off to preserve the integrity of the collection. I handed my phone over to Bria and it really did the trick to keep her engaged - she had to explore each and every item in order to get just the right shot of it.

Tickets

There are several different options for tickets, depending how long you want to spend exploring, and kids six and under are free with any of the packages. We purchased the Platinum plus Airplanes tour, which is the sort of "middle" package, and turned out to be a good fit for us. We skipped only one thing - the "Elvis' Tupelo" tour, which explores his years growing up in Tupelo, about 90 miles from Memphis - because the little one was tired and hungry, but if we had more available time, we easily could have fed her and come back for that.

I debated whether to add the airplanes, but I was glad we did. Both girls loved that part of the tour, especially exploring the Lisa Marie. It was by far the quietest part of our visit.

It's not cheap, so be expecting that. Be sure to check prices online ahead of time so you know what you are getting yourself into. Also check for coupons! When we went, there was a coupon on the website for 50% off child/student fares, which saved me $18.

Shuttle

Tickets in hand, we lined up for the shuttle across the street to the mansion itself. We didn't wait long, but there was space for the line to get huge.

The Mansion

Once through the infamous sheet music gates and up the driveway, the entrance to Graceland comes into view - four stone steps, flanked by lions. The shuttle drops us out front, where we are encouraged to step inside, and come back at the end of the tour for any outdoor photos.

We explored the foyer, living room, and dining room, then went through the kitchen to the basement, where we saw the billiard room and the TV room. On the way back up, you can check out the aptly named Jungle Room. It's gaudy, even garish, but isn't that the point? I mean, it's Elvis!

(Want to be proud of your child's ability to make abstract connections to cultural references? Try hearing your five-year-old sing, "Down in the Jungle Room" to the tune of Mark Cohn's Walking in Memphis as she walks into the actual Jungle Room. Yep, that's cool stuff.)

The house itself is quite large (originally more than 10,000 square feet, before the additions), but visitors are welcomed into a small piece of it. The upstairs is left sealed off, out of respect for the family. Polite staff members stand at each potential wrong turn to point us in the right direction.

The iPad Tour

Each adult and child over 6 is issued an iPad and headphones (headphones and a splitter for those under 6). As visitors move from room to room, the iPad provides a guided tour, narrated by John Stamos and featuring bits from Elvis himself, along with his daughter Lisa Marie.

You know the way your kids shout when they have headphones on their ears? Yeah, that. Oh, and there is lots of stuff to touch, but they can't hear you telling them not to.

I get that it saves worrying about languages, and allows the tour to be narrated without employing tour guides, but this iPad system is simply not designed for families. We found them cumbersome at best, and took the headphones off after the first room. I'm sure we missed some nuance, but it made for a much more child-friendly tour. (And so much better than constantly screaming at our children like the unfortunate family just ahead of us.)

I suggest bringing an empty bag of some sort - think reuseable shopping bag - to stash the electronics in once your family gets bored with them.

With all that said, if it had been just my husband and I visiting, I probably would have enjoyed the iPad tour. It gives a sort of "Pop-Up Video" aspect, offering interesting tidbits throughout. By the way, in case it applies, the iPads offer the tour in English, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and French.

The Grounds

I'm not sure I went in realizing how much more there would be to see beyond the actual mansion itself. Graceland's 14-acre grounds are an impressive expanse, including a handful of buildings housing his many collections. The outdoor time also offered a few places for fidgety children to run a bit and get out some of the energy from being well behaved inside.

After the first floor and basement of the mansion, the tour flows through the office of Elvis' dad, Vernon Presley. Bria loved seeing Lisa Marie's swing set outside the office, and the horses nearby.

Next were the trophy building and the racquetball building. It is quite the collection, chronicling an amazing career. There were more gold and platinum records than you could imagine, costumes, awards, cancelled checks from Elvis' many, many donations to charities, and lots more. As former Jaycees, it was fun to see what a special place his Outstanding Young Men award held - the display even included the outfits Elvis and Priscilla wore to the banquet.

I read quite a few reviews from people feeling rushed, but we really took our time and felt comfortable with that. Everyone was walking through at their own pace, and moving on when they were ready. I imagine part of this was the time of day - see the recommendation on going as early as possible to avoid the largest crowds. But also, be aware of how vast the collection is. Each ticket notes how approximately how long the recommended tour is (ours was 2 1/2 to 3 hours), so don't plan anything too soon after and rush yourself.

Meditation Garden

A beautiful feature Elvis had added to his home for meditation and reflection, the Meditation Garden is a serene little piece of paradise at the end of the tour. It is also his final resting place, along with that of his parents and grandmother. There is a memorial to his stillborn twin brother, as well. If your children aren't prepared for the experience of visiting graves, just walk around the opposite side of the fountain (between the Meditation Garden and pool), it will lead you back to the gates just the same.

Archives

Once we had finished exploring the grounds, it was back to the shuttle. There were two lines here, one for those who had purchased Graceland only packages to return across the street, and one that took visitors to the Archives.

A new feature added in August 2014, we loved the visit to the Archives. There were rows and rows of library-style drawers filled with items from Elvis' personal collection, like concert posters, buttons, shopping lists, receipts, and lots more. This post from the Graceland blog tells more about what is included in the collection.

The girls enjoyed exploring the contents of the drawers, checking out the artifacts collected there, then we moved into a large theater for the Graceland Archives Studio Experience, a collection of videos of some of Elvis' most iconic performances. Bria danced her heart out, then got some down time while she watched "her star" sing.

Additional Exhibits

Following the show, we loaded back onto the shuttle and crossed the street to the rest of the exhibits and Graceland Plaza and Graceland Crossing.  

The airplanes - a 1958 Convair 880 named Lisa Marie and a smaller Lockheed Jet Star - were interesting to check out. 

Elvis spent more than $800,000 remodeling the Lisa Marie, customizing it with a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom. There are suede and leather-covered tables and chairs, and even 24-karat gold lined sinks in the bathroom and gold-plated seat belts.

The Elvis Presley Automobile Museum was also a hit. The man loved his cars! Set up like a tree-lined street, the collection includes everything from a go-cart and dune buggy to a 1975 Dino Ferrari and a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk. The girls were a little disappointed to see the pink Cadillac was on tour in Europe!

In the center of the Automobile Museum is a sort of drive-in movie theater where you can pull up a bench and see clips of some of Elvis' driving scenes from his movies. It was fun to pick out movies we knew.

Our final stop (after a treat of Dippin' Dots and sodas - it was HOT) was at the Elvis' Hawaii exhibit. We enjoyed the clips of his home videos and concerts (apparently never-before-seen) of Elvis in one of his favorite places. A highlight for us was learning the story behind his involvement in raising the money needed for the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Conclusion

If you are wondering if you should bring your little Elvis fan to Graceland, we say yes! Graceland is definitely a hit for curious kids - they even offer an annual Home School Day event.

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Florida: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

Our GPS is set for home, but as we say good-bye to our sweet friends in Melbourne, Florida (and thank them for opening their home to us these past few weeks), there is still a lot of country to see before we land in our beds in North Dakota.

Three girls on a road trip, so many possibilities for things to see! We started out with some searches - National Parks, historical sites, roadside marvels - and then set off on the road home.

Our first stop was Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, near Daytona Beach. This 175-foot-tall tower has the distinction of being the tallest lighthouse in Florida. The beacon's light can be seen up to 18 miles out to sea!

As soon as we saw it, we knew we definitely had to climb it. The lady who sold us our tickets promised five-year-old Bria a sticker if she made it to the top, and then we started up. There are 213 very steep steps to the top, and I'm not sure if I thought that sounded like a lot or not, but whoah! That's a lot of steps up!

We were around halfway when it started to feel like a serious project. Ella and I were both thankful for a sign we had read aloud at the bottom saying kids had to be able to make the steps (up and down) themselves and couldn't be carried - that would have been a lot of steps to lug 30 pounds up!

There were a few places along the way to stop and check out the view, catch your breath, and let people pass you going up or down (the steps are narrow and only passable by one person at a time). Once you reach the top, there is a door that leads outside, and gives a fantastic panoramic view of the beautiful little point where the lighthouse is located. We walked around it a few times, but didn't spend a lot of time, because a storm was coming, and we didn't want to be rushed down in a crowd when they closed the tower.

The trip down was, of course, much easier than the trip up, and soon we were resting on the benches outside. The lighthouse is surrounded by a small museum, which is made up of a series of buildings that once housed lighthouse employees and offices, each filled with assorted artifacts representing the 128 year history of the site. Ponce Inlet is one of 12 lighthouses in the country that have been designated as National Historic Landmarks, sitting at third tallest.

We looked into a few of them, then caught part of a movie about the lighthouse before going inside to check out the gift shop. Just as we stepped inside, an alert came over the radio that it was time to close the lighthouse down due to the impending thunder and lightning.

Pleased with our timing, we continued on our adventure. There is also a scavenger hunt available for the site (pick one up in the gift shop), but we didn't notice it until after the closure. It looked like fun, and would be a good way to engage while exploring the tower and museum.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is open at 10 a.m., 7 days a week. Closing time is 9 p.m. in the summer months and 6 p.m. the rest of the year. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Ticket sales stop one hour before closing, to allow for ample time to visit the landmark. Admission is $6.95 for adults and $1.95 for children. Visit their website for additional details.

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Alabama: A Visit to the Rosa Parks Museum

While visiting Montgomery, Alabama recently, we came upon the Rosa Parks Museum and Children's Wing and stopped to explore and learn about the Mother of the Freedom Movement in the U.S. (Read a brief biography of Mrs. Parks here.)

The museum sits on the spot where Parks was arrested on December 1, 1955. Destined to be a parking structure in the 1990s, Troy University recognized how many people were visiting the historical marker there and fundraised to build a museum instead. Parks and her family were a part of the opening on December 1, 2000 - 45 years after her arrest.

Logistics

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Park for free anywhere on the university campus. We parked on the street and fed $1 into the meter. Admission is $14 per adult and $10 per child for the combined museums - bring your AAA card for a discount.

Start Your Visit

Purchase tickets at the main museum, then head next door to the Children's Wing to start your tour with a ride on the Cleveland Avenue Time Machine. Mr. Rivets, the robot driver, takes passengers on a 22-minute adventure through time, examining topics like Jim Crow, the civil war, and slavery in an approachable way that opened the door for conversations without being overwhelming.

The journey ends with the day Rosa Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus, then sends riders to the main museum to learn what happened, and how that day would start a cascade of events that changed history.

The Museum

The museum also contained multimedia exhibits which told the story of Ms. Parks and the day that changed history so much. You can see a virtual tour of the museum here, but it really doesn't do the little museum justice!

I appreciated that there were no assumptions made about what visitors might have already known about the fight for equal rights or the culture in the south in the 50s. Exposing our children to the stories of those who came before us is an important piece of the picture.

We had a guided tour, moving through the cascade of events that started with Mrs. Parks refusing to give up her seat and rolling into the bus boycott and the rise of Dr. Martin Luther King.

One of the parts both of our kids brought up later was how cool it was to have a guide who was really "part of" the movement. She spoke with passion and personal knowledge in a way you just don't get from a book or a movie.

There are really heavy themes, which can be a lot for kids to process all at once. We didn't force the issue, instead allowing our five-year-old to engage as she felt appropriate and unplug a little when she didn't feel as comfortable.

I wasn't sure how much of it she had absorbed until bed time when she called Daddy to tell him about her day. She told him the story of Rosa Parks and her arrest for not giving up her seat on the bus - but she also told him about why Mrs. Parks wasn't allowed to remain sitting, what she was supposed to have done, and why it was wrong.

"They shouldn't be able to make laws like that," she said. "Your body, your choices."

Children have an amazing ability to understand their world when given opportunity to see it and feel it. I highly recommend the museum as a stop on any Alabama itinerary. It was well worth the time, and has started some excellent, though-provoking discussions in our family.

What other great museums have you been to that tell the story of the Civil Rights movement? Tell us about them in the comments!

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Bahamas: Pirate of Nassau Museum

When Bria (five) heard the taxi driver utter the words "pirate museum" on the drive from the Nassau airport, she was sold. A block up from the Straw Market at King and George Streets in Nassau, the museum is a fun interactive stop for young and old.

We were greeted outside the museum by a playful pirate, and directed to the gift shop, where we began our journey.

Once we had paid the admission fee ($13 for adults, and for kids 4-17, $6.50), the pirate led us along a corridor to the entrance to the museum, setting the stage as he walked. The year is 1716. We step onto a moonlit dock, surrounded by the sounds of lapping water and pirates celebrating their successes in a tavern. Beside us is a replica of the ship "Revenge," the scene of our exploration of the lives of bloodthirsty Caribbean pirates.

The Pirates of Nassau Museum is small, but filled with interesting stories of how pirates lived and died, keeping all of us engaged from beginning to end. A couple of parts were a little bit scary, but we breezed over those without it causing any issues.

One of our favorite parts was the story of two woman pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These tough women have an incredibly interesting story, made even more mystical by the abrubt end to the story of Bonny, and the abundant theories on what may have happened to her after she escaped execution by turning up pregnant.

At the end of the tour, there is a small collection of artifacts, along with a few items from modern popular culture to browse before stepping out into the bar and gift shop. Snacks and drinks are available, and reasonably priced.

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Florida: Weeki Wachee Springs and Buccaneer Bay

Want to find the best-kept secrets in an area you are visiting? Chat with the locals. We were buying a snack in St. Augustine and got to talking with the college kid who was running the snack bar (he is going to school to be a NICU nurse - how cool is that?), and he made a few suggestions about other places we should take the girls while in Florida. Another local heard us talking and joined in with a tip - Weeki Wachee Springs.

An hour north of Tampa, Weeki Wachee claims to be one of the smallest towns in the country, with a population of 12 (maybe they should spend some time in Eastern Montana?) and a mayor who herself is a former mermaid.

Opened in 1947, the park is the baby of Newton Perry, who was former U.S. Navy and trained SEALS to swim underwater in World War II. Perry was a promoter and a performer, but he was also an inventor - he invented the free-flowing air hose supplying oxygen from an air compressor that allows the mermaids to stay underwater for long periods of time, giving the illusion of breathing underwater with no breathing apparatus.

The spring is pretty amazing in itself. Named Weeki Wachee by the Seminole Indians (meaning little spring or winding river, depending who you ask), the bottom has never been found, despite the efforts of divers. More than 117 million gallons of water, an even 74.4 degrees year-round, comes up through the spring each day. It feeds the Weeki Wachee River, which is a beautiful clear river meandering through curves and turns 12 miles to empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

We took a 20 minute boat ride down the river, but there was an option to rent a kayak and paddle down, too.

We saw birds and fish, two turtles on a log, and an alligator named "Lefty" hanging out along the river. Our guide told us it is more common to see other animals on less busy days.

The river boat ride was a great way to see the gorgeous clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River.

Next we went to the mermaid show. They recommend you line up early, and they mean it! Lining up starts 30 minutes before the show, and goes until capacity is reached.

The mermaid show is performed underwater, of course, but the audience is underwater, too - in a 400 seat submerged theater. The theater is 16 feet below the spring, allowing you to get face-to-face with the beautiful mermaids as they perform their underwater ballet and tricks like eating and drinking underwater.

Reading about the park ahead of time, I must admit I expected more magic and mystery surrounding the mermaids. Instead, we got a behind the scenes look at the history of the Weeki Wachee mermaids and learned a lot about what makes the whole thing tick. That was fun, too, but not what I expected. In fact, the mermaids performed without their tails from about halfway through the show, and showed off some incredible diving skill with a 117-foot free dive.

There are other shows available, as well, so maybe we just selected the wrong one if we were looking for illusion. But it was hot, and no one was up for standing in line for another show.

The girls got their picture taken with a mermaid! Bria kept staring at her, she thought she was beautiful and pretty amazing.

Then it was time to cool off. And I do mean cool off. If 74.4 degrees sounds warm, think about your body temperature. Brrr! We were all pretty shocked when we jumped in the spring. But the water was clear and gorgeous, and we were excited to try the water slides.

Even Bria went down the slide. She stood in line for a long time, but when she splashed into the water, it was well worth it. She did it by herself!

Buccaneer Bay was added 1982. According to their website, it is the only spring-fed water park in Florida. There are four slides, and tubes are available to rent for floating on the river.

This park has the distinction of being a very "local" feeling place - in fact, there are a lot of references (in the show and in talk about the park) about it being a surviving piece of "old" Florida. You can feel that when you are there, and the history is well commemorated. 

A friend who was born and raised in Spring Hill (just a mile or two down the road from Weeki Wachee) described the spring as the "life blood" of Florida. It was very busy the day we were there, and the website says they fill up during the summer and have to cut off entrance. So come early!

Admission prices are reasonable - $13 for adults, $8 for kids 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. That price includes the mermaid show, boat ride, reptile show, and Buccaneer Bay. Annual admissions are also available. They are $60 for an individual or $120 for a family, and because it became a state park in 2008, that includes parks across Florida.

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9 Legendary North Dakota Places to Bring the Family

Looking for a legendary way to spend your summer? North Dakota is the place to go! Here are nine of our favorite hot spots to spend a sunny day in the Roughrider State.

Dakota Dinosaur Museum - Dickinson

Roaming the halls of dinosaur bones never goes astray with our children. The fact that many of the dinosaurs in the Dakota Dinosaur Museum were found locally adds an awesome twist to this great adventure in learning and makes it a stop we love to make when we are in the Dickinson area.

There is a children's corner, which is a fun place to sit and take a break from the excitement, and a park outside for running around on the grass after.

Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids 3-12. Watch your dates, though - the museum closes for the season on Labor Day.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of our favorite places for wildlife viewing in North Dakota. Bison roam freely, which is usually the only kind of traffic you will encounter. We were excited to learn that 186 species of birds call the park home, too! How many can you spot? And don't forget the Prairie Dog Town! Watching the black-tailed prairie dogs is well worth the hike.

There is lots more to see, too. Drive the scenic loop, check out the visitors centers, and lots more.

There are two units of the park - the North Unit is located 14 miles south of Watford City on Highway 85, and the South Unit is accessible from exits 24 and 27 off Interstate 94, near the Montana border.

Entrance is $20 per vehicle, or use your National Park Pass.

Tip: If you don't already have a National Park Pass, we highly recommend it - it is a bargain at $80 and gets you into national parks for a year. We make a point of visiting national parks whenever we can, and the experiences are well worth it!

North Dakota Heritage Center

For learning about the history of this beautiful state, no location has more to offer than the North Dakota Heritage Center, on the capitol grounds in Bismarck. There are thousands of exhibits chronicling the state, including art, interactive exhibits, and lots of technology. In addition, learn about the energy development that is currently evolving the state into a destination for workers from across the globe.

Plan to stay a while, and pop into the James River Cafe for a bite to eat midway through. As you are leaving, be sure to look up - you are standing next to the tallest building in North Dakota! You are more than welcome to walk the grounds, which are a part of the capitol's Arboretum Trail.

Knife River Indian Village

Spanning nearly 1,800 acres near Hazen, the Knife River Indian Village is the place to go to see archaeological remains from the Northern Plains Indians. We love to explore the exhibits, including going inside the earthlodges we had previously only seen in books. There are lots of tools and other items to see, and the ranger talks are very informative.

In addition to the Native American history, Lewis and Clark came through here in October of 1804, camping nearby at Fort Mandan, so this free site is a fun place to add to your Lewis and Clark knowledge.

International Peace Gardens

The International Peace Gardens have a little something for a range of tastes. With historical sites, beautiful flowers, an interpretive center and so much more, there is sure to be something to please everyone in the family. Plus there is lots of room to run off some energy! Take the time to explore one of the park's many hiking trails, wander through the Formal Garden, or wander through the peace poles to read "May Peace Prevail" in 28 different languages.

Located near Dunseith on the border between North Dakota and Manitoba, the Peace Gardens are a symbol of the relationship between two countries. The park is sprawling - check out this map to plan your visit.

A daily pass is $15, and a season pass is $30.

Note that you are crossing through Canadian customs on the way back from the park, so bring along the family's passports to make for smooth sailing. If you don't have passports, photo ID is required, and you may spend a little extra time at the crossing.

National Buffalo Museum

Jamestown, North Dakota is home to the National Buffalo Museum, a can't-miss stop along I-95. The bison (or American buffalo) played a significant part in the area's history, and this site offers the opportunity to learn more through a series of exhibits and artifacts.

Plus there is a live herd, featuring the only true albino bison in the world, named White Cloud. And of course the world's largest buffalo! The 26-foot tall concrete bison, weighing more than 60 tons, has been standing over Jamestown since 1959.

There is also a frontier village and gift shop. The museum is $5 for adults.

Geographical Center of North America

Have you ever wondered where the geographical center of North America is located? If you're driving along Highway 2, you'll soon learn it is in Rugby, North Dakota. Everyone needs to pile out of the car and take the obligatory family photo next to the 15 foot obelisk that marks the site!

Fort Union and Fort Buford

This is really three sites in one. Start by checking out the Confluence Center, located at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers 20 miles west of Williston. The center features traveling exhibits (at a charge of $5 per adult and $2.50 per child, which also includes Fort Buford), and a beautiful view of the rivers.

Next door, explore Fort Buford State Historic Site, the remnants of a military fort built in 1866. There is a stone powder magazine, cemetery site, and an officers quarters building, where visitors can now explore a museum. A few times a year, there are also reenactments at the fort, which are a special treat.

Fort Union Trading Post is a few miles to the west, on the border with Montana. The fort was an important fur trade post between 1828 and 1867, and is filled with interesting nooks and crannies to scope out. Watch a blacksmith hammer out a horse shoe, climb to the top of the fort and look out over the river, and visit the exhibits inside the Bourgeois house on the site where seven Native American tribes traded buffalo furs and smaller furs for goods from around the world. During the summer months there are often tepees set up out front, for added interest. 

Medora

A list of North Dakota attractions wouldn't be complete without mentioning historic Medora, located near the western edge of the state. Options for a real cowboy-inspired experience abound. Check out the website to learn more.

If you have an evening to spare, don't miss the pitchfork fondue or the Medora Musical!

Where have your North Dakota adventures taken you? Share your favorite spots in the comments, we'd love to read them!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by North Dakota Tourism. All of the opinions expressed are our own!

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Utah: Junior Ranger at Great Salt Lake Marina

At five, the best thing in the world may very well be to become a Junior Ranger. Every state and national park we visit, Bria checks with the staff to see if they have a program.

During our stop at Great Salt Lake State Marina outside of Salt Lake City, she was so excited to find they did!

Junior Ranger programs teach children to "Explore, Learn and Protect" our National Parks. The programs are activity-based, usually including a park-specific workbook filled with ways to learn about the park.

The workbook at the Great Salt Lake Marina included some sensory activities that were a big hit (sit quietly and look, listen, smell, etc. then write down what you sensed), along with a word search, drawing, and bird identifying. These booklets are a fantastic way to move from the backseat to fully engaged in the environment.

Children complete a set number of activities based on their age (younger children do a few pages of the booklet, older children complete the entire thing), along with additional interactive activities. Sometimes they are asked to pick up litter, or attend a ranger talk.

While she was exploring, she even made friends with a small snake!

After doing all of the outside activities, she moved inside to view a movie about the Great Salt Lake (she was very intrigued by the concept of being able to float in the water without swimming), then shared her answers with the Park Ranger.

Following the execution of the Junior Ranger oath, she was awarded a badge and congratulated on her new role. She is always proud to add a new badge to her collection!

Junior Ranger programs are almost always free (we have once or twice run into ones that required a small donation - Yellowstone, for example), and are an excellent way to build curiosity in young travelers.

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Florida: Potter's Wax Museum in St. Augustine

We kind of let the guy selling trolley tickets talk us into going to Potter's Wax Museum. (He was sweet and fun, how could we say no?) A maze of life-size figures representing popular culture and history greeted us as we escaped the heat of the day to explore.

Bria was excited to see the Star Wars characters. "Daddy loves this movie!" she proclaimed, and posed for photos to send him.

And of course Elvis. She's always happy to see Elvis!

There were figures from science, including Marie Curie and astronauts. Overall the tour took about 20 minutes, with the adults wandering behind the children as they moved at their own pace.

And the founding fathers - it was fun to match up who was where and talk about things each would be known for.

The wax museum is located in St. Augustine's Old Drugstore building. The building is an Italianate structure built in 1886, which would become the Speissegger Drug Store until the 1960s. The history of the building added to the experience, and we enjoyed reading about it on the historical marker.

This attraction is open from 9-6 Monday through Thursday and until 9 on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10.59 for adults and $7.41 for kids 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online, or in combination with a trolley ticket for a discount.

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