If you are looking for a lovely activity for the whole family to do while you’re in Salem, Massachusetts, the Peabody Essex Museum is a wonderful option. It was a gloomy, rainy day outside when I visited and it was the perfect place to spend the morning. Take a peek at some of the pieces that I most enjoyed:
Protector Goddess, mid-1800’s. Artist in Kerala, India
I love going to museums and have always wanted my kids to be just as excited about them as me. Their first museum was visited in a stroller, and when they were finally able to walk it was time to explore the Museum of Natural History in NYC. Some of my friends think it’s pointless to bring their kids because they don’t get anything out of it. Seriously? How can you possibly stand next to the statue of David and not get anything out of it? However, how do you entertain kids at museums?
Now don’t get me wrong, my kids and I don’t stand at a painting and discuss the contrasting and muted tones or the use of negative space. It usually sounded more like, “Hahaha…look Mom…BOOBS!”
My girls have been to museums in NYC, Boston, Portugal, London, and Greece and have never once told me they were bored. When they were young, they treated a museum as a place to use their imagination and they come up with some pretty cool ideas. Now that they’re teens they still love going to museums. I asked the girls to share in their own words some tips on how they’d entertain themselves at museums when they were younger. Take it away ladies…
The Picasso Museum, which opened in 1963, is another must-see attraction while in Barcelona. The museum shows the deep connection Picasso had to the city, and you will learn all about what made Picasso one of the most famous artist in history. Let me tell you all about it…
Getting to the museum is a delight, because you will weave through small dark alleyways in a gorgeous section of Barcelona. The building itself is a work of art, and it fits in well with the Gothic architecture of the city.
The Picasso Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona, so I would suggest buying tickets online before you go. They like to keep crowds to a minimum, so they only allow a certain number of people in at a time. As with most attractions, the tickets are timed and you will need to arrive during your window or you will not be allowed to enter.
Another hidden gem in Gloucester is the gorgeous Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House. This stunning piece of architecture was the summer home of interior designer, Henry Davis Sleeper. It is a 14,200 square foot work of art that is perched on a lovely piece of property overlooking Gloucester Harbor. He used the house to show off his interior decorating skills to potential clients, as well as a summer retreat that he loved to share with friends and family.
This beautiful home has twelve bedrooms, eight bathrooms and twelve fireplaces (some worked and some were there for effect). Here are some of my favorite spots in the house:
Amber glass is displayed in this back-lit area when you walk into the house.
When in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the number one place you MUST visit is Hammond Castle, an actual European castle perched high on a bluff on a stunning New England shoreline. You will feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you explore the grounds of this magical place. Built by John Hays Hammond, Jr, a scientist, inventor, and art connoisseur, it was completed in 1929 as a wedding gift to his wife. He was one of the most eccentric man I’ve ever heard about and you’ll learn all about him throughout your visit. Let me show you around…
IT ALL STARTS OUTSIDE
Peek through the arches to see Gloucester Harbor and Eastern Point light.
It is such a peaceful spot as you look out at the water.
For my birthday this year, my girls and I decided to head to Boston to check some things off our list that we’ve wanted to do. Since we were already planning to do the Old Town Trolley Hop-On Hop-Off bus, (don’t forget to read all about our ride!) we decided to get off at one of their last stops… the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Also, since it’s summer vacation, it’s nice that they got to learn about an important time in American history (Just don’t tell them it was educational…sssshhh). I really had no clue what to expect, since I’m not too thrilled about doing tours through museums. I was pleasantly surprised that the tour is actually a fully immersive tour. The characters were so authentic, we felt like we had stepped back in time. Here’s a peek at our experience:
Our first stop was to go to the meeting house to meet us with some of the local townspeople on this historic night in 1773 Boston.
Since it is a dangerous time, we were given a feather to represent a disguise, as well as cards that told us all about the character we were.
There’s nothing more fun than discovering a hidden gem in one of your favorite cities. While attending the Women in Travel Summit last spring, I went on The Real Portland Tour and our guide told us we HAD to get inside of the Victoria Mansion because there was nothing like it in Portland. I hadn’t been able to take that building off my mind so while my girls were in camp this summer, I decided it was finally time to go in and take a peek. I was lucky to have a private tour with Torie, who was able to bring life to the history of the house. Let me show you around…
Also known as the Morse-Libby House, Victoria Mansion was built between 1858-1860 for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife Olivia. Can you believe it was their summer home! The outside of the home is stunning and will make you stop in your tracks to look at it.
When you walk in, you’ll be amazed at this stunning staircase
(more…)
While my girls are in camp, I like to spend some quiet time exploring different cities. After a hectic day in Boston, I decided to slow it down and head to Portland, Maine for the day to enjoy some relaxing ‘Me Time’. My first stop was the gorgeous Portland Museum of Art. I’d been here years ago on a quick trip so I was anxious to be able to spend as much time as I wanted.
It’s hard to walk by the museum without giving it a second glance. The courtyard outside has some beautiful sculptures so I had to stop and take a look. The first thing I noticed was the sculpture that looked very familiar since I just saw one very similar at the CMCA in Rockland, Maine.
When you think of a fine arts museum you may imagine boring halls filled with old portraits, security shushing people, and bored children trailing behind their parents. This is not the case at the Boston Fine Arts Museum. Not only do they have hundreds of famous paintings, they also have mummies, statues, jewelry, and weapons that will capture anyone’s attention. The Boston Museum of Fine Art, with more than 450,000 works of art, is difficult to see in one day, but with a little planning, you can see it all. The museum is separated into different wings such as Art of Ancient World, Art of Asia, Oceania and Africa, And Contemporary Art. Let me take you around to see our favorite areas of the museum:
Your experience of the MFA begins before you even walk inside. The museum has some really unique pieces of art right outside. These doll heads are my daughters’ favorites!
I personally love Indian Hunter (Paul Manship, 2002) as the hunter and Pronghorn Antelope (and Paul Manship, 2002) as his prey.
If you’re looking for something the whole family can do while you’re in Boston, look no further than the Museum of Science. Like many big museums, it’s always best to plan your day out before going, so don’t miss anything. There are so many fun things to do there that I suggest you check out the website and, as a family, decide what you want to do together. While my girls were at camp, I got to go alone and I had just as much fun as I do when they come with me, so it is also a great activity when you’re traveling to Boston solo.
Here are 10 things my family likes to do when visiting the Boston Museum of Science:
(more…)