History Lesson #5: Maritime History in Outer Banks North Carolina

 Roanoke Island Festival Park and Elizabeth II offers historical lessons about both Native Americans and the Roanoke Voyage of 1585.  This 25 acre interactive historic site represents the first English settlement attempt in 1585.  The museum had several interactive exhibits capturing the kids imagination including 16th-century and pirate costumes and ship ropes to pull. 

Taking a wooded path, you will discover the American Indian Town educating tourists about the homes and agriculture of the Algonquian culture.  Two longhouses represent the historical homes of American Indians, including one measuring 30 feet long.  Outside stands a ceremonial dance circle. 

The kids most enjoyed the 16th century representative ship of Elizabeth II located in Shallowag Bay.  It represents one of the seven English merchant vessels from the Roanoke Voyage.  Enthusiastic interpretive staff encouraged the kids to turn the capstan to raise the ship's anchor.  The kids examined the lines and riggings while the adults simply appreciated the views from the quarterdeck. 

The square-rigged sailing ship replica has a relatively short history; constructed in Manteo (across the waterfront), it was dedicated in 1984 and even Her Royal Highness Princess Anne attended.  The admission cost ($10 adult, $7 children age 3-17) was well worth the cost.  Tip:  check the website ahead for a $1 coupon.

 If you want to find other maritime museums in the United States, check out the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) website with an extensive list including:

1.  Hawaii Maritime Museum (Honolulu, Hawaii)
2.  Maine Maritime Museum (Bath, Maine)
3.  Portland Harbor Museum (Portland, Maine)
4.  Fells Point Maritime Museum (Baltimore, MD)
5.  American Merchant Marine Museum (Kings Point, NY)
6. Toms River Seaport Society Maritime Museum (Toms River, NJ)
7.  Michigan Maritime Museum (South Haven, MI)

Gym Class #6: Little Yogis & 3 Yoga Festivals

North Star Resort, Photo by Krenda

Vacation gives you an opportunity to unwind and explore new places, meet new people, and try new things.  My friend had a gorgeous wedding at North Star California resort in Truckee, CA (near Lake Tahoe), so I looked into kid friendly events on the resort and found the Patagonia store offering a free yoga class. 

Yoga, like vacation promotes relaxation.  Kids have stress too.  Schools feel pressure to reduce recess and gym class and add more tests.  Yoga helps teach focus, self-control, respect for others, and inner-strength.  Little Flower Yoga and Yoga Ed work to incorporate yoga into classrooms.

Physically yoga helps strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness.  Kids have natural flexibility, so my kids beamed as they found doing the postures called asanas easier for them.  Plus the instructor kept praising their skills, calling them future little yogis.

Yoga class emphasized mind and body working together.  We concentrated on breathing called pranayma to calm and refresh.  Breath deeply and fully, stretching on the inhale and relaxing on the exhale.

The poses also have names that help kids imagine.  You usually hear about downward dog, but yoga has so many more poses.  The kids especially like the animal pose names like cat, cobra, cow, lion, locust, fish, butterfly.

Yoga began in India.  It means "union" in Sanskrit, an Indian language.  It means coming together of mind and body.  Check out your local gyms for classes.  Many offer prenatal and baby yoga classes.

If you want to sample yoga at home, consider YouTube videos like Cosmic Kids which has kid specific yoga videos at no charge if you accept advertising.  Consider a yoga mat, but all you really need is comfortable clothes.

If you want to sample yoga with live trainers, consider a yoga festival with kid activities:

1.  Commongrounds (Loring Park, Minneapolis, MN) in July
All day pass $80, morning or afternoon only $45, single class $25
Bonus - "kids camp" free with event ticket and pre-registration for 4-12 year olds, a full day of fun (8:45AM-5:15) including activities such as hula hooping, circus yoga, peaceful ninja show, storytime, and yoga games like mat tag)

2.  Tuscon Yoga Festival (Gene C Reid Park, Tuscon, AZ) in October
free registration, free yoga
Many types of yoga including Yoga Nidra, Vinyasa, Acro, Yin, Yoga in Spanish, plus meditation

3.  Yoga Fest (San Jose/Bay Area, Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy, CA)
free for children under 12 and kids clases
Main stage includes a variety of yoga classes (gentle Hatha, Sri Sri, Sukshna), meditation for world peace, and multi-cultural performances (African drums, Mexican dance, and Chinese dance)