Animal Lesson #12: Rare Alligators at Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY

While alligator populations have risen and were removed from the Endangered Species List in 1987, it's rare to see white alligators.  There's two types: 1) albino, meaning lack of melanin resulting in white shin and red eyes, and 2) leucism, meaning partial loss of pigmentation resulting in white or patchy skin and normal color eyes.  Biologist estimate only 100 white alligators in the world and two of them are at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY (across the river from Cincinnati, OH).  Leucistic alligators are even more rare with 12 believed remaining, two featured at Gatorland in Orlando, Florida.  

While the white alligators may lure you to the Newport Aquarium, you'll also like the kid friendly activities.  Included in your admission, approximately $28, is three unique activities: 

1) Shark Touch at Shark Central where you can touch sharks with two fingers

2) Tide Pool Touch where you can touch sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and anemones

3) Shark Bridge - dare your kids to cross a 75-foot suspended rope bridge to walk across a 385,000 gallon shark exhibit.  

I like that these activities are for everyone vs. an extra charge.  There's also many exhibits including 

1) Shipwreck Realm of the Eels - batfish, frog fish, green moray eels, and spiny lobsters

2) Seahorses Unbridled Fun - seahorses, sea dragons, razor fish, and pipefish

3) Stingray Hideaway

4) Gator Alley - see two white gators named Snowball (male) and Snowflake (female)

5) Penguin Palooza

6) Freshwater Falls - tunnel underneath a Kentucky waterfall landscape includes bass, black crappie, and perch

7) Coral Reef - rays, eels, unicorn fish

8) Amazon Tunnel - 32 foot tunnel and 117,000 gallons of freshwater with exotic species including Arapaina and Pacu

Also, consider the aquarium for a business event.  I attended a training at the Newport Aquarium and having a penguin as the surprise lunch guest certainly makes a joyful impression.

For more information visit the Newport Aquarium website http://www.newportaquarium.com/; for a couple more personal photos visit "Newport, KY" set at http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenda/sets/.

If you want to see more white alligators, here's two more places open to the public for viewing:

1) Clyde Peeling's Reptileland in Allenwood, PA ($16)

2) St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park St. Augustine, FL ($28)

Animal Lesson #11: 7 Aquariums with Shark Viewing

Whale Shark, photo by Krenda

You are more likely to have lightning strike you or get killed by a tornado than get attacked or killed by a shark.  Yet over 100 million sharks get killed each year.  While the world has over five hundred shark species, only a dozen species are known to attack humans.  Sharks are powerful and graceful, using six senses including electroreception through special sensors.

Whale Shark Georgia Aquarium

A friend of mine at work recommended that I swim with whale shark off the shores of Mexico.  Intrigued, I researched the endangered shark to find out where I could view one in the United States.  Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta holds the record of the first and only place to keep whale sharks outside of Asia.  The book Amazing Places to Take Your Kids by Laura Sutherland recommends the aquarium and recognizes the amazing exhibit, "They roam the waters of a six-million-gallon tank they share with thousands of other fish, including sawfish, giant grouper, stingrays, and hammerhead sharks.  I've been to a lot of aquariums; this exhibit is spectacular.

Whale sharks hold the record of being the largest known fish species.  The largest stretched 41.5 feet and weighed approximately 47,000 pounds.  Originating approximately sixty million years ago, whale sharks are filter feeders.  Only two other filter feeding sharks, megamouth shark and basking shark, exist.

The whale shark gentle nature and sheer size steals the show at the Georgia Aquarium.  As the largest aquarium in the world, you may easily spend a half day at the other exhibits, touch tanks, and the dolphin show.
You may travel to exotic seas, go diving, and have the opportunity to see a whale shark in the wild.  Whale sharks also live off the Bay Island Honduras, Thailand, the Philippines, the Maldives, Western Australia, Belize, and Puerto Rico.  However, for an easy way to see sharks with your family, consider the following aquariums:

Visitors and Whale Shark Georgia Aquarium

1.  Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, adults $49.95 and child (age 3-12) $29.95
second largest aquarium in the world, offers education including "Project White Shark" 15 min. talk about the threatened white shark, and "Kelp Forest Feeding" diver hand feeds sharks and other animals during 15 minute presentation

2.  Shedd Aquarium, Illinois, adults $39.95 and child (age 3-11) $29.95
90 minute behind the scene to see shark mealtime $89.95

3.  Florida Aquarium Tampa, Florida, adults $28.95 and child $23.95 discounted online pricing
Shark Swim experience allows age 9 and up to snorkel with sand tiger sharks for $110 each
Scuba dive with sharks requires certification and $160 fee

4.  Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada, adult $25, child (4-12) $19
100 sharks including grey reef, blacktip, zebra, sand tiger, sandbar, nurse, and whitetip reef
$650 to dive with sharks

5.  Newport Aquarium, Newport, Kentucky, adults $24.99, child $17.99
Suspended rope bridge takes you inches above sharks, over 12 species including sand tiger, blacktip, California leopard shark, and Port Jackson shark
Private overnight on Mon. Tue. with min. 20 people and $49.99 per person

6.  Florida Keys Aquarium, Florida, adults $20, child (4-12) $15
Predator Reef Tank includes nurse, blacktip, sandbar, blacknose, and bonethead shark,
Big Shark Bay Encounter offers Pet and feed nurse shark $18

 I've also been to the Shedd and Newport Aquarium and recommend these aquariums too.

State Park #4: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale - kayak & water sports

One of my favorite classes in high school was water sports.  It's difficult to decide which offered more fun - scuba diving in the deep end of our high school pool or learning the eskimo roll and doing it over and over in my kayak.

People began using kayaks, otherwise known as "man's boat" or "hunter's boat", approximately 4,000 years ago.  If you want to tie in a geography/history lesson combination, look for the locations of the people who first developed and used the kayaks:  Inuit (Greenland, Canada, Alaska) and Aluet (Russia, Alaska).

While most people today don't use a kayak to hunt seals and whales, kayaking provides great exercise, especially building arm muscle.  Plus, kayaking on lakes, rivers, and along ocean shores provides an opportunity to experience nature from a different viewpoint.

How might you inspire a paddling interest?  Perhaps watching a film or paddling festival.

Film festivals:  1) Reel Paddling Film Festival (Portland, ME, Hadley, MA, Alexandria, VA, Lake Placid, NY and more cities)
2) National Paddling Film Festival (Frankfort, KY) $25 ticket and silent auction

I've enjoyed watching the paddling competition at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado.  Here's 3 other festivals:
1.  Gauley Fest (Summersville, WV), proceeds support American Whitewater's river conservation
music acts, first come first serve camping; 3rd Sat. in Sept., $20-40 tickets
2.  Reno River Festival (Reno, NV, Wingfield Park Whitewater Park), 35,000 visitors; USA freestyle National Championship, kayak and fishing clinics, yoga, bike ride and costume contest, music; May
3.  Upper Klamath Festival (Klamath, OR) $30 participant fee includes shuttle, free camping; 2nd weekend in April

Renting a kayak at a state park gives you an opportunity to try the adventure.  My husband took these photos at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale, FL.  By kayaking, my son and I entered shallow areas that big boats couldn't access and we got close to birds.

National forests provide wonderful waterways for kayaking and canoeing.  Check out nationalforest.org for a full list including these 3 forests with varied views:
1.  Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Superior National Forest, MN) 1,200 miles of routes
2.  Indian River Canoe Trail (Hiawatha National Forest, MI) canyon like banks
3.  Clearwater Canoe Trail (Lolo National Forest, Montana), mountain views

If you get more serious and want to learn whitewater kayaking, Nantahala Outdoor Center paddling school has classes ($130-$150/day; Bryson City, NC).  It's less than 2 hours from the popular Smoky Mountain vacation rentals, including our luxury cabin rentals Lightning Bug Lodge (Sevierville, TN) www.lightningbuglodge.blogspot.com and Indigo Moon Lodge (Pigeon Forge, TN) www.indigomoonlodge.blogspot.com.

Science Lesson #2: Geology and Two Caves in KY

Photo by Krenda

I find when I combine reading a book or watching a movie and then visiting the site, I learn even more.  You can set up trips to make this experience happen for your kids. 

This article covers two caves in Kentucky and their connection to literature.

1.  Mammoth Cave National Park
The National Seleogoical Society lists cave books, including one focused on Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park by Ruth Radlauer.  They also list Amazing Bats by Frank Greenaway and Cave Life (Look Closer) by Christiane Gunzi. 

Mammoth Cave fits it's name; it's mammoth with over 365 miles mapped. Took the tour as a child and as an adult and enjoyed it.
Tips
There's multiple tour options.  Read online to select the right one for you and book early.  Tours fill up!

2.  Cave Springs Cavern
If you want to combine nature and literature with your kids, consider staying 6 miles away at Oak Hill Farm and Cabins in Smith Grove, KY.  While the Mammoth Cave is impressive, I found the Cave Springs Cavern on Oak Hills Farm to be even more interesting and mysterious.  Formerly used as a rare Native American ceremonial site, "the family" radio carbon dated 30 BC.  The owner and protector, Bill J Marohonic, gave us a personal tour included in our stay.

If you plan ahead, have your children read one of his books:  Dream Catcher How We Saved A Kentucky Time Capsule or My Conversion from a Humanist to a Believer.  You can also look up the PBS 9 minute video - that's how I learned about the unique site.

Bill will also tell you about his love for nature and animals.  He rescues horses and you can visit them.  His 17 acre estate includes a nature preserve.  At night, stay up to watch the bats circle under the moon light.

Tips
Book the bed & breakfast stay, tour no charge. If you have children and have a choice, choose the older log cabin, nicer than the new cabin.  Bill also rents out rooms in his 1857 antebellum home.

Art Lesson #6: 7 Glass Factory Tours

Fire and glass always catch kids attention (and mine too).  Immerse your child in the art production to appreciate art.  You never know when the production (vs. the final product) sparks a fire in one's interest.

Glass is beautiful to me, especially in an art form like a vase or stained glass window.  William J. Benko is also inspirational to me since he took a risk, moving from Europe to the United States to begin the first US glasshouse that could supply mouth blown (Antique) sheet glass for stained glass windows.  He began his company in 1893 in Kokomo, IN. 

 I became interested in the Blenko Glass company after watching a PBS show about it and then took a road trip to tour the production in West Virginia.  You can watch the glassblowing in action and purchase vases and bowls onsite.


Lesson Idea
Two suggestions based upon my story, 1) tune into your public tv station, it's full of local travel stories that will inspire you and your family to explore, 2) take your child to a glass factory or museum

Here's 7 glass factories/museums to consider:
1.  Blenko - Milton, WV (pictured above), check out website www.blenko.com for store coupon and demonstration times (usually open 9AM-4PM)
2.  Boyd's Crystal Art Glass Inc. - Cambridge, Ohio (OH)
3.  Corning Museum of Glass - NY (everyday, adult $15, free under 19 yrs)
4.  Fenton Art Glass Co. - Williamstown, WV (select Saturdays)
5.  Kokomo Opalescent Glass - Kokomo, IN (Tue. - Fri.)
6.  Mosser Glass Inc. - Cambridge, Ohio (OH)
7.  Glassworks - Louisville, Kentucky (KY)

If you've been to any of the glass factory tours above, please write a comment on whether you recommend it to other Moms.

Science Lesson #1: Ohio Caverns & 9 Others to Tour

Once upon a time my mother taught science and math, so we learned science no matter where we walked, above the ground or below the ground.  I have vivid memories of touring Mammoth Cave as a child.  Now I take my kids on cave tours.

You can try memory tricks to learn scientific terms.  For example, stalagmites and stalactites are both speleothems or deposits of mineral.  One trick to remember stalactites as above and stalagmites as below is to tell yourself "stalactites need to hold on tight".  Another trick is think of the letters in the words - stalagmite's G for ground, stalactite's C for ceiling.

Ohio Caverns

However, you can bring such a lesson alive by taking your children on a cave tour.

For my daughter's birthday, we took both our kids and their cousins to Ohio Caverns in West Liberty, OH.  It's the largest cave in Ohio and has many formations including one shaped like a water pump.  The formations exist in all directions, in front and above you, so we kept physically close to the kids, watching their head and hands.

Lesson Idea

Read about cave biology before you go on a trip beneath the ground.  According to traveladvisortips website, Ohio Caverns made the list "Top 10 Most Amazing Caves & Caverns in USA".  Here's the other 9 caves listed you could visit with your kids:
1.  Meramec Caverns - near St. Louis, MO
2.  Kartchner Caverns - AZ (by guide only)
3.  Luray Caverns - Shenandoah Valley, VA
4.  Carlsbad Caverns - New Mexico
5.  Blanchard Springs Caverns - Arkansas
6.  Mammoth Cave - Kentucky (KY)
7.  Lost Seas Caverns - Tennessee (TN)
8.  Shenandoah Caverns - Virginia
9.  Natural Bridge Caverns - TX

I've also been to Natural Bridge Caverns and Mammoth Cave and I would recommend these sites for families with kids.  If you have been to any of the other caves, please leave a comment and let us know whether you would recommend the tour for kids.

Ohio Caverns Fun Fact

Family owned, passed down from one generation to the next
Learn more at http://www.ohiocaverns.com/ or visit the cave in West Liberty, Ohio, just 2 hours North of Cincinnati

Ohio Caverns Tips

You will feel like you are driving out in no where and perhaps no one else is visiting, is it even open? Very cute entrance sign "yes, we are open". Apparently the owners can hear us thinking.  Bring a picnic basket, there's a picnic shelter on site. 

Music Lesson #1: Steve Martin and 8 Bluegrass Festivals

 Before your kids are teenagers, you have the opportunity to teach them that there's other music genres than just rap and R&B.  To widen their music appreciation, consider bluegrass - a genre invented in the United States by Bill Monroe.

Bring the lesson alive.  Take the kids to a concert, especially a festival with multiple acts.  We attended the Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival in Morgantown, IN.  Besides recognition for having the world's oldest bluegrass festival, Morgantown is also the location of the International Bluegrass Music Museum.  Festival tickets ranged $20 to $30 per day.

Under the stars, sitting on the lawn, we experienced a real treat - watching Steve Martin play banjo.  Comedian, actor, writer, art collector, banjo player...what can't he do?  He won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2009 by releasing "The Crow:  New Songs for the 5-String Banjo."  A few jokes and a lot of amazing music, the whole family watched in awe.

Bluegrass festivals take place across the country every Summer and Fall.  Here's eight other bluegrass festivals:

1.  Joe Val Bluegrass Music Festival - Framingham, Massachusetts; Feb - indoor 3 day event at Sheraton in the Boston area, Kids Academy teaches kids age 5-17 to play and offers opportunity to perform on stage; early bird ticket $110
http://www.bbu.org/events/joe-val-festival/

2.  Graves Mountain Festival of Music - Syria, Virginia, May - $35 to $45 daily ticket, 3 day event at resort in Blue Ridge Mountains; take advantage of nearby fishing, biking, & hiking

3.  Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, Colorado; June - enjoy the San Juan Mountain setting, 3 to 4 stages, and 4 day event

4.  Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - Oak Hill, NY; July - Catskill mountain farm, limit of 4,000 camping tickets ($170 adult, kids under 12 free, plus $20 parking fee)

5.  IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Festival) Fan Fest - Raleigh, NC - 3 day indoor festival, 60 acts, film festival, award show, supports charities like the Bluegrass Trust Fund; check location annually

6.  Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival - Winfield, Kansas; Sept. - numerous contests including autoharp, madolin, banjo, flat-picking, dulcimer, and even camp decoration contest!, early purchase tickets (Dec. to Feb.) discounted to $75

7. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival - San Francisco, CA; Oct. - over 100 artists on 7 stages at the Golden Gate Park; it's a bargain! free festival funded by gift

8.  Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration - Rosine, KY; Oct. - on the site of Bill Monroe's birthplace, free tent camping, nearly 300 volunteers, includes gospel and square dance music

Engineering Lessons: 6 Lock and Dam Visitor Centers

"The Ohio is the most beautiful river on earth.  It's current gentle, waters clear, and bosom smooth and unbroken by rocks and rapids, a single instance only expected."  Thomas Jefferson.

Like the Ohio, I am connected to the Mississippi

Born near the Mississippi, living and working near the Ohio, I travel back to the Mississippi

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, to the Mississippi

Like the Ohio, I believe in freedom

Like the narrow river enabling escape from South to North, from slavery to freedom

Like the Ohio, I live to travel and connect

The river connects communities, I connect people and stories

And whether I'm watching the barges from upon a hill in Cincinnati as I've photographed

Or watching the sun rise and sun set from an Evansville office window

I appreciate the Ohio River, it's beauty, it's peace, and it's ability to change

You can teach kids about Science & Engineering by taking them to a lock and dam visitor center.

Through one of my jobs in which I met lock and dam engineers, I learned that there are many facilities throughout the US open to families to view the lock and dams.  I've been to the Mississippi River Visitor Center with my family:

Mississippi River Visitor Center Locks & Dam 15

Rock Island Arsenal, IL

April - Dec. watch boats pass through the locks

Jan. - March spot bald eagles

Here's 5 additional places to explore:

1.  Lock 16 Center & LaSalle Canal Boat, IL

April- Nov. 1 hour boat tour $14 in 2014

mule pulled replica of a 19th century canal boat

5 miles from Starved Rock State Park

2.  McAlpine Locks and Dam Visitor Center

Louisville, KY

includes a public fishing area from the bridge

3.  Bonneville lock and dam

near Cascades Locks Oregon, 40 miles E of Portland

declared a National Historic Landmark

You can call for a group tour request

4.  Lock & Dam No 1, Minneapolis, MN

Near Minnehaha Park (also a great family place)

Panoramic views from a pomenade three stories above the dam

5.  Lock & Dam No 7, St. Paul, MN

view lock operations from visitor center

Gym Class #2: Rolex Kentucky & 7 Other Horse Events

Photo by Krenda

If you want to help your child envision, show them the best.  Sporting events help kids see what's possible.  Before signing up for horse back riding lessons, take your kids to a competition or event.

Living near Kentucky, we simply drove down to Lexington for the Rolex Three Day event including:  1) dressage, testing the gaits and obedience, 2) cross country, riders and horses go at speeds up to 25 mph over challenging terrain, including obstacles, water hazards, ditches, 3) jumping - a thrill to watch.

Prices can be steep, so check online for lower advanced pricing.  The Rolex takes two tickets, one for grounds admission ($20 to $40 for adults) and one for stadium competition seats ($10-$40 daily).

A friend of mine from my MBA college program has family in KY, living and breathing horse breeding and racing.  Kentucky residents are fortunate to be surrounded by horse farms and events:  Kentucky Derby, North American Junior/Young Rider Championships, American Saddlebred World's Championship Horse Show, Paso Pino Horse Association Grand National Championship Show.

You don't need to live near KY to find a horse event.  You can find events across the US and throughout the year.  Here's 7 other horse events (locations and dates may change):
1.  FEI World Cup Show Jumping & Dressage Finals -April, Las Vegas, NV 

2.  International Friesian Show Horse Association World & Grand National Horse Show- Sept., Burbank, CA

3.  AQHA World Show - Nov., Oklahoma City, OK

4.  Super Ride US Equestrian Drill Ride Championship - June, Lindale, TX 

5.  American Eventing Championships - Sept., Tyler, TX

6.  Arabian Sport Horse Nationals - July, Namba, ID

7.  Arabian Youth Nationals - Albuquerque, NM