Step into an enchanted wonderland filled with fortune tellers, antique arcade games and coin-operated amusements at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum. The carnival-esque atmosphere is infamous for it's approach to old-fashioned entertainment. 

This space is packed with one discovery after the other. Every inch is covered with an unusual display, a rare poster or something unexpected hanging from the ceiling. There are machines that move, rides that entertain and prizes galore. This museum also features a snack enclave that has concession-stand treats like cotton candy, popcorn and hot dogs.

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The Roosevelt Park Fest 2013 featured all the things that make a festival great. DJS spinning live music, crafts from 555 Gallery & Studios, Firefighter Chili Cookoff!, killer cornhole tournament, a bounce house and beer. Did I forget to mention the most awesome thing ever... Roller Skating!!!! Because WHO doesn't LOVE skating? The Grinch perhaps. 

The festival was held under the stoic watch of Michigan Central Station, our massive treasure that will most likely be restored soon (call it a hunch) Anyway- what better way to spend the first day of fall than at a neighborhood picnic... roller skating! 

Skaters raced around a oval-shaped track. (aka: the street) Some were total pros, performing tricks and stunts that definitely were the result of some hardcore practice, while others were on skates for the first time ever. Groups formed when a bangin' song came on- think Stevie Wonder, Snoop, Hall & Oates and swayed to the beat with moves that cannot be replicated by yours truly, nor will any attempt be made. Ever.  

It was an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends and family all chillin' at the park. Friends were made & fun was had by all. 

Detroit Design Festival 2013 featured the awesome concept that attendees could create their own path, meandering around town to check out any combination of the 60+ latest designs, innovations and installations from cutting-edge artists and designers. Happenings were conceptualized by a huge range of avant garde artists, including fashion and product designers, gallery and studio owners, cinematographers, interior and graphic designers, performance artists, boutique owners- the list is endless. 

Paths included varied categories such as the Youth Path, Community Path, Exploration Path, Enthusiast Path, Consumer Path and Practitioner Path. Stick with one specific path and attend coordinating events or choose a few from each to make your own way. Exploration promotes learning about new things and this was a excellent way to introduce children to art and design concepts. There was an amazing array of activities and interactive exhibits for all ages to discover.

Children were able to draw and crawl through a cardboard city from Neighborhood Fort, check out a Lego exhibit which depicted some of the city's iconic skyscrapers, create their own mask, and scribble at an artists studio created by coG-studio, an architectural design firm which specializes in creating spaces for youth.

Take advantage of beautiful summer nights- you know, those balmy nights that are filled with crickets playing their tune- before the chill of Autumn fills the air. 

A fun way to spend time outside in the evening is to make your own ring toss- but not just any ring toss, take it to the next level by creating a Glow Ring Toss! This lawn game is very simple to make and the kids can help. Just grab some glow jewelry, (necklaces work better because they are larger) which can be found in craft stores and online, invite the kids to crack the tubes to get them glowing- and place two sticks (we used metal skewers) about 5 feet apart- that's it! 

Warning: Kids will get sidetracked by the awesome glowing being produced and probably abandon the game and start running around like some Tron character.

Tucked away in Binghamton, New York is one of the most outstanding places for children ever imaginable. Located in the same vicinity as The Zoo at Ross Park is The Discovery Center & The Story Garden.

Every step you take will lead you to somewhere amazing. The Story Garden is a wonderland of learning and non-stop fun for a wide range of ages. The entrance itself is stunning and gives you an inkling of things to come. There is a pathway to follow throughout the garden, bringing you through impeccably landscaped areas. Chill with a book, which can be found at different sections in the garden. The books are grouped together by themes, each correlating with the activities offered. The books available fit different reading levels.

The entire garden was impeccably designed. There is Peter Rabbit's Garden, where actual vegetables are grown & donated to a non-profit organization. Children can learn about gardening by helping water the garden with a fish watering can that is set up by the waterfall.

There is a miniature golf course for the kids to try, with a bench adjacent to the astro-turf for kids to read a book. Steps away, sits a lovely castle structure where children can let their imaginations run wild.

Further down the path is a stage for role-playing and an awesome jungle gym + a rock-climbing wall! Both areas offer more books to read and areas to sit and enjoy them. A hidden path with another place to lounge can be found after you have reached the top of the climbing wall. Next to this area is a treehouse; it is pretty spectacular.

There was a tiny house along the path. The roof was made from living plants- kids could learn about the process & see it in action for themselves. Small details added to the experience- there was a broom available for little ones to help clean the home. Located nearby was a paddle boat that really worked and a tiny bridge that little feet could explore.

The Three Bears cottage sits near the edge of the park. Both the exterior and interior design were outstanding. The interior was painted how one would imagine the home of the three bears to be. Children can share stories at the table or climb up the ladder to the 2nd level and check out the layout from above.

To make long story short: No details were overlooked. There were places to climb, explore, learn, and discover. Children were able to exercise both physical and mental strength. This place is well-done and other places throughout the country please take note. City planners should visit & make great efforts to replicate this project for their region. I cannot say enough good things about this playscape/learning area- it is fantastic beyond belief. Access to the Storybook Garden is compliments of The Junior League of Binghamton.

p.s. After you reach the end of the Storybook Garden, you can make your way to the Zoo at Ross Park, then to the historic carousel, which anyone can ride for free. There is also a playground. I will have to devote another post to the Discovery Center, located at the entrance of the Storybook Garden.

Time to find all the eggs that sly rabbit hid around the backyard! For a unique way to locate the eggs as they are lying in wait- try a hunt using photographic clues. Very simple to do- tried it last year & it was actually requested again this year because traditional egg hunts were 'too tricky.'

Ingredients:
Hollow Plastic Eggs, any variety
Photo paper, regular paper works fine
Camera & Printer

This activity combines learning and imaginative play. Kids will love the opportunity to fish for letters while pretending they are captains of their boat Perfect for rainy days when you wish you were sailing off into the sunset.

What you need:
A Boat: sled, box, couch...
Body of Water: flat sheet, rug, fabric remnant
Fishing Pole: plastic or stick & string- magnet hot glued onto string
Fish: magnetic alphabet or construction paper letters with paperclips attached

Place the boat adjacent to the lake. Scatter the alphabet, magnet side up. Children sit inside the boat, each with a fishing pole.  Go fish!

Alphabet Fishing can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages. Just tweak it to fit your child's skill level. For 18 months+, it is fun simply to hold the pole and see what they catch. You can ask toddlers to fish for a particular color, while preschoolers will enjoy finding particular letters they are familiar with. Start with the letter their name starts with. As they master those,  introduce new letters. Challenge older children to spell words, fishing for each letter in succession to create a word.