When Sam and I got married, we agreed that we would continue to pursue our respective passions. Mine: arts and culture. But lately, life with two amazing and energetic young kids meant little time for indulging in personal pleasures, although we desperately missed nurturing these parts of ourselves.
Spending a few nights away from the hustle and bustle of our routine seemed like the perfect chance to slow down, rediscover what made us tick, and share these activities with our kids. And so, with minimal planning, the next weekend Sam and I packed up the car and our kiddos to drive 83 miles west to Rockford, Illinois.
Approachable and easy to navigate, Rockford Art Museum is a winner for all families, especially those intimidated by the magnitude of big city museums. Unlike Emma, the six-year-old me longed to be a cashier.
So, imagine my delight when I found a play grocery store at the Discovery Center Museum , a lively spot adjacent to the art museum, packed with more than interactive science and art exhibits for kids of all ages. Our children were naturals as co-anchors at the news studio—Emma as meteorologist and Colin as White House correspondent. Connected by tunnel to the other two museums on campus, Burpee Museum of Natural History deserved a day unto itself. Hands-on experiences with geology, wigwams, and a two-story rainforest rounded out our museum trip, and we quickly turned our attention to a very pressing issue.
Colin chimed in with his own ideas about how, he too, could eat a whole stegosaurus, and a quick look at Sam confirmed it—we were very close to having a dino-themed hunger meltdown on our hands. Luckily, I had done my research and knew that we were close to some kid-friendly, but parent-taste-bud-approved restaurants less than five minutes away.
