Where should I go for a few days this summer with my 8-year-old?
May 31, 2023 6:25 PM Subscribe
Looking for fun ideas for a 5-or-so-day trip with my 8-year-old this summer. We are in Toronto - my hope is to go somewhere within maybe a couple hours flight or less than half-day drive. The kid likes (in more or less descending order): Minecraft, dinosaurs, lego, pokemon, Dog Man, science museums, comics, jokes, movies. We both like wandering around cities.
Our dates are probably a Monday-to-Friday or maybe Sunday-to-Friday in late July - probably July 24-28. Neither of us loves super-hot temperatures (I'm guessing many places we want to go are gonna be pretty hot that time of year)
In the past we've gone to Miami in the winter (very fun: Kid especially loved seeing alligators in the wild and going to the science museum out there), Niagara Falls (for a closer shorter trip), New York (Natural History Museum was a highlight)
Any cities we can go to? Is there, like, a Minecraft theme park or a Dog Man convention or something we should know about?
I'm open to all sorts of ideas, suggestions, etc.
Our dates are probably a Monday-to-Friday or maybe Sunday-to-Friday in late July - probably July 24-28. Neither of us loves super-hot temperatures (I'm guessing many places we want to go are gonna be pretty hot that time of year)
In the past we've gone to Miami in the winter (very fun: Kid especially loved seeing alligators in the wild and going to the science museum out there), Niagara Falls (for a closer shorter trip), New York (Natural History Museum was a highlight)
Any cities we can go to? Is there, like, a Minecraft theme park or a Dog Man convention or something we should know about?
I'm open to all sorts of ideas, suggestions, etc.
Well, if your dates flex at all and if the Pokemon interest extends to Pokemon Go, Pokemon Go Fest is coming to New York this year - but it's in late August, the 18-20th. I've been to a couple of these things so if you're curious what it's like and whether it's worth moving your summer plans around for it, feel free to memail me.
posted by potrzebie at 7:46 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 7:46 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've always liked Columbus, Ohio. It has a science museum with a dinosaur gallery, and I see it also has a Legoland Discovery Center.
Ithaca, NY is a nice college town with a science museum and a Museum of the Earth that might possibly be of interest. It's on a lake and there are lots of places to swim or wade or view gorges and waterfalls in the area, which might make the heat more bearable.
posted by Redstart at 7:47 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ithaca, NY is a nice college town with a science museum and a Museum of the Earth that might possibly be of interest. It's on a lake and there are lots of places to swim or wade or view gorges and waterfalls in the area, which might make the heat more bearable.
posted by Redstart at 7:47 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
In all seriousness, Sudbury for the Big Nickel/Dynamic Earth (the underground mine tour is pretty good - when you go down the elevator into the mine, the temperature drops dramatically) and Science North. Lots of stuff about dinosaurs and geology.
Sudbury gets proper summer obviously, but it's generally going to be cooler and certainly less humid than Toronto at that time of year.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:03 PM on May 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Sudbury gets proper summer obviously, but it's generally going to be cooler and certainly less humid than Toronto at that time of year.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:03 PM on May 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
I haven't been to these specific attractions, but if dinosaurs are a priority, I'd think Alberta should be your destination with both Dinosaur Provincial Park and the Royal Tyrell Museum. You'd just miss the Calgary Stampede with those dates, so if you're going, maybe you'd want to schedule your visit so you catch a bit of the rodeo and the events that go along with the show.
posted by sardonyx at 8:16 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by sardonyx at 8:16 PM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
I started taking my Lego-loving kid to Brickworld in Chicago when she was about your kid's age. It's coming up in just a couple of weeks, so not in your date range for this year, but maybe put it on your calendar for another year, because it is amazing.
Seconding the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, OH. Have been twice with my kids and had an amazing time both times, though it's been awhile.
posted by Well I never at 9:57 PM on May 31, 2023
Seconding the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, OH. Have been twice with my kids and had an amazing time both times, though it's been awhile.
posted by Well I never at 9:57 PM on May 31, 2023
Springfield, Massachusetts has several museums plus a Dr. Seuss sculpture garden, across the river in Agawam is the amusement park Six Flags New England. It's not far from lots of places (New England is pretty small, except for Maine) if you rent a car. Northampton, for example is a college town with some cool places; westward to the Berkshires for cooler weather and maybe a trip to a state forest or one of the lakes.
posted by TimHare at 10:04 PM on May 31, 2023
posted by TimHare at 10:04 PM on May 31, 2023
I haven't been to these specific attractions, but if dinosaurs are a priority, I'd think Alberta should be your destination with both Dinosaur Provincial Park and the Royal Tyrell Museum. You'd just miss the Calgary Stampede with those dates, so if you're going, maybe you'd want to schedule your visit so you catch a bit of the rodeo and the events that go along with the show.
The Tyrrell is a world-class museum, with dinosaur displays in the same league as any natural history museum out there. The Drumheller area and Dinosaur PP are both really interesting places just in terms of the land; it somehow just feels like dinosaur country out there. The caveat is that the badlands can get hot in the summer; it's dry, but it can break into the mid 30s (but that's the badlands; Calgary not as much).
The Drumheller area also has a mine; the Atlas Coal Mine. The displays there aren't much to write home about for an eight year old, but there is a mine train you can ride that would be fun. The Calgary Zoo also has a substantial prehistoric park that has sculpted rock formations and animatronic dinosaurs; it's a little bit hokey but still worth a stop; the rest of the zoo is very good. And even if it's not on your stated list, Banff and the Rockies are pretty great.
posted by Superilla at 11:16 PM on May 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Tyrrell is a world-class museum, with dinosaur displays in the same league as any natural history museum out there. The Drumheller area and Dinosaur PP are both really interesting places just in terms of the land; it somehow just feels like dinosaur country out there. The caveat is that the badlands can get hot in the summer; it's dry, but it can break into the mid 30s (but that's the badlands; Calgary not as much).
The Drumheller area also has a mine; the Atlas Coal Mine. The displays there aren't much to write home about for an eight year old, but there is a mine train you can ride that would be fun. The Calgary Zoo also has a substantial prehistoric park that has sculpted rock formations and animatronic dinosaurs; it's a little bit hokey but still worth a stop; the rest of the zoo is very good. And even if it's not on your stated list, Banff and the Rockies are pretty great.
posted by Superilla at 11:16 PM on May 31, 2023 [2 favorites]
St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis! They have a great science museum, a really good zoo, there’s a wolf sanctuary, there are caves you can visit not that far out of town, and most of the cultural museums (art, history) are free. Plus in the summer, there’s the Muny, where they have really good outdoor theater (usually musicals). But besides all that, they have the City Museum , which is a museum in the same way that Disney World is a playground. It is pretty much the most awesome place ever.
Depending on when you go in the summer, it will likely be on the hot side, though.
posted by Mchelly at 4:49 AM on June 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
Depending on when you go in the summer, it will likely be on the hot side, though.
posted by Mchelly at 4:49 AM on June 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
There was an AskMe by Canadian travelers looking for things to do in western NY.
There may be some ideas there, but I'll copy and paste my suggestion from that thread:
There may be some ideas there, but I'll copy and paste my suggestion from that thread:
The Museum of Play in Rochester is an interesting place with lots to see. I took a visiting nephew there a few years ago - once he found the arcade game section (all games playable) he settled in for the rest of the afternoon.posted by rochrobbb at 5:06 AM on June 1, 2023 [1 favorite]
The games were playable with tokens rather than quarters - and since you could get (at the time at least) 5 tokens for $1, cheaper to play than they had been originally. I played a few rounds of Asteroids.
There was an arcade game "Wreck it Ralph". I thought this might have been an obscure arcade game from which rights were acquired for the movie. It turned out some number were built (in aged cabinets to make them look authentic) as a promo for the movie - the museum acquired one for their collection.
Boston has 68 museums including ones of the types you mention. Also maybe still swan boats.
OTOH, if your child has not yet experienced Quebecois Canada, it might be a good time to do so. Both Montreal and Quebec city are popular tourist destinations and have plenty to do and see.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:20 AM on June 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
OTOH, if your child has not yet experienced Quebecois Canada, it might be a good time to do so. Both Montreal and Quebec city are popular tourist destinations and have plenty to do and see.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:20 AM on June 1, 2023 [2 favorites]
Fly to Chicago on Porter! Taking a propeller plane is a big adventure. MSI is a whole day for an 8-year old. Lots of city/big buildings/other museums/etc. to explore. Dinosaurs at the Field. Mummies at the ISAC.
posted by Mid at 7:09 AM on June 1, 2023
posted by Mid at 7:09 AM on June 1, 2023
You aren't far from Gananoque and Kingston. Take a tour of the Thousand Islands. Visit Fort Henry, the Pump House Steam Museum, which has all kinds of fun stuff, and the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. Brockville has an aquarium at the Tall Ships landing.
Two hours from there, Ottawa has lots to see.
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:58 AM on June 1, 2023
Two hours from there, Ottawa has lots to see.
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:58 AM on June 1, 2023
It’s close to the end of its current run, but see if you can find a touring showing of Dog Man: The Musical which got a surprisingly decent off-broadway review.
posted by evadery at 8:17 AM on June 1, 2023
posted by evadery at 8:17 AM on June 1, 2023
Rochester + Ithaca could be a lot of fun, maybe a couple of nights in each. In addition to interesting stuff mentioned above (yeah, my 8 yr old grandkid loves loves loves Museum of Play in Rochester) the various state parks with gorges are pretty amazing in the Ithaca area and even if your kid doesn't know they're into that kind of thing they may well be after a hike and a swim in Treman State Park.
posted by mareli at 2:05 PM on June 1, 2023
posted by mareli at 2:05 PM on June 1, 2023
I’m shocked no one has mentioned Legoland NY yet! It’s a theme park resort that opened couple of years ago, and it’s about 60 miles away from NYC in Goshen, New York. You could easily spend a couple of days there, and then for the rest of your trip, you can head an hour away to Woodstock, New York. No it’s not that Woodstock (the festival was actually held in Bethel, NY) but it’s a wonderful hippie town with great food, hiking, and a good mix of art, music, shopping, and culture, and it is super cute to walk around. It is the most quaint, walkable and picturesque place and I loved it as a kid and as an adult.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 5:23 AM on June 2, 2023
posted by Champagne Supernova at 5:23 AM on June 2, 2023
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