Things to Do - Write to Santa Claus

Macy's will send $1 to the Make a Wish Foundation for every letter they recieved addressed to Santa Claus @ The North Pole.

http://social.macys.com/believe2010/?cm_mmc=VanityUrl-_-believe-_-n-_-n#/santas-post-office

Things to Do - Build a Greenwall

A couple in NYC built a greenwall in there house from 400 plants. I think it would be very neat to build one, and have my kids stuff all the plants in the pockets for me.

How To Link Here.

Things to Do - Upcycled Kid Play Furniture

These people bought a used $30 piece of furniture and turned it into a play kitchen. I wish I could do that.

Giggleberry Creations Blog

Things to Buy - Aidan's Monsters

Saw on LikeCool.com today that a five year old artist is selling his art to pay for his chemotherapy. 


Aidan's Monsters on Etsy. 

Things to Do - Make Pizza

Watch this video, a guy named Scott Weiner makes NY style pizza in everyday oven, and it will inspire you to try it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/economybites/homemade-pizza-oven_b_766798.html

Things to Do - Enter Halloween Photo Contest

Disney has a Family Halloween Photo Contest going on. I wish I had known before I bought our costumes, I would have tried to put together a theme for my entire family (which I guess I could always do next year).

Things to Watch - Kid Videos

The Cat in the Hat Knows Alot About That

Kid Mango - Online Kid's TV

Things to Do - Visit Cornell University

I parked on College Avenue at a meter this Sunday (on weekends you don't need to pay the meter, which is good since I did not have change with me), and I strolled through Cornell to watch the sunset, #28 on this list. Highly recommend it. 

What's Up This Weekend - Catskills Harvest Festival

I wonder how far Delhi, NY is? This looks like it could be a neat little festival at Maple Shade Farm. 

Still Seeking - Pumpkins

Looking for great pumpkins at great prices. They are $.30/pound at Grisamore Farms. I've seen lockboxes at the side of the road that sell them for $3.00 each. Are there prices better than that? I want a place I can get great big ones, and not feel too guilty. 

What's Up This Weekend - Mackensie Childs Fall Festival

Hmmm...never gone to this MacKensie Childs event. I wonder what it's like. We've been to their Christmas Tree Lighting, that was cold, but interesting. Best part of that evening that I can remember though was eating at Fargo Bar and Grill...yummy. Hey, just noticed there's also a Halloween event, and the Great Pumpkin will be there. 

Things to Do - Iron Kettle Farm

I have been to Iron Kettle Farm three other times during the fall, but for some reason, I did not know they had kid's rides there. They have a small train, and a corn maze, an obstacle course, a fun barn walkthrough, and a scary barn walkthrough, a hay bale castle, a trike track, and a wiggle scooter ride-on area. I have two kids, and I had to buy a dozen tickets for each (which cost $13/dozen). They do have an ATM. And plenty of portopotties and picnic tables. We had a great day; there was tons to do. We didn't even get to ride the hay ride. 

Things to Do - Carve Pumpkins

Free Pumpkins Carving Templates, available at Pink Raygun. Just click on the template you like and print out the PDF. 

Places to Avoid - Ithaca Apple Festival

The Ithaca Apple Festival is great for Downtown Ithaca. Tons of new students from both Cornell and IC flood the commons and probably bring in tons of money for local businesses and vendors. And yes, there's tons of tents and stuff to see, if you can see above the crowd, but it is just NOT a place to bring kids and strollers. There are just too many people. And the lines are just too unstructured. Your stroller-ed child will be staring at the backs of knees above all else, and you will invariably hit and run over pedestrian toes no matter how careful you are. And un-strollered children will not fare much better, as they will be tossed and squeezed through tiny cracks of spaces all in an effort to just make it back to your car. Or, maybe it's just best to go on Friday, and avoid the weekend. I haven't tried that yet. But it will take me a long time to get up the gumption. 

Videos to Watch - How to Feed the World

To sum up, the solution to world hunger, is for everyone from the northern countries to consume more vegetables and beans, and less meat. To help you and your family get started saving the world, here is an awesome lentil stew recipe. 

Things to Do - Cornell Infant Studies

I had seen some flyers around at local hospitals and doctors' offices about the Cornell Baby Lab research while I was pregnant, and thought it would be interesting to try a couple of times. I have been actually called in a quite bit more than I expected since the baby turned six months (or old enough to sit up); about every three months.  The first experiment was a sound test, where they put the baby in a Bumbo seat, and tested her reactions to sounds and lights. Then when she could crawl, they wanted to know what kinds of things she would prefer crawling to. There is actually two different baby experiment programs, one is by the Department of Human Ecology. I do feel that the Baby Lab has a better facility, and that the students are probably working at the graduate level, because they seem to have their act more together there, when it comes to communication, directions, etc. But all in all, I am glad I participated in each, I just like seeing my child put through strange, weird, and wacky situations and seeing how she'll react to them. 

Place to Go - Grisamore Farms

We're going to Grisamore Farms sometime this next weekend as well.  For the last two years, they've had the best cider we've tried. 

Place to Go - Iron Kettle Farm

Iron Kettle Farm's Spooktakular Pumpkin Displays are ready. 

Place to Eat - Wegmans and/or Ithaca Mall Food Court

When I am out with both kids and if for some reason I forgot to pack snacks, and we are just too hungry to go on, and there's no one else that can help me wrangle them, I have to take them somewhere with plenty to distract them. So I take them to either the Wegmans cafe, or to the Ithaca Mall Food Court. Both places have highchairs and restrooms, I can order kid size meals, and when they have finished eating, they are not in a drastic hurry to get moving right away. 

Things to Play - Baby Gamer

Ithaca weather is unpredictable. Sometimes I am stuck singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider about 20 more times than I actually want to. That's why I like Baby Gamer; there are links to such sites as El Buho Boo which has games for toddlers where they just have to hit keys to interact with it. The Fisher Price ABC game sings the ABC song over and over and over, which is just the way my toddler likes her songs delivered. 

Still Seeking - Children's Art Museum

I really, really want to find a children's art museum, and I don't know where to find one. I'd like a place that has great art displayed for small kids. Pieces that would appeal to children. A place that offers kid art workshops that are included in membership. A sculpture garden that kids can climb on, similar to the Children's Garden tortoise. 

Place to Go (Maybe) - Niki's Party Place

We were in the neighborhood of the Ithaca Mall when it had just opened on a weekday, and the power went out, so we had some time to kill. My kids spotted Niki's Party Place, and for $5/hour I thought "why not?". That early, the place was completely empty, but other kids started to arrive very soon. Once you get some of these bigger enthusiastic kids in there, toddlers and small kids get pushed off to the sidelines. And after only exactly a half hour my kids wanted to leave. They were also very thirsty. And we were charged for the whole hour.  But, I definitely think we'll be going back there when my kids get just a bit older, and next time I'll bring water. I only do wish they offered a half hour slot for tinier kids.  

Place to Eat (Maybe)- Sammy's Italian Buffet

Just tried Sammy's for the first time - we had dinner, and there are some pros and cons. Some food items taste really good, and there's a corner especially for kids with highchairs, videogames, and a kids movie. Great ideas. But ok, only one big major complaint, the price for kids buffet is $6.99 each, even our 2 yr old who basically ate 5 noodles, two meatballs, and a baby cone of ice cream. So...the price is steep - probably won't go again unless I come across a coupon. 

Place to Go - Ithaca Sound Maze

We passed by a sign on our way to Grandpa's house many many times, that said Ithaca Sound Maze with an arrow, and since we were always on our way elsewhere we never had time to stop. Well one day Grandpa cancelled on us midway, and we were able to finally follow our curiosity. It is a large maze, and every now and then you stumble on everyday objects turned into musical instruments so you can stop and play them. We went on a day when there was hardly anyone else there so we didn't have to wait our turn to bang on things, which is good, cause my girls are not patient. 

Place to Eat - Rudy's Lakeside

We like to go visit a friend of ours up in Oswego during the summer, and we always go to his favorite place to eat up there, Rudy's Lakeside, which has fish fry and a bit of a beach where you can get into the water. 

Place to Eat - Texas Roadhouse

While we were crossing the country, we stopped of at some random exit from the highway in Illinois somewheres. We ended up having awesome ribs and sweet buns, and didn't think we'd ever be able to eat at that restaurant again. Well, we were happy to find out that there's a Texas Roadhouse in Syracuse and we visit every now and again, and we are always happy when we do.

Place to Shop - Trader K's

I  like to shop for used kids' clothes at Trader K's rather than at Mama Goose. I feel that the prices and the selection are better. The service is pretty iffy on the weekends though. 

Trader K's

• (607) 272-4011

119 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850

Place to Eat - Glenwood Pines

One of our favorite places to eat out is Glenwood Pines. Steak and potatoes or burgers or fries easily satisfies most our visitors from out of town. And no matter how large our party gets, there's always a table available, since they have large tables downstairs. Kid seats are also the kind that let kids feel like they are invited to eat with everybody else. 

Place to Eat - Not My Dad's Soft Serve

When I am in the mood for ice cream, nothing else will do but soft serve. And even though our local Dandy Mart has a pretty good soft serve, sometimes we want a large selection. Not My Dad's is great soft serve in a great location - close to Glenwood Pines, and close to the falls. 

Place to Go - Cortland Pumpkin Fest

Next weekend we are going to the Cortland Pumpkin Fest. We go every year. The trickiest thing is finding parking. But the crafts are great, lots of activities including horse rides, hay rides, petting zoo, and bouncie houses, and great food -- chowders, ribbon sweet potato fries, caramel honeycrisps, yummy.  

Place to Shop - Back to Basics Bulk Foods

I used to have to eat only gluten free foods, which are REALLY expensive when they are sold as prepared food, so I tried to find a place that would sell brown rice flour in bulk so I could learn how to make my own. Found the Back to Basics Bulk Foods place by accident. They sell everything in bulk, and there are some things that are really a good value - like cashews, pretzels, and bay leaves. 

Back to Basics

• (607) 844-8074

2207 Dryden Rd, Dryden, NY 13053

Place to Go - Myers Park Playground

My favorite place to go is Myers Park in Lansing. On my checklist of must haves - they've got bathrooms, playground, swimming, and if you go on a weekday, it's free - perfection. We've even had a birthday party there since it's only $45 to rent a pavilion. 

Place to Go - Roy H Park Nature Preserve

We like to take the kids on nature walks. We like the Cayuga Nature Center because, well, they have bathrooms, but we also wanted to find places with more water. 


Our favorite place to go is the Roy H Park Nature Preserve. After a brief easy trail (that's loaded with stinging and buzzing bugs - bring bug spray), you get to the water. And if you've got your water shoes, it's a great place to bring the little ones. Even if they are only crawlers. Nice water spot. 

Place to Go - Strong Museum of Play

When my husband and I used to live in Los Angeles, we travelled all over California. We like to pack the kids in the car and travel around upstate New York too. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, etc. And because we like road trips, I want to mention a really fun place we like to visit - The Strong National Museum of Play  -- it is definitely worth the drive. 

Place to Shop - Hollenbeck's Cider Mill

Hollenbeck's has got a cider mill. You can see the apples being pressed. There are three or four lines, and they are long. You can get homemade fresh donuts, powdered or plain. Fresh apple cider or grape juice. Apples, of course. Fresh pie. Honey, cheese, and syrup. From the looks of the lines, everything must be great. We got there at 11AM this Saturday. There was one parking space. But the traffic was directed by a parking guard, so things moved smoothly. There are a few outdoor picnic tables to try the items you've purchased inside. 


Be advised, Hollenbeck's is CASH ONLY. Hours are Open 7 Days a Week, 9AM-8PM. 

Hollenbeck Cider Mill

• (607) 835-6455

1265 Rt-392, Cortland, NY 13045

Object of this Blog

Moved to Ithaca three years ago from Los Angeles. I've spent much time since hunting for things to do with my kids. And "hunting" is the word, since most things to do here in Ithaca are not advertised online, and sometimes not even in the phone book, it is quite hard to find anything. It takes time. It happens by chance and by accident. And while sometimes that's great, sometimes it's frustrating too. Like what happened today -- we went to Hollenbeck's Cider Mill to see what might be found there. Found long lines out the door. Chose a couple of items to buy. Found out too late - ugh, they don't take anything but cash. Really would have liked to have known that in advance. 


Also, as a mom, I need places to have specific things before I know that I can take my kids there - restrooms, kid oriented activities, not too many things that my children can break or ruin, the permission to make noise, and food, or at least a place where eating is allowed. I really wish there was some kind of resource that would give advice about these things, all in one place. I can't find anything like that. And so, here's an attempt of nothing fancy.