Adriane just introduced me to a small science museum I'd never been to, about 45 minutes from Oxford. The Joseph Moore Museum ( http://www.earlham.edu/josephmooremuseum/) is in Richmond, on the campus of Earlham College, in a building called Dennis Hall. It's got some cool fossils and other animal specimens on the first floor. In the basement, there's a kid-friendly play area, plus a few live reptiles and even a mildly spooky mummy. There's also a small planetarium, although the student manning the museum on Friday managed only to turn it on, and didn't really teach us anything about the stars. The babies gazed at it for five, maybe 10 minutes. But, hey, everything was free. (NOTE: The museum is only open MWF and Sun., 1-5. Check the web site for details).
The museum is good for maybe 30 min. to an hour's worth of pretty intense fun for kids. If it seems like a long drive, you might stop by Veach's Imagination Station (http://veachstoys.com/) probably the best toy store I've been to within an hour's drive. Veach's has a lot of educational toys and a huge selection of Playmobil sets. The only bad thing about this toy store is the screaming that occurs when you tell your kids it's time to leave. Also, you'll frequently get a 20 percent off coupon in the mail. Veach's is at 715 E. Main St.
Directions to the Joseph Moore Museum:
Take 27 N (passing Wal-Mart on your right). Cross into Indiana. Follow signs to stay on 27 through the town of Liberty. Go about 14 more miles until you reach Richmond. Turn left onto S A St./US 40 and follow 40 until it becomes National Road. Look for Earlham College on the left, at 801 National Rd.
Directions from museum to Veach's: Get back onto National Road/40 and head back the way you came. You should find yourself on S A St. again. Turn left at S. 3rd St. and R. at E. Main St. You'll have to find parking, since there's only street parking near the toy store.
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If you have a little more time to kill, follow 40 down even further (past Veach's), through town about 5-10 minutes. You will see a Walmart/Goodies shopping strip mall on your right (this is before you hit I-70). JoAnn Fabrics and Cradle and All (kid's clothing and toy consignment shop) are in this shopping area. This JoAnn Fabrics is where I almost always end up going when I can't find a licensed kid print that I need (Curious George, Sesame Street, Raggedy Ann, even Hippos). It's much better than the one in Hamilton.
And I have gotten some good priced finds at "Cradle and All" ((765) 939-2505). $3-5 for most boys shirts (and sweaters), most in almost new condition. They have really high standards for what clothes they buy, and a good selection. Recently we bought a new looking fleece elmo hoodie for $3.00. The best part is there is a small play area that is walled off, and the wall is high enough my 2 year old couldn't climb over. He played happily while I looked around. The also buy and sell toys and furniture, which is good news for those of use looking to lighten the toy room clutter before Christmas.
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