Ikea side-trips (with Fossil Park AND Sharon Woods Park)

Here's some great options for sidetrips when you make your way to Ikea. We investigated today, and were really pleased with everything. It was a fun daytrip.



1. Trammel Fossil Park, Tramway Dr., Sharonville, OH (45-50 minutes from Oxford)

This is a nationally reknown fossil park that is--FREE, and chocked full of great fossil finds. We were there with very small kids and they each had their little buckets full in no time. Not much shade and the terrain is rocky (hence the fossils), so we recommend okay shoes for walking/climbing around. And it's probably best to stop here first in morning, or last in evening, to avoid the hot summer sun.

Directions from Oxford:

Mapquest took us 27 south, 275 North, Sharonville exit (just past the exit for I-75). Turn North (which I think is left) on Lebanon rd. Take first left onto Hauck Dr. Go half mile to Tramway Drive and turn right. It is two blocks up on Tramway Drive.


2. Sharon Woods, Sharonville, OH (45-50 minutes from Oxford--5 minutes from Fossil park)


They have a fantastic indoor play area. It costs $2.50, but if you buy 4 entries you get one free (to be used at any time- including that day--for the next year). The center is clean and we liked that you could use big people stairs to go up to the top level of the play area. I also noticed a handicapped accessible lift that could take people up to the top level. It has climbing and tubes, a ball area. Oh, and air conditioning. We had to drag our kids away. We did have a few heart-stopping moments when we tried to locate one of the kids who were in one of the non-see-through tubes. But there is only one way in and out of the play area, so that is reassuring.



There is also a pioneer village, outdoor sprinkler playground, nature center area, and several outdoor playgrounds.



Directions: From the fossil park, go back out to Lebanon Rd. and turn right. The park will be on your left after about a mile. (also can turn right onto Lebanon Rd. from 275 if skipping fossil park).


Directions From Sharon Woods TO IKEA (10-15 minutes)-- Go right on Lebanon Rd., then left on Kemper. At Reading Rd. turn right. This turns into Cincinnati Dayton Rd. Turn left on Allen Rd. and you'll see Ikea's flags almost immediately.


EXTRA: BANANA's Inflatables
If you are taking 129 to and from IKEA, you'll be also going right past Banana's. I can't blog much on it, since I haven't been there. But I hear it has big inflatable jumping stuff for kids. And it's indoor's. I have seen it on 129 near the 129/I-75 interchange (going west on 129 from I-75 it's on your left).

Squeezing in some nature time

I came across some quick excursions here in Oxford that I thought I'd share. These are bite-sized little trips, great for an afternoon when you have an extra 20 minutes to hold your kid's hand and wonder at nature for a little while.
The first is the Black (Pugh's Mill) covered bridge (LINK), which is on Corso Rd. off 732. It's a very short drive from the Doctor's Park, the pediatrician, and the dentist and vet offices near there (look for a sign on the left), so I've taken my kids there as a treat sometimes after an appointment. The bridge itself is fun to walk across, and at the end, there's a small but rather steep path down to a little creek where my boys love to throw rocks and pebbles. There's also a lovely flower garden and a picnic bench.
I also recently discovered the sculptures on the back lawn of the art museum on campus (LINK). SS and I found some well-groomed trails to walk along and stumbled across one exhibit we like to call the Hobbit Hole. It was hot, though, so bring water, or a hat, or a parasol... Also, note that the indoor galleries are closed for renovations until Sept. 15, according to their web site.
Finally, if you haven't been to the Miami's formal gardens, on Patterson Ave. across from the Miami Inn (LINK), summer is a great time to check it out. Lots of pretty flowers were in bloom the last time we went there for a picnic lunch -- great spot for photos. Enjoy!

Shademakers Gardening in Oxford

We made our annual trip out to Shademakers yesterday. It's one of the few times I actually plan around bringing my kids with me to shop. Shademakers is basically a farm with a greenhouse out on Fairfield Rd. (not far from the Community Park). Besides the kids gardening items they usually carry in their store, and the cool selection of plants and organic seeds. They also have farm animals for kids to see and pet. When we have gone, the workers have been great about offering to show my kids the animals. Our first time there, she actually walked the kids over to see the donkey while I picked out our flowers.

Yesterday we discovered 5-6 baby chicks had been born, and SC even got to hold one! Thomas, the big goat, loves to be petted. And Claribel, their minature donkey, is SC's favorite. The worker said there is a possibility that Claribell might be pregnant. SC got the biggest kick hearing about the "love affair" between Cocoa and Claribell--the worker said that Cocoa, a miniture donkey from a nearby farm, and Claribell spent some time together. She said that Claribell sometimes calls to Cocoa because she misses him (sweet!).

Directions: Take Fairfield Ave. out of town, past Oxford Community Park. Shademakers will be on your left (after Riggs Rd.).

A swimming pool you wouldn't think of....

Most people don't know that you can buy a pass to swim at the Baymont Inn on 27. We have friends who go to the Baymont Inn (formerly Amerihost Inn) to swim every morning. The monthly family passes are an exceptionally great value. Baymont Inn's indoor pool isn't huge, but Sullivan and Theo have liked it the times we've been there. It's not normally crowded, especially mid-week. There isn't a lifeguard (like most hotel pools), so parents have to be in with their kids.

An individual monthly pass is $20, but a Family pass (which includes everyone in your immediate family) is $25 for the month.

I think that makes this a great option -- especially during the "cabin-fever inducing" winter months.

Directions: Take 27 North out of Oxford. It will be on your right following Wendy's a bit (before Walmart).

Phone: 523-2733

Lunar Mini Golf

The kids and I were looking for a way to kill a Saturday afternoon while Rich was away at a conference, so we wound up at the Cincinnati Mills Mall, where we haven't been in ages. It's a little disconcerting to see that so many of the stores there are now empty. Still, it's a fun place for little ones to burn off some energy indoors. There's a PBS Kids playground, which is good for 20-30 minutes of jumping around. The big draw, of course, is the Wonder Park, a Chuckie Cheese-like place with pizza, tons of video games (most of which cost at least 50 cents to play), and kiddie rides that range from $1 to $3.
But what really got the boys excited this time was Lunar Mini Golf. Right next to the Wonder Park, we discovered an indoor mini-golf course that offered so many things my boys enjoy: sticks, balls, and stuff that glows in the dark. The indoor course isn't fancy -- there aren't windmills or hippos bathing in waterfalls -- but there are two courses with 18 holes each that are challenging but not too frustrating for children. The gimmick is that the entire operation takes place in the dark, except for blacklights that set off the fluorescent course in an otherworldly sort of way. (In fact, SH thought we were playing "Alien Hockey").
Kids 5 and younger can play up to three rounds for only $3 (the man behind the counter let SS, age 2, "play" for free). Kids 6-12 pay $6 and adults pay $8, but there's no requirement that the adult has to play. SH, SS and I spent a really fun hour knocking little glowing golf balls around, all for three bucks. I highly recommend it.
What: Lunar Mini Golf
Where: Cincinnati Mills Mall. Take 27 to I-275 E. toward Dayton. Take the Winton Rd. Exit, #39. Turn left. The mall will be on the right. Takes about 40 minutes from Oxford.
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

*Holiday Drive-In Movie Theater*

I can still remember the first time I went to a drive-in movie: The Muppets Take Manhattan. I still think it's genius. There is food, and often multiple movies, merged with the joy of being under the stars. As a mom, the really appealing part is that I don't have to worry about ruining the movie experience for someone else when one of my kids gets cranky.

So we were ecstatic to discover the Holiday Auto Drive-In Theater in Hamilton. http://www.holidayautotheatre.com/
It is actually about 2 minutes from Hanover park, so it is maybe 20 minutes from Oxford. We have been twice, once with the kids and once on a date. We dream of going every time we get our e-mail update about what's playing, though! They were both great experiences. The coolest thing was the intermission snack commercials between the movies, complete with classic cartoons. We felt like we were blasted into the past as the singing hotdog did a song and dance on how "weiners" will fix friendships and make everyone happy...wouldn't you like to have a weiner?

The Drive-in just went under new ownership that has started "Retro Wednesday and Thursdays." These are school nights, so we are eagerly awaiting summertime. A good example of retro night was when they did John Hughes and showed "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and "Breakfast Club." They've also had Alfred Hitcock and other cool movies. RETRO prices are only $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for kids ages 4-11, and free for kids under 4. Box office opens at 6pm with a 700pm showtime.

The new ownership has also been doing more triple features on weekends, which is cool. During the winter, they are only open daily until Jan. 1st. Last year they closed for the cold months, and reopened in the spring. I would check out the website to see what's going on!

Admission Prices...Adults: $8.00, Children under 11: $5.00, Children under 4: FREE!

The only down-side, is that the movies run late (8pm-Mid, or 1am). So, if you think you're kids will sleep in the car, you'll have it made. Ours didn't which is why we don't go as much as we'd like to.

Tips: Bring lawnchairs if it's warm out! And they have Wi-Fi, so you can bring your laptop and get high speed. You can buy an outside food permit, to allow you to bring your own food (it's $5.00), but otherwise outside food will get you thrown out. I would arrive early on nice, summer, weekends. We've been past on nice summer nights and the traffic was aweful.

***Sign-up for their e-mail list and you'll get weekly updates on what is playing and all their special events.

Directions: Take 27 south, out of Oxford. Turn left at the second (out of town) light, Old Oxford Road. This will take you past Hanover park and the water company. The Drive-in is on your left (2-3 minutes past Hanover park).

Sledding in Oxford!

With our second snow of the season (where did our road go?), I felt inspired to blog some great sledding locations. If you have any additions of little known sledding hills, please leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll add it on!

The very best unofficial sledding hill I have ever seen is next to the horseman's area of Hueston woods. In fact, I hesitate to post it because we love it when it's not crowded:) The hill is close to parking, well monitored on clear, busy days, and REALLY big and fun. 3-4 year olds would be okay (if you maybe didn't go to top), but older kids (including parents) would especially have a blast.

Directions: From Brown Rd. Take Brown road out of Oxford to the end. Turn left at the "T." Drive past the Nature area turn, over a small creek bridge, and turn left at the bike rental booth. We always get this turn mixed up with the camping ground turn, but I think it's the left turn after the camp grounds (before the sign in the picture that says "Tours Rentals"). You'll curve to the right, and there is the horse area on your right almost immediately. Turn into that area, and it will "U" around back to the road. Follow the U past the horse area, before it rejoins the road, and you're there. There is parking, and you'll see the sledding hill off the driveway onto your right.

From Todd Rd. (the road next to Walmart). Follow Todd Rd. to Hueston Woods. It joins another road (there may be a stop there) and curves around a bit. When it "T"'s (there are boats parked on your right), turn left. Turn left at the bike rental booth (2nd turn), then follow it around and turn into the horseman area on your right (as mentioned above).

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I heard from a mom at playgroup a few weeks ago that the Miami University Art Museum has a great sledding hill behind the museum. That's the other side of Oxford for us, but when the roads are clear I'd like to check it out.

Directions: Take 27 South (east) past the clock tower, and the museum is on your left before you get out of town. You can't miss the big, weird, red, metal sculpture thing in front.

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Another sledding area near the Art Museum is Peffer Park. I heard from another mom that it's a popular sledding location!

Directions: Continue on 27 South past the Art Museum, and Peffer Park is on your right (I actually looked those directions up on google maps, so hopefully that's right...it might be left).

The Tea Parlor

Recently we took a Mom's night out to have full English tea at The Tea Parlor in Liberty Township, OH. http://www.theteaparlor.net/. I have to say it was one of the best nights out I've had in a long time! The table and room where just beautiful. The food is all made by the owners, Susan and Jennie, from organic, local sources. For $16 (now $18 in 2008) we could have any tea that they offered (out of around 45 selections), finger sandwiches, really yummy scones, savory, and all kinds of other desserts, fruit, bread and cheese. You can make a reservation to go there for tea on Friday or Saturday from noon-5 pm. They even have a children's tea which includes tea, peanut butter/jelly sandwich and cheese hearts, fruit skewer, relishes with ranch dip, scone and ice cream scoops - $8. After our great evening, I'm thinking of finding a time to bring my 5 year old boy. Why not? Good food and tea doesn't have to just be for girls. They also sell their tea and yummy food online, or at the Oxford Farmers Market.

Directions: Out of Oxford, take I-73 (Trenton Oxford Rd). Follow this road as it turns right, then splits off from 127. Turn right on Wayne Madison Road. This becomes Liberty Fairfield Road. Turn left on Hwy 4. Turn right on Kyles Station Rd. (not long, maybe 1/2 mile). Turn right on Yankee Rd. The house is on your right: 5605 Yankee Rd.

Letterboxing around Oxford!

We read about letterboxing a year ago in Family Fun, and after trying it out we are addicted. We loved finding out that there could be boxes hiding anywhere. Some of them in locations we passed all the time, and just never knew the boxes were there.

Basically, people will hide boxes with a stamp and sign-in "log book," then post clues to the box's location online. Anyone can then follow the clues to find the box, and use your own stamp to "sign-in" to their notepad to show that you found it. You can then stamp your own personal notepad with their box stamp. Many people hide boxes with handmade stamps, which makes collecting their imprint fun and interesting. For more info on Letterboxing you can visit http://www.letterboxing.org/. http://www.atlasquest.com/ is another great site for clues, and it gives better info about whether getting to the box is kid-friendly or not.

If we want to do an outing that involves hiking, we'll look up clues, pick a park, and go looking for boxes. Following the clues gives the kids something to do on the hike, kind of like a treasure hunt. And stamping into the box is fun for them. What kid doesn't like playing with stamps? You can find clues online to boxes EVERYWHERE. While we were in Wyoming visiting family, we had a great time exploring new areas looking for boxes. A really fun one at the Denver University campus just had a picture, and we had to drive around campus looking for that building/view point. That one was a magnetic keybox in a well traveled urban area.

There are several great hunts here in Oxford! Oxford Community Park used to have a good one (not sure if the boxes are still active). We have personally hidden 4 boxes with a "Harry Potter Theme," three in Hueston Woods and one at the Lane Library (that one is my favorite one because it is so sneaky). The Hueston Woods series are all kid friendly because I hid them with my 2 year old in tow. http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=55643 and http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=55612 are the clues for our boxes.

Remember: Be descreet when looking for or signing into boxes! Non-letterboxing persons may do something to the box (take it, move it, throw it out) if they see you with it.

Checklist of what you need:
a stamp (you can make one, or just grab one that's lying around the house)
ink pad
a notepad
a compass (if the clue calls for it)
a pen

Hueston Woods Family Fun

Hueston Woods is an Ohio State Park located just North of Oxford, OH. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/745/default.aspx

You can get there from Brown Rd., or by following Todd Rd. (beside Walmart). Check out the website for better directions.

The nature center is free and has some cool animals (inside: snakes and turtles. Outside: a bobcat, cougar, bald eagle and owls). During the summer, their calendar of activities is worth checking out. We happened to catch an animal feeding, and the boys loved watching the cougars, bob cat, and bald eagle, getting fed. Check the website for their hours of operation, since it changes depending on the season.

Nearby there is a fenced deer area, where you can stop by and feed the deer. The deer will come right up to the fence and my kids always love stopping by there to see them. I've heard they like corn. We discovered they don't like apples.

And just a bit further down from that is the playground on the beach. Swimming on the beach is free. Just be prepared to get really filthy. The water is kind of sludgy (geese? algae?)

The playground is really fun but, we always have to do baths afterwards because the sand makes them so dirty. If you don't mind that, it's a good time.

There are a lot of trails, but we have found a few that we love for our family.

Cedar Falls Trail: You can find it on the trails map online. It follows a creek, and when it’s been dry and the creek is low it makes good creek bed exploring with some fossils. The trail is a little rocky though, so it can be a tough hike for especially small. Our 5 year old does just fine.

Hueston Woods Nature Preserve/West Shore Trail (we kind of stumbled on this one):

Drive past the Nature Center and Beach/playground as far as you can go in the parking lot. There should be an orange chain thing blocking a large path (so cars can’t drive down) on the farthest end of the parking lot. Walk that path until you come to a sign that says “You are now entering Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve....” We discovered after hiking it, we weren’t on the West Shore Trail for most of it. When you cross an old bridge, look to your left and there are wooden “stairs” going up a hill on a more woodsy path. Continue on this trail, turning right when it “T”’s, until you cross a road. After crossing the road, continue straight, and when the path again divides go straight toward the lake (not right). You’ll hit Action Lake and the actual West Shore Trail. Turn left on West Shore and that takes you back to the parking lot. The entire thing took us about 1.5 hours of walking. That was with a 5 year old walking and our 2 year old on a carrier on his dad's back. But it was a cool nature trail. Some things to look for (if going with your kids you can see if they can spot them)

A swinging vine in the middle of the path
A huge, fallen, completely hollowed out tree.
A broken tree that looks like it has “hair”
A whole lot of carved initials. Either there are a lot of Deans, or Dean loves a lot of people Sullivan started counting when he saw hearts.

The climbing wall

I was amazed to discover recently that kids are allowed on that fabulous rock climbing wall at the Rec Center on campus. SH and SC, both 5, had a great time just goofing around on the lower "rocks," without any special equipment. All you have to do is sign a waiver, and the kids get an arm band and can "boulder" for free. I'd say this might even be fun for kids as young as 3. For even more fun, pay $2.50 and your kids can get harnessed to a rope. Then they can climb as high as they like before they are belayed down by one of the staff members (they get one ride only). SH climbed maybe 10 feet before he decided it was time to come down but vows to make it to the top someday. Note: Unless you're a Rec Center member, you will have to pay an additional fee to get in. Here's the web site, for more info: http://www.units.muohio.edu/rsp/RSCWeb/opc/climbingcenter.htm