London Calling

Last summer, our family finally embarked on a trip to London
that we had talked about taking for years. It was a chance to visit familiar
places together (all three generations of us) and, for the youngest, an
opportunity to experience London
for the first time. Of course, we also hoped for a sighting of the Queen and
the new Duchess of Cambridge (or as one of my daughters kept pestering, “When
will we see Kate?”).

I have traveled to London
on many occasions, and my husband, John, has spent a lot of time there recently
for business, but our individual experiences could not compare to seeing the
city through the eyes of our 8- and 10-year-old daughters and my 17-year-old
niece. Having my mother with us, with her own years of London
travel, gave us each a wonderful appreciation for the city that we would not
have had on our own.

As we planned our visit, I had each family member give me
their list of “London Musts” so we would be sure to accommodate everyone’s
interests. Here are the highlights.

The London Eye

A ride on this iconic ferris wheel, originally intended to
commemorate the Millennium, seemed like the perfect start to our visit and was
my daughter Charlotte’s “must.” A
feat of design and engineering, the Eye offers incredible views of the entire
city—especially the Thames. My mother was initially
nervous about the ride but very happy that she came, as the views were
incredible and the capsules moved nice and slowly. Each capsule holds approximately
25 people for a 25-minute ride above the city. (londoneye.com)

Trooping the Colour

Our viewing of the pageantry was unique, as it came just six
weeks after the Royal Wedding and heightened our family’s interest in Kate and
William. But typically this is an annual event held on the second Saturday each
June. It’s called “Trooping the Colour” or the Queen’s Birthday Parade. Anyone
can attend and see the troops of the Royal Guard and the Royal Family in
carriages. The Royal Mall, where most of the public parade activity happens, is
so vast that it was easy to get a clear glimpse of the Royal Family from close
proximity (yes, we did see Kate and the Queen!). The “trooping” ceremony is
performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth Armies, and has been a
tradition since the 17th Century. We saw an impressive 41-gun salute by the
King’s troop, and a Royal Air Force “fly past” at the end as the Royal Family
waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Also, there are rehearsals for this big day on each of the two Saturdays
preceding the Queen’s Birthday Parade—great opportunities to view the
pageantry. (trooping-the-colour.co.uk)

Winston Churchill’s
War Rooms

Updated in 2005, this underground shelter created during
World War II and used by Churchill and his advisors to plan war strategy is not
to be missed! For my niece, Haley, a high school junior, it topped her list. My
husband had visited several years ago and couldn’t believe how vast the changes
were. The rooms now include a state-of-the-art “Lifeline” exhibit, which
features a massive 50-foot interactive table that chronicles the time of
Winston Churchill. Visitors can drill down to each day of Churchill’s life with
technological animations and sounds. (iwm.org.uk)

Charlotte_Mackin__Haley_Hughes_and_Sophie_Mackin_taking_in_the_sights..jpegWestminster Abbey

My mother’s “must” was Westminster Abbey. We spent over two
hours at this site of living history, including many royal occasions from
coronations to weddings and funerals. We hired a Blue Badge Guide who told us
fascinating stories and shared historical anecdotes. Visiting the Abbey was a
great precursor to our tour of the Tower
of London and seeing the Queen’s
Jewels, as many of the stories are interrelated. (blue-badge-guides.com)

British Museum

Over 250 years old, the Museum has collections ranging from pre-history
to the present day, with some of its most well-known being the Egyptian, Roman
and Greek collections. After learning about the Rosetta Stone this past year,
Sophie, our fifth grader, was desperate to see it in person. It is one of the
Museum’s greatest treasures. (britishmuseum.org)

Hyde Park Gardens

One of my husband’s favorite spots in London,
which he wanted to share with us, was Hyde Park
Gardens, just off Hyde Park Corner.
He discovered it one day on a run. It’s a perfect spot to take your Harrod’s
Food Hall goodies for a picnic lunch and rest between sights. There are
comfortable benches, a charming fountain and beautiful gardens. You can also
rent Barclay’s bikes to ride around the park – they only cost one pound and can
be returned at any Barclays bike stand. Just remember to ride on the left side!
(royalparks.gov.uk)

A former marketing
executive, Caroleen Mackin lives on the
Upper East Side
with her husband and two daughters.


TRAVEL HOT & COLD: And For Staying Stateside, Some Of Our Favorite Places To Stay And Play All
Winter Long

Club Med Punta Cana
(The
Dominican
Republic
)

Club Med Punta Cana is situated on the largest beach on the
island and features 75 acres of breathtaking tropical gardens. This
all-inclusive resort offers programs for children of all ages: Petit Club Med
offers activities, walks and outside play, while Club Med Passworld gives
tweens and teens an exclusive area to meet up and enjoy sports and artistic
activities like dance, DJ lessons and more. For parents, the resort also boasts
an open-air nightclub, trapeze and windsurfing lessons, aqua fitness classes
and much more. (clubmed.us)

Disney Cruise

A recent addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the
Disney Dream
TM, will capture the attention of families looking to
take on the high seas this winter. With its classic early 20th-Century design,
the Disney Dream combines inspiration from the golden age of cruising with
state-of-the art technology. Little ones will love the “splashtacular”
AquaDuck, a high-speed water coaster, while parents can enjoy either elegant
adults-only dining or family-friendly magically themed restaurants. (disneycruise.com)

Hunter Mountain (Hunter, New York)

Nestled in the heart of the northern Catskills, Hunter
Mountain is known for its beautiful
views, luxury spa and slopes that accommodate all ability levels. Hunter is
just over two hours away from the city and has 14 trails tailored to families
and beginners. The resort offers Playcare for those too young to ski, as well
as Explorers and Mountaineers lesson programs for novices of different levels. There’s
also a Burton learn-to-ride program
for little boarders, a snow tubing park and winter break camps. (huntermtn.com)

Keystone (Keystone, Colorado)

Part of the distinguished Vail Resort chain, Keystone is a
family ski mecca on the value end, with activities like a glow stick parade
down the mountain and disco tubing—not to mention, the ultimate snow fort. The
chain has also just introduced a cool mobile app, EpicMix, to enhance the
on-mountain experience with photos of your ski feats! (keystoneresort.com)

Nickelodeon Suites
Resorts
(
Orlando, Florida)

Heading to Florida
for some theme park fun? Consider checking into the Nick Hotel, an
extraordinary getaway featuring Nickelodeon-themed rooms, heated pools, slides
and flumes, interactive water towers, private cabanas and daily poolside shows
with Nick’s signature green slime. There’s a kids-only spa, mall, 4-D movie
theater and tons of Nick Studio Shows. The fam can even hop aboard a journey to
the North Pole on THE POLAR EXPRESS EXPERIENCE. Plus, Walt Disney World,
Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are just a short shuttle ride
away. (nickhotel.com)

Smugglers’ Notch
Resort
(Smugglers’ Notch,
Vermont)
Smugglers’ Notch takes family recreation to a whole new level with everything
from dog sledding to snowmobiling to zip-line canopy tours of the resort. Kids
can try airboarding, the next generation of snow tubing, and even build their
own sleds. After a full day of family races or personalized ski lessons,
thrill-seekers will be more than ready to wind down with a steaming cup of hot
chocolate. Any extra energy can be burned off at the indoor family recreation
center or state-of-the-art video game room. (smuggs.com)

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Bounce! Family Entertainment Center

<p>Bounce! Family Entertainment Center is an indoor birthday party and play space located in Syosset, NY. Perfect for birthday parties, group events, open play, and more! We have the best party packages on Long Island! Our facility has multiple AWESOME attractions: The Trampoline courts, The Adventure Zone, Bumper Cars, Laser Tag, Soft Play, Arcade, & MORE! If you need a break from jumping and climbing, try out some of our delicious food from The Bounce Bites Kitchen! Come on in to any of our Open Play, Toddler Time, or Glow Night sessions!</p>

Collina Italiana, The Italian Language and Cultural Center

<p>Learn Italian the fun way. Children practice and absorb the language through arts & crafts, activities, games, songs and stories!</p>

Child's Play NY Virtual Classes

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f0d8558c-7fff-41d5-daea-321d9ce61efc" style="white-space: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Child's Play NY is a Brooklyn-based company founded in 2009, committed to offering a diverse array of theater arts classes for children. They believe studying the art of acting encourages kids to be even more creative, collaborative and compassionate human beings. Since its inception, Child's Play NY has touched the lives of hundreds of students, worked inside dozens of schools and is consistently ranked as among the top theater arts programs. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the 2019 winner of Brooklyn Family's Choice award for Best Performing Arts Class.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall/Winter 2020-21 Virtual Class Guide</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Movie Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience creative fulfillment and movie magic with Child’s Play NY! Kids get to make and star in their own film, with professional actors, directors and designers. From development to design to editing choices too, kids can take ownership over the creative process. Their friends and family get to celebrate their accomplishments at a final watch party premiere! Deep project-based learning and peer-connection is at the heart of this 9-week experience which can be done remotely or in-person.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall and Winter Virtual Classes</span></strong></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 36pt; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong>Hogwarts School (grades 1-3)</strong>: Come get sorted into your favorite house, jump on your Firebolt and let’s make some magic! Class culminates in a movie montage featuring our original scripted work from the session.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create Your Own Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your own custom group to support social-emotional growth and play. Child’s Play NY provides a dynamic teacher and their lauded curriculum that puts peer-interaction at the front and center. Custom classes are a special way to nurture what your child loves most and share that excitement with their friends, in-person or online.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Playwriting (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students will use their creativity, compassion and confidence to build a story they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Individually, each student will craft a play, and together they will workshop their scenes, exercising their acting, directing, and most importantly, imagination skills. Over the course of the sessions, students will learn the basics of playwriting and be able to present any and all parts of their theatrical story. All classes will include individual assignments and collaborative opportunities. Each day will be structured so that all participants have the chance to learn and study other writers’ work, write for 10-15 minutes and share their words with each other. By the end of the semester they will have used their bodies, intellect and imagination to come up with an original play. By being confident, vulnerable and creative with each other and actively supporting and encouraging each other’s work, students will emerge with meaningful connections to each other and a strong sense of their writing and collaborative abilities.<br />Class culminates in a montage and packet of students’ original work.<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Musical Theater Lab (Grades 4-6)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn how to be a triple threat in this dynamic class for budding performers with Child’s Play NY. Students focus on songs, dances and characters from Broadway’s most celebrated and kid-friendly shows. They work alongside professional performers with years of experience bringing their passion to children. Class culminates in a movie showcase of scenes and songs.<br />Join for the full session, or enroll as a drop-in!<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Shakespeare Scene Study (Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young people become confident with Shakespeare’s world, language and characters as they learn how to interpret a role with technique and courage. Classically trained professional actors assist the players in their physical, vocal and emotional transformations. All Shakespeare teaching artists are classically trained professional actors and have performed Shakespeare both on and off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare’s themes.<br />Class culminates in a movie showcasing their work.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Big Twist: A New Musical (Grade 1-4)</strong></div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this acting class, students get to perform a brand new musical based on The Wizard of Oz.<br />The Wicked Witch of the South wants to return Oz to a time when WITCHES reigned supreme, and all was evil. Summoning a dark magic Tornado, the Wicked Witch of the South sends Oz hurtling into an alternate Oz. With the Yellow Brick road destroyed, the Wizard left powerless, and the citizens of Oz scattered to the Wind, our heroes are forced into unlikely partnerships to stop the Witch and restore the world to order. The Wizard of Oz meets The Tempest.  Class culminates in a premiere of a movie starring the students, filmed over the last few days of the session.</div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-57c50323-7fff-79ce-175a-5e25408c0e29"></span></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-84ebe141-7fff-03c2-24cf-fead86e88df2"></span></p>