Tag: Educational Things to Do

Are you planning a trip to Atlanta and looking for fun things to see and do? Do you have a fan of airplanes in your family? Are you planning a flight with your child and would like to show them what they can expect to see on a plane? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, we have all the info you’ll need to plan a trip to the Delta Flight Museum at Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport.

Heading towards an airport is an exciting thing in my opinion! The sense of adventure, excitement, and the unknown are why I love travel. My son had four plane trips under his belt by the time he was six months old, although he doesn’t remember those first adventures. A trip to the Delta Flight Museum would be a great introduction to the world of flight for children.

About the Atlanta Delta Flight Museum

The museum is located on the outer edge of the Atlanta-Hartsfield airport. When you pull up, you’ll need to stop at a security gate and there you will receive stickers that identify you as visitors to the museum. When you enter the huge hangar, you’ll need to proceed through a security check complete with a metal detector and x-ray machine. From there you’ll proceed to the “ticketing counter”, where admission to the museum is $13.77 for adults, $9.18 for children, and free for children four and under.

The museum is stroller friendly with plenty of room between exhibits. The only exception is the two opportunities where you board a plane.

Right past security, don’t forget to grab your preflight checklist and scavenger hunt sheets. The museum showcases Delta’s history, including several full-size planes, uniforms from different destinations throughout the years, and different memorabilia.

Aboard a Retried 767

Inside the museum, you’ll have the chance to board a retired 767. On board, you’ll be able to see a collection of different items from Delta’s history, while the front of the plane has been left intact. Take a seat and watch the “in-flight” movie of how this plane came to rest in the museum. I feel like this is an excellent opportunity to familiarize young children with what they can expect on an actual flight.

Today’s planes might be a little bit more modern, with more leg room, but the subtle differences will probably go unnoticed by children. The seats have tray tables that open, window shades that move and emergency manuals in the pocket in front of you. Even on a day as busy as when we were there, we sat as long as we wanted, and no one was hurrying us along.

The 747-400 Airplane Exhibit

After you see everything in the museum hangar, head across the parking lot to visit the 747 Experience. This exhibit is a full size 747 airplane, that you can board. Inside you’ll learn all about these aircraft and have the opportunity to sit in the upper deck and imagine you are jetting off to an exotic locale. In order to view this exhibit, you need to leave plenty of time. They stop allowing people to board 45 minutes prior to the museum closing.

For an additional $391.00, up to four members of your family ages 16 and older can spend an hour in the flight simulator experience that was once used to train Delta pilots.

Visit the Delta Flight Museum

We enjoyed our time at the museum and have a few tips to make your trip go smoothly.

Make sure you check the website for current museum times and any events that may close it to the public.

Food and drink are not allowed in the museum, with the exception of baby bottles.

Make sure you enter this address into your GPS – 1060 Delta Blvd, Atlanta, GA. In Google Maps or your GPS, type in “33.655043, -84.420127” as your destination and you will be led to the Museum’s Security Gate entrance. The address I first entered for the museum, led us to the short-term parking lot, and wasted a lot of our time.

Because you are entering Delta’s corporate office area, regulations require every member of your party 18 and over to present an ID at the security gate of the parking lot.

Ticketing information and current museum hours can be found here at the Delta Museum website.

Delta Flight Museum
1060 Delta Boulevard, Building B, Department 914
Atlanta, GA
404.715.7886

We hope your family enjoys the Delta Flight Museum as much as we did. If you go, let us know how your family liked the museum!

Are you wondering where and how to celebrate French culture in the Upstate? Local mom Deborah provides a complete list of ways to embrace French culture in our area. This list includes everything from French classes to French food and much more! 

I loved French class in high school and college. We ate French food, talked about French culture, and talked to each other in as much French as we could. However, I always knew that the best way to learn French would be to live where French is spoken. Maybe you too would like to immerse yourself in French culture. Maybe you want to feel at home again and keep your culture and language alive in your children. Or, perhaps you just want to know more about the French culture in our area.

Bienvenue à Greenville!

French Classes

Upstate International offers French classes for all levels as well as multiple ways to connect with other French people in our community.

You will also find French lessons for kids at CFD Greenville. These classes are for children who want to learn French as a second language, and they have a couple of weekly after-school classes to choose from. Learn more from the CFD Greenville website about afterschool programs, storytime dates, French club, and more.

Bilingual French School

The International School of Greenville is a great place to send children who would like a fully immersive experience in learning the French language. The program is best for children who have some exposure to the French language, however, they are welcoming of any child that is willing to learn. Children from grade K2 – 12th grade can enroll in the Accelerated French program. Classes are small at the International School of Greenville, with a 6:1 ratio.

French Holidays

The French Alliance is over 100 years old and has chapters all over the world designed to promote French language and culture. Our local chapter, French Alliance of Piedmont, organizes French classes, books clubs, and conversation groups. They also organize special events to celebrate French holidays.

In November you can enjoy a French wine, Beaujolais Nouveau, with a French meal to celebrate the end of harvest.

January offers galette des roise, King’s Cake, which is eaten to celebrate the day the wise men came to see Jesus.

In February, crêpes are made to celebrate La Chandeleur, the day Mary brought Jesus to the temple.

In March, International Francophonie Day celebrates French people and cultures around the world.

Bastille Day, French Independence Day, is celebrated on July 14 annually. The French love horses, so Black Sheep Farm, an organization in Fountain Inn that used horses to help young children develop socially, sponsors Bastille Day Greenville each July.

French Food

Authentique French Crêperie serves authentic French crêpes, galettes, salads, sandwiches and coffee in Simpsonville.

Le Petit Croissant serves French-influenced pastries, chocolates, and coffee on South Main Street in Downtown Greenville.

Find out why Le Petit Croissant is such a perfect pick for your next picnic in our review!

Bonjour Main serves authentic French crêpes, coffee, and wine in the heart of Downtown Greenville.

Passerelle Bistro is a French-influenced café overlooking Falls Park.

Scoundrel is one of Downtown Greenville’s newest spots for French cuisine, with an expansive menu with items like Foie Gras or Ossetra Caviar. They also have a really nice drink menu!

The Creperia, located in the Eastside of Greer at Hudson Corner, offers French-inspired selection of crepes that are absolutely delicious, with a variety to choose from.

Mon Amie Cafe in Spartanburg is a lovely French cafe near downtown where you will find crepes, sandwiches, salads, and more. They are only open in the morning.

French is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world and twenty-nine countries have French as their official language. Let’s enjoy the French culture throughout Greenville!

If you are a parent of a child 0 to 5 years old, this story is for you. The Greenville Library System offers a great supplement for learning with the youngest in your family, the Little Learners Club. The program is geared specifically towards kindergarten readiness – yes, even for the tiniest of kids. Local mom Kristina tells us all about it and how it will benefit your little ones!

Want more ideas for fun (and FREE) activities to enjoy with your toddler? Check out this list of 8 Free Toddler Activities in Greenville, SC!

Partnering with Palmetto Basics, the Greenville Library Little Learners Club gives parents the tools they need to help their kids succeed and get ready for school. It is geared towards helping every kid, no matter their background or where they live, to have a solid foundation when they start school.

According to Palmetto Basics, “80% of brain development happens during the first three years of life”. It’s such a crucial time in a child’s life and by doing everyday things and intentionally moving towards that goal of kindergarten readiness.

Five Areas of Learning

Little Learners Club encompasses five evidence-based areas of learning: Count, Group, and Compare, Explore through Movement and Play, Maximize Love, Manage Stress, Read and Discuss Stories, and Talk, Sing, and Point.

Each of these sections has 100 check boxes under it and gives parents ideas of things to do (many of which, I guarantee you, you already are doing). Once the child completes a section, they can come to the library and get a free Little Learners tote bag and a pin for that section. Once you complete each section, you can get a pin that goes on the tote bag.

By going through the Little Learners Club, kids will have read 600 books by the time they get to Kindergarten – remember, you have lots of time to do this!

Some of suggested ideas are to cuddle with your child and read a book or point out colors of everyday items and recite them with your child or take a walk with your child or play hide-and-seek. Many of the actions you do can count for multiple sections of the Little Learners Club as well.

Signing Up for Greenville Library Little Learners Club

To sign up, you can either download a Little Learners Club log or pick one up at your library. Then complete 100 activities with your child for each of the Palmetto Basics except Read and Discuss Stories:

• Count, Group, and Compare
• Explore through Movement and Play
• Maximize Love, Manage Stress
• Read and Discuss Stories
• Talk, Sing, and Point

Once you complete 100 activities in a category, that’s when you can go to the library to get your tote bag and first pin. You earn pins by completing the other categories.

Learn more from our Kidding Around® Guide to Raising Babies and Toddlers in Greenville, SC!

Looking for ways for your kids to learn through experimentation and science in Greenville, SC? While you can turn most anything into a teaching moment, there are certain activities that lend themselves more naturally to that than others. Local mom Lindy puts together this list of 5 great places to learn about science, many courtesy of some homeschooling friends!

Roper Mountain Science Center

Roper Mountain Science Center– located pretty central in the Greenville area and right near both the 385 and 85, this is something you must check out. There’s a planetarium, dinosaur trail, hiking trails, a butterfly garden, various classes throughout the year, and much more.

Children’s Museum of the Upstate

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate– with a big climbing structure, STEAM activities, tons of hands-on exhibits, and various special events, there’s something for everyone. The first floor features a lot of physics in relation to machines and a whole section on flight. There’s also an exhibit on the human body including a digestive system slide!

The upper level features a farm/agricultural area for young toddlers. There’s also a construction area where you can practice your building skills. Downstairs there’s a mini water system and canal play area. There’s a music/sound room and much more! Check out our guide to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate to plan out your entire visit!

Visit Greenville Zoo!

The Greenville Zoo is of course also educational. With special events and classes happening depending on the season and general biology all around, you can learn quite a bit. Their Zoo Tots class is particularly popular for little ones to explore the zoo in a unique way. The Greenville Zoo has several educational classes for various age ranges.

While at the zoo, you can read all the signs and discuss why this animal happens to do this thing or that. Why are certain animals found in some places but nowhere else? Then play on both the playground inside the gates as well as Cleveland Park’s playground outside the entrance. Be sure to discuss the physics of movement and bodily anatomy that allows for all that running around.

Learn why we love to explore the Greenville Zoo and all of its fun classes.

Clemson University

A fabulous place to visit is the Clemson University SC Botanical Gardens with the Bob Campbell Geology Museum– we’ve previously discussed all the stuff you can do around campus. So of course for a science article, we had to include the botanical garden and geology museum. The Botanical Gardens look very fun for kids and include a children’s garden, while the geology museum is mesmerizing. The two are also right together so double the learning for half the effort!

Paris Mountain State Park

Paris Mountain State Park– this is a favorite hiking spot. Yet all those trails also offer a lot of hands on teaching opportunities. The park hosts various classes and special events to hone your natural science skills even more. This includes lots of learning about animals, flora and fauna, as well as ecology. You can also camp, check out multiple trails, and even swim! Paris Mountain also offers group hikes for reasonable fee with a ranger.

Conestee Nature Preserve

Kids from ages 2 – 8th grade will love the classes that Conestee Nature Preserve offers! Students are led through the preserve, exploring the natural world around them while learning about bugs, plants, animals, and other things found at the preserve. Adults can join in on the fun as well, with the preserve offering themed nature classes, guided walks, and workshops that will bring you a little closer to nature.

Do you have a favorite place to learn about science in Greenville?

If you are interested in Geocaching, Greenville, SC and the Upstate have lots of “caches” you can treasure hunt for that are a part of the global adventure, and we have all the details on how to start!

Check out our Kidding Around ® Guide to 50+ Fun, Free, and Unbelievably Cheap ($5 and below) Things to Do in Greenville, SC to find more unique and fun things to do in Greenville, SC!

Unbeknownst to many people, at any given moment there could be hundreds of small treasure chests hidden in public places around you – just waiting for you to find them! This worldwide game is called geocaching, it’s a blast to do with your kids, you can play nearly anywhere, and the best part is it’s free.

Searching for these ‘caches’ can take you from your favorite trails, to your most frequented parks, to the places you have passed a hundred times on Main Street, locating hidden objects you never knew were there! Greenville’s downtown area is home to over twenty-five caches, the Swamp Rabbit Trail has a couple dozen, and Paris Mountain is home to an infamous Bucket of Toys.

What exactly is a Cache?

Caches are containers ranging in size from a tiny thimble to a paint bucket and everything in between. There are millions hidden worldwide! They might be a coffee can hidden in a tree hole, a medicine jar under a rock, or a magnetic container (such as a hide-a-key) fastened to everyday objects like handrails, bridges, benches, signs, stuck to landmarks, and the list goes on and on. Each cache has been logged into a system with its exact GPS coordinates, a unique name, a description of its size, and perhaps a clue or two if you’re lucky.

What’s inside?

Caches almost always contain a log book inside which you should sign upon finding. Larger caches may contain small cheap toys (think an army man or random beads), coins, or nature finds like acorns or interesting rocks. Occasionally you may be lucky enough to find a ‘Trackable!’

What is a Trackable?

Any object fastened with a GPS tracker. You may have a task to complete if you decide to take the Trackable. On our first hunt, my kids found a Trackable; it was a toy fixed with a tracker and a note. The note explained that the car was in a race! It had been placed in a geocache in Florida along with two other cars at the same time. The task was to take the car and place it into another geocache as far west as possible. The family which set the cars in motion was tracking them online to see which car would make it across the U.S. to the coast of California first. You could take down the code yourself and watch the car you ‘helped’ as it continued to make its way across the states. HOW COOL WAS THAT!? From that day on, my kids were hooked.

What to bring?

Bring a pen to sign the log. If you are planning on collecting any items from a cache, you must go prepared to leave something behind. The general rule is take one, leave one. So have fun with your kids picking out small items from home before you head out. Research the size of the caches you will be locating ahead of time; if the cache is tiny, there will not be anything to collect.If it is medium/large, you can generally expect to take something and leave something.

Unfortunately, not all seekers follow the rules! Prepare your kids in advance by letting them know there may be nothing to take, or the things may be undesirable. We like to leave things if size permits (even if we haven’t taken something) because it makes the finding fun.

Download A Geocaching App

The easiest way to geocache is to use an App. Some may be free, but the paid versions will be worth your while. One popular app is Geocashing®, but it does cost money ($6.99 per month). Geocaching.com is also a great resource. Almost all apps will show you all the caches around you, along with details, additional hints, geocache description, photos, and logs from people who have recently found it. I do not recommend geocaching with small kids without using a good App. Put on the compass, hand it to your tot, and let them guide you to the cache – simple! Then roll up your sleeves and search.

Tips for Getting Started Geocaching in Greenville, SC

• Each cache is different in terms of difficulty. Some are nearly in plain sight and some are nearly too difficult to find. Check the ratings before you head out.
• Read the past logs on the Apps before you hunt. You may find that the cache has very recently been “Muggled” i.e. stolen by a non-game playing person. You need to know this!
• You must return the container to the exact same spot you found it.
• Look high, low, under, behind, get creative! The Apps will get you close, but it’s up to you to seek the treasure. They can also be off. Rely more upon the clues (like the name of the cache) than the precise point the phone GPS takes you. Use your detective skills and common sense over, “But it says it’s right HERE?” It is never exactly where the App takes us, instead it’s close.
• Caching in the city is generally MORE difficult than caching in the park or woods. It is much easier to hide an object from “Muggles” in the woods than the city. Things downtown are more of a puzzle, and often small.
• Expect to miss sometimes. Prepare your kids for the chance of not finding it, or the toys being sad, or the log missing, etc. These things do happen! We rarely find every single cache we set out to.
• If the geocaching goes south, there’s always ice cream!
• When going geocaching in Greenville, SC, we have found several along Main Street, the Reedy River, throughout Greenville County, and all of them at Paris Mountain.

Are you ready for geocaching in Greenville, SC?