Vacation Week Isn't Over Yet

If you're home with the kids this week, you're probably going a bit stir-crazy.  The weather has not been conducive to outdoor fun, and the kids (at least in my house) are getting a bit stir crazy. 

Well, vacation week isn't over yet, and there's lots to do in Salem that will keep you out of the elements.  Here are a few ideas.

Ride the red trolley.  Salem Trolley tours are awesome for all ages.  Younger kids who might not understand all of the historical nuances will just love being on the trolley, and older kids will appreciate Salem's diverse and dynamic history.  When you disembark from a trolley tour, you will be one-hour richer in Salem trivia, and full of facts on topics including Monopoly, the US Coast Guard, Salem's original sea wall, where Alexander Hamilton almost got to dance, and why doors on Chestnut Street are slightly wider than usual. 

Your trolley ticket is good for on-and-off shuttle service all day, too, so you can use the Trolley to visit the New England Pirate Museum, Salem Maritime, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, Salem Willows (trust me, you need popcorn from Hobbs), and the House of the Seven Gables.

Drop into the Peabody Essex Museum for Art Activities to benefit Disaster Relieve in Japan.  Join the PEM for a celebration of Japanese art and culture this week.  There are drop-in activities (included with admission) all week, and on Friday students from MassArt's Boston Origami Project will be on site creating Origami cranes and fund raising for Red Cross emergency relieve efforts in Japan.  For complete information and a schedule of activities, visit pem.org. 

This Saturday, April 23rd is Junior Ranger Day at Salem Maritime, the National Park in Salem.  This is a great opportunity (and, frankly, excuse) to take the kids to Salem Maritime and celebrate all of our National Parks.  There will be free, Ranger-led programs for kids of all ages between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Salem Visitor Center, on Derby Wharf, and on board the tall ship Friendship. The Junior Ranger program is a great way to engage your kids in the national parks.  It's fun, and kids who complete the tasks can earn a Junior Ranger badge. 

There's always the old standby of taking the kids to the movies. CinemaSalem is showing Rio this week, which is a film made for School Vacation Week.  It's animated.  It's funny.  And the kid's concession combo only costs $5. 

All of this exploring is bound to get the kids hungry, so here are a few options for food:

Diner-style, enormous servings... eat at Reds Sandwich Shop.  The pancakes are enormous, you'll only need a half-portion of the Mac & Cheese, and for adventurous eaters, the daily specials are $6.95 and market-fresh.  Located on Central Street, a block away from a Trolley stop.

Pizza... Essex's NY Pizza and Deli provides quick counter service for pizza, subs, sandwiches and salads.  It's located inside Museum Place Mall, so you are a short walk from both the PEM and CinemaSalem.

Italian... you've got to try Caffe Graziani for the fresh pasta in a family-friendly environment.  Located on Washington Street, just a short walk from the closest trolley stop (use the rear entrance to make it shorter!).

Seafood... try the new Seaport Cafe on Derby Street at the entrance to Pickering Wharf.  The seafood is fresh and they will event get some veggies onto the plate for the kids! 

So, if you need activities for the rest of vacation week, look to Salem.  For even more ideas, visit the Calendar on Salem.org.  Enjoy the rest of the vacation week.  Grab a sweatshirt and a rain coat or a poncho and you'll be having so much fun you won't notice the weather!  

School Vacation Week program at the Phillips House

The Phillips House is celebrating a century of the Phillips family at 34 Chestnut Street in 2011. Celebrate this milestone with your family during April vacation week by viewing Phillips family home movies featuring celebrations and parties. Tour the house and go on a family-friendly scavenger hunt where children can earn a special birthday present. Cupcake decorating will follow the tour. This event is co-sponsored by Salem Parks and Recreation.

This April school vacation week program takes place on Wednesday, April 20, from 10:30 a.m. – noon. The Phillips House is located at 34 Chestnut Street in Salem, Mass. The special cost for Historic New England members and Salem residents is $5.00 for an individual and $15.00 for a family (2 adults, 2 children). The general public price is $10 for individuals and $25.00 for families (2 adults, 2 children).

Advance registration is required for this program. Please call 978-744-0440 to purchase tickets. Salem residents and those interested in family pricing must place ticket orders over the phone. Please visit www.historicnewengland.org for more details.   

"Artful Tales!" School Vacation Week at PEM

Looking for things to do with the kids next week? Make sure to include the Peabody Essex Museum in your schedule!

(This is a picture taken during a kids' activity in the Art & Nature Center last year.)

PEM will celebrate School Vacation Week with an action-packed roster of activities to keep families entertained, engaged, and learning. This year’s theme, ‘Artful Tales!,’ encourages our young visitors to experience books in exciting new ways — to discover how they’re created, see special performances, participate in collaborative art-making projects, hear readings from authors, and more!

Be sure not to miss our tropical mural project with children’s book illustrator Robin Brickman, a ‘Storigami’ session with world-renowned origami artist Michael LaFosse, and tiger woodblock printing with regional artist, Salem Minegar.

All activities are FREE with museum admission.

Artful Tales!

Monday, February 15th
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
Sponsored by Barefoot Books
Visit the festive Stories Alive tent and discover a new book, a puppet friend or game to play.

11 am – 3 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Altered Books
Transform an old children’s book into a unique work of art.

11 am – 4 pm | Tropical Mural
Help illustrator Robin Brickman transform the Atrium into a tropical habitat for colorful paper birds and other creatures inspired by her recent books Wings and Beaks.

Tuesday, February 16
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

11 am – 3 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Altered Books
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

11 am – 4 pm | Tropical Mural
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

1:30 – 3 pm | Tails and Claws!
Live Animal Program: Debi Willoughby of Jungle Encounters introduces some of her wild animal friends that call the tropics home including a Common Marmoset, a Geoffroy’s Cat, an Ornate Horned Frog and more.

10 - 10:30 am | Behind-the-Scenes Tour Especially for Kids!
Phillips Library | Reservations by February 15
Recommended for children ages 8–12 with accompanying adult
Discover a treasure trove of rare children’s books in the library collection on this 30-minute tour. You might even get to handle a 200-year-old book!

Wednesday, February 17
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

10:30 am | Storytelling Performance
Jeff Hopkins shares an original story inspired by PEM’s collection. After, color in the larger-than-life pictures he created on the wall.

11 am – 3 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Altered Books
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

Noon – 2 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Accordion Books
Create a simple accordion-style book. Then design and draw your own characters with Jeff Hopkins’ help!

Thursday, February 18
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

10 - 10:30 am | Behind-the-Scenes Tour Especially for Kids!
(See February 16 Calendar entry)

10:30 am | Storytelling Performance
(See February 17 Calendar entry)

11 am – 3 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Altered Books
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

Noon – 2 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Accordion Books
(See February 17 Calendar entry)

Friday, February 19
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

10:15 am – 3:30 pm | Storigami
Make origami as you listen to stories about Righty and Lefty told by master origami artist and author Michael LaFosse.

10:15 am – 4 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Origami Books
Fold your own origami book (no cutting, no glue) designed by master origami artist Jeannine Mosely.

Saturday, February 20
10 am – 5 pm | Stories Alive
(See February 15 Calendar entry)

11 am | How a Book Is Made
Reservations highly recommended
For adults and children ages 6 and up
Author and illustrator Grace Lin shows the many steps of publishing, reads one of her books, answers questions and draws one of her characters. A book signing follows. Books will be available for purchase, or bring your own.

Noon – 3 pm | Drop-in Art Activity: Woodblock Prints
Use custom-made Year of the Tiger woodblocks by local artist Salem Minegar to print your own Lunar New Year card.

1 pm | Lunar New Year
Reservations highly recommended
For adults and children ages 6 and up
Referencing her books Bringing in the New Year and The Year of the Rat, Grace Lin talks about Lunar New Year customs.

* * *

In case you are not familiar with the Peabody Essex Museum, here it is in a nutshell:
The Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. The museum's collections are among the finest of their kind, showcasing an unrivaled spectrum of American art and architecture (including four National Historic Landmark buildings) and outstanding Asian, Asian Export, Native American, African, Oceanic, Maritime and Photography collections. In addition to its vast collections, the museum offers a vibrant schedule of changing exhibitions and a hands-on education center. The museum campus features numerous parks, period gardens and 22 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.

HOURS
Open Tuesday-Sunday and holiday Mondays, 10 am-5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

ADMISSION
Adults $15; seniors $13; students $11. Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $5. Members, youth 16 and under and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang.

INFO
Call 866-745-1876 or visit pem.org.