We recently got back from a trip to Quechee, Vermont, where we were pleasantly surprised at ALL of the really great things to do there with kids. First of all, we stayed at the Quechee Pine Valley KOA Kampground (yes, they spell anything they can with a 'K' instead of a 'C'), and were very happy with the place. We had a nice site, right next to the playgound (site 20 on Map), pool, and the fenced in area where our dog could run 'leashless' - how sweet is that??
We also have dear friends in the area, who we met up with 4 days while we were staying there. Ticket to a smooth, kid meltdown-minimized time? Gear the activities around them. Thus, "the Montshire", where our friends have an annual pass and where my older son claims that "if we lived there, we'd HAVE to have a pass too".
Here's my husband and youngest son playing in one of the many bubble making tubs. What we (as adults) loved about this place is that everything is interactive (and, despite some NOT-so gentle use by some kids there - EVERYTHING works and is well kept), and even though some of the things might not totally be understood by our kids, someday, they will reflect on how 'the bubbles'(for example) happen (because of surface tension)?! Many of the displays illustrate complicated concepts in simple forms, helping to prove the importance of experiential, hands-on, away-from-the-books learning.
The other beauty of visiting Montshire during the summer, is the extensive outdoor 'water and how it moves' activity area - a perfect way to take the kids energy (and 'heat') outdoors for play and experimentation. Here my boys attach various pipes together to channel water in different directions, or make it sprinkle, or spin and more. A great way to stay cool and learn. We were here for hours and could easily go back several days without seeing and interacting with everything. AND, there displays change occasionally keeping frequent visits interesting.
