Thursday 13

(There was some weird hiccup I experienced when typing this so you will see the word "source" throughout this and NOT attached to photos... no clue how to delete it...and a couple of the photos were actually removed because they kept ... moving?!?  Oh well, I carry on!)

I love lists.  I love making lists.  I love checking things off lists and I love being able to consider them COMPLETED (though that's a rarity).  Enter Thursday 13.  A blank page for anyone to write about thirteen of anything.  Today, I'll disclose 13 places I want to take my children.

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I was recently gifted Frommer's 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up.  Buy it here.  It really got me thinking.  We stay SO busy that it's really such a great idea to -- instead of taking the rare down time we do have to just CHILL -- use that time to make some memories and be present in the moment.  Since we are really only given a few years when our children WANT to have us around, why not use those years to BE present, to BE aware, to BE intentional with what we do while they're here.
This book covers the globe and while there are LOTS of places I would adore to share with my children abroad:

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Big Ben in London -- Peter Pan anyone?

Pompeii in Italy

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The Great Wall of China

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The Vatican to see Michelangelo's work

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The Acropolis in Athens

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The Colosseum 

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The Pantheon

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The Leaning Tower of Pisa

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The Mayan temples in Mexico

The beaches of Normandy.  Here's a FANTASTIC article you should read.

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Machu Picchu in Peru.  

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Oxford University in England

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Jerusalem's Temple Mount

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The Cliffs of Moher

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The Kremlin

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Or, and most importantly, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney (lol, I was just seeing if you were paying attention)!

However, I'm sticking to the continental US (for now.)

1) New York City -- I've been to New York City.  Josh has been to New York City (last year with his 8th grade class) but I want to show them NYC my way.  From the Empire State Building to the Museum of Natural History, from Little Italy to China Town and not forgetting the Staten Island ferry and the Statue of Liberty herself...  the Bronx Zoo, Rockefeller Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, Greenwich Village, Central Park, Coney Island, Times Square, Grand Central Station and maybe even Yankee Stadium... maybe (smirk!)

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2) The Grand Canyon -- I realize it's just a big hole in the ground but... it's a really BIG hole in the ground.  So, being really big means I think we need to see it.  If for no other reason than to have a road trip!

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3) Colorado Springs, CO -- Who couldn't be happy with THIS view in their life every day?  There are many experiences I want to share here.  The US Air Force Academy, Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings, The Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge Bridge, Old Colorado City just to name a few.  

4) Plymouth Rock -- I think it's a great starting point for the discovery of the rich (and brutal) beginnings of history of our country.

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5) Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia -- I went here in 7th grade and it's just such a fun experience.  Rich in living history.  They literally bring history to life!

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6) Washington DC and the surrounding areas.  There is SO much to do and experience here, it's almost a tragedy not to share this with your children.

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7) Valley Forge because I have a little history geek that I know would love more insight into some of the battlefronts of our nation.

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8) Pearl Harbor as this would definitely be Drew's dream come true.  He LOVES studying WW2.

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9) The Aurora Borealis in Alaska... I've wanted to take a salmon fishing expedition, photograph the grizzlies and see the Northern Lights since I was a child.  

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10) Washington state -- kayaking and whale watching along with some beautiful scenic drives... because, who WOULDN'T want to be here?  It's GORGEOUS!

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11) Disney World -- because, you know, I can NEVER get enough of Disney!  I'll go there as many times as you let me!

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12) Louisiana -- swamp tours, haunted tours, historical tours, Natchez Riverboat tours, cooking schools.... cajun food but I'll steer clear of the sex shops... because yeah.... no thanks.  

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13) Alcatraz... because this scene always makes me laugh.  



So, there's my Thursday 13.  Where would you like to go?