Maria Mercado

Vacation for Toddlers

February 2023 for the first for our family. It was the first time we traveled as a family out of state. Our daughter asked if we could go to the ocean. She didn’t know we were planning a trip to Richmond, VA. My stepdad was celebrating his 60th with his kids in Virginia and asked if we would like to join. Of course, I said yes (I am always up for a road trip). We had a free place to stay; how could I pass that up?

I needed to plan a trip for four people (two of which were toddlers) for six days. The plans had to include activities to keep our toddlers busy. Luckily, we bought the kids three different memberships for Christmas (refer to the post titled “Our new Christmas tradition”). The memberships included discounted or free admission to select locations associated with the membership. We were able to keep our trip at $1,500 (that includes food, gas, admissions, souvenirs, and anything else). I had researched a few places in advance and made a rough draft of how the week would look. We switched a few things around as we went. We were never short of anything to do.

Our drive would take 7-7.5 hours. This time did not include traffic. Toddlers don’t do well sitting in a car that long. I thought it was a good idea to find an activity to do halfway. The next challenge was traveling with a toddler who has a dairy allergy. We bought plenty of snacks, but the food was a major concern. One thing I knew he could eat was Chik-Fil-A grilled chicken nuggets. That took care of lunch on the way down. Regarding food, the rest of the time, we cooked or ordered food we felt wouldn’t use dairy.

We spent the first day at The National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD (a post about our review and some info about the aquarium to follow this post soon). Baltimore was a pretty good midpoint for us. We spent about 3 hours in Baltimore before hitting the road again. We ended the night with Chinese food from Peking in Mechanicsville, VA. The first day was the most expensive. The National Aquarium is a part of the AZA, so we paid the full price. The kids were free. This outing cost us $100. Dinner was roughly $70, and gas and lunch were about $75. The total for the day was approximately $245.

< Random photo opportunity in Baltimore, MD

On day two, the weather was beautiful, so we wanted to do something outdoors. We ended Metro Richmond Zoo (post to follow with more information and my review). We didn’t leave for the day until 10 in the morning. After the zoo, we had dinner at the house where we stayed and went to Swader’s Sports Park (post to follow with more information and my review) to end the night. The total for day two is $185.

The third day we spent at the museums. We went to The Children’s Museum of Richmond and the Science Museum of Virginia (post to follow with more information and my review of both). This day we weren’t in a rush again, so we left at about 10:30 AM. The museums are next to each other and share a parking garage. We couldn’t finish the science museum, but we had a full day of play. We ended our day after the science museum and returned to the house to relax for the evening. The total cost for the day was $105.

Children’s Museum of Richmond
in Richmond, VA

Day four was in the 80s, so we wanted to spend the day outside again. We decided to drive to Smithsonian Zoo (post with more information and my review to follow) in Washington, D.C. We were on the road by 10 AM. With the traffic and getting lost in D.C., we didn’t get to the zoo until 1 PM. The zoo closed at four, and we wanted to avoid rush hour traffic, so we headed to the car at 3 PM. Dinner was at a Mexican restaurant. Day four’s total was $192.

The fifth day was the day we were excited about. It was the day we were headed to the Ocean. Virginia Beach was our destination—another day where we weren’t in any rush and left at about 10:30 AM. We went shopping at DAV (thrift store), then went to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center (post to follow with more info and my review) before heading to Virginia Beach to check out the Ocean. We ended our night at Peking Restaurant in Mechanicsville, VA. The total was $175 for the day.

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach, VA

Day six was our last day in Virginia. We started the day with rock wall climbing and ended with pizza, cake, and bowling. We were all able (not everyone did) to go rock wall climbing at Peak Experience (a post with more information and my review to follow) in Richmond, VA. We went bowling at Cannon Bowling Lanes. (Side note: Cannon Bowling Lanes is on a Naval Base. Our family lives on the base, and we had special permission before visiting. For this reason, I will not be providing any more information or reviewing the bowling alley.) Day six’s total was $107.

Our last day, day seven (for those counting), was spent driving home. Like the first day, I included a spot to stop halfway and let the kids run around. We stopped in Baltimore again. The Port Discovery Children’s Museum (post with more information and my review to follow) was our last stop before going home. The total for our last day was $ $78.

< Port Discovery > Children’s Museum in Baltimore, MD

The total cost for the trip was about $1,500. We did not pay for all the meals, and we did not pay for a place to stay. Having a free place to stay made a considerable difference in our budget. All the totals include everything from that day (food, gas, souvenirs, and admissions).

When we go on vacation, I try to let each person pick an activity they would like to do and incorporate it into the trip. When traveling with toddlers, however, it’s a different story. You must ensure you are doing things that will hold their attention. You can always fit an adult-friendly activity into your vacation. Do something with the little ones during the day to tire them out and something for the older ones later in the day.

Anyone can go to Disney World and spend a fortune, but not everyone goes off the beaten path to have one of a kind vacation. I don’t want to spend the day waiting in lines. (Don’t get me wrong, one day we will go to Disney World, but when my kids are older). Toddlers are curious and have lots of energy, so take a vacation that caters to them. You won’t regret it.

It doesn’t matter what your budget is. You can always take a vacation. When buying presents for your kids, give them an experience or a membership. Those are the gifts that will keep on giving. Pick a place and go. Travel and make those memories with your kids today.

If you want help planning a one-of-a-kind, based on your ages and likes) contact me today at adventuresbymaria@gmail.com. Follow me on: Meta (formerly Facebook) – Adventures in Travel By Maria Meta – Wandering With The Wilmores Instagram – @WanderingWithTheWilmores

Our new Christmas tradition

Every year our kids get toys all the time, on birthdays, holidays, and just because. We are running out of space with all their stuff. It seems like the more we give away, the more we have.

This past Christmas, we asked the family to get the kid’s experiences instead of toys. Of course, in true family fashion, nobody listened. However, my boyfriend and I stuck to the plan. Santa brought some small toys, and we bought them memberships.

You are probably wondering what I mean when I say memberships. Places like zoos, aquariums, museums, and others offer memberships. These memberships come with free admission, gift shop discounts, discounts to other locations associated with the company, and discounts for special events or guests. You pay one price for a year (some are monthly) to get access to these perks.

Memberships we bought

We bought three different memberships, a children’s museum, a zoo, and a science center. Each membership varies in price and discounts available. When looking into the memberships, do your research to ensure that it fits what you are looking for, and you will be getting back your investment and then some. Most memberships have multiple membership levels, depending on family size and the perks you are looking for.

The Strong National Museum of Play price for this one was $154. This includes admission (for one year) for two adults and four children (under 18 years old), six free parking tickets, four rides on the carousel, a $1 discount for the rope course and butterfly garden, a 10% discount at the gift shop, 50% discount (for up to six people) to participating ACM Reciprocal museums, and member-only exhibit previews and discounts on select museum events.
Ithaca Science Center, the price for this one was $85 (they have increased it to $100). This includes free admission (for one year) for two adults and all children living in the same household, free entry to over 325 ASTC science museums worldwide, 10% off Sciencecenter giftshop, and discounts on birthday parties, mini-golf, and summer camp.
The Buffalo Zoo, the price for this depends on your family size. We paid $90 for free admission (for a year) for two adults and two children (my son is not technically included in the membership price because he is free). Discounts for the gift shop, photos, rides, and drinks. Discounts at other AZA locations.

If you plan on using your memberships at other locations, call in advance to ensure they participate in the program. Be sure to ask what the discount price is. Most memberships can be purchased online and as gifts. If you are buying online and have questions call the location to get all answers. You can find lists of partcipating locations for all associations online. I printed out all three associations list to reference it when we are planning an adventure.

So far, we have gone to multiple locations with each membership. The discounts range from free to 50% admission. Follow along to see all the places and my reviews for each.

First Time Campers

Who said you couldn’t take little ones camping? Camping with a three-year-old and a nine-month-old is challenging, especially when it’s just you. My best friend Meagan and her nine-month-old, Oliver, joined us for a few days. My mom and stepdad were in the cabin beside me, but they couldn’t be with me the whole time.

At the beginning of June, I took Murphy and Benjamin camping at Allegany State Park for a week. My stepdad and his family rented a few cabins, and there was an extra cabin, so we were invited to join. How could I pass up the opportunity to get out of the house for a bit?! Jeff was still working during the week, so he couldn’t join. However, Meagan and Oliver tagged along for a few days.

The hardest part of the week was going to the bathroom with an infant attached to the hip. The bathroom and showers were directly behind our cabin. When Meagan was with me, it was easy to go to the bathhouse, but once she left, I was stuck holding an infant. Midweek I went to the store and purchased an umbrella stroller. Huge game changer. I was able to put Benjamin in the stroller, bring him with me and do with needed to be done.

Another problem I ran into was bathtime. I didn’t think about baths until I arrived, and the kids needed a bath. I did bring a toddler blow-up pool, but none of the campsites had even ground to set it up. Luckily when I packed, I used a tote to carry stuff in. We emptied the tote and turned it into the designated bathtub.

The cabin was perfect. It had four giant bunks, two chairs, a huge table and bench, a small stove and oven, a full-size refrigerator and freezer, cupboards, and countertop space. There was plenty of room for the kids to play, and we had enough room to move around. Benjamin and Oliver were still in the crawling phase, and they would always try to escape from the cabin. Thankfully the cabin screendoor came with a hook lock so we could leave the door open.

Outside the cabin was a different story. We stayed on the Sugarbush Trail on the Red House side. We had very little green space, which was so unlevel. Our cabin was the driveway for the only bathhouse for that loop. The kids running freely wasn’t an option for us. I did bring a giant playpen, which came in handy for outside.

We went exploring every day and sometimes ventured off the campgrounds. The views were amazing. There is a fitness trail around the bike path. There is also a tiny beach with water activities. I wasn’t brave enough to venture down to the beach by myself with the kids. There is a butterfly meadow to walk through with plenty of chances to see all kinds of butterflies. Lastly, we visited the little nature museum in the main lodge. It showcases the different habitats and animals around the park.

One of the main attractions in Allegany State Park is Thunder Rocks. This small trail features giant boulders. The rocks aren’t meant for climbing. This was Murphy’s favorite spot to visit. We ended up going twice. The boulders and trees provide plenty of shade. If you are looking for a break from the heat, this would be an excellent trail to venture.

To switch things up a little, we decided to take a short drive to the Zippo Museum in Bradford, PA. It is a small museum highlighting the famous Zippo Lighter. I didn’t get to do much reading with the kids, but you could spend at least an hour checking it out.

Camping with kids isn’t accessible by yourself. With the right tools, it’s possible. I would not recommend the Sugar Bush Trail in Allegany State Park. There were too many opportunities for playing kids to twist their ankles (at least around the cabins we had).

Nothing is forever. Do it while you can.

This year the Buffalo Zoo set up a fantastic display of lights. Zoomagination was breathtaking. It was fun for all ages. The kids were able to interact with some of the displays.

We arrived at about 6 pm, and the displays were jaw-dropping. All the animals were tucked away for the night, and the light displays replaced the animals for a night of fun and imagination. The exhibitions helped create fun and interactive photo opportunities.

They had set up opportunities for the kids to play and interact with the displays. The dino dig area was open for a chance to uncover some dinosaur bones. Swings that lit up. Stars that made sounds and lit up when you stepped on one. Circular stepping stones that acted like a giant piano.

We spent about 3 to 4 hours walking around, enjoying the displays, and taking photos. The kids had a blast checking out all the colors and lights. We grabbed a snack at the zoo grill and walked around until closing time.

If Zoomagination comes to a zoo near you, check it out. The amazement of your kid(s) will be worth every penny.

Fall Family Fun

Are you looking for fall family fun? Check out a local farm. Some farms end their season with a bit of family fun. Most have activities for all ages and plenty of photo opportunities.

Following a recommendation from a coworker, we ventured to a local farm in the Southern Tier region of NYS. Bradley Farms in Elmira, NY, is a fun family outing. They don’t have many activities for the kids but trust me, and they don’t need many. We had spent three hours at the farm, and Murphy wasn’t ready to leave.

When we arrived, there was a bit of a line to buy corn maze tickets, so we decided to walk around and scope things out. We stumbled across the greenhouse area and found some games and activities and lots of props for photo opportunities. The kid’s favorite area of the whole farm was the corn box. I couldn’t resist climbing in to play with the kids. Benjamin loved the new texture. It took him a bit to move around, but once he was comfortable, there was no stopping him.

They have a few games to play. There was a homemade skeeball game, an arcade-style basketball game, and a duck race. We didn’t play the duck race this time around. Ducks had to be purchased in the shop for $2 per duck. The basketball game wasn’t easy for Murphy because she was too short to play. The duck race is an excellent concept; you had to hand pump the water to move the ducks down the pipes.

There are lots of opportunities for pictures. Most photo props worked for one or more people. I liked that if there was just Murphy using the prop, the empty spaces had faces to fill the spots.

After our playtime and photo session, we decided it was time to do the maze. After purchasing my ticket, they gave me a map with numbers corresponding to posts along the way in the labyrinth. On each post was a QR code that showed you where you were in the maze but did not show you how to get out. The maze was a little walk away, passed an old family cemetery. I didn’t think to see how long it took us to walk through, but I would guess about a half hour to 45 minutes. To keep Murphy interested, I let her lead the way. She did a great job and led us out.

Located out the back door of the store is a honey bee hive. The hive belongs to Draper’s Super Bee. They are located in Millerton, PA, and have been featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” They have been in business for over 25 years. They have a little stand set up in the farm store with their honey for sale and ship anywhere.

Our time was coming to an end. We walked around the store. We picked out some pumpkins and mums and called it a day. The store features homemade sauces, spices, jams, baked goods, pickled veggies, and many other goodies.

All in all, we had a great time. A big downfall for me was the bathroom. All they have are port potties. Murphy had needed to use the bathroom, but there was no easy way to take her while having Benjamin. I had no one with me to leave him with. I didn’t want him on the floor. He would be touching everything. With him in the hiking pack, I don’t think I could have shut the door. Then there is the problem of holding Murphy up, so she doesn’t fall in. The maze cost $8. They do offer other activities (some of which weren’t running at the time) that are geared towards the older crowd. The most expensive part was the pumpkins. I only bought three, and they caught over $30. I was able to buy the mum’s 3 for $24.99. Great deal considering stores sell them for at least $15. Murphy has been asking to go back and play at the corn box. It’s close enough to us that we will be visiting at least one more time before the season ends.

You’re The Apple Of My Eye

September is apple picking season. There is nothing else like picking an apple off the tree and taking a bite out of it. There are some excellent places to go apple picking around Western New York.

Our newest adventure takes us to Becker Farms in Gasport, NY. We were there for about 4 hours, and the kids would have stayed longer if they could. There are tons of activities. You are bound to find something for everyone to do.

Benjamin, Sadie, Murphy, Meagan and Oliver

We went to the play area as soon as we arrived. There is a giant jumping pillow, petting zoo, goat races, tire swings, slides, and plenty of props for photo ops.

Benjamin (has his back to us), Oliver, Meagan, Murphy and Sadie

The kids loved the jumping pillow. It wasn’t crowded at all, so we were able to let Benjamin and Oliver move around freely. Once they were comfortable, they wouldn’t sit still. The boys loved when the girls would run by because it gave them a little bounce.

There were two giant black slides. The older girls enjoyed them. Murphy didn’t like to go down unless there was an adult at the end. The kids came flying down and out. We didn’t allow the boys to do those. They did have a little play area tailored to the wee little ones.

Murphy getting ready to go down the slide

They had goat races in which the kids could participate. The kids get to race behind the goats. Murphy and Sadie were able to participate.

They have a couple of country shops. They sell fresh baked goods, like homemade pies and apple cider donuts. There are dining options at Becker Brewing Co. Prices aren’t terrible, but if you have a big family, I recommend other options. Vizcarra Winery is located on the property as well.

Some other locations on the property have other stuff to do, but we didn’t get to everything. That means we have to go back. The petting zoo is in the play yard. The kids were able to see goats. Llamas, chickens, and roosters. Down by the orchard, they have a few horses the kids were able to see.

Our final favorite stop of the day was the orchard and the sunflower patch. Everyone was able to pick their apples and enjoy a nice treat after. They had a variety of apples available to choose from. Meagan and I picked sunflowers to take home with us. We didn’t let the kids do sunflower because it was a bit pricey. However, Murphy and Sadie got to fill their bag of apples.

It was a bit of a pricey day, but we could have made it a whole day’s adventure if we didn’t have to pause for nap time. Everyone had a great time. I will definitely go back again. It’s a perfect family outing.

America’s Favorite Past Time

We live approximately 2.5 hours from Buffalo, NY. Jeff and I are from the Buffalo area, so we often travel back and forth. While we are home, we try to make the most of it. This year we planned an adventure for Murphy’s birthday, so we also decided on Benjamin’s birthday. Since we were spending it in Buffalo, we decided on an outing to Buffalo’s Minor League Baseball Team. The Buffalo Bison’s Friday Night Bash!! It’s a ballgame at 7 pm and fireworks after the game at 10 pm all for one price!!

Me, Sadie (my niece), Benjamin, Matt (my brother), Jeff, Murphy, and Mateo (my dad)

At first, I was hesitant to agree to this outing because I thought, how was I going to entertain a one-year-old and a three-year-old and keep everyone around me from going crazy. Plus, stay for the 10 pm fireworks without them getting cranky. I agreed only on the basis that we would stay for a bit and leave well before the fireworks would start.

Our plans changed!! We stayed the whole game and watched the fireworks in AWE with our little Benjamin!! The kids, along with all of us, enjoyed the game!! The Bisons offer general admission choice seating. We could choose where to sit—a massive benefit with two little ones. We were to find seats that had a lot of open space. Benjamin and Murphy enjoyed moving around between all the seats.

Another benefit was the food prices and choices. We got everyone something to eat that appealed to them and their drinks at family-friendly prices. You’re guaranteed to find something for everyone.

The firework show was worth hanging out and watching. The look on Benjamin’s face watching the fireworks was priceless. The Bisons won 6-0. The kids had an absolute blast. They may not have watched the game, but they enjoyed the adventure.

All in all, everything about the Bison’s game was affordable and family-friendly for all ages. We may have to make it a once-a-year tradition. As this was one of my favorite things to do with my Dad as a kid, I think that we may have to make this a new yearly Family Adventure for the Wilmore’s.

I’m happy to share my childhood adventure with my kids at a Great place with Great Deals!! Thank you, Buffalo Bisons!!

New York State Festival of Balloons

Our most recent adventure was this past weekend. We went to Dansville, NY, for the New York State Festival of Balloons.

It was fun, but we were only there for an hour. It was sweltering. There were a few bounce houses that kids of all ages could play in. We weren’t comfortable letting Murphy play in them because Ben would want to join, and he isn’t big enough. Murphy (3) and went and played in a hot air balloon. That was cool (and I feel like that’s something we don’t get to do every day).

We did watch them set up one of the balloons, but we didn’t get to see them launch any. It was a windy day, so it took some time, and the kids were getting hungry. We walked around to see what they had to offer for food, but we didn’t see anything worth waiting in line for. So we just headed home. We did get to see one balloon launch while we were leaving. We had planned to go back and watch the lunch the next day, but the weather canceled all remaining launches.

We have family that lives close. They have a favorite spot that they like to go to and watch the balloons launch. We decided next year to have a picnic and watch the balloon launch from a distance.

If they had more stuff for little ones to do, I wouldn’t mind going. It was $5 for adults, and kids 12 and under were free. It was $2 per person to play in the hot air balloon. We had only spent $12, which is family-friendly. However, it is an hour’s drive, one way for us to spend an hour walking around. In the long run, it’s just not worth it.

Hello, We are the Wilmores.

I’m Maria (mom and not a Wilmore, yet), then we have Murphy (3) and Ben (1). There is also Dereck (not a Wilmore), the oldest child (19). He doesn’t adventure with us often. We are constantly looking for stuff to do. We travel on vacations or just mini-day trips while dad (Jeff) works hard. He is a music teacher, so the kids and I venture while he works. I have recently started a home-based travel agency and was thinking about all the challenges of traveling with toddlers and infants. I figured I would start a blog page to share what I think is valuable and share my failures (it happens). Traveling with kids is always an adventure. Let’s adventure together!