Everyday Mom's Meals: A Spring Road Trip
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Saturday, May 5, 2018

A Spring Road Trip

For anyone that has been reading my blog from the beginning, you are well aware of our love of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Between our trips down for some family time, to the 6 months I spent being a blog ambassador for them, we have a long standing amazing relationship with one of the best attractions Indiana has to offer.

And now, they have even more to offer kids, adults and even teens. In their biggest expansion in 40 years, the Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience is now open and ready to show your family some fun! A combination of sports history, physical fitness and health education, in both indoor and outdoor exhibits, there is a little something for everyone! 


Good news too! The Sports Experience is included with the price of admission to the museum, so now along with the 5 floors of fun you already had, you get 12 outdoor sports activities, featuring basketball, football, tennis, baseball, and MORE! Plus, 3 indoor exhibits, including the History of Hoops and The World of Sports. Oh, and let's not forget the massive Tree of Sports where you can climb 25 feet high and see all the action! (The tree was closed for maintenance the day we visited, so we are looking forward to seeing it when we go back!)

I was so happy when my friends at TCM invited us down to check out the new Sports Experience. Last week, we let Alex take a day off school, and we hopped in the car for a mini road trip. Since I've shared so many of our trips with all of you, this time we will focus on the Sports, of course, and a few exhibits we had actually never seen before. 

When we arrived, my sports fanatic, aka Alex, wanted to head right outside. He could NOT believe his eyes! He was in heaven! I have to admit it is really nice for him to have not only something new at the museum (He's been there so many times) but also fun that is more suitable for someone his age. The whole museum has always been appropriate for all ages, kids and adults, but so many hands on sports activities are really up a teen's alley.







The indoor portion of the Sports Experience is just as hands on, with some history thrown in too! We Hoosiers are known for our love of basketball, and it shows in the History of Hoops. But there are also sports featured too. Sure my basketball enthusiast enjoyed the carnival style game, but he also "row row rowed" his boat with the best of them!




When we made our way back to the museum itself, Dinosphere was our first stop.

Max loves to look at "ninos" so he was in awe. As we were walking out, I spotted a machine I have literally seen 100 times before, and apparently never paid enough attention. It is a double press mold, that if you pop $3 into it, you can watch a plastic dinosaur be made before your eyes! It's the perfect souvenir and the toddler didn't put his down all day!


Another of our favorites, since it opened a few years ago, is Take me to China. But this year it was a must see for a whole new reason. The toddler's favorite animal is pandas. He has a stuffed one he calls "baby" (That actually used to be Alex's and came from the museum years ago) and he carries him everywhere. Well, you can imagine his reaction when there were literally pandas every where he turned. "Baby! Baby! Baby!" It was pretty adorable!


Max also got to experience Playscape for the first time. On the 3rd floor, there is an entire area for 5 years and younger! It is the perfect place to get the little ones out of the stroller and let them run around and play, safely. There are a ton of hands on things for them to touch, push, turn on and off, play with...everything they are usually told "no" for!







While you're exploring the museum, don't forget to take a trip down the Chocolate Slide! You're never to old to squeal "weeee" with delight! And be sure to stop underneath for a super cute photo op too!



As you can see, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis has SO much to offer every member of your family, from the youngest to the oldest. We are so blessed to live so close, but even if we were a little father away, it would totally be worth the drive! To stay up on all the latest exhibits and fun they are having down there, including the new Sports Legends Experience, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and IG!

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