Rowley's Red Barn Fall Fun and Pumpkin Patch

I love going to Rowley's Red Barn at time of year because it is adorable and they have delicious food and ice cream. But the first time we ever went was in October when they had their fall festivities going on and we loved it! There is a price for admission, but it is well worth it. You get to enjoy a hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple cannons, giant slides, race tractors, a hay pyramid, a tractor train, and a giant sand box. Fall is the time to go to Rowley's! But then go again later because it's awesome.

Hours: April 1st – October 31st: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM 

November 1st – March 31st: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM 

Location: 901 S 300 W, Santaquin, UT

Cost for Admission: $8/person 2 and older, 2 and under are FREE, $35/family

Website for Fall Activities: https://www.rowleysredbarn.com/events/rowleys-red-barn-pumpkin-patch/

General Website: https://www.rowleysredbarn.com/

Toddler-Friendly: YES!!

Baby-Friendly: Yes!

Kid-Friendly: ABSOLUTELY!

Thanksgiving Point: Museum of Ancient Life

If you've ever driven past Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT, then you've probably seen the building with the huge dinosaur on the front.  Most people refer to this as the "Dinosaur Museum".  It is actually called the Museum of Ancient Life, as it covers more than just dinosaurs, and is one of the largest museums of its kind in the country.  My kids are still fairly young but the great thing about this museum is that it caters to all ages.  We saw lots of people with small children like mine, but there were also scout troops, teenagers, adults, and everyone in between.

My kids were so excited about all the different exhibits.  All of them have some kind of hands-on activity, ranging from watching a real dinosaur bone being excavated, to caves to crawl in, to digging for their own "dinosaur bones".  There was so much to see and do that it was almost a sensory overload for them.  They ran around and looked at each exhibit for a moment before dashing off to the next one.

Kid Science: Dancing Rice

After last week's fun activity involving baking soda, I thought I'd throw another one out there for you and your kids to try out!  This activity takes basically no prep time at all and uses ingredients you already have at home: water, rice, vinegar, baking soda and food coloring.

First, grab a clear container, such as a glass, and fill it with water so there is about an inch or so of space left at the top.  Add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda and stir it around.

Kid Science: Color Explosions

As an adult, I forget sometimes how neat the simplest science experiments can be for kids.  So many of these experiments can be done at home with items you already own or are inexpensive to buy.  One such activity is combining baking soda and vinegar and watching the bubbles form.  Add some food coloring and dish soap and you've got an even better homemade explosion that will impress your little ones for sure!

Guest Post: Pineview Reservoir and Anderson Cove Campground

Recently we made the drive up north to Pineview Reservoir (right outside of Huntsville) for a family friend’s birthday.  I had been up to this reservoir many times growing up, but it was new to my husband and kids.  We drove through Weber Canyon and took a road through that cuts through the mountain called Trapper’s Loop. It is an absolutely beautiful drive.  

The campground our friends stayed at is called Anderson Cove.  It is a pretty standard campground with parking, picnic tables, a firepit and a few trees, as well as bathrooms stationed every 4 or 5 campsites.  There is a fee of $8 to get in, but the fee varies depending on if you are bringing a boat, how many days you are staying, etc.  It is only a 5 minute walk from the campground to the reservoir.  They have decently sandy beaches and a good amount of beach as well.  We were there on a weekend and there were a lot of people but enough room for even large groups to spread out.

Guest Post: American Fork Canyon: Granite Flats Campground

When I imagine going up the canyon, I think of narrow, winding roads with thick trees and brush all around.  I think of cozy little picnic spots nestled in the trees and a river or stream flowing nearby.  This is probably due to the fact that I grew up living within a short driving distance of American Fork Canyon.

Recently, my little family and I went up American Fork Canyon to spend the evening with my brother-in-law, his wife and two kids, as well as other extended family.  They were spending the night at the Granite Flats Campground, just a mile up the road from Tibble Fork Reservoir.  We had been invited to come up in the evening and cook tin foil dinners and roast marshmallows.  

Even though I have been to Tibble Fork many times, my family didn’t do a lot of camping growing up so I wasn’t familiar with the campground they were at, but as we drove to their reserved spot, I felt like it was exactly as a good campground should be.  The individual campsites were separated from each other by trees and bushes, so you didn’t feel like you were camping on top of someone else.  It gave a nice sense of privacy and made you feel like you were really camping outdoors.  There was a set of bathrooms for every four or five campsites, easily within walking distance, which is great if you have kids (and even if you don’t).

Since getting married a little over 7 years ago, my husband and I have gone up a lot of different canyons with friends and cooked tin foil dinners.  It is one of my favorite camping foods and so easy to prep and transport.  We always cook our tougher veggies, like carrots and potatoes, halfway before putting them with the meat (usually chicken or ground beef/turkey), since the meat always cooks faster than the rest.

Free Things To Do With Kids: Visit the Capitol Building

This one is even educational, guys. I'm getting ambitious. Well, it wasn't that educational for my baby children, but it definitely could have been more educational if they were a bit older. Also, if I knew more about government...

Anyway, we actually don't live that close to our current state capitol. It's about an hour away, but Quinn (the hubby) had a massage appointment downtown so we drove him up and visited the capitol building while we waited! I don't know about your state capitol building, but the one in Salem, OR was gorgeous and so is the one here in Salt Lake City, UT! You can walk the grounds, go inside, and they even offer tours.

When we went, the place was crawling with tourists, so I got out my camera and became one of them! When in Rome, right? The boys had a lot of fun walking the grounds and looking at all the beautiful paintings. It was the perfect way to spend an hour, but we could easily have spent more time there.

4 Valuable Skills for Safe Ocean Swimming

My husband and I did a lot of swimming in the ocean growing up and there's nothing like it. I love it so much because you really feel like you're a part of a huge and powerful force of nature. But being in such a large body of water can be more dangerous than you might think. Here are four tips that will give you more peace of mind swimming in the ocean and taking your children to swim in the ocean. In my opinion, nobody should venture into the ocean without mastering these skills.

1. How to Get Out of Rip Currents (aka Rip Tides)

• Rip currents, or rip tides, can be found in any large body of water and they are responsible for many deaths every year. They usually occur near large structures like piers and jetties, but they can also occur when there is a drop or hole in the ocean floor. 
• They have a strong pull and can be very scary, especially for children. The most important thing to remember if you find yourself caught in a rip tide is to STAY CALM.
• Making children aware of rip tides will help prepare them if they are ever caught in one and they will be able to recognize what is going on and be less likely to panic.
• The way to GET OUT OF A RIP TIDE is to SWIM PARALLEL TO THE SHORE until you are out of the rip tide and then swim straight to shore. If you get tired while you're swimming, try to float, but still attempt to go parallel to the shore.
• If you find that you can't get out of the rip tide by swimming parallel to the shore, wave your arms and get the attention of a lifeguard as soon as you can, but remember not to panic!
• Getting out of a rip tide is really quite simple and nothing to be afraid of if you're prepared for it, but you should still avoid them. Stay at least 100 feet away from large structures in the water.

Get Out Of the House Without Breaking the Bank: 10 Free Or Cheap Activities For Little Ones

As you all know, I love to get out of the house. I have to do it at least once a day or my crew (my two screaming toddlers) and I get a little grouchy. If I were rich, this would be easier because I would just go shopping or to Disneyland half the time. But I am not. So I get creative. There are actually hundreds of things to do with your little ones outside of the home, but for some reason, it can be hard to think of them sometimes. So I've compiled a list for you so you don't have to do the thinking. Just the doing. And for me, figuring out what we're going to do is half the battle of getting out of the house.

 1. Kids Summer Movies and Dollar Theaters

• Many theaters offer cheap movies for kids during the summer. For example, these Kids Summer Movies at the Larry H. Miller Mexaplex in Vineyard, UT. They are usually older movies and the showtimes are during the day, but the kids will love getting out of the house and going to the big theater to see a movie.
• Usually I would say keep the babies at home if you're going to a movie, but these are perfect for bringing little ones. Most people will understand if a child starts screaming and needs to be taken out. It won't be the end of the world.
• Dollar theaters (or just cheaper theaters) will offer slightly older movies at a much cheaper price. For example, Movies 8 in Provo, UT (which has $1 Tuesdays) and Water Gardens Theaters in Pleasant Grove, UT and Spanish Fork, UT (where popcorn and drinks start at $1!).