Queens County Farm Museum

Our first Journey to Queen's was quite an adventure. We caught the E train from 42nd St, all the way to Kew Gardens (funny!). Then we had to catch the Q46 bus to Little Neck Parkway, then a small walk to Queen's County Farm Museum. Phew! The journey there was good, but the journey back was a struggle. No amount of food, books, drawing would help poor exhausted little minds and bodies.

The farm was a lot of fun, so much to look at and explore, plants, animals, vines, all complete with a tractor ride around the farm.

Pear Tree.

Little Man loving the tractor!

Gorgeous Barn!

A bit of a song.

Oh piggy, so happy.

Orchard Beach #3

This visit it was wet and cold, but that didn't stop my two running straight into the water. They didn't check the weather, they didn't wonder why no one else was getting undressed. Off they went, that is until they got wet and freezing. Then it was action stations and lightening Mumma trying her hardest amongst the duet of screaming and crying to dry and warm up the little chicks! Oh dear. The little Man was not interested in any more exploring after that, so we headed to the playground. Little Miss played in the sand and went around the bay collecting more things with her friends. 

Orchard Beach #2

This time we had fun in the sun, played on the beach then went for a bit of a hike, Miss M as always had her 'collection bag' with her and picked up bits and pieces that she loves, pine cones, rocks, sticks etc. Seriously it wasn't till I got home that I realised she had a MASSIVE rock in her bag, because of course it was 'sparkly'. The Park Ranger made whistles out of hollow grass, it was a brilliant day. Except of course that I seem to always forget to feed Miss M in time to stop her having a massive melt down!!! Ahhhh will I ever learn? It seems I have a long way to go!

 

Mushrooms are pretty funny it seems!

 Playing with crabs.

 Strike a pose!

 Rock pools.

 Whow! Check out that wind!

Orchard Beach #1

So has anyone been to Orchard Beach? A totally man made beach in Pelham Bay, The Bronx. We've been there quite a few times now, to play on the sand, swim, explore the rockpools and go on mini hikes. A very cool place to explore, once again always with wonderful park rangers to guide us around. I love that it has been refered to as the Riveria of NYC - that my friends it is not! But it is certainly a fun place to visit. We went at the end of summer, which meant that school was back in, so the beach was virtually empty but still had about 15 'Bay Watch' style life guards on their little perches. Mind you most of the lifeguards had their shirts over their heads sleeping, or were playing on their phones. I don't think I've ever seen that many life guards on a beach, even ones in Australia that have waves!!

Here are some highlights of our first visit where we spent all of our time on the beach. It had been about 7mths since the kids had been to a beach, so they absolutely loved it. 

Riverside Park

We took the 1 train to W 79th St and a short walk had us at Riverside Park.

We were going to go on a more detailed exporation, but the Park Ranger explained that there was too much poison ivy for the kids to adventure around in.

Still the little Man found a horse and much fun was had.