family fun

Be Legendary at The Sports Legends Experience at The Childrens Museum of Indianapolis

Growing up I dabbled in a few sports. Tried gymnastics and dance as a young kid and stuck with soccer through college but I’d never say I was a super sporty person. I enjoyed being on a team more than the actual skill. My husband was the same. He played some sports as a kid but was more drawn to music through High School and College. Our four year old Sophia, however, seems to be a natural at a few sports come to find out after visiting Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. She was a natural on the soccer and hockey fields! She was excited that with each sport there was a child sized ball and hoop/goal. There was so much to explore we have to head back to check out the golf, baseball, fitness track and tennis but was very into playing all the other sports. My favorite part of the experience is getting outside as a family to try new skills and a little exercise.

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Be Legendary at The Sports Legends Experience at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

We had the pleasure to join some of our media friends out at the preview before opening to the public Saturday March 17th. I had high expectations of this 7.5 acre exhibit the museum has been working on for over a year. With us being frequent visitors and now as parents of a pre-K student at the school we have been watching the full construction process as it’s progressed. I’m happy to say that the exhibit FAR exceeded our expectations and wishes. With 12 outdoor exhibits and 3 indoor exhibits encompassing physical fitness, sports history and tons of family fun we were blown away and can’t wait to go back!

With a General Admission ticket or membership, each guests can explore and discover…

  • 12 outdoor sports experiences
  • 3 indoor sports exhibits, including the National Art Museum of Sport
  • The 60-foot tall Children’s Museum Guild’s Tree of Sports
  • 5 floors of fun in The Children’s Museum

The 12 outdoor sports experiences include:

  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Baseball
  • Tree of Sports (tree house meets jungle gym)
  • Racing
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Avenue of Champions (The avenue features 16 individuals who have left a significant impression on sports history, who have defied odds, who have given back, and more. To learn how the legends were chosen, read Advisor Skip Berry’s blog.)
  • Hockey
  • Fitness Path
  • Track

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Sports Legends Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum

Gen Con with Kids

Gen Con with kids is one of my favorite activities to date. With everything that is going on around our world, it is so special to show our kids a place where everyone is accepted. Gen Con is accepting of all people which makes it a super fun place to meet friends and also play a few games. Gen Con is the largest tabletop-game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. This year’s 50th year was the biggest yet with sold out badges and not a hotel room available for miles because of the 30,000+ attendees.

I was able to bring Sophia for a small taste of Gen Con on Thursday when I went to pick up my press pass. We thought we could pop in and out before heading out to the State Fair for the evening. I was pleasantly surprised by her awe and amazement at every cosplayer and event that was going on. There is a lot to do for kids throughout the week but Sunday is always Family Day. Many games and events are geared towards children and families.

Gen Con with Kids

Gen Con

Gen Con Cosplay

Gen Con Badges

Gen Con

Gen Con Badges

Gen Con Cosplay

Gen Con with Kids

The Pros of Gen Con for Kids

Gen Con is a place kids are able to freely converse with adults who will give them their full attention. Every single person our daughter spoke to had a genuine conversation with her which helps her be more confident in speaking to all ages, races and sexes. We also practiced using a map to plan what events to do and figure out where to go. Another great teaching moment revolved around money and saving. We had her bring some of her quarters that she could use to spend at the event. On the first day she really wanted to play the arcade games but ultimately spent her money on dice and gumballs. This lesson is two fold: learning about earning/saving money and helps alleviate the dreaded ‘can I have that?!’ problem when we go places. Not to say we never buy her goodies when we go out but there are certain places we’ll tell her to bring her own coins if she wants to buy something.

Speaking of money, your family can experience a day at Gen Con free if you do not want to participate in any tabletop games. You will have to pay for parking (cheapest at Circle Center or $20 at Lucas Oil) but if you bring your lunch you can have a day worth of entertainment in the corridors of the Convention Center. You could also bring some cash and experience the food trucks out on Georgia Street and Capitol Avenue.

Gen Con with Kids

Gen Con Mural

Gen Con Balloon Dragon

Gen Con Indianapolis

Gen Con Indianapolis

I’m so happy that Gen Con is contracted to be at Indianapolis through 2021 so we’ll have many years of cosplay and game play at this awesome event. The 2018 Gen Con will be held August 2 – 5, 2018 so start planning your costumes now! Pre-registration started late January this year so put it in the calendar to start checking in December. Let me know what questions you might have about taking your family to Gen Con or what you did while you were there!

Everybody’s Accepted at Gen Con

 

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Gen Con with Kids

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

Splash pads and water parks in North Indianapolis are still open! Even though school has started, that does not mean fun has to stop. We have several favorite spots to cool off around Indy.

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

splash pad

Here is a great list of what to pack when you visit with your family (including some affiliate links):

What to Pack:

There’s nothing worse than having to leave the water park because you forgot the sunscreen. Believe me. It’s always better to have too much stuff than to not have enough. My daughter has become a great swimmer but she hasn’t learned how to stop when she’s tired. We still bring her water wings just to give her a break for a little while and help her to last a while longer.

splash pad

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

For a list of all the Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis, check out the post I wrote at Visit Hamilton County. It is an extensive list with websites and phone numbers should you have specific questions on what you can bring or ADA accessibility. What do you like to pack for your family to bring to the splash pad?

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Taking Your Toddler to the Water Park

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Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

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