Lights, Camera, Action! in the Big Apple

If you and your family love movies and you’ve always been curious about how they get from original idea to the big screen, stop by the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, NY. Focusing on how movies are made, marketed, and shown, this museum is filled with costumes, props, and technical gadgets. There are also interactive exhibits where you can try editing sound effects and create animated shorts. Included in the admission price are different film screenings every weekend as well as fascinating demos of film editing, sound editing, animation, and creating video games. On weekends at 2:30pm, the Motion Workshop allows your kids to make a Thaumatrope - a 19th century optical toy - and learn what makes moving images “move.”

Admission:
Adults - $10
Children (5-18) - $5
Children under 5 - Free
Free on Fridays after 4pm

Hours:
11am – 5pm Wed & Thurs
11am – 8pm Fri
11am – 6:30pm Sat & Sun

http://www.movingimage.us/site/site.php

Get up-close with creepy crawlies in Phoenix

In a little stripmall outside of Phoenix is the unique Katydid Insect Museum. Opened in 2000 by Nedra Solomon, an exterminator and bug expert, this museum (associated with Heritage Pest Control) is definitely not for the squeamish. With an impressive collection of over 20,000 live and mounted specimens you can get hands-on with beetles, tarantulas, roaches, scorpions, and millipedes. Besides the usual “pests” is also an assortment of reptiles, including turtles, boa constrictors, and salamanders. The lizards and bearded dragons can even be taken for walks on their leashes if it’s not too crowded. Just don’t be surprised if your kids want to take one home.

Admission:
Adults - $4
Kids (7-11) - $2
Kids (3-6) - $1
Kids (under 3) – free

Hours:
11am-4pm Mon-Fri

5060 W. Bethany Home Rd., Glendale, AZ
623-931-8718

A revolutionary family experience in Virginia

With Independence Day nearly upon us, what better way to celebrate our country’s freedom than a visit to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia? Featuring hundreds of restored and reconstructed buildings, this 18th century colonial city is the world’s largest living history museum. Wander through the Governor’s palace or watch a silversmith at work. Help work in the gardens or see the militia prepare for battle. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the people living and working in colonial times and encourage you to ask questions. It's not unusual to see many of these people wandering around the town. You can even rent period costumes at the Visitor Center to get your children in the colonial spirit. Besides the guided tours through the different buildings, there is also “Revolutionary City” - daily re-enactments of our country during the fight for our freedom. Be sure to check out the official website which contains a lot of valuable information for planning your trip. There is also a great Kids section that has a Summer Program Calendar with family activities for each day of the week. Prior to visiting Williamsburg, your kids can meet the various people living during that time period and click through an interactive map of the town.

Also of note is the nearby Jamestown settlement. Celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, it’s definitely worth a side trip.

Admission:
$29-$79 adult
$15-$39 youth
(various packages available from 1-Day Passes to Full Year)

Hours:
9am-5pm daily
(see website for specific building/museum hours)

http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/