Story: Anna Rodrigues
Images: Phil Raby

When I was a child, spending my summer vacations in rural Portugal, a distant relative of mine pointed to the bats flying around their house and told me to be careful.  The story was that the bats were bloodsuckers, who would latch on to any warm-blooded animal, including myself, for a nightly snack.

Of course when I saw the creatures on their nocturnal flights, I was afraid.  Well, it turns out someone was wrong or just trying to scare me because I found out recently that while there are bats that feed on blood, they are only found in Mexico, Central America and South America.  Those vampire bats are no where near Western Europe!

That’s only one of many fascinating facts you’ll learn about bats when you visit the Royal Ontario Museum’s re-vamped Bat Cave Gallery.  An already popular spot for kids and adults at the ROM, the new and improved area has much more to offer and will definitely leave visitors astonished as they uncover surprising information on these flying mammals (yes, they are mammals!)

Here’s what you will experience:

• get personal with bats by seeing extreme closeups of their faces.  Pretty spooky stuff especially when you get a nice look at the Ghost-faced Bat.

• want to learn how bats navigate in the darkness?  The whole echolocation process is on display.

• find out what bats eat while looking at taxidermied specimens.

• learn more about the history and the research done at the St. Clair Cave in Jamaica, home to thousands of bats.  This is the cave the ROM’s bat cave is replicating.

• be prepared to enter a world where bats rule.  In the dim light you will see over 20 specimens and more than 800 models in the cave.  There’s so much to see, it’s a good idea to spend some time exploring all the different recesses in the cave where the daily (and nightly) activities of the bats are on display.

As Batman would say: “Come on, Robin, to the Bat Cave! There’s not a moment to lose!”

Watch this video on the Bat Cave Gallery:

© 2007-2010 Trips with Kids - Unauthorized reproduction of this article, video and images is prohibited.

Story: Anna Rodrigues
Images: Phil Raby

If you’re looking for a family vacation that will allow you to ditch the car for a few days, try Ottawa.  The downtown core of our Nation’s Capital is both pedestrian and bike-friendly, so getting around isn’t a problem.  In no time at all you’ll see your carbon footprint become smaller while your wallet gets thicker with all the cash you’ll be saving on gas and parking.

Market Watch

Although it is comprised of only four street blocks, the historical ByWard Market area, also known as the birthplace of Ottawa, is jam-packed with things to see and do. There are restaurants, specialty shops, and of course, one of the oldest and largest farmers’ markets in Canada where home-grown flowers, vegetables and delicacies can be found.

If you have a sweet tooth there are two must experiences to put on your ByWard Market list.  The first one is to have a piping hot BeaverTail, the perfect indulgence to eat while listening to live music in the market.

As well, if you are curious about the Canadian Obama cookie, stop by the Le Moulin de Provence bakery to check them out.  President Obama purchased these maple leaf sugar cookies last February while in Canada for a visit and the rest, as they say, is history. The bakery has a lot more to offer than cookies, and with an outdoor patio, it’s a great place to have a coffee in the market.

A Day at the Museum

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is located in Quebec, just across from downtown Ottawa, but it is a definite must see for families visiting the area.

It is considered Canada’s largest cultural institution with over 25,000 square metres of display space all housed in an award-winning building designed by Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal.  Its permanent exhibit, the Grand Hall, is absolutely stunning with over 40 authentic totem poles in a vast gallery that also doubles as a theatre where performances take place.

Inside you will also find the Canadian Children’s Museum, a place where a child’s imagination can run freely while they explore the world, literally.  This children’s museum is divided into different international experiences so kids can experience driving a Pakistani bus, playing in a Nigerian home or watching short, animated movies in a Canadian cinema.  In all there are over 25 areas of interactive fun in this one place.

Getting to the Canadian Museum of Civilization is an easy 20-minute walk from downtown Ottawa by simply crossing over the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge.

Who’s Afraid of the Dark?

There’s no need to wait until Halloween to hear a good ghost story. The Haunted Walk of Ottawa is a good way to find out about the city’s ghoulish side while learning some history as you tour all over the downtown.

You can learn all about the scary antics going on at City Hall that don’t involve any politicians.  It turns out that part of City Hall used to be a Teacher’s College, and unfortunately a ghostly school marm still thinks she’s teaching in the empty rooms.  As well, there’s a frightening story involving a historical building with an eerie attic where too many people have seen strange things. That story might just leave you looking over your shoulder.

Before going on this walk, make sure your kids are up for it.  It’s recommended for children six and up who are prepared to walk for 90 minutes and aren’t too sensitive to scary stories.

For more info: ottawatourism.ca / 800-363-4465

Check out this video on some of Ottawa attractions

Where to Stay

Since a lot of Ottawa’s main attractions lie in its downtown core, the perfect place to stay at is the Westin Ottawa, located a stone’s throw from Ottawa’s jewel in the crown, the Rideau Canal.  The Westin is offering a Family Escape package starting at $179 for a family of four.  This package includes coupons for BeaverTails Pastries, an in-room movie, but even better, kids under the age of 12 will eat for free for each paying adult at the Westin’s restaurant, Daly’s. To book: westin.com/Ottawa / 866-716-8101

© 2007-2010 Trips with Kids - Unauthorized reproduction of this article, video and images is prohibited.

Story: Anna Rodrigues
Images: Phil Raby

Tony Scott and Madison on the hunt for dino bones

“What you’re holding in your hand belonged to an animal that lived 70 million years ago,” says Tony Scott, a Science Educator at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, located 135 kilometres northeast of Calgary in Midland Provincial Park.

Five-year-old Madison smiles widely as she discovers the importance of her find while participating in a fossil dig. The porous, hard material she picked up from the sun-baked ground of the Canadian Badlands is indeed the fossilized bone of a dinosaur. It’s a dream come true for any amateur paleontologist.

Going on a Fossil Hunt

Dinosaur detectives can pick up on the trail of evidence left behind by these mighty creatures at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, a world-leading center of paleontology with more than 120,000 dinosaur fossils.  Many of these artifacts can be seen in amazing exhibits that cover life on Earth through the ages, from the first creatures to inhabit the sea to the time when sabre-toothed tigers and mastodons were kings of their domain.

There’s also an opportunity to watch paleontologists at work in the prep lab where discovered fossils are being extracted from rocks, cleaned and catalogued on a daily basis.

Can you Dig it?

The museum has many innovative programs designed to educate and entertain.  The Dinosite tour has families prospecting for fossils while taking a hike deep into the Badlands surrounding the museum.

Spotting a fossil is easy as long as you know what you are looking for: a hard piece of bone that is shiny on the outside with a porous interior.  If you’re still not sure you’ve found the real deal, you can do the finger test.  Wet your finger and touch the shiny side of the bone.  If the finger sticks, you have a genuine dinosaur fossil, but it isn’t yours to keep.  The federal government protects all dinosaur bones found in Canada and although you can touch them, it is against the law to pocket them.

If the kids (and you) are disappointed by this, go back to the Royal Tyrrell for the Casting Workshop.  This activity shows participants how to cast their own replica of an ancient fossil, like a raptor claw, using a mould and plaster.  It’s not the real thing, but it is a pretty cool souvenir to take home.

Gone to the Dinosaurs

Seven kilometres from the Royal Tyrrell Museum is the town of Drumheller, where dinosaurs rule…literally!

Colourful statues of the creatures reside on every street corner making it perfect to play “spot the dinosaur” while driving through the town.  Even the local IGA has a realistic and terrifying T-Rex crashing out of its front wall.

The dino fun in Drumheller doesn’t stop there. Rotary Park, in the downtown, is home to the largest dinosaur replica in the world.  Made of concrete and steel, this T-Rex stands at an astounding 25 metres.  To get to the top, visitors will have to trek up 106 risers, but the trip is well worth it as it provides a unique perspective of the area through the jaws of a dinosaur.

Looking for a way to cool down after walking down all those steps?  Right at the foot of the T-Rex there’s a water spray park, cool fountains and an Aquaplex that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

For more information:

canadianbadlands.com and travelalberta.com

© 2007-2010 Trips with Kids - Unauthorized reproduction of this article, video and images is prohibited.

Story: Anna Rodrigues
Images: Phil Raby

The magic enveloped us the moment I opened the blinds in our room. Madison, my 6-year-old daughter, joined me at the window and silently we watched bright strings of lights twinkling everywhere.

Smoke was curling up lazily from the outdoor firepit in the village square and children were zipping down a slide made entirely of ice. People were walking without hurry, bundled up, with skis on their shoulders or snowboards at their sides, all under the watchful eye of a massive mountain known as Tremblant.

Ski Fun

Located in the scenic Laurentian mountains of Quebec, Mont Tremblant Ski Resort takes snow activities to a different level. Whether you’ve strapped on skis for the first time or you’re a fierce snowboarder, there’s a perfect trail for your level of expertise.

Little ones aren’t forgotten, either. There are three magic carpet lifts up the bunny hills and kid-friendly lessons with instructors. As Madison was learning to ski with her dad, I saw an instructor transform a crying boy who didn’t want to move on his skis into a giggling snow bunny in less than 15 minutes with expert ease.

In the Village

Don’t ski? No problem. The Village is a place to see and be seen. You’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into a town in the Swiss Alps. You can park your car and forget it -you won’t need it in the pedestrian-friendly village.

There are many restaurants to experience, but we recommend Creperie Catherine, where authentic French crepes of all kinds can be savoured slowly with a good cup of coffee.

The village also has an excellent place for the family to hang out while having fun. Features include two kids’ pools, a swinging rope a la Tarzan and swimming lanes for the older crowd. Eucalyptus steam baths are available onsite to soothe aching muscles after a day of skiing.

Want something different to remind you of your visit to Mont Tremblant? You’ll find that at the Plush Factory, located in the Village, where kids and adults get to choose their own souvenir plush toy.  But the fun doesn’t end there. It is just beginning. You will stuff it, place a secret wish inside, then choose from an array of accessories to dress it up nicely. The employees at the Plush Factory will guide you every step of the way as you get your new companion ready to take home.

The village has lodgings for every budget. There are tons of packages, many that include accommodations, breakfast and lift tickets. See tremblant.ca for last-minute deals and online deals.

© 2007-2010 Trips with Kids - Unauthorized reproduction of this article, video and images is prohibited.