What: Smithsonian Magazine’s 6^th Annual Museum Day
Where: 1,300 locations throughout the US
When: Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010
Cost: FREE!

The High Museum and the Center for Puppetry Arts Museum are two Atlanta museums  participating in the Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day. They’ll join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge to all visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket .

Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people to participating museums and cultural venues, there are about 40 participating museums in Georgia. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. Listings and links to participating museums’ and sponsors’ sites can be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

What: Charlotte’s Web County Fair
Where: Center for Puppetry Arts
When: Sat., Oct. 2 – Sun. Oct. 3, 2010
Cost: FREE w/ purchase of General Admission Ticket (Tickets are $16, Members $9 Includes show, museum and Create-a-Puppet Workshop)
Want to win a four pack of tickets? See below

The fair is coming!  The fair is coming! To welcome fall weather and the opening weekend of Charlotte’s Web, Center for Puppetry Arts will be transformed into a fun-filled fairground, with activities and entertainment for all.  My sons LOVE the Center for Puppetry Arts and are very excited to see Charlotte’s Web.

On Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3, guests are invited to don their best costumes and enjoy FREE family-friendly amusement, while learning more about the world of puppetry.  Visitors will have the opportunity to vote on a favorite puppet from the Center’s museum in the “Best of Show” competition.  A blue ribbon will be awarded to the winning puppet, which will be announced on the Center’s Facebook fan page.  Other entertainment will include a County Fair Photo Booth–complete with props like handlebar mustaches and a prize-winning apple pie– and games with exciting prizes like free tickets, finger puppets and an autographed cast photo.

If you’d like to win a four pack of tickets to see Charlotte’s Web during it’s run from Sept. 30 – Oct. 31, leave comment here and let me know your favorite Charlotte’s Web character (Mine is Templeton – John Lind always made me laugh on Hollywood Squares)

Want an extra shot at winning:
Twitter: Follow @suerodman and tweet “Charlotte’s Web is playing @CtrPuppetryArts 9.30 – 10.31 learn more from @suerodman”
Facebook: “Like” Field Trips with Sue and Leave a comment on the wall letting us know your favorite character.

We’ll announce the winner on Tues., Sept. 28.

What: Westville, an 1850’s living history museum
Where: Lumpkin, Ga.
When: Thurs. – Sat. 10 – 5 pm and Sun. 1- 5 pm
Cost: Adults $10, Seniors, College Students and Military $8, Students K-12 $5
Click here for a $1 off admission coupon

Westville is a working 1850’s town located in Lumpkin, Ga., not far from Providence Canyon . The museum is a collection of 30 historic buildings assembled from across the state, and arranged as a typical 1850’s town layout with commerce buildings in the center and residences on the outskirts. Buildings include various trades, a school, courthouse, church, store, carriage house, gardens, slave quarters, upscale residences and a farm.

We visited on a random rainy Thursday. Two costumed interpreters lead three different tours explaining various aspects of 19th century life. I found the cotton gin and press to be most interesting. Our guide demonstrated a hand crank cotton gin and showed us a more advanced model that spit the cotton out into a barn. The massive cotton press was quite impressive. Mules were used to turn a huge pole that “pressed” the cotton into 500 lb. bales which were then tied by hand.

Westville alone was interesting, but unless you plan to go more than once, I would recommend timing your trip around the various special weekends on the Westville event calendar. During special events, there are more costumed interpreters and activities making it a more enriching experience. For example, staffers told us during the Civil War Days program in October, there is a soldier encampment in addition to numerous demonstrations of life in 1850. Interpreters spend the weekend at Westville and remain “in character” from Friday evening through Sunday night.

What: American Graffiti
Where: Stifly Piazza at the High Museum
When: Friday, May 28, 2010, 9 pm
Cost: FREE

This one isn’t for the kids, but I thought is sounded like so much fun that I had to pass it on. Bring your own blanket or seating. Outside alcohol is not permitted. In the event of rain the film will be moved to the 400-seat Rich Theatre. Come a little early and check out the Allure of the Automobile exhibit.

A bonus: Local car clubs will be on hand to show off gorgeous vintage cars from the 1960s.

What: FDR State Park
Where: Warm Springs, Ga.
When: Open Daily
Cost: $5 Parking Fee

Our last stop on a recent tour of west Georgia was a camping trip to Franklin Delanor Roosevelt State Park in Warm Springs, Ga. The park is named for the only four term president in US history. FDR came to the area to find relief in the warm springs from polio. He enjoyed it so much, he built the only house he ever owned and the one in which he died. FDR State Park is a combination of beautiful scenery and National history. In addition to hiking a bit of the 42 miles of trails, here’s what we found:

1. Roosevelt Stables: This activity was a vacation favorite. Located within the park, the stables offer trail rides from one hour to overnight. If you have your own horse, they offer boarding and 28 miles of horse trails to discover. Children must be at least 6 years-old for the trail rides, but they do offer pony rides for the younger set. Make a reservation before you arrive. We called the week before and had no problem, but the day we arrived, they were booked for the entire weekend. Rates from $35.

2. Dowdell’s Knob: FDR’s favorite retreat when visiting the area was Dowdell’s Knob, a rocky outcropping where FDR would entertain friends using a grill that remains on the site or contemplate the issues of the day. As my children climbed on the statue and ran around the picnic area, I tried to imagine the weight of the issues FDR contemplated. A marker states that just before he died, FDR rode to this spot and told his secret servicemen to leave him until he honked the horn, more than two hours later. No doubt he was grappling with a decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.

3. Camping: Our camp site was right on Lake Delanor. It was great to be free of TV and electronic devices. The first night, we sat by the lake and made up a progressive story that involved a catapil named Larry and an elephant that layed cheesecake eggs. The second night, we built a fire and the children who can’t sit still for a minute in church were engrossed for literally two hours.

4. FDR State Park Office: Located in a former Inn, the park office is made entirely of stone and was built by FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the Great Depression. In addition to the Inn, the CCC built a swimming pool, bridge and several other structures within the park. In the park office are videos of former CCC members talking about their experience, that by today’s standards would seem like a prison, yet these gentlemen talked with pride about what they had accomplished and were grateful for the experience that many felt “made a man out of me.”

5. The Little White House: No visit to FDR State Park would be complete without a visit to the Little White House. Nestled on the estate is an museum that tells the story of FDR and his legacy. Among the many items, you can listen to his fireside chats and see his 1938 Ford convertible equipped with hand controls so the handicapped president could drive himself. The Little White House itself is amazingly small, but guard shacks scattered throughout the woods remind you that it is a place of importance. Nearby you can visit the actual pools where FDR sought relief from his polio. The pool is drained most of the year to preserve the historic structure, but you can feel the warm 88 degree water. Once a year, the pools are filled and opened to the public and in 2010, they will be open Memorial Day weekend. Admission ranges from $5 – $8.

What: Waffle House Museum
Where: 2719 East College Ave., Decatur, Ga.
When: May 8 from 12 – 3 pm
Cost: Free

If you missed the Waffle House^® museum open house in March, never fear, the museum will now be open to the public one day a month. The Waffle House^® Museum is the site of the very first Waffle House^® restaurant. It opened back in 1955 after two neighbors, Joe Roger, Sr. and Tom Forkner, decided Avondale Estates needed a 24-hour restaurant. Today, the chain they started has 1600 restaurants in 25 states. The restaurant has been restored to feel as though you are stepping back into 1955. In addition to the restaurant, the museum features Waffle House memorabilia from the past 54 years.

Although I have not been to the museum, it looks like kids can play restaurant cooking make believe steak and eggs and serving customers behind the counter.

If you sign up to be a Regular, you’ll receive information on when the museum will be open, as well as coupons.

What: Atlanta Braves Open House

Where: Turner Field
When: Saturday, March 27, 2010 10 am – 2 pm
Cost: FREE

My family loves the Braves Open House. It’s a fabulous time to explore Turner Field and get excited for baseball season. In addition to being able to pick out your season ticket package (and try out the seats) kids can also run the bases, throw in the bullpen, shag fly balls in the outfield, play the interactive hitting and pitching games in Scout’s Alley, visit the Braves museum and Hall of Fame, AND tour Turner Field, all for FREE!! Activities on the field end at 1 pm, so get there early if you want to go down on the field.

If you missed this week’s Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, never fear. The segments featured the following:

Things to Do in Augusta, Ga. Beyond the Masters including:
Augusta Canal Intrpretive Center
Fort Discovery
Morris Museum of Art
Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s (March 23)
Free Rita’s Italian Ice (March 20)
Atlanta Opera Family Day
Places to birdwatch during National Wildlife Week
Buy One, Get One at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

If you’d like to see the actual clip, go to Better Mornings at CBS Atlanta.

1. Center For Puppetry Arts Museum – The Center for Puppetry Arts offers world class puppet shows and a fantastic museum of all kinds of puppets including a recently acquired collection from Jim Henson. The Henson display includes, Big Bird and Bert from Sesame Street, Kermit and the Swedish Chef from the Muppets, and others from various commercials, tv shows and movies done by Henson. The museum is FREE each Thursday from 1 – 3 pm. For a list of puppet shows, visit www.puppet.org. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll see.
2. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta – The Second Tuesday of every month is Target Free Day and the Museum is free from 1 – 7 pm. Exhibits include a life-size John Deere tractor, wooden trains, moon sand station, UPS truck, water play area and more! There is also a section just for the crawling set, with soft walls, mats to climb on, over and under, musical instruments to play and even a water bed.
3. Home Depot Workshop - The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot sets aside a corner of the store for kids to hammer and glue a wooden craft. We’ve made treasure boxes, flower pots, fire engines, and airplanes to name a few. Kids get an apron and the craft they make all for free.
4. Lowes Build and Grow Workshop – On select Saturdays, Lowe’s offers kids a similar workshop to the Home Depot. Lowe’s provides all the materials, hammers and gives each child a kid sized apron. Visit the website for specific dates and projects.
5. Kids Day at the Thrashers – The Thrashers offer Kids Day where tickets are free for kids with a paying adult. Upcoming Thrashers Kids Days are March 7 and 14.
6. Fulton County Free Days at the High Museum – The first Saturday of every month, Fulton County residents can visit the High Museum of Art free. Think this isn’t a place for your toddler? Think again. Here is video of the Green Family Gallery and Toddler Thursdays. While you are there, check out a free Discovery Backpack too.

Last Thursday’s Field Trips with Sue segment on Better Mornings Atlanta featured indoor aquatic centers and museums. Here’s a list:

So. Cobb Aquatic Center
Bethesda Park Aquatic Center
Bogan Park Aquatic Center

The World of Coca-Cola admission discount
Dr. Seuss Goes to War…and More at the Breman
The Center for Puppetry Arts Museum