With 1400+ holiday events over the course of 40 days, Grapevine, Texas is known as the “Christmas Capital of Texas” and they take that title seriously. You may think that holiday events are only revolving around kids, but you will find that many of these adventures are great for a date night or evening out with friends too.
Nelsonville, Ohio may be a small town but there are many reasons for travelers to stop and explore. If you are visiting the Athens area you will want to allow some extra time to stop by this destination located about 20 minutes away.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to find affordable adventure. There are several budget friendly adventures in Cincinnati that cost $5 or less.
You could say that my son is well on his way to becoming a Sneakerhead. He loves looking at shoes online and they are his number 1 request for birthdays and gifts. He also saves up his money to purchase additional shoes too. Good thing we’ve taught him the art of discount shopping.
During a trip to Toledo, I knew that he would love The Rise of Sneaker Culture at the Toledo Museum of Art. It was the perfect storm. I love art. He loves shoes. This exhibit displays shoes AS art for the WIN!
The exhibit takes you back to sneaker origins from the mid-1800 to current styles of today.
The Rise of Sneaker Culture features approximately 160 shoes that tell the fascinating story of how a casual fashion staple became the footwear of millions around the world. The exhibition draws from the collections of the Bata Shoe Museum, the Northampton Museums and Art Gallery; the archives of Adidas, Converse, Nike and PUMA; and private collectors such as Dee Wells of Obsessive Sneaker Disorder and legendary hip-hop group Run–DMC.
Shoes on display include an 1860s spiked running shoe, an original 1917 Converse All Star/Non Skid, a pair of 1936 track shoes like the ones Jesse Owens wore at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, the original Air Force 1, and an early Adidas Superstar, as well as contemporary sneaker collaborations with prominent figures such as Damien Hirst, Jeremy Scott, Jeff Staple, Kanye West and many others.
From its historical origins in the recreational pastimes of the elite and the increasing importance of physical fitness to its role today at the vanguard of athletic performance and urban style, the sneaker has been a pivotal component of dress for more than 150 years. The shoe’s ever-evolving design and cultural impact offers insights into the world in which we live, work and play.
When my husband and I were first married, I had him get rid of his old pair of Jordans. He’s regretted that decision every since and reminds me of it all the time. Now the only way he can see them is on display.
This exhibit really takes you through a journey of fashion and art.
Early sneaker designs
Fashion over the years
Creative concepts
My boys loved the interactive element at the end of the exhibit. We spent over an hour in that area.
We played a variation of Chutes and Ladders called Grafitti and Ladders that used tiny sneakers as the place markers and sneaker themed Dominios.
Kids and adults can dream up their own shoe designs by bringing color to the blank sneaker templates.
Exhibit guests can also take a shoe selfie on different flooring samples that can be added to the wall.
I discovered Pyramid Sculpture Park a few years ago and it still remains as one of my favorite Cincinnati area gems. There are a few reasons why.
I love when art and creativity have the opportunity to pair for a cause. I just discovered CANstruction a few years ago and it’s now an event that I look forward to each year. The CANstruction displays are a blend of purpose and art.
When I found out that there was a free park that combined nature and art, I knew that I had to add a visit to the The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres to my list for my next visit.
The boys and I made it out last stop after a sightseeing trip to Indianapolis.
We pulled in the Indianapolis Musuem of Art parking lot first but discovered that it was better to park a little closer to the trail. I still had to get a few pictures of the museum.
Our visit to the trail started with a sculpture that I’ve seen on instagram and it was an instant hit with my boys.
Located on 100 acres adjacent to the Museum’s main campus, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres includes woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and a 35-acre lake. 100 Acres is one of the largest museum art parks in the country and one of only a few to feature ongoing commissions of temporary, site-responsive artworks.
The park has a lot of sculptures that you can interact with.
There are 12 sculptures that you can discover along the trail around the lake.
There are lots of areas where you can stop and admire the beauty around you.
We had a limited amount of time to visit the park and it had started to rain during our visit or we defintiely would have stayed longer.
We visited the art park toward the end of November but I would love to come back and visit at the peak of fall or during spring.
You can find out more about The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres from their website.
100 Acres is open daily from dawn to dusk.
The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres is located at 4000 Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46208
I originally found out about the One Night, One Craft D.I.Y. session from my friend Paige from Cincy Whimsy. Her site has been a great resource to help me find out about unique adventures downtown.
During a recent trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan, I visited Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Several people had told me that it was a beautiful place to visit around the holidays and a tradition that a lot of families look forward to each year.
