Enjoy the modern-day classic movie, “Night at the Museum” and come discover what happens with the Savannah History Museum exhibits after-hours! Dinner and breakfast will be served.

6 PM Sat. Jan. 22 to 8:30 AM Sun. Jan. 23 at Savannah History Museum, 303 MLK, Jr. Blvd.

Ages 4 and older. A parent must be present. Reservations Required. Call or email for details.
(912) 651-6823 ext. 3 or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org

Cost: $25 per person; $22 per Coastal Heritage Society member

MOSH (Museum of Science and History) in Jacksonville opens a dinosaur exhibit Sat. Sept. 25.

Prehistoric Predators – Sept. 25-Jan. 9 – will feature life-sized animatronic dinosaur models sure to inspire visitors of all ages.

On Oct. 23, the museum’s new Bryan Gooding Planetarium opens.

The new Bryan Gooding Planetarium will offer visitors an experience like no other in our region. Come experience total-immersion entertainment in a 360-degree theater at super-resolution four times better than the best HDTV.

MOSH offers $5 admission every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through Oct. 17 . Click here for more info.

Looking for a way to introduce your preschooler to Savannah’s downtown historic architecture?

Check out  “Savannah Safari,”  a $6 booklet that takes kids on a quick and easy walking adventure through Historic Savannah. Today, I took my 20-month-old daughter and 3-year-old son on the tour. Although my daughter may be a little young to “get it”, my 3-year-old son really enjoyed the search for architectural animals in gardens and squares (horse hitching posts, lion statues, frog fountain, dolphin downspouts, gargoyles)  

You can order a copy on the Savannah Safari Web site. The illustrated booklet complete with a map is also available at  Girl Scout First Headquarters, 330 Drayton Street, or the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (10 E. Oglethorpe Ave).

For more info on another kid-friendly self-guided downtown Savannah walking tour/scavenger hunt, click here

The Museum Mile Weekend in Charleston looks interesting and includes The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

The 2nd Annual Museum Mile Weekend is Sept. 25-26, 2010. Here’s the deal: you buy a Museum Mile weekend pass ($20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under). Put on your walking shoes and hit the streets. Your pass allows you to visit 13 sites in the Meeting Street area in historic downtown Charleston during this special weekend.

The one-mile section of Meeting Street includes six museums, five historic houses, four scenic parks and a Revolutionary War powder magazine, as well as numerous historic houses of worship and public buildings including the Market and City Hall. For more information call 843-722-2996. Fore more info or to buy tickets, click here. Tickets also available at all Charleston Visitor Center locations including the downtown location at 375 Meeting St. Online purchasers will receive their passes in the mail.

Participating Sites include The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, located at 25 Ann St., which offers eight hands-on interactive learning environments for children 3 months to 10 years.

Other kid-friendly highlights of The Museum Mile weekend include:
Aiken-Rhett House – 48 Elizabeth St.
Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s, this house and its outbuildings have survived as a time capsule virtually unaltered since 1858. Children are invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt throughout the weekend as they explore the house, grounds and outbuildings and learn more about the people who lived and worked on the property.

The Charleston Museum – 360 Meeting S.
America’s first museum showcases the cultural and natural history of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. On Saturday, The Charleston Museum will feature children’s crafts from 10 AM-noon.

Powder Magazine – 79 Cumberland St.
South Carolina’s oldest public building, The Powder Magazine (circa 1713) served as an arsenal within the old walled city of Charleston. Living history programs will be offered all weekend. A special performance of the original production The Gentleman Pirate will be offered on Saturday at 3:30pm. Call ahead for ticket information (843-722-9350) or visit www.PowderMag.org

Attention teachers and home-schooling parents: archaeology workshops are available to come to elementary schools or homeschool groups to teach Georgia Performance Standards in a variety of subjects, using archaeology as the hook.

ArchaeoFest is an educational program sponsored by the Coastal Heritage Society in Savannah that uses hands on-activities and the excitement of archaeology to teach a range of Georgia Performance Standards in 4th and 5th grade Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies.

Participants practice critical thinking, observations and inferences, identification, classification, matching, measuring, logic, and inductive & deductive reasoning.

Choose (Each program accommodates 25-30 students):
•2 hour program, given three times in a day at same location ($500 Flat Rate for all three programs) [averages $5.50-$6.70 per student depending on number of students]
•3 hour program, given twice in a day at same location ($450 flat rate for both programs) [averages $7.50-$9.00 depending on number of students]

Programs available for Chatham County area Sept. 13-Oct. 8, 2010.

Reservations required and can be made beginning Aug. 12. For more info, contact: Rita Elliott, relliott@chsgeorgia.org; 912.651.6850.

Brought to you by Coastal Heritage Society, Savannah. www.chsgeorgia.org

Kids and their parents are invited to a Family Sleepover Educational Program this month @ UGA’s Marine Education Center and Aquarium, 30 Ocean Science Circle, Skidaway Island.

Time 6 PM – 8 AM Sat-Sun. Jan. 23-24. Cost: $25/person all children must be accompanied by an adult.

The sleepover’s activities will focus on coastal development. All activities will be hands-on and exciting. There will also be a mini fishing clinic. Program includes snack and continental breakfast.

Please bring the following items: sleeping bag, pillow, hand towel, pajamas, bug spray, toothbrush and paste, flashlight, fishing pole, camera, and change of clothes.

Maximum of 25 participants. Advanced registration required. 912-598-2496 or email fish@uga.edu

Kids can spend a night in a real museum.

The Coastal Heritage Society is proud to present a “Night at the Museum” sleepover at Savannah History Museum. Kids can enjoy games and activities as well as a screening of “Night at the Museum” in the museum theater. Dinner and breakfast are also included

Night at the Museum is 6:30 PM Sat. Jan. 23, 8:30 AM Sun. Jan. 24 at Savannah History Museum – 303 MLK Blvd, Savannah. Cost: $22.95 per person

Tickets MUST be purchased in advance. Children must be 3 years or older to participate. Just to clarify, this is a family event, rather than a drop-off-your-kids event.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 912.651.6823 x203 or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org.

Don’t forget your sleeping bag!!

Happy New Year!

SouthernMamas is back after a brief holiday hiatus. During break, we checked out some nearby kid-friendly spots including the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens where feeding the giraffes was one highlight;
the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor (PENGUINS!); the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry in Charleston; Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights.

All of which we highly recommend as being well worth the road trip.

As part of Community Appreciation Days at The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Chatham, Jasper, Beaufort and Bryan County residents will receive half off of their admission rate this week (Nov. 22-29 2009)

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler is launching a new initiative to encourage local citizens to take advantage of what’s right here at home. The museum has dedicated November as Community Appreciation Month to the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry, and has reduced its regular admission rate of $10 for adults and $6 for kids to only $5 for adults and $3 for kids.

In addition to the reduced rate, guests will also receive a 10 percent discount in the Gift Store. Now is the perfect time to visit the museum and see the new B-17.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is just minutes from downtown Savannah in Pooler at 175 Bourne Ave. off I-95, exit 102. For more info, click here or call 912.748.8888.

Next time you’re in Atlanta, make plans to check out the new Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! exhibit at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Explore life-sized buildings from the Curious George books and TV series, design buildings at the construction site, play mini-golf and more. The exhibit presents key concepts in science, math and engineering, which are woven and layered throughout the exhibit. Activities invite children to learn like George – through direct experience and problem solving.

The exhibit runs Oct. 10-Jan. 24, 2010. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Click here for more information. Adults and children older than 2, $12.50.

Summer’s end means the popular raptors flight show is back at  The Center for Wildlife Education and The Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center in Statesboro.

The raptors flight show – with falcons, owls, hawks and more – is at 3 PM Saturdays, following a 2 PM reptile show, that includes insects, tree frogs, snakes and more. The flight show was on hiatus during summer.  

Other features of the Wildlife Education Center include a Discovery Trail which includes a opossum and skunk; a Habitat Walk includes a live bald eagle in her nest; 10 displays housing several live birds; a wetland preserve with ducks and wading birds, a playground; and “Discovery Logs” where kids can crawl inside and see encased ladybugs, grasshoppers, frogs, beetles and more.

Large groups, including school field trips, moms-tot groups and homeschool groups, can request a weekday raptors show. Call 912.478.0831.

The center also offers several birthday party packages that include the reptile show or bird show. There’s also a Birthday Overnight Camping Adventure.

The center is open 1- 5 PM  Saturdays during the school year. For more info, click here or call 912.478.0831.

SouthernMamas readers are always telling us how much they’d love to have a Savannah Children’s Museum.

Here’s your chance to help make it happen. Work is under way to build a Savannah Children’s Museum, which will be in railroad buildings adjacent to Battlefield Park and the Roundhouse Railroad Museum downtown. Estimated completion date is late 2010.

The museum will be owned by the city of Savannah and will be operated by the Coastal Heritage Society.

The Coastal Heritage Society plans to hold monthly volunteer work days to complete the outdoor courtyard and carpentry shop play space. These spaces will provide unique and engaging outdoor gross motor activities for children of all ages as phase 1 of the museum.

Work on the monthly volunteer days will include building benches, planters, a maze, laying sod, and preparing the outdoor space. Become a member of the museum’s Workers of Wonders (WOW) team to bring the Savannah Children’s Museum to life. People of all skill levels are needed.

The first volunteer day will be 9 AM- 3 PM Sat. Sept 19

For more information, to volunteer or donate supplies contact Beth Parr, 663-7466 or bparr@chsgeorgia.org

If you would like to be on a mailing list for updates about the museum, click here.

All aboard.

The Roundhouse Railroad Museum has a summer special: pay one price for a full day of fun.

The museum’s offering 45-minute rides in the vintage steam locomotive at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm through July 31. Rides on the museum’s human-powered handcar are available throughout the day. There also are guided tours of restored office cars at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm.

Admission: $10 for adults and $4 for kids 6 and younger, and includes all of the activities listed. Admission to the Savannah History Museum next door may be added for an additional $3 for adults/no extra charge for kids 6 and under.

Call (912) 651-6823 for more information, or click here.

Don’t forget. Father’s Day is this Sun. June 21.

Dads can spend this Father’s Day at Charleston’s South Carolina Aquarium for FREE with a paying guest or child. Click here to download a special Father’s Day coupon for free admission to all dads on Sunday. The website coupon must be presented to take advantage of this offer. Fathers also will be recognized during daily programs.

The aquarium’s newest exhibit, Penguin Planet!, features four Magellanic Penguins in a brand new interactive exhibit. Watch as penguins dive underwater, learn about penguin colonies, discover what makes these unique birds march. The animals are on loan from SeaWorld.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 20 – 21, the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is offering all Fathers half off of admission rates. The Museum admission rates for fathers this weekend will be $5. On Father’s Day, a special brunch will be offered in Chef Matt Cohen’s New South Pub, open daily from 11 AM to 3 PM.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is @ 175 Bourne Avenue in Pooler, off of I-95 at Exit 102.

SouthernMamas is always telling you about free or low-cost Savannah area children’s activities.

Especially when it comes to finding fun, inexpensive ways to enjoy your summer staycation in Savannah with the kids.

But not until now did we have all those low-cost children’s summer activities in one place. Check out our new page entitled Low-cost Savannah summer kids’ activities. Check it out here.
Let us know what events you love or which ones need improving by sharing your comments.

Thanks to Lynn Adams for compiling this list.

Have a great SouthernMamas summer.

There’s a special storytime 10-11 AM Wed. June 3 @ the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W. Harris St

For ages 2-5. The theme: Fun in the Sun. Children will make ocean bottles & hear stories about summertime fun. Register at 912.651.6823 (note a different number than what was included in our weekly newsletter) or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org.

The Roundhouse Railroad Museum has a special once-a-month story and craft time in the Kidz Zone in the museum’s baggage car.

For more storytimes happening in the local area this summer, visit our new storytime page which lists a variety of storytime locations. .

During February, South Carolina residents can visit the South Carolina Aquarium with a flat rate admission of $10, which is a savings of $7 off adult admission.

See the expanded touch tank featuring Atlantic sting rays or take a ride on the kids-only discovery boat in the new Something’s Fishy Kid Zone, watch a dive show or enjoy a family hike through the new exhibit Camp Carolina.

This offer is only available to South Carolina residents with valid proof of residency and may not be combined with any other offer. Expires Feb. 28. For more information, click here or call 843.577.3474 (FISH).

A reminder about a new storytime in town.

It’s @ The Roundhouse Railroad Museum @ 601 W. Harris St. in downtown Savannah, starting Wednesday, Feb. 11 10 – 11 am. In the Kids Zone Baggage Car. For ages 2-5.

The theme for that week is “Will You Be My Valentine?” Cost : $4 per child, plus adult admission.

Reservations are required. Call 912.651.6823 or email childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org.

The event kicks off  a special once-a-month story and craft time @ The Roundhouse Railroad Museum. Click here upcoming storytime themes and dates.

This upcoming Sunday Feb. 8 is Super Museum Sunday. On this special day you can take your whole family to participating museums and historic sites FOR FREE. For a list of participating museums and venues, click here.

During Super Museum Sunday, The Coastal Heritage Society will offer FREE rides on its newly-completed passenger car at The Roundhouse Railroad Museum

The train rides will take place every half-hour from noon-4 pm. Admission to the museum will be free as well. The car will be hauled behind a historic diesel locomotive. Also featured are blacksmith demos as well as children’s activities including storytimes in the museum’s special kids’ cars.

The Roundhouse is across from the Savannah History Museum/Visitors Center on Louisville Road west of the intersection of MLK, Jr. Blvd. 912.651.6823.

For a details on events offered at other venues during Super Museum Sunday, check back Friday on SouthernMamas.com.

Steve Martin also sang of King Tut: “Now if I’d known, they’d line up just to see him, I’d have taken all my money, and bought me a museum.”

Get ready to stand in line to see the exhibit “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” opening Nov. 15 in Atlanta.

The exhibit @ the Atlanta Civic Center features more than 130 treasures from the tomb of celebrated pharaoh King Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites at the Atlanta Civic Center. It runs through May 25.

Due to the popularity of this exhibit and the 30-minute timed entrances, tickets are on sale now. Advanced tickets ensure you can see King Tut and provide you with the “Tutlanta” affiinity card, which will get you deals at more than 75 area businesses. To see full listing of offers is available, click here.

To get your tickets or for more information, click here. Adult admission is $32.50 and children are $16.50.

The Sandbox, an interactive children’s museum on Hilton Head Is., is more than just a fun place to visit with the kids.

The Sandbox also will offer a music enrichment class and dramatic arts class for kids September thru October.

The parent-accompanied classes are taught by Beth Green, a professional children’s music and drama educator, entertainer and children’s choir director known as the Music Lady. The 45-minute classes are from Sept. 2-Oct. 7.
The musical enrichment class, for children 1-3 years old, is 9:30-10:15 am Tuesdays. The dramatic arts class, for children 4-6 years old, is 10:30-11:15 am Tuesdays.

Each class is $25 per child for the six-week sessions. Family rates are available when registering three or more children. Registration is required and space is limited. 843.842.7645

Savvy moms know the importance of kids birthdays. So what better topic for our first post than a roundup of the best bets for parties.

Wild birthday with reptiles or birds

The Center for Wildlife Education & The Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center at Georgia Southern University offer four birthday packages. Each includes a reptile or bird program and reserved covered pavilion. Birthdays are held on Saturdays through the school year and Monday-Friday during June, July and August. Costs range from $100-$350 depending on the package. Special themed wildlife programs are available including Soft & Cuddly, Tails & Scales or Creatures of the Night. Gift bags and special gifts for birthday child are available. One package is a birthday overnight camping adventure and private wildlife program.

Party reservations are based on availability. Call Pam Harley at (912) 681-0831 or email pharley@georgiasouthern.edu.

Sandbox Interactive Children’s Museum

Kids can play in the magic sand at the loggerhead sandcastle, pretend to prepare exotic meals in the international bazaar, trek across the rock challenge course or paint a picture and play instruments at this Hilton Head Island museum. Rental of the birthday party room includes plates, napkins, utensils and a special gift for the birthday child and guests. Rates range from $125-$225 and includes museum admission for up to 12 children. 18A Pope Ave. HHI (843)842-7645

Edible Art Party, Savannah Rum Runners

Each child gets to sharpen their baking skills decorating three items – usually a large cookie, cupcake and donut – using butter cream icing and different colors, chips, sprinkles, sugar, candies etc. Children take their goodies home. Call 355-4177. Located in Habersham Village, 4515 Habersham St. at 61^st St. 

Sea Turtle Cinemas

For the budding film buff. Watch a blockbuster, play in the theater game room and eat popcorn, soda and candy. Packages range from $12-$15 per child. For ages 2-12. Located at 106 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. (843) 706-2888.

Caboose Party, Roundhouse Museum

Play in the conductor’s seat of a real caboose. Watch the model trains run through a miniature Savannah. Get an up-close look at diesel and steam engines. Catered train or character cake will be waiting with character plates and napkins set with a railroad lantern centerpiece. Lemonade, cups, ice, forks, candles provided. Parties up to eight children: $150. Add $8 for each additional child. Located downtown 601 W. Harris St. 651-6823

Puppet People
Themed birthday parties are held at the Puppet People studio Parties include: interactive studio tour; puppet show; make-and-take paper puppet that coordinates with the party theme; Decorations, utensils, paper napkins and table cloths. Prices at the studio start at $250 for up to 20 children and last up to two hours. Fees are different when Puppet People are hired to go to birthday parties at different locations from the party studio. Studio is at 3119 Furber Ave. in Thunderbolt. (912) 355-3366. E-mail puppets@puppetpeople.com

Animals for hire

The Double C Ranch:The traveling petting zoo from Ridgeland, S.C. comes to Savannah to do birthday parties.They have a variety of animals including sheep, goats, a cow and donkey. Cost is $150 for a minimum of two hours. (843)247-0428

Running Horse Ranch: The ranch in Hagan, Ga. brings the pony rides to your own back yards. Two ponies cost $150 per hour. (912) 739-7837

Kindermusik Party

Turn your child’s birthday into musical celebration. A Kindermusik birthday on-site at your location includes 15 minutes of exploration and free play with instruments plus 45 minutes of instrument exploration, instrument play-alongs, creative movement, storytime and circle dances. Also included is a free gift for the birthday child. Birthdays are given by licensed Kindermusik educators. Cost: $150 if child is enrolled in Kindermusik; $175 otherwise. Upgrades are available. (912) 352-2420.

Chick-fil-A and Build-A-Bear Party

The two Oglethorpe Mall businesses team up for kids’ parties. Each guest makes a stuffed animal they can keep at Build-A-Bear. Parties start at $10 per guest. (912)352-1876. The party then moves to the food court for lunch that includes kids meals, balloons and pictures taken with the cow. Cost is $6 per child. (912)352-1580

Air Force Party

 The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum birthday parties include a private party room, personalized cakes, drinks and supplies, goody bags, free gift wrap for purchases in from the museum store and guided tours. Located off I-95, exit 102, Pooler. 748-8888 ext. 106. E-mail education@mightyeighth.org