Family Fun at Wilmington’s Festival of Colors

-
One way to celebrate this change of season is to attend Wilmington’s own Festival of Colors. With live entertainment, craft booths and various contests, it is a great place to stop by after taking that early morning hike or make it your own destination.


Children will enjoy face painting, games and guest appearances from nearby Santa’s Workshop. The North Pole is located just around the corner so be prepared from some favorite characters to stop by. Horse and pony rides will round out some of the activities. The Festival of Colors always takes place the second Saturday in September. So join in the fun from 10 am-5 pm.
I always look at the change of season as a break from the previous experience. Summer is a nice break from spring; winter is a nice break from autumn and so on. I don’t look upon one season with dread or another with utter delight. I love that in the Adirondacks the seasons change. It truly allows for four seasons of fun. Yesterday we experienced rainbows after a thunderous rain. It added much needed water to the lakes, streams and ponds. It also cleaned off the leaves to show them off to their best advantage. We are just starting to catch glimpses of those wonderful Adirondack gold and red leaves.

After a glorious summer with minimal rainfall, my family and I had to go outside and dance around in all that wonderful rain and mud. As a parent, I strongly recommend dancing in rain as much as possible. It clears the cobwebs from our heads and breaks in the new rain boots.

Of course, you can always take a ride around some lesser-known roads and see who can spot the first leaves of autumn. If you are sitting on top of a mountain and resting after a hike, take a few moments to have your own celebration of color and relish the Adirondack change of seasons.  Enjoy! 

 © Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™, which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the third guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities™.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be A Nature Detective: What Tree has Camouflage Bark?

-
Image
The American sycamore! This massive tree is often mistaken for a maple because of its leaves.  It is unique amongst all trees because of its bark pattern. Are there other names for the sycamore tree? It is also called an American planetree, buttonwood or the buttonball tree. Where does it grow? This hardy tree likes wet soil. It can be found growing in every state east of the Great Plains, except Minnesota. How big will it get? It can grow up to 90' tall. t is also North America's largest native broadleaf plant.
Read more

Crafts: Aldo Leopold Bench Plans

-
Image
Enjoy these simple plans for this simple bench that provides a perfect place to observe the natural world.  C onsidered by many as the father of wildlife management and of the United States’ wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast . “That land is a community is the basic concept off ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.” Though his book, The Sand County Almanac is a must read, it may be something that can wait for anyone with very young children. For everyone else, it's a wonderful example of nature writing that is a timeless connection to the land. My family first made our first  "Leopold Bench" as a group effort at the Aldo celebration at the A dirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb, NY. It remains one our most comfortable outdoor benches. It also was a project that allowed us to work together. © Diane Chase, author of A dirondac...
Read more

Adirondack Treats: Make Your Own Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe)

-
Image
Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Back by popular demand! My favorite cookie recipe!    *reprinted with permission Mirror Lake Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies , Lake Placid, N.Y. Mix until light and fluffy 2 cups butter 2 cups sugar 1 cup brown sugar Blend and add to sugar mixture:  4 eggs Add: 4 tsp. vanilla 4 cups flour 3 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 4 cups chocolate chips 2 cups broken walnuts (I omit) Drop onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Yields 4 dozen. Tip: I whip up a batch and keep the dough in the refrigerator and bake a few cookies at a time! Enjoy! *if you stay at the Inn you get complimentary afternoon tea and chocolate chip cookies daily. If not, you can make your own and pretend!
Read more