LEGO Museum Exhibit Brings Travel To Children

by Chris Owen on

The Strong National Museum in Rochester, New York, is an interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to the study and exploration of play. Housing the world’s most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play in its National Museum of Play, the Strong recently added the new “LEGO Travel Adventure” exhibit.

The new interactive attraction has large displays built entirely out of LEGOs, chronicling the history of world travel.

Popular are free-building LEGO DUPLO brick station tables where visitors can choose a destination and build a means of transportation to get there with LEGOs. Intended to foster creativity and solve travel-related problems, kids and adults explore the often-unknown world of travel side by side in the familiar world of LEGOs.“It’s just what you put into it, and whatever you use from your own imagination. And that’s what’s always so exciting about playing and growing and learning, is using your imagination,” said Strong spokesperson Susan Trien in a YNN report.

The non-profit Strong National Museum also houses the National Toy Hall of Fame, the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play and the American Journal of Play.

Have a favorite toy you think deserves recognition? Anyone can nominate a toy to the National Toy Hall of Fame. Final selections are made on the advice of historians, educators and other individuals who exemplify learning, creativity and discovery through their lives and careers.

The LEGO Travel Adventure runs through May 12, 2013, and is included in the price of general admission.

This is not the first time LEGOs have been associated with travel either. In “Leggo My Love Boat,” Gadling brought you coverage of a full-scale model of Princess Cruises‘ original Pacific Princess Love Boat built by professional LEGO builder Ryan McNaught that took 250,000 LEGO bricks and six months to build.

Fascinated by LEGO’s? This video has more:




[Photo Credit- Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York]

Impressive Normandy Festivals To See This Year

by Chris Owen on

The Normandy region of France is host to a number of festivals and events, some of which attract travelers from around the world. For many Americans, Normandy brings to mind D-Day landings, World War II and the Normandy beaches, but there is a whole lot more to know about.

The Armada– June 6-16, 2013
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, “L’Armada de la liberté” – “The Sails of Freedom” brings millions of visitors to the Port of Rouen for concerts, gigantic fireworks and plenty of other entertainment.

But the stars of the show are more than 50 of the largest sailing ships in the world. Also featured are modern warships, all of which have sailed up the 120 kilometers of the River Seine through the beautiful landscapes of Normandy.

Cirque Theater
One of the last surviving permanent circus rings in France, the theater in d’Elbeuf is the only one to have a 13-meter-wide ring, exactly like the ring under a big top in a traveling circus, plus a proscenium stage.

Normandy Impressionist Festival– April 27 through September 23, 2013
All over Normandy, called “the birthplace of Impressionism,” preparations for the second Festival Normandie Impressionniste are under way.

With water as its central theme, the festival brings to the fore an eclectic program across the arts with exhibitions, concerts, films, modern art, literature and picnics like Manet’s “The Luncheon on the Grass.”


To find out more about Impressionism in Normandy, watch this short video:


[Photo Credit- Rouen and Seine Valley District Tourist Office/JFLange]

Video Of The Day: Extreme Pogo In New York City

by Libby Zay on

Move over mountain bikes and skateboards, there’s a new extreme sport in town: Xpogo, a sport where athletes ride and perform tricks on pogo sticks. These aren’t your average pogo sticks; they’ve been toughened up and modified so they can reach heights up to 10 feet. Watch the video above to get a quick overview of the sport from some of its star athletes, as well as some great shots of New York landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and Washington Square Park. I can’t tell whether I should be impressed, or scared for these guys. They must take on a lot of trauma in their legs.

Video Of The Day: London Landmarks Seen Through Time-Lapse

by Libby Zay on
“When I first moved to London, I was struck by the number of people living in this great city and the speed at which they move from one place to another,” writes filmmaker Lucas Veuve, who created the time-lapse film above that showcases many of London’s most famous landmarks, from Tower Bridge to Piccadilly Circus.

“I wanted to capture how I saw London when I first moved here,” he continued. We think he did a great job. Watch the video and see how many recognizable places you can spot: Big Ben, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin and Trafalgar Square, just to name a few. Even more mesmerizing is the way people move through the city when you view them in this way; Veuve explained he took photos every three-to-five seconds to get the time-lapse effect perfect.

Thanks to Visit London for bringing the video to our attention.

Cruise Line Brings Heat To New York City

by Chris Owen on

Norwegian Cruise Line is bringing new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway to New York City later this year to sail year-round to Florida, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Getting ready to be New York’s home town cruise line, Norwegian has engaged in partnerships with the New York City Rockettes, pop artist Peter Max and others. Norwegian Breakaway will even have Sabrett New York hot dog carts positioned around the ship in convenient places, much like on the streets of New York City.

Now, Norwegian is back on the streets of New York offering what they call “Warming Stations” around the city.

As part of their sponsorship with NYC & Company, the official marketing, tourism and partnership of the City of New York, Norwegian Cruise Line is setting up three warming station events in New York City through the end of January.

The warming stations feature a large backdrop of Norwegian Breakaway along with heat lamps, sand and palm trees to give passers-by a warm, tropical feeling. Commuters passing through can visit, have their pictures taken with the backdrop like they might while boarding a cruise ship and enjoy a hot beverage.Upcoming dates and locations are:

January 14 – Flatiron Plaza
January 22 – 14th St. & 9th Ave.
January 28 – Times Square

And what would be a cruise-oriented event without something free given away?

The Warming Stations will feature instant-wins every hour where visitors can win tickets to either see “Rock of Ages” or eat at Geoffrey Zakarian’s restaurant, The National.

Featuring an oceanfront boardwalk called the Waterfront, Norwegian Breakaway will have shops, restaurants and bars combined with entertainment and gaming. A hub of activity spanning three decks is called 678 Ocean Place, featuring seven dining venues, 12 bars and lounges coupled with shops and other entertainment options.

Can’t wait for Norwegian Breakaway to arrive in May? Norwegian Cruise Lines has a micro-site set up all about the new ship and its features. Check this video for more:




[Photo Credit- Norwegian Cruise Lines]