Entries for the Night at the Museum giveaway are closed. Congratulations to Elise Crane Derby for submitting the winning entry. Thank you to everyone who submitted such terrific museum selections! My list of places I absolutely MUST VISIT has grown tremendously.
In honor of my birthday this week (YES, I am turning fifty-effing-THREE - and I'd rather not talk about it)...
...I am giving away a "Night at the Museum 2" gift basket, consisting of:
- Family 4 pack of IMAX tickets to Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
- $25 McDonald’s Arch Card
- Night at the Museum Battle of the Smithsonian IMAX movie posters
- Glow-in-the-dark Character Stickers, Balsa Wood Airplane Glider and Mini-flashlights for the kids!
DISCLOSURE: I have not yet seen this movie, but am receiving two tickets to view it at our local IMAX after it opens on May 22nd. I am happy to promote it, because Megan and I both LOVED the original and this was already on our short list of films we just HAD to see this summer.
The original movie took place at New York's famed Museum of Natural History (which our family had the pleasure of visiting three years ago, when we went to Manhattan to celebrate my (cough cough!) 50th birthday.
The sequel - which again stars Ben Stiller and features many of the same characters who were so delightful in the original (Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, etc), is set in the Smithsonian Institute, and includes new historical characters played by major film stars (like Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart).
To enter: I want to know about YOUR favorite museum for an outing with your kids (or grandkids, or just for you!) Leave a comment on this post naming your museum, where it is and why it's your favorite - or link to a post of your own - and you'll be entered in a random drawing for the basket.
NOTE: The new version of Typepad Comments does not give me a way to email commenters to notify them that they may have won the prize! PLEASE follow up your comment with a direct email to me at socalmom a socalmom dot net. (And please do so if you are one of the 14 people who has already left a comment. THANK YOU.)
The film opens on Friday, May 22nd - so I'll only be taking entries until then and will announce the winner over the weekend.
I'm not sure if it is my favorite museum, but my favorite time going to a museum was when we were driving across country and stopped in Chicago. We were surprising our 7 year old with a visit to meet Sue at the Field Museum. She was really into the famous T-Rex and was in pure awe when we walked in to see her "friend" greeting us. I wasn't really paying attention to our surroundings when we were walking into the building, but I saw the breathtaking view when we walked out. It was a Kodak moment both entering and exiting the museum and one of those events you talk about every couple of years at family dinners.
Posted by: Linda Schwartz | May 19, 2009 at 11:32 AM
So Cal Mom,
My favorite mueseum is the La Brea Tar Pits.I love the city and I love the thought in such a big city there were Dinosaurs an entire amazing prehistoric life. The grass area is sprawling and green and its an easy go to place for learning and relaxation.
Lorraine
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawlvOH6iX2ATQP8P8luF0Jx9lsDRf3dwJCY | May 19, 2009 at 12:25 PM
My kids and I love to go to L.A.'s Natural History Museum. There's such a huge variety of things to see and being right there next to the Science museum is a bonus too. And we can't wait to see Night at the Museum 2, whether we win or have to buy our own tickets! Loved the first one and have it on DVD.
Posted by: Jennifer916 | May 19, 2009 at 01:07 PM
P.S. Happy Birthday Donna! Hope tomorrow's a great day for you, even if you are fifty-effin'-three! ;-)
Posted by: Jennifer916 | May 19, 2009 at 01:08 PM
I don't know if this is valid for the IMAX in New Jersey but I hope so... because we're so excited to see this sequel. The first one was so creative and fun.
Favorite museum was when I used to trawl the halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, narrating the works to my 9 month old as people moved away from me, obviously a crazy lady. Didn't they realize that I was busy enriching my child's mind?
Posted by: Vanessa | May 19, 2009 at 01:54 PM
The San Jose Children's Museum is the only museum that I've been in in way too long to even contemplate. I'm actually embarrassed to admit that. So, uh, after we see this movie this summer I promise I'll go look at some real paintings somewhere!
Posted by: Rose | May 19, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I really liked the titanic exhibit at the science center. Also the museum of tolerance left a huge impression on me. And of course the Louvre and the D'orsay, and all the great museums!!! I may have a problem
Posted by: Elise Crane Derby | May 19, 2009 at 04:59 PM
I actually still really love the Smithsonian--it was the first museum I visited as a child (at least that I remember) and I have always loved it. In fact, I always went to the museums on the Mall in DC as a child, which are, as you probably know, free. I remember being appalled the first time I went to a museum and had to pay...I had thought ALL museums were free!
Posted by: karen s. | May 19, 2009 at 05:03 PM
i think our favorite museum is the art institute of chicago. they do a great job making art accessible for the kids. we have gone several times and our kids always have a great time. we are hoping to go again this summer--and every last one of us is looking forward to it.
Posted by: melanie myatt | May 19, 2009 at 06:41 PM
We love the San Francisco exploratorium because there are so many fascinating exhibits that kids and grownups enjoy!
Oh please pick me, it's my birthday on May 22! :)
bonggamom@yahoo.com
Posted by: bonggamom | May 19, 2009 at 07:51 PM