Long Island with Kids | The Cradle of Aviation Museum
Hi friends! Today I am going to share our recent trip to the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. When I wrote about my goals for 2022, I shared that when it came to homeschool, I wanted more “learning” to happen outside of the home. Getting outside, exploring, and having hands on experiences is always better than sitting around the table, if you ask me.
Let me tell you about one amazing resource that is making this happen for our family…
The free museum passes from our local library! That’s right, with just our library card, we were able to print out passes here at home to go and enjoy this museum, for FREE! So, if you are looking for discount passes for the Cradle of Aviation Museum or any other museum for that matter, check with your local library first.
SADIE'S FIRST HAIRCUT
Before we made our way to the museum, the girls had an appointment at the hair salon, and it just so happened to be Sadie’s first experience. Watching her take it all in, and witnessing the wonder in her eyes was so sweet. She loves to play spa and hair salon at home so; it was like her imagination came to life.
As with any first time experience, she was a bit apprehensive but, did well when it was time to have her hair washed, and cut. I was a bit worried because she does not like to have her hair washed here at home, no matter what. So, I was relieved when it all went off without a hitch.
Now, if you know Sadie, you know she was blessed with a head of beautiful, curly hair. However, after watching Nora get her hair blown out, Sadie started to wonder what she would look like with straight hair. So, instead of embracing the curls this day, I gave the okay for her to have a blowout.
Guys, it was like seeing a completely different person, take a look….
CRADLE OF AVIATION, A FAMILY FRIENDLY MUSEUM
When we first arrived at the museum, we visited the Jet Gallery. This exhibit houses a real Boeing 707. Well, not the entire aircraft, just the nose. And, the girls loved climbing the stairs to explore the cockpit.
I enjoyed watching the videos and learning more about the F-14A Tomcat. Did you know, the Tomcat’s first flight was right here on Long Island in December 1970? There is so much aerospace history to be celebrated right here on Long Island.
When my Dad was younger, he and my uncle used to work at Grumman out in Calverton so; I always knew it was there. But, I never truly grasped the innovative projects they were pioneering right here on my doorstep. How cool is that?
While there were a few aircraft the girls could jump in, and experience in the Jet Gallery, we spent most of our time in the main galleries. We entered on the Sky Walk Overlook after visiting the Pan Am exhibit. But, the museum map suggests you start your journey at the “A Dream of Wings” exhibit, and make your way through 6 other displays until you reach the “Exploring Space” exhibit.
EXPLORING THE CRADLE OF AVIATION MUSEUM
You are bound to discover something you didn’t expect, or learn a new fun fact during your tour. For instance, I learned that “Long Island experiences more air traffic than any other place in the world”, and I was even able to trace the flight path that went over my childhood home. I am happy to report; our current home doesn’t lay beneath one of the many flight paths here on Long Island. Thank goodness!
The girls were shocked when they discovered the Golden Flyer. Nora jumped into the pilot’s seat and Sadie thought she was supposed to climb onto the wing as passenger. It was one of those hands on experiences that I was hoping for that I mentioned at the start. And, it opened the door to discuss more about the evolution of aircraft with my girls, a truly immersive experience.
While in the main gallery, we spent a lot of time in the World War Two and Jet Age exhibits. Nora and Sadie both tried their hands at a carrier landing, a simulation game where you can pilot a Hellcat. They also took turns as pilot and gunner in a decommissioned war plane. This was one area they did not want to leave.
Overall, learning about aerospace history and the major role Long Island played in its progression was fascinating. We spent about 90 minutes at the museum but, I think we could have spent at least another hour exploring it all. The girls had enough, they were getting hangry.
I hope to return to the Cradle of Aviation museum to pick up where we left off, maybe even catch a show at the Planetarium. Special thanks to our local library for the free museum passes! Just wait till you see what museum we are going to next!
