The Happiest Place on Earth & Link Up On the Edge #293
Have you ever been to the happiest place on earth? And no, I am not talking about Disney World. I have been to Disney World four times and I swear to you I was never as happy there as I was at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. Plus it was only a two hour drive from home instead of a two hour flight and a whole day in the museum for this family of four cost a whopping $56 (with our military discount, of course). What does it cost for a family of four to visit Disney World these days, I wonder. I am guessing a lot more than $56.
We arrived at the museum with only three hours left before closing and that was not nearly enough time. I would guess you need a solid 4-5 hours to see and do all the things. Jeff and I indulged ourselves with some THC gummies before heading into the museum and I have to say that it definitely heightened the experience to an incredible level with all of the sensory input as well as the emotional onslaught of nostalgic overload. Also, for anyone is not familiar with the effects of THC, it does have a tendency to make time move slower. That’s a really great thing when you are having a blast!
If I am giving an completely honest review of this experience…we smiled until our faces hurt, laughed until our bellies ached, and cried over some of the silliest sentimental things which made it not only an enjoyable play experience but an unforgettable life experience. And everyone around was smiling and laughing, too. The joy literally filled the air and you could see the evidence of it in the sea of smiling faces spanning out in every direction. I think everyone should put the Strong Museum of Play on their bucket list especially if you live anywhere near the Rochester, New York, area. And if you don’t live nearby, Rochester is filled with lots of museums and cultural events that it is absolutely worth the trip for a long weekend or even an entire week.
I am going to share a big ole pile of pictures with occasional captions where I feel compelled. Otherwise, I am just going to let the photos speak for themselves.
Do take notice of my footwear, however. I started out very comfortable in my favorite fauxenstocks until I surrendered my shoes to Archie because he decided to wear the worst shoes ever. We recently bought him Adidas slides with the bumpy massage things in the footbed. I kept asking him if those bumpy things were comfortable and he insisted they were. After walking through the museum for an hour, those bumpy things started to cause problems. Since we currently wear the same size shoes, I traded with my kid because that’s what moms do, isn’t it? And let me tell you, those freaking shoes felt like I was walking barefoot on hot gravel. Within the first 2 minutes of wearing them. How the heck did my child think these were at all comfortable when he walked up and down the store aisle trying them on?! Then after 30 minutes, the hot gravel started feeling more like a bed of nails covered in flaming coals. For real. Stupidest shoes ever. But we didn’t let them ruin our fun! We cracked jokes and had a blast anyway. Maybe the THC gummies were helping to mitigate my pain and discomfort!
Anyway, let’s get to it!
This was definitely the kids’ favorite area of the museum. We spent a large majority of our time in the video game areas.
Have you ever been to the Strong Museum of Play? Did my post persuade you to go?!
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Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
34 Comments
Nancy
Oh I’m glad you all had a wonderful time. I love those dollhouses!! I’ve always been fond of those
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! The dollhouses were amazing! That was one part that made Jeff get some tears in his eyes!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lauren Renee Sparks
This all looks so fun! Any time we’ve gone to NY we always go to NYC, but here lately I have seen several things in other towns I would love to get to.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Lauren! There is so much to do in Rochester that you could easily fill 4 or 5 days with interesting, cultural experiences. I highly recommend it if you are looking for new places to visit!
xoxo
Shelbee
Claire Justine
It looks great here. Lots of fun with the kids 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks Claire! It really was an amazing experience! Happy weekend to you as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Cheryl Shops
I think any kind of museum is more enjoyable on cannabis 😉 Glad you & your family had such a great time!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
OMG, I agree with you completely, Cheryl! I think most things in general are more enjoyable on cannabis! Ha. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mica - Away From The Blue
It looks like so much fun! I’ve never seen a museum like that here but when we were in Edinburgh there was a toy museum and the kids loved it – so fun seeing all the old and new toys!
Thanks for the link up! Hope that you are having a good weekend 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Mica! Whoever created the concept of this museum was brilliant! It really appeals to every age group. The older you are, the more nostalgic the experience is. The kids didn’t really understand that whole part of the experience, but they still had a great time!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
That place looks like oodles of fun! And, I have to say many of those toys and games were at my house. In fact, my younges still has his My Buddy! I know my daughter had her first Cabbage Patch around for a while…poor bald headed doll…my daughter and her doll even shared a birthdate! One year, I gave my students mini Etch a Sketches for Christmas…those have to be one of my all time favorite toys…unless it’s that goofy magnet with the person you draw hairs and stuff on! I am really curious about Ralph’s closet hideaway. Did he sleep in there? I don’t think I have ever seen a closet quite that big!
Thanks for the link party, too, Shelbee!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Marsha, thanks for this fun comment walking down your toy memory lane! I loved that sticks and sand were inducted into the hall of fame along with all of these fabulous toys. It cracks me up. The one toy that I absolutely adored as a child was Fashion Plates and I never even thought to look for them! There was a big monitor where you could type in any toy to find it. I am so annoyed with myself for not checking for Fashion Plates! Also, Ralph did not sleep in the closet! Haha. He wanted to but he would have rolled right off that little bench he was lying on!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar Strauss-Benjamin
That is such an awesome place!!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Have you been to it, Tamar?! It is so much fun!!!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
You don’t even hve to be a kid to love this- what an amazing place!!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
No, you definitely do not have to be a kid or even have a kid with you to go enjoy this amazing place! It’s only about a 5 hour drive for you to get there, Lucy! I highly recommend it!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
I’ve taken my grandsons to several museums that feature interactive learning opportunities for kids. It’s always fun to watch them as they experiment with various materials — I can just see the wheels turning in their bright, little brains while they play. Thanks for hosting the link-up!
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer. com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing this, Carol. As much fun as I had looking at all the old toys, it was watching my children explore and enjoy themselves that really was my favorite part! That combined with the nostalgia really made it such a meaningful experience!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
It looks like such a fun place! Glad you had a really great day…despite the uncomfortable footwear!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! It truly was an amazing place and a wonderful experience. No bad shoe choices were going to bring me down! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Libbie Burling
Now, I want to go! So fun!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, Libbie, you should! It is the most incredible place ever!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
What a cool place and how very fun for both kids and adults. Would love to visit there. I have had some fun with gummies on some of my trips lately.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Patrick! I definitely thought of you while we were visiting the museum! There were some really cool things that I knew you would be into! If you ever travel to NY, let me know because we will absolutely plan to meet up! Maybe at the Play Museum with some gummies!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
What a cool place! I know Dan would love it. And it does look like everyone had a blast. The story of Archie’s shoes though? What was Adidas thinking?
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Michelle! I can’t think of a person on the planet who wouldn’t love this place!! And I also can’t think of a person on this planet who would find Archie’s ridiculous spiky shoes comfortable!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
We’re in the process of booking a Disney vacation… you don’t even want to know what it costs for a family of 4! LOL. That looks like such a fun museum!! My middle son was looking for flip flops and the store only had 2 in his size (he wears a crazy huge size 14 shoe!) and one was the bumpy Addidas slides. I thought they looked awful and was rather relieved when he picked the other pair. Glad to know he made the right decision.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, Joanne, I don’t think I actually want to know what it costs! And I am cracking up about your son’s big shoes and these silly Adidas hot coal slides! I am glad for both of you that he chose the better option!
xoxo
Shelbee
April
I really want to check this place out now. I’d never heard of it before your blog post. You are giving them some excellent advertising here.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, April! I told the museum employees as we exited that I was going to tell everyone I know about this place! It was that much fun and such a wonderful experience. I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t love this place and come out feeling the happiest they have in a long while! The staff was all amazing and every person I looked at it was smiling from ear to ear and just basking in joy and happiness.
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
Hi, again! I’m stopping by again to say:
Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 18.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Carol! You don’t have to stop by twice to comment though…that’s a lot of extra work for you! I know because I used to do the same thing! But I do so appreciate it! I hope you have a wonderful day, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Chickenruby
Looks like an amazing place to visit and a great price also. Well done with swopping your footwear with your son, I think I may ahve gone bare footed if they were that uncomfortable.
Thanks for joining in with #pocolo and hope to see you back tomorrow
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzanne! Actually, that’s the part of the reason I swapped shoes with him…I was wearing socks and he was not! So if I needed to take them off, which I did, I didn’t mind my bare sock-covered feet on the floor. I didn’t want him in is bare naked feet with no shoes. That’s just too gross for me!
xoxo
Shelbee