If you won’t be able to see your parents in person on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Hallmark has another great option for card giving. With the company’s free Card Shower service, you can set up an online event to invite friends and family through email or Facebook to shower someone with cards. Just pick a date for when the cards should arrive and those you invite will be given a suggested mail by date. Those included in the Card Shower can then purchase their card either online or at their local Hallmark store. For Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, you could invite your siblings to shower your parents with cards to arrive that holiday weekend. You can also use the service to shower someone with cards for a birthday, anniversary or any other significant event or milestone.

The Recordable Artwork kit retails for $14.95 and is available at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores. Visit hallmark.com/cardshowers for more information about the Card Shower service.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

Children learn how to weave a sash at one of the event's many encampments. Photo courtesy of Lake County Parks.

Northwest Indiana has a rich history, one which even lifelong residents may not be aware about. On May 19 and 20, the whole family can travel back in time 250 years to experience what life was like along the Grand Kankakee Marsh at the 26^th Annual Voyageur Rendezvous at the Grand Kankakee Marsh County Park.

During the 18^th century, the area was a rich source of furs that merchants desired to take back to Europe. At Voyageur Rendezvous, families can meet reenactors portraying Native Americans, French-Canadian canoe men called Voyageurs, British and French militia and early settlers who were all involved with the fur trade.

“This is a very low-key event where families can really feel immersed in the time period,” says Dawn Robertson, event coordinator for Lake County Parks. “That time period is not taught in schools, and this had a major impact on how this area was established and settled. We do tailor special activities so even young children can understand what the fur trade was about.”

After arriving at the event, families can stop by the Children’s Trading Post to pick up the See and Do Scavenger Hunt. The main point of the scavenger hunt is to get kids involved with the reenactors and actively learning about the time period, so some guideline questions are included so kids can learn more about what the reenactors are doing and why. As they visit each separate camp, the reenactors initial the scavenger hunt and when completed, kids can head back to the trading post to trade it in for sea shells, which were used as currency at the time. They can then trade the sea shells in for various trinkets. Other activities during the weekend include storytelling, a tomahawk throw, fashion show, candle dipping, games and opening and closing ceremonies.

The Voyageur Rendezvous—18^th Century Fur-Trade Era Reenactment takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 19 and 20 at the Grand Kankakee Marsh County Park, 21690 Range Line Road, Hebron. Admission is $2 per person, with kids ages 7 and under free. For more information, call (219) 947-PARK or visit www.lakecountyparks.com.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

Trying to decide on the best baby monitor for your family isn’t an easy task. First you have to decide between video and audio only, then you have dozens of different models to compare without really knowing which one works best. We tested three of the most popular baby monitors currently on the market–the Motorola MBP 36 Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor with 3.5″ LCD Screen, Summer Infant’s BabyTouch Digital Video Monitor and the Philips Avent DECT SCD535–rating each one on six different criteria plus an overall score. Check out what our testers had to say about each model before you decide which one to bring home for your baby.

Motorola MBP 36 Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor with 3.5″ LCD Screen

Sound/video quality

The video quality is quite good on the Motorola unit, with a clear picture visible on the parent unit in both light and dark environments. The sound quality is also good both from the monitor to the parent unit and when speaking through the parent unit.

Portability

The entire unit itself is fairly small and the parent unit runs on rechargeable batteries, but the camera must be plugged in, limiting where you can place it throughout the house and baby’s room. The unit does come with a wall mounting kit so you can mount the camera if you wish.

Ease of use

Most of the functions of the Motorola monitor are self-explanatory and our testers were able to operate the monitor without needing to look at the owner’s manual.

Features

Besides the basic audio and visual features, the Motorola monitor also gives the temperature of the room with the camera, includes five lullabies that are controllable from the parent unit and pan, tilt and zoom options for the camera.

Battery life

Although the Motorola unit works very well, its battery life isn’t stellar. The parent unit only has a battery life of up to 5 hours, so obviously it needs to be plugged in for overnight use

Sensitivity 

Our testers were very comfortable with the sensitivity level of the Motorola monitor and were confident that it was sensitive enough to alert them to any noises from baby. Although the sensitivity isn’t adjustable, the unit does have lights on the parent monitor that illuminate when sound is picked up, even if the video is turned off.

Overall, the Motorola monitor is an easy-to-use, reliable video monitor with some nice features in addition to the basic monitoring functions. Our testers had never used a video monitor before trying out this unit and loved how easy it was to see exactly what was going on with their infant.

Summer Infant BabyTouch Digital Video Monitor

Sound/video quality

The Summer Infant unit has crystal clear video in a lighted environment, but is a bit grainier than the Motorola unit in the dark. Light or dark, the picture is certainly clear enough to be able to see baby easily. The sound quality is also good both coming from the camera and from the parent unit.

Portability 

The Summer Infant system is similar in size to the Motorola unit, but the camera is able to run off of both a plug and rechargeable batteries, giving more options for camera placement.

Ease of use

This is a pretty straight-forward monitor to use, especially with the touch screen. The owner’s manual did need to be consulted briefly to determine what a certain symbol on the menu bar meant, but the basic functions were all very easy to use. The most difficult part of the Summer Infant unit is turning it on since you have to hold down the power button through a welcome screen in order for it to totally power on.

Features

Beyond the basic monitor functions, the Summer Infant doesn’t really offer any additional features. The camera does pan, zoom and tilt and there are volume settings just like the Motorola unit. The main feature is the touch screen on the parent unit, although only the outer border of the screen responds to touch. The magnetic base for the parent unit is a nice plus, though, since it makes it easy to keep the unit in place and in the correct position for charging.

Battery life

With a 10-hour rechargeable battery for the parent unit, you can get a lot of monitoring in before needing to plug in the parent unit. As mentioned previously, the camera can also run off of batteries with the separate battery base if you choose.

Sensitivity 

The sensitivity of the Summer Infant unit is pretty average when compared to other monitors. The parent unit does also include lights that illuminate at sound, but the sound must be fairly loud for the light trigger.

The picture quality on the Summer Infant model in a lighted environment really is stellar and makes you feel like you’re right in the room. Although this unit may be somewhat lacking in additional features when compared to other monitors, it does the basic monitor functions well and has the huge bonus of letting parents use batteries or a wall plug for the camera. The touch screen on the parent unit is a nice bonus, but it’s not as easy to use as you would assume and the “touch” part is a very small part of the screen as a whole.

Philips Avent DECT SCD535

Sound/video quality

The DECT unit is audio-only and unfortunately the audio doesn’t work very well. It was very difficult to hear sound from both the parent unit and the main base even after adjusting the volume and sensitivity settings. The monitor seemed to work best when it was in very close proximity to the sound source, which limits placement possibilities in baby’s room.

Portability

The parent unit is incredibly small and the main monitor is fairly compact as well. Both are able to run off of batteries and the unit comes with a carrying case that makes it easy to transport the entire set if needed.

Ease of use

The menu on the parent unit doesn’t have the most intuitive set up and led our testers to consult the owner’s manual fairly quickly. The parent unit also fits awkwardly onto the charging base, making it easy to set the unit in the base but not have it actually charge.

Features

Although the DECT monitor does include extra features such as lullabies, a night light and temperature and humidity readings, they don’t all work as advertised. According to the manual, the lullabies and nightlight are supposed to be able to be controlled by the parent unit, however in reality you can only use these features from the main unit.

Battery life

The battery on the parent unit lasts for up to 24 hours on a 4 hour charge, which is a huge amount of time. The unit also boasts an ECO mode, which lowers energy consumption and the transmission power of the monitor. While being green is great, our testers weren’t thrilled with the monitor’s performance under the ECO mode.

Sensitivity 

The sensitivity of the monitor is able to be adjusted, which is a plus, but even at the highest setting it doesn’t seem to pick up audio very easily. Any amount of space, even in the same room, between the sound source and the main unit makes it very difficult to hear anything on the parent unit.

Our testers wanted to like the DECT unit since they had previously used a Philips audio monitor for their older child. The temperature and humidity readings were great, but ultimately they were very disappointed with the actual monitor functions of the unit. Whether this was simply a bad unit or if these problems are common across the board is unknown. The testers also didn’t like the loud sound that came from the parent unit every time you pushed a button to adjust a setting (they actually worried it was loud enough to wake their sleeping child in the next room).

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

The BabbaBox we received had a sun, moon and stars theme and included a star-themed story book, binoculars and a lunar calendar, supplies to make a paper-mache moon nightlight and constellation frame, and a star-shaped wine stopper for the parents. My son was thrilled to receive something in the mail just for him and even more excited when he saw the box full of activities. The box contained absolutely everything you needed for the paper-mache craft and was easy but fun, even for a very craft-challenged parent. Not needing to scramble for other materials was great, especially since my little guy wanted to make the moon nightlight immediately after opening the box. Since the project required several hours of drying time between layers, we did it over a couple of days and were able to check out the rest of the box while we were waiting. In addition to the activities and book, the box also contained instructions for downloading an app for a digital piano to learn how to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

Creating a paper-mache moon nightlight

The BabbaBox contains everything you need to create a moon nightlight.

The messy fun begins

Paper-mache is a little messy, but a lot of fun.

The first layer is complete

The first layer dries, leaving time to check out the rest of the BabbaBox.

Bringing the moon inside

The finished moon nightlight, with the included light bulb candle.

• Creating a paper-mache moon nightlight
• The messy fun begins
• The first layer is complete
• Bringing the moon inside

No matter who the child is in your life, the BabbaBox offers a great gift idea for any child who loves crafts and provides days of fun each month that both parents and kids can look forward to.

The BabbaBox is available for either $29.99 a month or $299.99 for an entire year. All prices include free shipping. The boxes arrive between the 15^th and the 20^th of the month each month. Gift cards can also be purchased for memberships of either one month, three months or 12 months. For more information, visit www.babbaco.com or watch the video below from BabbaCo owner Jessica Kim.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

But let’s rewind about a day to when I took the test. Four seconds was all it took for the positive to appear. I sat there in denial for about 30 seconds and then asked, “Are you sure?” The test did not reply. I called my husband, who had just gotten home from work that morning, and said with a quivery voice, “Um, can you come inside, like now!” I walked to the back door, my heart beating out of my chest, showed him the test and BURST into tears. I know this is how every girl wants to break the news to her husband. He hugged me and laughed and said, “It’s gonna be ok.”

At the time it seemed like the end of the world. We sat down and discussed everything from how it happened and when it happened to if we could afford this. I called the doctor to make an appointment to confirm the pregnancy (and when I went and took a urine test, the nurse came back and said, “Man that came up fast”). I can honestly say that I cried for a week. But with the counseling of a close friend, my mother and a coworker, all the worry and embarrassment of an unplanned pregnancy seemed to melt away. I was even told “YOU’RE MARRIED, THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.” I just felt that I wanted to be a little more prepared. But as I’m hearing, nobody is ever fully prepared!  Our baby now has his or her first photograph, we heard the heard the heartbeat, and with that being said, I am officially 12 weeks pregnant and proud!!!!

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

Parents can talk to local experts about issues facing their families.

To celebrate Parenting Awareness Month Indiana (PAMI), the sixth annual Parenting Education and Family Resource (Fun) Fair will be held at the Diamond Club at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 14. Hosted by the Indiana Parenting Institute (IPI), the Gary South Shore RailCats, the National Hook-Up of Black Women, the City of Gary, and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the fair will be full of free resources and family fun for Northwest Indiana’s parents and kids.

At the fair, parents can visit Q&A stations set up throughout the ballpark to discuss topics such as bullying and college readiness with community experts. In addition to learning more about important parenting topics, families can take advantage of plenty of fun events, including a spa salon featuring face painting, hair coloring, fake tattoos, glitter and massages. Kids can also participate in story time, Fitness Funk, a treasure hunt, carnival games, Bingo for Books and a “mini-Idol” competition where awards will be handed out for the best parent/child duo and wackiest parent/child duo.

PAMI is a public awareness initiative of IPI that takes place every April and celebrates people raising children in communities throughout Indiana. Attention is called to the need for effective and responsible parenting education that advances the well-being of children and guides them towards achieving their fullest potential. For more information about PAMI and the Parenting Fair, which is free and open to the public, call (219) 886-1111 or visit www.indianaparentinginstitute.org/pami.html.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

We've included rain dates when available, but don't forget to call ahead if the weather doesn't cooperate the day of your hunt.

Looking for Easter activities taking place the week of Easter or Easter weekend? You’re not too late! Below is our list of egg hunts and activities for the week of April 1, including some new events.

Dyer

Easter Egg Hunt and Jump
FunFlatables
101 Joliet St.
www.funflatables.org
(219) 322-5333

Children will be divided into age groups: 1-3, 4-6 and 7-9. FunFlatables will provide a basket for each child to collect as  many eggs as they can. Additional eggs will be released throughout the hunt so every child can collect plenty of eggs. All baskets will be collected by an employee at the end of the hunt so kids are free to jump. Upon leaving, each child will receive a basket full of Easter goodies. Registration and pre-payment required. The last hunt will take place 9-11 a.m. April 7.
$12 per child

Hebron

Easter Egg Hunt and Jump
FunFlatables
2982 E. 181st Ave.
www.funflatables.org
(219) 696-6666

Children will be divided into age groups: 1-4 and 5-9. FunFlatables will provide a basket for each child to collect as  many eggs as they can. Additional eggs will be released throughout the hunt so every child can collect plenty of eggs. All baskets will be collected by an employee at the end of the hunt so kids are free to jump. Upon leaving, each child will receive a basket full of Easter goodies. Registration and pre-payment required. Hunts will take place 9-11 a.m. April 6 and 7.
$12 per child

Hobart

April 7

Easter Egg Hunt
1-3 p.m.
Central Baptist Church
704 W. 700 N.
thisiscentral.com
(219) 759-5200

The event starts with a short story time followed by the egg hunt. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Parents are asked to stay with their children while at the hunt. Open to kids in fifth grade and below.

Lake Station

April 5

Eggs Marks the Spot: A Pirate Egg Hunt
5:30-8 p.m.
Bellaboo’s Play and Discovery Center
2800 Colorado St.
www.mybellaboos.com
(219) 963-2070

This is a whimsical evening of adventure, swashbuckling songs and hidden treasures. Kids will follow a pirate map to look for eggs containing pirate gold. Reservations required by phone or online beginning March 1. Activities designed for kids ages 9 and under.
$15 kids ages 1-9 ($10 for each additional child in the family), $6 kids 10 and up, free 12 months and under.

Lowell

April 7

Easter Egg Hunt
10-11 a.m.
Oak Hill Elementary School field
425 S. Nichols St.
www.lowell.net
(219) 696-1570

Bring your basket to hunt for eggs. Open to kids ages 1-12, with an area for kids with special needs. Includes prizes and baskets to win.
Free

Merrillville

Visit the Easter Bunny
Westfield Southlake Mall
2109 Southlake Mall Drive
www.westfield.com/southlake
(219) 738-2260

Visit the Easter Bunny in the Sears Court 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through April 7.

Portage

Bass Pro Shop Easter activities
Bass Pro Shop
6425 Daniel Burnham Drive
www.bassproshop.com
(219) 787-6800

Take a free photo with the Easter Bunny 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 7-8 and 6-8 p.m. April 2-6. Free Easter crafts will take place noon-3 p.m. April 7-8 and 6-8 p.m. April 6. The store’s free Easter egg hunt takes place 1-2 p.m. April 7 and 8.

Schererville

April 5

Flashlight Egg Hunt
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Schererville Town Hall
10 E. Joliet St.
www.schererville.org
(219) 865-5530

Participants will search for prize filled eggs with the help of a flashlight.  After the egg hunt participants will play a game of Bingo for prizes and pizza, pop and cookies will be served.  Please remember to bring your flashlight and a bag to collect your eggs.  Rain or shine! For kids ages 9-13.
$9 residents, $11 non-residents

Valparaiso

April 7

Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m.-noon
Rogers Lakewood Park
5502 Campbell St.
Hosted by Valparaiso First United Methodist Church
(219) 465-1661

The hunt will take place in shifts by age group, ages 6 months-12 years. Bring a basket or bag for your eggs and a camera to take a photo with the Easter Bunny. Hot dogs will be served.

Porter County Egg Hunt
11 a.m.-noon
Porter County Expo Center
215 Division Road
Hosted by MOMS Club of Valparaiso
www.momsclubvalpo.webs.com

Free Easter egg hunt and face painting for Porter County residents. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. and hunt begins promptly at 11 a.m. Bring your camera for a free photo with the Easter Bunny. Raffle table and bake sale benefit Opportunity Enterprises ALL ABOUT KIDS and Hilltop Pantry. Non-perishable items will also be collected for Hilltop Pantry.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

When I was younger I was very drawn to babies, but as I grew up I almost became afraid of them. I even had one rubbed on me at my wedding (wishful thinking on their part). During my first newborn shoot I was scared to death. I watched tutorials on how to hold them, wrap them, and keep them asleep. As soon as I arrived, they handed him to me like I was one of the family. I thought to myself, “This isn’t so bad.” And the whimpering began.  Thank gosh I had a lot of stuff to set up! Throughout the shoot I found what some would call motherly instincts kicking in. I worried about watching his head and interrupting his feedings. I wondered if I actually had a clue. Over the next few months, I felt the pressure of having a baby from those around me, whether it was my mother-in-law, co-workers, friends, or the general public. My answer was always, “Not anytime soon,” or “Not until I can make it out of Aldi without losing my mind.” Most of you are probably thinking it’s easy enough to avoid getting pregnant—just use birth control! And since I’m all about honesty, I’ll go ahead and out the fact that medically my body cannot tolerate ANY type of contraceptive whatsoever. Ricky and I have always felt that if it happened, it happened. We are married, homeowners, and have decent jobs. We never discussed much about it, but knew we wanted a family sooner than later. So imagine my surprise on February 27 when I took a home test and not even four seconds later, it appeared positive …

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

Western Indiana

Fair Oaks Farms features dairy farm fun for the whole family.

Although it may be referred to as “Western Indiana,” to us it’s really more like just slightly south. Less than two hours away, the western part of the state has plenty to offer families and it’s close enough that you can make it a day trip if you want. Fair Oaks Farms, located in Fair Oaks, is an easy drive down I-65 and into a much more rural atmosphere than we’re used to in the Region. Fair Oaks is a real, working dairy farm, where the kids can see exactly where our milk, cheese and ice cream come from. You can even watch a calf being born. This is more than just a farm, though, with the Dairy Adventure building featuring fun interactive exhibits and a 3D/4D movie and the Cheese Factory housing a yummy café with featuring Fair Oaks cheese and ice cream. (For the inside scoop on visiting the farm with a family, check out our article about Fair Oaks Farms.) A little further south in Marshall you’ll find Turkey Run State Park, where you and the kids can take advantage of our warm spring weather and explore canyons, stone beds, rock ledges and trails. If your kids are a little older, you can even book a canoe trip with nearby Sugar Valley Canoe Trips, but make sure to call ahead to make sure they are open for the season if your kids’ spring break falls in March. If you want to stay overnight, Turkey Run Inn still has some openings around spring break, but book quickly!

Indianapolis

The outside of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis's "Dinosphere" exhibit.

If you’ve never taken the kids to our state’s capital, spring break is the perfect time. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a can’t-miss destination, with current exhibits including “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head,” “LEGO Travel Adventure,” “Dinosphere” and “National Geographic’s Treasures of the Earth.” No matter what your kids are interested in, they’ll find something to explore here and you can easily spend a whole day just tackling the Museum. If our unseasonably warm spring continues, a trip to the Indianapolis Zoo is a great way to let the kids burn some energy and enjoy the great outdoors. From dolphins to elephants, this zoo has it all, and you’ll even save some money going now because ticket prices are still listed as “off-season.”  When looking into overnight accommodations, Caribbean Cove is a great option for families. The hotel features a 50,000-square-foot indoor waterpark with body slides, a lazy river and an interactive playscape. Although the waterpark is usually only open on weekends, March 23-April 15 the park will be open seven days a week for spring break. You can also purchase waterpark wristbands separately, so you don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy some wet and wild fun.

Evansville

The "Quack Factory" exhibit at the Koch Family Children's Museum of Evansville.

Located in Southern Indiana, Evansville definitely requires at least an overnight stay, but the city has plenty to offer families while you’re there. The Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville offers 18,000 square feet of exhibit space aimed at kids ages 0-12. Exhibits include “Work Smart,” which focuses on engineering skill development and “Quack Play” featuring water play. (Check below for a coupon for admission to the museum.) Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden is home to more than 700 animals, including the zoo’s newest exhibit, “Amazonia, Forest of Riches,” which features animals of South America. Also in Evansville, the Angel Mounds State Historic Site has been preserved to show the way of life of Native Americans who lived in the fortified city from 1100 to 1450 A.D. The historic site includes an indoor Interpretive Center, which includes exhibits about Native Americans’ way of life while they lived at Angel Mounds and outdoor man-made mounds, a town plaza and a village area. Check the site’s website for details about special events that could be taking place during your visit.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana

Fair Oaks Farms features dairy farm fun for the whole family.

Located in nearby Jasper County and seemingly a world away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is Fair Oaks Farms, a working dairy farm that caters to families and shows how milk, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products get from the farm to our tables. Everything about Fair Oaks is kid-friendly and adults might just learn something, too.

The first building you want to stop by upon visiting the farm is the Dairy Adventure building, where you’ll pay for admission and find out when the next bus tour of the farm takes off. The employees are infinitely helpful, suggesting where to go first depending on the tour schedule when you arrive. During our visit, we planned on checking out the exhibits in the Dairy Adventure building first before heading on the next bus tour, but an employee informed us that a cow was about to give birth. The Birthing Barn, located right next door, gives city slickers the opportunity to see a calf being born, with 80-100 calves born every day. Even if you aren’t personally informed of what’s going on in the Birthing Barn when you arrive, a light outside the barn clues you in to what’s going on inside (red means no birth in progress, yellow means a birth has started and green means a birth is actively in progress). The kids with us were all under 5, but they were all fascinated with seeing a baby cow being born (and, surprisingly, didn’t ask any parent-stumping questions about the process). The staff does ask that visitors remain as quiet as possible, for the benefit of mother and baby, so keep that in mind if you’re about to walk in with an unhappy child.

The actual farm is located about a mile away from the main complex, which requires a quick bus ride narrated by an audio track that tells you all about what you’re seeing. The only time you get off the bus is to enter the milking area, where you view the “cow carousel” from behind a window. The distance from the cows is on purpose to protect the cows from diseases they could accidentally catch from visitors. During the bus tour, you’ll see where the cows sleep and eat, how they’re milked and where the calves go after they’re born. Our kids weren’t terribly interested in listening to the narrative, but they did enjoy seeing all the cows and learning the basics about what was going on. Older kids would certainly enjoy the educational aspect of the bus tour more. Also, make sure any bathroom breaks are taken before getting on the bus. There is a restroom available at the milking parlor, but it’s very small and the facilities back at the main buildings are much nicer.

A new calf is welcomed into the Fair Oaks family

Mom and baby in the Birthing Barn.

Board the bus to see a working dairy farm

Climb aboard the bus for a tour of the dairy farm.

Watch cows ride this “carousel” for the milking process

Cows are milked three times a day on this “cow carousel.”

Ride a different kind of cow carousel

Inside the Dairy Adventure building, find a different kind of cow carousel.

Have lunch inside the Cheese Factory

The Cheese Factory houses Fair Oaks’s cafe.

Don’t miss the delicious ice cream during your visit

The Fair Oaks Farms cafe includes several varieties of delicious homemade ice cream.

• A new calf is welcomed into the Fair Oaks family
• Board the bus to see a working dairy farm
• Watch cows ride this “carousel” for the milking process
• Ride a different kind of cow carousel
• Have lunch inside the Cheese Factory
• Don’t miss the delicious ice cream during your visit

Make sure to plan time to visit the café while you’re at Fair Oaks, located within the Cheese Factory. The big attraction for lunch is the café’s grilled cheese, featuring Fair Oaks Farm cheese oozing from crusty bread. If you’re not up for a grilled cheese, though, the café also offers soups, salads, quesadillas and sandwiches. You won’t find any pop here, but plenty of water, tea, juice, Starbucks coffee and Fair Oaks Farms milk in both white and chocolate. The seating area for the café overlooks the cheese-making and milk-bottling facilities, although there wasn’t much activity going on during our visit. Make sure to save room for dessert, too, so you can try some delicious Fair Oaks ice cream. The kiddie cone is inexpensive and huge for small kids, so you don’t have to add much to your food bill for this sweet treat.

Back in the Dairy Adventure building, you’ll find interactive exhibits, a magnetic climbing wall, a bounce house and a 3D/4D movie. A staff member warned us that some of the 4D elements of the movie might startle some of the kids in our group and she was correct. The movie is mostly silly, with some educational elements thrown in about the dairy, but the chair rumbles and puffs of air and water certainly surprised us as adults and sometimes scared the kids. Just keep this in mind if you have younger kids as well.

If you can’t make it to the farm over spring break or want to plan a return trip this summer, you’ll find even more to explore. Mooville, the farm’s outdoor play area, reopens in May, featuring a Dairy Air jumping pillow, a 25-foot milk bottle-shaped climbing wall, a String Cheese Maze and the MooChoo Train. Fair Oaks also hosts several events over the summer, including a Travis Tritt concert on June 23 and the Milk Cow Music Festival on June 2, which includes a barbeque cook-off, musical acts and a car show.

Fair Oaks Farms is located at 856 N 600 E in Fair Oaks. The Dairy Adventure building is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday with bus tours taking place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors over age 62, $10 for children ages 3-12 and free for kids 2 and under. For more information, call (877) 536-1194 or visit www.fofarms.com.

South Shore Parent
Northwest Indiana