What A Pointless List

I was reading on MSN about the 10 Best Places to Visit Before You're 10 or something like that.

Of course, the first thing that sprang into my head was "if you're reading this, you're too old for this list to pertain to you." But, out of pure curiosity, I read the thing anyway. I figured I'd give it a try.

The list is as follows:

1. The Sears Tower in Chicago
   
2. Niagara Falls in New York and Ontario
3. Muir Woods in California (where the redwoods are)
4. Monterey Bay Aquarium in California
5. Griffith Conservatory in Los Angeles
6. Grand Canyon in Arizona
7. Ellis Island in New York City
8. Disneyland in California
9. Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia
10. American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland

Mind you, this list is not in order of importance. I actually named the list backward then realized it made it seem like the places were ranked.

I don't think any children under 10 were consulted during the making of this list, though. It sounds like an "boy, I would have been lucky to see this stuff when I was a kid" adult list. C'mon, now. The significance of many of the places on this list aren't realized until you've reached a certain age. If you take a 5 year old to the Grand Canyon, they aren't going to be stunned by it's majestic beauty or geographical history. They're going to want to go back home so they can watch Phineas and Ferb on tv.

The aquarium is a more believable endeavor. I've never been to this one they mention in California, but I do know the Georgia Aquarium was absolutely fabulous. They had a sting ray tank and a big place where kids could play and all other fun things to do at an aquarium, along with a wonderful cafe. I actually even bought a souvenir there (which tells you something, because I never buy souvenirs. I look at them, toy with the idea of buying them, but never get around to it). And the Shedd Aquarium is awesome too! (I know I've written about it before, I'm just too lazy to find the post reference).

In fact, as long as you bring a backpack of scooby snacks (and NOT actual dog treats fools, I'm talking about snacks like fruit or graham crackers or gatorade or chips), any museum or other such informative place can be fun. You don't have to take your kids all the way out to Virginia to learn about colonial times, when there's a place called New Salem in Illinois (I've been there when I was 8 or 9, and that place was cool).

Disneyland (or world) is worth the trip but that's just because you can't find any other place like it. You can only go to Six Flags so much.

This leaves us with the Sears Tower. Now, as a Chicagoan, I'm proud that the Sears Tower made it to the list of places you should go. And you certainly learn a lot being up there (and it's scary, too). But the thing is, part of the fun is when you live in Chicago and you start looking for places like your house, your school, the corner store, that place where that one guy got beat up, etc. The Sears Tower offers probably once of the most breathtaking views of a city you'll ever see, but you can just as easily get that view in an airplane.

If you are coming to Chicago, I'd suggest you take the kidlets to Navy Pier. There's rides, IMAX, shops where you can spend your money, good food, live shows, and even a greenhouse. That's a place they won't get tired of going to until they get older and realize there's clubs and bars they could be trying to go to.