It is difficult to imagine home schooling without the support that an online homeschool curriculum can provide. There are so many online homeschool websites which may not be officially part of the curriculum that you have chosen to follow, but still can provide invaluable help. Some websites are subject specific like those dealing with science or mathematics while others may contribute to a specific age group or class such as for kindergarten or high school.

The Online Support

After using the multitude of supporting and educative websites, a home schooling parent no longer feels alone or overwhelmed. There is no problem that you can’t solve with a little help from the internet. Don’t know a specific theory? Do a search in the “world wide web” and find a number of sites where you can learn it, before you teach it to your kid. There is no need to panic about subjects that you were weak in at school. There is enough help at hand to make the process a simple online homeschool experience.

The Fun Element

A number of the online homeschool websites have educational games on them. This means that the children get to play a video game and pick up an educational concept at the same time. The dual advantage of developing motor skills with subject reinforcement can come from a simple game. And it has been proved time and again that kids learn best when they are having fun! Of course you will have to monitor the games that they play are truly educational before you let them have their own way on the website.
The Effortless Assistance

Online homeschool websites offer homeschooling parents help 24/7. There is always information available on how to deal with a particular lesson, or topic online. You don’t have to look for help elsewhere. Homeschool no longer means isolation as the effortless assistance of these websites can be tapped into at will. Perhaps that is why today home schooling is such a popular option amongst so many parents. Combined with the mindless violence which we hear about in some shocking school shooting instances it is no wonder that home schooling has become more and more part of our way of life.

The home school curriculum is not set in stone. While there are some basic facts and principles that your child is expected to know and learn, the home school curriculum allows you great flexibility in how to go about achieving this task. There is no fixed or standard method of teaching these things to your child. There are only some guidelines which you may or may not use.

Remember children in school tend to learn skills like relating to peers, socially acceptable behavior and their own self esteem development. While with a child being home schooled this may not be so simple. So it may be easier for a parent who is starting out with home schooling to get a full curriculum package. That way the parent and child have a set structure that they can follow.

The home school curriculum packages tend to mimic the school room scenario and you will need to move from subject to subject as one would in a regular school day. The disadvantage with this system is that you lose out the very flexibility that home schooling your child should afford you. You will not be giving your child the leeway to indulge his own imagination or learn at his own pace. As you will be rushing from one subject to the next, just as you were taught as a child in school.

Probably the huge amount of freedom that you get as a home schooling parent makes you feel uneasy about how to handle the situation. Plus you may get burned out trying to be the parent and teacher both rolled into one. If the work load of the home school curriculum package is causing you anxiety just chuck it. Learn to trust your own instincts. You know what your child needs to learn and you will figure out how best to teach it. Believe me you will, just give yourself a chance.

So set yourself some broad deadlines for each subject. Think up of innovative ways to teach the topics in each subject to your child. You can get a whole lot of help in this online. There are a number of websites that can help you come up with a bunch of interesting ideas to use. If you need help with the science subjects you can check out this site to start with.

We’ve been getting a flurry of emails and phone calls from families asking WHEN and WHERE we’ll be this year! We’ve got a lot of private events going on this year in 2010, and we’re still trying to fit everything together.

Last year, we had camps and workshops all over the country, including Virginia, Florida, California, Alaska (in six different locations), and lots more! And the year before that, we were in 13 different locations at conventions and conferences (CHAP, GHEA, FPEA, WHO, CHEA, HEAV, MACHE, etc…) in addition to our camps and workshops right here in California. Sooo… long story short – we’re still working on it, and we’ll post the info as we know more.

Thanks so much for your interest!

Finding the right homeschool curriculum can be a daunting task for those of us who were bred on a regular school. What if the homeschool curriculum you choose is too tough for the child? Or worse if it does not challenge the child enough? The right balance needs to be met between the ability of the child to learn and the amount you expose him to.

A home schooling child can need more attention, affection and praise than a child who is being taught along with twenty other classmates. He takes his cue from the person who is teaching him. If you have taken on the task of homeschooling your child you need to teach yourself before you can teach him.

This is where the homeschool curriculum can help you. If you have chosen a good system to follow you will be guided well along the way. However there may be times when you have to teach a subject that you are not too comfortable with yourself. Maybe teaching science will seem tough to a humanities graduate.

Thanks to the internet this is no longer a problem. Nowadays any number of classes can be completed on websites. Take a look at our online science program. There are special sites which cater to specific homeschool curriculum, and others which may act as supplements to your personal efforts at home. A quick research will show you what you can use for your child.

It is also a good idea to tie up with other home schooling parents when doing specific activities as children do get competitive in the presence of another child. The learning gets reinforced far better than what you may be able to accomplish at home with your child. You may be able to finish the homeschool curriculum faster than before.

Many home schooling parents have formed groups on social sites like Facebook. Why not check out the one in your city? You may make new friends and meet likeminded people. You will also be able to share your experiences while teaching the homeschool curriculum.

New ideas may come to your from their experiences for teaching your child at home. Home schooling is a constant learning process, not only for the child but also for the parent. It is a big responsibility, but not a tough one. Especially if you have the right tools!

Did you know we have free science classes over the phone? They are called “teleclasses” and they are like a giant party-line where kids from across the country (well, world really) call in, and we talk about and DO real science! It’s a great way to get a live feel to your science lessons, as I stay on the phone as long as there are questions to answer.

Here’s how it works:

There’s a 10 minute discussion at the start, and then we’re off and running doing experiments and answering questions. The next one is all about electricity, and is on March 22nd. You can sign up here to get on the ‘reminder email’ list – I’ll send you a note a day ahead of time so you don’t forget.

See you in class!

Aurora

P.S. I usually give away a few freebies at the end of the call, so keep an eye (ear?) out for those! Last time it was an hour-long DVD full of science experiment videos (like how to build remote controls from soap boxes, beam splitters from toilet paper tubes, etc.) that I created last year.

Science is more than a classroom… it’s actually pretty difficult to define. Science is not about what we know, but rather about how we face what we don’t know.  It’s not a textbook of principles, set of rules, or collection of factoids. It’s a process, a thing you do. Science is what happens when you ask questions, get back answers, and try to figure and make sense of it all.

Science gives you a way to ask questions and get back answers. There are many different ways to do this, the Scientific Method being only one of the ways of sorting and sifting through the information as you go along.  We’ll be teaching about several different methods as we go along in our eScience program and highlighting which methods are most used by real scientists and engineers. (Guess what?? It’s not the scientific method!)

Believe it or not, there’s a straightforward method to doing science. You can’t just sit around and argue about how things work, but you actually have to do experiments and be able to measure your results.  And other people have to get be able to get those same results on their own, too! While this sounds basic, it wasn’t until the 1500s when Tycho Brahe suggested that people do experiments to figure things out instead of discussing (and arguing) about the way things should be.

What we don’t know is just as important as what we do know. But how do we fit all of these things together?  We can break science down into three basic questions:

1. What IS it?  What is it made of, look like, act like? (This is where you describe it.)
2. How does it work?  Why is it that way? What are the physics behind it?
3. How does it move through time? How did it start, develop through time, and end? What are the laws of physics that determine how things unfold in time?

Most things in science do not yet have answers to all three of these questions! Sometimes parts of learning is unlearning some of the things you think you know. Things that you’re pretty sure are right!  Scientists have struggled with this for When you really think about it, a lot of science is actually unlearning. Science challenges you to rethink what you think you already know:

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” ~Mark Twain

Sometimes unlearning the ‘absolute truths’ that have stood for thousands of years is part of the science process. Here are a few examples: the Sun revolving around the Earth; the ocean was bottomless; there’s no life in Antarctica; the Earth is flat…

So how do we establish what we do and don’t know? One of the most surprising things we’ve learned is that although the Universe is incredibly vast (it’s way bigger than any human being), but it still able to be understood.

“The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.” ~Albert Einstein

When you first start out doing real science, it may seem awkward, disjointed, difficult, even a bit weird. But that’s just because you’re new at it.  People aren’t instant experts at new stuff, and you shouldn’t expect to master something in a heartbeat that is going to last you a lifetime.

“It will seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.” ~Naomoto Musashi

Some of this science stuff we’re going to cover will be new to you, unfamiliar, even off-putting.  (What do you mean lightening strikes twice in the same place?”) But just stick with it and I guarantee that it will pay off.  You’ll notice this when things start to ’snap’ into place as you gain an amazing understanding of not only the rules of the universe, but how to think and question new stuff that comes your way.

Here’s a handful of ideas for holiday gifts you can share with your kids. Of course, I am always partial to a fresh basket of homebrew multi-stage rocket engines, but I realize that this may not be the bets way to keep your house in one piece. So, here are a few top picks from my list:

• Microscope Invest in a more expensive one now so your kid can take it to high school and college.  When I teach microscope classes to K-12 kids, they all use the same kind. (If you’ve never used one, then pick up a How To book also.)
• Telescope If I could, I would gather up all the cheap telescopes that people try to sell to kids and have a major bonfire in the middle of the street.  Honestly, anything under $200 not from Orion, Meade, or Celestron (or a similar company) is just plain garbage.  If you got yours at a department store, toy store, or Wal-Mart, just toss it now and avoid the agony of watching your child’s excitement turn to frustration. I meet more students in college that had this happen in their childhood, and it forever turned them off to astronomy and/or science.  If you really want to get a good starter scope, then invest in a nicer one that will serve your kid’s dreams for a long time.  If you can’t afford it, get them a pair of good binoculars (see below).
• Binoculars Not just for bird watching and playing spy games, these are the best around for astronomy. You can actually see the moons around Jupiter and Saturn with these! I actually own a pair of these from Orion myself – and they are one of my favorite things to take on any trip. (I also take along this summertime Star Atlas for the northern hemisphere.)
• Chemistry Set While you can get the $350 chemistry sets online (the Chem 3000 from Thames and Cosmos is our all-time favorite, and we were so excited about this product that we created a 4-hour DVD to go along with it on how to get the most out of the program)… but suppose it’s not in your budget.  It’s a massive program, after all – about 400 science experiments, most of which are at the high school level.  Sooo…. here’s a dirt-cheap idea for your budding scientist:  join the eScience online program just for January (we have a deal going right now where you get the first month for only $1) and order the chemicals and equipment online (expect to spend around $100) and your child will have a complete chemistry unit under their belt with TONS of experiments to do! There’s a shopping list already up for Unit 9 – it’s the cheapest and best way to do real schemistry under the watchful guidence of a professional (ahem).
• Instant (Real) Snow I know this isn’t something you can wrap up and stick under the tree, but if you live somewhere that it’s COLD and hasn’t snowed yet, you can definately help nature along. Simply shoot a spray of cold (not heated from your house) water up at an angle (not straight up), and if it’s been cold for the past few hours, you should have a sprinkling of snowflakes right before your eyes.

Okay – hopefully you’ve found something educational to fit in your budget.  At the very least, a few wheels are starting to turn and who knows what can happen over this next year?  Happy Experimenting!

Okay, it’s that time again! We’re looking to you to help us out in our
seasonal donations! Here’s what’s up: every winter, we regularly donate
our science kits and programs to families in need. The trouble is, we have
difficulty finding them sometimes! While we do have a list of families, we
noticed this season (like last year) it’s a bit shorter than we like to
see. We have over $1,000 of science kits and programs to donate, so if you
know of a family in need that would truly benefit from our science
programs, drop us an email this week, letting us know their contact
information as well as their situation (why they’d be a good fit in this
category), so we can figure out the best kit to send them.

Just to give you an idea of what we look for… In the past, we’ve sent
science kits and programs to single parents of larger families, to a child
with a disability (sudden or lifelong), teachers in low-income areas (to
use in their classroom), and so forth. Think of people who couldn’t
normally afford what we offer, but would benefit the most from it. Those
are the ones we want to know about, and I know probably know someone that
would be a perfect fit. Thank you for this opportunity to serve something
greater than ourselves.

Simply contact us by email to let us know. Thank you for your help – and for the privilege of serving as your guide and coach along your science adventure.

Yours in Science,
Aurora

Just a quick blip to let you know that I’ve been so excited with my new ‘baby’ – the eScience program – that it’s completely been taking up all my time!! I’ve been doing a brain-dump of everything I know about teaching science as well as the subject areas, and it’s turning into the science program that I would have wanted as a kid. But it’s had it moments, like:

I really don’t know if it’s a good idea to teach quantum mechanics to kids, but I’ve gotten so many requests for parents to ‘up the ante’ and make our programs something their older kids can use that I really took it to heart, and have now expanded what we teach to include two more scientific principles. (There are 18 scientific principles in the field, ten of which kids need to know and understand before they hit college. Well, maybe now more like 12…) We’re currently test-driving these new classes out before we present them to you to work out all the bugs – and boy, has that been fun (I’ll tell you about the hole in the roof later…)

Anyway, I promise to write more in this blog soon, especially now that we’re rounding toward the science fair project season and gift-giving season and back-to-school season…!!! I have been working on the SFP blog if case you want to check it out… more soon!

Aurora

I sent out an email a week ago asking for the best places for me and my family to visit during the holiday season. The response I got back was wonderful! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know the best nooks you’ve found across the country. Many of the folks asked for a peek at the responses… here’s what came in just the first day or two:

1) Ely – We live in Ely, MN which is a cute little town on the edge
of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ( non motorized canoe
camping in summer – pretty busy place in summer but less so during the
winter) pop 3,700 or so. There are several resorts in the area that
are open year round, along with individual homes and cabins for rent.
Check out www.elylodging.com or www.ely.org. There should be snow –
so sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling ( but not in the BWCA )
snowshoeing and cc skiing. There are several dog sledding outfitters
in the area if you wanted to do that as part of your visit.

2) Grand Marais, MN is also another very cute town in Northern MN near
the BWCA and Lake Superior.

3) There are also some great places along the North Shore of Lake
Superior – such as Grand Superior Lodge ( individual homes/cabins or a
lodge www.grandsuperiorlodge.com), Bluefin Bay Resort ( townhomes,
cabins and lodge www.bluefinbay.com) and Superior Shores (www.superiorshores.com). There are ski, hiking, snowshoe trails along Lake Superior and in
the many state parks along the north shore).

Northern Minnesota is beautiful!! Grand Rapids, Ely, Duluth, the
gunflint trial are all good destinations.

I’m not sure how helpful it will be but I live in New England, New Hampshire to be more exact, and if you don’t mind snow, there are plenty of towns around with charm and community events or needs. Off hand there is Portsmouth, NH, the Maine coast (which isn’t very specific I know…), Newburyport, MA and many more.

My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Dahlonahga, GA at a place called Foresthills. Small out of the way place, but close to lots of activities if you don’t mind driving. We stayed in a couples home, but I believe they have family options available too. It’s not to far from TN, is full of history of gold digging mines, and if you don’t mind doing a little driving there are tons of water falls (Ruby Falls was one of our favorites), little shops, possibility of snow, horseback riding, and just lots of fun!

May I kindly suggest Red River Gorge, in Kentucky. It is part of the Daniel
Boone National Forest.

There are cabins galore, we recommend Red River Outdoors, as we have
actually stayed there (we have our own small cabin we’d by happy share, but
it has NO amenities, and we don’t even want to stay there in the winter.)
There are numerous hiking trails, small towns to explore, the Gladie
Learning Center, with a small historical museum and herd of buffalos.

You can also consider staying in a surrounding town, such as Clay City

We did hear about a cozy little town in Colorado when we were doing research for our vacation there. We ended up going to Vale, but our second choice was a place just as you are describing. Very small town, cabins with fireplaces, nature trails, a body of water. I don’t have the exact name of city right here, but if I get it, will let you know.
I am sure if you called Colorado bureau they would help you.

Try Ellijay, it is a nice town with out of the way cabins. Apple festival is coming up in Oct the 3rd and 4th weekend. Light up Ellijay is nice also .I believe it is the weekend of Thanksgiving or the weekend after. You could check at the chamber of commerce.

Check out Angel Fire, NM. It is a small town near Taos and Santa Fe, so day trips to other interesting areas are convenient. It is definitely cold in the winter.

Have you ever been to Leavenworth, WA….a small Bavarian town with lots of
holiday cheer and festivity. BUT lodging places fill up fast for the holidays.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon in a beautiful little town called Nebo, NC many years ago. Beautiful area in the Appalachian Mountains. Several B&B’s there with wonderful folks.

Another suggestion, just from the history and charm perspective is Natchez, MI. Gorgeous town with many B&B’s. The one I think we stayed in is called the “Wensel”. They’ve changed the color and apparently owners, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there.

You’ll probably get some suggestions for Gatlinburg, TN, but I find it WAY too grown up and definitely doesn’t qualify as a “small town” any longer. Beautiful area though.

My home-town, Tehachapi Calilfornia is pretty cool. . . murals. . . apple picking. . . slow pace but lots of conveniences like Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery. Unlike Kernville, which is much smaller and has no major chain stores.

Blowing Rock, NC, charming town. Blue Ridge parkway nearby. Cabin rentals
with fireplaces and hot tubs.

Now, as for a great town!! I live in Memphis, TN, and have grown up here….but we took family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains near Knoxville, TN… SUPER place, great scenery, lots of history..civil war battles, etc. You can get some great cabins in Pigeon Forge, TN, or in Gatlinburg, TN & be near the antique shops, and small towns.

I live in Kernville, California. It sounds like what you’re looking for. It’s just outside of Bakersfield, on the Kern River. Check out the Kern River Valley Chamber of commerce for vacation rentals. We have a cabin that may be available at that time. We are also available to show you good trails for biking or hiking (ever tried letter boxing? maybe I can teach you something new for a change of pace).

My family loved the cabins available in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Never been there in Winter, but I think it would be nice. Good cabins, Natural (indoor) hot springs, I think there may be skiing nearby, and a very cute little town. In the other months, there is good hiking, biking, rafting, etc.

http://www.berkeleysprings.com

http://www.berkeleysprings.com/lodging.htm

Christmas is wonderful in Amish Ohio. We visit there several times during the year. It is very peaceful and quiet. Also rich with learning about how things are done without electricity. They do have tours where you can eat dinner with an Amish family. We have not done that but seems kind of interesting to see how life (dinner) is arranged in a way that is not hectic and filled with the busy noise of today’s society. I know they have cabins or bed and breakfasts all through there. We like to stay in Walnut Creek or Sugar Creek. Millersburg, Ohio is also a small town right in there. Berlin, Ohio is getting to a larger town still small town but larger town feel than the others. If you look any of them up on line they are all in the same area. If you do go there Lehman’s is a “hardware” store. They have all kinds of great things. Oil lamps, old fashion tools (new), Old fashion games (new)They have a website also. When there you can not miss eating at Der Dutchman. Chicken is so wonderful. We starve going there because we knew we will over eat there. Coconut cream or any of the pie is worth eating even if you are to full to eat. We buy spices there because they are so much cheaper and cheese and candles and the list goes on. It is busier in the summer and fall and a little quiet in the winter but great introduction to another way of life for kids.

Also Southern Ohio, Old Man’s cave area is wonderful if you like nature. Hiking there is something you have not seen before. We went just after Christmas before New Years two years ago and have treasured it ever since.

You should go to Red River New Mexico. Rich in history and has many small cozy cabin that will easily hold up to 12-15 people, or smaller.

We live in Glen Rose, Texas. It is a great small town. We are the Dinosaur Capital of Texas. We attained that title due to the vast number of incredible Dino tracks in our Paluxy River bed. New to Glen Rose is Dinosaur World. There is also a Creation Evidence Museum (if you are interested in a creation/young earth view of dinosaurs). The area is also great for hiking and biking. Granbury is another small town nearby. Both have quaint county squares w/ shopping and dining. And we are an hour from the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex area. There are many nice bed and breakfasts here as well as several hotels (We are a hot summer tourist attraction!). Most kids seem to favor Best Western. I think they have free nachos and popcorn in the evening (and maybe in
indoor pool). I don’t know much about the other hotels…they are all new (except for the Glen Rose Inn and Suites- it’s the local motel). I found this website to help. http://www.glenrosetexas.net/ If you come, you have to eat at the Loco Coyote (amazing BBQ) and you have to stop in at the Pie Peddlers on the square. (Two Kindergarten teachers make all home-made pies to sell on their weekends. They are fun.) There is
so much more, “must see to appreciate.” I sound like a politician or something, but it truly is a great place to live and raise a family. 2004 America’s Dreamtown. You could also visit the nuclear power plant. Most of the local children love Big Rocks Park. Not much to it, but they love climbing on those rocks at the river!

One trip we have taken the last two years has been to a Buddhist Monastery in Escondido. It is a beautiful place in the hills – very serene. That Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk whom has written many books on focusing on living in the present moment. His most popular book is called Mindful Living. After reading the book I wanted to find him and learn more! He lives in France at a Monastery called Plum Village. They grow plums and give the proceeds to children’s charities around the world. There are two Monasteries in the US, one in Escondido and one in New York. We have been to the Family retreats in the summer, over the 4th of July and my son (11 yr. old) and I went to the New Year celebration – The Chinese New Year. The food is great, the Monks & Nuns are fantastic with children & teens. They are very friendly, never force anyone to do anything. They talk about or teach living in the present, meditating, walking meditation, etc. Everyone felt rested and peaceful! You can go for a weekend or one of the special retreats. Families can camp in a tent or stay in a dorm room. Here is the link: http://www.deerparkmonastery.org/

I am in Pennsylvania – beautiful countryside, lots of history. Check out Berks and Lehigh counties on line for ideas. Some quaint towns in Berks: Oley, Hamburg, Bethel. These towns are close to Lancaster, the heart of Amish country – Lancaster is a great day trip place to learn about the Amish. Try googling “Dutch Country Roads + cabins + PA state parks” for this area. Some great Christmas places –
Bethlehem – beautiful town
Bethel – a christmas village is there
Tamaqua – Stonehedge gardens – tree-lighting
Wellsboro is a very quaint town with friendly people. The Grand Canyon of PA
is there. For cabins, try PA state parks – they have rustic to fully
equipped.
The Pocono Mountains is also another great area for cabins.

How about St Augustine in Florida? Supposed to be the oldest city, very quaint, with lots of history. I haven’t been yet, but we’re planning a camping trip in November with our homeschool group.

Castle Mountains Driving Tour and Day Hike
DATE: Saturday October 10 th WHERE: Meet at Hotel Nipton for lunch and carpooling to the Castle Mountains TIME: 11am to 5pm The Castle Mountains are surrounded on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve and boast some of the finest Joshua tree forest in the Mojave Desert, pinyon pine and juniper forest at higher elevations, and native desert grassland. The scenic view from Hart Mountain looks out over adjacent and contiguous wilderness, including views of many of the highest peaks in the Mojave Desert. This critical linkage for plant and wildlife could become part of the Mojave National Preserve. Join us to explore this unique area of the Mojave Desert. After lunch in Nipton, we will carpool along dirt backroads to see the Castle Mountains, historic Hart mine, and desert vistas. Expect 2-3 miles of hiking. Dress for the weather, bring money for lunch or your own, 2 liters of water per person, snacks, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable hiking shoes or boots, and a camera. Please reserve a spot in advance by contacting Laurel Williams 909-260-8833 or lwilliams@calwild.org. DIRECTIONS: Nipton is 2 miles from the Nevada/California border in east San Bernardino County, 10 miles off Interstate 15 approximately 1 hour drive from Las Vegas. From Los Angeles: Take any route to I-15 eastbound to Nipton Road offramp, then eastbound on Nipton Road to Nipton, about 10 miles. From Las Vegas: Take I-15 south bound, 55 miles to the Nipton Road, 10 miles to Nipton, CA LODGING & CAMPING: Want to stay the night before or after? There is camping and other lodging options available at Hotel Nipton and the Mojave National Preserve. Hotel Nipton http://www.nipton.com/ or (760) 856-2335 Mojave National Preserve http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm or (760) 252-6100

However, you might want to try out Southern Maryland (St Mary’s county or Calvert County). A bit of a drive from airports (probably roughly the same distance from either BWI or Reagan National.) It’s a bit in the country,near/in historic St. Mary’s — lighthouses, hiking trails, away from the city lights (LOTS of stars to see on a clear night). Also somewhat near the Dr. Mudd house (famed doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth after he shot Pres. Abraham Lincoln.) It’s also close to Calvert Cliffs, where you can find some great fossils — lots of shark’s teeth and the occasional whale skeleton.
Really lots of stuff to do, depending if the 2-3 hour drive from the airport is OK. (You’d also be a few hours from DC, so you could roll in a history field trip too. That gives you a small town. As for a rental cabin… You’d be on your own there, although I could make some calls if you really ended up interested in the area.

There is a place here in Wisconsin that we LOVE and have spent many weekends/vacations. Here is the link: http://www.secondwindcountryinn.com/
It’s in Ashland, WI which is on the shores of Lake Superior. The Inn itself is not on the lake but don’t let that stop you. The owners of this newly built bed and breakfast are Mark & Kelly and they are amazing. Kelly cooks most things from scratch including grinding her own grain. She is an amazing cook! You will not be disappointed in the place or the food. Breakfast is included with your stay (worth the trip alone). There is an amazing view from the loft. It has a private bedroom with attached bathroom (tiled) and
Jacuzzi tub. There is a living area with leather sofas and a loft which has a bed, a table and many sofas and chair that convert to a bed if needed that are really comfy. There is also a mini kitchenette with dishes, refrigerator and microwave. Mark & Kelly have a beautiful family including a dog, cats (not in the house), horses and a cow. They can take you on sleigh rides pulled by their horse or you can ski, snowmobile, hike, etc. You will leave feeling like family I can guarantee. They also have a great room in the house for guests with games, musical instruments etc. They value family greatly. The other great thing about this place is that it is near another town, Bayfield, WI which is an old town on Lake Superior as well (Bayfield is about 20 minutes from Ashland). This is a great little town – lots of history with things to see and do. You should check out the Bayfield
chamber of commerce or visitors bureau for all the details. What’s really cool is that in the winter, you can actually drive your car on Lake Superior over to an island called Madeline Island. Another quant little town rich in history on this island. In Bayfield and Madeline Island, there are lots of shops, restaurants, art galleries, etc. It is so fun!
I just had to write and tell you about Second Wind Country Inn because I
know you would LOVE it. A perfect place to spend Christmas if you ask me!
You might be thinking, I don’t want to spend Christmas at a B&B where other
people might be staying but let me reassure you, we generally don’t see any
other people even if they are there. But, there are only 2 rooms besides
the loft and they are usually only for couples. Oh, I think one room can
hold a small family.

First the place; Cedaredge, Colorado…. here’s the google link for various sites
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=cedaredge+colorado&aq=0&oq=Cedaredge+CO&aqi=g10 Our whole county has only 25-27,000 people so the town may be 1,000 +/- Nearest airport is Montrose, or Grand Junction, Colorado. We have some wonderful homeschool families here locally and within 1 hour…. could talk all day about them, but needless to say, we have an “interested” and excited bunch. So don’t know if you just want to “chill” and do nothing or have a few events or what….friends of ours own the Spruce Lodge on the top of the Grand Mesa…excellent place and the BEST cross country skiing in N. America. (truly)

Come to our little valley! The Bitterroot Valley in western Montana is stunningly beautiful and absolutely charming for its small town, folksy demeanor. My personal theory is this: When the elevation exceeds the population, you’re in for a real treat. Our little town, Stevensville, snuggles in cozily between two mountain ranges. The town is at an elevation of approximately 3500 feet, while the surrounding peaks rise to 8,000 to 11,000 feet. Our population is just over 2,000 people in town–and we don’t live “in town.” We have the beautiful Bitterroot River running down the middle of the valley, plenty of low-key local winter recreation opportunities, a ski resort within an hour north and another one an hour south, and the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge for our playground. There are plenty of lodging options available at fairly affordable rates, if you do a little Google searching.

We live in a beautiful small town near Asheville, NC. The whole western North Carolina region is breathtaking, especially in the fall! Lots of summer camps open their doors for family reunions etc. during the winter months, with great rates for cabins, etc. Our town is Brevard, about 40 miles from Asheville. Check it out and let us know if we can answer any questions about the area!

How about my town – Sharpsburg, Maryland. We are not short on history, civil war history anyway, with the Antietam Battlefield here.

I know of several bed and breakfast places and believe there are a couple of rentals right in town. I know the owner of two of the B&B’s and am sure I can find the info on those rentals. If you’d like more information, let me know.

We live in a small town in Texas, but not at all scenic. We do, on occasion, travel to Red River, Taos and Angel Fire, New Mexico. They are small, quaint little towns. In the winter, there’s kid friendly activites such as inner tubing down the mountains, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. The towns decorate with lights throughout. There are indian art galleries and shopping areas. If interested, you could call the chamber of commerce at any of those towns.

Well, we have a small town that is a favorite destination but it’s not quiet but it’s very pretty… How about Leavenworth? It’s a Bavarian village and they have it all decked out in twinkle lights with the Cascades behind covered in snow look like your in Bavaria! I have friends that go skiing near by there and lots of winter y kind of stuff… Festivals, etc. It might be a travelers destination but it is small. The other place we love to go is The Sandpiper… It’s near Pacific beach and it has no tv’s, phones, radios just a wide open beach. It has washer/dryer facilities, espresso stand, you can fly kites, book nook and games (at least it did the last time I was there) and each room has its own kitchen. You can cook your own food and hunker down and play games, drink cocoa and walk the beach. Might be a bit cold but it’s a small town!

Come to Winter Park!!! The YMCA in Winter Park might have ideas for some volunteering – they not only have cabins and LOADS of fun things to do, they might be able to suggest some volunteer oppty’s http://www.ymcarockies.org/home/our-locations/snow-mountain-ranch ), Or come to Denver, volunteer in the city, then drive up to Vail, Estes, Copper, Dillon, Breck- there’s a veritable myriad of choices.

My home town is Oxford, MS, home of William Faulkner. You can tour his home. You can walk the square and visit the businesses there. There are lots of places to eat on the square and the historic courthouse is there. The University of MS offers a lot of history. There are B&Bs to stay in. Wish I still lived there but I am now just outside Memphis, an hour away from Oxford. Memphis has lots of history also…Graceland, Beale Street, Riverwalk to name a few. My support group just had a thread about Mountain View, Arkansas and how nice it is. I have not been but it is on my list of places to travel.

Estes Park, CO, Many amazing cabins, and next to Rocky Mountain National Park. Might get very cold during the winter…

Thomson Ill or Cuba MO are great little towns

Joshua Tree, CA
Nipton Hotel, Nipton, CA great trains go by and there’s room to blow stuff up.

I’m sure you’ll get many of these emails so here’s another one to choose from! We live in Middlebury, Indiana http://www.middleburyin.org/publishsite/index.cfm which is in the northern part of Indiana and our house is about 2 miles from the Michigan state line. It’s a small town rich in charm and Amish history. We are 10 minutes from Shipshewana, Indiana which is well-known for the largest flea market in the U.S. Of course, it won’t be happening that time of year but there are lots of shops in town all decked out in Christmas decorations with lots of Amish crafts and woodworks. There’s also a large restaurant with a theatre that has been host to big name music groups over the years. Here’s a link to the restaurant and their shows: http://www.bluegatetheater.com/
Many of the Amish homes in the area host dinners so non-Amish can come and see the farms, eat the food and ask lots of questions about their lifestyle. It’s a very relaxing evening and interesting to find out more about their ways of living.
As far as renting a cabin, I don’t know that there’s anything around here like that but if you’re interested in sharing a house with someone, you’re welcome to stay with us! We have a secluded log home on 40 acres that we love to have filled up with company. We have 2 boys: ages 6 and 8. I’m not sure what ages your children are but the boys would love to show them the sledding hill down the road (hopefully, there will be snow!) or snuggle up to a fire playing board games! You’re welcome to come and go as you like and make yourselves at home. The closest airport to Middlebury is South Bend, Indiana–about 50 minutes away. We’re also about 2 miles from the 80/90 Toll Road which runs across Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania… (I’m not sure where you’ll be coming from!)
There are also plenty of opportunities around this area for giving of your time. Elkart County was one of the hardest hit places in the country when the economy started going downhill last year because it’s considered the RV capital of the world. Most of the RV companies around here closed and the unemployment is very high. I’m sure the soup kitchens and homeless shelters will be welcoming as much help as they can muster this holiday season. There’s also a group from our church that delivers meals to homes but that might be closer towards Thanksgiving than Christmas. They might do both–I can check on it if you want me to.

Sounds like you are describing Duluth MN & the north shore. There are tons of resorts with cozy cabins to rent along the north shore of Lake Superior. We have stayed at Blue fin Bay in December for our anniversary & they have a lot of family activities, indoor & outdoor. We went cross country skiing. I was pregnant at the time so my activities were somewhat limited, if I remember right they had ice skating & snow mobiling too. There is another place closer to Duluth, that we have been to a wedding at, called Superior Shores, beautiful resort with nice condos to rent. www.superiorshores-resort.com
www.bluefinbay.com

How about Kellogg, Idaho the home of Silver Mountain and heart of the Silver Valley. For most of its life it and all of the little towns nearby have been known for mining. Did you know that, contrary to its potato-y image, Idaho is known as the “Gem state” for good reason? There’s a lot of interesting history. You’re family could take historical tours of mines, ride the gondola for the most incredible views, ski/snowboard, and your only a hop skip and a jump from beautiful Coeur d’Alene.

http://silver-valley.com/

http://www.gonorthwest.com/Idaho/north/Kellogg/Kellogg.htm

http://www.cityofkellogg.com/

http://www.goldmine-idaho.com/ (mining tours)
http://wallace-id.com/business.html#tourist (mining tours)
http://www.silvermt.com/ (skiing/snowboarding)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=072102&ID=s1186131 (environmentalism)
http://www.coeurdalene.org/ (one of the most beautiful places on earth)

There is a quaint town near me called Eureka Springs, in Arkansas. It is FULL of rich history from pioneer times. Its historic downtown is wonderful with antique shops, crafters and CAVES! You really need go check it out. Even if you don’t go this time.
They also have a HUGE statue of Jesus and The Great Passion Play!

Don’t know where you are or how far you might want to travel, but, you should check out Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA. Very small-town, extremely high quality facility & lights show, and the history of the area is rich. They do have rental cabins inside the Gardens as well as nearby. It’s not too far from Atlanta & all that has to offer.

http://www.callawaygardens.com/callaway/info/fantasy-lights.aspx

Jamestown, CA and surrounding area is nice. I’ve been there in winter,
but not specifically at Christmas.

Please check out this town . . .
The owners have a cabin as well as the rooms in the Big House. Our children are on the site feeding calves. They are very kind and down to earth! http://northcoast-outfitters.com/vacations.htm
The Town website: http://www.victorianferndale.com/
We went several years ago before they had finished the Big House and stayed in the little cabin for Easter on a Spring Break trip to the Redwoods.

We had an amazing time at a “cabin” rental this summer in Custer, South Dakota. Awesome small town located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, only minutes from Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and lots of caving tours at Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. The house is on 17 acres and is beautiful. Very cozy inside with wood and gas stoves (and central heat is desired). We loved it there. http://www.vrbo.com/37584

1. Hendersonville is the town next to use where most of us shop and they have lots of history, waterfalls and still has a lot of farming. We have several home school families who rent cabins as their job, so they could help you find a place to stay. And our home school group would love for you to do something for us if that is what you are wanting. Most of our families cannot afford your classes or camp. We also have several soup kitchens and shelters you could help. our home school group www.homeschool-life.com/nc/hcha Town www.historichendersonville,org

2. Mars Hill is 1 hour away and they have a ski Lodge not very large but lots of fun. And have great cabins you can rent, will add web site here for you to look at. Like a lot of place in our area lots of people have lost their jobs in that area and so they would love for you to come and help any of their out reach places. And we could still get a home school group together. www.skiwolfridgenc.com

We live in Yorktown, VA. and I would have to say that Williamsburg is amazing in the winter/ Christmas (and all year around). Neighboring cities are Newport News, Hampton and Richmond – all of these cities have soup kitchens, homeless outreach opportunities and etc…. There is a homeless outreach in both of those cities that coordinate churches to host the homeless. Anyone can sign up to come and help. It gives you lots of real hands on time w/ the homeless as you prepare their food, serve, and fellowship. Please let me know if I can help in any way. I don’t mind going and spotting something out for you if you need my eyes and my camera! You have certainly been a huge blessing to us – and btw, you have an invitation to Christmas breakfast if you are in town =-)

Well, we live in just such a town, it so happens, and the bed and breakfast opportunities are truly memorable. Hey, George Washington really did sleep here! http://www.hdgtourism.com/

I don’t know if this is wintry enough, but have you looked at Boone, NC?