The Weekender Extended

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Pen

nsyl

vani

aMercer Museum

brings the Civil Warto life in a new exhibit.

Doylestown, PA - The Mercer Museum, oneof Bucks County, PA’s premier tourist attrac-tions, commemorates the 150th anniversary ofthe Civil War with the exhibit, "TurningPoints: Civil War, 1863-1864." TurningPoints brings to life the local citizens and sol-diers of the era who experienced the war’smost pivotal years. Visitors will have theopportunity to view more than 300 artifacts,meet local citizens like one time fugitive slave,Benjamin "Big Ben" Jones, cast a vote in the1864 Lincoln-McClellan election and explorea camp tent to see how soldiers lived. Theexhibit is included with museum admissionand runs until August 25.

The Mercer Museum offers visitors a unique

window intopre-IndustrialAmerica asseen throughthe implements used in everyday life. TheMuseum’s collection includes more than40,000 objects exhibiting the tools of morethan 60 different crafts and trades, providingone of the world’s most comprehensive por-traits of material culture in America. TheMercer Museum is located at Green Street &Scout Way in Doylestown and is open for self-guided exploration seven days a week. Formore information, call 215-345-0210, or visit:www.mercermuseum.org.

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Mackinac Island - the Richard and JaneManoogian Mackinac Art Museum, tells the storyof this timeless and picturesque island. Located atMackinac Island’s former Indian Dormitory, andgenerously funded by the Richard and JaneManoogian Foundation, the museum showcases avariety of fine and decorative arts inspired by theIsland throughout the years. The dormitory is aFederal-style structure built by the U.S. govern-ment in 1838. It was the primary housing facilityfor Native Americans visiting the Indian agencyon the island. From 1867 until 1960, it was used asa public school and from 1966 until 2003 as amuseum of Native American culture.

View a historic pottery rim fragment excavatednear the museum, and marvel at the many his-toric oil paintings and sketches of MackinacIsland created during the fur trade era and NativeAmerican encampments. Admire hand-beadedNative American garments, 17th and 18th-centurymaps of the Great Lakes, as well as one-of-a-kindpieces from the height of Mackinac Island’sVictorian era.

Filled with interactive displays, hands-on activi-

ties, and beautiful exhibitions, this museumserves as an inspiration for creativity. The Kids’Art Studio, located in the lower level, offershands-on drawing, painting, stamping, windowart and much more.

Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac ArtMuseum - Courtesy of Mackinac Island TourismBureauNew this season, highlighting the diverseindividuals that make Mackinac Island a uniquedestination, the 2013 special exhibition: People ofMackinac features works of art combiningMackinac and people. The exhibit demonstratesthe human element in the past, present and futureof Mackinac Island. The independently juriedexhibition features more than two dozen pieces ina variety of media, and will be on display throughOctober 2013.

Museum admission is $5 for adults and $3.50for youth (5-17), combination and family packagesare available. Select Mackinac Island Lodgingfacilities offer complimentary admission to theRichard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac ArtMuseum during their stay, available throughoutthe entire 2013 season.For more information, visitthe Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.

Michigan

Mackinack Art Museum isnewest & one of most diverseart museums in the region.

Norwich, Vermont - It’s every-body’s dream—to be able to con-trol the clock. The MontshireMuseum of Science challengesvisitors to slow time down orspeed it up to explore the naturalworld as never before in the newexhibition Playing with Time,from May 25 to September 8,2013.

Playing With Time gives visitorsthe tools they need to see a previ-ously hidden world: events thatoccur too quickly or too slowlyfor humans to perceive—the flapof a hummingbird’s wings or the

expansion of the universe. Thisimaginative exhibition invitespeople to examine these invisibledynamics by using high-speedphotography, time-lapse videos,and animations to effectivelyincrease or decrease the speed ofthe world.

Interactive exhibits, naturalobjects, and stunning displaysallow visitors to experience natu-ral phenomena occurring overvast timescales—from billionthsof seconds to billions of years.Playing with Time also reveals thetools that help scientists makemodels, and the evidence they

gather in order to better under-stand how our world works. Byprofiling scientists, Playing withTime shows that much scientificinquiry involves examining howthings change. After “playing”with this elegant exhibition, visi-tors will begin to see the changeshappening and gain a new appre-ciation for the ever-changingworld.

The Playing with Time exhibi-tion is divided into two major sec-tions—Time Tools Lab and theInvestigation Areas.

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tPlaces to Go:Places to Go:

Montshire Museum of ScienceMontshire Museum of Science

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Things to Do:By Rebecca EmbryThings to Do Editor

OO ur family never tires ofheading to Branson forvacation or an extended

weekend. Every time, we experi-ence something new, somethingdifferent. This year was no excep-tion.

There are always those favoritespots we can’t help returning toagain and again. One such placeis the Branson Track Family FunParks. First of all, there are fourdifferent locations, which myhubby and kids have to try all.

“There’s a different feel to thego-karts and each track has a different layout,”they insist.

Others have described the parks as genuine“family fun four-stories high.” I agree

Ride three different high-rise go-kart tracks; oneis

made of metal andthe other two arewooden tracks. Thenthere is the high-speed sprint track,allowing only adultswith a driver’slicense to drive.Have fun with lasertag, bumper boatsbumper cars, kids'rides, the 100-foot-tallskycoaster, the G-Forcedrag race simulator, minigolf, arcades, food, sweettreats and more.

There is no admissioncharge to any of theparks; only pay for theattractions you partici-

pate in. That means parents can watch their kidsfor free. Of course, parents will be wanting to ride,to. At the track everybody gets into the act.

For more information, visit www.branson-tracks.com. Continued on page 28

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The newest and most unusual attractionthe family encountered this summer inBranson was the Castle of Chaos. The own-

ers introduce it as “the world’s first 5DHaunted attraction.”

While I’ve seen and reviewed numerous 3Dmovies and 4D attractions with water spittingin my face, vibrations surprising me from myseat and puffs of air blowing my hair, I foundthe Castle of Chaos to add interaction from theaudience. It merges State-of-the-Art 3D with heart-pounding motion, special effects, animatronics,and gaming for the first ever 5D interactive experi-ence in the World

Castle of Chaos offers a whole new kind ofentertainment for haunted house followers, videogame buffs and tourists who are ready for a thrill.The fright ride and battle game technology awaits

visitors as they enter an enormous castle to discov-er the fate of 1920s horror film star Carli Winepegand her crew, who mysteriously disappeared whileshooting the planned epic film Castle of Chaos.Once securely buckled into armchairs with 3Dglasses on and armed with pistols, guests are spuninto Carli's tortured world and forced to protectthemselves from its terrifying inhabitants.

I must admit I wasn’t exactly ready for bats tocome out of the screen and fly over my head. Thatwas a little much. But my kids loved it.

This 21st century haunted house combines thelatest in 3D projection with surround sound, spe-cial effects, motion-based seats, and a shooting sys-tem that scores each member of the audience. The24 seats are affixed to a five-ton rotating platformthat has ten engines and achieves a top speed of 15rpm. There are sequences that include total dark-ness, wind, water, smoke, and foul scents, amongother effects. Each player racks up points, and thetop five scorers are shown at the end of the ride.

Note to mothers: Wait until “after” the ride to getyour nails done in case you have them all chewedoff during this adventure. Another note: The com-petitive element is especially compelling to videogame players who like improving their scores.”

A single admission is $14.95, adults, and $7.95for children (4-11). Pick Your Fun Passes are avail-able for Castle of Chaos, Hannah's Maze of Mirrorsand the Hollywood Wax Museum for $26.95 peradult and $14.95 per child. Visit www.hollywood-waxmuseum.com/branson/tickets.htm orwww.5DAdventure.com. 417 337-8700.

Miss

orui Things to Do:

Experience 5D

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Things to Do:

Virginia

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Tenn

essee

PresortedStandard

U.S.Postage

PaidPlymouth, Oh.Permit No. 71

Weekender Extended 18 Plymouth StreetPlymouth OH 44865

Place to go: