• About
  • Work with Us
  • Blog
  • Shine Retreats
    • Shine Retreats Upcoming Info
    • Shine Retreats FAQ
    • 5 Reasons Why You Need a Creative Writing Retreat
    • Event Tickets
  • Group Trips
  • Want to Be a Travel Blogger?
  • Contact Us
  • Event Tickets

Word Traveling

Inspiring Families to Go. Live. Learn. Give.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Florida
  • Destinations
    • North America
      • USA
        • National and State Parks
        • Arizona
        • California
        • The Carolinas
        • Florida
          • Disney
          • LEGOLAND
          • South Florida Events
          • Visit Our Hobe Sound Beach Cottage
        • Georgia
        • Hawai’i
        • Minnesota
        • New York
        • Ohio
        • Pennsylvania
        • Tennessee
        • Wyoming
    • World Travel
      • Asia
      • Africa
      • Caribbean
        • Bahamas
      • Central America
      • Europe
        • Greece
      • Middle East
      • South America
        • Paraguay
  • Life Between the Miles
    • Creative Life
      • Blogging
      • Writing
        • Poetry
      • Artistic Expression/Photgraphic Journeys
    • Faith
      • Prayer
      • Social Good
      • Giving Back
    • Food
    • Homeschooling
      • UnSchooling
      • Learning with Lego
      • Art
    • Inspiring Films
    • Parenting
    • Technology
    • Reviews & Giveaways
  • Travel Types
    • Adventure Travel
    • Christian Travel
    • Cruising
    • Educational Travel
      • Field Trips
    • Family Adventures
    • Luxury Travel
    • Missions
    • Road Trips
    • Special Needs Travel
    • Staycations
    • Vacation Rentals
  • Travel Hacks
    • Budget Travel Hacks
  • Travel Planning
    • Vote for Travel
  • Travel Resources
    • Destination: Inspiration – A Podcast for Adventurous Families
    • Jen Reyneri: The Coach for Your Journey
    • Travel Webinar

Taking the Kids to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates

Visiting the Edison & Ford Winter Estates with Kids

When daddy has to get away on business in our home state of Florida, I’m the first to arrange an adventurous family field trip to travel along. This week, we drove across Alligator Alley from the East Coast to the West Coast for a couple of business meetings and a tour that had been on my “life is learning” family bucket list for a while taking the kids to: The Edison and Ford Winter Estates.

“If parents pass enthusiasm along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value.” ~ Thomas Alva Edison

edison ford family visit edison Collage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The self-guided audio tour was a real hit with our Luke, almost six, who loved reading the sign posts around for Edison’s library, living room, office, and more.

Daddy, an avid gardener, was in awe of the extensive and beautiful grounds. Many of the trees were planted to experiment in making rubber here in the United States. The sheer enormity of the ancient trees makes this visit worth while. We mammoth banyan treenearly left the plant sale with a cinnamon tree.  Makani’s favorite was Ford’s garage with the old trucks on display, and the fabulous gift shop where science seemed to get hands on. We left with a fiber optic and LED pen, one for each of the boys, and a book of famous quotes from these two geniuses for mom & dad. I think the children enjoyed the Edison & Ford winter estates as much as we did.

“If everyone is moving forward together, than success takes care of itself.” ~Henry Ford

I loved peeking into the past in their living room, and learning that their dining room was converted to their library. Ours has been too. I’ll take it as a sign that I’m raising geniuses, even though they still act like young boys. I could just about see Mina Edison caring for her family and her husband while his mind relaxed and researched. I knew about the lightbulb, but seeing hundreds of his “misses” is a great learning lesson. And, inspiring… wow! Edison held 1,093 patents in his lifetime.

We happened to be there at Christmastime, and the unbelievable holiday decorations and cheer around the grounds and in every room seemed to set a spirit-filled mood in my heart: a great replacement for the lack of cool weather we’ve had this year in paradise. The Edison & Ford Winter Estate is an awesome place to visit with kids.

If you have the opportunity to visit the West Coast of Florida, especially the winter wonderland at Christmas, I highly recommend a stop. After peering into the workshop,  past, and lives of these  friends, I’m more inspired to let my boys learn by experiment.

“I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” ~Edison

Happy Travels!

Buen Viaje! ~Jen

Article by Jen Reyneri / Educational Travel, Field Trips, Florida, Reviews & Giveaways, Staycations, Travel, USA / Christmas lights, edison, Edison Ford winter estates, educational, Family, field trip, florida, Ft myers, gardens, henry ford, learning, quotes, thomas edison, Travel

Comments

  1. Susan W says

    December 11, 2013 at 3:53 pm

    We LOVE the Edison Ford Winter Estates! We haven’t been there around the holidays – I think we need to plan a trip to see the decorations.

    • Jen Reyneri says

      December 11, 2013 at 3:55 pm

      Susan- I was MOVED. It was so beautiful for Christmas! You will love it! It was my first trip there, but we will surely be back! And they were SO helpful! Customer service:)

Trackbacks

  1. Shocking Homeschool Statistics! - Word Traveling says:
    January 18, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    […] More and more in my daily activities, people are curious about our success in homeschooling. But don’t worry, as I often say, “Homeschooling is an oxymoron. We are hardly ever at home.” […]

  2. Welcome to Our Third Annual Travel Series - Vote for Travel - Word Traveling says:
    May 1, 2016 at 7:48 am

    […] of Ft. Myers/Sanibel for your family, including 4 nights lodging on the beach, tickets to the Edison/Ford Winter Estate  a day cruise for dolphin watching, and more! Come back every day for new content, stories, and […]

Reset: A Poetic Manifesto for the Digital Age

poem about social media reset

Grab Jen's best-seller on Amazon

Click HERE to Read the Vote for Travel Series

31 Day Travel Series

Road Trip Printable Packet

dayspring coupon code

Travel is… 31 Day Series

Travel is... 31 Day Series

Free USA Travel Map Game

Free USA Travel Map Game

pinterest

Follow Jen Reyneri, Word Traveling's board Top Posts from WordTraveling.com on Pinterest.

Can we pray for your journey?

Popular Posts

Top 30 Things to do in Destin South Walton 30A Florida with family
Seashells Poem
Reasons to Visit Museum of the Bible
50 Tips for Surviving a Homeschool Convention or Conference plus bonus travel journal
what is a pilgrimage?
Free maps USA States

Partnerships

 
  • Work with Us/ Partners
  • Disclosure/ Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Return to top

Copyright © 2018, Word Traveling · Established 2012