A Color-FULL Experience

Travel

Audio By Carbonatix

Growing up in the tristate means growing up with lots of “foreigners” from other states telling you what a great day they had visiting things that sat on your front porch your whole life, like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Liberty Bell, Empire State Building, Declaration of Independence, Mystic Aquarium and the Crayola Factory.

So, on a rainy day in New Jersey, my husband and I grabbed number seven and number nine child who had no school (I hate bored kids), and drove less than an hour from our home in Morris County, to one of my fave little hole in the walls, Easton, PA.

The last time I was in Easton was in the fall for a crispy off the charts experience, Baconfest.  But today, the only food involved was Dunkin Donuts and a trip to our most favorite chain restaurant, Cracker Barrel on the way home.   This morning it was all about an American pastime…coloring at the Crayola Experience.

Nestled into an in Cognito brick façade, is a state of the art, four story Imaginarium. Every floor dedicated to an interactive, hands-on experience that me, the art class dunce, imbibed in with glee.

I learned that you could melt crayons and make them into objects like rings and race cars, and 3D spirograph reminiscent artwork. Each floor is manned, or “personed” by a Crayola artist to guide you through the interactive fun.  They must spend a lot of time coloring and calming, because truly, it was like Willy Wonka wraps a crayon.

Each exhibit was a take home and the entry fee provided a goodie bag with two tokens for crafts gratis. You could also purchase more tokens as you went along for clay, or other supplies if you really took a liking to your new, unbridled talent.

My favorite, of course, was naming my own crayon, which I did, (it’s a secret), then printing out the wrapper and squashing the crayon through the dressing process.  You can’t create a new color, but you can rename it and then label your new coloring tool as you wish.   I would like to be a fly in the wax with some of the chosen monikers.

Both my girls, 14 and 9 each found joy in different exhibits and proudly displayed their artwork when we got home.

And no kid day trip is complete without a trip to the garden of Eden…the gift shop. My kids have taken on my shopping prowess and one of my girls, specifically, I tell her, I could take you to a store centered on exterminator’s supplies, and you would still walk out with something.  

But, this was one of the BEST gift shops this mom was ever in…ever. First run Crayola products, markers, crayons, paints, supplies, toys and clothes…things have never ever seen before, colors I never heard of and get this….prices I have never seen!   The most reasonable of any gift shop coast to coast. I would go online or pop in after Baconfest this year and do some holiday shopping.

Hours in Easton are from 10a-6p M-Th and F/S 10a-8p and Sunday until 6p. Other locations include Plano, TX,  Mall of America, Bloomington, MN,  and of course, just stuff another attraction in there, Orlando, FL.

Generally for any visit anywhere, always check on line by doing a search for promo codes.

General admission for peeps 3-up is 30.99.  Special discounts for seniors and children 2 and under are free.

We had such a crafty morning and I want to thank Crayola for so much fun even for this non colorer.

Depending on the age of your interlopers, plan on spending about 3-4 hours to do a thorough paint of the place.  There is a quick eats if you need to grab and go located on the first level, but my advice bring snacks.