tend once or many times, de-
pending on the scope of your
project). Call (248) 673-0880
for details.
* Berry and vegetable pick-
ing farms are a fun and carefree
way to spend the morning.
Middleton Berry Farms in Ori-
on offers garden peas, Chinese
peas and broccoli for picking.
For an additional $2, children
can explore the giant straw
maze and petting arena where
they can feed the animals. If
you bring a lunch, you can eat
outside in the picnic area. Call
(248) 693-6018 for directions,
hours or picking information.
Because spring was late this
year, strawberry picking has
been delayed, and you may be
able to pick them until mid-July
at some orchards. Look in the
yellow pages under "Orchards"
and call for specific information.
* If your little ones can han-
dle realistic-looking robotic crea-
tures from the past, visit
Dinosauria II at the Detroit Zoo
(Note: the exhibit is closed
when it rains). Twenty-seven di-
nosaurs are on display through-
out the summer. The cost is $3,
in addition to zoo admission
(children ages 2-12, $4.50;
adults 13-61, $7.50; students
and adults 62+, $5.50). While
you are there, visit the Wildlife
Interpretive Gallery (WIG) to
view the coral-reef aquarium
and tropical butterfly and hum-
mingbird garden. WIG also of-
fers a CD ROM interactive
exhibit and a series of short
films.
You can take a play break at
the Playscape and let your chil-
dren have some fun on the new
playground structure.
Have you ever seen a Komo-
do Dragon? It is the largest

lizard in the world and one is at
the zoo, on loan from the
Audubon Park in New Orleans
until the fall. Her name is
George, she is 6-ft. long and
weighs 50 lbs. The zoo has
three other visitors this sum-
mer: Sunshine, Toni and Cora. -
These gorillas are at the Detroit
Zoo while their home at the
Columbus Zoo undergoes re-
modeling. Parking is $3. Call
the zoo hotline at (248) 398-
0903 for more details.
* Summer In The City is the
theme for daily workshops, to
be held from July 1 through
Aug. 8, at The Detroit Chil-
dren's Museum. The various
topics include
"Make A Shadow
Puppet," "Crafts
From Many Cul-
tures," "Storytelling
& Sign Language"
and "Dance to the
World Beat." Ses-
sions cost $2 (some
are $3) and begin at
2 p.m., daily. (Call
ahead to secure your
child's spot in the
workshop, but,
space permitting, he
or she can partici-
pate without prereg-
istering).
You also could vis-
it the planetarium
while you are there.
Call (313) 873-8100
for information and
pre-registration.
* If you've never
been to the-Doll
Hospital and Toy
Soldier Shop in Berkley, make
sure to visit this summer. The
entire store is dedicated to more
than 30 categories of specialty
toys. They have play centers

Belle Isle Aquarium. The oldest
where children can test toys,
aquarium in the country, it
and a few play structures to
boasts colorful coral reef fish
climb on. They have dolls,
from around the world, includ-
trains, science toys and many
ing alligator garr and bamboo
collectibles. Of course, if you
sharks. Feeding times for the
have a doll that is "sick," bring
electric eels are 10:30 a.m.,
it along, as they handle repairs
12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Ad-
and restorations on the premis-
mission
is $1 for children ages
es. Call (248) 543-3115 for
. one 13
2-12, and $2 for every
store hours.
and older. Children under 2 are
* If it's hot and humid and
your children love to swim, visit free. You could make a day of it
and visit the Belle Isle Conser-
the Red Oaks Water Park in
vatory
(admission is free with
Madison Heights. It is open 11 -
a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. The cost is paid aquarium admission) and
$6.75 for Oakland County resi- the Belle Isle Zoo. If you've nev-
er visited the zoo, you're miss-
dents, $9 for non-residents and
$2 for children 30-43" tall. The ing the intrigue of viewing
exotic mammals and birds from
hotline number is (810) 585-
the elevated walk-
way, not to men-
tion the Wonderful
World of Tarantu-
las exhibit. Zoo ad-
mission is $1 for
children ages 2-12
and $3_for those
13 and older. Call
(313) 852-4141
for directions,
hours and picnic
information. Park-
ing is free.
* How big
would a preying
mantis be if it
were 96 times its
true size? You can
find out if you visit
the Detroit Sci-
ence Center. You
and your children
can take your time
exploring the
Backyard Monster
exhibit and look,
ing
at
many
huge
and fascinat-
6990.
ing (Giant Animatronics)
* Have you ever seen an
insects. Test your knowledge as
electric eel eat?
you learn insect facts. For the
That's not a riddle but an ac-
tual event worth catching at the admission price (adults, $6.75;

children 3-17 and seniors 60+,
$4.75; children under 3 are
free), you can see the new film,
Super Speedway at the IMAX
theater. As you browse the ex-
hibit hall, you may catch one of
the many live science demon-
strations. Call (313) 577-8400
for details. Parking is $3.
* Have you surfed the net
yet? If not, you can visit the Cy-
berSpace Safari at either Ma-
comb Mall in Roseville or
Wonderland Mall in Livonia.
Sponsored by The Detroit Sci-
ence Center, the event helps
you learn how to connect to the
Internet "jungle," search the
World Wide Web and have ac-
cess to a knowledgeable staff for
help and guidance. The staff
will help you find fun and inter-
esting science-related sites on
the Internet, or you can surf the
net on your own. The first half
hour is free and then the cost is
as follows: adults $6.50/hr.,
children and seniors, $5.50/hr.
Call Macomb Mall (810) 415-
4902, or Wonderland Mall
(313) 422-3822, for location
within the mall.
* The Motown Museum has
pictures, artifacts, clothing and
a recording studio for viewing if
you want to share some Detroit
Motown history with your chil-
dren. Call (313) 875-2264 for
information.

You Have to Call Ahead...
* Have your children ever
seen the inside of a jail or the
criminal processing room at a
police station? If you visit, you
can tour the police station, the
cars and other specialty equip-
ment law officers use at differ-
ent departments.
Residents of Berkley, for in-
stance, can visit the dispatch