Wednesday, July 2, 2008

See How Its Made!

Ever wondered how they pack all that flavor into a tiny jelly bean? What it takes to make the culinary wonder that is Wavy Gravy? How to make cheese? A baseball bat? A jumbo jet? Well then take a factory tour! There are factories located in every state that would love to show off what they do and how they do it.

One of the first trips I remember taking my kids on is to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, CA. My mom , aunt, and uncle in town visiting us and our new little ones so we were looking for something to get us out of the house for a
couple hours. I had always wanted to take the Jelly Belly tour because I had heard good things about it and I knew the tour was wheelchair accessible so we could push our little ones right along with us. The tour was a ton of fun and so was the post tour tasting of all those different weird and wonderful Jelly Belly flavors. I really think there is something for every age to enjoy on this tour and best of all its free. There is even a Jelly Belly Factory to tour in Wisconsin for all you Midwesterners out there.




Another tour I have taken and loved (especially being 6 months pregnant) was the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour in Waterbury, VT. Hey- its ice cream, what’s not to love? Learn how ice
cream is made, sample new flavors, and take a stroll through the ice cream graveyard to pay homage to your favorite flavors of the past.


Do you want to be in the world’s largest building? Then I suggest you get your butt over to the Boeing Factory in Everett, WA. Learn about what it takes to build and airplane and see planes in various stages of flight test. Children must be at least 4 feet tall to go on the tour. Just imagine how much joy your eight year old son who dreams of being a pilot would get from that experience!

The point is that there are factories all over the country just waiting to be explored. They give you an opportunity to break from the normal day to day activities and learn something in the process. Even little ones are bound to grow brain cells from the experience! So check out the link below and find a factory that tickles your fancy and then tell me about it! I look forward to hearing about your adventure!

http://www.factorytoursusa.com/

3 comments:

debi9kids said...

OMGosh! Look how little they were!
I remember WAY back when you went on that Jelly Belly tour! WOW! Time has flown by!!!!

Hey! Next on my list is the Crayola factory! We might do that one within the next week or so... either than or the organic farm in PA...I'll let you know!

L I S A said...

After seeing B&M today, it's weird to remember them so little. How cute! I always meant to go to the Jelly Belly factory. Hey, you forgot the Budweiser factory that's right next to it.

Tonya Staab said...

I LOVE a good factory tour.

Look how teeny tiny they were back then. Wow, amazing how time flies.

I have had it on my Kaboodle wishlist for the longest time to visit the jelly belly factory in Fairfield. One day I will get there ... one day!