MaltaMama - Family Fun Things to Do | Malta, NY, Saratoga County

If you haven't already been to Virgil's House in Saratoga, todays rain may be just the excuse!  Robby and I went after a trip to the Saratoga Children's Museum and it was a great place to unwind and have a snack.  It's located on 86 Henry Street, across from Parting Glass.  Easily walkable from the Children's Museum or the Saratoga Library.  I like VH because there are no cell phones or laptops allowed.  It is extremely kid-friendly with a back room that has board books, puzzles, cars, and other miscellaneous toys for kids to play with.  My usually hard to keep in one place child was well entertained while I enjoyed a delicious cup of chai tea.  We split a yogurt & granola parfait which was also quite good.  The vibe is beatnik and homey with an eclectic mix of furniture and seating arrangements.  Saratoga natives, remember Madeline's coffee shop on Broadway back in the day?  Virgil's House reminds me of that.  I love places that make it easy (and even fun) to bring children.  I will definitely go back to relax.  We went mid-week and practically had the place to ourselves though it's probably much busier on weekends/evenings.  

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I've been very curious about Tumbling Tykes for a long time and finally decided to go.  It's located in Latham on Route 7, about two miles down from where Babies R Us is.  The address is 1050 Troy-Schenectady Road and it's pretty easy to find.  From Malta it took me about 25 minutes.  Admission into the play area is $7 per child, over the age of one.  They offer memberships too, which turn out to be a good deal if you're planning on going frequently.  Annual memberships are $175/one child, $225 for a family.  A mid-level commitment would be to purchase a 10 visit pass for $60.  I opted for the day pass. 

If you've been to Tiny Tots Tearoom, Tykes is pretty similar in terms of the 'playground' gear.  Tykes is basically a large room with tons of climb on toys, ride on toys, play houses, tunnels, ball pit, trampolines, etc.  Adults and kids have to take their shoes off before entering the playground and also use hand sanitizer, which I think is a positive.  Definitely remember to wear socks or they will ask you to purchase a pair.  There were a few areas for parents to sit and watch the kids play, but you really have to stay in the playground area with your child the whole time, unlike the TT Tearoom where you can watch from afar.  Robby had a great time at Tykes, and really that's what matters the most to me.  I thought it was very nice, but not a place I would add to our regular activity roster, mainly because of the distance, partly because there's a lot of other great places!   They offer some snacks to purchase, but it's much easier to bring your own food and eat there, which they definitely allow for.  Would I go back?  Yes, but I don't have anything on the calendar yet.  It will be great when the weather gets cold.  Hours are Mon 9:30-3:00, T 9:30-5:00, W 9:30-3:00, Th 9:30-3:00, Fr 9:00-3:00, Sat 9:00-12:00, Sun 9:30-12:00.

Yesterday Robby and I ventured into Ballston Spa to check out the Village Sweet Shoppe.  My trip was all business; research for MaltaMama of course!  While I was there though, the smell of fresh chocolate, beautiful displays of candies, and loads of my fave crave gummy candy begged me to sample!  How could I possibly provide my readers with an accurate review of the VSS without (over)indulging?  Let’s just say I took one for the team and tried a few things, all of which were delicious! 

Village Sweet Shoppe has a huge assortment of chocolates, bulk candy, gummy’s, sugar-free stuff and lots of Easter treats.  They will do custom orders and favors for showers, weddings, etc. I purchased several nicely packaged Easter goodies which will hopefully not get eaten before Sunday!  They have two small tables in the front windows, perfect for people-watching while you pig out on candy. 

Their regular hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm.  Find them at 24 Low Street, downtown Ballston Spa.  Down the street from the library and across the street from Wiswall Park.  Call 518-885-4165 for more info.  Great stop if you're in town.  Also check out Whistling Kettle Tea Lounge while you're there! 

This past Monday I visited the Whistling Kettle tea lounge in Ballston Spa with my mom and Robby.  It was a holiday so the place was packed, but we were fortunate to get seated right away.  We were given a children's menu and a glass (yes, glass) container of crayons.  If you haven't been here before, it is a really cozy place with a huge selection of teas and 'tea snacks' such as scones, sandwiches, soups, crepes, quiche's, etc.  
The first pot of tea I asked for, a Roibus tea called Simba was out of stock, so I settled on a peach Roibus tea which was excellent.  A 'pot' of tea was $3.50 and is enough for two people to have about a cup and a half.  The children's menu left a lot to be desired, with no real 'finger foods' just sandwiches.  I'm sure that would have worked for an older child, but for my toddler it was a no go.  Not a big deal, we just ordered a scone and I had a cup of the soup special apple butternut squash.  The food was tasty and fresh, and as I mentioned, the tea was excellent.  Overall the stop was a good one and I would definitely go back.  I will probably do lunch at home and go for an afternoon tea and snack with children, or a nice quiet evening minus kids.  

Details: The Whistling Kettle Tea Lounge, 24 Front Street Ballston Spa
Hours: Saturday-Thursday 11am-6pm, Friday 11am-8pm
Phone: 518-884-2664