Woolsthorpe Manor

On our way up to Alnwick (pronounced Ann-ick) Castle, we stopped at Isaac Newton's house, Woolsthorpe Manor.  It was very neat to see THE apple tree from which he sat under and watched the apples fall, contemplating the world and in the end, explained gravity.  They had a short film about his life and all. Inside the house, we went into his bedroom and we saw his makeshift "office" with no windows so he could have complete darkness and study the properties of life. We saw his telescope and other scientific instruments.  The kids enjoyed the house because they had hid a mouse in every room.  In the kitchen, they had even placed a stuffed rat which they thought was great fun!  They also enjoyed the hands-on activities with magnets and geometry.  We bought Tink and Bucko some magnets in the gift shop which everyone has enjoyed playing with.  We tried to convince Goofy and Minnie that they would want some too, but they were decidedly against it, so Minnie got a baby chick toy and Goofy a pull back wooden mouse.  They were happy, but later admitted that they would have liked to have their own magnets, since they are always asking Tink and Bucko if they can play with theirs. C'est la vie!