Insider

Docking Station

The first Pod Hotel is opening this spring in New York City’s Midtown East, offering young travelers the kind of social opportunities more commonly found in the backpacker scene in Europe. The hotel has 347 guest rooms that feature modern must-haves including free Wifi and LCD televisions. The outdoor garden and rooftop deck provide space for guests to gather, with a futuristic youth hostel vibe. New friends may come in handy for directions around The Big Apple, and, if not, just consult the online concierge.www.thepodhotel.com

Time Machine

The Ancient Americas Exhibition, Chicago

Public Opening March 9

The Field Museum is taking a look back in time and exploring 13,000 years of cultural evolution in the Western Hemisphere.

This new, permanent exhibit is based on groundbreaking research that is expected to shatter long-held preconceptions. Travel through the Ice Age and touch replicas of mammoth teeth, and explore the connections between the foods we enjoy today and the diet of the hunter-gatherers. Each gallery offers activities for the kids, as well as displays that can keep the adults happy, too. www.fieldmuseum.org

3-2-1 Blast Off!

Workshops

The museum at the John C. Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi has a calendar packed with workshops for kids of all ages. In March, they can learn how to be rocket scientists, discover the ways that NASA has begun to use the iPod and find their place in the solar system. Stennis is America’s largest rocket engine test complex. Here, every main engine is proved flight-worthy before being shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for installation. www.nasa.gov

The History of Atlanta

Explore the City’s Living Landmarks
March 10-31

This year, the Atlanta Preservation Center presents the fifth annual Phoenix Flies event. This Citywide Celebration of Living Landmarks has been expanded from 10 days to three weeks, providing more time for a better showcase of Atlanta’s history. Activities include guided bike rides through the city, concerts and panel discussions at the Atlanta History Center— all free of charge. www.phoenixflies.org