Spending the Day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

By Meg Brunson

Football has always played a role in my life, from childhood memories watching games with my entire family on Thanksgiving after dinner, to working on the 20-yard line at Ralph Wilson Stadium (now the Buffalo Bills' New Era Field) when I was in college. Now, I love that my children, husband, and I were able to make another amazing football memory: our first visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

Arriving at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we started by walking down a hallway lined with lifesized decals of football greats. The players represented were also depicted in chronological order, so as we walked down the hallway, it appeared that we were going back in time. The hallway ended at an exhibit that explained the birth of the NFL. The room was a large circular room, and you progress through the decades as you navigate through the room. We loved seeing how the uniforms and rules changed overtime, and also learning about the different commissioners and the world-events that were happening at the various times.

On the second floor, the kids (and us parents!) enjoyed a variety of interactive exhibits. We got to measure up our hands against different quarterbacks, and our legs against various linemen, try on football helmets that allow the players to talk with the coach, and test our referee skills with different replay situations! On this floor we also met a volunteer who had an assortment of gear that we were able to touch and try on - like old-fashioned footballs and modern football gloves.

When we entered the Bust Gallery, we expected to just look at the busts of past inductees... but instead, the museum had a lot more to offer! We were able to see a holographic representation of the ring that will be awarded to this year's inductees, and it looked SO real, we all tried to pick it up! There were computers that allowed you to search for your favorite players and/or find all the players from your favorite team. But, the activity that really WOW'ed us all was an iPad app that was in beta - the app allowed you to ask questions to the busts of Michael Strahan and John Madden, then see the busts respond in the actual voices of the inductees! An amazing use of technology and augmentive reality (AR)! We spent way more time in this area that I expected we would - definitely don't skip it, and make sure you find someone to show you the app!

A fun fact that none of us knew: the Lombardi Trophy (aka the Superbowl trophy) actually lives at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the months leading up to the Superbowl!  So we had an opportunity to see and take pictures with the trophy that will be awarded to the winners of Superbowl LIV in February 2020 (Go Bills!).

Before leaving we also had the opportunity to play Madden at the Xbox exhibit and even see some pop-culture exhibits - like the red dress Carrie Underwood wore in her Sunday Night intro song last year! 

Tips for an amazing visit:

• Food/Drinks - the cafe is currently closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (hours may vary in the summer) so if your kids like food as much as mine do, you may want to pack a lunch - there are vending machines on site!
• Double the fun at one discounted cost - Buy a combo ticket (known as a "Hall Pass") to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame & Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The museums are about 60 miles apart from eachother, and do not have to be visited in the same day! Grab the combo tickets HERE!

Football fans of all ages will enjoy visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio - check out their latest exhibits, current admission costs, and start planning your trip at https://www.profootballhof.com/.

Read about some of the other adventures we're having on our Year-Long Road Trip!

© 2019 Meg Brunson

Thanks to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for sponsoring this review. All opinions expressed are my own. See more on Instagram!

Meg is a mommy blogger, Facebook marketer, and much more. She is a mom to four kids who live full-time in an RV exploring the US! As a former Facebook employee, Meg remains a Facebook addict and handles KidsOutAndAbout.com's Social Media Marketing in addition to providing freelance services for other small businesses on how to best leverage Facebook as a part of their marketing strategy. Meg also hosts the FamilyPreneur Podcast, a podcast for parent entrepreneurs raising entrepreneurial children. Learn more about Meg at MegBrunson.com!