Sitting inside Legendarium with our daughter perched attentively on our laps, we were ready and excited to be entertained. And entertained we were. From the beginning to the end, we had mesmerized eyes and slightly open jaws. Here are some of my personal highlights:

1. The trapeze artist. When he landed a jump, my toddler shouted, “Wow!” and clapped her hands in appreciation.

2. The horse dance. It was very impressive; they could have been brought down to Faneuil Hall and given the night-clubbers a run for their money. The mini horses were also a huge hit among the younger crowd.

3. My personal favorite, the contortionist. Or, as my toddler called it: “Yoga!” I think the woman’s toes may have even been double jointed. Fascinating.

4. The tightrope act. This was truly unbelievable. The man rides a bike with his chin on a tightrope. Yes, you read that right: The man rides a bike with his chin.  On a tightrope.

5. The clowns. This duo was a lot of fun and kept kids engaged during set changes. I read in the program that they met at a circus in Afghanistan, were engaged while street performing in Scotland, and married in China where the bride wore a dress of little white balloons. She graduated from Princeton (study hard, kids!).

I highly recommend going to the Big Apple Circus while they are still in town. Take advantage of this unique experience right in the heart of Boston. If your child is anything like mine, you’ll be reliving the magic for weeks.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• There are no healthy food options. (It’s the circus, after all.) If you don’t want your toddler to eat junk, bring your own food.
• There is a designated baby changing station hidden behind the picture taking area. There are no changing stations in the port-o-potty style restrooms.
• Don’t make the mistake my husband did and tell your child there will be an elephant. There is no elephant. It’s Government Center, not The World’s Fair.
• Buy and read the program. I learned a lot of interesting facts, and my daughter loves to look at the pictures and talk about her first circus. It’s a great memento.
• By all means, grab your child a souvenir at intermission...but please don’t choose one of those flashing sticks. No one came to the circus to sit behind a blinking light for two hours.

  Big Apple Circus, One City Hall Plaza, Boston. March 26 - May 12, 2013. Tickets $20-$40.