We feel it is safe to say that everyone, at least once, has fallen in love with an adorable, soft, cuddly teddy bear. Maybe it was your first stuffed animal you received as a baby, or maybe you slept with one every night and gave it a name, or, perhaps, you came across a teddy bear and just stopped to think how cute it was. Regardless, the world has fallen in love with the classic teddy bear and to show our love, we’ve compiled a list of 10 places you must visit to honour the teddy bear.
Theodore Roosevelt Island, Washington D.C., United States
You may be wondering how an island has anything to do with a teddy bear, but we promise there is an important connection. Theodore Roosevelt (the man who this island is named after) is the man you can thank for your favourite stuffed animal. The 26th president of the United States of America was on a hunting trip when he came across a bear he refused to shoot. A cartoon was later published of that situation and a Brooklyn candy shop owner decided to create a stuffed toy bear to dedicate to the president as “Teddy’s Bear”. These toy bears become very popular and soon were mass produced. So if you feel like honouring the man behind the teddy bear, we’d suggest a visit to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Winnie-the-Pooh, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Quite possibly one of the most beloved bears of all was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Although most people believe this bear spent its time in the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnipeg the bear (Winnie for short) actually lived happily in Winnipeg and then London. Christopher Robin, the son of author A.A. Milne, loved visiting Winnie so much that it inspired A.A. Milne to write a series of books called Winnie the Pooh. To honour the bear’s heritage, Winnipeg, Manitoba has a beautiful statue of Winnie the bear for all to see.
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Shelburne, Vermont, United States
Ever wonder where best friends are made? Many are made at The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. This factory has been in operation for more than 20 years making the “best bears in the Universe”. Take a tour of this amazing factory and see how these bears are made, or spend some time looking around their teddy bear shop to find your perfect bear-mate. If you can’t seem to find “the one” head over the Clubhouse to build your very own best friend. Every Vermont Teddy Bear is 100 per cent guaranteed for life, so if anything were to happen to your bear the factory will nurse him or her back to health at the Bear Hospital for no charge.
Paddington, Paddington Station, London, England
Paddington Station is the next stop on our “bear”-ing journey. It is here that the beloved Paddington bear was discovered. With his battered suitcase and jars of marmalade, the world fell in love with this curious, kind-hearted bear. If you find yourself at Paddington Station, be sure to shop at Paddington Bear Gifts and take your picture next to the Paddington Bear Statue.
Ted, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
In 2012, the world was introduced to a not-so-innocent teddy bear named Ted. In this movie, we followed Ted and his best friend, John, around Boston while their antics provided us with laughter for days. Some iconic locations that were seen in this movie include (SPOILER ALERT): Fenway Park where Ted ran away from his crazy kidnapper, The Hatch Shell where Nora Jones played, The New England Aquarium where John asked Ted to move out, and Boston Common where Ted and John celebrated Ted’s new job. As improper as Ted could seem at times, he definitely managed to find a special place in our hearts.
Haribo Factory Store, Bonn, Germany
These adorable bears are as delicious as they are cute, and you can find them pretty much all over the world, but the true Haribo Bear lives in Bonn, Germany. This famous yellow bear with a big red bow tie can be found at the Haribo Factory Store where you can take your picture with him and even talk to him! Then after you are done filling up on some treats, take home your very own Haribo Bear memorabilia to cherish forever.
The Teddy Bear’s Train Ride, Rusk, Texas, United States
All aboard the Teddy Bear’s Train Ride! This three and a half hour journey takes you from Rusk to Maydelle (where the engine will turn around on a historic turntable) then back to Rusk. Enjoy pre-train activities such as a bubble station then, once on the train, enjoy snacks, music, teddy bear colouring books and much more. Plus, don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet the Beary Family! The most famous is Boomer, a 10-year-old bear who posts about his many travels and adventures on Facebook. And be sure to bring your own teddy bear along because children 12 and under who do will get to ride the train for free. The next Teddy Bear Train Ride will depart August 7, 2015.
Doll Hospital, Bexley, Australia
Since 1913, the Doll Hospital has been caring for dolls, teddy bears, rocking horses and many other beloved toys and operates under the belief that there is no job too big or too small. Over the course of 95 years, the Doll Hospital has repaired more than 2.5 million items and continues to do so today. Many consider the Doll Hospital a place where miracles happen every day. In addition to repairing teddy bears, the Doll Hospital sells them, too. From a baby’s first teddy bear to a unique collectible bear, it offers every kind of teddy bear you could imagine.
Teddy Bear Museum, Seogwipo, South Korea
Each bear at the Teddy Bear Museum is hand crafted by experienced designers. By making the bears this way, each teddy bear is given a personality, which is evident when walking through the museum. Each exhibit has its own story, and some even reproduce historical events. The Teddy Bear Museum is very serious when it comes to making historical structures, artistic master pieces and scenery of a certain country, making it all that more of an exciting experience when you visit. They even created parodies of famous landmarks and even have animatronics at work for a truly memorable experience.
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, Washington, United States
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle turns one of its biggest suites into a teddy bear wonderland each holiday season (Nov. 29 through Dec. 24). Stocked full of adorable bears, and decorated by local interior designer Kevin Bradford, the Teddy Bear Suite attracts kids and parents alike to take family photos and escape into a world of cuddly, soft fluffiness. The best part? Donations taken at the suite benefit uncompensated care at the local Children’s Hospital.
Featured image: Nomadic Lass used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
