Oh my gosh! How is it already Chanukah? How is it just about 2 weeks till Christmas? Where has the time gone? One minute we’re sending our kids back to school the next we’re thinking...maybe stressing... over what to get them for Christmas or the holidays. Well don’t stress! What our kids treasure most is time with us, time with loved ones, and experiences with us. Year after year, our Gift Them Experiences gift guide continues to be my favorite gift guide to put together. This year, we’ve added a bit more to it with stories about some of our favorite experiences over the past year in addition to why we feel passionate about experiences. There’s also ads from our favorite advertisers who make it possible for us to share our experiences with you all year long. Whether it’s tickets to a show, season passes to a favorite theme park, memberships to a museum your family loves, or a quick getaway trip these giftable experiences are sure to be remembered long after the excitement of a new toy fades. Plus, we promise there’s no waiting in lines, assembly required or difficult gift wrapping involved.
Wishing all the love and joy of this holiday season, Jennifer Auer, Editor
TABLE OF CONTENTS Why? Gift Experiences .............................................................................................................................5 Experiences JFF Kids are Wishing for this Christmas..........................................................................6 Be the Boss of Your Cake Skills at Carlo’s Bakery Classes! ................................................................10 Knights, Kings, Jousting & More at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament....................................7 Gift a Day with Dinosaurs.........................................................................................................................9 Sahara Sam’s, Providing Inside & Outside Water Fun for Families...................................................11 Arden Theatre’s Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates ..............................................................................12 12 Reasons Memberships Make Great Gifts.............16 Get Face to Face with Live Reptiles at the The Jersey Family Fun Team Academy!.......................................................................19 Explore the World of Dora & Diego at the Liberty Editor Jennifer Auer Science Center...............................................................20 Get a Kick Out of Family Fun with the New York Red Writers & Team Members Bulls ..............................................................................22 Crystal Rodgers Melanie Cortese Giftable Travel Experiences....................................... 25 Joanna Gnudi Cortina • Our Visit to Kalahari Indoor Waterpark ...........26 Michelle Douglas • Clip & Climbing Our Way to Fun...................... 28 Martina Ferguson • 34 Ways to Enjoy Your Turkey Hill Experience.30 Jillian Fletcher Wrapping an Experience........................................... 34 Jennifer Gaffney Lauran Randazzo Jones Traci Weston-Murn Nancy Moore Palutis
Experiences JFF Kids are Wishing for this Christmas THE AUER FAMILY WISHES
• The Auer boys would love movie tickets to see the newest movies as they come out. They love museum memberships with the oldest Auer especially wanting a family membership to the Penn Museum so he could develop in his knowledge about Egyptian culture.
THE CORTESE FAMILY WISHES
• Our family would love a membership to the Turtle Back Zoo! It’s nearby and small enough to not feel overwhelming but has enough activities to keep us coming back all year round. • We are huge Cake Boss fans, and we are lucky to live in New Jersey and be close to Carlo’s Bakery. My daughter would enjoy (another) cake decorating class to sharpen her fondant skills! • We live so close to New York City but yet haven’t experienced some of the top tourist sites! Our family would get such great use out of a CityPASS to spend a couple weekends exploring!
THE FLETCHER FAMILY WISHES
• My kids would love the gift of a membership to the Liberty Science Center. They had such a blast this summer and have been begging me to go back. They would love to be able to go on a regular basis and experience all the special events they have. • My kids would love the gift of a membership to the Please Touch Museum. They went over the summer and had so much fun playing in all the different areas. It’s a great day trip. • My kids would love to receive a gift certificate for Pump It Up. It’s hard to be cooped up inside all winter and they would love the opportunity to go to a place like Pump It Up and get out all their energy.
THE JONES FAMILY WISHES
• My family would love a winter membership to a local YMCA or aquatic club. My daughter is a little fish and really misses swimming during the colder months. My husband and I like that swimming is an activity that keeps us healthy and active and we can do it as a family. • My family and I would like to be gifted a semester at a local “School of Rock” or other music school. My daughter is extremely interested in musical instruments and singing and would like to learn more about playing instruments as well as learning how to count a rhythm, the musical alphabet and also note recognition.
THE RODGERS FAMILY WISHES
• My family would love tickets to see a Broadway play! They are all fascinated by theater and in visiting NYC. • My oldest son has become very interested in wrestling and would love tickets to see a live wrestling event at the Prudential Center or Wells Fargo Center! • My youngest has become very interested in baking. He would live to be gifted cake decorating classes at Carlos Bakery in Marlton.
THE PALUTIS FAMILY WISHES
• I would love to gift my children Family Passes to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk. They love spending the day at the beach, visiting the aquarium, and enjoying all of the rides and games! • My kids would go crazy for the gift of passes to Camelback Lodge to go to Aquatopia. They are crazy about indoor water parks and water rides!
THE WESTON-MURN FAMILY WISHES
• My family would love a membership to Adventure Aquarium. My kids love marine life and the aquarium has a nice mix of entertaining and educational.
What experiences is your family wishing for?
Be the Boss of Your Cake Skills at Carlo’s Bakery Classes! This article from Melanie Cortese is available on Jersey Family Fun. We want to be Cake Bosses! Last summer, when we were tired from the beach, the pool, the heat ... my kids and I binge watched Cake Boss on TLC. This entertaining show, based in New Jersey, featuring a family based business appealed to me as a mom, and my daughter who has an artistic mind. Throughout the year we caught up on the show, visited our local Carlo’s quite a few times, and eagerly awaited my daughter’s tenth birthday so she could attend a Carlo’s Bakery class. The birthday came and it didn’t take long for us to sign up for a Carlo’s Bakery class! Classes are held in four of the New Jersey Carlo’s locations - Ridgewood, Red Bank, Morristown and Jersey City (Carlo’s has 6 New Jersey bakery locations). We chose Jersey City, as it’s closest to us but also is where all the bakery operations take place, so we’d get the benefit of seeing where the action is! Pre-registration is required, and there were at least 4 options for beginner classes at the time we registered. Our choice was the beach themed cake as a way to end out our fun Summer 2015. Classes are for ages 10 and up with a guardian only. Early on a Sunday morning we arrived at an unassuming, large factory location blocks from the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City. Starting right at our 9 AM start time, we were greeted and led on a quick tour of the facility where we saw the huge ovens, the consultation room and the refrigeration room. The ovens crank out all the pastries for all the nearby Carlo’s locations so you can imagine how large they are! The finished cakes in the refrigeration room are just as impressive as they are on the show - no pictures allowed but take my word for it that the large cruise boat cake was simply amazing. Our group of at least 20 cake decorators entered the decorating room, where there were two long wooden tables waiting for us, with an apron for each participant. Each station had a turntable, “pizza” cutter to cut the fondant, three colors of fondant and other decorations and tools. We took a seat by the instructor, Sarah, because we didn’t want to miss anything she went over! She showed us step by step instruction on kneading the fondant and laying it on the cake, and how to use fondant to make decorations. The whole cake is open to your creativity and ability. Using fondant is like using Play-Doh, so there’s no previous experience needed. Sarah made it look super easy so our confidence was high as we began our decorating! Cakes are prebaked and prepped with butter cream, so once we had our cakes we were ready to work. Full disclosure, I am not a creative person. My head actually hurts when it’s time to paint or sculpt or build. My daughter is the complete opposite and is creative and talented. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her think of a plan, make her creations out of fondant and see her vision through. She kept up with the adults in kneading the fondant and using the sheeter, and needed no help from me Continued on the next page.
(in fact she paid closer attention and used the sheeter for my trim). My fondant laid sloppily on my cake, while as you can see, hers went down easily. After tucking the fondant in and cutting the excess, (I managed to hide my mistakes) it’s time to make decorations out of fondant and then stretch out the white fondant trim to go on the bottom edge. Sarah showed us shells and other things found on the beach, but I saw decorators making shark fins, inner tubes and more. My only thought was a beach towel, so I made a JFF (Jersey Family Fun, of course), towel, and JFF letters for my trim. The piping gel and the sand finish out the decorating and before you know it, two hours have passed and your cake is boxed and ready to go home. And to be EATEN! Our cakes were a vanilla layer, a chocolate layer and fudge in between. It was truly delicious and one cake served 12 people! Classes are $125/person - pricey for sure but consider the class a present, one that comes home with a Carlo’s Bakery cake (and you keep your apron too!). It was an experience like no other, and one we won’t forget!
Visit the Carlo’s Bakery website for more information about class locations and times. For more photos of our visit to Carlo’s Bakery Classes, check out our Facebook album.
Knights, Kings, Jousting & More at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament This article from Melanie Cortese is available on Jersey Family Fun. Prepare to be entertained by a dinner show beyond compare! Just off route 17 in Lyndhurst you’ll find one of only 8 “castles” in the United States where you can experience the impressive Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament. Enter a world of knights, kings, horses and jousting, and experience a night unlike anything else in New Jersey! While the adults in our family had experienced Medieval Times, our children never had. They had no idea what to expect - eating without utensils? Knights on horses and sword fighting? Continued on the next page.
All of it sounded exciting and a great way to spend a summer night, special occasion or not. What can you expect at Medieval Times? Reservations must be made in advance, for either of two daily shows on weekends or weekday evenings. Shows are 90 minutes long. Parking is free and plentiful, and the location is well signed so you won’t have trouble making your way there. You’ll be greeted by the royal staff, who direct you into the castle. Depending on your tickets, you’ll either be greeted by the King, or will have some family photos taken. The waiting area opens 90 minutes before showtime. While you wait to be seated, you’ll find plenty of souvenirs and medieval decor. Lord Chancellor makes a few appearances; to knight the birthday celebrants (plans must be made in advance) and to usher you into your seats. The bar is open for alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. If you have antsy children I wouldn’t recommend arriving too early, as your seats are reserved and seating in the waiting area is limited. Armed with your tickets and your paper crown which both indicate where you’ll sit and who you will cheer for, it’s time to take your seats! You’ll have your extras at your seat, if your package included them (for Knight’s Royalty we received a program and banner). Your server (also known as a table wench!) will direct you to your napkin which shows a menu for your visit. We have a peanut allergy in our family, and we were given the chance to let them know, and they offered accommodations which helped ease our minds. Vegetarian meals are also available. The meal consisted of soup, bread, chicken, potato, corn, and a pastry and it’s true - no utensils! Drink options were soda, apple juice or water. Coffee is offered with dessert. When you enter the arena it will be dark, and throughout the performance the lights will be lowered. There will also be strobe lights and some smoke, but we found most of the time there was ample lighting inside. Lord Chancellor, who greeted the guests in the entry area comes onto the field on one of the elegant horses used during the show. He introduces King Don Carlos and Princess Catalina, who will observe the tournament from above. Each section is of course encouraged to cheer on their knight of which there are 6. Lord Chancellor explains where they are from and what their strengths are, and prepares the crowd for the tournament of skill! But before the battles begin, the Royal Falconer emerges with his falcon, who flies above the crowd and around the arena. The Master of Horse also comes out, riding his Andalusian and directing all four of them into stunts and shows of horsemanship that will thrill! The tournament begins and you’ll watch feats of skill, bravery, and some fancy footwork by the regal horses. Be ready to cheer as your knights use lances, swords, shields and athleticism to battle each other. As your knight is victorious, be ready to catch a flower thrown into the crowd (we did!). Continued on the next page.
Of course while the action happens, the food is being served so don’t forget to eat. We were impressed with the chicken, and my picky eaters even tried all they were served. Will your knight be the victor? Maybe, but even if not, the show is exciting and you’ll get wrapped up in cheering for them all. When the Herald to the North arrives, the whole crowd joins as one to cheer our Medieval Times knight against the dastardly invader. Just take a look at our Medieval Times Video highlights. After the show, don’t rush out! The knights come out to greet their fans and it makes for a great photo opp. And if you’re ready to treat the kids to a sword or something else, the souvenir stands are still open! Get ready also for some pretend play for the next few days with jousts and horse riding and other medieval battles. We had such a great time at Medieval Times and can’t wait for an occasion to return! Want to Visit Medieval Times? Medieval Times Ticket Packages begin at $37/children but special offers are always available! Check their website for the options and showtimes. For more Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament photos, check out our Facebook album.
Gift a Day with Dinosaurs Written by Jillian Fletcher
They may have gone extinct over 65 million years ago, but children are still fascinated with them. I know my house is full of dinosaur books, puzzles, toys, and movies. If your family is like mine, you are always looking for new places to learn about dinosaurs. Well, New Jersey is full of opportunities for learning about dinosaurs. Here is a list of some of our favorite places to see dinosaurs in New Jersey and nearby. Consider picking up tickets as a dino-riffic gift.
8 PLACES TO SEE DINOSAURS IN NEW JERSEY Morris Museum: Morristown. The Morris Museum has an entire exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs called “Dinosaur Den.” In the Dinosaur Den children can view dinosaur fossils, touch a dinosaur egg, follow dinosaur tracks, and many more fun interactive activities. • Open Tuesday- Sundays • Admission: $10 for adults, $7 for children Continued on the next page.
Camden Children’s Garden: Camden. The Camden Children’s Garden hosts the “Dinosaur Garden” exhibit. In this area of the garden children can visit with the Apatosaurus made from recycled car parts, or check out the Hadrosaur and his nest. • Open Wednesday - Sunday • Admission: $6 per person ages 3 and up Hadrosaurus Foulkii Site: Haddonfield. This historic site is a perfect destination for the future paleontologists in your family. It is the spot where the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton was discovered. In 1858, William Parker Foulke unearthed a skeleton of New Jersey’s official dinosaur, the hadrosaur. During your visit you can see the spot where the discovery was made and visit the “Ground Zero” of dinosaur paleontology. New Jersey State Museum: Trenton. Another great spot to check out dinosaur fossils and learn more about these amazing creatures is the natural history exhibit at the New Jersey State Museum. • Open Tuesday- Sunday • Admission: $5 for ages 12 and older Sterling Hill Mine: Ogdensburg, NJ. While you are touring the mine you can add on a visit to the Fossil Discovery Center. Visitors can dig through the fossil area and see what types of fossils they can discover. Each paid participant gets to keep 6 of the fossils they discover. This is a perfect way to experience what it’s like to be a paleontologist. • Open daily. Tour times and discovery center hours vary • Costs: Tours of the mine $8-$11 for adults. The fossil discovery center costs an additional $4.50 per person. Garden State Discovery Museum: Cherry Hill. Any little dinosaur lover will have a blast in the Dinosaurium section of the museum. Children can climb inside a T-rex skeleton, dig for bones, hear what they sound like as dinosaurs, and explore the scientist’s tent. This would definitely be a fun and interactive way to learn about dinosaurs and paleontologists. • Open daily • Admission: $12.95 for ages 1 and older.
Rutgers Geology Museum: New Brunswick. The Rutgers Geology Museum contains several dinosaur-related artifacts that have been discovered in New Jersey. They also host several special events related to dinosaurs. • Open Tuesday- Saturdays Turtle Back Zoo: West Orange. Find some dinosaur fun for your little ones while you are visiting the zoo by checking out their dinosaur themed playground. The playground equipment is designed to look like dinosaur bones and there is a dinosaur skeleton to climb through and play on. • Open Monday- Sundays • Admission: $13 for adults, $10 for children
2 Nearby Places to See Dinosaurs The Natural History Museum in New York City. Every dinosaur lover needs to check out the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs at the museum. It is full of fossils from one of the two main groups of dinosaurs. The museum is home to close to 100 specimens. • Open daily • Admission: Pay what you wish donation The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. During a visit to Dinosaur Hall children can view over 30 dinosaur specimens. They can also dig for fossils and participate in interactive dinosaur activities. • Open Monday- Sunday • Admission: $17.95 for adults, $13.95 for children As you can see there are so many different places to go to gift kids an experience with dinosaurs.
Sahara Sam’s
Providing Inside & Outside Water Fun for Families Sahara Sam’s, located in West Berlin, has come to be a favorite water park among the Jersey Family Fun team. With so much to do inside and out tickets or memberships are guaranteed to be a hit.
Some things we love about Sahara Sam’s
• They have life jackets galore. For little ones that aren’t good swimmers yet, it is great that they have these available all throughout the park for the kids to use. • It is unbelievably clean. We have visited other water parks and spraygrounds in the past where water shoes felt necessary because things were a bit icky. Sahara Sam’s has been spotless from top to bottom. The bathrooms were impeccable and had nonslip rubber mats for wet feet. • It is laid out perfectly. With little ones wanting to play in the toddler area and older kids wanting to explore Tim-buk-tu area, they are able to be next to each other, with chairs stationed in the middle, for parents to watch everyone at once. • The lifeguards were great. We frequently see the lifeguards go out of their way to keep the kids safe.
What Sahara Sam’s has to offer: • Tim-buk-tu which includes two slides one closed and one open slide. • Mt. Kill Family slide for children 42 inches and taller. • The Mile Nile for children 48 inches and taller that is a body slide! • Snake Eyes: two slides side by side using a joined tube. • Lazy river • Lizard Lagoon only for the littler ones 42 inches and smaller. • Indoor surfing simulator (must be at least 8 years old and 48 inches, waiver needed to be signed before using) • Basketball area in water • Outdoor Splash Pad during warmer months • Outdoor pool for warmer months Sahara Sam’s really does make it easy for a simple day trip. All you really need is your bathing suits and towels. Don’t feel like lugging around a heavy bag of clothes? Rent a locker! Not in the mood for lunch at the snack bar/café? Feel free to go eat somewhere down the road or picnic in your car - your bracelet allows you to come and go out of the park as you please! It’s the perfect day trip for a family on a rainy OR sunny day. Check the Sahara Sam’s website for the most up-to-date schedule. Sahara Sam’s Oasis is located at 535 North Route 73 in West Berlin in Camden County.
Arden Theatre’s Hans Brinker & the Silver Skates This article from Jennifer Auer is available on Jersey Family Fun.
We have always loved the family friendly productions at the Arden Theatre and are incredibly excited for their production of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. What a great experience this would be on a weekend this winter. The story of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates has close similarities to The Greatest Skating Race a book that has always been close to my heart. It is a story based in the Netherlands, where my mother and her side of the family is from. Reading this story my boys and I get a sense of what growing up was like for our Dutch ancestors. Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates is a similar story, based in Holland, where ice skating plays a pivotal role in a family’s story. Knowing the quality of Arden’s shows I can not wait to see this story come alive on the stage and have my children build deeper connections with the story. The premise of the story is a great skating contest is announced, and the winner will receive a shiny pair of silver skates. But will Hans Brinker and his sister Gretel, with their hand-carved wooden skates, be able to compete against children who own fine steel blades? Set against a backdrop of frozen canals in 19th century Holland, this new production celebrates the importance of grit and determination, the value of generosity, and the thrill of flying down the ice on a pair of skates. Where are the Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates performances? Arden Theatre Company December 5, 2015 – January 31, 2016 40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106 Ticket prices begin at $20. • Group discounts available for 20+ • Student Rush tickets at the door 30 minutes before curtain for $10 cash, pending availability (must present valid student ID) You can visit http://www.ardentheatre.org for more information.
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Get Face to Face with Live Reptiles at the Academy! This article from Jillian Fletcher is available on Jersey Family Fun. The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA opened its newest exhibit on Wednesday September 30th. The new exhibit is titled “Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly.” The exhibit will be open until January 10, 2015. This new exhibit is extra exciting because it includes live animals! If you have a reptile fan in your house, you are not going to want to miss this exhibit. WHAT TO SEE AT THE “REPTILES: THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE DEADLY” EXHIBIT • Nearly 20 species of live reptiles will be on display including (depending on the day) a bearded dragon, Gila monster, crocodile, alligator, chameleon, gecko, python, viper, cobra, and more. • Watch live reptiles in realistic habitats. Watching the animals in a naturalistic habitat helps visitors get a feel for what the animal is like in the wild. This leads to a better understanding of the reptile world. • Practice “milking” a viper through one of the interactive components of the exhibit. • Learn to speak “croc” like a professional. • Test your knowledge of turtles and lizards by answering various trivia questions. The best way to learn about something is to see it in action. Many of these reptiles are difficult to find in their natural habitat, so this exhibit is the next best thing. “Reptiles have enduring appeal, and they are fascinating to watch and examine up close,” said Academy Senior Director of Exhibits Jennifer Sontchi. “Few people will ever encounter these animals in the wild, but it’s great that they can learn about them in the safety and the fun environment of our museum.” The reptiles in this exhibit are some of the most beautiful and exotic reptiles in existence. It is sure to be a one of a kind experience. ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES HOURS: • Monday-Friday 10 am to 4:30 pm • Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 5 pm • Regular admission is $17.95 for adults; $13.95 for children 3 through 12, seniors, college students, and military personnel; and free for members and children under 3. • There is an added fee to visit the reptile exhibit. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read more about The Academy of Natural Sciences and their regular exhibits by checking out our The Academy of Natural Sciences articles or videos on our YouTube Channel.
Explore the World of Dora & Diego at the Liberty Science Center This article from Traci Murn is available on Jersey Family Fun. Explore the worlds of Nickelodeon’s “Dora the Explorer” and “Go, Diego, Go!” with the new interactive exhibit “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore!” now through January 24, 2016 at the Liberty Science Center. Kids can explore different interactive play areas including Isa’s Flowery Garden, Journey to the Purple Planet, Tico’s Nutty Forest, the Animal Rescue Center, Tico’s car, a Rainforest Maze, Rocket Ship and the Pirate Piggies’ Ship. All of these exhibits are for children ages 3 to 10. My children are very familiar with Dora and Diego, and it’s one of their favorite TV shows. One of my favorite parts of the TV show is that it teaches my children some Spanish, and most of the discovery stations have that bilingual theme. My husband and I took our three children, ages 6 and twin 3 year olds to see the Dora & Diego exhibit.
What we loved about the “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore” exhibit
• The discovery stations include lots of Dora’s friends. My children love Diego, Boots, Map, Backpack, Tico, Swiper and Isa. The room has plenty of space for children to explore and have fun. • My daughter loved playing in Isa the Iguana’s Garden. She picked some beautiful scented flowers and even pretended to be a butterfly, while my son got to pretend to be an astronaut in the Rocket Ship station. He put on a spacesuit and slid down a purple planet slide. • The Rainforest Maze is for very active preschoolers. My son loved swinging across the monkey bars and climbing across Jaguar Mountain. • My older son loved the large space ship. He enjoyed working the controls and pretending to blast off into space. • The big pirate ship was a hit with all my children. Everyone was a pirate going on a great adventure across the ocean. • In Diego’s Animal Rescue Center children can practice helping rainforest animals such as jaguars, monkeys, sea turtles and crocodiles. There is a first aid station and lots of veterinarian equipment. • My son drove Tico the squirrel’s tree car, while my daughter helped Tico pick nuts to fill his huge basket. We had to make sure to keep an eye out for Swiper! • In addition to the “Dora & Diego-Let’s Explore!” exhibit, there were several other great exhibits at Liberty Science Center.
What else can I see at the Liberty Science Center?
• My son loved the Infinity Climber. This suspended climber makes you crawl and balance your way through the pathways. • It’s as high as 35 feet above the atrium floor. I even enjoyed the climber. Some of pathways were a tight squeeze. I had to get on my hands and knees to crawl. It was so much fun! • In I Explore, children ages 2 – 5 can engage in several exhibits created just for them. My son loved the “Air Maze”, which is a twisted pathway of transparent tubes where you can watch soft balls zip through it and fly out. The giant light wall was also a huge hit. The “Clamber” was a climbing challenge in which all my children tried to reach the very top. • The Action Zone exhibit allows you to test your sports skills. My son loved the giant simulator where he tossed some dodge-balls at zombies. The balance beams and rock wall was also a huge hit with him. See more Liberty Science Center photos by checking out our Facebook Gallery. The Liberty Science Center is open daily from 9:00-5:30. It is located at 222 Jersey City Blvd. in Jersey City, NJ. To learn more about the Liberty Science Center, please visit their website.
Get a Kick Out of Family Fun with the New York Red Bulls This article from Nancy Palutis is available on Jersey Family Fun.
We are a family of soccer lovers. My oldest two children play soccer in both the spring and the fall. (They would probably play in the winter too, except our snowy New Jersey winter usually puts a damper on that.) So when they heard that we were going to see the New York Red Bulls - the TOP team in the Major Soccer League - they were more than excited. They were absolutely thrilled! From the second we stepped out of our car at the stadium, we knew it was going to be a great event for our family. The BULLevard, located outside of the stadium, is an area jam-packed with fun activities for kids. Each child gets a scorecard with all of the activities listed. For each item completed, the card gets a stamp. When your card is complete, you can turn it in for a fun prize. With activities ranging from soccer video games to a Red Bulls photo booth, my family had a blast and it got us into the soccer spirit. Before heading in the stadium, we stopped to check out the New York Red Bulls street team who perform outrageous foot skills for the crowd, including pulling in fans for an interactive experience. After they got their cards stamped at the BULLevard, they turned them in for a prize! It was our first visit to the Red Bulls stadium, and we were impressed. The stadium itself was impeccable. With a capacity of 25,000, the stadium was just the right size: large enough to give you the professional sports experience but not so large that there are any “nosebleed” seats. My kids were in awe of the field the second they entered the arena and continuously pointed out that “it’s the greenest grass I’ve ever seen!” We were treated to the Skybox Seating and it was a treat indeed. With features like unlimited food and beverages, complimentary valet parking, a personal Skybox attendant, and a huge indoor area as well as outdoor seating (with an amazing view of the game), the Skybox is clearly the way to go. On a chilly or rainy night, you can enjoy the match from inside the suite from one of the stools lining the glass walls. Have a hungry kid? No need to load up on junk food at the snack bar, just take them over to the buffet for some hot or cold food of your choice. The Skybox Seating allowed us as parents to actually ENJOY the game because the kids were having such a great time and had plenty of room to move around. To spoil my children even further, we were able to go down to the field to watch the players warm up. They were able to meet two Red Bulls players, Chris Duvall and Roy Miller, who were so kind to answer their questions about soccer and give them autographs on their player cards. At halftime, we lined the fan tunnel and received plenty of high-fives from the players heading back out to the field. All of these experiences are available to book for your own family from the Red Bulls and I can tell you first-hand, it’s hard to put into words how cool it is to see the looks on your children’s faces when they get to meet their favorite player and give them a high-five. It was a night we will all never forget.
While at the stadium, we were able to learn all about the Red Bulls Youth Programs. These programs cater to boys and girls ages 4 and up, and there are over 125 different locations across NY and NJ. The programs range from an introductory soccer experience to an elite level training, and they all include a complimentary ticket to a Red Bulls home game. The Red Bulls will offer winter training clinics at over 35 indoor locations throughout the tri-state area. Clinics are for boys and girl, ages 7 to 12 years old, and focus on individual skill development. Red Bulls tickets are available on their website. There are current holiday promotions that allows families to gift a Red Bulls experience. About the New York Red Bulls: The New York Red Bulls are one of 20 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). They
are one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its founding in 1996. They currently play their home matches at Red Bull Arena (RBA) in Harrison, New Jersey. RBA, a state-of-the-art 25,000-seat stadium, is widely regarded as the top soccer-specific stadium in North America. The New York Red Bulls offer one of the nation’s premier youth soccer development programs, from local soccer partnerships across New York and New Jersey to Regional Development Schools and the Red Bulls Academy teams. For more information on the New York Red Bulls, including their youth soccer programs and how to host a special event at the arena, visit their website. See more of our New York Red Bulls photos in our Facebook photo album.
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Contact us to schedule a visit. Multiple locations serving many communities. To find a location near you, visit www.brighthorizons.com
Clip N Climn
Our Visit to Kalahari Indoor Waterpark This article from Melanie Cortese is available on Jersey Family Fun. Right inside the Kalahari Resort Hotel, steps from the lobby, is the Kalahari waterpark! The 100,000 square-foot park is open until 9 pm on weeknights so even with our after dinnertime arrival we had some time to spend exploring. The bonus for my crew was that this night, it wasn’t crowded at all! After using your wristband to enter the park, take some complimentary towels (what a great perk: not having to cart your own from home) and get to having fun! We were pleased with how warm it was inside. There are tables and chairs all over, and also lockers if you want more protection. You’ll find lifeguards and park staff all over, so if your kids are older and want to break away from you, no worries about them being unprotected. Aside from the main entrance, there’s only two more access points so children can’t easily escape. All children under 48” must wear safety vests, but there are more than enough available, provided by Kalahari. During the day, natural light shines through the glass roof and the paintings on the walls brighten it up inside. You have access to a snack bar and seasonally, there is a cafe open as well. No outside food is allowed inside but leaving to access food you have in your room is easy! Nothing in the resort is far away, so we chose lunch the next day at the cafe in the arcade. JFF tip- since there are no outlets in the waterpark it’s a good time to charge your phone. Music plays inside the waterpark at all times and since it’s such a large enclosed space it can be hard to hear each other talk. Cabanas with a flat screen tv, safe, and refrigerator are available for rent; while we visited we saw a birthday party in one.
So what about the water fun? Here’s what Kalahari Waterpark offers: • • • • • • •
Flowrider; try bodyboarding or surfboarding on the waves Anaconda; watercoaster Lazy River; coast through Kalahari waterpark on an inner tube Crocodile Cove; shallow pool at the entrance to the Lazy River Indoor/Outdoor Family Whirlpool; for children ages 6 and up - total relaxation! Whirlpool Spas; indoor hot tubs for more relaxation Wild Wildebeest; raft water slide
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Lost Lagoon; basketball pool Tanzanian Twister; free fall slide into a wild vortex and a big splash! Thirsty Turtle Swim Up Bar; adults only! Rippling Rhino; 400 foot long tube slide Zimbabwe Zipper; go up to 40 mph on this pipe slide Splashdown Safari; fun water playground for kids and adults! Barreling Baboon; fast and fun tube water slide Tiko’s Watering Hole; fun water playground and lazy river for the little ones
My children are 10 and 5; the one who’s tall enough for all the slides is a little apprehensive and the one who isn’t is a daredevil! No worries though, they had plenty to occupy them. We all went on the Anaconda watercoaster which was pretty thrilling as you speed through the slide in a two person tube. Lines weren’t long at all during our visit so we could go on multiple times without problem. We enjoyed the pools too! It was a rare treat to play basketball in the pool, and the Lost Lagoon has multiple nets for playing. Mom’s favorite was the indoor/outdoor family whirlpool. I could have been in there for hours (not recommended of course) using the jets to soothe aching muscles as the kids swam around. It wasn’t cold while we were there but even when it is, the outdoor hot tub is the perfect temperature. The two playground areas were great for getting energy out. Kids can climb the steps of the Splashdown Safari and take the tube slides back down; shoot water guns at each other and get splashed by the dumping buckets. Tiko’s Watering Hole offers similar water play and slides, but for the younger set. There’s even a 1 foot lazy river with tubes for the little ones. My children enjoyed these areas the best, where they could build their confidence for the bigger slides and bigger splashes on the waterslides. We spent over an hour the night we arrived, and at least 4 hours the next day inside the park. If you’re looking for a nearby, self contained vacation with full resort features, and all the water fun you can enjoy, take a look at our blog post about the Kalahari Resort Hotel and then get your family to Kalahari Resorts and Waterpark! Kalahari Resort Vacation packages start at $229 and daily passes range from $39-$59. Ages 2 and under are free. Learn more here. For more photos of Kalahari Resorts visit our Facebook album.
Clip & Climbing Our Way to Fun This article from Jennifer Auer is available on Jersey Family Fun.
Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pennsylvania offers a climbing experience offered nowhere else on the East Coast. I remember when I first learned about the Spooky Nook. While I could only see one picture on their site I knew I had to visit with my boys. As much as I love Lancaster I did not want to return without making a visit to Spooky Nook and climbing those walls. We made our visit late this past summer. Let me just tell you know the pictures on their website do not do the Spooky Nook justice. The Clip N’ Climb area was phenomenal! After signing waivers and getting suited up in our harnesses we got a brief training. Kids need to be clipped by a parent or staff member. Parents can clip themselves before climbing. Yes, parents can climb! Kids and parents can climb to their hearts’ content for either a half-hour or hour. We were treated to an hour and even that was not enough to climb everything. Spooky Nook has so many different climbing walls. You and your kids are sure to find one to meet your level of ability. You can even use a score card to track your progress and see who scores the most points. My boys and I tried to give each one a try. HERE’S OUR FAVORITES. • The Big Cheese ~ My seven year old’s favorite. With round, colorful circles and rims you could grasp this wasn’t too difficult. • The Skyscaper ~ My nine year old’s favorite. This climbing wall had square like sections where feet could rest as you grabbed the next set of squares to pull yourself up. • Steelworks ~ My ten year old’s favorite. This wall had steel-like siding with long red bars that ran vertically. It was easy for them, but looked a tad bit tricky for me. I passed on it and did the other walls including my favorite.
• Stairway to Heaven ~ This was my favorite and potentially the most difficult. Not only were my kids surprised I was going to climb at Spooky Nook, but they also couldn’t believe I was going to attempt to get to the top of the Stairway to Heaven. The Stairway to Heaven has these green poles
that go around in a circle shape. The poles are spread out and increase in height, from shorter to taller, as you work your way around to the top. My boys all gave it a try but couldn’t complete it. All of the poles were difficult, but the most extreme was the highest pole. You have got to take a huge step of faith, but there is a Spooky Nook team member there to encourage you. You can’t hesitate too long. The longer I waited the more my body and poles trembled. I took a breath and made the step. What a sense of accomplishment to reach the top. My boys were in awe! What fun! Spooky Nook provided thrills for my boys and I and I cannot wait to go back.
Spooky Nook is an indoor sports complex open year round. Their Clip N Climb program is $8 for 30 minutes or $13 for 60 minutes. They are located just outside Lancaster in Manheim. You can learn more at their website and see more of our Spooky Nook photos in our Facebook album.
34 Ways to Enjoy Your Turkey Hill Experience
This article from Jennifer Auer is available on Jersey Family Fun. Ice Cream, Ice Cream... you scream, we scream, we all scream for ice cream!
With how hot this past summer was there was no way we weren’t going to make a stop to the Turkey Hill Experience on our visit to Lancaster. It was summer time, you are supposed to have ice cream, right? ;-) But hey... ice cream and this experience can be YEAR-ROUND. My family has never had this experience and after a fabulous morning of climbing on the Spooky Nook climbing walls, this was the perfect day to do it. There was certainly a lot of squealing as we worked our way around the Turkey Hill Experience visiting the exhibits and interacting with many of them. What I thought might be a simple tour about the history of ice cream with a brief experiment into making ice cream, turned out to be so much more. I could not believe how much there was to do and how much ice cream we were able to sample. Turkey Hill Experience Activities included with admission • Follow the map to get the most of your Turkey Hill Experience. • Learn about the history of the Susquehanna River Valley and how ice cream got started in this area. • Admire the uniquely-decorated cow at the start of your experience. • Count how many cows you see. • Walk inside a giant tea bottle to taste a variety of Turkey Hill teas. • Smell the different tea aromas. • Watch how Turkey Hill started making teas. • Discover your tea personality. • Catch a movie about how ice cream is made. • Appreciate how Turkey Hill Tea caps are repurposed. • Pose for pictures with various photo cut outs and props. • Examine what bacteria looks like. • Battle against the bad bacteria and help the good bacteria milk needs thrive. • Emboss and sniff the different scents and flavors that go into ice cream onto a card so you can bring those scents home with you. • Create your own virtual ice cream flavor. • Name your uniquely created ice cream flavor. • Jump into the homogenization ball pit (for younger kids). • Push the mixer in the mix tank and slide down the slide.
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Measure out the right proportions to make a tasty and delicious ice cream. Match the right amount of ice cream to the right-sized container. Design your own ice cream packaging to go with your unique flavor. Check out what happens when you add a tub of blueberries into the Flavor Frenzy cooler. Step into the freezer. Star in your own Turkey Hill Ice Cream commercial. Will you interview a cow? Sing a jingle? Something else? Sample several flavors of ice cream, repeatedly if you like. A frozen yogurt and a sugarfree flavor were available during our visit. Go back in time with stories from milk delivery men. Pretend to drive the milk delivery truck. Milk a mechanical cow (No worries, it’s just water.) Rock in a rocking chair in the porch area. Participate in a Tasting Lab class (for an additional fee) for more delicious experiences. Get a pint of vanilla ice cream. • Drop in your flavoring. • Mix in your favorite additions like m&ms, jimmies, cookie crunch, and more. • Freeze then enjoy.
After our day of learning, creating, and eating we were all smiles. The cherry on this sundae was that EVERY staff member we met was absolutely fabulous. They were knowledgeable in all they taught us, courteous in their service, and generous with the samples. Which Turkey Hill Experience do you think your kids would enjoy most? ABOUT VISITING THE TURKEY HILL EXPERIENCE. • General admission is 8.95 for ages 5-17, $9.95 for ages 18 and older. The Taste Lab is $5 more. • Admission is free for children 4 and under. • On your ticket is a CYO code, that will link your virtual creations together so that you can work on your virtual ice cream product and email yourself your work. Each CYO can only be linked to one ice cream creation and one email address. If you are going as a family of 4 and everyone wants to create a flavor, you will need 4 email addresses. • Parking is free, at peak times off site parking is available with a free shuttle. • The lab is not allergen free. There are tree and ground nuts. • Allow for 1-2 hours for your visit. We went through most areas fairly quickly (the nature of boys) and still spent about 2.5-3 hours at Turkey Hill Experience during our visit. • The Turkey Hill Experience is located at 301 Linden Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania not far from Lancaster. To learn more visit their website. To view our Turkey Hill Experience pictures visit our Facebook Gallery.
More ideas for giftable family travel experiences. Click any image to be taken to our features on these favorite family destinations.
Coming soon to our family travel series. • Our experiences in the Lehigh Valley with visits to The Crayola Experience, The America on Wheels Museum, and the Da Vinci Science Center. • Family Travel to California with a look at our first visit to Disneyland. • Family Travel abroad with features on Beaches Turks Caicos. • Family Travel to the Skytop Resort and their wintery family activities.