• A 25-minute ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• A 12-minute ride with Percy (Percy Package)
• Pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway
• Thomas & Friends Imagination Station featuring stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables and coloring sheets
• Thomas & Friends video viewing and storytelling
• Fun extras including rides aboard Strasburg Rail Road’s vintage Cranky Cars, Pint-Sized Pufferbelly train, and LO&S motorcar train
• A ‘Passport to Adventures’ booklet for children to track their journey at the event and receive a special prize upon completion.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is coming to UD Summer Stage

This production is the Philadelphia premiere and is a spectacle on a grand scale.

Something big is coming to the Philadelphia region. Upper Darby Summer Stage presents the Philadelphia regional premiere of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” on July 28 & 29, August 4 & 5 at 7:30 pm and July 29 and August 5 at 1:30 pm.Performances take place at Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.



Based on Victor Hugo’s powerful novel and adapted from the Disney film, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is nothing less than an epic production. It is a dramatic tale of complex relationships, featuring a gorgeous, spine-tingling score created by musical legends Allen Menken and Steven Schwartz. This musical production is the next “Les Miserables”, matching the intensity of the music and challenging complexities of each character.



Tickets for this production are affordable ranging from $13 to $17, enabling anyone to experience a professional, high standard production. Tickets may be purchased at udpac.org or by calling the box office at 610.622.1189.



The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center is located at 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, minutes from the Main Line and Center City. The performance is approximately 2.5 hours, including intermission. Parking is free. The production is appropriate for children 12 and up.



Upper Darby Summer Stage has been selected as the first theatre in the Philadelphia region to tackle this emotional story, exploring the good and evil tendencies inside of everyone. Adding to the spectacle is an onstage choir. The Mainstage production is not a children’s theater show and is not performed by children.



Composer Allen Menken spoke about the production in an interview. “It’s much more than simply a Disney animated musical brought to the stage,” said Menken. “It’s a pretty serious musical. It represents a huge coming together of talent. It’s anything but a musical comedy. It’s a musical drama.”



For more information about “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and Upper Darby Summer Stage’s 42nd season visit udpac.org.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, located in the heart of PA Dutch Country, launches its Summer Season Saturday, July 1st, with the grand opening of its 22nd Annual Amazing Maize Maze®. Summer hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday-Friday (and holiday Mondays), and 10am-7pm on Saturday.


Renown as one of the nation’s finest examples of agri-tainment, Cherry Crest annually attracts around 100,000 visitors from countries worldwide. The 15-acre Adventure Farm features over 50 family fun activities, games and rides. The Discovery Barn – home to the popular baby chicks hatchery and other interactive farm displays – sports an outdoor stage for live demonstrations and entertainment. The Farm Animal Center and Animal Grove are filled with friendly farm animals to pet and learn about. The Country Pig Races & Show, in its own arena with special seating, is an interactive production with actors and a cast of the cutest piglets. Plus a Farm Tour Wagon Ride takes visitors through Cherry Crest’s 300-acre cattle, poultry and farming operations.



What’s new this year? The maze design portrays the lovable characters of “Charlotte’s Web” in a 5-acre field of corn. Within its 21⁄2 miles of paths and tricky turns there are hidden puzzle pieces to fill in a map, Kernels of Knowledge for clues to a crossword puzzle, a roster of fun diversions, even a Corn Cafe. Plus there are five new activities – from the Round Bale Racers and Country Road Carts to a nifty Twisted Tail Rope Maker, fun-filled Battle Zone (with Nerf balls) and a Paintball Range filled with big and small targets.


Upcoming Special Events include our 7th Annual Facebook Fan Day on July 8 (see Cherry Crest’s FB Page for free admission details), and a Pedal Tractor Pull (included with general admission) Aug. 8-12.



There are 10 different food corrals, food wagons and cafes to catch a snack, lunch or dinner. Cherry Crest is famous for its fresh-picked sweet corn roasted in its own husks, homemade cider donuts, fresh-squeezed lemonade and kettle corn. The menu also includes Angus burgers, hot dogs, chicken and pork, fries, salads and wraps. And don’t miss the School House Sweet Shop, home to Lancaster’s Best Fudge in over 30 flavors.



“It gives us great joy to share our somewhat corny vision of life on the farm,” said Marketing Manager Brian Groff. “Our mission is all about family fun, education, and creating memories that last a lifetime.”



Location: Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is located at 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks (Lancaster County) PA 17572. Call toll free (866) 546-1799 or visit CherryCrestFarm.com. Last entrance to the maze is 60 minutes prior to closing. Tickets can be purchased online @ CherryCrestFarm.com.



Pricing: The $17 Farm Fun Pass includes 50+ Farm Fun activities and the maze. The $22 Shootn’ Special Pass adds the Apple Blasters, Paint Ball Range and Battle Zone, while the$25 Hog Wild Pass includes all above activities plus the Twisted Tail Rope Maker and choice of Kettle Corn or a Souvenir Cup.



Back by popular demand is the $25 Summer Bounce Back Pass that provides UNLIMITED FARM FUN ADMISSION to all activities and the maze through Sept. 15 (including Cherry Crest’s first Flashlight Maze). Children age 2 and under are always admitted free. Free parking is available on premise.



For more information, and to purchase tickets online, visit CherryCrestFarm.com.

Upper Darby Summer Stage kicks off its 42nd season as the irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved, award-winning musicals. 

Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie Jr. features everyone’s favorite little redhead in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.




For more information:   https://www.udpac.org

Location:  Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 N Lansdowne Ave, Drexel Hill, PA 19026

This event is appropriate for:   Recommended for ages 4 and up

Cost: $8-$12

Earlier this spring Legoland Discovery Center opened at the Plymouth Meeting Mall.  Recently my family and I were invited to check out this new addition to the area.

Before you go
To save some money and to skip the lines you should order your tickets before you leave home at Legoland Discovery Center. If you purchase tickets at home you will guarantee  Legoland is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you want to purchase your tickets when you arrive at Legoland you can do that too.  Legoland is located in the Plymouth Meeting Mall and it's very easy to get to via 476 or 76. Allow yourself 2 to 3 hours to experience everything at Legoland.




What to check out

• LEGO® NINJAGO Training Camp: Train through interactive build challenge activities to improve your flexibility, agility, ingenuity and LEGO brick building skills to help protect NINJAGO from its marauding enemies. Complete your training in the NINJAGO Laser Maze.
• Pirate Adventure Island: Go on a swashbuckling quest in the soft play area aboard an LEGO-themed pirate ship. Adventure through whimsical scenarios as you climb the rigging, walk the plank, capture the flag or escape down the slide to make it ashore to the island’s castle.
• LEGO® Friends: Tell a story with Andrea, Mia, Olivia, Stephanie and Emma as you add your own creations to the colorful LEGO® Heartlake City.
• Earthquake Tables: Visitors can build their own LEGO skyscrapers and see if their creations can survive the shaking earthquake-stimulating tables.
• DUPLO® Park: Little builders can let their imaginations loose in our DUPLO® Park. Build a colorful DUPLO flower for the farmer's garden, climb up a small hill and slide down the other side or play on our special big soft bricks. 
• MINILAND®: See iconic Philadelphia landmarks recreated from nearly 1.5 million LEGO bricks.
• Imagination Express: An interactive LEGO ride that takes visitors on an adventure that starts at Brick Station and goes from a soapy bath all the way to outer space.
• LEGO 4D Cinema: Guests will be on the edge of their seats as an incredible action adventure unfolds in 3-D before their very eyes. The film comes to life in the fourth dimension as flurries of wind, rain, lightning and even snow burst into the auditorium!
• LEGO Racers - Build & Test: Let your imagination take over as you build your vehicle and take it to the ramps. Test your car and see how you can make it go faster! Once you have built the ultimate race car, time its speed on our test track. With times recorded to the hundredth of a second, it might be a close competition between you and your friends.

Extras
Birthday Party Rooms
Cafe
Legoland Store
Daily Creative Workshops offered




What We Love
We fell in love with the miniland of Philadelphia.  We could have spent hours finding all of the iconic Philadelphia buildings.  My husband got a kick out of finding the building he works in made out of Legos.
As a mom of daughters, I loved the section of the discovery center that had Lego Friends since they are a favorite in our house.
I also liked how they had something for everyone to keep families happy and busy while visiting and exploring Legoland Discovery Center.




For more information: https://philadelphia.legolanddiscoverycenter.com

Location: Plymouth Meeting Mall, West Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

 This event is appropriate for: 3 and older

Cost: $24


Disclosure Thank you to Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia for arranging for our complimentary visit to facilitate this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It's spring break in the Philadelphia area and you need to keep the kids entertained during the break.  Here are a few ideas to keep everyone busy and happy:



Shows

Recently we took a trip to one of our family's favorite Lancaster County attractions, Dutch Wonderland. We love it because it has fun for all ages, from the youngest member of your family to the oldest. It has the traditional rides you remember as a kid (slides, bumper cars, roller coasters, carnival rides) and a water park to cool off during hot summer months. It also doesn't hurt that it is only 2 hours away.

"A Kingdom For Kids!"
It’s not just a slogan – it’s a commitment to young children and their families that beyond the castle walls is a place just for them called A Kingdom For Kids! With 35 rides and attractions, my 8 year old and 5 year old never found a ride they didn't love.

The park is laid out very nicely with a park-like setting that makes you feel that you are on leisurely stroll rather than an intense scramble to get on the next ride. To assist you in what rides are appropriate for your children they have polls that list the height requirements posted before each ride.  Some of the rides even allow you to ride with your child.

We also enjoyed watching the dive show at the park, which was very exciting. Expert divers put on a princess and villain themed show that includes thrilling high and platform dives.

The park has your typical amusement park food and Pennsylvania Dutch favorites. And they also have a lot of healthy eating options including gluten fee items.

A part of the park we have never visited  before was Duke's Lagoon. Keeping with theme of something for everyone, this water park has a huge tube water slide for the bigger kids and adults and kiddie slides that are perfect for the under 8 crowd.  My kids enjoyed the pipeline plunge.

Watch the video below to see some of the attractions that we enjoyed during our day at Dutch Wonderland.



For more information:  www.dutchwonderland.com


Location:  Dutch Wonderland  2249 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster, PA 17602


Cost: 2011 Admission Plans