If you have been following me on Instagram or Twitter you know that my family and I were invited to spend a few days at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey. Crystal Springs in about 2 1/2 hours from the Philadelphia Area, located in the Mountains in New Jersey and 1 hour away from NYC.

Resort

 America’s favorite pastime is coming to America’s oldest short line railroad - Strasburg Rail Road. The Keystone Base Ball Club of Harrisburg is set to compete against other clubs within the Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League during a special event on May 4, 2013. Between noon and 4:00 p.m., spectators travel by train to Verdant View Farm along the Strasburg Rail Road line to cheer on history’s grand old game.
The teams competitively re-enact 19^th century base ball (two words back in the day), following the rules as they were in 1864.  Wearing long-sleeved, white button-down shirts and trousers, the teams take to the field without gloves, catcher’s masks or batting helmets.  While competitive in nature, the game promotes camaraderie, exercise and pure love of the sport.

Trains will depart hourly from the historic East Strasburg Station with an exclusive stop at Verdant View Farm during the return trip. Passengers wishing to watch the game will stroll through a small stretch of farmland to the ball field.  Tickets for the game are as follows: Adults (ages 12+) $5.00 plus train ticket, children (3 – 11) $3.00 plus train ticket.

Tournament Schedule:
Elkton Eclipse vs. Harrisburg Keystones @ Noon
Flemington Neshanock vs. Philadelphia Athletic @Noon
Consolation Game @ 2:00 p.m.
Championship Game @ 3:00 p.m.



For more information:   www.strasburgrailroad.com

Location:   Strasburg Rail Road, 301 Gap Road, Ronks, PA 17572

This event is appropriate for:   the whole family

Cost: Adults (ages 12+) $5.00 plus train ticket, children (3 – 11) $3.00 plus train ticket.

Port Discovery offers three floors of interactive, educational exhibits and ever-changing programs for children ages birth through 10. Kids can crawl through Tot Trails. Get healthy and fit in Kick It Up!. Splish splash in Wonders of Water. Shop and pump gas at the Royal Farms Convenience Store and Fill’er Up Station. Cook and serve food in Tiny’s Diner or climb and slide through KidWorks, a 3-story urban tree-house (play gym/obstacle course).



Permanent Exhibits



Kick It Up! Brought to you by UnitedHealthcare

Get fit and healthy in the brand new soccer and games stadium complete with electronic score board and goals. Designed as an indoor soccer stadium, Kick It Up! is a unique exhibit that offers hands-on programs to get children’s arms and legs moving and hearts pumping.



When children are not engaging in a friendly game of soccer, the field transforms into an interactive, electronic games arena where they can ride bikes; compete in an “i-Dance off”; test their balancing skills; and play challenging games against the electronic T-Wall.

Kidworks

KidWorks (recommended for kids ages 5 and up)

Climb, crawl, jump, and slide through our three-story urban treehouse, KidWorks. My kids loved this exhibit. Dare to cross a narrow rope bridge and who knows what you’ll find on the other side! For safety reasons children and adults who plan to play and climb KidWorks must wear sneakers. This is by far the most popular exhibit. I also liked that it was big enough that parents could go into the treehouse at certain access point to find their children. They also had Port Discovery staff members in the treehouse to assist children if they were lost or needed help.







Learn how to make healthy choices in a convenient world in this mini interactive convenience store! Pretend you are the customer or employee and stock and scan various foods. Check the items in your cart against the food pyramid to see how many healthy food items you selected. Be sure to fill the Royal Farms VW Beetle with gas and check its tire pressure before you leave! My children loved this hands-on, grown-up shopping experience.





Special Exhibits




The Wizard of Oz Children's Educational Exhibition (Now through September 15th, 2013).

Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow await at Port Discovery Children's Museum's new traveling exhibit, The Wizard of Oz Children's Educational Exhibition.



This interactive fantasy-adventure takes children and families over the rainbow to continue the celebration of the film's 70th anniversary milestone. Travel from the Gale Farm in Kansas to the colorful Land of Oz where you can explore Munchinkland , The Crossroads, the Witch's Castle , and Emerald City with Dorothy and her friends.

• Visit Professor Marvel's Wagon and create your own tornado in Dorothy's bedroom.
• Explore Munchkin houses and meet Dorothy's friends the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man.
• Enter The Emerald City and create a "Horse of a Different Color," play at the kaleidoscope and prism stations
• Climb the mountain to the Wicked Witch's Castle to capture the Wicked Witch's broom from Winged Monkeys.

Safety and Security

They take safety seriously here. When you arrive you and your children are given bracelets that match. In order to get out of the facility you must show your bracelet to a staff member stationed at the exit. Only if all bracelets match, can you exit the building. I felt a lot safer with this level of security.



What should you wear? Everyone should dress ready for play! Sneakers or flat soled, closed toe shoes are recommended and are required if you plan to climb KidWorks. For your comfort and safety, do not wear high-heeled shoes or boots, open-toed sandals or flip flops, and be sure to remove any loose or hanging jewelry before you play. An extra set of clothes is recommended if playing in the Wonders of Water exhibit.



Are there any restaurants within walking distance? Yes. There are several family-friendly restaurants and fast-food facilities within a 2 block radius of the Museum including Joe Squared Pizza, Subway, Mex Baltimore, Yolly Molly (Yogurt), Luckie's Tavern, Panera Bread, P.F. Changs, and Miss Shirley's. Power Plant is located two blocks away and offers restaurants including Phillips, Potbelly, Hard Rock Cafe, Chipotle and more. Additional restaurants are located at Harborplace, just 3 blocks away from the Museum. You can also bring a bag lunch.



Port Discovery really shouldn't be missed if you plan a trip to the Baltimore Harbor. It will occupy about a 1/2 day, so you may want to plan to visit the National Aquarium or the Science Museum for a full day of adventure for your family.



Check out a video of our visit







For more information: www.portdiscovery.org


Location:  35 Market Place Baltimore, MD 21202

Looking for a place to take the kids over Spring Break, or for the perfect summer vacation?  Well look no further than the Poconos at Great Wolf Lodge.  Recently my family and I went to Great Wolf Lodge to check out what they have to offer for families.

lobby area

When you arrive, the fun starts the minute you step onto the property.  Check in was easy and simple.  Everyone staying in your room will be given a bracelet that they wear the entire time you are on the property.  This serves as your room key and you have the option to charge food on the bracelet too.  I like the fact that the bracelet was our room key and I didn't have to worry about carrying a key-card around.  My kids loved that they could unlock the door without asking me for the key.

family suite

We had a family suite that had plenty of room for my family of four.  We also had a balcony outside that overlooked a mountain that was beautiful.  Once we settled in, we hit the water park.

Water Park

The water park is a huge indoor playground for the whole family.  It is divided into different sections.  There is a water park for the little ones with small slides, and spray and play features.  They also have a giant tree house that kids can climb, spray and slide through.  Older kids can take a turn on the many slides like the double barrel drop or the hydro plunge.  Tweens/Teens will have fun on the Coyote Cannon (think of a toilet bowl because it drops you into a big bowl that you swirl around in and fall out the bottom) or Alberta falls that twists you in and outside of the indoor portion of the water park (even in winter time).  The whole family can enjoy Crooked Creak (a lazy river) or take a ride with the family on River Canyon Run.  And don't think you won't get wet. If you hear a bell that sounds like a train you may get soaked.  I did and my kids loved it!



I was happy to see that the life guards really watched the pools, they walked back and forth constantly looking at the pool.  They take safety very seriously at Great Wolf, which made me feel safe while my kids were swimming.



Other Activities

You would think that the only thing to do at Great Wolf is the water park, but you would be wrong. There are plenty of activities for your family to do outside the water park.  Each evening there is a story time in the lobby, along with face painting, dance parties and much more.  I loved that I saw kids walking around the lodge in their pajamas waiting for story time.

Bowling Alley

There is also indoor Glow Golf, a bowling alley, an arcade, a kids spa, and much more.  Something that I saw that kept the kids really engaged was MagiQuest.  With MagiQuest you purchase a wand in the store and you go on a magical adventure to unlock clues.



Food

There is a snack bar in the water park area, you can buy drinks, sandwiches and snacks.  There is also a sit down restaurant in the lodge, the evening we went it was a buffet and there was plenty of choices even for the picky eaters in your family.  If your craving Pizza Hut pizza, or a sweat treat they have you covered.  You can also order a pizza and take it back to you room and relax.  Oh, and Starbucks lovers don't fear, they even have a Starbucks in the lodge.

Dinner Buffet

Tips:

• Go during the week for less crowds
• Pack at least 2 bathing suits so if you go back to the water park later in the day you can put a dry bathing suit on
• No reason to bring beach towels they have towels in the water park
• Once you check out of your room on your departure day,  you can stay and enjoy the resort amenities until 9pm.
• There is a locker room in the water park to change
• You can rent lockers in the water park
• Rooms all have small refrigerators in them for drinks and food

Check out some of the highlights from our trip





For more information:  http://www.greatwolf.com/poconos/waterpark

If you have been following me on twitter you may have read about an amazing attraction I had the chance to visit called ICE! featuring DreamWorks Shrek the Halls at the Gaylord National hotel in Maryland.






Ice! featuring DreamWorks Shrek the Halls is a one of a kind exhibit made from 2 million pounds of ice and kept at a frigid 9 degrees. I have never seen anything like this before, it's amazing how they carve the ice and add lights  and color to each piece. 






 Our ICE! experience started off with a movie showing how the ICE! exhibit was created. They will also go over safety inside the exhibit, no heels are allowed on the ice slides, don't touch the ice and a few others. Then you move into the next room where you are given a blue parka jacket that goes over your coat to keep you extra warm. Remember it's only 9 degrees inside! Each room is filled with sculptures made completely of ice.The larger than life scenes that recreate the 'Shrek the Halls" TV special. You will see plenty of your favorite Shrek characters like Donkey, Puss in Boots, the Three Little Pigs and the Pink Dragon. My kids favorite part was the ice slide, they have both little and big slides.  Be prepared to be in that room for a little while because the kids will want to experience the slides  multiple times! 


Tip: Wear your winter coat, hats and gloves, just like you would to go play in the snow outside. 

  


Here is a video peak of my visit to ICE!




Does this sound like something you want to experience with your family?  You may be in luck. Fun Things is giving away 4 tickets to experience ICE! with you family this holiday season.  

**Please note this contest is for four ticket vouchers only to experience ICE! 


Since this attraction is in National Harbor (right outside of D.C.) you should consider an overnight stay. If you would like to book a hotel room during your visit click here for rates. 


Also the tickets are only good during "Non-Peak" dates Monday -Friday and not valid  on 12/24, 12/26 - 28, 12/31 or 1/1 (considered peak days).


Please fill out the form below for your chance to win before December 1st


For more information:   http://www.gaylordhotels.com


Location: Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center: 201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, MD 20745


This event is appropriate for:   the whole family


Cost: $13.99 -$29.99

During Spring Break I had the wonderful oppurtuinty to visit Bush Gardens in Williamsburg VA.  The first thing I noticed about this park is how beautiful it is, there were tulips  and spring flowers everywhere.  Now I understand why it was named the World's Most Beautiful Park.

Roller Racers employ an intriguing combination of lateral friction, force, and torque that lets riders make the
vehicles move, and guests can try obstacle maneuvers, an all-out speed test, or free-form stylin’ at scheduled times. 


Round a corner and you’ll find more physics activities in the DCM lab classrooms and exhibition galleries.  Explore everyday scientific concepts that are also used in racing, including momentum, motion, machines, and magnets, in featured programs:  “Don’t Be a Drag!” (aerodynamics), “Ready, Set . . . GO!” (momentum), and “Machine Mechanics” (simple machines).


A special program for preschoolers only, “Incline Design,” in the DCM’s early-childhood Training Wheels gallery will provide the youngest guests the a chance to play with the effects of different ramp angles and lengths on speed and momentum.



For more information:  www.delawarechildrensmuseum.org

Location:   550 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

“The Big Yellow Building in Riverfront Wilmington”



This event is appropriate for:  the whole family



Cost: $12 per person. Museum members and children 12 months and younger admitted at no charge.

Starting Friday, July 22, Adventure Aquarium will introduce a brand new concept:“Summer Fun Nights,” extended hours in the summer months to provide guests with 3 extra hours of fun at America’s Most Touchable Aquarium. On weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) from July 22 through Aug 14, Adventure Aquarium is extending its operating hours from 5 pm to 8 pm (Aquarium opens at 9:30 AM), so that guests can take full advantage of the added daylight that summer brings.


“Summer Fun Nights were created in response to guest feedback expressing a desire to visit Adventure Aquarium in the evening, particularly in the summer months,” said Kevin Keppel, the Aquarium’s Executive Director. “These extended summer hours are just another way we’re able to make a trip to Adventure Aquarium convenient and accessible for guests.”

If your a kid at heart you need to check out the Choo Choo Barn –Traintown, U.S.A.® - located in Strasburg, PA. This is one of the largest,most engaging, custom model train displays in America.  Featuring more than 150 animations and 22 operating trains, this 1,700 square foot, handcrafted, work-of- art is packed with action as it details the many familiar landmarks and scenes Lancaster County.

Be transported back into the early history of American culture with the Strasburg Rail Road, America’s oldest short line railroad and a designated heritage site. Founded during the first term of President Andrew Jackson, Strasburg Rail Road can trace it's roots back to 1837 when it began hauling freight, most likely by horse-drawn cars. Locomotives began to rumble down the tracks and through the Amish farms and countryside in the 1850s. In 1958 the railroad was purchased by railroad buffs and set toward a goal of preserving this piece of railroad history.

Recently my family and I visited The Amish Village in Ronks, PA.  I remember visiting the Amish Village when I was young and I was excited to share this experience with my kids.  The Amish Village is an authentic living museum showcasing Lancaster County’s Amish community, the oldest and largest in the nation. The 12-acre Amish farm and homestead, located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, gives visitors a unique look into history and into this beautiful and peaceful culture.

Farmhouse
Our tour started in the 1840's Amish farm house, our tour guide walked us through the rooms of the house and explained may of the Amish customs and the reasoning behind them.  I was fascinated with how they use some of our modern day appliances without electric by converting them over to propane. My kids enjoyed learning about the clothes the Amish women wear. They loved the simplicity of the Amish wedding dress.

This guided tour lasted about 25-minutes and we learned about the history of the Amish, their religion, family life and cultural traditions and why they choose not to use some modern conveniences.

Barn
Next we had the opportunity to visit the barn to see many of the animals that would normally be on an Amish farm. They have a baby bull named Fernando that my kids had the chance to feed.  They also got to see pigs, a horse and even a peacock.

One-room Schoolhouse
We were also able to experience a special treat only offered during the summer months. We got to meet an authentic Amish school teacher who explained what life in a one-room school house is like. During your lesson you find out what makes the Amish education different and why schooling ends at 8th grade. The authentic Amish teacher will be at The Amish Village on Saturdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, June through August.  My family and I enjoyed talking to her and asking how the school day is different from the school day of my children.

The Amish Village, located at 199 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks, PA, is open Monday– Saturday, 9am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm. Admission for the tour and access to the entire 12 acre property is $8.25 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are free. For more information visit https://www.amishvillage.com or call 717-687- 8511.

For a mix of fun and learning on a budget, you can't beat The Amish Village. Watch our video to learn more about the property before your go!



Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit The Amish Village.

Challenge your preconceptions about tarantulas at the Delaware Museum of Natural History's upcoming exhibit, Tarantulas: Alive and Up-Close, on view Saturday, Feb. 12 - Monday, May 30, 2011. These gentle giants of the spider world are less harmful and more beneficial to humans than their fearsome reputations lead many to believe.

Tarantulas: Alive and Up-Close features a unique array of 20 live tarantulas from the more than 900 known species living all over the globe in various habitats. Species on display include a goliath bird-eating tarantula (the largest of all tarantulas), the rare green bottle blue tarantula, and the Indian ornamental tarantula, which is a species troubled by loss of habitat in the wild.

The exhibit focuses on the diversity and natural beauty of tarantulas while providing engaging learning opportunities. Visitors can observe the attributes that allow tarantulas to live in varied habitats, including deserts, rainforests, treetops, and underground burrows. They will learn that the hair seen on a tarantula's body serves survival functions, including sensing food, providing water resistance, protecting from parasites, and allowing them to "throw" barbed hairs in defense. While tarantulas are known to be fast, families can see that differences in anatomy dictate bursts of speed.

Special features of the exhibit include hands-on components such as the "Tarantulas of the World" interactive world map; "Name That Tarantula" identification activity; and "The Legend of the Tarantella." Children will enjoy the climbable "Tarantula Burrow," which also serves as a photo opportunity for visitors of all ages.

WHAT: Tarantulas: Alive and Up-Close

WHERE: Delaware Museum of Natural History, 4840 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807

DATES: Saturday, Feb. 12 - Monday, May 30, 2011

HOURS: Monday - Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 12 - 4:30 p.m.

ADMISSION: $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children (3-17), free for children 2 and younger.

MORE INFORMATION: visit www.delmnh.org.