Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

55 Coogan Blvd.

Mystic, CT 06355-1997

Phone:860-572-5955

http://www.mysticaquarium.org/

What could be more fun than taking the kids to an aquarium? But this is no ordinary aquarium! Mystic is the only aquarium in the northeast to house Beluga Whales and one of only five aquariums in the world to have a male Stellar Sea Lion. The center is a wonder of aquatic life and oceanic discovery that will entertain and educate the entire family.

There is both a large outdoor and indoor component to the aquarium. Outdoor exhibits include the beluga whales, stellar sea lions, African penguins, and the center's animal rehabilitation center for rescued marine life. One of my favorite spots along the outdoor trail in the wetland pond where you can spend time trying to see how many tadpoles, frogs, and turtles you can find hidden among the thousands of lilly pads. Indoor exhibits include sharks, California sea lions, frogs, tropical fish, and other sea creatures. Kids will love the touch tank filled with crabs, lobster, sea stars, and more.

For those of us that are willing, for a small fee you can purchase a cup of fish to feed cow nose stingrays. The experience is worth the price. The stingray will eat the fish right out of your hand. You will get wet (and a little slimy). A great hands on experience for children and adults alike.

For the even more adventurous the aquarium offers encounters with the beluga whales and African penguins. Each is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to these wonderful creatures. Please check the aquarium's website for specific height and age restrictions. The prices are steep for such encounters, but if you have a budding marine biologist in your group one of these programs may be just for you!

Along with the animals there is the Center for Exploration, an exhibit funded by (and mostly about) Dr. Robert Ballard. Dr. Ballard is person who is famous for discovering the remains of the Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland. The exhibit features several videos highlighting some of his crew's discoveries, along with some artifacts. There is also an XD theatre (for an extra fee) where you can watch a 3D movie.

Meals, drinks, and snacks can be purchased at the penguin cafe which offers indoor and outdoor seating for guests. The food is the usual burgers and pizza fair at reasonable prices. Next door is the museum gift shop full of stuff animals, shirts, books, and other goodies the kids will want to bring home. Many items are priced $20 range and less making souvenir shopping possible without breaking the bank!

My family has visited the aquarium on every visit we have made to Mystic. Most of my visits have been in the fall and winter, when the crowds are few and the weather is chilly. My most recent visit was during 4Th of July weekend when the crowds were large and weather was very warm. Make sure to dress for the weather, you will be spending at least half of your visit in the elements!

have Fun!

Sahara Sam's Oasis Indoor Water Park

Sahara Sam's Oasis Water Park

535 N. Route 73

Berlin, NJ 08091

856-767-7580

http://www.saharasams.com/index.aspx

An indoor water park in the middle of southern New Jersey, what is not to like? Sahara Sam's offers a variety of fun, water activities for the youngest and oldest members of the our family. My five year old loves the kiddie slide area and the family tube ride. The nine year old likes the Tim-Buk-Tu Tree fort. My 78 year old mother loves the lazy river and warming tub. For the adventurous (none of which are in my family) there is New Jersey's only Flow Rider. A wave of water that you can body surf on. There are also activity pools and two other tube water slides that make up the attractions. One unique feature of the facility is on sunny warm days the roof retracts to let the natural sunlight in. Sahara Sam's also has a redemption arcade and snack bar, as well as complimentary lockers (nice touch) and changing areas.

There is plenty to keep the family busy for a day of fun. Admission prices are the following:

Adults: $29.95

Child (Under 48"): $22.95

Check online for specials, including Mommy and Me time and Homework club when special rates are offered.

My family purchased a family four pack annual membership and we visit Sahara Sam's on a weekly basis. It was a great deal at $596 for the year. I used to spend that on Great Adventure passes for the season. The annual pass is good every day of the year (even on Christmas!)

The park has had some issues since it opened in March, long lines to get in at opening time, problems with lockers, long wait for food. But as time goes on the problems are decreasing. It is a family owned facility and they really try to help if there is a problem.

Safety is top priority at Sahara Sam's. The guards are friendly and assist the kids when needed and there are a lot of them!

Remember to bring a towel, your bathing suit, and plan to get wet!

For more information you can download their brochure at this site:

http://www.saharasams.com/userfiles//Sahara%20Sams%20General%20Broch%20Web%204-2009%201.pdf

Massanutten Virginia

Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Drive
McGaheysville, VA 22840
(540) 289-9441

http://www.massresort.com/

Looking for a four season resort that have something for everyone in the family? Look no further than Massanutten Resort. Located minutes from Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley, the resort boasts everything from skiing, golf, swimming, crafts, canoeing, and more! This resort has been a family favorite of mine for years. Except for Disney World I have never stayed at a resort that offered so many choices for every member of the family. Lets start with sports:

Winter Sports:During winter months the mountain is full of winter sports. A chair lift takes riders to the top and offers Skiing (downhill and cross country), snow tubing, and snowboarding in this 70 acre park. The ski lodge has all the amenities that you would find on a championship ski slope. Retail, rentals, lessons, and food are offered at this mountainside retreat.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Sports: Two golf courses and a driving range are offered as well as instruction and a pro shop. For the younger crowd a miniature golf course is also available. Canoe tours and horseback riding are also available.

Water Sports: The resort boasts two indoor Olympic size pools, an outdoor pool, and a state of the art indoor water park. Surfing lessons are available on the flowrider, a man made wave of water that even the novice is able to surf! Did I mention scuba diving lessons?


Crafts and Activities: Candle making, jewelry making, Tye dying, soap making, and painting are only a few of the classes available during your stay. Cooking demonstrations, tastes of the lodge, magic shows, movie nights, poker, and bingo events are all offered weekly.

Kid Rec: The resort has a kid rec that includes two hour to half day activities for kids ages 4 and up. Girls night out, arts and crafts, water games, sports, and theme events are offered. My kids love it!

The above is only a small sampling of what is offered at the resort. Check out their website for up to date information. Part of the reason I love Massanutten is its affordability. Activity cards are available for $100 per adult and $50 per child. The card gives you either free or reduced activity prices (like water park passes for 50% off, many art and craft classes are free with the card). If you are staying for a week, the card is a must buy!

Accommodations range from hotel rooms to four bedroom timeshare units. My family usually stays at Woodstone Meadow which is located at the base of the mountain. The rooms have two bedrooms and can sleep six comfortably. The rooms also have kitchen facilities so you can pack food to save money! Usually a week trip for my family of four, with food and activities, runs $1000. A bargain compared to most resorts. Check with the Massanutten owners association for deals on week long rentals. Many owners rent their units and you can get some great deals on room rates if you are flexible. Currently we are staying at the resort from March 6-March 13 and our room rate for the entire stay is only $349!

*If this is your first time to a time share resort be warned! They will try to sell you a time share by asking you to go on a tour of the property. The staff at Massanutten are very nice and will respect your decision if you decline their offer for a tour. Other time shares are not so easily discouraged from a sale. An insider tip: if you do not want to go on a tour when staying at a time share resort simply tell them that you work for a time share, they will immediately leave you alone!

Delsea Drive-In Theatre

Delsea Drive-In Theatre


2203 South Delsea Drive
Vineland, NJ
856-696-0011


http://delseadrive-in.com/index.php

Welcome to the only Drive in Theatre left in New Jersey! If you are looking to take your kids back in time and show them how you watched movies in the summer as a child then this is the place to go. The Delsea Drive-In always has a double feature every night they are open for $8 per adult and $3 per child ages 3-11 years (under 2 are free). I am not sure what I like most about this place: the movies, the nostalgia of a time gone by, the intermission cartoons, or the top of the line concession stand. My girls had never experienced a drive-in until this summer and they can't get enough of it!

Yes the place is not in the best of shape, but the current owners are doing a great job restoring this landmark to its former glory. This cannot be more apparent then at the concession stand. With a menu to rival most diners in south Jersey, they offer everything from standard movie time favorites (like popcorn, candy, and hot dogs) to Shrimp kabobs, Peirogies, and even low carb options! You can also purchase novelty items (such as glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces, and even t-shirts). Best is everything is reasonably priced. A kids combo of popcorn, full size candy, and 12 oz soda is only $3.50! If you prefer to bring your own food there is a $7.00 food permit fee. As with most theatres the Delsea Drive-In makes the majority of its profits from the concessions sold, and I encourage anyone who goes to help them by purchasing from their menu.

Unlike the Drive-in of yesterland the movie soundtrack is broadcast over FM radio stations so you can listen to your movie in surround sound if your car has the option. This also makes it easier to regulate temperature in your vehicle since your windows can remain closed. During summer months some regulars bring folding chairs and portable radios to sit outside under the stars to watch the show.

The Delsea Drive-in boasts two screens. The theatre is open from March to the first weekend in December. My family was there the last weekend in November and watched the Disney movie Bolt while it was snowing out, how cool is that? Show times vary depending on the time of year. Most of the movies are first run theatrical releases (except on certain cruise nights when Grease is played!) Movies range from G rating to R so check the schedule to make sure they are age appropriate for your group.

Many of us with young children may only make it through the first movie of the evening. Make sure you stick around for the intermission to see the famous dancing hot dog commercial, dancing soda (Let's all go to the lobby!) and minutes to showtime clips. Young ones can always snooze away while the rest watch the second flick. See you at the movies!

Nifty Fifty's

Nifty Fifty's

4670 Route 42

Turnersville, NJ 08012

856-875-1950

http://www.niftyfiftys.com/

Do you miss when you were a kid and went to your local 1950's style diner? OK, I am really not that old (I will admit to being thirty something!) but even if you can't remember the days of poodle skirts and soda shops you will love the atmosphere, food, and fun of Nifty Fifty's. What sets this diner apart from the rest, let's take a look:

1. How can you say no to over 100 flavor combinations of soda? Some flavors are better than others, but with free refills, you can try at least two or more per visit!

2. Burgers the way they are suppose to be, fresh not frozen, and prepared with your choice of toppings. My husband and I rate their burgers among the top 3 we have ever had.

3. Chicken Nuggets made from all white meat (you can even watch them being made!)

4. The best fresh squeezed orange juice I have ever had!

So now you are saying, great for the parents but what about the kids? Besides kid friendly food, soda jerk hats the kids can decorate, free baby food, and quick service (always a plus with little ones)...lets talk about the miniature golf course and arcade:

The arcade boasts that is has state of the art games, but on several of our visits the games were not operating or broken. I also found two of the video games to be very violent for a family friendly facility. But for the little ones there is a small bounce room. The redemption center is small and the norm for a small venue.

The miniature golf course seems to take full advantage of its small space. Certainly not a championship course the area is clean, somewhat tropical themed, and plenty for an hour of putting fun.

Nifty Fifty's also offers children's parties, though I would recommend ages 5+. My youngest daughter and I went to 4 year old's party there and the staff did not seem to know what to do with children of this age group.

There are 5 Nifty Fifty locations in the Philadelphia area to choose from, but please note that not all locations boast arcades and golf courses. Check the restaurant's website for the location and amenities nearest you!

Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia PA

Please Touch Museum

Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park
4231 Avenue of the Republic
Philadelphia, PA 19131

http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/

If you are looking to take your kids to one of the best children museums in the country, this is the place! The Please Touch Museum was recently moved to the 1876 Centennial Exposition building in Fairmount Park. With more room, and a unique setting, this museum has become a top notch children's destination and a must see when visiting Philadelphia.

As you enter the hall you are immersed with the sounds and sights of childhood. A replica of the Statue of Liberty's arm and torch (standing 40 feet tall) greets guests as they enter. Unlike its original, this arm is make entirely out of discarded playthings by local artist Leo Sewell.

There are several themed areas:

Wonderland: What would it be like to be Alice in Wonderland? Kids (and parents) find out when they visit this hands on exhibit featuring the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, the Hall of Mirrors and Doors, and the topiary maze.

City Capers: Kids get a realistic peek onto an urban street scape and discover the people, businesses and neighborhoods that make city life so dynamic! My daughters love the Shop Rite grocery store and the McDonalds. What do parents like about this exhibit? Why Dear Old Captain Noah's television set of course!

Roadside Attractions: This fun area includes a Septa Bus, city park, and working garage. The kids love creating cars by changing the wheels, headlights, and windshields (sponsored by Toyota). I loved the benches in the park for a much needed Mommy break!

Flight Fantasy: This exhibit is for budding airplane pilots, astronauts, and engineers! Create your own plane and via a crank system launch your aircraft from the ceiling and watch it soar! My kids could not get enough! This area features a human size hamster wheel, great for kids who still have too much energy!

River Adventures: Like water? This is the place for you! Hundreds of boats and rubber duckies (my 4 year old's favorite) make their home at the museum in this fun, wet river system. There are pumps, locks, fountains, bubbles, and currents to keep the boats and duckies afloat. If you are lucky, a rain storm may pass by...and a rainbow appear in the sky! Don't worry about the kids getting wet, the museum offers free waterproof smocks and drying stations, a nice touch!

Parents who grew up in Philadelphia will recognize several exhibits, including the Wanamaker's monorail and the Lit Brothers Victorian Village Display. Any adult who has seen the Tom Hank's movie Big will want to jump on the FAO Swartz piano made famous by the film, and a recent addition to the museum.

And don't forget to take a ride on the vintage Dentzel carousel!
Tickets for the ride are $3 per person.

Admission to the museum is $15 per person (Adult or Child). Parking is $5.00 but there is plenty of free street parking close to the museum. Hours are Monday - Saturday: 9 am–5 pm Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm CLOSED: New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

Plan to spend at least 3 hours at the museum. There are art and craft projects, as well as children theatre productions, at the museum daily. Check the program guide the day of your visit for more information.

Family Clay Time

Family Clay Time
110 Green Tree Road
Turnersville, NJ 08012

http://www.familyclaytime.com/index.htm


Looking for something fun to do on a rainy afternoon? Then head on over to Family Clay Time right off of Route 42 in Turnersville! Kids (and their parents) get to choose from a variety of clay projects including:

-Painting a ceramic piece with either acrylic or glaze paints (glazed pieces must be fired in a kiln and picked up at a later date).

-Creating your own masterpiece out of clay, then returning on your next visit to paint your art.

Pieces start at $8 and go up from there. There is a $3 studio fee to cover the cost of firing, paint, and supplies. My kids love picking out and painting their own pieces, I like it for its affordability and fun factor! Where else can your kids go and bring home a piece of art for less than $15?

Check out their website for special family nights and events!