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Top 10 Tips for Visiting …

May 9, 2016 By admin

Water parks are all the rage with junior travelers and the best indoor water parks are catering to adults as well. My family and I took the plunge and visited Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, PA and it really exceeded my expectations. From the fun filled water park and fine dining to activities and spa services, here are my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, PA.

Top 10 Tips for Visiting Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, PA

1) Splash in the Water Park –

You won’t want to miss the resort’s 220,000-square-foot indoor water park, the largest in Pennsylvania. Guests will find water coasters, slides and raft rides in all speeds and sizes as well as a basketball pool, lazy river, indoor/outdoor hot tub and more. Kids will love Splashdown Safari (think net crawls, water guns, and slides galore) and Tiko’s Watering Hole with pint sized swings and a mini lazy river.

Learn to swim like a mermaid at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA

2) Try your pick of signature aqua lessons: Mermaid or FlowRider –

My daughter tried out the resort’s new mermaid lessons and loved learning how to swim in a mermaid tail. I decided to tackle the FlowRider where you grab a board and catch some indoor waves. I won’t tell you how many times I crashed into the side wall but it really was a fun experience.

3) Get lost in the arcade –

You can’t get into the water park without meandering through the gigantic arcade so trust me when I say you will spend a lot of time playing arcade games as well as bowling, playing mini golf, laser frenzy and other fun games. Be sure to agree on a spending plan in advance and save room in your luggage for the prizes.

Kalahari’s Adventurers Club features daily activities for children.

4) Sign up for some family-friendly activities –

The Kalahari Adventures Club features daily supervised activities for kids (some fees apply) like games, crafting projects, character meetings, culinary challenges and family activities like hikes and scavenger hunts.

Kalahari features a wide array of family-friendly dining options.

5) Enjoy family-friendly dining –

Every restaurant is family-friendly at Kalahari from the upscale Brandburg to The Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet which features buffet offerings kids will love (think candy filled pancakes and chocolate fountains). If you’re visiting over a weekend, check out Kenya’s Birthday Bash Celebration, a fun-filled character breakfast party with family-style dining, dancing and kiddie games.

6) Save room for dessert –

There are sweet treats available morning, noon and night at The Last Bite. Ice cream lovers won’t want to miss the super-premium Wisconsin ice cream featuring flavors like Zanzibar Chocolate, Caramel Chaos, Fat Elvis, Big 5 Kalahari and more. It is delish!

Take in the African art at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA.

7) Take in the African surroundings –

The resort features an array of authentic African decor including batik prints, sculptures, murals, carvings and more. If you’re an art lover, be sure to look out for the gorgeous artwork in the rooms, hallways, public areas and restaurants.

Shop till you drop at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA

8) Shop Till You Drop –

The gift shops and specialty stores at Kalahari do not disappoint. You’ll find an array of swimwear and fun pool accessories like mermaid fins as well as authentic African gifts, crafts, stuffed animals, games and other souvenirs.

Visit the spa for a little relaxation at Kalahari Resorts, Poconos, PA.

9) Relax in the Kalahari Spa & Salon –

If you’re looking for a quiet retreat, escape to the spa where you can enjoy a full array of body treatments. I stole away for an hour to check out the sauna, steam room and hot tub and it was so peaceful and relaxing.

Check out story time at Kalahari’s Big Five Fireplace.

10) Check out Character Story Time –

Kalahari’s animal characters greet kids and a selection of oversized kids books are read aloud by the Big Five Fireplace.

Be sure to check out my full Kalahari Resort Poconos review for more details on this fun-filled family destination. This water park is so great it is also featured on this article: 19 Epic Indoor Water Parks You Will Want To Visit This Year!

Has your family ever stayed at a Kalahari Resort? What was your favorite part? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks to Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, PA for hosting my family. As always, all opinions are mine. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes …

April 20, 2016 By admin

Do you have a picky little fashionista in your house? If so, this post about the new Kidpik subscription box is for you! Living in NYC, families get so many things delivered in a box (from groceries to shoes) because online shopping is typically easier, faster and much less complicated than venturing out to a store with kids in tow. When I heard that a new subscription clothing box was launching for girls (size 4-14!) just in time for our spring and summer travels, I immediately wanted in.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

My 6-year old has become super opinionated about her clothes and preferences seem to change on a weekly basis so we were both super excited to sign up for a Kidpik subscription box. The site was very easy to navigate and my daughter loved being able to select her own preferences. Kids plug in details about their location, clothing likes and dislikes, favorite patterns and colors.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

This was my daughter’s first time setting up an account for a website and she felt so grown up getting to make her own password and select her fashion preferences. It was so fun watching her carefully make her selections even though some made me cringe (imagine lime, pink and mint tie-dye maxi skirts!). Kids can specify if they don’t wear specific items, select details like skirt lengths and vote on how much sparkle they like or don’t like. The final step was selecting favorite outfits from a selection of photos and choosing favorite places to shop.

The custom styled boxes typically include five to seven items like tops, bottoms, dresses, layering pieces, shoes and accessories that make multiple mix and match outfits. Shipping and returns are free so there really isn’t much to risk. You can also exchange sizes and return or donate items you don’t love which is a nice perk.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

The box arrived and it was a hit! Girls fashion has sure come a long way since the Garanimals I used to wear. The items included two fun sparkly t-shirts, a stylish top featuring a colorful pineapple, a black and white striped maxi skirt, yellow skinny jeans, a white jean jacket, adorable mary-jane sneakers (in a nice travel tote), iron on patches and a glittery headband. Everything was super cute, age-appropriate, high-quality and most important…comfortable.

We have trips to Florida and the Caribbean coming up so I know this white jean jacket and the white sneakers will get a lot of wear.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

Initially, my daughter was not thrilled with the yellow jeans because she thought all jeans were blue but once she tried them on she changed her mind.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

The items are meant to be mixed and matched together but they will also coordinate nicely with items you already own.

New Kidpik Subscription Boxes for Globetrotting Fashionistas

Here’s the best part…if you keep all items, the discounted price is approximately $75 per box or $12.50 per item! Fun fashion styles, high quality goods and affordable pricing means we will be back for another box.

Watch this video below to see the live unboxing.

30% Off Your Purchase + Free Shipping and Styling When You Sign Up for kidpik!

Have you ever tried a subscription box service? Tell me in the comments below.

Thanks to Kidpik for providing me with the subscription box to review. As always, all opinions are my own (or in this case, my daughter’s). If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Top 10 Things To Do at Crayola …

April 7, 2016 By admin

We recently took a fun-filled road trip to Pennsylvania (more to come!) and one of the highlights of our getaway was a day at the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. If you’re looking for an indoor retreat where kids (and adults) can unleash their creativity, this is a great option. Read on for more scoop and a Crayola Experience discount.

Top 10 Things To Do at Crayola Experience, Easton, PA (and ticket discount!)

You can easily spend the day at Crayola Experience. Grab lunch in the cafe or head outside to one of the nearby restaurants like kid-friendly Cheeburger Cheeburger. The website features an interactive map so planning your trip is a breeze. Here’s my list of the Top 10 Things to Do at Crayola Experience, Easton, PA.

Start with the live theater Crayon Factory show at Crayola Experience.

1) Start with the live theater Crayon Factory show. The best way to get oriented is to start with a crayon making lesson starring animated crayons and Crayola’s resident Crayonologist. As you leave, be sure to pick up your freshly made crayon.

Make a personalized crayon at Wrap it Up!

2) Make a personalized crayon at Wrap it Up! One of the all-time favorite exhibits, Wrap it Up! allows guests to choose a crayon color and make a personalized label. Take your crayon and label to the special wrap machine and voila, a customized crayon is born! These make great souvenirs for teachers and classmates. Note: A token (included with admission) is required.

The Cafe Stage show showcases the history and science behind different Crayola products.

3) Check out the Cafe Stage show. Enjoy a snack and take in a show while you learn about the history and science behind different Crayola products. This show was really cute and my daughter loved being selected to talk about gravity while playing with Silly Putty. If you’re looking to steal away from the crowds, this show is sure to please.

Create your own animated figures on the easy-to-use touch screens.

Create your own animated figures on the easy-to-use Art Alive touch screens.

4) Play in the Art Alive! animation room. Kids and adults will love creating their own animated figures on the easy-to-use touch screens. When you’re done, watch them float across the room on the animation screen.

Make a personalized puzzle at the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA.

5) Make a puzzle at Puzzle It! Color a drawing and use the special kid-powered puzzle press cutting machine to turn your creation into a six or 12-piece cardboard puzzle. Mail the pieces to a pen pal or grandparent and you’ll make their day. There are other crafty projects in this area with themes that change year-round.

Make one-of-a-kind crayon spin-art creations at Crayola Experience.

6) Don’t miss the crayon drip art. Located on the fourth floor, the drip art area is the place to make one-of-a-kind crayon spin-art creations. Select your crayon colors and spin the wheel fast or slow to change the patterns. This is a favorite for kids and adults.

Take a break to play in the bright two-story playground.

7) Take a break to play. Check out the bright two-story playground with a large climbing structure or Toddler Town area which features a colorful pegboard and giant ball maze.

Go back in time as you learn about Crayola’s history.

8) Take a stroll through crayon memory lane. See how the crayon colors and names have evolved over the years. Don’t miss the vintage advertisements and memorabilia throughout the museum.

The Crayola Experience gift shop offers a great selection of gifts and Crayola memorabilia.

9) Shop till you drop. The gift shop is huge with a great selection of gifts and Crayola memorabilia. You can create custom boxes of markers or crayons, make shirts customized with your drawings, purchase an endless supply of craft supplies and more.

The Crayola Experience features an array of colorful backdrops.

10) Take in the surroundings. From gigantic crayon and marker sculptures outside the lobby to colorful murals and crayon pathways, be sure to take some colorful outdoor pics of your kids running around.

There are so many other fun things to do so be sure to check out my full Crayola Experience review from our first visit. Planning a visit, book your ticket in advance with this Crayola Experience discount and save $4 per ticket.

Have you ever been to the Crayola Experience? Tell me in the comments below.

Special thanks to Crayola Experience for a providing us with complimentary tickets. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Fun Food Friday: New …

March 25, 2016 By admin

If you’ve already waited in line for a Cronut, its time to taste test the latest New York Foodie Fad: The Rainbow Bagel at Brooklyn’s Bagel Store.