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Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 …

July 17, 2014 By admin

Summertime means visits to amusement parks and today I’m sharing my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania from my recent road trip…

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Top 10 Tips for Visiting HersheyPark, Pennsylvania – Globetrotting Mommy

1) Start your day early! You’ll want to be in line when the gates open so you can enjoy the most popular rides before the crowds arrive. If you can get your kids past the first rides they see and head towards the back of the park first, that’s an even better plan. And if you really want to avoid the crowds, try to schedule your visit mid-week.

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Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

2) Sneak a Peek! Guests who purchase a regular full-day admission ticket can enter the park for a sneak preview the night before (either 5:30 pm or 7:30 pm depending on closing times). This is a great time to tackle the more popular rides and make a game plan for the next day.

3) Download the Hersheypark app and you’ll be able to see ride wait times as well as find restaurants, shows, restrooms and more. Try not to leave it running all day or you might run your battery down.

Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

4) Prepare to get wet. Bring your bathing suit, water shoes, and towel if you want to visit the Boardwalk water park area featuring 15 rides as well as wave pools and lazy river. Don’t forget swim diapers and puddle jumpers for the little ones.

5) Take the shuttle if you can. Most nearby hotels offer free shuttle service to and from Hersheypark and that is definitely the easiest way to go. The drivers will put your strollers in the luggage compartment so its really easy.

6) Speaking of strollers, take one if you’re bringing kids who are five or younger. Even if your kids don’t get tired, you’ll be happy to have a place to keep your bags and towels. If you’re bringing older kids, rent a locker or splurge for a cabana so you can have a home base for your stuff because wet towels are HEAVY.

7) Divide and conquer. If you’ve got a mixed age group, you’ll want to pick a meeting time and place so everyone can enjoy different rides. Hersheypark is unique because the kiddie and adult rides are mixed together in each area making it easy for families to do one area at a time which is nice. And if you and your partner want to ride an adult ride (imagine that!) or if a parent needs to ride with more than one child, Hersheypark has a “child swap” option where adults or kids can take turns riding.

Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

8) Bring your camera! You’ll want to get some pictures of the Hershey characters so make sure to visit them throughout the park or book a Character Breakfast for a more personal encounter. If you’ve got a waterproof camera, bring that along too.

9) Make a detour to the Zoo America. Admission is included in your Hersheypark ticket so if you or your kids need a little down time (or a quiet place to nap), the zoo is a great retreat.

10) Test out some of the new for 2014 kid-friendly rides like Cocoa Cruiser (a kid-friendly roller coaster), Tea Cups (a classic spinning ride) and Sweet Swing (a gigantic swing that my daughter and I really loved).

Ready to plan your visit to Hershey, PA? Check out Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1 and Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2 for more suggestions of things to do and see.

What are your favorite tips for visiting Hersheypark?

Thanks to Hersheypark for providing our tickets. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Fun Food Friday: A Taste of …

July 11, 2014 By admin

New York City is home to some of best food trucks offering up flavors from all over the world. If you’re looking to savor a sweet treat from Belgium, just start searching for the closest yellow Wafels & Dinges truck (or cart).

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Fun Food Friday: A Taste of Belgium with Wafels & Dinges

The Belgian waffle debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, when a Belgian restauranteur served his wife’s famed recipe. The Wafels & Dinges trucks offer up this classic brussels version as well the liege wafel, a soft and chewy version. There are savory wafels as well as ice creams and coffees but you’ll really want to stick with the sweet ones. Once you pick your wafel, you can select from the dinges or toppings like dulce de leche (fresh from Argentina), Vermont maple syrup, Belgian chocolate fudge, spekuloos spread, whipped cream, Nutella, fruit and more.

Fun Food Friday: A Taste of Belgium with Wafels & Dinges

Looks good, right? Check out their website to find a truck or cart near you or call the Hot Wafeline at 866-429-7329. You can also follow them on Twitter to be updated on specials and truck locations.

Bon appetit!

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on …

June 25, 2014 By admin

Summer is here and there’s no better way to see New York City’s sights than by sea. Circle Line cruises have always been a favorite for tourists and locals alike but if you’ve got kids, you’ll want to check out Circle Line’s Kids Cruises.

I took my husband, my daughter and my broken foot on the Summer Sizzling Radio Disney Dance Party cruise last weekend and we had a fabulous time. These Circle Line Kids Cruises, available on select Saturday mornings now through October, offer a kid-friendly version of the classic sightseeing cruise with special guests and fun kids activities.

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Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

The 75-minute cruise departs from Circle Line’s Pier 83 at 42nd street. Depending on the cruise theme, there are entertainers on the main floor and activities like face painting, magic shows and balloon twisters upstairs. On our cruise, the Radio Disney team led dance contests (think freeze dance, etc.) and giveaways. You’ll want to be upstairs to get the best views but don’t rush to take photos of the Statue of Liberty when you first see her, you’ll get a better view with fewer crowds as the boat circles back around. You’re welcome.

Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

The weather was spectacular, the sights were gorgeous, the sky was blue and the Annie soundtrack was playing in the background. It was a classic NYC moment and it was great being able to share an experience from my childhood with my little daughter. Here’s what you missed:

Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

It was so much fun. Here are the themes and dates for upcoming Kid Cruises:

July 12 – Liberty Day with Maddie from the WNBA team New York & Baze and His Silly Friends

July 26 – Star Wars Rebels Party

August 9 – Pirate and Princess Party: The Power of Doing Good

August 23 – Baze and His Silly Friends & the Berenstain Bears

October 25 – Halloween Ball Kids Costume Cruise

Here’s what you need to know:

Tickets cost $29 for adults and $20 for kids ages 3-12.

Boarding starts at 9:15 am and the cruise departs at 10 am. Food and drinks are available for purchase and there is a dedicated stroller parking area. The main deck is completely handicapped accessible and the crew were helpful with boarding. If you’re wondering how I got upstairs, I hopped up and down on my good foot.

If you’re driving, there is a parking lot right at the terminal ($35 for the day) which is worth it if you’re going to explore the nearby kid-friendly attractions, parks and restaurants like the Intrepid Museum, North River Lobster Company, and Lucky Strike Bowling.

To see the entire schedule of Circle Line Cruises visit http://www.circleline42.com/.

We headed over to a nearby pier afterwards which had a cute interactive water playground, grassy spots and scenic views. I’m always amazed to discover these hidden spots.

Spotlight on NYC: Sail Away on Circle Line Kids Cruises

Bon voyage…

I received complimentary tickets for review purposes but all opinions are my own.

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Michaels Kicks Off Passport to …

June 16, 2014 By admin

Looking for a fun and affordable way to explore North America this summer without leaving home? Michaels has teamed up with seven leading North American museums to create Passport to Imagination 2014, an in-store summer program where kids ages 5-12 can explore culture through crafting.

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Michaels Kicks Off Passport to Imagination Museum Road Trip Summer Program

This year’s theme is Museum Road Trip and each week will focus on a different museum with projects inspired by the museum and its exhibits. Projects teach lessons on natural history, technology, marine life, textiles and art. The in-store classes run today through Aug. 2 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 am to noon. Each two-hour session is just $2 per child at all U.S. Michaels locations. I don’t know where you live but for NYC parents, that’s an AMAZING deal.

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Michaels Kicks Off Passport to Imagination Museum Road Trip Summer Program

Here’s the lineup:

Week one – The Field Museum in Chicago – Showcasing a collection of more than 25 million natural history artifacts and specimens, The Field Museum is one of Chicago’s coolest museums. Kids will be making fossils, skeletons and other nature inspired projects.

Week two – Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta – Georgia Aquarium features more than 10 million gallons of water and 725 species! Visitors can dive into the wonderful world of whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, and also learn about African penguins, manta rays, sea otters, beluga whales, sea turtles and coral colonies. Kids will make dolphin, shark and frog art projects this week.

Week three – Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona. Exhibiting 300 of the most amazing aircraft in the history of flight and over 125,000 artifacts, the PIMA Air & Space Museum houses the third largest aviation collection in America. Kids will be making biplanes and gliders, flying fighter planes and space shuttle projects.

Week four – Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas inspires minds through a world of hands-on learning, fun and concepts in science, math and technology, all within one spectacular location. Kids will make space and planet, create-a-constellation, zeotrope, optical illusion art and robot projects.

Week five – The Denver Art Museum features a collection of more than 70,000 pieces ranging from ancient to modern times. Visitors can view sculptures, paintings and photography and participate in family-friendly exhibits and events. This week’s projects include quilts, modern art and portraits.

Week six – The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City explores past, present and future fashion trends, accessories and textiles from real-life fashion experts. Kids will make textural weavings, color & pattern wheels, fashion dolls, fashion inspiration boards, fashion sketches and a Duct Tape wallet or purse.

Week seven – The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada, features almost 36,000 pieces including paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, photos and more. Its colorful exhibits and hands-on creative experiences make it a great place for imaginative kids. This week, kids will make abstract sculptures and stained glass vases, Picasso inspired pictures and masks, and musical instruments.

During the week of June 16, the first 50 participants at each store will receive a free souvenir album.

I think this is a fabulous way to add some culture and craftiness into your summer plans. For more information on Passport to Imagination and other in-store crafting events and classes this summer, go to www.Michaels.com/Passport.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things …

May 28, 2014 By admin

Following up on the Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth post, here are Globetrotting Mommy’s Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

1) Visit Hersheypark. No visit to Hershey is complete without a trip to this famed amusement park. More than 65 kiddie rides, amazing roller coasters and water park attractions await visitors of all ages.