Samantha, Author at Have Sippy Will Travel

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament

August 13, 2015 by Samantha 4 Comments

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A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach, Medieval Times is a great show that the whole family can enjoy. For your moms and dads of little ones- no worries, the little ones won’t be afraid- the show is very tame (rated G!) while still offering tons of fun and action. Make sure you arrive early to give yourself time to check out the torture exhibit should you so desire- not recommended for kids, obviously. You can also (for an extra fee) have your child knighted for their birthday or other special occasion by the king in a special ceremony. My son was “knighted” at our recent visit, and it thrilled him! It was a little hard for me to get a decent photo (parents jostling), but no worries, because you are given a photo keepsake afterward. It is brought right to your table. Your child’s name is also announced at dinnertime, and everyone claps for him or her, it’s very cute.

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Launched in Spain in 1973, and in the USA just 10 years later, it is widely regarded as the longest running and most popular dinner attraction in North America- and I have to concur. During this 2 hour live performance, you and your family will experience a glimpse back in time- when knights defended the realm, and chivalry was not dead.
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Filed Under: review Tagged With: dining, food, NJ

Jewel Runaway Bay Resort in Jamaica

August 12, 2015 by Samantha 9 Comments

Jewel Runaway Bay is an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica that will give you everything that you need for a personal getaway. It doesn’t matter if you just want to lounge about or play some golf, there is something for you. It’s also a great place for couples to say “I Do” on the beaches in Jamaica- quite lovely.

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There is always something for you to do at Jewel Runaway Bay, because this Jamaican resort has it all. They are a beachfront resort that has three different pool areas and an-on site spa. There are also Jewel exclusives that you will not be able to experience anywhere else.

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If food ranks highly on your list when you are visiting somewhere new, there are five restaurants where you can discover delicious food. There is a style of restaurant for everyone from a laid back atmosphere serving jerk chicken beachside to more gourmet dining experiences- try them all, and eat often at your favorites.

Check out their activitites schedule – there is sure to be something that you will enjoy on your stay. It’s a great place to bring the whole family, there is quite a lot to do.

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The full-service spa has four treatment rooms; one for wet treatments, and services that range from facials to full body massages. Relaxation is top priority- you are on vacation after all. If you love golf, Jewel Resorts has everything that a golfer will need for the Jamaican Golf Vacation of their dreams. Runaway Bay Golf Club is next door and has 18-holes on a PGA-quality course. Even if you aren’t Tiger Woods, you will still feel at home on this golf course. Guests who stay at Jewel Resorts will enjoy complimentary green fees.

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There are all sorts of areas to relax including the garden, the beaches, or go inland to see the attractions that include Dunn’s River Falls, Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain, Nine Mile, and Appleton Rum Estate. After you have tons of fun in the Jamaican sun, head back to your room that is full of all the comforts and amenities that you could imagine. The beds are plush and will make it so that you get a great nights sleep so that you can get up and enjoy everything that much more the next day.

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And there is now NEW WATER PARK FUN! Families and kids can enjoy a whole day of fun at Jewel Lagoon Water Park that is now open. This park is a day long adventure with over 10 attractions that will satisfy toddlers to teens. There is even a family raft ride.

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You can rent a private cabana or there is a 5,000 square foot oceanfront deck. Also enjoy the two splash-down pools, kids gang slide, the lazy river, speed slide and the family raft ride. There are multiple levels of the kid slides and of course a splash zone. After you have enjoyed the sun and water fun make sure to check out the dining area and the stage that has daily live music. It is a fun time for the whole family and definitely needs to be scheduled for your trip to Jewel Runaway Bay.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: island, islands, jamaica, travel

A Visit to Dutch Wonderland @FunatDW

August 11, 2015 by Samantha 5 Comments

This time of year, one of the best ways to escape the summer heat and long, boring summer days is a day at a theme park. One of our semi-local favorites is Dutch Wonderland, home to Duke the Dragon (whom my son loves). Located in Amish County, Lancaster PA, it’s a great place to spend a vacation, too.

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Dutch Wonderland has tons of rides and games, as well as many food and drink stands. Some favorites are the “Panda Party”, which is an adorable ride in which the kids ride in Panda Bears and go around the beehive in circles, the Leapin’ Frogs, which bounce around causing the kids to erupt in giggles until the ride hops to a stop, and the Double Splash Flume, a classic ride with two drops (but not too scary or steep that would frighten the kids).

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We were there on a very wet and stormy day, where much of the park was closed due to severe thunderstorms in the area. It did eventually clear up and we were able to get on rides again- it just took about 2 hours. The good news is 2 rides were open, as were most of the games and some of the food stands as well. When they opened back up, the lines were almost non-existent, which was great.

Last year they opened Exploration Island, where you can walk among more then 20 dinosaurs the roar and move as you view them. We had hoped to visit again this year, but they remained closed. We did get to see the dinosaurs last year, and it was a lot of fun- my son really enjoyed it.

“Exploration Island is a rediscovered island of adventure and fun where guests will have the opportunity to walk with over 20 lifelike dinosaurs, dig for fossil remains, take a spin on the newly relocated and lengthened Turnpike ride and travel the Island canals on the classic Gondola Cruise.
This once under-utilized area of the Park has been re-purposed to house not only our dinosaur families, but our Turnpike ride as well. The Turnpike was one of the four original rides at Dutch Wonderland when it opened in 1963. We have moved this classic ride to Exploration Island and more then doubled the ride length in the process giving guests more spectacular views of dinos and the surrounding farm landscape.
We’ve also discovered dinosaur fossil remains and set up a permanent archeological dig at Dino Dig, where young explorers can unearth the fossil remains of dinosaurs. Brushes, buckets and diggers are available for use.”

Floating thought Duke’s Lagoon

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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, PA, theme park, travel, waterpark

The Best For Your Pet; Get #InspiredByCrafted

August 10, 2015 by Samantha 9 Comments

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Ideal Balance® Crafted™, but Have Sippy Will Travel only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

My son with our dog, Cooper.

Inspiration can come from some of the strangest places or even the most common. One of these inspirations could be dog food. Have you seen the new Hill’s® Ideal Balance® Crafted™? This dog food is made of high quality ingredients, and is handmade. Making it this way gives the food a special old world feel, like the way things used to be. This served as inspiration to try to feed ourselves in a more natural wholesome way as well. If the dog is eating better, shouldn’t the people, as well?

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It is amazing to look a the labels of your foods and really know what is in them, then to try to make the same dishes at home in a more natural way. Fried chicken is easy and fun to make, as well as Italian dishes and other ethnic delights. Stepping out of the everyday and into something special is also the way the artists feel who are #InspiredByCrafted, be sure to check out their videos and how they brought their ideas to life.

#InspiredByCrafted is great fun. It is a way for you to express yourself in a crafty way and have a good time doing it. My son loves being crafty and creative- the messier and “cuter” the project, the more fun he is going to have making it. This is the general idea behind his crafts. He has made collages, stuffed creatures, clay dinosaurs, and even some pixelated skeletons, all of which he made with his own two hands and is always so proud of himself at the end. This is the way crafting should be.

Sasha, available for adoption! Email me for more info and to fill out an application with the rescue.

Be sure to check out the new Hills Ideal Balance Crafted line of products near you. They are available now at pet specialty retailers and online as well.

Filed Under: animals, review Tagged With: pets

Back to School with OshKosh B’Gosh #backtobgosh #BgoshJeanius

August 10, 2015 by Samantha 5 Comments

I participated in a Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for OshKosh B’Gosh. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

OshKosh B’gosh have been around since 1895 starting business as overall manufacturers in OshKosh, Wisconsin for adults. Soon after they began making these same overalls a bit smaller for their customers’ children and the story began. Since then, OshKosh have made quality children’s clothing and currently have stores across the country. With back to school upon us, you can stock up on jeans, jackets, t-shirts, jeggings for girls, and everything you need to help your kid keep in style this year.

As some of you who follow me on social media might know, I recently have had some car issues. No worries, we can shop online with OshKosh, and get delivery right to our door. You can grab not only blue jeans, but also great overalls, and items from the cute new Black, White & Indigo Collection- whatever strikes your fancy (and of course, the kiddo’s should they want to shop with you). The quality and quantity of items available and the prices of the garments is great- you don’t need to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks. We picked up 3 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of shorts, a package of underpants (3), a sweatshirt, tank top, 2 t-shirts, and a button up shirt, all for just under $100 including shipping. Quite a good haul, I’d say.

My son loves warm, cuddly clothing (anything fuzzy and soft) but also has an appreciation for anything with animals or super heroes on it. There was lots of soft and cuddly clothes and quite a few with animals, as well. The OshKosh baby section also had tons of adorable baby wear if you are looking- and no, we are NOT!
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Filed Under: clothes and shoes, review

Win Back To School Treats with Entenmann’s and Sara Lee

August 10, 2015 by Samantha 57 Comments

Back to school season is here and Sara Lee Snacks and Entenmann’s Little Bitesbaked snacks want to help de-stress the mornings and get the family back into routine with the ABC’s of Back To School campaign. Check out back to school tips, awesome DIY recipes cards and a video using Sara Lee Snacks and Entenmann’s Little Bites, and a printer friendly 5-day snack planner to help get you started this year!

Back to school can be a fun, exciting time of year, but getting kids out the door every morning can be stressful. Kids don’t always like to move, and they are always misplacing something, forgetting something else, and did you let the dog out (or back in?) Let’s face it- mornings aren’t super fun. Its great to have things like Little Bites on hand for those mornings when things go awry and you need to eat breakfast in the car on the way to school. Sara Lee also just came out with the perfect snack cake- brownie chocolate chip. My husband and son both love them, they are a hit here.

One of you will be able to win this great prize package valued at $60!

This giveaway ends 8/31/15. Feel free to enter by using the RC form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway

8 Kid Friendly Summer Tours in New York City

August 10, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

School is out for the summer and that means three full months of entertaining the kids. Need some ideas to help you fill those long summer days? Think New York City. Since the city can be overwhelming for kids and adults alike, we have mapped out 8 family tours that will keep the kids entertained. Read about them here and then find them and book them on NewYork.com.

The Beast

If your kids (40 inches or taller) are into thrillers, make sure to check out this 30 minute jet powered boat ride down the Hudson River. The crew is energetic and the captain is known to swerve around the river while passing by the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center. DETAILS: Daily during the season (get tickets!) ; departs from Pier 83, W. 42nd Street and 12th Avenue

Superhero Tour of New York

Are you kids obsessed with superhero movies? This 90 minute tour will take you to some of the most famous locations seen on screen such as Spider-Man’s Daily Bugle office located inside the flatiron building, and the United Nations where Batman and Robin saved the Security Council. DETAILS: Fri.-Sun. 2pm; from $37 pp; 32 E. 32nd St; thecelebrityplanet.com

High Line Tour

A mile long park built on an elevated platform that used to be a rail line makes for the perfect kid-friendly tour. There are observation decks allowing you to peer down onto the street and ice pop vendors along the way. Twice a week there are tours led by volunteers who explain the process of redeveloping the High Line and the history behind the platform. DETAILS: Tue. 6:30pm, Sat. 10am (arrive 15 minutes early, tours are capped at 20 people per docent); meet on the west side of the 14th Street Passage, on the High Line, just south of the elevator door; thehighline.org

The Ride

Hop on this one-of-a-kind mega-bus that has three rows of stadium seating that face the New York City streets. While cruising around the city you’ll not only see historical landmarks, but also street performers queued up to perform as you pass by. The comedic tour guides are the icing on the cake. DETAILS: Daily except Tues. (daily June through August); from $61 (get tickets!) ; 42nd Street at 8th Avenue, in front of Chevys Mexican Restaurant

A Slice of Pizza Brooklyn Tour

We all know kids love pizza and this four and a half hour tour will take you to the best pizza spots that Brooklyn has to offer. Tour guide Tony Muia, a true pizza connoisseur and Brooklyn-bred fanatic, will fill you in on historical tidbits about the borough as well as play famous Brooklyn-centric movie clips on the bus, such as Saturday Night Fever and Goodfellas. DETAILS: Fri.-Sun. 11am; from $80 (get tickets!) ; E. 13th Street and Fourth Avenue, Manhattan. NOTE: This is a long excursion so may not be the best for young children

Bronx Zoo Guided Tours

The day will fly away with a visit to the nation’s largest metropolitan zoo! With almost 6,000 animals on 265 acres, the Bronx Zoo can be overwhelming! We suggest taking one of the 90-minute tours of popular exhibits such as the Congo Gorilla Forest Tour, Endangered Species Tour or the Aquatic Bird House Tour. General admission is included in your ticket price. DETAILS: Daily 10:30am-12pm, 1:30-3pm; (get tickets!)

Scavenger Hunts

Stray Boots New York, a scavenger hunt company, provides hunts based off of your interests and location in the city. The best part is the tour is organized through your cell phone! After choosing what scavenger hunt you’re interested in, your phone will prompt you to head to the tours starting point where you will begin receiving clues on your phone. Tours last two to three hours and you can take as many breaks as needed. DETAILS: Daily; from $12 pp; each tour has a specific starting location; strayboots.com

Wildman Tour

Join Steve Brill for a foraging tour where you’ll learn about edible wild plants and medicinal plants found in the local parks of New York City. This is a four hour tour where you should be prepared to get your hands dirty and take home some greens. DETAILS: Weekends; $20 suggested donation/$10 for kids 12 and under; times and locations vary; call 914-835-2153 24 hours in advance for reservations; wildmanstevebrill.com

Originally reported by Garth Wingfield for NewYork.com

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: guest post, travel

World Elephant Day

August 10, 2015 by Samantha 1 Comment

Did you know that World Elephant Day is August 12?

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s 96 Elephants campaign focuses on protecting forest elephants from extinction, through awareness and legislation. More than 35,000 elephants are killed by poachers each year for their ivory and the goal of 96 Elephants is to stop the killing, demand and trafficking of elephant ivory. Last weekend, President Obama announced his administration’s proposal to ban ivory sales in the United States. The public has 60 days to comment on the bill and then the administration can make changes. We don’t want the bill to become less effective as a result, so we need your support!

The 96 Elephants campaign is named for the number of elephants currently gunned down each day by poachers. It focuses on: securing effective U.S. moratorium laws; bolstering elephant protection with additional funding; and educating the public about the link between ivory consumption and the elephant poaching crisis. You can learn more about 96 Elephants at the official site, http://www.96elephants.org.

World Elephant Day is August 12 and the Bronx Zoo will be having many activities:

STAMPede activity. Kids will be encouraged to color in or use a hand stamp on an elephant foot print to #BeHerd and show their support for elephants.
Make a pledge to participate in #BeHerd comment days – your readers can go here immediately to sign a pledge: http://bit.ly/1UlvZpI
Take an #elphie with the World Elephant Day photo booth. Use props & frames to take fun photos to support elephants. Remember to tag with #elphie & #BeHerd
Visit the World Elephant Day exhibit in Dancing Crane Pavilion
Sign letters to President Obama supporting the ivory Ban
Visit a 15 ton sand sculpture of an African elephant!

Please donate a tweet to save elephants:

Click the tweet button to tweet this: Join the #STAMPede! I want my voice to #BeHerd so elephants don’t disappear. Support the federal ivory ban. bit.ly/1T0hOng