NJ Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Have Sippy Will Travel

What Are You Doing Over Holiday Break? Head to the Liberty Science Center!

December 16, 2014 by Samantha 7 Comments

Not only is the Liberty Science Center a whole lot of enjoyment, but it will also keep the kid’s brains engaged while they are off from school. Don’t worry- they will be having so much fun they won’t notice that they are learning things. With the kids soon to be out of school for holiday break (in general driving you stark raving mad, especially since you can’t let them outside as long as you might in warmer months), you will be glad to have a day out at the Liberty Science Center.

The kiddos had such a good time- we easily could have spent even longer at the LSC, but by 4:30 mom and dad were ready to call it a day. (We got there at 11 am, so it was a fairly long day.) There are tons of activities and exhibits, in a bunch of different genres- animal science, biology, earth science, working out puzzles and mind twisters, ecology, weather, music- if you can think of it, they have it. They even have live animals, reptiles, and aquariums. There is also plenty of physical activity for the kids to engage in.

One of the newest fun activities is the Infinity Climber. The only one like it in the world, it is suspended several floors up and relies on just one point of contact for stability and suspension. Kids and adults can climb into it and go crazy- find their way up and down and through- in any way they desire.

About the “Infinity Climber”

The “Infinity Climber” is a free-form, three dimensional, multi-story climbing structure created for children. Designed by Spencer Luckey, the sculpture is made out of bent plywood platforms that are suspended by steel pipes and cables. Located in the large atrium of the Liberty Science Center, visitors have the opportunity to climb, crawl, and balance through this extraordinary experience in a safe, but physically challenging environment designed to promote sensorimotor learning.
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Filed Under: education, review Tagged With: kids museum, Museum, NJ, science

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament – Lyndhurst, NJ

June 4, 2014 by Samantha 5 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. 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. 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 glace back in time- when knights defended the realm, and chivalry was not dead.
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Filed Under: evergreen, review Tagged With: dinner, dinner show, family fun, food, night out, NJ

Wildwood Days are Near

April 15, 2014 by Samantha 10 Comments

One of the best spots to visit for spring and summer fun are the Wildwoods in NJ. Morey’s and Mariners Piers and Beachfront Waterparks are fun for everyone, with rides, games, attractions, and of course the famous boardwalk food. As a Jersey Girl, all my summers have been spent “down the shore” (you wanna visit here, you say it right!) from birth right on up to the present. My little guy is getting to know Wildwood as well- his memories will be different then mine, but certain things stay the same (like the miles of sandy beaches and ocean with gentle, easy to wade into water).

If you are looking for a place to stay that is close to both the boardwalk and the beach, check out the Blue Palm Resort. It is right on the boardwalk, and if you walk across the planks, there is the beach. Talk about convince. There are about a million places to eat within walking distance as well. It has several sizes of rooms, some with balconies, and a few different pool options. Life vests are available, and you can borrow bikes right from the main lobby as well. They also offer special rates like the “Play & Stay” Passes exclusively to guests. There are two Play & Stay Pass options to choose from- splash and ride all you want for one day or for the entire length of your stay for a great value.

Morey’s Piers are a total of 3 piers, packed with over 100 rides and attractions including 2 water parks and a wide array of restaurants and concessions, games of chance and games of skill (bring your dollars if you want to win that giant stuffed animal). Check out the giant Ferris Wheel ride or Seagull Cycle, and work your way up to the Sea Serpent coaster (only found in Wildwood!) My sweet boy also loves the flying elephant and smaller carousel ride on the furthest pier- they have a dragon sea serpent “horse” he likes to ride on. Much cooler then the traditional pony- just ask him! It has a plethora of other creatures as well, but he likes the dragon best.

Eventually, you will get hungry. There are more places to eat at then you can shake your fist at- some of my favorites are the Hot Spot, Curly’s Fries, Jumbo’s, and of course Kohr Brothers custard for dessert. Jumbo’s specializes in fresh seafood, steaks, pizza, and the famous Chef Willy’s Cuban spiced fries, and you can eat either in their indoor dining room or outdoor dining area. If you don’t like custard, there is always Polish Water Ice- there are more stands for this then maybe anything else. There is always the all important corn dog and fresh squeezed lemonade available pretty much up and down the boardwalk, too. Choose wisely!

Splash Zone is a water park that has some all new elements added to it last year. With it’s classic white water rapids “The Beast of The East”, many slides and tube rides, lazy river, and of course the famous Splash Zone Bucket that will drench you and your family with thousands of gallons of water, comes the new interactive Close Encounters slide – featuring music, videos and a light show. Very small children will love the Zoe Zone, featuring a shallow pool, fountains, and soft play equipment. Make sure you stop by Wildwood’s #1 Water Park, Splash Zone. Follow them on Twitter at @SplashZoneNJ
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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, NJ, travel

Visit Morey’s Piers for Wild Women Weekends in May

March 24, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

Ocean-front Girlfriend Getaway Offers Wine Tasting, Beach Yoga, and More

This May, Morey’s Piers, the classic seaside attraction located on the boardwalk of the Wildwoods, NJ, and Morey Hotels & Resorts invites ladies to grab their best girlfriends and head to the shore for a pre-summer escape.

From a morning bike ride overlooking the Atlantic coastline and an afternoon winery tour, to spinning coasters and buckets of infamous Curley’s Fries, Wild Women Weekend at Morey’s Piers offers the perfect setting to unwind, spend time with the girls, and enjoy a little “WILD”wood fun.

Available on May 2-4 and May 16-18, the Wild Women Weekend package includes:

Two-night accommodations at the ocean-front Pan American Hotel
Daily breakfast
Winery Tour of Cape May Winery & Vineyard and Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery including transportation, tastings, and snacks (gratuity not included)

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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: NJ, travel

Ringling Brothers Circus, Coming to a Town Near You

March 21, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

Last night, we headed on over to the IZOD Center to see the “Greatest Show On Earth”- The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Circus. I personally love the circus, and would go see it even without kiddos. What can I say, it’s a feel good kind of thing. I used to think I was going to be in the circus when I was a kid- like, really and truly. I may or may not have developed what may or may not be a somewhat “interesting” fascination” with all things circus. So, now that you all know I’m odd (which really, you should have figured out by now), let’s talk about why the circus is awesome.

What’s not to love? Amazing acts, cute and funny animals performing with their trainers, people twisting and turning their bodies into insane shapes and contortions and doing things that literally make me spaz out in my seat because I’m worried they are going to fall or crash and crack their heads (don’t worry, they never do) is crazy. And there is nothing like it in the world. My son and I are usually entranced- but even the husband gets into it, and almost nothing does that.

So what’s new this year? Plenty. (Don’t forget to get there early- you get go into the performance area and meet some of the stars and acts before the show starts if you plan ahead and don’t lollygag. (Yeah, I said lollygag. Enjoy.)

The Greatest Show on Earth is coming to town! Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ new show, LEGENDS, will be in the New York & New Jersey area for a five-week run, starting February 20^th. The brand new show features legendary ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson, who has been with Ringling Bros. since his debut as the first African-American ringmaster in the company’s history in 1998.
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Filed Under: entertainment, family, review Tagged With: circus, live events, NJ, ringling brothers

The Big Apple Circus

March 5, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? The Big Apple Circus is back, and better then ever. This year brings “Luminocity”, which transports the acts in the circus’ single ring the New York City’s Times Square. My husband, my son, and I all loved the acts in the circus, and we all had a great time. Bonus for families you don’t have to pay to park, the souvenirs are (really, I swear) reasonably priced, and there is food available on site.

The Big Apple Circus also really cares about kids- they created an organization called “Clown Care”. Performers head out to heal kids with the power of love and laughter, and bring joy into the lives of kids that can’t get to the circus themselves.

“Clown Care, the signature community outreach program of the Big Apple Circus, brings the joy of classical circus to hospitalized children at 16 leading pediatric facilities across the United States. Circus Co-Founder Michael Christensen created the program in 1986 based on his desire to provide a unique service to youngsters undergoing treatment in pediatric facilities. In partnership with a participating hospital’s chief medical and administrative staff, members of the Clown Care team conduct ‘clown rounds,’ their own version of medical rounds, where the healing power of humor is always the prescription.”

More About The Circus

Venture within the hubbub at the heart of Gotham, where the restless tide of humanity rushes through canyons of skyscrapers and shoals of billboards: The dog-walker, whose rowdy pups perform amazing tricks! Businesswomen who arrange to meet, soaring high above on a double trapeze! The rube, a clown-prince among peers, celebrating the mirth of life! Revelry at New Year’s Eve, with teeter-board acrobats flying like fireworks! and a chic couple of wire-walkers suspended mid-air for the event! The humble repairman, climbing the ladder of his imagination! The mounted policewoman, directing a cavalcade of steeds! The flimflam man with his quicksilver moves! The food cart vendor, juggling his produce! Construction workers assembling athletic poses of incredible strength! The celebrated Big Apple Circus Band, under the baton of maestro Rob Slowik, provides the lively musical soundtrack, and your cosmopolitan Ringmaster, John Kennedy Kane, will conduct your tour through this luminous cityscape. Run away and join the Big Apple Circus this season for a dazzling, unforgettable spectacle of wonder, merriment and joy.
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Filed Under: entertainment, kids, review, theater Tagged With: circus, live events, NJ

The Other Josh Cohen At Paper Mill Playhouse

March 3, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Now showing at the Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ, is the incredibly funny “The Other Josh Cohen”. This play is about a Jewish man who is down on his luck and broke, but this nice guy just wants to do the right thing when a mysterious check shows up at his home with $58,000 for him. Not knowing the sender, he tries to make sure that it’s really HIS money before he cashes the check. His friends and family try to help- which only makes it stranger. This musical (told in the past and present, with multiple actors playing the same person at the same time, often literally talking to themselves) will have you laughing from start to finish.

Josh didn’t have the best luck with girls, jobs, or even his writing. But nice guys can finish first, and the show will make you feel good about your own junk luck, and make you laugh at yourself as well as Josh. Add in a dancing Darth Vader and random visits from Neil Diamond, the strange-sounding show is a real hit, and one I would recommend to anyone.
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Filed Under: entertainment, lifestyle, theater Tagged With: NJ, paper mill playhouse, theater

Adventure Aquarium in NJ

February 25, 2014 by Samantha 9 Comments

This winter has been interminable, but there is plenty to do indoors. Just a short drive from NY, NJ, or PA, is the Adventure Aquarium- formerly the Camden Aquarium. There are many things to see and do inside, from new exhibits, to interactive touch pools, and educational experiences. You can get a hot lunch there, bring your own and grab a table, and spend the whole day inside. (There are also outdoor penguin enclosures, but bring your coats! Baby, it’s cold outside.)

The latest exhibit, running through March, is all about our favorite amphibian- frogs. Everything and anything frog related can be found here- and your children can even see (and touch, if they are brave!) a tiny poison froggie. Don’t worry- it’s harmless to people. Unless you eat it. So, don’t. 🙂

Featuring more than 8,500 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water, Adventure Aquarium is the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos and also home to the largest collection of sharks on the east coast – including a Great Hammerhead Shark. Located just minutes from downtown Philadelphia on the Delaware waterfront, visitors can get up close and personal with sharks and stingrays they can touch. They can also explore one-of-a-kind exhibits, including hippos, penguins and a shark tunnel.

The NJ of Adventure Aquarium on the Delaware Waterfront’s newest exhibit, Frogs: Natures Messenger hops on to the scene and opens to the public, bringing the opportunity to come face-to-face with frogs of all types, sizes and vivid colors. More than 20 species of frogs and amphibians will invade the Aquarium through April — from the red-eyed tree frog, the poison dart frog, the tiger-legged monkey frog and the enormous African bullfrog, there will be something for everyone to croak about.
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Filed Under: lifestyle, travel Tagged With: aquarium, family, NJ