Lucy The Elephant- Unique New Jersey #FamilyTravel

July 31, 2012 by 14 Comments

There are some very unique attractions in NJ. Of course, I mean unique in the kindest of ways. There are Jersey Devils and Vortexes, albinos who attack cars, and of course enough ghosts and aliens for even the most hard-core skeptic to get goose bumps. (Have you ever read an issue of Weird NJ? You totally have to!) Today we are checking out Lucy the Elephant in Margate Beach, NJ. Lucy is a building in the shape of an elephant that you can actually go inside of. Lucy the Elephant is a part of New Jersey history.

Lucy was built by a real estate investor who was trying to drum up interest in the area in hope of pulling in investors, land owners, and tourists. The idea worked and Lucy was first built-in 1881 for the cost of $38,000- which at the time was quite the fortune. Lucy has acted as quite a few humble abodes as well as vacation homes and now a hot [Read more…]

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Hanging Out with @ZylieTheBear in Central Park at #OasisDayCamps (AND #Win a Bear!)

July 30, 2012 by 17 Comments

Me and my Little spent the morning in Central Park with the makers of Zylie the Bear and Oasis Day Camp (where my son attended camp for a month this summer). The kids had a great time playing together, with lots of activities planned and of course- meeting and learning about the guest of honor- Zylie!

Zylie is a bear after my own heart- she likes to travel 🙂 Zylie the Bear, an innovative new teddy bear line that is all about fashion and adventure, has a silly little brother, likes to learn, visits a museum, and has a Panda friend from China named Shen. In her first book, which was read in parts to the kids, we learn about Zylie and what makes her so much fun. The kids, both boys and girls alike, had a great time hearing her story and playing with the bears. Then, all the “little campers” had a morning of recreational and creative [Read more…]

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Meet Me at @SesamePlace #ThemePark

July 30, 2012 by 3 Comments

One of my son’s summer highlights has been his trip to Sesame Place in Buck’s County, PA. I grew up with Sesame Street, and as a teacher I love the educational, social, and cultural values it helps to instill. As a parent- I love it, too! There are versions of Sesame Street all over the world- from Russia to Mexico. Something about knowing that this sweet, educational show unites kids globally (literally) really touches me- and even more so now that I myself am a mom, teacher, and travel enthusiast. You can’t see the world until you go out and experience it- start young, and make a little global citizen. But I digress!

We had so much fun at the theme park, there are all sorts of fun rides- and for once, they are ALL aimed at little ones.

Do my feet match Big Bird’s?

One of Little Man’s favorite rides was the Flyin’ Fish, which had Elmo faced fish of all kinds- with a unique Sesame twist, of course. After all, what is a catfish without ears and whiskers? LOL Kids can press a button in the ride, and make it rise up and down as it spins (slowly).

We [Read more…]

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Top 5 Translation Apps for Overseas Travelers

July 30, 2012 by 2 Comments

Being a stranger in a strange land can be fun for a while – right up until you order the
special and wind up with a plate of live squid or you hop on a train to get back to your
hotel and wake up in another country. While most people will struggle to use pocket
translation books (populated by ridiculously tiny print) modern technology can make your
trip a little easier with a slew of translation apps. Here are a few of the best.

  1. iTranslate. Okay, let’s be honest: this app is free to download but a lot of the
    features will require payment (at prices of $0.99 to $1.99 a pop). That said, there is a lot
    to love about this translation application, which features 50 languages (20 of which have
    spoken translation), a dictionary, speech-to-speech mode (handy for conversations), and
    options to save phrases. It may cost you a bit for some of the neat features, but even
    without them you get a basic translation tool that’s better than most of the offerings out
    there.
  2. Word Lens. Many travelers know the frustration of looking at signs in foreign
    countries and having no idea if they’re giving you directions to your hotel or offering you
    a bowl of fried rice. This app lets you take pics of signage in order to have it translated.
    It doesn’t have a lot of language options yet, and although the app itself is free you will
    have to pay as much as $4.99 for each one you download, but the upside is that you
    only need to buy the languages you want to use, rather than shelling out for a program
    that comes with dozens that you’ll never need. And the first time you use it to read a
    menu in France or a train schedule in Spain it will be worth every cent.
  3. SayHi Translate. This app will [Read more…]
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Dutch Wonderland- Save in PA #ThemePark

July 29, 2012 by 5 Comments

A Kingdom For Kids! It’s not just a slogan — it’s a commitment to young children and their families that beyond our castle walls is a place just for them called A Kingdom For Kids!, where family fun is proclaimed by royal decree. Since opening on May, 20, 1963, Dutch Wonderland has consistently been recognized as a premier family amusement park and has been voted one of the Top 5 Best Kid’s Park in the World by Amusement Today magazine. Having your birthday party, other celebrations, family outing, and Scouting events at Dutch Wonderland is easy with catered options, picnic lunch boxes, and cabana rentals. With attractions like ChooChoo Charlie, Frog Hopper, Dragon’s Lair, Duke’s Lagoon and so much more, Dutch Wonderland is a favorite amongst children [Read more…]

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Fort Rapids- Save On Your Ohio #Vacation @DiscoverOhio

July 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

Fort Rapids is central Ohio’s largest indoor water park resort- and the perfect family fun travel destination. Where else can you get 60,000 square feet of wet and wild fun for the whole family, all in one convenient location? Come relax and unwind in one of the guest rooms or family style villa suites, then zip down 12 unique water rides, float in the lazy river, get drenched by the 1,000 gallon tipping bucket and win big at the 5,000 square foot Gold Rush Arcade. Then, stop by the Branding Iron Grille or Copper Star Saloon for lunch or dinner. The Conference Center at Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park Resort will cater to all business and [Read more…]

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6 Ways to Get the Best Deal on Private Jet Flights

July 24, 2012 by 1 Comment

When it comes to group travel, many people simply wind up paying too much. They don’t realize, for example, that a private jet flight can be significantly cheaper than flying commercial when you’re talking about a sizable group of people. Not only that, there are a number of tactics you can use to get even better prices when you book your private jet flights.
Here are some tactics you can use to charter a jet and save money for your company or group:

  1. Start by looking at “empty leg” flights.

When someone charters a private jet and is staying in the destination city for more than a day, the chartered jet often has to fly back to its home airport empty. The charter jet company factors this into the original flight’s cost, and so they’re not losing money in doing so.
However, most charter jet companies do try to recoup additional costs by offering seats on those return flights. An empty leg flight can cost as little as half of the normal cost of a private jet flight.
In order to take advantage of empty leg flights, you need to be flexible in your travel arrangements. You need to be able to postpone, reschedule, or extend your travel. In some cases, you can take an empty leg flight one direction (either going to or from your destination) and schedule a regular private jet charter for the other leg.

  1. Consider private jet “pooling.”

Some private jet companies will allow individuals to share a private jet with other passengers at a reduced cost. This is closer to the idea of flying commercial; you pay for your seat, rather than chartering the entire plane. You still get the benefits of flying charter, such as the private tarmac and luxury service, as well as direct flights.
Not all private jet companies allow pooling, but for those that do you can expect to save as much as 30-50% off the cost of chartering the jet.

  1. Look at fractional ownership.

If you’re flying 50 hours or more each year, fractional ownership might be a better option for you. Fractional ownership means that you own a portion of the private jet’s time. You might own 1/16 of a jet, for example, as well as being responsible for a portion of its maintenance fees as well as hourly flying charges. [Read more…]

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Kennywood Theme Park Savings

July 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

America’s Favorite Traditional Amusement Park since 1898, Kennywood continues to delight each and every guest with 31 major rides, including three wooden coasters, two steel coasters including
Phantom’s Revenge and Skyrocket, water rides, spinning rides, hi-speed rides for thrill seekers, Kid-sized rides for tiny daredevils, and relaxing rides for those who simply want to enjoy the splendor of a truly inviting venue. Combining the best of the old with the best of the new, guests will find the original, 110-year- old carousel pavilion, as well as state-of-the-art [Read more…]

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