family vacation Archives

How to Make the Most of a Short Vacation

October 1, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When you really need a break from work to go on a vacation, but you just can’t fit one in, it can certainly feel like the universe is against you. There’s no need to feel down, however. Two or three days is enough to fit in exactly the break you need. You can have a fun-filled, relaxing or activity-based weekend vacation and make it feel like a two-week stay with these simple tips.

1. Plan Your Itinerary
When you have two whole weeks to plan what you’re going to do, you can easily leave it until when you get there and see what you feel like doing, but when you’ve only got two or three days, you need to be prepared from the get-go so that you don’t waste a second of your time.

If you want to visit attractions, check their opening times beforehand and plan to get there as soon as they open so that you can spend as much time there as you want to. Even more vital: choose the attractions that you want to visit ahead of time! You don’t want to be still discussing where you want to go when you’re having breakfast and need to leave soon.

2. Rent a Car
It can be a pain to rely on public transport when you have limited time. Buses often don’t turn up when they say they will, and this can put a strain on your vacation when you’ve only got so much time.

To avoid this altogether, contact E-Z Rent a Car; they will be able to provide you with a vehicle wherever you are taking a vacation, so you can do it your own way and save time on the highway.

You can also go off the beaten track when you’re driving your own car, so you can fully experience the destination of your vacation without limits.

3. Don’t Overbook It
In most destinations, there are probably many places and attractions that you want to visit and experience, but there simply won’t be enough time to see them all, even on a longer vacation. You don’t want to overbook your vacation and make it a stressful experience for you. After all, it is supposed to be about relaxing and having fun.

Instead, plan to visit a few tourist attractions and be realistic about how much time you can or will spend there. There is no fun in having a fully packed itinerary if you miss half of it and spend the visits you did make feeling tired or run down.

Short vacations make for a great burst of fun and activity and are a nice little break from the routine stress of everyday life. It’s good to keep in mind that if you do approach a weekend vacation like a two-week vacation, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. They can be just the break you need if you plan them well and treat them as what they are: short.

Packing for a Road Trip

July 6, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

The chances are that you are planning on going on a road trip or you are about to embark on one and have thus stumbled on this article. Packing for a road trip isn’t something that should give you a headache, although when you don’t know where to start, it very well can.

Here are a few tips for what you should always bring with you the next time you are planning a weekend getaway with your friends and family members. The better prepared you are, the more at ease you will be when the time finally comes to depart for your trip. Continue reading for more information.

The music playlist

A good road trip simply isn’t complete without the perfect music playlist. You and your road trip companions should compile a playlist beforehand that you can then play during this road trip.

Getting the right snacks

Snacks are always a necessity, especially when you know that you will be driving for a more extended period of time. The question is, what type of snacks should you bring?

Food is fuel for your body, and you need it to maintain your energy. It’s always in your best interest to bring with you healthy and nutritional snacks. One such example is Bob’s Red Mill nutrition bars, and there are countless different flavors that you can choose from, depending on you and your family’s preference.

Ensure that you have your essentials in the trunk

Depending on how long you are going and where you plan on driving to in the first place, you should always ensure that all of your trip essentials are placed in the trunk of your car. This is something that you should have also packed well in advance, as well.

Pillows and blankets

Sleep is always critical for any road trip, and there may be moments where the passengers will want to fall asleep for a few hours. This is exactly why you should have some pillows and blankets that you can keep in the back of the car until you need them.

You might even decide to pull over somewhere so that everyone in the car can take a nap, including the driver, in which case the pillows will become even handier!

First aid kit

You never know what could happen and where, and that is why a first aid kit is always essential to bring along to any trip, regardless of the duration or how you are getting there.

Water bottle

Staying hydrated is just as important as having food and other snacks for the trip. Everyone should have a portable water bottle that they have invested in and that they can bring with them on this trip. This will not only come in useful for the road trip but for day-to-day life as well.

Follow these tips, and you will feel more prepared than ever before for your upcoming road trip. Plus, you will now know exactly what to do for your next trip with friends or family members as well!

How to Improve Your Next Family Vacation

April 19, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When you are raising a family, you will be able to make amazing memories every single day. Some of the most important childhood memories that people treasure, however, happen on family vacations. This is a time when you all get to spend quality time together and bond while having fun somewhere new.

When you consider the importance of family vacations in bringing your family closer together, it becomes apparent that you need to put some real thought into making the trip brilliant. To help you out, this guide is going to give you three of the best ways to improve your next vacation and give your children the chance to make incredible memories.

Travel in luxury by going private

When it comes to planning a vacation, a lot of thought is put into where you decide to go and what you will do there. It is also of vital importance that you think about how you are going to get to your chosen destination. Traveling on the cheap might seem like a good idea, but it can often leave your family feeling over-tired and cranky, meaning your vacation gets off to a bad start.

One of the best alternatives is to look into Stratos Jets Charters and consider getting yourselves a private jet to get you from A to B. This will allow your family to travel in complete comfort and even relax on the journeys.

Know what to look for when it comes to where you stay

Another aspect of planning a vacation which can often get overlooked is the hotel or resort you choose to stay at. This is something people think they should always be trying to save money on, but in actual fact, you need to stay somewhere that caters to all your needs.

By being familiar with the sort of facilities available for families from hotels, you will be able to build a better picture in your mind of what you should go for. When planning a family holiday, trying to choose somewhere that has childcare facilities so that you and your partner are able to have some time alone for a date night. You need to remember, this holiday is as much about you as it is the kids, and you deserve a break.

Planning is your new best friend

You can find helpful tips on how to plan a trip online which can help make the process much easier. By planning out what you plan to do each day, you will be able to keep to your budget and, more importantly, always make sure your children are entertained. You should factor in rainy days, and try to explore as much as possible too.

Nothing can ruin the fun of a vacation more than having your little ones break out in a temper tantrum because they are bored. Try to book your tickets and passes to attractions early to get better deals and maximize the fun on your break.

Destin Florida is a Great Florida Vacation Spot for Families!

July 10, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Beach vacation anyone? Destin, located along the Emerald Coast in Florida’s panhandle, is a must-visit with the family. As a dad, there is a ton to be had with the kiddos at the beach, and at Destin’s beaches in particular.

Known around the world for its soft, white sand and emerald green waters, there is no end to fun beach experiences that happen here. Think about it. Snorkeling and exploring the world beneath the waves, as the kids get excited when they find small fish, crabs, sand dollars, and more. Building sandcastles on the beach with moats and bridges to protect the fortress from imaginary sea creature invasions. Relaxing under the sun while the kids bury your legs in the sand, turning you into a mermaid, and using their creativity to decorate your new tail with shells they find in the sand. And this is just the start of your beach vacation fun!

When you need a break from the sand and sun, Destin also offers a number of attractions that are fun for both dads and the kids. Check out these spots to add another level of excitement to your vacation.

Destin Kids Fishing

Love to fish? Never fished before, but want to give it a try? No matter your fishing experience, Destin Kids Fishing by Destin Inshore Guides provides an awesome venture for the whole family. This charter fishing experience is the only one that focuses specifically on kid trips. With experienced captains at the helm, you and the kids will have the opportunity to learn more about fishing in the area, as well as have fun casting and catching plenty of fish! Besides a chartered fishing boat experience, there are also general, family-fun boating packages that include all sorts of fishing, dolphin cruising, and exploring secluded areas that will have you making memories that last a lifetime.

Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park

With over 40 attractions, Big Kahuna’s is the largest water park on the Emerald Coast, and it is a dad and kid-friendly adventure. Attractions include water slides, rivers, pools, kiddie rides, and an adventure park. Have a mini-golf tournament with the kids – winner gets to pick the restaurant for dinner! Or relax as you float down the lazy river and the kids enjoy the giant wave pool or surf the halfpipe. With so many options, this attraction will keep you busy all day long.

The Track Destin

The awesome vacation experience does not end with the beach, a fishing boat, or a water park. The Track Destin is the ultimate spot for family fun. This venue features multiple go-kart tracks, including a unique elevated track, which are perfect for some father/kid competitions! Additional attractions include an arcade, thrill rides, kiddie rides, and bumper boats.

Experience Destin the right way with each of these vacation attractions that will have you and the kids laughing and having a good time – the whole time! Ready to start planning your getaway? Visit the Ocean Reef Resorts website to book your stay at one of their family-friendly Destin vacation homes or condos.

5 Tips To Getting Ready For A Road Trip & Being Green Too! #EarthDayDriveAway

March 21, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

“This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EarthDayDriveAway #CollectiveBias”

We have some road trips that are coming up soon for spring break and also over the summer. Anytime that my family decides to go on a road trip there are specific things that I tend to do to be able to make sure that everything is ready. Not only do we have to get the family ready, packing everything that we need and making sure that we bring everything that is needed so we don’t have to go and buy things while we are traveling. On top of this though I also make sure that my car is in tip-top shape so that we don’t have any unforeseen breakdowns that could be avoided. As a part of getting my car ready, I do want to do things that will sustain my car and the environment as these are both important to me too.

Below you will see 5 tips that I want to share with all of you in regards to getting ready for a road trip. I hope that they help you as you plan your next road trip.

1.Bring your car in for a tune-up

Make sure that your car is in the grass shaped that it can be. If you have failed to have a tune-up on your car you may be setting your subject up for a break down along your trip. By going to a store like Walmart that offers full service tune ups while you shop you can get a lot done and take advantage of the time you have. You also can save a lot of money as in looking around I find that their prices are one of the most competitive ones in my area that I’ve ever seen. You also can spend a little more money by asking for a product Mobil 1™ motor oil which offers a full synthetic product that will safeguard your car for up to a year. By spending a little bit more for all your like this you can rest assured that your vehicle will be safeguarded throughout the year.

As I got ready for my road trip I took my car into my local Walmart Auto Care Center for an oil change and I did exactly what I suggested. Before I arrived I did of researching online using the Oil Selector Tool which was a free resource. In using this, I received a recommendation to try out the synthetic Mobil 1™ motor oil as I found that it will cover my car for up to a year! As I was walking around Walmart I also noticed that you also can purchase Mobil 1™ motor oil on the shelf. Why did I spend the extra money for this product? For me, Mobil 1™ synthetic oil made sense. Not only does it protect my engine, it also decreases my carbon footprint by making me have fewer oil changes which reduces oil consumption and less waste oil which is something I want to do! With this oil, it offers a Mobil 1™ Annual Protection which will prevent or reduce enough CO2 emissions to fill the Empire State Building more than 5,000 times* and even reduces CO2 emissions. The CO2 emissions reduction would be equivalent to taking more than 500,000 cars off the road*

*Estimates made based on aggregation of the United States’ average car and motor oil statistics

2. Only Pack What You Need

Too often but I tend to pack too much. I will go on a short trip and bring clothes for every day and we’ll forget to look to see if I have the availability of doing laundry while I’m away has this can allow you to bring less clothes and do a bit more laundry instead. Making sure that you ask good questions of the place where you will be staying as well as knowing what type of weather is coming for your trip is also important. Bring a few days of clothes that will help you to be able to swap out different colors for your apparel and that also we can save you some room in your luggage.

3. Stock Up

Whether you to this before you leave or once you arrive at your location, visiting a local Walmart is a great way to be able to save money. You can find small things that will help you on your trip. There have been times where I am able to stay at places that have kitchens and we tend to throw away a lot of food at the end of the time staying at the site. I visiting a local dollar store you can at times consider getting smaller bottles of things like dressing, laundry detergent, body soap etc. Best of all, by doing this, you save a lot of money that you would have spent in another store.

4. Create a Checklist

As you get ready for your road trip there will be many things that you have to do to stay on top of things and be ready for the actual day of the trip. Everything that is going on the day of the trip will quickly sneak up on you. By making a checklist of the things that you need to pack, the things that you need to do for your car, and any additional items that need to be completed to get your house ready for you to be missing will help you to make sure that you will stay on top of things and that you won’t forget the things that need to be either accomplished or packed prior to the trip.

5. Be Prepared

Bring supplies in the event of an accident or medical issue. Stock your car with an emergency kit—especially a flashlight, blanket, first-aid kit, and some basic tools. Also, bring water and extra snacks, just in case.

If you are taking a road trip soon, get over to Walmart to get an oil change today and take adventage of a very cool offer that will let you save money as well!

Earth Day Drive Away offer (exclusive to Walmart)

Mobil 1™ is giving Walmart customers a chance to win a Chevy Equinox, plus $10 off their next Mobil 1™ purchase at Walmart.
Promotion run dates: January 15, 2018 – April 30, 2018
Shoppers can enter for a chance to win a Chevy Equinox in two ways:
1. By purchasing 5 quarts of Mobil 1™ in the store or a Mobil 1™ oil change at the Auto Care Center
2. By recycling any used oil at an Auto Care Center
As a bonus, shoppers that purchase 5 quarts of Mobil 1™ synthetic oil or a Mobil 1™ synthetic oil change at the Auto Care Center are also eligible to receive a $10 Select Certificate valid on a future Mobil 1™ purchase at Walmart.
Once shoppers have made a qualifying Mobil 1™ purchase or recycled any used oil at Walmart, they can enter to win the Chevy Equinox and/or receive their $10 Walmart Select Certificate at earthdaydriveaway.com.
Limit 2 entries in the sweepstakes per customer (1 for purchasing and 1 for recycling).
Receipt required to receive $10 Walmart Select Certificate.

So whether you are heading on a road trip soon or in a few months, make sure to prepare yourself well and also take care of your vehicle too!

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Bavarian Inn Lodge & Restaurant – Get Ready To Be Taken Back In Time!

July 3, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Whenever summer comes along I always try and find time to get away with my family. Sometimes my trips are lengthy and drawn out, but sometimes we can find gems in our own backyard. This is the case in visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan.

My family has visited Frankenmuth, Michigan in the past but we had never explored the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Both the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and the Bavarian Inn Lodge are staples in Frankenmuth and as you enter Main street, the iconic look of the Bavarian Inn restaurant let you get a true feel for what the town is all about.

About Bavarian Inn Restaurant:
Celebrating 125 years of service in 2013, the Bavarian Inn Restaurant has become a Michigan landmark. Generations of diners, lodgers and tourists from around the globe have discovered true Bavarian hospitality thanks to Dorothy and her late husband William “Tiny” Zehnder. Guests experience the old-world European charm of the Bavarian Inn – whether it’s the famous chicken dinners, fresh baked goods or Michigan’s greatest selection of German beer. Bavarian Inn also prides itself on being one of the top consumers of Pure Michigan agricultural products. Nestled within a backdrop of authentic German architecture, a variety of shops and other fun activities, a trip to Frankenmuth would not be complete without a visit to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. My Readers Receive HALF OFF Bavarian Inn Restaurant with this exclusive coupon .

About the Bavarian Inn Lodge:
The Bavarian Inn Lodge, nestled along the Cass River in one of Michigan’s top tourist destinations – Frankenmuth – is one of the state’s largest Indoor Water Park Hotels. The Lodge has 360 European-themed guest rooms, including whirlpool and family suites, an adult-only pool, two gift shops, two lounges and two restaurants — all under one roof. The Lodge’s expansive 35,000 square feet Family Fun Center houses two dramatic waterslides, three pools and two whirlpools, over 100 video and redemption games, a two-story children’s play village and Willy’s Kingdom indoor mini-golf course. Guests can also enjoy live, year-round, nightly entertainment and test their own musical skills during weekend family karaoke shows. In 29 years of business, the Bavarian Inn Lodge has been an important destination for travelers, evidenced by the 1.25 million room-nights that have been booked there since its opening, along with its top rating on TripAdvisor. Learn more at www.bavarianinn.com.

We fully explored the village on the first day of our visit and of course my kids wanted to try out all of the free samples that they could for cheese, fudge and more. There was live music outside the Bavarian Inn Restaurant and hearing the clock bells chiming is truly a site you have to experience.

After a number of hours of exploring shops and the history of Frankenmuth we returned to the Bavarian Inn Lodge to allow the kids to have some fun at the waterpark and in the family fun center. The Bavarian Inn Lodge has four pools with two water slides. They even offer one pool that is for adults only if parents want a time out without kids.

The pools were very warm and they stated that they keep the temperature at a constant 84 degrees but to be honest it felt even warmer than that. The two water slides are quite different, with one that offers the ability to ride as a single or a double and even shoots you into a funnel before bringing you out at the end. The second is an individual ridge without tube and you are in the dark for some of the ride too. Both water slides were a ton of fun and my kids (and I) climbed the stairs over and over again to take advantage of the speed and the fun. When we were done with the slides we checked out the waterfall pool, and this pool seemed to have less kids swimming in it when we were there, but the kids enjoyed having the ability to stand under the waterfall and the room to swim underwater too.

We also took advantage of the 18 hold miniature golf course and while some of the holes were harder than others, each hole was unique and a ton of fun.

The arcade has over 150 games and you can get 40 credits by reloading a $1 card which will last kids some time. Most games were 2 credits a piece with some that were less and some that were more (4 credits seemed to be the largest number that I found).

The family fun center has late hours and the time flies by with the fun that you are having. You may find that you need to sleep in the morning after like we did!

On day two we explored more of Frankenmuth but also had dinner at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. The restaurant has many dining rooms and the first thing that you notice is the fact that all staff are dressed in traditional German garb. The food is a mix of Frankenmuth Chicken and German Dishes. Many of the dishes are offered family style so you can share items with the family and friends that you have with you.

We tried some of the German dishes and Frankenmuth Chicken and could not have been happier with the choice of food. We had a server by the name of Carlie and she was amazing. She told us that she had worked there for four years and you could tell that she loved what she did. The service was top notch and the food was just as good. We had a ton of food that was left over and we decided to pack it up to bring it home and thus we could enjoy the food for a second day too.

In visiting the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Bavarian Inn Restaurant get ready to get taken back in time for an experience that you will not forget!

Our Take on the Bavarian Inn Lodge

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The Summer Vacation Technology Contract Every Family Needs

April 6, 2017 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

The Summer Vacation Technology Contract Every Family Needs

Every summer, families hit the road or the skies to embark on new adventures together. Nothing says family fun quite like a summer vacation, but there is one thing that can put a damper on the excitement—smartphones. Teens spend about six hours per day on their smartphones and tablets. It can be hard to create memories and bond together as a family when your teen refuses to put his or her cell phone down. How can you share funny stories, snap family photos and soak in the beautiful surroundings of your exotic destination if your teen can’t look up from his or her smartphone screen?

Before you start planning your vacation itinerary, follow these tips to create a summer vacation technology contract:

No phones allowed.

Every summer vacation technology contract should include information on “no phone zones.” Clearly outline where kids are allowed and not allowed to bring their phones while on summer vacation. For example, if you’re taking a long road trip across the country, you could allow kids to use their phones to pass the time. However, phones should be off limits at family dinners or fun excursions. As long as you make the rules fair, your kids will abide by them.

Keep it on silent.

Make sure kids know that phones should be kept on silent at all times, even in places that you have not designated as a phone-free zone. Take the example above, for instance. If you allow your teen to use her phone on a road trip, she should keep it on silent while it’s in use so she doesn’t annoy everyone else in the car.

Focus on the now.

So many kids are more interested in snapping photos than they are about living in the present, so this should be included in your technology contract. Make sure kids understand that every stop on your family vacation is not an excuse to take a dozen selfies. Designate one person in the family as the official photo taker so your kids don’t become obsessed with documenting every move of the vacation.

Give them responsibility.

The contract should make it very clear to kids that they are solely responsible for taking care of their phone during your family’s summer vacation. Kids should learn that smartphones are a privilege, not a right. If your family is heading to the beach, kids should be responsible for making sure the phone is not damaged by sand or water. Traveling on an airplane? It should be your kid’s responsibility to keep track of where they put their phone—not yours. Make sure you include ways that your teen can pay you back for replacement or repair costs if something does happen to the phone. This way they know the consequences are serious, and they’ll be more likely to keep a close eye on their phones.

Talk about safety.

Although the main purpose of the contract is to keep kids off their phones, you should also use this document as a way to talk to kids about online safety. Mention in the contract that you will be monitoring activity on the phone to make sure that your teen is not visiting dangerous apps or websites or engaging in inappropriate conversations with people.

To have a true smartphone-free summer vacation, everyone in the family has to be on board with the rules above—even parents! Set a good example for your teens by sticking to the rules of the contract and focusing on the fun that you have planned for the family. In fact, you should even work with your teens to create a “parents’ pledge” section of the contract. This section should include rules such as “I promise to be a good role model” and “I promise to set reasonable expectations for my child.” This way, teens won’t feel like they’re being singled out for their smartphone use, and will instead feel like the whole family is working towards the goal of spending more time together and less time with their eyes glued to a smartphone screen!

Learning So Much At the Springfield Museums in Springfield, Massachusetts

June 27, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

On our recent trip to Springfield, Massachusetts we had the opportunity to visit the Springfield Museums to explore everything from Seuss to Science and more.

When you come into the Springfield Museums you are entering the Science museum and this museum has everything from aquariums to natural history, dinosaurs, and even a special exhibit on “The Scoop on Poop” which my girls loved and brought forth numerous jokes later too.

You have the ability to select any of the 3 other museums to explore. Our time was a bit limited so we chose to go to the fine arts museum as both my daughters are artists and they truly enjoyed seeing and experiencing artwork that ranged from pieces from the 1500’s to closer to present day. My oldest was excited to see a Picasso that was on display, while my wife and I were interested in seeing that the Springfield Museums had a special Kandinsky drawings exhibit that was currently on display.

One of the Springfield Museums that I found the most interesting was the one that was all about the history of Springfield, Massachusetts itself. I could have spent many more hours there reading and learning if we had the time. I had no clue that Springfield was such a hub for so much. From being the place where Milton Bradley started to having many well known munitions companies there along with the Springfield Armory which was the main location making the munitions for the U.S. military for many years. This on top of being the home of Friendly’s Ice Cream, the place where Shay’s Rebellion occurred and the home of Peerless Handcuffs and more. Springfield, Massachusetts was definitely home to many more things that I would have expected.

This included being the place where Dr. Seuss was born and raised for his early years. The last things that we did was visit the Seuss Sculpture Garden. The beautiful sculptures within the garden are ones that you will immediately recognize and are ones that at least for me put a smile on my face. As a family that loves Dr. Seuss, we may just have to come back in 2017 when the Springfield Museums is planning on opening a brand new museum just for Dr. Seuss himself!

The Springfield Museums are hidden gems within Springfield, Massachusetts and definitely worth the time!

Below are a few more thoughts on the Springfield Museums!

My Take on the Springfield Museums

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Visiting the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

June 25, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

My daughter plays basketball and I grew up loving the sport. This meant that visiting The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was a no-brainer when we knew that we were visiting Springfield, Massachusetts.

I did not realize the connection of Basketball and Springfield, Massachusetts until I explore the Basketball Hall of Fame and learned about the woman from Springfield, Massachusetts who started womens’ basketball after conferring more with Dr. Naismith himself.

As you are driving up the The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame you will note the iconic design of the exterior and it was this initially that placed a smile on Diva-J’s face, but it was the basketball courts that you first walk into that really got her heart pounding.

As I mentioned as you walk into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame you walk onto a basketball court. The basketball court has displays of all backboards as they had been used in the past including the original basket made of peach baskets too. You could shoot on any of the baskets to try your hand at sinking a shot. They also had hoops of varying sizes set up to allow you to dunk on the hoops too.

Once we were complete with this we went up to the third floor to see all of the inductees within the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Talk about a very cool list of alumni. These are the greats in all of basketball history and they are all looking down on the basketball court action that is occurring below their gazes.

On the second floor was a huge array of memorabilia, games and more. On every floor though there was a ton of learning that could and did take place. I had forgotten that Bill Lanier, a Pistons great, was the basketball player with the largest shoes size, a size 22!

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was an amazing museum that will give you hours of learning and hours of fun for the whole family. Whether you love to play or just love to watch the sport you will leave this experience with a larger love of the sport and the athleticism that surrounds it too.

Our Thoughts on The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

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Great Wolf Lodge Offers Great Holiday Events! #Giveaway

October 29, 2013 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

About Great Wolf Lodge

Your Great Wolf Lodge adventure begins in our massive, 84-degree indoor water park. Splash the day away in over 39,000 square feet of water-packed excitement, including jaw-dropping slides for thrill seekers or zero-depth entry areas for little ones. Outside the water park, the fun continues. Grab a wand and battle a dragon in MagiQuest or get an ice cream-themed manicure in Scooops Kid Spa before gathering your family in our Grand Lobby for nightly fireside Story Time, the perfect ending to a Great Wolf day.

On top of all of this Great Wolf Lodge also offers some great holiday themed experiences as well that you and your family will love. Some of the ones that are coming up this fall include the two below:

Set as featured

Howl-o-Ween runs through Thursday, October 31. Some activities vary by lodge, but all resorts participate in the nightly costume parades, trick-or-treat trails, and the Monster Bash family dance party on the weekends. Most lobbies are decorated with our giant balloon spiders and are decked out in Howl-o-Ween décor.

This October, grab your costumes and join us for spooktacular family events throughout your stay.

Costume Parade

Each night, children of all ages are welcome to attend our Costume Parade. Everyone will have the opportunity to show off their costume to the crowd, allowing parents a chance to snap photos to remember the events. Each participant will also receive a prize.

Trick-or-Treat Trail

Bring your costume and grab your goodie bag – it’s time for Trick-or-Treating at Great Wolf Lodge. The whole family will enjoy meeting our characters as they collect their ghostly goodies along the trail. Parents may attend the Trail with their children, however ghostly goodies are provided to children only.

Spooktacular Story Time

Don’t be late to the Great Clock Tower Show each night at 8:00 p.m., followed by Spooktacular Story Time. Enjoy stories that are just a boo-bit scary with a visit from a character of the Great Wolf Kids Pack.

Monster Bash Dance Party

Show off those monster moves at the Monster Bash Dance Party. Bring your spooky pack to the Grand Lobby for tons of fun, games and cool prizes. (Fridays and Saturdays).

Snowland begins November 30 – January 4, 2014. The tree lighting ceremony (at all properties) will be on November 30, and this is also the day that Santa makes his arrival to Great Wolf Lodge! Greatwolf.com/Snowland has all of the general information – but we will also have the dining inside the life-size gingerbread houses again this year. Guests can make reservations to eat in the gingerbread house for a $20 sitting fee that will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. We are still gathering the information as to how guests can make these reservations, so details are still to be determined.

Snowland Events

Dine in our life-size Gingerbread House

Make your holidays a little sweeter when you dine inside our life-size Gingerbread House! The delicious aromas that drift from this giant Gingerbread House may start a craving for sweets, so we’ve made room inside for you to eat with your pack! Reservations can be made at the hostess stand upon arrival. $20 will be added to your bill and donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Santa Visits Great Wolf Lodge

Santa Claus is coming to Great Wolf Lodge! He will make his grand entry during our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 30. Additional visits from Santa vary by lodge. Children can also write letters to Santa at Santa’s Letter Depot. He’ll be sure to respond after his world tour on December 25.

North Pole University

Children can become a Snowland expert by enrolling in North Pole University. Complete 4 fun activities on your task list to obtain your “Snowploma” and a limited edition trading card!

Giveaway

How would you like to win this for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is fill out the below form to be entered. The contest will run for one week and will end on November 5, 2013.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

the complimentary stay is for a one-night stay in a Family Suite with one breakfast for 4 people and 2 days of waterpark admission included. Valid at all Great Wolf Lodge properties in the U.S. (excludes Niagara Falls, Canada.) Gift certificate is nonefundable and non-transferable. Reservation is based upon discount availability, valid every day of the week. Blackout dates do apply. Certificate expires December 31st, 2013 and does not carry cash value. Recipient must be at least 21 years old.

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