The Mohonk Mountain House

Sitting atop the Shawagunk ridge, The Mohonk Mountain House is a resort that calms the mind, stimulates the body, and awakens the soul. From the moment guests pass under the majestic Willows they are greeted by the site of the 267 Victorian Castle and transported to a place of natural beauty from the Lake in the Sky to the Cliffs that surround the lake to the View of the Hudson Valley.

Guests at the mountain house receive three delicious satisfying meals a day as well as afternoon tea and cookies. For Lunch we opted for the Outdoor cookout at the Granary. The Granary sits above the Swimming area of the lake and is BBQ style lunch along with full salad and dessert bar. There is also an ice cream and Sundae bar.
The main dining room provides a westerly view overlooking the Hudson Valley where diners are treated to a stunning sunset views.

There are plenty of activities to take part in including swimming, hiking, boating, and fishing. Additional guide led activities such as Mounting Biking, Rock Climbing, and Horseback riding are also available for an additional fee.

Sitting at the top of the Mountain is the Albert Smiley Memorial

tower. Those who climb to the top of the tower will be rewarded with spectacular views of the landscape outstretched below.

As a single parent I enjoyed the opportunity to share time with my daughter away from the distractions of everyday life. We enjoyed our time together be it out on the lake fishing or pedaling one of the paddle boats, building sand castles on the lakeside beach, hiking along the trails or just relaxing in one of the rocking chairs overlooking the lake while enjoying an afternoon treat.

Mohonk also has a Kids camp which provided me with some personal time. I was able to hike up the rock scrambles and the crevasse, get in a mountain bike ride, a trail run, and even a yoga class while my daughter made friends with the kids at Mohonk.
While walking into the dinning hall the first evening after Kids camp one of the kids called out to my daughter and asked if she was doing the kids swim that night. Throughout dinner We met a few more "friends". I think it's great the way kids just get together. They remember each others name and refer to each other as friends. "That's my friend Sara she like Ariel (from the little mermaid) just like me" is a common type of introduction.

The Kids camp is made up of 2 daily sessions as well as evening activities like the kids swim.
Kids are placed in groups according to age.
Activities are age appropriate but parents can limit activities that their child is able to participate in.

Parents can feel comfortable that their kids are safe and enjoying themselves while they engage in one of the many activities offered at Mohonk or they can decompress at Mohonk's full service Spa, or participate in one of the classes offered at the Mohonk fitness center including Yoga and Pilates.

Our stay at Mohonk was for two nights and 3 days and while short we were able to pack a lot of fun into our days and nights creating memories to last a lifetime. One of my favorites was at the campfire after we ate some smores my daughter snuggled up with me on a log bench and we just watched the fire and looked up at the stars for a while nothing being said but a moment shared.

The Great Wolf Lodge - An Indoor Waterpark in the Poconos

If you are looking for a fun place to go with the family for a special overnight or mini-vacation

Check out the Great Wolf Lodge located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

The centerpiece of the Lodge is an amazing indoor waterpark that houses 11 huge slides, 6 pools, a giant water fort, a lazy river and more.

While the Great Wolf's waterpark would provide enough entertainment for a days of water filled fun.

There is so much more including magi-quest, an interactive role playing game that will have your family exploring the Hotels halls for hours. to In Magi-quest Kids interact with a series of kiosks and a wand or compass to complete a series of quests and adventures.

Items can purchased and activated at that lodge's

magiquest store. ( Wand - $15.99 and up. Game - $12.99)

There is also an arcade with games that dispense tickets for prizes.

The prizes are reasonable, with 200 points we were able to claim a quite a few small prizes.

Another activity is the newly added Race Zone, where you can design and build your own remote control vehicle.

You get to choose from three different body styles, select the color of the vehicle and wheels. You even get to create your own drivers license.

After you build your car you can race it on their indoor race track. Along with your remote

control vehicle the Race Zone Package includes event tickets consisting of 3-4 races - $59.99 plus tax. There is also an option to rent a car and race time.

If you have younger children Enjoy the Nightly Pajama Story Time in the lobby following the Great Clock Tower Show.

If you have teens there is a special place for them too. The gr8_space features computers with Internet access, docking stations for ipods and mp3 players, as well as multiple gaming stations such as

Nintendo Wii, XBox360 & Playstation 3. Your teen can play games like Guitar Hero, Rock Band and sing some karaoke. There is also movies, snacks, music and videos.

If you want to unplug and relax a little the Lodge offers and full service Spa for Adults and Scoops which is a salon tailored for kids 4-12 with ice cream themed items like chocolate Brownie hand

cream and Strawberry Shortcake scrubs. As part of the service your child will be given a cool robe to wear during their spa treatment given a choice of colors and scents for their manicure, pedicure,or facial and afterwards they can head down to Bear Paw sweets and Eats for a free ice cream scoop.

Scoops is not cheap with services ranging from $39 for a facial up to $79 for a mani/pedi combo.

With regard to price, the Great Wolf lodge can range from reasonable to quite expensive depending on what you do.

Here are some tips to help stretch your money while there:

1) Fill your room - Rooms are sized for 4-8 people .
The price for the room is the same if you have 2 people or the base capacity.

Park passes are provided for the base capacity of your room as well.
2) Bring Food for Breakfast, Lunch, and snacks. Skip the meal plan. Unless you can clean out the all you can eat buffet the meal plan probably doesn't make sense for those with small children.

Rooms come with a mini fridge, microwave and wet bar sink.

3) Change in your room for the water park and leave valuables somewhere safe. This will save you $10 a day for lockers

Items that you do bring to the waterpark (Flip flops etc..) can be left at by your beach chair if you are lucky enough to score one.

4) Limit additional fee based activities - If you pick one activity it should probably be magi-quest especially if you have kids under 13 years old. Magi-quest can take up to six hours to complete and is one of the more popular activities with lodge guests.

The Spa and Race Track are more expensive and occupy less time.
When we were at the Great Wolf Lodge they had an un-advertised promo that bundled the magi-quest and Race track activities for a discounted price.

There are various rooms types The Wolf Den Suite has a cave-themed area with a bunk bed. Kids can “rough it” with movies and Nintendo on their own 20" flat screen LCD TV. The main dining hall is outdoor themed with the booths being setup like outdoor dining tents.

The staff at the Lodge was very friendly and accommodating and made our stay even more enjoyable.

Bottom-line:

Kids will love the Great Wolf Lodge Water park, Activities, and rooms.
Parents need to be creative to make it a good time without breaking the bank.

Ten Tips to make your Day out more special

Planning a special day out? Here are a few lessons I gleaned from a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Visit the web - The Internet is a great resource for finding information but often we just perform a cursory perusal of the site (Hours, Directions, and overview of attractions).
By digging a little deaper you can find information to make your day more enjoyable and in a many cases find ways to save $$$ on your day out.

Some additional things to look for when visiting an attractions website are: Special Deals (AAA, Affiliates, Credit Cards offers, and Entertainment books)

The Bronx Zoo also has Donation days where you pay what you wish for general admission

Pre-purchase tickets - Some offers are only good for online purchases. And by purchasing and printing tickets ahead of time you can walk right in and avoid lines at the ticket window.

Plan your Day - You get to the Zoo and the kids want to see the Monkeys, Tigers, Lions, and take a ride on a camel. You can either bounce around from attraction to attraction or have a plan.

Trust me without a plan you will be carrying around your toddler for much of the day. (Even forty pounds can get heavy after a while). By making a plan you will be able to see all your desired attractions without taxing your child's physical limitations.

Plan Breaks- The Zoo can be overstimulating at times and being on your feet all day can be tiring. Plan where you will have snack breaks, Lunch, and other rides that can take your off your feet. Take a 10-15 minute break off your feet for every hour you have been walking.

Bring your own food - By bringing lunch, drinks, and snacks not only will you will save money and be able to quell any hunger pangs without having to wait in lines for food. PB&J will keep without a cold pack keeping you backpack a little lighter.

Bring extra clothes - Have a change of clothes in case of an accident.

Bring Wipes and antiseptic gel - Having stuff on hand to clean up with is always a good idea especially at the Zoo.

Bring a Camera-Make sure you bring a camera to capture your special day.

Check ahead - Our day at the Zoo seemed like it was Camp day. We counted thirty different Groups there that day. Get stuck behind them a be caught in the wave of kids without parental supervision can definitely put a damper on your day. So check ahead to see if there are any group or special events on the day you are planning to visit.

All and all we had a good time, but on our next trip I will definitely follow all of these tips instead of just a few.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail - Hoppin’ Down the Strasburg Rails

Strasburg, Pa. – Hop into the season with an Easter tradition at the Strasburg Rail Road.
Travel with Peter Cottontail as an authentic steam train takes you on a 45-minute journey from the East Strasburg Station to Paradise, Pa. and back.
Also enjoy a ride on our miniature steam train, or steer the Cranky Cars around a track.
For a look behind-the-scenes take a tour of the Mechanical Shop where trains are built and refurbished.
For a special treat, tempt your taste buds in our Dining Car, our Trackside Restaurant or pack your own lunch for an Easter picnic at Groff’s Grove.
The Easter Bunny Train pulls into the station April 10 - 12, 2009.

Trains depart hourly from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.
On Saturday, trains depart on the hour between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Adult coach fares (age 12+) are $15,
child coach fares (ages 3-11) are $9
and infant coach fares (under 3) are $2.
Tickets can be pre-purchased at: http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/
or by calling 717-687-7522.
Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket window.
As one of Pennsylvania’s leading family attractions, Strasburg Rail Road is known for its picturesque ride through Lancaster County’s farmland. Traveling past more than 1,000 acres of farmland, the ride provides one of the best views the county has to offer.

Bring the Polar Express to Life at the Strasburg Railroad

Santa’s Paradise Express – 50th anniversary
The Strasburg Station is all decked out in holiday cheer anticipating Santa’s 50th visit to Strasburg Rail Road. Santa’s Paradise Express will pull in to the station this weekend, December 19 - 21st. The holiday celebration begins on the platform of the East Strasburg Station as the sounds of the season fill the air and the platform sparkles with lights. Passengers relax as an authentic vintage steam train, warmed by a potbelly stove, travels on a 45-minute journey, past more than 1,000 acres of picturesque farmland on the way to Paradise, PA. As the train chugs down the track, Santa, carolers and musicians stroll from car-to-car spreading the magic of the season to thousands of families who believe.

Where: Strasburg Rail Road – Strasburg, PA

When:

• December 19th 7 pm train
• December 20th trains depart hourly 11am – 7pm
• December 21st trains depart hourly 11am – 4pm

Tickets: Coach tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for children age 3-11. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/ or by calling 717-687-7522.

Affordable Halloween Get Away

Halloween Weekend Special October 31 – November 1, 2008
Bring your little goblins to Willow Valley for a fun filled spooky weekend.Package includes:
Breakfast Smorgasbord and two FREE tickets to Hershey Park in the Dark or Dutch Wonderland Happy Hauntings.
Activities include a bonfire with smores & hotdogs, hayride, pumpkin painting and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Rates from $139. Rates are per couple, per night. Two night stay required.

Where to Eat
Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center Dining Details
Willow Valley Family Restaurant:
Enjoy the best of what Lancaster County has to offer. The Willow Valley Family Restaurant has been a local favorite for 40 years. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner smorgasbords with a menu of homestyle favorites, you'll find something delicious for everyone.
Willow Valley Family Restaurant, Open Mon-Sat, 6am-9pm, Sun, 8am-8pm (smorgasbord only). Daily Smorgasbord hours vary. Call for details.
Sunday Brunch at Palm Court:
Our award-winning Sunday Brunch features delicious breakfast and dinner items. Begin with soup, salad, fresh fruit, freshly baked breads or croissants. Or opt for a country-style meal of eggs or omelettes – made-to-order, ham, sausage, bacon and homefries.
Save room for favorites like shrimp, crab legs and other seafood, hand-carved beef or ham, other freshly prepared entrees, theme dishes, pasta with your choice of toppings and sauce and the mouthwatering array of Willow Valley Bakery cakes and pies.
Sunday Brunch at Palm Court - Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Willow Valley Terrace Smorgasbord:
The Terrace Smorgasbord is located off the main lobby and is open Friday & Saturday nights for dinner, and Saturday for breakfast. Open Tuesday - Saturday in Summer. Hours vary by season. Please call for details.
Bakery:
Willow Valley is known for serving scrumptious homestyle Lancaster County favorites in its restaurants since 1966. But, did you know that the delicious baked goods are made fresh daily in their own on-site bakery?
From the moment you walk in, you'll smell the aroma of freshly baked sticky buns or shoofly pie. As you browse through the shop, you'll find a variety of pies, cakes, muffins, donuts, breads, and much more to take back home.

Dino Weekend in Connecticut - Continued

Yesterday I spoke about our 1st day in Connecticut and our visit to the Peabody Museum. After we left the museum we went to a nice Irish pub called Anna Liffey's for dinner about 4 or 5 blocks away (I forgot to mention yesterday bring lots of change for the parking meters .25/15 min). Afterwards we went to the Lowe's off of Exit 8 to get plaster of Paris for our Track Casting that we would be making at Dinosaur State Park in Rock Hill CT. Then onto our Hotel in Cromwell The Comfort Inn. You may be able to get a great rate here ($70-80) and they do have a decent continental breakfast, high speed Internet, and a friendly staff but it was not clean we tried 3 rooms before we found one that didn't smell musty and our daughters socks got black from walking on the rug. The hotel was very close (5 miles) from Dinosaur State Park.

We arrived out Dinosaur State Park with our Items to make the Track Casting. We started our day making the track casting, definitely the highlight of the day. Indoors under the Dome you will find Dinosaur Tracks, Life Size Triassic and Jurassic Dioramas, an auditorium were movies are shown throughout the day, interactive discovery center, and gift shop. The park has a program of Movies and Activities constantly happening. The Activities we did while at the park an animal feeding, movie, Trackway Talk, Nature Walk, and Touch Cart with Fossils, rocks, and minerals.

Saturday, August 16, 2008 is Dinosaur State Park Day with special events on tap.
If you get out to the event please let us know how it was. Dinosaur State Park is a unique experience in that you get to take home a Dilophosaurus Footprint and See where these Dinosaurs actually Walked 200 million years ago. It is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America.

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Dino Weekend in Connecticut

If you are looking a close Educational and Fun getaway that is a little different than the NYC Museums a short trip up I-95 may have what you are looking for. Sure these destinations have Dinosaur bones and other standard museum exhibits, but what differentiates them is the level of interactivity. Our first stop was the Peabody Museum in New Haven on the Yale University Campus. This museum is marked by the Bronze Torosaurus perched high above on a pedestal in front of the museum. After you enter the museum thru the Gothic style entrance You will find the dinosaur exhibit in a hall to the right. Before you enter the Dinosaur hall you will pass thru an interactive geological exhibit with Volcano, space, and cave Spelunking exhibits. The Dinosaur Hall has the complete Skeletons of over 10 Dinosaurs and a display with a succession of the horned dinosaur skulls. There is a small trackway of footprints, A T-Rex and Albertasaurus Skull and a Mural of Dinosaurs throughout the different time periods.

On the 2nd floor there is the Discovery Room which is one of the most popular destinations at the Yale Peabody Museum, visited by more than 60,000 people a year. Full of touchable specimens and hands-on activities, the Discovery Room also houses interesting live animals from both around the world and right in your own backyard — an African lungfish that breathes air, endangered poison dart frogs from South America, a giant African millipede, bearded dragons from Australia, and a harmless eastern milk snake from New England. The Yale Peabody Museum’s Discovery Room is a chance for families, and especially children ages 3 and up to explore the Museum’s collections.

The Staff here was really friendly and helpful not only during our time in the museum but in helping us to find a place to eat afterwards the not only had suggestions but a map with local restaurants. The museum is right sized for little ones with just enough to keep them intrigued and stimulated but small enough to cover in 4 or so hours.
Tomorrow I will talk about our Experience at Dinosaur State Park a truly unique stop.

If you have been to either of these locations or have some other favorites please share your experience in our comments section or Join the kidzense group and to post your story or start a discussion

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How to Get Away without a Car (or Leaving your neighborhood)

With gas prices still very high about $4.00 (I hope I don't see this article in a few months a think I wish gas was only 4.00) Finding things to do close to home has become more desirable. Besides being kinder to your wallet/pocketbook exploring your hometown can be a great way to uncover hidden gems in your area (It's part of being a local).

Having a camp-out in your own backyard can be a fun "adventure" for your little ones (in our case we setup the tent inside) and a good way to disconnect from electronic distractions. You can roast marshmallows and make smores over a grill or camping stove tell stories, play card games and anything else you would do on a camping trip. The advantage is if you forget something or if it rains you are at home. Some other things you can do around the house are have a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt.

For hot days a Sprinkler, Slip and slide or inflatable pool (Read Water Safety) can be a good way to cool down. We got little magnetic fishing poles and fish from the Dollar store. We filled up a pool and went fishing in the backyard (sans hooks and worms)




For getting around by bike with small kids I would suggest a bike trailer, I use a Trek doodlebug deluxe that seats 2 doubles as a jogger and has plenty of extra room for picnic items or picking up some stuff at the local farmers market

Travel Tip: Have ipod will travel

Travel Tip: If you have a video ipod then you already have a travel entertainment System. I originally loaded some of my daughters favorite shows onto my ipod and played them thru the cars stereo aux input. We were immediatly hooked. The main drawback is that the episodes can run up in cost pretty quick at 1.99 + tax/ 30 min show. There are some alternatives though. Free Podcast subscriptions are available, PBS.KIDS SUPER WHY? is one that we like, or if you have the time and inclination you can copy your DVD's to your ipod (easier if you have an mac) On the pc I found this to be a bit of a pain. I had to rip the DVD to my pc then Convert to an mpeg-4 and then load that file into my itunes, convert it for playing in itunes and finally sync with my ipod (1.99 seems pretty cheap right about now). I am sure there is an easier way. Here is what a quick google search yielded: http://consumerguidesblog.com/top5dvdtoipodconverter08.html and
http://lifehacker.com/software/ipod/alpha-geek-copy-dvds-to-your-ipod-235150.php
I will try some of these option and post results on a later blog. Anyway back to the original topic the ipod can play video, music, and games. You can play the audio thru the Car Stereo if you have an aux jack. If you dont have that or a tape deck adapter, or desire a quiet moment get the little one('s) some headphones of their own. I found a place that makes great kids accesories for the ipod ifrogz tadpole line has great cases and headphones for kids. Prices range from 9.00-40.00