Family Friendly Travel Tips - Kids Eat Free Restaurants

Finding Ways to Save for Vacation

FFA R Endter — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:18:00 GMT

With the economy as it is, sometimes it is difficult to find some money in the budget for a family vacation. I have had many friends tell me different ways they are saving money for vacation; from using coupons to cutting back on eating out or even making changes to their insurance policies. I thought the idea of checking on insurance costs was a great one.

I realized that we haven't really taken the time recently to be sure we are getting the best car insurance rate for the coverage we would like to have. We could be wasting money each month, which could easily be saved by checking out a low cost auto insurance resource. Low cost auto insurance can help you save extra money that can then be put into a family activity or something else fun!

I have linked to a great resource which offers a variety of information to help you make educated decisions about your insurance needs. They have state-by-state guides to help you figure out your state's laws and regulations, plus reviews of insurance companies. The website is easy to find your way around. Definitely worth taking a look at this resource when you are ready for low cost auto insurance .

Family Fun in South Dakota: 1880 Town

FFA R Endter — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:32:00 GMT

1880 TOWN
I-90 (exit 170), Murdo 605.344.2236

COST: $10 Adult / $9 Seniors / $7 Teens (age 13 - 19) / $5 Children (age 6 - 12) / 5 & under Free / discounted group rates / (Print Coupons here)
HOURS: Daylight hours during summer. Call for hours for the rest of the year.

This 1880 era town is laid out in a street style, so you walk from building to building. Many of the over 30 original buildings can be walked in. You can also walk through a display of movie props from the movie "Dances With Wolves". In the summer months, you can have lunch on the 50s Train Diner. Restrooms are located in the main building.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- The street was well-laid out to seem like a real old-time main street. The kids enjoyed seeing the different buildings and props inside some of them. Some areas had hands-on aspects which kept even the younger children interested.

A Visit to Wall Drug in South Dakota

FFA R Endter — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:19:00 GMT

WALL DRUG STORE
510 Main Street, Wall   605.279.2175
COST: FREE
HOURS: Summer: 6:30a - 10p; Fall: 6:30a - 7p

With each trip across South Dakota we have enjoyed seeing the signs for Wall Drug Store. We finally decided we just had to stop and see what it was about....and it was worth it. Wall Drug Store is a block long old-style drug store mall with an amazing variety of little stores. From cowboy boots to homemade fudge, you will find it at Wall Drug Store. Besides that, there are plenty of photo opportunity props, such as the big jackelope that kids can climb up on or the old stagecoach. Don't miss the animated, roaring T-Rex that 'erupts' about every 10 minutes.   If you have seen the signs, you know that Wall Drug advertises free drinking water (in fact, that is what put Wall Drug on the map back in the Great Depression). They still offer the free water in special free Wall Drug water paper cups.   Restrooms are conveniently located in both the front and back buildings.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS-   It's FREE! Amazing shopping variety and lots of fun props to take photos with. The kids loved the free water in the free water cups (somehow free water at Wall is much more entertaining than free water anywhere else!).
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS-   Parking is packed. Don't be surprised if you have to drive around if you want to be able to park close-by.

Family Fun in Keystone South Dakota: Mount Rushmore

FFA R Endter — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:43:00 GMT

MOUNT RUSHMORE-- Highway 244, Keystone 605.574.3198

www.nps.gov/moru
COST: $10 annual parking fee per personal vehicle
HOURS: May 9 - August 14: 8a - 10p (night lighting at 9 pm); August 15 - September 30: 8a - 9p (night lighting at 8p); October 1 - May 8: 8a - 5p

Just amazing! See Mount Rushmore from the overlook then walk through the museum. There is also a walkway that takes you closer down near the base, which includes guided tours. If you can attend the night lighting, you are in for a treat! Watch from the amphitheater as Mount Rushmore is majestically lit. Restrooms conveniently located in museum building near the overlook.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- During the summer there are some children's programs done in the Sculptor's Studio. There are activity books for both younger and older children.     The kids also enjoyed the walkway lined with state flags; it was fun to find the flags for all of the states we had been to.
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS-   Younger children lost interest quickly so don't expect to spend too long there.

Family Fun in Hot Springs, South Dakota-- The Mammoth Site

FFA R Endter — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:10:00 GMT

THE MAMMOTH SITE

   located at 1800 US 18 Bypass, Hot Springs 605.745.6017

COST: $8 Adult (ages 13+) / $7.50 Senior (age 60+) / $4 Children (age 5 - 12) / Under 5 Free   Annual Family Membership: $35 (2 parents and their dependent children up to age 18)

HOURS: May 15 - August 15: Daily 8a - 8p; August 16 - August 31: Daily 8a - 6p; September 1 - October 31: Daily 9a - 5p; November 1 - February 28: Monday - Saturday 9a - 3:30p, Sunday 11a - 3:30p; March 1 - May 14: Daily 9a - 5p     Last tour starts one hour before closing time.

The Mammoth Site is more than just a museum! It is an actual archaeological dig site; in fact, the world's largest mammoth research facility. The building is built over the dig area, allowing you to tour no matter the weather. The guided tour takes you through the dig area, and the information provided is both educational and interesting. The kids (and adults too!) were amazed to see the mammoths preserved just as they fell about 25,000 years ago. There are some hands-on opportunities, such as holding replica bones. Gift shop on-site. Restrooms are located in the basement level with elevator access.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS-   Interesting for a wide age range. We appreciated the educational aspect. A few hands-on opportunities, such as holding replica bones.

Family Friendly Lodging in Hill City, South Dakota-- Best Western

FFA R Endter — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:14:00 GMT

BEST WESTERN GOLDEN SPIKE INN & SUITES located at 601 E. Main St., Hill City, South Dakota   Phone #- 605.574.2577

Located convenient to Mount Rushmore, this hotel offers a variety of rooms including a family suite. The family suite has a separate bedroom with king size bed, plus two queen size beds and a sofa sleeper in the main room area. Refrigerator and microwave in family suite. Room was clean, nicely decorated, and had very comfortable beds. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, as well as an exercise room. There is a restaurant on-site, and a coffee & ice cream shop in the lobby.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS-   Clean, comfortable and tastefully decorated. Convenient parking. Family suite allows an affordable option for larger families. Pets are also allowed with certain restrictions.
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- No breakfast included.

Find information on family friendly activities in South Dakota on our website

.

Family Fun in Colorado Springs--- Pioneer Museum

FFA R Endter — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:01:00 GMT

PIONEER MUSEUM located at: 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs 719.385.5990
COST: FREE; donations appreciated
HOURS: Tues - Sat- 10 am - 4 pm

The Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum is a great place to learn about the history of the area. The former El Paso County Courthouse has been refurbished and now hosts the museum. Wander from room to room and see a variety of displays. There is still an existing courtroom to visit too. Travelling displays change out; such as we saw a Rock and Roll display. Soon there will be an American POW Experience exhibit. The very friendly staff was happy to tell us about the museum and showed the kids how the old cash register worked. Though the museum is free, donations are appreciated and very much needed to keep the museum open. Parking is available in front of the museum; be sure to bring change for the parking meters.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- Friendly staff. Well laid out; easy to follow the displays. Educational and interesting. Elevator available. Gift shop on-site.

Visit our website for more family friendly activities in COLORADO!

Perfect Family Vacation at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado

FFA R Endter — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:02:00 GMT

SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH in Winter Park/ Granby, Colorado
1101 County Rd 53, Granby 80446 (Hwy 40 between Winter Park & Granby) 800.777.9622

If you have the chance, definitely check out Snow Mountain Ranch. This YMCA Camp facility is full of family fun. Lodging options include lodge rooms, cabins, and vacation homes. There is also a campground. There are several dining options on-site. The great thing is you don't have to journey far to find something fun to do. In the winter, enjoy cross country skiing at the Nordic Center, sledding or ice skating. In summer, enjoy adventure programs (zip line, etc), mini golf, fishing and canoeing. Regardless of time of year, there is roller skating, basketball, ping pong, and bouldering available at the Kiva Center or swimming in the indoor pool. The Craft Center has a variety of reasonably priced projects to work on. Sign up for archery classes or rock climbing classes. Many of the activities are either included with lodging or very inexpensive. The lodging is great; we stayed in a vacation home which was spacious, clean and well-equipped. The staff was friendly and helpful. Snow Mountain Ranch really puts 'family' back into family vacation.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- Great variety of lodging, reasonably priced. So much to do right on the property, so there is no need to spend a lot of money on other activities. Friendly, attentive staff.
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- Reservations can be difficult to get as this is done on a YMCA membership registration program. Members have first priority for reservations which are done as certain times of the year. Non-members can then fill in the remaining reservations. We did not have an issue securing reservations but this was primarily due to staying at on 'off' time. Definitely worth the effort to secure reservations though!

Great Family Hotel in Colorado Springs: Staybridge Suites

FFA R Endter — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:53:00 GMT

STAYBRIDGE SUITES--7130 Commerce Center Dr., Colorado Springs 80919 phone #-719.590.7829

This is a great hotel for larger families. Their reasonably priced suites include a 2-bedroom suite with 2 bathrooms. The hotel offers an extensive breakfast (though we did find the breakfast area too small for the number of diners so we had to take our breakfast back to the room). There is free highspeed internet access, a fitness center, outdoor pool (summer only), a small library with board games and books to borrow, and a small convenience store with a variety of snacks available.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- Great room size. Plenty of space for a family and luggage. The breakfast had a wide variety of foods. Staff was friendly and helpful.
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- Small breakfast dining area was too crowded to find a place to eat. This location is tucked back behind another hotel so it can be difficult to find.

Get an Entertainment Book Before Travelling

FFA R Endter — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:32:00 GMT

Before travelling we always look at what is available in the Entertainment coupon book for the city we are travelling to. We always find enough deals to save more than the purchase price of the book. Plus most of the books have National coupon sections which have deals we can use even when at home. If you want to see the deals in a certain book, visit their website to see which cities have books and an overview of the coupons found inside. Right now is a great time to pick up books for your area or your vacation destination; books are only $15 and have free shipping!

Discount Codes for Disney on Ice and Arenacross in Denver

FFA R Endter — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:46:00 GMT

There are some great discounts available for two shows coming to Denver; Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic and Arenacross. Both are being held at the Denver Coliseum.

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You’ll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you’ll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic discount:

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday performances or receive $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code: MOM4 at: http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or call 1-800-745-3000

(Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required for 4-pack; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Show Times:Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 PMThursday, March 11 at 11:00 AM & 7:30 PMFriday, March 12 at 7:30 PMSaturday, March 13 at 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:30 PMSunday, March 14 at 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & (SPANISH PERFORMANCE AT 7:30 PM)

The Supercross stars of tomorrow can be found today in Arenacross. As the official feeder system for Supercross, Arenacross attracts the best up-and-coming riders in the world, all set to prove that they can make it to the top tier of the sport. Staged in intimate arena settings, Arenacross tracks are among the tightest in the world, filled with difficult challenges, amazing airtime, intense speed, and all the close-contact racing you’d expect from these hungry superstars-in-waiting.

Arenacross discount:

Save $5 on Adult tickets by entering the code: RIDER3 at: www.Ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000. Kids tickets only $10 – no code required(Cannot be combined with other offers. Service charges and handling fees will apply.)

Show times:Friday, March 26 –7:30PM (Professional Racing)Saturday, March 27 –7:30PM (Professional Racing) – Champions of 20 city Arenacross tour crowned*Sunday, March 28 – 10AM (Amateur Racing)(*Sunday is General Admission (GA). Doors are 1 hour prior to Professional Racing and 2 hours prior to Amateur Racing.)

Print an Orlando Discount Card

FFA R Endter — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:34:00 GMT

If you are planning a trip to the Orlando Florida area for spring break, this is a great discount card to print out (you can also request one mailed to you). Orlando Magicard (R) is provided by the Orlando/ Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. There are discounts to restaurants, lodging and admission to activities.

Discounts at Sea World San Diego

FFA R Endter — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:47:00 GMT

Sea World San Diego has some great deals to help famlies afford to enjoy their amazing theme park this year. These deals are especially great if you live nearby or if you travel to Sea World San Diego often.

Pay for a Year, Get the 2nd Year Free----this is with the Silver Annual Pass. Cost is $109 and includes free parking and in-park savings.

or

Pay for a Day, Get the Year Free-- this is with the Fun Card which is $69 for ages 10 + or $59 for ages 3 - 9. This includes admission through December 31, 2010!

Family Fun Activity: Colonial Williamsburg

FFA R Endter — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:29:00 GMT

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
101A Visitor Center Drive (Hwy 132Y), Williamsburg, Virginia 1-800-HISTORY
COST: WINTER 1-Day Pass RATES: $22 adults / $11 youth (age 6 - 17) / Seniors receive 10% off admission / Military members- see your installation   MWR/ITT office for a Military One Day Plus Pass (Note: some areas are closed in winter)
HOURS: Daily 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Take a step back in history at Colonial Williamsburg. Fun and educational, although much of the significance is lost on younger children. Perfect for older children who have most likely studied Williamsburg in school. Children can get a card to have punched at different buildings after they learned about it. Once complete you return the card to the Visitor Center and get a free postcard. Our favorites to see: The garden and the Fife and Drum parade. The visitor center gift shop was our favorite for souvenir options, although you have to try out a licorice stick from the candy shop in town.   To see more about Colonial Williamsburg, be sure to do the Tour the Town Online at their website (linked above).

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS-  Lots to see and learn about! Relatively talkative staff; who are very passionate about history. They dress in period costume and act as if they're from the time. There is lots of information they can give you (though at times they were too talkative for young children who lost interest).

FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- Expensive! Expect to spend a lot between admission, meals and souvenirs. There is a lot of walking if you want to make the most of the day and see everything.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day Ticket Giveaway

FFA R Endter — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:06:00 GMT

Don't forget about the Disney Give a Day, Get a Disney Day Ticket Giveaway. Disney wants to encourage everyone to get involved with volunteering so they are offering a free 1 day, 1 park ticket to a Disney Park. Just go through their website to sign up to volunteer for a day with a participating organization, then redeem your voucher for a free day of fun before December 15, 2010. Up to 8 members of one household can sign up. Minimum age is 6 but many of the opportunities are not available for anyone under age 12. There are a few easy volunteer opportunities that work for the younger kids.

Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy-- Fun for the Whole Family!

FFA R Endter — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:25:00 GMT

Disney on Ice Worlds of Fantasy is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to spend quality time watching some truly wholesome entertainment! We were provided with passes for our family to attend the Denver Colorado opening night performance of Disney on Ice.

The performance starts with one of our absolute favorites, CARS! We were all amazed at the way the little cars drove around on the ice. The rest of the audience seemed to be loving this section of the show as well....lots of applause, kids squealing, and moms and dads smiling.    The first section of the show also included The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. Each of these were brief overviews of the longer Disney movie. Again, these were very enjoyable. The skating was amazing and the storylines were easy for the kids to follow along.   This section of the show lasted about 40 minutes (and time went by so quickly, I was shocked to see the time when I looked at my watch!).

There was a 15 minute intermission; great time to take the little ones to the restroom or get a snack. There were vendors walking around, selling cotton candy, snow cones, lemonade, souvenirs, etc.   Prices were reasonable for this type of event.

The second half was entirely devoted to the Tinkerbell / Fairy storyline. It was again about 35 - 40 minutes, and ended with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald joining the fairies for a finale. I must admit this was probably the part of the show that was the least interesting for us. Since my younger ones are boys, they found this to be a little 'girly' for them, and the older kids and parents found it to be a little long. However, looking at the faces of the little girls around us showed that they were completely enchanted by this part.

Overall, this was another amazing Disney on Ice experience!   Don't forget that Disney on Ice and MomCentral are offering a discount code to make this a very affordable.

Buy your tickets at Ticketmaster and enter the code MOM in the special promotions box at checkout to receive 4 tickets for $44 for Monday - Friday Matinee shows or $4 off tickets on Friday night and weekend shows. Additional weekday tickets are $11. What a great deal! All ticket holders are also invited to join in for the Special Princess Preshow; up to an hour before showtime, tour the display of gorgeous gowns and meet a real princess. This code is available to be used at these shows:

Denver/Broomfield: December 4-13, 2009
St. Paul: December 9-13, 2009
Los Angeles: December 17-20, 2009
Toronto: December 18-27, 2009
Anaheim: December 22-27, 2009
Philadelphia: December 23 January 3, 2010
Boston: December 26-29, 2009
Ontario: December 30 - January 3, 2010
Cleveland: January 8 -18, 2009

Family Fun in Virginia: Virginia Zoo

FFA R Endter — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:59:00 GMT

NORFOLK- VIRGINIA ZOO
3500 Granby St., Norfolk   757.441.2374
COST: $7 Adults/ $5 Child (age 2 - 11) / $6 Seniors (age 62+)/ Under age 2 free/ Train tickets $2 each (Military discount available)
HOURS: Daily 10 am - 5 pm

The Virginia Zoo is a great time for the whole family! Just about everything is outdoors, so go on a nice weather day. There are quite a few animals to look at. The employees at the park are especially helpful. They pointed out to us the zoo babies so we could be sure to visit. They also told my boys the names of some of the animals so they could yell out "Hi Billy!" to the male giraffe when we visited him. They're open all year long so visiting in the off season can be very advantageous. They have plans to open a whole new exhibit, called Trail of the Tiger, in 2010. Entrance prices and the membership prices are very reasonable.   Wheelchair and stroller rentals available. It is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS-   Lots to see. Friendly staff. A great way to spend a sunny day!
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- No outside food allowed inside.

Family Friendly Dining: Giuseppe's Old Depot- Colorado Springs

FFA R Endter — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:10:00 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS- GIUSEPPE'S OLD DEPOT
10 S. Sierra Madre St., Colorado Springs 719.635.3111

Built in Colorado Springs' former train station, this Italian restaurant offers a fun, albeit expensive, experience. While the train station is no longer operating, the tracks behind it are still active so trains fly by often. Watching for the next train kept the kids busy while they waited for their food. The menu is quite extensive, the food good and with suitable portions. We did find the prices to be more than one would expect for the quality though; expect to be paying for the idea of eating in a historical building and watching for trains. Our waitress was friendly and helpful while dealing with food allergy issues. Overall a decent dining experience but not someplace you are likely to eat at often.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- The kids loved the idea of eating in an old train station and especially loved watching for the trains to go past. The large salad bar, though expensive, was a big hit. Good variety on the menu.

FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- Expensive.

Family Friendly Lodging: Stanley Hotel- Estes Park, Colorado

FFA R Endter — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:01:00 GMT

ESTES PARK- STANLEY HOTEL
333 Wonderview Ave, Estes Park 800.976.1377

Opened in 1909, this hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is often referred to as one of America's most haunted hotels. It was here that Stephen King first came up with his idea for The Shining. In 1996, a mini-series based on the book was even taped here. Luxury hotel but with all of the quirks and charm of a historical property. Prices are considerably higher during the summer/ high season. For more reasonable pricing, try to plan your visit off-season. You can then find accommodations closely priced to less-charming alternatives. The hotel does not have adjoining rooms but does have several options available for families, even larger families. Rooms are comfortable and in good repair. The staff was friendly and informative. The hotel is located centrally, an easy drive to Rocky Mountain National Park or the main downtown Estes Park area. The hotel offers a ghost tour during which they recant stories of the hotel's haunted history (additional fee), but be sure to book it early since these book quickly even in the off-season.

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROS- Large rooms, including suites, to accommodate families. The children (and parents, too!) were very interested by the history of the hotel and the idea that it was haunted. The ghost tour was a lot of fun and informative (the younger children were a little frightened by the stories but still enjoyed the tour).

FAMILY FRIENDLY CONS- No breakfast included. Parking is quite a distance from most of the rooms so it can be tedious for a family to unload the kids and the car, though we were offered help with this if needed. The hotel has all of the creaks, clunks and noises common with older buildings. We were all awakened at some point in the night by banging pipes (not ghosts!).

Disney on Ice Discount Code-- Available in Selected Cities

FFA R Endter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:01:00 GMT

Disney On Ice offers a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together. From young children to parents, all will enjoy the show!

Mom Central is promoting a discount code which will help Disney On Ice fit into just about any budget! Buy your tickets at Ticketmaster and enter the code MOM in the special promotions box at checkout to receive 4 tickets for $44 for Monday - Friday Matinee shows or $4 off tickets on Friday night and weekend shows. Additional weekday tickets are $11. What a great deal! All ticket holders are also invited to join in for the Special Princess Preshow; up to an hour before showtime, tour the display of gorgeous gowns and meet a real princess. This code is available to be used at these shows:

East Rutherford: November 24-29, 2009
Denver/Broomfield: December 4-13, 2009
St. Paul: December 9-13, 2009
Los Angeles: December 17-20, 2009
Toronto: December 18-27, 2009
Anaheim: December 22-27, 2009
Philadelphia: December 23 January 3, 2010
Boston: December 26-29, 2009
Ontario: December 30 - January 3, 2010
Cleveland: January 8 -18, 2009