Travel

These Beach Essentials Are All Under $25

Beach Essentials and Pool Toys- A day at the beach is not always ‘a day at the beach’. Things can go upside down quickly if you’re not prepared with the right gear. With these beach essentials and pool toys there will be no reason to not hit the waves this summer! Head over quick while prices are under $25.

Beach Essentials and Pool Gear for Summer

Beach Essentials

Beach Toys:

Kites for those windy days at the beach. They also work great as chair markers for when you go on a stroll down the beach. Simply tie them to your chair or umbrella and you’ll be able to spot it from far away.

Sand Molds for the perfect sand castle. Dig a trench from the ocean up to your sand sculpture building area for a constant supply of water at the ready.

Sand Baking Set for making the perfect sand pies and soups for lunchtime!

Beach Gear:

Sand Chair for those afternoon snack times and the perfect way to cool off. Simply place your chair at the base of the waves and feel a refreshing sense of cool water every few seconds.

Sand Coasters to keep drinks from spilling or to use as a little bowl for small hand snacks.

Inflatable Lounge to help encourage kids to get out in the ocean.

Mesh Toy Bag to help keep your home and car sand free. Simply pile in the toys and give it a good shake before heading inside.

Sand Blanket to keep off the sand. Get one with weighted sand pockets so you can fill them while at the beach to hold your blanket down.



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Louisville with Kids

Louisville with kids is an awesome trip. Originally we were going to spend a long weekend camping at Mammoth Cave with our pop-up camper but I was worried it would be too cold this early in the season. Instead, we set our eyes on Louisville for a One Tank Trip (from Indianapolis). We were pleasantly surprised with our entire adventure. At only two hours away from home, Louisville, Kentucky made for a great host to our family and we will be back!

Kentucky Science Center in Louisville Kentucky

Louisville with Kids

Saturday

Saturday morning we packed up the car and picked up our friends to join us on on the ride to Louisville. We left at 8:30 with every intention of being at the Flame Run Glassblowing studio around open. We arrived and realized they were closed that weekend and the following for the Thunder Over Louisville festival and Kentucky Derby. It was easy to find an alternate attraction because there are so many family fun activities within walking distance.

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory with kids

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

We chose to visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory after seeing the 120 foot bat towering over the neighboring buildings. Although our family enjoys sitting in the outfield at the Indian’s games, we are not huge baseball fans. Each of us were pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the history, hands on experiences and factory tour of how the bats are made. Did you know 90-120 bats are ordered per player each season? The good news is that Hillerich & Bradsby Co. owns about 6,500 acres of timberland in Pennsylvania and New York. The company also purchases lumber from other sources. They plant more trees than they cut down to make around 3,000 bats each day in the factory.

Thunder Over Kentucky: Louisville with Kids

Thunder Over Louisville

After the museum we headed over to some festival we saw people walking to with wagons, chairs and coolers in tow. We quickly realized there was a hugely popular air show along both sides of the Ohio River. People were camped out with coolers, mini grills, blankets and everything you’d need for a day along the river for 11 hours!

Thunder Over Louisville hosted over 1 million people at this years event on both the Kentucky and Indiana borders. There are two options when visiting the festival: 1.) You can pay for tickets and be within the venue area where they will have the Chow Wagon and a myriad of other events taking place within the fenced off area (not to mention all of these events surrounding the festival.) Keep in mind that there is a long list of things you are not allowed to bring inside the venue area. 2.) You can get really lucky as novice attenders and still spend 5 hours hanging out and enjoying the festival with fair food trucks galore, beautiful parks and the amazing air show overhead.

We were ready to head to the hotel pool after forgetting to apply sunscreen so we did not stay for the firework show or the massive hoards of traffic after the air show. We found a hotel about 15 minutes outside of the city for a much more affordable rate which had two queen suites, a hotel and a continental breakfast.

Kentucky Science Center in Louisville Kentucky

Sunday

After breakfast Sunday we headed over to the Kentucky Science Center. I’m lucky enough to visit our Indianapolis Children’s Museum each week and very low expectations for the science center. We were all very pleasantly surprised by it’s size and scope! There are five floors with exhibits ranging from Earth science to technology to art and discovery. We spent four hours here and still have more to see for next time. We brought a sack lunch to have while there but there is a SUBWAY on site as well as a movie theater. Be sure to check out the demonstration times. We saw a physics and chemistry demonstration that were both very entertaining!

Louisville, Kentucky was an awesome family friendly city with lots to do within walking distance. We will have to come back to check out the glass blowing studio and a few other things we missed. What are some of your favorite Louisville attractions or eats?

The Queen Reins at Medieval Times

Let the tournament begin! There’s a new Queen in charge at the Medieval Times in Chicagoland!

Our first stop on our ‘One Tank Trip’ this year was Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL. Medieval Times was gracious enough to host us when we’d told them how excited we were to see the new queen in charge at their location. We’ve been subtly (and not so subtly) pointing out women in leadership roles to Sophia and knew this would also be a fun family outing to kick off Spring! We love Medieval Times (we even went for one of our anniversaries)!

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Family Fun at Medieval Times

When you go, I highly suggest upgrading to VIP status. It allows you to sit in preferred front row seating and you get a snazzy cheering banner for your knight. We had an amazingly close up view of all the knights and horses and had special preference over the rest of the cheering section. Let’s just say a four year old little girl has her first crush on the Blue Knight after receiving a yellow flower (“He kissed it Mommy!”) and a sash marking her as the Blue Knight’s Queen of the Tournament. It was definitely the highlight of our trip! You’re also able to pay a couple dollars extra per person for a tour of the dungeons before the show begins but it is not suggested for children (or weak stomachs like mine). Before the show we did get a chance to buy a Queen’s crown for Sophia and stop by to see the horses while they were having a snack. You also have the opportunity before and after the show to get family portraits with members of the tournament or to be knighted by the Queen herself.

Besides the thrill of knights jousting on horses and a hawk flying just inches over your head, you’ll be surprised by the quality of the feast for dinner. With an appetizer of Dragon’s Blood (tomato soup) to start you off, you quickly see a theme of eating a meal of various parts of a dragon (with no utensils)! The serving wenches are incredibly helpful and are as much a part of the show as the men and women in the tournament.

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

What’s Happening at Medieval Times

In a major break from Medieval Times’ 34-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role, the company has revealed that a queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land. She is cast as a firm but kind ruler respected throughout the kingdom who inherited the throne at the passing of her father, the previous king.

“Where previously our female characters played in more supportive roles, we are now showing a woman fully in charge, a woman whose authority is sometimes challenged, but she quickly rises to the occasion as a strong leader, squelching opposition,” says Leigh Cordner, Medieval Times show director.


Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Jousting, fighting, horsemanship, swordplay and a fresh, hot, four-course feast remain central elements of the dinner attraction. With the cast and script change come a series of other significant changes to the show:

  • More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers including horses, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated costume shop near Dallas Design District.
  • 200 new suits of armor, shields, and helmets, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated armory in Florida.
  • More than 350 team members and 225 horses train and rehearse new lines and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the current show.
  • It takes two months to teach a queen to ride an Andalusian stallion.
  • New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member Solomia Gorokhivska, and a solo cellist and violin player from Pittsburgh.
  • The audience experiences a live action film score that is precisely synchronized with every element of the show, from lights to fights; jousts to jabs; the Queen’s entry to curtain closings; and more.
  • The sound and light team spends 120 hours programming 300 new music cues and 500 new lighting cues.

For more information on showtimes and locations head to Medieval Times website and snag your VIP tickets today! Better yet, I’m giving away a family four pack on my Instagram. Head over to my profile for a chance to win!

Medieval Times in Chicago has a new Queen in charge! Great family trip for any vacation at any of their 9 locations. #hosted

Kings Island with Little Kids

Kings Island with Little Kids- I was invited by Cedar Fair to attend Kings Island-Largest Amusement & Waterpark in the Midwest , but all opinions and photos are my own.

The days of easily spending 12 hours thrill ride hopping are over but with it comes a new way of visiting amusement parks. We let our three year old be the guide while at Kings Island and were pleasantly surprised by all there was to experience. We spent most of the day in Planet Snoopy while still having a little time for Soak City Waterpark in the middle of the day. Here are a few tips and suggestions that we learned from our trip:

Kings Island with Little Kids

Kings Island with Little Kids

How to Save at Kings Island:

  • Tickets– one of the biggest ways to save is through tickets. The best place to find discounted tickets is online or at Kroger. If will be visiting the park more than once in a year it would be beneficial to buy a season pass. Right now you can save big on the 2018 season pass.
  • Food- In the past we have always eaten a hearty breakfast before our drive, packed a lunch in the car and had dinner in the parks. We always travel with our Camelbak full of water and refill at water fountains throughout the park. This year we decided to try out the All Day Dining Pass which allowed us a meal every 90 minutes for $30. We got only one, knowing that our daughter eats very little, and we could buy a snack if needed. The Dining Pass is only good for certain meals at certain locations. We also purchased the refillable souvenir cup where we were able to refill with lemonade or pop whenever we wanted. You can also get free ice water at any vendor. The downside with this plan was the limited food options (pizza, fries, burger, chicken fingers, hot dogs). The food did not fuel our family well enough to stay energized for the long hours of walking around and sensory stimulation.

TIP: If your Dining Pass wristband is loose, have them put on another. I lost ours when it slipped off at Soak City after only two meals. Set a timer on your phone for 90 minutes to remind you when you can get your next meal to maximize your value.


 

  • Time- Time is money if you’re visiting Kings Island for one day. We spent a lot of unnecessary time walking to and from our vehicle. Knowing we wanted to do rides, go to Soak City to cool off during the hot afternoon and then back to the rides meant we had to change clothes. Our suggestion is to get a locker near Rendezvous Run at Soak City ($15) at the beginning of your day. Having your swim gear in that central location between Planet Snoopy and Soak City will eliminate the long walks to the car.

Kids rides at Snoopy Planet in Kings Island

Soak City at Kings Island Ohio

Snoopy at Kings Island Cedar Fair

Refill Cup at Kingsl Island

Snoopy Planet at Kings Island

Tips While at Kings Island:

  • Lunch and a Show– get lunch and a great viewing spot of the shows ahead of time. Planning your meal around a show gives you a mandatory break to eat, cool off and rest while viewing awesome entertainment. I recommend getting in line for food 45 minutes to an hour before the show starts.
  • Kings Island App- like most amusement parks, Kings Island has their own free app that has a map, car locator, wait times and other info. A major improvement would be for them to add which rides are closed. We went at the end of the summer when things were slowing down and there were many rides closed due to low attendance. For example, at Soak City, 1/3 of the attractions were closed because of predicted low attendance. This meant the lines for the other attractions were still long despite there being ‘low crowds.’ It wasn’t worth our time to go over to experience only two attractions.
  • 2 Days- If you have kids who love the water park (check out the cabanas) or are able to go on bigger rides, I highly recommend getting a hotel and splitting your time between two days. If we were able to do more at Soak City we would have wanted to do two days.

Refill Cup at Kings Island

Kid Rides at Kings Island

Ultimate Stunt Show at Kings Island

Kids Rides at Kings Island

Sweet Spot at Kings Island Ohio

Overall we had a blast at Kings Island and I’m so happy to report that it is just as fun to go as a parent as it is as a teenager! If you’ve got any other ways to save or tips, please share them! I would love to know for future trips and to share with others.
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Kings Island with Little Kids

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

Splash pads and water parks in North Indianapolis are still open! Even though school has started, that does not mean fun has to stop. We have several favorite spots to cool off around Indy.

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

splash pad

Here is a great list of what to pack when you visit with your family (including some affiliate links):

What to Pack:

There’s nothing worse than having to leave the water park because you forgot the sunscreen. Believe me. It’s always better to have too much stuff than to not have enough. My daughter has become a great swimmer but she hasn’t learned how to stop when she’s tired. We still bring her water wings just to give her a break for a little while and help her to last a while longer.

splash pad

Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

For a list of all the Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis, check out the post I wrote at Visit Hamilton County. It is an extensive list with websites and phone numbers should you have specific questions on what you can bring or ADA accessibility. What do you like to pack for your family to bring to the splash pad?

For more related posts:

Taking Your Toddler to the Water Park

On-the-Go Picnic Kit

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Splash Pads and Water Parks in North Indianapolis

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