End of the Month Giveaway #2: Ripley's Combo Tickets!

I hope you have enjoyed hearing about Ripley's Believe it or Not, Wax Museum, and the Mirror Maze.  There is one more attraction you will find in this one building that I want to tell you about.  It is called Impossible Laser Race.  The Laser Race is extremely complicated for most people that aren't double-jointed.  Basically, you must try to make it from one end of the room to the other without hitting any lasers.  You are, also, timed, so you are trying to beat the clock, too. 

This month's giveaway is combo tickets to Ripley's!  That means you can get into all 4 attractions free of charge!!  I hope you will have as much fun there as we did.  Now, let's get this giveaway rolling...

Here are the details of what is being given away:

2 Combo tickets for all 4 attractions valued at $29.99 each (for a 59.98 value)!

I have a total of 6 tickets to giveaway, so 3 lucky people will get 2 tickets each!  To enter, comment on a blog post, put some of our posts on your Facebook page or pin them on Pinterest.  Then, leave a comment on this post letting us know what you did.  You can get as many as 5 entries per day until the drawing on July 10th, 2012.  For those dedicated readers who come back daily and make sure to get all 5 entries per day, you bump your odds of winning but you may even win more than one pair of tickets if your name is chosen twice from the raffle.  I know some of you have bigger families, so enter as often as possible. 

Good luck!

Celebrate Freedom in Parker, TX

Another year of KLTY Celebrate Freedom is upon us!  This year, it will be held at Southfork Ranch in Parker, TX.  In addition to great music, there will be fun things to do for the whole family. 

A list of performers:

Amy Grant

The Michael James Band

Jars of Clay

Kutless

Aaron Shust

Sanctus Real

Chris August

Jamie Grace

Leeland

Jason Castro

Hawk Nelson

Dara Maclean

Sidewalk Prophets

Jonny Diaz

For King & Country

The Afters

The event runs all day, and air conditioning will be avaiable in portions of the event, so that you can keep cool.  Food and drinks (non-alcoholic) are available for purchase. 

For the children, Hawaiian Falls has partenered with the event to bring a bunch of free activities to the kids.  There will be animal demonstrations, a petting zoo, animal mask making, sand art, face painting and more!  Disney stars will be on hand for autographs, and there is a full size stage in the Children's Village. 

A separate section is set up for those with money to spend.  $20 provides each child with an all day pass in the six acre amusement park.  Inflatable slides and bounce houses will be in this section.

Get there early to experience it all!  Celebrate Freedom starts at 9:00am on June 30, 2012 and runs way into the late evening with a fireworks show to top it all off.

Cost:

$20 per car*

*Discount tickets can be found at Care Now locations area wide, and will give you $5 off of parking.  Car pool and split the cost with a friend!

Ripley's Enchanted Mirror Maze in Grand Prairie, TX

Are you ready to get lost?  The Mirror Maze in Grand Prairie is just for you!!   With over 2,000 square feet of confusing two-way mirrors, you are bound to get lost a few times.  Plus, if you ever find your way out, you can go back in and try again as many times as you want.

It was fun to see everyone running around trying to find their way out.  We will remember this experience for the rest of our lives.  This was a great family bonding event.  We depended on each other to make it out of there.

Cost:

Adult (age 13 and up)= $16.99*

Child (age 4-12)= $8.99*

Child 3 and under= FREE

*There are 3 other attractions at this location so there are bundling pricing options as well. I posted about 2 of the others already, and you can find them here and here.

**All opinions expressed herein are my own, and I have not received any monetary or other gift for a positive review. We were invited to spend the day at the 4 attractions expenses paid, and we have been given tickets for a giveaway! The tickets will be given away this month, so stay tuned!

Dive-In Theater Dolphin Tale in Frisco, TX

Dolphin Tale is a true and endearing story about a beautiful dolphin who loses his fin and the people he touches in the process.  It is a movie that the whole family can enjoy.  Even my 5 year old was engaged throughout the entire movie. 

Now, you can see the movie while you swim!  The Frisco Athletic Center is offering a dive-in movie showing on June 28 from 8:00pm to 10:30pm.  You will be able to watch the movie from the comfort of the pool, and get in at a discounted price! 

Cost:

$5.00 per person

Ripley's Believe It or Not in Grand Prairie, TX

While on a hunt for the weird, quirky, and unusual, we headed to Ripley's in Grand Prairie.  We found plenty of odd inventions like the rocking chair shown that rocks itself.  It was actually for sale many years ago.  Very odd!

A vest made from human hair... anyone interested in wearing that one? 

People never stop being odd, and because of this, Ripley started traveling the world looking for the oddest of the odd.  Several of these items were added to the Odditorium in Grand Prairie for the enjoyment of the public.

We had a good time looking at how far humanity has come compared to 100 years ago.  The strange people were interesting as well.  We saw many things you would never find anywhere else.

Cost:

Adult (age 13 and up)= $16.99*

Child (age 4-12)= $8.99*

Child 3 and under= FREE

*There are 3 other attractions at this location so there are bundling pricing options as well. I will be posting about the other 2 attractions over the next few days.  You can see the wax museum that I posted about yesterday here,

**All opinions expressed herein are my own, and I have not received any monetary or other gift for a positive review. We were invited to spend the day at the 4 attractions expenses paid, and we have been given tickets for a giveaway! The tickets will be given away this month, so stay tuned!

Palace of Wax in Grand Prairie, TX

The Palace of Wax is a museum filled with over 200 life-like wax characters.  As you can see by the pictures, they have many different types of wax characters.  There are politicians, historical characters, movie stars, talk show hosts, storybook characters, religious figures, etc. 

We enjoyed our visit.  The figures look so real that my youngest got scared by a few.  You could spend a lot of time in this museum looking at all of the details.  I wish I could have stayed longer.  I really enjoyed it.  My youngest was anxious to get away from the wax people because they were too life-like.  If I had gone without her, I would have spent more time enjoying the art work.  It is really incredible!

Cost:

Adult (age 13 and up)= $16.99*

Child (age 4-12)= $8.99*

Child 3 and under= FREE

 *There are 3 other attractions at this location so there are bundling pricing options as well.  I will be posting about the other 3 attractions over the next few days.

**All opinions expressed herein are my own, and I have not received any monetary or other gift for a positive review.  We were invited to spend the day at the 4 attractions expenses paid, and we have been given tickets for a giveaway!   The tickets will be given away this month, so stay tuned!

Slick Juggler in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (an adult must accompany the child, and this means that younger and older children may come with as well). Tomorrow, Monday June 25th, they will have  Slick Juggler. Come early to get a ticket. Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast. The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event. The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm. The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

This event is obviously a guy juggling, but will include comedy and be very entertaining for all.

Cost:

FREE!

Disney's Brave in a Theater Near You

Disney's Brave is now in theaters!!  We went to opening day yesterday and the theater was packed! 

I really wasn't sure what to expect from the movie.  The only idea I had in my head was a curly red-haired girl who loves archery.  I did think that since it is a Disney movie, it would be much deeper than that.  Of course, I was not disappointed.

This movie is about a young girl at odds with her parents.  She wants to be her own person, and her parents want to protect her from everything.  Anyone who has been a teenager, has a child, or a parent of a teenager, the message will be clear to you. 

Children love the comedy and the story.  The children in our movie showing laughed the most when the characters lost their pants (of course).  The triplets created a lot of laughter as well, as they were always up to something they shouldn't be. 

Overall, I feel that the movie has something to teach us.  Get out there and see it and let me know what you think!

The Beach in Fairview, TX

If you can't make it to a real beach this summer, The Beach in Fairview is a good replacement.  Conveniently located right across the street from the city of Allen, Fairview boasts a close to 0% crime rate. 

The Beach is a gigantic sand box.  We always bring our sand toys like shovels, buckets, castle molds, boats, cars, and rakes.  There are plenty of "friends" to play with that bring toys to share.  If you are worried about getting all of your toys back just make sure to label everything you bring.  It turns into a sandbox swap a lot of times. 

The sand is soft and just like beach sand.  After a big rain you even get an ocean look.  The sand is perfect for building sand castles because it sticks together.   

For a break from digging and building, there is a play structure with a slide and a few other things. 

Cost:

FREE!

Bailey's Berry Patch in Sadler, TX

We have been to Bailey's a few times to get a bucket of berries.  They have blueberries and blackberries there.  The berry picking business is hard work with little ones especially, but it is an adventure.

This year, however, the family who owns the berry patch is at the hospital several miles away from their farm.  Their baby was born 7 weeks early, so they are spending their days with the baby in the hospital.  This doesn't mean that you are out of luck if you want some good tasting berries. 

To get some of their berries, you need to call or text them at (903) 564-6228.  They will meet with you in the metroplex, but the berries will already be picked for you.

Heritage Farmstead in Plano, TX

Take a trip back through history at Heritage Farmstead.  The farm has chickens and a rooster, horses, mules, goats, and sheep.  The rooster put on a show for us when we were there.  He was loud and proud. 

We enjoyed looking at the old school house on the property.  It has a bell to ring for school to start, so you know kids love ringing the bell.  There are chalkboards inside with writing as it would have been about 100 years ago.  There is a wood stove to keep the school house warm, and plenty of desks for the pupils. 

The old farm equipment is interesting, especially to imagine that they used to use the equipment 100 years ago.  They sure worked hard back then!  It is hard to imagine that they ever accomplished anything with the manual equipment (compared to our gas powered tractors now)! 

The older homes are outfitted with rocking chairs and wrap-around porches.  They are all set up to be representative of the homes that were in the area in 1890 to 1920. 

Educational programs are available throughout the year.  You can see current and ongoing programs here.

They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm and closed on Mondays.

Cost:

$2 per person for the self-guided tour

$5 per adult & $3.50 per student for a guided tour

Storytime at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX

Storytime at the Amon Carter Museum is a work of art.  The children will listen to a story about a color and then talk about art together.  After the story, they get to make their own masterpiece.  Cookies and lemonade are provided for a snack. 

The schedule for the rest of the year is as follows (Wednesdays 10:30am-11:30am):

June 20: Hello Yellow

June 27: Going Green

July 11: True Blue

July 18: Incredible Indigo

July 25: Very, Very Violet

Cost:

FREE!

Snake Encounters in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade.  Today, Monday June 18th, they will have Snake Encounters.  Come early to get a ticket.  Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast.  The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event.  The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm.  The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm. 

This event is about snakes, obviously, but will include music, magic, storytelling, and comedy. 

Cost:

FREE!

Rockin with Rhett in McKinney, TX

McKinney Libraries (there are 2 of them) have summer events to keep the kids learning.  My girls enjoyed the events last year, and I know this year will not disappoint.  You do need to arrive early to get a spot, though, and there are a lot of kids participating. 

 Rockin with Rhett is happening this week.  It is for children 1st through 5th grade.  On Tuesday June 19th at 2:00pm, the event will be at the Hall Library in downtown McKinney.  On Wednesday June 20th at 10:30am, the event will be at the library on the west side of McKinney called John and Judy Gay Library.

Cost:

FREE!

Cinemark Movies 14 in McKinney, TX

What's so special about Movies 14 in McKinney?   The price!  You will not find ticket prices cheaper than this anywhere in the metroplex.  They are not a discount theater that only shows movies that are old.  These are new releases!  Madagascar 3 is in the theater now. 

Just as with the other Cinemark theaters that I mentioned, make sure to sign up for their e-mails.  This will ensure you get weekly specials on concession items.  Usually the coupons they send are something like "Free large drink with the purchase of any size popcorn". 

Cost:

Adult Matinee= $3.50

Child All Day= $3.25

Adult Evening= $5.25

Father's Day Movie Night at the Zoo in Dallas, TX

The Dallas Zoo, as part of the Oak Cliff Film Fest, is offering families a fun night out with dad!  For this special event, gates open at 7:00pm on June 17th.  A special animal adventures team critters will be going on to entertain and educate everyone.  Zoo North will be open, and movie snacks will be available.  The movie will be "Fantastic Mr. Fox", and it will start at 8:30pm. 

Cost:

$10 per person

Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, TX

The Fort Worth Zoo is home to many animals from all around the world.  This zoo is quite large and requires a lot of walking.  You will want to bring a stroller or wagon for the youngest kids.  There is so much to see and do!

Our favorite exhibit was the World of Primates where we saw a cute baby bonobo.  The family interaction between the bonobos was endearing and had human similarities.  The baby was playful and the males played with him until they got tired.  The mom protected the baby when he fell from a rock, and steered him away from danger.  We could have watched this family all day.

The other exhibits they have include: Texas Wild!, Parrot Paradise, Raptor Canyon, African Savannah, Cheetahs, Flamingo Bay, Meerkat Mounds, Australian Outback, Penguins, Museum of Living Art and Asian Falls. 

Texas Wild! is an area full of family friendly adventures.  The petting zoo has a calf, a rooster, and a pig.  The play barn has things to climb and interactive learning games.  A shooting gallery is in this same exhibit along with a carousel.  Some of the attractions cost extra, so plan accordingly. 

To get from one side of the zoo to the other, you can walk... or you can jump aboard the Yellow Rose Express Train.  The ride is $2 per person per ride, so $4 per person round trip.  We took the train to Texas Wild! and then we walked back. 

A 25-foot rock climbing wall called Tasmanian Tower is in the Australian Outback.  It is $3 to climb, and you must sign a liability release form. 

Some of the animals in this zoo are ones I have never seen before.  This zoo is home to close to 7,000 animals.  We didn't even have time to see them all!! 

As far as zoos go, this is one of the best zoos in the country.  It is definitely worth the trip. 

Cost:

Adult= $12

Child 3-12= $9

Child under 3= FREE

Parking= $5

Dallas Children's Theater in Dallas, TX

Have you ever wanted to take the family to a kid-friendly theatrical production?  The Dallas Children's Theater is the place to go! 

We saw If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in February.  They took parts from the book but added many more scenes and comical mishaps.  The mouse was annoying and persistent, just like he was in the book... But, you can't help but love the little fella.  When we left the theater, we talked and talked about the funny things that happened in the show and how it was different from the book.  We just knew we would have to go back to see another show another day.  It was very entertaining!

There is one more play coming up June 22-July 15: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.  If you have not read the book, pick it up at your local library.  Then, head out to see the play.  The play will have the great values the book teaches the children plus it will include African song and drumming. 

Cost:

Varies depending on the day and seat selected but starts around $20

Group discouts are available

Stonebriar CC Vacation Bible School in Frisco, TX

VBS is a traditional Summer event for Christians everywhere.  Stonebriar Community Church is holding their VBS event this week.  The first day of VBS was yesterday, but you can still get in for the rest of the week.  You can register at the door.  Just arrive early.  A registration form must be filled out for every child.  Children going into kindergarten this fall up to 6th grade (5th grade graduates) are welcome. 

Tonight, the focus will be on the story of Jonah and the whale.  The subject of focus is obedience.  It promises to be a great class! 

VBS at Stonebriar starts at 6pm and runs until 8:30pm. 

June 11-15

Cost:

$5 per child

Heard Museum in McKinney, TX

The Heard Museum in Mckinney is a mixture of zoo, preserve and museum in one.  One of the most exciting features about the Heard is their Animals of the World exhibit.  This exhibit features animals such as the Capybara, the Macaw, the Cockatoo, the mongoose, the opossum, the raccoon, the lemur, the deer and more!  During the year, they have child friendly events where you can even meet the animals up close. 

Starting June 1 until September 30, a beautiful butterfly garden comes to life!  This exhibit is worth the visit all by itself.  The butterflies are plentiful and fun to watch flutter around.  Some are inside a mesh enclosure and others are outside of the mesh with the rest of the garden.  The flowers are gorgeous when in bloom, and you can usually get some pretty good photos in this area. 

The kids like the dinosaur dig that is found inside the museum.  It is like a gigantic sand box.  In the Summer there are plenty of "friends" to play with.

Starting October 2 and running until February 3, Dinosaur Live comes back to the Heard.  This is a great exhibit for dinosaur lovers.  There are enormous animated dinosaurs all over the trails on the outside of the museum.  The T-Rex is 46 feet tall!  I don't want to spoil the fun for you, but one of the dinosaurs will be ready to surprise you, so watch out!! 

Many families come to the Heard just for the nature trails.  There are a total of 8 nature trails around the museum.  Along the way there are birds, squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife to spot.  You can really burn calories here as many of the trails are many miles long. 

Cost:

Adults= $9

Children ages 3-12= $6

Eiffel Tower in Paris, TX

While studying France, we decided to take a trip to Paris, TX.  This is the closest we can come to seeing the Eiffel Tower in person.  Even though this replica is much smaller than the original in Paris, France, we still enjoyed the visit.  The tower is located off of US 82 next to the Love Civic Center.  All the way to Paris, we practiced our French.  This visit would go perfectly with the study and crafts of France that you can do this summer at Michaels. 

Hawaiian Falls in The Colony, TX

It's getting hot out here!  It is time for a big splash!  Hawaiian Falls has enough to cool you down and satisfy your swimming urges.  Hawaiian Falls has several locations in the area including, The Colony, Garland, Mansfield, and Roanoke.

There are slides for all ages from toddler to senior, and plenty of slides for those in between those stages.  The large slides vary from twisty to fast, and they will get your adrenaline pumping for sure.

For a relaxing time, the wave pool is the place to be.  There are tubes to slip into.  You can lazily lay down in a tube and ride the waves for hours.  The lazy river offers the same with tubes and a relaxing ride through the water.  Both of those I just love!

There is a large kids area with pulleys, fountains, puddles, water guns, slides, dumping bucket, and climbing apparatus.  The kids will never run out of things to do there!  Plus, there is a DJ that play games with the kids in addition to playing family friendly music. 

There are picnic tables, lounge chairs, bar stools, and more... If you plan to sit down while you are there, get to the park early to stake your claim.  We didn't sit on the seats, so we didn't worry when they were all full.  You can rent a cabana for the day as well.

Watch out for special events.  Last year, they had a kids club with crafts and activities one day a week and movie night.

Cost:

Adult and kids 48" and taller: $24.99

Child: $19.99

Season pass: $89.99

3 or more Season passes: $79.99