Thomas the Tank Engine is set to roll into Strasburg Rail Road for Day Out With Thomas.. All Thomas fans are invited to spend the day with their favorite Train from September 17th-25th, 2011. This nine-day event will include activities and excitement for the whole family.


There are lots of family friendly activities to do while at the Strasburg Rail Road
· Storytelling and video viewing

· Ride on the Cagney, a miniature steam train

· “Steer” the pint-sized Cranky Cars around a track

· Ride Strasburg Rail Road’s hand-powered Pump Car

· Shop a large selection of Thomas merchandise, including toys, books, railway sets, DVD’s, apparel and more

The train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 30 minutes, rain or shine. Check www.StrasburgRailRoad.com for specific train times.

Advanced ticket purchase is recommended. Ticket prices are $18 for ages 2 and up (service charges and fees may apply). Purchase tickets for Day Out With Thomas:by calling Ticket Web toll-free at 866-468-7630, or by visiting www.ticketweb.com or www.StrasburgRailRoad.com.



Check out Fun Things review of the Strasburg Rail Road, hotel and other activities in the Lancaster area.

For more information and directions contact the Strasburg Rail Road at 717-687-7522 or www.StrasburgRailRoad.com.

Last week, I was invited to Ikea, Conshohocken to check out their new 2012 catalog.  I am a huge fan of Ikea's products and it truly is a family friendly place to take the kids while you shop. Now, you may be wondering how Ikea can be a fun thing to do with kids.  :

Småland Play Area

This supervised play area in the entrance lobby is for children between the heights of 37"-54" who are potty-trained (no pull-ups). Kids can play in this safe, imaginative environment for up to an hour! And it's Free

Play Areas


They have play areas for children throughout the store.

Stuff for the older kids too!

Video game Play Stations are available for kids to use in the Living Room department.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ikea has a restaurant the serves breakfast lunch and dinner at very affordable prices or you can pick up $1 frozen yogurt as a treat when you finish shopping.  The restaurant area has bibs, bottle warmers, high chairs and a play area for children in the restaurant. So you might get to enjoy a meal with a little peace.




Starting in August, consumers can request a copy of the 2012 catalog, as well as sign up for inspirational emails and mobile text messages, at www.getmycatalog.com/2012; view the catalog online at http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/US/en/2012/IKEA_Catalog/; or download the new iPad application to browse on the go.

Recently my family and I visited The Amish Village in Ronks, PA.  I remember visiting the Amish Village when I was young and I was excited to share this experience with my kids.  The Amish Village is an authentic living museum showcasing Lancaster County’s Amish community, the oldest and largest in the nation. The 12-acre Amish farm and homestead, located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, gives visitors a unique look into history and into this beautiful and peaceful culture.

Farmhouse
Our tour started in the 1840's Amish farm house, our tour guide walked us through the rooms of the house and explained may of the Amish customs and the reasoning behind them.  I was fascinated with how they use some of our modern day appliances without electric by converting them over to propane. My kids enjoyed learning about the clothes the Amish women wear. They loved the simplicity of the Amish wedding dress.

This guided tour lasted about 25-minutes and we learned about the history of the Amish, their religion, family life and cultural traditions and why they choose not to use some modern conveniences.

Barn
Next we had the opportunity to visit the barn to see many of the animals that would normally be on an Amish farm. They have a baby bull named Fernando that my kids had the chance to feed.  They also got to see pigs, a horse and even a peacock.

One-room Schoolhouse
We were also able to experience a special treat only offered during the summer months. We got to meet an authentic Amish school teacher who explained what life in a one-room school house is like. During your lesson you find out what makes the Amish education different and why schooling ends at 8th grade. The authentic Amish teacher will be at The Amish Village on Saturdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, June through August.  My family and I enjoyed talking to her and asking how the school day is different from the school day of my children.

The Amish Village, located at 199 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks, PA, is open Monday– Saturday, 9am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm. Admission for the tour and access to the entire 12 acre property is $8.25 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are free. For more information visit www.theamishvillage.net or call 717-687- 8511.

For a mix of fun and learning on a budget, you can't beat The Amish Village. Watch our video to learn more about the property before your go!



Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit The Amish Village.

If your a kid at heart you need to check out the Choo Choo Barn –Traintown, U.S.A.® - located in Strasburg, PA. This is one of the largest,most engaging, custom model train displays in America.  Featuring more than 150 animations and 22 operating trains, this 1,700 square foot, handcrafted, work-of- art is packed with action as it details the many familiar landmarks and scenes Lancaster County.

My family and I could have spent hours finding new details as we walked through this amazing display.  We were so impressed about how no detail was forgotten. I really liked how they incorporated homes and attractions that you see in Lancaster.  You can see a moving Ferris wheel, with soldered seats and custom lights, tiny trees and stalks of corn and live fish swimming in a pond. The creativity and attention to detail is nothing short of amazing. They even had an animation of a fire rescue with firemen putting up ladders, going into a burning house, saving a person and squirting water on the home to put out the fire.

It's easy to drive by and miss the Choo Choo Barn, but if you are in the area I recommend you stop in. For adults, you'll be brought back to your childhood when most families set up a train display for the holidays. For kids, they will be memorized by the scene and be introduced to the hobby of model trains.

Facts About Choo Choo Barn

Created by the Groff family in 1961, the Choo Choo Barn is under the creative direction of Tom Groff, an expert in the artistry of model railroading. Traintown U.S.A.® is also home to the Strasburg Train Shop, a model railroading hobby shop with an extensive used train department and Thomas' Trackside Station, offering over 1200 Thomas and FriendsTM items.

The Choo Choo Barn display is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., March 12 – December 31, 2011. Admission price is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-11. For more information and to learn about group rates, please call (717) 687-7911 or visit www.choochoobarn.com.

Check out Choo Choo Barn on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/choochoobarn.



Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit the Choo Choo Barn.

A week before the holidays my family and I had the chance to visit Adventure Aquarium in Camden NJ. This was our first visit and it will not be our last. The aquarium is currently holding it's Christmas Celebration, so the aquarium is decorated for the holidays and the shows have a holiday theme.

We started out in Adventure Zone D, because we wanted to see the hippos. The viewing area to watch them was large and the fish that where in the tank with them were fascinating to watch. Next we made our way over to the Shark Realm, this was the coolest part. We spent a long time in the shark tunnel watching the sharks swimming over us and beside us.

Next we went to Adventure Zone A. This part was neat because we had the chance to touch sand sharks. We also had the chance to see Scuba Santa and one of his elves. Because of the holidays the scuba divers dress in Santa outfits, but even if your there during the non holiday time you can still watch the divers.

We also had the chance to check out Stingray beach which is really cool because not only can you touch a stingray you can put your feet in and walk around where they swim. If you know that your child might be interested in doing something like this make sure they have pants on that can roll up easily.

We loved visiting the Adventure Aquarium. We really liked that they had many opportunities where we could touch animals. At one point we got the chance to touch a jelly fish. There were also lots of hands on exhibits for the kids to learn more about the animals habitats.

The aquarium has a cafeteria where you can purchase food and during warmer weather there is an outdoor seating area so you could pack a lunch and eat outside.

Below is a video overview of what we saw while we were there:




For more information: www.adventureaquarium.com

Location:1 Riverside Drive Camden, NJ

This event is appropriate for: the whole family

Cost: Adult $26.95 Youth (Ages 2-12) $22.95

Sponsored Post
This post is sponsored by Sorella A Boutique For Women, Media PA

Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary tickets to visit the Aquarium.

Summers ending and we wanted to provide an insiders view of some of our favorite places to take kids in Cape May NJ.

The video below highlights the Cape May Lighthouse and Sunset Beach. The lighthouse is an excellent place to take your family. The lighthouse is still a working navigational aid to ships marking the beginning of the Delaware Bay. Admission is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids. The Lighthouse is on the grounds of Cape May Point State Park. This is a beautiful, natural and undisturbed stretch of beach that is free to visitors. However the beach is not watched by lifeguards in all locations.

The video also includes Cape May’s Sunset Beach . This stretch of beach on the Delaware Bay side boasts the best sunsets on the East Coast. I have seen them and it is true. Visit at sunset and you can see the flag ceremony. Visit during the day and take a swim in the bay or play miniature golf at one of the best courses in Cape May. Also you can visit Sunset Grill, a snack stand that offers burgers, fries and other kid’s favorites.




Best Place to Stay Summer or Winter
I haven’t stayed here personally but the Grand Hotel in Cape May has the recipe for fun, an indoor pool. This hotel is footsteps from the beach and the promenade and a short walk from the center of town.

Best Place to Eat With Kids
Cabanas Beach Bar and Grill has never disappointed us. It has a mixture of pub food and steaks and other entrees. And, kids under 4 Eat Free all the time.

The Rusty Nail is another option that offers a laid back vibe, with steel bands and fire pit surrounded by sand that the kids can play in. If you can get a sitter for the kids, this is a great place to hang out for late night drinks around the fire.




Sponsored Post

This post is sponsored by Just Between Friends of West Chester/Media Consignment Sale October 2nd and 3rd at Brandywine Youth Club 41 Thornton Road - Glen Mills PA.