I’m lucky enough to live in New York City. The best thing about the city that never sleeps? It’s ALWAYS open! You can always find things to do, even in cold weather. Snow everywhere? Things are still happening. Sleeting rain? Put on a heavy raincoat and boots and catch a subway into Manhattan!

From flurries to scheduling, nothing should stop you from exploring with your family this winter. I don’t even let bladder leaks get in my way. I always chart out restrooms before any city adventure, but I also use Depend® FIT-FLEX® underwear to keep my confidence up. The fabric is ultra-soft and comfortable, and keeps me protected all-day long, so I can focus on taking the city by storm with my family.

If you’re not letting anything stop you from family fun this winter, this guide is for you! Here’s my list of fun things to do with your family in New York city (plus a few things to do just for you, sans kids!):

We’re updating this to add an 11th pick — The Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights are back! Open until Jan 5 (Check select dates). Get tickets here: https://fxo.co/DCCA

MoMath

This super-fun, interactive museum will get your kids hooked on math. Conveniently located in Midtown, you can spend hours there and you won’t hear any complaints of boredom. Adults will enjoy themselves too! Restrooms are located on both floors of the museum and have really cool geometric-shaped sinks, in line with the math theme.

Spyscape

A unique interactive experience, Spyscape lets you be a secret agent for a day as you go through various challenges to test out your skills and talent. At the end, you get to find out what type of spy you will be. Restrooms are located on the main exhibit floor, which is accessible via elevator. There are tons of quick serve restaurants nearby where you can grab a delicious lunch!

https://spyscape.com/

Children’s Museum of the Arts

This museum is geared towards slightly younger kids and allows them to engage in various forms of art, from painting to play dough and everything in-between. Two restrooms are located on opposite sides of this museum.

Tenement Museum

Although this museum can only be accessed via a tour, it’s well worth it and most tours are appropriate for kids ages 6 and up. The tours are often given by a costumed actor and enable you to see what life was like for the immigrants in NY in the beginning of the 20th century. During the tour there is no access to the restroom, but they are located in the adjacent building and you can always leave mid-tour if necessary.

New York Public Library

Don’t miss this incredible library. Be sure to stop by the kids’ room to view real artifacts from A.A. Milne’s personal collection of toys that inspired him to write Winnie the Pooh (including Pooh himself). Older kids will enjoy the free library tour. Restrooms are located near the kids’ room, as well as other areas. Also check out the prettiest public restrooms in NYC right in Bryant Park, where you’ll enjoy fresh flower displays and classic music.

https://www.nypl.org/

Broadway Shows

There are a lot of family-friendly Broadway shows going on right now. For tweens and teens, Mean Girls is a good option as it is both fun and with a strong anti-bullying message. Restrooms are located in the theater and are easily accessible.

If you need Broadway (off Broadway Tickets), we are a TodayTix affiliate and we highly recommend them! Go here to get tickets for such shows like The Rockettes and a Christmas Carol – plus you can get HAMILTON!! Makes such a great gift! We’re a TodayTix affiliate, purchase through our link! TodayTix.com.

Cooking Classes

Who doesn’t love home-made, fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza? Your kids will love the pizza-making class at Rossopomodoro. Call to find out when the next class will take place. Restroom is one flight down.

Go on an Interactive Tour 

Check out Fable and Lark – a company that provides interactive tours. The Harry Potter-themed tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is especially popular and really fun. There are several restrooms throughout the Met Museum.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

This fascinating museum, located in Times Square, holds a vast collection of the world’s most bizarre artifacts. In accordance with the theme, the restroom has lots of fun tidbits, as well as fart noises, to the delight of kids (and kids at heart).

Museum of Natural History

Lovers of all things nature can spend all day at this museum and still not see everything. If your kids are fans of dinosaurs, be sure to check out the new T-Rex exhibit. Don’t like dinosaurs or other animals? There’s plenty of other exhibits, such as exhibits about people from different cultures, about space and also about the environment. Restrooms are conveniently located throughout the museum.

As I’ve shared, I, along with nearly 65 million Americans, experience bladder leakage. But I definitely don’t let it get in the way of how I want to live my life or my winter adventures. That’s exactly what I would tell a friend – don’t let bladder leakage stop you from living your best life. If you or someone you know is looking for advice and resource on bladder leaks, join The Incontinence Community, a private Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity. Ten Fun Family Activities to do in NYC During Cold Weather

New York City Photo Credit: Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The post Ten Fun Family Activities to do in NYC During Cold Weather appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Getting from the Airport:
It will take around 50 minutes or so to come in from O’Hare International Airport. Take money for a taxi or Ride on Demand like Lyft or Uber. Keep in mind if you book a Lyft or Uber, they are restricted to where they can pick you up. We came in via United and they picked us up all the way at the front of the United terminals.

Where to Stay:
We love to stay in the city when we visit — one of the hotels I recommend is the Holiday Inn Chicago-Mart Plaza River North. Spacious rooms and located in a very central area. There are loads of restaurants and attractions nearby — or take Chicago Public Transport or Lyft.

The Plan:
Arrive early and stash your luggage at the bellman’s station. Take a photo of your claim ticket (I know I always lose mine). Then go explore!

Terrific Family-Friendly Idea

1. Christ Kindl Market

This is a sampling of what you would see if you were at a German holiday market (which I last saw when I traveled to Munich in Christmastime 1992). There are loads of food stands serving potato pancakes, Bratwurst, hot chocolate, strudel, beer, Bavarian pretzels, specialty candy, German cookies, and many foods dipped in chocolate.

Don’t miss the cheesecake-stuffed Bavarian pretzels! It’s more of a big snack than a lunch or dinner, but it’s a lot of fun. It is outside, so make sure you bundle everyone up! Save room for Hot Chocolate! You can also buy a cute mug for $8 to keep and enjoy your hot chocolate in.

Pick up some great holiday gifts here. Vendors offer jewelry, clothes, home décor, wooden handicrafts, toys for kids, Nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, and beer steins as well as hand-blown and hand-painted ornaments.

Find the Christ Kindle Market on Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop (Between Dearborn, Washingtons, and Clark Streets)

FREE ADMISSION
OPEN DAILY
SUN – THU 11AM – 8PM
FRI – SAT 11AM – 9PM

http://www.christkindlmarket.com/chicago/

2. Get Deep Dish Pizza

Chicago is famous for their Deep Dish. We recommend sharing with friends at Gino’s East. There are several locations and the pizza rocks.

Gino’s East
500 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60601
https://www.ginoseast.com/

Have you had Deep Dish Pizza? What’s your favorite place to go to?

3. Have Breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s

Breakfast: Lou Mitchell’s is THE place to go. This diner has been around since 1923 and serves up delicious food.

You’ll meet Donna as you come in. She’s been greeting customers at Lou Mitchell’s for the past 3o years and she’ll great you with a smile and a donut hole.

Don’t miss the banana pancakes!

Or the chicken and waffles  (thanks to Greta of Pickles Travel for letting me photograph her breakfast)

After you eat, they’ll give you a small cup of vanilla ice cream and some candy. This is such a family friendly place and I just fell in love.

Lou Mitchell’s
565 W Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60661
http://www.loumitchells.com/

4. See a Sports Team Play
Chicago is full of awesome sports teams. However, tickets can be pricey. Catch a Chicago Wolves Hockey Game in Rosemont, Illinois (around an hour from the city). Take a Lyft out there (they have drop off points right near the area).

Get Tickets for a Game

Allstate Arena
6920 Mannheim Rd,
Rosemont, IL 60018

5. Visit Chicago’s Museums!

Chicago has many terrific museums for families – make sure you visit the Field Museum. Another terrific museum for families is the Museum of Science and Industry. This is an interactive museum that you could spend the whole day at! Drive or take public transportation here.

While this Museum is on the more expensive side, consider a membership if you plan on coming a couple of times a year. It’s also excellent and kids will love it. You can easily spend a whole day (or more here). 10 Fun Things To Do With Kids in Chicago During the Holiday Season

Make sure you check Groupon – they often have deals for this and other Chicago attractions.

The Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr,
Chicago, IL 60637
https://www.msichicago.org/ 

Check out my video!

If you plan on visiting several possible attractions,  Save 51% on Chicago’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS – Shop Now! — This museum is on it.

6. See The Bean in Millennium Park

Millennium Park is located in the Loop area in Chicago and was intended to celebrate the third millennium. Pop in and take a photo in front of the Bean and then stroll around the park. It hosts the Bean, which is only one amazing piece of the public art available in Chicago – more info here: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/provdrs/public_art_program.html

Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St,
Chicago, IL 60602

7. Tour Macy’s and see the Holiday Windows and Dine in the Walnut Room

The Christmas Tree in the Walnut Room, Macy’s, Chicago

Check out my video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-5J8gismAD8

Macy’s
111 N State St,
Chicago, IL 60602
https://l.macys.com/chicago-il

8. Shop the Magnificent Mile

Chicago is known for their excellent shopping. The Magnificient Mile boasts a lot of high-end stores. Plus delicious restaurants to get your strength back like Labriola Cafe.

9. Take in a Show – Chicago has lots of high caliber shows. The Blue Man Group is definitely one of them. It’s family friendly and a quick cab or Lyft ride from the main drag.

Courtesy Blue Man Group

Briar Street Theater
3133 N Halsted St,
Chicago, IL 60657
https://www.blueman.com/chicago/buy-tickets

Find more shows at Groupon: https://www.groupon.com 

10. Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues

This was so fun! The lively gospel brunch at the House of Blues was so enjoyable and the food was delicious. Get there on the earlier side to grab a seat near the stage.

I had to make sure I tried the chicken and waffles and the biscuits and gravy!

Gospel Brunch is every Sunday at 10 and 12:30 PM.

The post 10 Fun Things To Do With Kids in Chicago During the Holiday Season appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

We landed at Myrtle Beach International Airport in the early afternoon. The airport is very small and we got our luggage within minutes. Car rental is across the street and we picked up our car pretty quickly as well. We drove to The Caravelle Resort, our hotel, and checked into our room. We had a stunning oceanfront room which had this view:

The room was spacious, comfortable and clean. It turns out that all of the rooms at The Caravelle Resort had been renovated recently and all the furniture and appliances are brand-new. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations to the main areas and hallways.

This is how close we were to the beach:

I loved that the room had a mini kitchen, fully equipped, so you can make your own meals if you like.

The Caravelle Resort has several properties nearby; although we stayed in the main one, there are other hotels with different room sizes and different price points. During the autumn, which is considered the off-season, Caravelle is holding a special promotion until November 1st that allows you to extend your summer and enjoy the warm weather at the beach, across the street from the properties, as well at the many pools. This promotion, called “60 More Days of Summer” gives you a 35% discount on the room plus other extras, such as free breakfast at The Caravelle’s own Santa Maria restaurant (pictured below), winner of Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence.

Around dinnertime, we headed out to River City Cafe. My husband had a veggie burger while I had the Blackened Grouper Rueben, which came with sauerkraut and melted swiss. Absolutely delicious. We also loved the relaxed, beachy vibe of the place.

After dinner, we went to the Carolina Opry to see Time Warp, which showcases hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

There were about 8-10 singers, plus several dancers, as well as musicians. (Some singers also played instruments.) We’re used to New York shows with the immense talent so we weren’t expecting much. Suffice it to say we were blown away by the talent on stage. Each song was better than the first. It’s as if the performers kept trying to out-do each other; the show just kept getting better and better.

I loved how all the singers had very special voices and were able to sing a variety of hits. The addition of lights and lasers added to create an unforgettable performance. It was pure fun with a bit of nostalgia.

We especially loved Brad Long – he brought the house down with each one of his songs. The 7pm performance had lots of kids in the audience and is very family-friendly. (There are also booster seats.)

The next morning we woke up especially early and got to see this spectacular sunrise:

We had some time to kill so we walked around the hotel and got to see some of the amenities.

The pool and kids’ water park area:

Lazy river: (there’s also a smaller one for toddlers, not pictured)

Indoor pool:

Picnic area:

There are rooms with larger patios:

We left the hotel and grabbed delicious chocolate croissants at Croissants Bakery and Bistro. We then drove to Murrells Inlet and went kayaking at the saltwater marshes. We booked the tour through Black River Outdoors, a family-owned business. Our guide, Paul, turned out to be much more than a tour guide: he was a historian, a naturalist and an eco-tourism expert all rolled into one. Plus he was funny to boot. He answered all of our questions in detail and was happy to share his vast knowledge and point out all of the wildlife we saw on the way. Paul does eco-tours in Costa Rica in the off-season but in the fall, the marshes are abundant with wildlife; We got to see lots of different types of birds, a bald eagle in its nest and Paul even scooped up a jellyfish for us to hold (it’s a type of jellyfish whose sting doesn’t go through the skin, so we didn’t feel anything).

Paddling the kayak was easy and required very little effort. School-aged kids can kayak alone in a small youth-sized kayak and younger kids can go in a larger kayak with a parent. It was a quiet and relaxing experience. The highlight of the excursion was when a dolphin came up to our kayaks to splash around.

After the kayak tour, it was time for lunch. We drove to Brookgreen Gardens, just down the road from the inlet and had lunch at the Pavillion Restaurant in the gardens.

We had a delicious sandwich and quesadilla and then walked around the gardens looking at the stunning sculptures. Brookgreen Gardens contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the country.

We strolled through the gardens, went to the zoo and had a little fun at Enchanted Storybook Forest. We strolled through the Lowcountry Trail where we got to walk by what used to be an active rice plantation. The walk has signs with descriptions of the rice plantation, as well as audio recordings which describe what life was like for the slaves. Archeological digs that have taken place about twenty years ago show parts of the slaves’ housing. The Lowcountry Trail is an homage and tribute to the slaves working on the plantation and I believe that learning about the history of a place is important even if it is at times unpleasant.

Getting a closer look at the former rice plantation:

Walking around the gardens was relaxing but the weather started getting hot. The high was 80 degrees in mid-October but with the humidity rising it was time to get back to our air-conditioned room at the hotel.

We rested a little and then went out to dinner at Pier House, a restaurant with a pretty view of the beach.

There were lots of seafood choices and I’m glad I ordered the lobster roll. It was delicious and a very generous portion for the price ($25). My husband had a pasta dish and a frozen mango daiquiri, which was to die for.

After dinner we went to see another multi-talented man: James Stephens III was performing his one-man show, at the Asher Theatre. This guy is so extremely talented, he can sing, play the piano, tell jokes, impersonate a celebrity and often he does all four things at once. He’s a natural entertainer and we especially loved his impersonations of Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie and Elvis. Adopted as a child after his father’s death, Stephens went to law school and then moved to LA to become an actor. He now continues to perform while raising money for underserved kids. His positive energy was contagious and we had a blast at his show!

We woke up Sunday morning and headed over to Johnny D’s for a hearty and delicious breakfast. I had the salmon benedict and loved the house-cured salmon. It reminded me of the lox I get in New York.

My husband treated himself to a banana split waffle, which was also delicious. In fact, Johhny D’s was voted by the Food Network as the best waffles in South Carolina. Not surprising.

When breakfast was over we decided to do a little shopping. After visiting some stores on the main strips we drove to Market Common. A former air force base, it is now a residential and shopping area with a movie theater and other entertainment venues.

I especially loved shopping at Southern Living and browsing the unique and elegant gifts.

There are about a dozen or so restaurants at Market Common and we ended up at Nacho Hippo. This cute, beach-themed eatery has awesome Mexican food and really yummy margaritas. We had delicious chips & guac and I loved my shrimp tacos. My husband enjoyed veggie tacos with a peach margarita.

After lunch, we wanted to see a little culture. The Myrtle Beach Art Museum is one of the few museums in the country which boast an ocean view.

The museum is small and admission is free. We happened to come during an opening of an art exhibit called Roots Run Deep by Sherry Strickland Martin. Martin creates watercolor paintings and mixed media works in very bright, vivid colors.

It’s a sweet little museum and we enjoyed seeing the permanent exhibits as well.

Around 2pm the weather started getting really hot and humid again. We were hoping to take a dip in the ocean or the pool but ended up taking a nap instead. We woke up refreshed and went to dinner at Art Burger & Sushi. This place is right by the beach and it was fun to just sit, relax and enjoy our meal while looking at the water. I had sushi while my husband had a falafel burger and sangria.

Everything was delicious and after dinner, we took off our shoes and went for a walk on the beach during sunset. By that time the weather had cooled down considerably and there was a nice breeze.

We walked up to the Skywheel, a huge Ferris wheel that’s right on the beach, and took a ride.

Afterward, we walked by the water a little longer and then decided to end our evening with one of the things Myrtle Beach is known for: miniature golf. Apparently, Myrtle Beach is the miniature golf capital of the world, with over 50 courses. We went to Captain Hook’s Miniature Golf Course and had a blast! I haven’t played in years and it took a few tries but I did have some beginner’s luck. This golf course was particularly great for kids as it has scenery from Peter Pan, complete with caves, The Lost Boys’ dwellings and audio recordings of various characters.

The next morning we walked on the beach before heading to the airport to catch our flight back home.

Our hotel:

It was the perfect ending to an incredible getaway!

Thank you to www.VisitMyrtle Beach.com for providing me with airfare, accommodations, tickets to attractions and a gift card for expenses.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post A Fun Weekend Getaway to Myrtle Beach: Perfect for Couples and Familes appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

A short hour and half away from NYC is a toddler’s dream come true: Sesame Place! Filled with dry & wet rides, live shows, a parade and tons of opportunities to meet the Sesame Street characters, Sesame Place offers a little piece of Heaven for kids ages 2-10. My family and I recently attended Media Day at Sesame Place and got to experience first-hand what it is all about. It was too cold to do the wet rides, so we ended up seeing the parade, two of the three shows and going on all of the dry rides and activities (except for the roller coaster). While the theme park itself is not very big, it can get very busy when the weather gets warmer so here are some tips to making the most of your visit.

Activities:

Most of the dry rides and activities are geared towards very small children, while most of the wet rides are for kids that are a little bit older. The shows and parade are an absolute must! The shows are about 25 minutes long and involve music and songs – some of which are interactive – and there is very little talking going on, which is perfect for little ones’ attention span. The characters come down to interact a little with the kids in the front row. The newest show is Abby Caddaby’s Let’s Play Together which is all about friendship.

Getting to the shows early will ensure you better seats. I went early to stand in line, while my husband took the kids to get their picture with Elmo at the “123 – Smile With Me” photo studio. The studio is great because you get a gorgeous, quality picture and you can buy a package which gets you a really cute frame to put it in. In addition, the characters can sometimes be found roaming the main street of the park, but there is usually a line to get your picture with them. It’s still worth it because it’s free, so if you have the time I recommend that, too.

The parade, which is also about 25 minutes, is a lot of fun and interactive – the kids get the opportunity to join at certain parts and dance. It’s best to get there early to get a good spot. Bring a towel or blanket to spread on the ground. Other dry activities that are not rides but still just as fun are Ernie’s Bed Bounce, Cookie Mountain and more!

Dining:

Buying food at Sesame Place can be expensive, but the kids’ meals come with adorable plastic plates and cups that we still use. There are some healthy options like veggie salads & fruit cups. You can also bring your own food and snacks to save money.

There is also the option of dining with the characters for an extra fee which includes a breakfast, lunch, dinner or after-dinner desserts and involves some the characters who come up to the table and meet with the kids.

What to Bring:

I recommend bringing water shoes, swim diapers, lots of sunscreen and also lots of water bottles and snacks. I also recommend bringing a stroller with lot of storage space underneath, but there are also lockers available to rent for a fee. In addition, your kids will probably want you to buy them stuff – this is why Oscar’s Garage Gift Shop is a great option. Everything at the store is under $10 so you can stock up on souvenirs and gifts.

After the Park:

If you have a long ride home and have very young children, I recommend staying at the park until close to dinnertime, then going out to eat somewhere and after dinner getting the kids in their pajamas and going straight home so they can sleep on the way. We did this and our kids fell asleep immediately after dinner on the way home and – most importantly – stayed asleep when we put them in their beds.

There are a few dinner choices in the area, namely Cheeburger Cheeburger, located right next to the parking lot, which has lots of options for everyone, including burgers, salads, kids’ meals and a large variety of shakes, plus vegetarian options. We had dinner at Duck Sauce, a Chinese/Asian Fusion place with many non-vegetarian and vegetarian options. It’s very affordable and the food was amazing (I did not get any freebies from this place – I just happen to love it). It’s a 10 minute ride from Sesame Place so it was very convenient. It’s located at 127 S. State Street, Newtown, PA 18940

How Much:

Price is $57.99 for a one day OR an Elmo’s 2-day ticket, so you might as well get the 2-day, since you can use it anytime within that season (open until December). Kids under 2 are free.

If you decide to use the 2-day ticket on 2 consecutive days there are plenty of affordable places to stay, either right across from Sesame Place, or even 20-30 minutes away, which can end up being more affordable (use tripadvisor or expedia). If you decide to go for two consecutive days, it’s best to spend one day just doing the dry rides and some of the shows, and the other doing the wet rides, relaxing by The Count’s Splash Castle and the rest of the shows and parade.

Sesame Place
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
1-866-GO-4-ELMO
Summer hours are from 10am-8 or 9pm

So, did my kids have the time of their lives? Judging by the picture below I think it’s pretty obvious they did!

I was not paid for this post. I did receive complimentary passes and parking for Sesame Place.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Healthy Bites. Maytal has been living in New York City for eleven years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but writing about nutrition and helping families eat better is her true passion. She grew up in both California and Israel, which explains her love for California cuisine (fresh, local ingredients), as well as Mediterranean food (flavorful, heart-healthy ingredients). Maytal is a mom to two kids (ages 5 & 3) and works hard to ensure they eat healthy, unprocessed food, while trying to make it as delicious as possible. Married to a vegetarian and being a pescetarian herself, this can be quite a challenge. On an ordinary night at her dinner table, you can hear things like “More cauliflower, please!”, “How come I didn’t get a lot of tomato?” and “Fish oil! Yaaaay!”.

The post Sesame Place Guide for Parents appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The drive took around 3 and a half hours from Queens, NY to Stroudsburg, PA. I took Route 80 for most of the ride and only encountered bridge traffic. It was a peaceful drive and I enjoyed the time to talk to my daughter.

We checked into our room at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. Our room was sleek and modern, with two very comfortable beds, a large TV and a spotless bathroom (anyone who reads my travel posts or watches my videos knows that a spotless bathroom is something important to me).

Next, we drove over to Mountain View Vineyard and Winery. It was close by to where we were staying and the property’s view was stunning.

Make sure that you have a designated driver as you’ll definitely want to sample their delicious wine.

I’m not usually a big drinker and I was driving, so I was pretty surprised when I did a few tastings and really enjoyed what I sampled (each glass only had around 3-4 sips and I only took 2-3 sips at most).

My server asked me what I liked and walked me through each wine that I tried. I really liked the Mountain Goat White Wine, which was a semi-sweet wine, so I bought a bottle to take home.

Then we headed over to the Hotel of Horror. OMG — this was amazing.So scary and my daughter and I screamed our way through it. My daughter is almost 10 and while she’s young, she LOVED it.

I actually had to restrain her a little, she tried to kick one of the actors. This was so terrifying. Note: if you have a child or a friend that gets really scared — this is not for you. After our excitement, we went back to the hotel to get some zzz’s.

The next morning, we enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the hotel.

Then we set off for Bushkill Falls. I really liked that the trails were clearly marked.

Green was the easiest and Blue was the toughest and longest. We opted for yellow, but did end up doing red for a little bit. I had thought we were lost, but luckily we were actually going up the right way.

While I’ll admit that the way down was easy, going up the steps to get back up was not! I felt amazing after I did it and my daughter loved this hike. This is a hike though, so make sure you are hydrated, wear bug spray and proper clothing for hiking in the woods. There is a store by the entrance where you can grab souvenirs and snacks, just know that the water and ice teas were around $3 each, so I would bring snacks and beverages in with you. Just remember to bring your trash out with you and dispose of it properly. 

Next, we went to the historic town of Milford. Note: My in-laws live 20 minutes from Milford, so we have been here a couple of times.

This time was unique, as we were coming to explore. I quickly called my mother-in-law and she told me to try the Hotel Fauchère.

We enjoyed a meal at Bar Louis on the Porch at the Hotel Fauchère. The food was amazing, but try to find out how long it will take to be served — the day we were there we had to wait a long time and we were hungry. My hamburger was extraordinary! Note: This was not a compensated meal and in the time since this post was published, I’ve been back several times for meals. Always excellent.

Hit Sweet Sweet Wonderland right after for a sweet treat.

We went back to Stroudsburg and then met up for dinner at the Barley Creek Brewing Company. This is so close to Camelback and the food was absolutely delicious. We had great service and I’m still thinking about the Short Rib Fajita Tacos that I had there.

For our last day, we checked out at 8 am and headed over to the town of Jim Thorpe. According to Wikipedia, “The town has been called the “Switzerland of America” due to the picturesque scenery, mountainous location, and architecture; as well as the “Gateway to the Poconos.” It is in eastern Pennsylvania about 80 miles (130 km) north of Philadelphia and 100 miles (160 km) west of New York City. This town is also historically known as the burial site for the body of Native American sports legend Jim Thorpe.”

The town offers Fall Foliage weekends (which are done for now – but typically every October weekend). If you come for a big weekend in Jim Thorpe, parking is very tough in Jim Thorpe, so if you don’t find a spot in town, then park at nearby Mauch Chunk  Lake Park and take the shuttle down. There may be a cost, but check the Poconos Mountains website or the Jim Thorpe Website for more info.

We loved the Fall Foliage train ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railroad – this 45 minute trip to nowhere was stunning.

Click the video below to see a glimpse of our ride.

A post shared by Nancy Johnson Horn (@themamamaven) on Oct 15, 2017 at 9:15pm PDT

Note: There are some traffic issues getting back from Jim Thorpe to NYC. Research your route. I relied on my phone’s GPS and it took me over 4 hours.

All in all, we had a terrific time and you will have a wonderful time celebrating Fall in the Poconos.

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott
294 Frantz Rd
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-0100

Mountainview Vineyard and Winery
2332 Walters Road
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Hotel of Horror
Route 115
Cherry Valley Road
Saylorsburg, PA 18353

Bar Louis on the Porch at Hotel Fauchère
401 Broad Street
Milford, PA 18337
570.409.1212
Info@HotelFauchere.com

Sweet Sweet Wonderland
305 Broad St
Milford, PA 18337

Barley Creek Brewing Company
1774 Sullivan Trail
Tannersville, PA 18372
Phone: 570.629.9399

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
https://www.jimthorpe.org 

Book your stay in the Poconos at our affliate partner, Booking.com.

Thank you to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for hosting my stay and providing our hotel stay, most of our meals and tickets to attractions. As always, all opinions are my own. 

The post Fun in the Poconos: Visiting Bushkill Falls, Milford, and Jim Thorpe, PA appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Although my youngest is the Thomas fan, my eight-year-old son and my ten-year-old daughter had a lot of fun as well and all three have been asking to go again next year. What is it about Thomas Land that appeals to kids? First and foremost, it is not overwhelming. It’s relatively small with 11 rides, a show and a 20-minute train ride. Thomas Land is part of Edaville USA, which is a larger theme park with other rides, plus Dino Land, a park with animatronic dinosaurs. A ticket to Edaville USA gets you in all three parks.

In addition, aside from themed rides, Thomas Land has buildings and decor straight out of the Island of Sodor. There’s also Tidmouth Sheds and Knapford Station with kid-sized “people”, so you can watch the Thomas stories come to life.

We arrived early so we were able to go on all the rides and avoid lines. It was fun to recognize all the famous characters and the rides were really fun. 

The show was cute and geared towards the younger set.

I loved the attention to detail:

It was a hot day and we were very happy to stop by the fans that spritzed misty water.

This was one of my favorite rides. It was really cool to see Thomas Land from above:

The train ride on Thomas was relaxing and we enjoyed the scenery.

We had an amazing time!

And what did my little Thomas fan think? He was in seventh heaven!

If you’re driving in from New York like we did, you can turn it into a mini getaway and visit other attractions in the area. We went to Plimoth Plantation (sic) where we saw Native Americans wearing traditional clothing and actors dressed up as pilgrims from the Mayflower, and we also had dinner at the gorgeous Plymouth marina. Other places of interest nearby are Cape Cod, Federal Hill, which is an Italian neighborhood in Providence, RI and the historic mansions at Newport, RI.

Visit Edaville USA to learn more and to purchase tickets. Click here to get $3 off each ticket. Parking is always free.

Read the post about guest writer Julianne’s visit to Edaville two years ago: http://www.themamamaven.com/2015/09/15/visiting-thomasland-at-edaville/

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets and meal vouchers, hotel stay and stipend for expenses.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier. S

The post Family Travel: A Special Day at Thomas Land at Edaville USA appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Thomas Land

You may remember our writer Julianne visited Thomas Land when it first opened (Read that post here – http://www.themamamaven.com/2015/09/15/visiting-thomasland-at-edaville )  but we were curious to see it for ourselves. 

Thomas Land features 11 rides based on Thomas & Friends and feature favorite characters, such as Thomas, Gordon, Cranky the Crane, Harold the Helicopter and more. The Island of Sodor will feature destinations such as Tidmouth Sheds, Knapford Station, and Brendam Docks. There’s also a 20-minute scenic train ride on a life-sized replica of Thomas the Tank Engine. Sir Topham Hatt will be available for photo opps and meet & greet opportunities. Click here to see all of the rides and attractions.

Thomas Land is set on over 11 acres and is a part of Edeaville, a much larger park which includes two other parks: Dino Land, featuring 23 animatronic life-size dinosaurs and Cran Central, an amusement park which includes vintage amusement rides, such as an antique carousel and an illuminated ferris wheel, as well as other attractions, such as a roller coaster, drop tower and more. It’s located in Carver, MA and situated between Boston, Providence and Cape Cod – perfect for a summer getaway. 

Visit the website to learn more. Click here to buy tickets. Parking is always free. 

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets, hotel stay and stipend for expenses.

Planning a Summer Getaway in New England? Visit Thomas Land at Edaville USA

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier. S

The post Planning a Summer Getaway in New England? Visit Thomas Land at Edaville USA appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Check out our day on video: 

Skiing
My oldest was given a ski lesson for around an hour and a half. His instructor was really patient and encouraging. My husband couldn’t believe how well he did. We were so excited that he loved it and was actually good at it. We’re already trying to figure out how to get him skiing again soon. 

Camelback offers Kids Half-Day Programs, single session Learn To Ski/Ride packages, 90-minute beginner lessons & private lessons. My son loved his lessons, while my husband opted just to ski (even though it had been a while since he’d been on skis). My husband said the skiing staff was excellent (one guy even carried our son’s skiis so my husband wouldn’t have to carry our son’s skis and his own) 

While Mr. B was having success on the mountain, I had gone snow tubing with the two little ones.

My daughter had a great time (thanks to Divina of Dancing Hotdogs), as when we went up the mountain, my little guy refused to tube down. Since he has special needs, I wasn’t so surprised.

We walked down the other people mover – luckily we were there before the other side of the snow tubing was going on. 

After lunch at the Big Poconos Eatery (you can see that tour in my video), we headed to Aquatopia. I drove down this time (parking is free). My two little ones loved it. Enjoy some of our photos from our time there!

For more info on Camelback, including pricing, please go here: http://www.camelbackresort.com

Thank you to Camelback Mountain Resort and Momtrends for hosting us for the day. No compensation was received. 

The post Winter Fun at Camelback Mountain Resort appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Check out my video about the Chevy Equinox!

I took the Chevy Equinox up to Kalahari Resorts recently (read part 1 and part 2 of our trip) and loved the way it hugged the road.

I took the selfie while I was parked. Driving + mobile phones = doesn’t mix.

On Star was really cool. My aunt swears by it, so it was fun to check out. You hit the little blue button and then you can ask them for driving routes, nearby restaurants, gas stations..etc..

While I’m out of the stroller stage, I still need room to store my grandma cart (since we live in an apartment). My cart easily fit in the back of the Equinox.

The Equinox offers 4G LTE WI-FI, and gets an estimated 32 MPG on the highway.

I felt very safe in the Equinox. It features a rear vision camera, forward collision alert (which is great for city life), and lane departure warning.

What’s your favorite feature of the Chevy Equinox?

Thank you so much to Chevrolet for lending me the Equinox. Such a fun ride! 

The post Chevrolet Equinox Review appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Family Guide to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Poconos: Part 2
Indoor Waterpark:

The 100,000 sq. ft.Indoor Waterpark was pretty amazing — note, they are expanding it ANOTHER 100,000 sq. ft, so it will be 200,ooo sq. ft, making it the largest waterpark in the US! The main kids area (for ages 5 and up) is the Splashdown Safari Kids, which offers net crawls, water guns, a huge variety of slides and several levels of interactive water fun! All of this is surrounded by a pool that starts with zero depth entry!

You get FREE access to the indoor waterpark if you are a guest in the hotel or you could buy a day or night pass. No outside food and beverage is allowed and they will check your bags to make sure there is compliance.

Right now it features a retractable roof, stand-up surfing or body boarding on the FlowRider (see our video), the Anaconda and Swahili Swirl waterslides, relaxing lazy river, and indoor/outdoor family hot tub (this was fantastic), toddler area (with their own lazy river), pool with  basketball hoops, an swim up adults-only hot tub with bar, etc..

What I really liked is that kids under 48″ are required to wear a life jacket.

I have to give kudos to the waterpark lifeguards. They were probably the best waterpark or resort lifeguards I have ever seen. They really watched the slides, 5 and under area, the lazy river — anywhere there was water, they were watching. I felt much better that they were paying so much attention, even though my kids were wearing lifejackets and both my mother, my husband, and I were watching them the whole time.

Tiko’s Watering Hole (which is for Kids 5 and Under):

Parents are allowed with kids, but children over 5 are discouraged from being here.

Slides and FlowRider:

There are a lot of cool slides — mainly aimed at the 10 and over set. While they are supervised, kids should be wearing lifejackets and be with an adult for that added layer of safety.

The slides are:

Wild Wildebeest (raft rides)
The Lost Lagoon
Tanzanian Twister
Rippling Rhino
Zimbabwe Zipper
Barrelling Baboon
Anaconda

Here’s a link to the entire waterpark map – http://www.kalahariresorts.com/media/370031/indoor_wp_map-pa.pdf

The staff manning the FlowRider were amazing too — we had Emily and Ramon. They really were patient and taught my kids to “catch some waves”.

You can rent cabanas for private use – like for families get togethers or parties (including kid birthday parties). It was nice to step out of the hum of the indoor waterpark to relax for a few minutes. There is a fridge stocked with bottled water and you can order food and drinks – there’s a waitress who will take care of you. 

There is a bar in the back of the waterpark, as well as a hot tub swim-up bar called the Thirsty Turtle.

You can use the indoor waterpark’s complimentary towels, there were tons.

There was a woman’s locker room, a men’s locker room, both with showers, private changing areas and toilets, as well as family/ADA Shower and Changing Rooms. The women’s locker rooms had the swimsuit drying machines, which is great to get the water out before you leave.
The only thing I would have liked to see and maybe I missed it, was hairdryers in the women’s locker rooms. I also didn’t see any shampoo, conditioner or soap. Since I haven’t been to an indoor waterpark before, this is something that may not be standar. If you check out and then spend the day in the waterpark, you’ll have to leave with wet or towel dried hair.

The Arcade:
Next to the waterpark, this was really popular with my children. In fact, they may have loved this even more. Seriously. It’s like “Vegas for Kids” — said Glamamom Jill Seiman. It was bright and brilliant and for little kids, they can just run around and be dazzled by the super sparkly lights and games. For bigger ones, like my 10 year old son, you’ll have to fork over the cash. TIP: Negotiate with your kids on how  much money you’ll give them OR have them bring their own money. Set limits for time spent in the arcade.

My 5 and 7 year old needed to be supervised, but we gave our 10 year old a little more freedom to venture a little away from us. However, I was still nervous to just let him stay there for hours by himself. It wasn’t like a kids club where I knew he would be supervised (which they do have at Kalahari Resorts).

The arcade is right next to the indoor waterpark entrance. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It was a bad thing because my children were totally in love with the arcade and wanted to spend as much time there as the waterpark. It was good because that was the way to get in and out for us and I knew it was monitored (my 5 year old is a runner).

Check out my video

Read the first part of my review.

Check their website and sites like Groupon for specials.

http://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania

Follow Kalahari Resorts & Conventions on Social:
https://www.facebook.com/kalahariresorts
https://twitter.com/KalahariResorts

Make sure you check Groupon for a possible deal at Kalahari Resorts

Thank you to Kalahari Resorts for providing a two night stay and some meals. No compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Family Guide to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Poconos: Part 2

The post Family Guide to Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Poconos: Part 2 appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The largest indoor waterpark in the U.S. is in Ohio but there’s no need to venture that far; recently opened, Aquatopia, the largest indoor waterpark in the Northeast is right here in the Poconos – 90 minutes from NYC! I recently visited Aquatopia and stayed at the Camelback Lodge Resort.

When we arrived, at around 1pm, our room was ready for us so we went in and changed into swimsuits. All guests of Camelback Lodge have unlimited access of Aquatopia.

The room was very comfortable with ample space for our family of five. It was nice to have a sofa to lounge on and even better: a mini refrigerator, microwave and a small table and chairs for eating.

Once we were all in swimsuits we headed downstairs to Aquatopia. At 125,000 square feet it is the largest indoor waterpark in the Northeastern US. It features a transparent roof, which allows sunlight in but unlike an outdoor waterpark, you don’t feel like the sun is at your back all the time; there are plenty of areas away from the sun. The park features 13 slides, a wavepool, an adventure river, multi-level play and spray structures, toddler area, simulated surfing experience and food and beverage services, including a swim-up bar.

The Wavepool:

My three kids had so much fun! My two-year-old was a little afraid of the water but the toddler area had especially warm water so we were able to get him in easily. The temperature at Aquatopia is always 84° so it’s hot but not sticky and it was comfortable to walk around in a swimsuit or with a coverup.

Toddler area:

My older kids had fun playing in the toddler area, as well as the multi-level slides and spray area, which is designed for elementary-school-aged kids:

Older (and more daring) kids can enjoy the simulated surfing experience, as well as larger slides such as Venus SlydeTrap Waterslide, the only combination slide of its kind in the world and Storm Chaser Water Coaster, the longest indoor water coaster slide in the world.

My husband went down this:

We spent the next day enjoying the park, including the lazy river, wavepool and more waterslides. We loved watching our kids get more and more confident and trying new slides.

8 Tips for making the most of your stay at Aquatopia at Camelback Lodge:

1. No need for towels – the park provides towels and you may exchange wet one for dry ones whenever you wish.
2. The park has very clean restrooms and showers. The showers include soap so just bring shampoo for after the park and you’re all set.
3. If you want to take pictures while in the water you can use a nylon pouch that protects your cell phone.
4. There are lockers available for a small fee. You can also leave your wallet in your room – you get a bracelet that allows you to make purchases at the resort.
5. The rooms at Camelback Lodge come with a refrigerator and microwave (some even come with a kitchen) so you can bring you own food and snacks. You can also buy food at the various venues at the resort and water park, such as a quick-serve restaurant, a buffet and a few other restaurants.
6. The gift shop is surprisingly not as expensive as expected. We bought a medium-sized Camelback Lodge teddy bear for just $10. Aside from gifts and beautiful swimwear at affordable prices there’s snacks (and baked goods) and useful items, such as swim diapers, Tylenol, etc.
7. Check in at the resort is at 12:30pm. Check in to room is at 4pm (unless it’s ready earlier) but you can head straight into the water park after 12:30.
8. Check out of hotel is at 11am but you may use the park until closing (10pm). Just remember to bring a change of clothes and shampoo for the shower.

Through June 14 Aquatopia offers sneak peek and allows entry without being a guest at Camelback Lodge. After the 14th you must be a guest at the Lodge. Click here to learn more and book a room.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary stay and visit to the park.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 8, 6 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Visit Aquatopia Water Park in the Poconos appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

First Day in Austin

Flew in, took a car to our hotel, right near the JW Marriott. Our driver, Trey was very cool and was helpful in telling us great things to do. He suggested we go to Ironworks for BBQ (though warning us that it wasn’t fancy). Marissa, at the front desk of our hotel, helpfully marked some of Trey’s suggestions on a map and added some of her own. While I’ll admit I am very digitally orientated, sometimes having a map is helpful!

First Night in Austin:

We left our hotel around 3PM and walked near where the Iron Works BBQ was. It was a short walking distance right from our hotel.

We passed by the restaurant (it was way to early to eat) and kept on going to Rainey Street, where the bars started. It started raining, so we ducked into one.

It was the Container Bar, which was created out of shipping containers.

They had some fun cocktails for $8, so we indulged a little. I had the Cherry Limeade: Which was Hendrick’s Gin, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Cherry Bitters, Lemonade, & Cherry Syrup served over crushed ice.

My husband had two drinks, one of which was “The Mule”, which was Reyka Vodka, Apricot Liqueur, Orange Bitters, Lemon Juice, & Ginger Beer.

Container Bar
90 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 320-0820
http://austincontainerbar.com

We found a lot of cute little bars and then went back to Ironworks for dinner at 5. There was a scavenger hunt going on around town and we noticed lots of teams, dressed up as superheros, tacos, Super Mario Brothers — it was pretty funny.

Then we went to dinner at Iron Works BBQ.

It was so delicious. This isn’t a fancy place, there are checkered tablecloths, and you order your food at the counter and seat yourself, the back patio is the ideal spot to sit in. However, I’m not a fancy person and that worked for me.

Eric and I split a plate of beef ribs and brisket. I had a side of corn on the cob, he had a side of macaroni and cheese. While we didn’t stuff ourselves, the food was amazing.It was still wayyy to early for dinner, so we took a walk around.

Iron Works BBQ
100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4855
http://www.ironworksbbq.com/

Then we went to see the Congress Avenue Bridge, where there are a huge amount of bats right under. Everynight at dusk, they fly out from under and it’s quite a sight. However, we were too early and were getting tired.

We walked back to our hotel, done for the night by 6:30! We were both asleep by 9 (which NEVER happens back home in NY). Can’t wait to see what Austin has in store for us!

The post The Austin Diaries: 1st Night – Cocktails at Container Bar and Dinner at Iron Works BBQ appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Requirements were:

• The drive had to be reasonable (2-4 hours MAX)
• Spa services
• Good food
• It had to be somewhat luxe (I’m not the rustic, bare bones type, despite over 20 years at Surprise Lake Camp).

We decided on the Mohonk Mountain House, which is located in New Paltz, NY (around 90 miles from Manhattan). And it was the perfect choice.

Check out my video tour.

Getting There: Super easy, we drove up and was there within 2 hours. It’s right outside New Paltz (literally hang a right – right after you go through town). There is security going onto the grounds, so make sure you know who the room is booked under. You can purchase a day pass if you want to hike and do some of the activities.

The Rooms: The room we stayed in was comfy and cute. Since the Mohonk Mountain House was built in 1845 and has really been preserved, expect that it’s going to have older touches. If you want a TV in your room, you are going to have to order it ahead of it, it doesn’t come standard. Since I had my iPhone, iPad, and laptop, we didn’t need a television anyway.

Though, with all of the activities, you won’t be spending that much time up in your room anyway. But there is free wifi and the connection was excellent.

The bathroom was spotless and gleaming white (which appealed to me, since spotless bathrooms make me really pleased).

Spa: The Spa at Mohonk Mountain House is world class. There are so many services offered – from facials, to massages, to pedicures and manicures.

It’s gorgeous with a veranda, a solarium, and a mineral pool. There’s also a gym and a dedicated class room (where we took an energizing fitness class on Saturday afternoon and then a yoga class on Sunday morning).

The large indoor pool (and the gym) are located right downstairs from the Spa. You can access the gym and pool without a spa appointment. There are lockers and one of those cool swimsuit drying machines. It was very warm in the pool area — if you feel like sitting by the pool, you’ll be more comfortable in a bathing suit or shorts and tee. We took two fitness classes during our visit to Mohonk Mountain House, but didn’t get into the indoor pool.

There was a room full of treadmills and bikes, if you wanted to get a workout in.

You’ll need a day pass ($25 per person) for use of steam, sauna, verandas, and mineral pool – unless you have a spa treatment booked that day). Bathing suits are required for use of the outdoor heated mineral pool.

Smartphones and tablets are not allowed in the spa areas (so you can really relax). Go old school and bring a book if you want to read during or after your treatments. The Solarium is a great place to relax and sip the complimentary tea.

We took a dip in the mineral pool before our spa services. It was amazing. Afterwards, we separated for our spa services. I got a wonderful pedicure and manicure. I was very impressed and my technician was a sweetheart. While I soaked my tootsies, I was served a plate of grapes and an apple drink to flush out toxins.

The Food: You get a choice of a sit down dinner or a buffet (select before you arrive). For each night that you stay, you are allowed 3 meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You are allowed to come as early as you like to the resort to enjoy the grounds and activities. You can choose whether or not to use your lunch meal the day you arrive or the next day (before you leave). We chose to grab lunch at rest stop on the NY Thruway and enjoyed a sit down dinner that night, breakfast the next morning, and then lunch before we left.

The Downstairs Dining Room

The sit down dinner was really spectacular. One of my friends is lactose intolerant and I have a lactose sensitivity (I’m fine with most cheeses, but milk/cream in certain things like soups or coffee will get me sick. I also can’t have ice cream).

The menu that we had let us know what dish had dairy, nuts, shellfish in it. It even said which dishes were vegetarian and which were vegan. Our server was able to tell us what dishes were dairy free and which wasn’t. My friend felt better that the servers knew what was in the dishes so she could make sure she could eat and not get sick.

After dinner, we walked around for a little while. There was a band in one of the rooms, but we decided to go upstairs and relax in our room.

The main dining room (buffet style)

The next day, we had breakfast and then lunch (it was officially brunch) in the buffet style.

Every dish at the breakfast and brunch was clearly marked to show allergens.

However, there were a lot of dishes with dairy that were served (both of us steered clear of the cheese plates).

 One of my favorite items at their buffet was the shrimp cocktail (served at the brunch). Delicious!

There’s an omelette bar and waffle bar at both breakfast and brunch.

The desserts served during brunch were scrumptious.

I had to sample several (for research purposes, of course).

After brunch, we did a little walking before we left.

Yes, there’s a ice skating rink!

Activities: There are so many activities and events at Mohonk. Click here to see the daily schedules.

For families — there is babysitting and a kids club available (for kids 2-12). Here is a sample day’s schedule.

All in all, Mohonk Mountain House was perfect for our girls weekend away. We enjoyed the two classes we took, our spa services, mineral pool dip, walk, and delicious meals.

Mohonk Mountain House
1000 Mountain Rest Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561

http://www.mohonk.com
http://www.mohonk.com/spa

Thank you to the Mohonk Mountain House for having us for the night. I received a discount on my stay.

The post Weekend Getaway: Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Recently we traveled to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey – check out my review here. Many thanks to Buick, which lent us the fabulous Enclave for our trip.

I’ll admit I do love my minivan, but it was great to drive an SUV. The Enclave has three rows, so you can set up them up in several ways; with the two seats in the second row up and the third row down, with the second and third rows up or with all the seats down to get more storage.

When we left on our trip, my kids practically ran towards the Enclave, ready for our fun weekend to begin (and they loved the beautiful cherry red color).

We have a family of 5, so I liked that I could put my toddler and 6 year old in the middle row and my oldest child in the last row. I folded down 1/2 of the seat in the third row (you can fold down the seat that can sit two or sit one), so Ben could sit in the back. While it may be too tight for adults to sit back in the third row, kids will find it just fine.

We got to Wildwood at night, grateful for our fun weekend to begin.

We had a wonderful time at Wildwood, playing on the beach and spending time on the boardwalk.

Since it is a looong walk down the boardwalk to get to the second and third piers, it may be easier to drive there and park at one of the lots right next to the boardwalk entrance.

It cost us $7, but was well worth it.

The Enclave was terrific for our family. We liked the roominess, the dvd system really made my kids happy, and I loved the satellite radio. While I do adore my minivan, this 3 row SUV is seriously awesome and a worthy contender if you have 2 kids or more.

Get more info on the Buick Enclave here: http://www.buick.com/2014-enclave-luxury-crossover-suv.html.

Thank you to Buick for lending me the Enclave for the weekend. 

The post Roadtripping to the Jersey Shore with the Buick Enclave appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

My husband and I have no problem getting in the car and driving for hours to discover new places. The kids? Not so much. Last weekend my family and I took a five-and-a-half hour drive from NYC to the Essex Resort & Spa in Essex, Vermont with three small kids in tow. How did it go? Perfectly fine – the kids did great, probably due to the fact that we promised them a visit to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. As it happens, people will do a lot when it comes to great food and what place is better for foodies than Essex, near Burlington, Vermont –  a city known for its incredible restaurants?! With innovative chefs that use a considerable amount of locally-derived food for their dishes, Burlington has emerged as one of the top cities for foodies in the U.S. On our agenda was a two-night stay at the Essex Resort & Spa and I was planning on checking out Camp Cook, a kids’ cooking camp, as well as trying an adult cooking class. What we got was everything on our list and then some.

We arrived at the resort on Friday afternoon and headed to the lobby to check in. The cozy lobby area has coffee, tea and cookies in the afternoon available for the guests. The Essex Resort & Spa is the recipient of the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2013 & 2014. Aside from the culinary school and spa there are so many on-site activities to do on the 18-acre premises, you really don’t need to leave. Click here for a list. Here’s a list of suggested off-site activities if you plan on staying longer in the area.

After checking in we got into our room. A traditional room with a fireplace, it was quite elegant and beautifully decorated. The beds were really comfortable with plush, down comforters and soft sheets. It was nice to have a couch to lounge in and watch a little TV. The kids from Camp Cook left us some wonderful treats they had made during one of their classes.

We started the day with a delicious breakfast at the Tavern, the restaurant at the Essex Resort & Spa. A lot of the food and herbs come from the organic gardens at the grounds of the Essex. Some of the other ingredients, such as the ground beef in the burgers come from local farms.After breakfast we took a tour of the spa. As a guest of the hotel you get complimentary sauna and steam room, as well as access to the fitness center and pools. For an additional fee you can get a variety of treatments such as massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and even makeup and hair color/styling.

After touring the spa it was time to get in the pool. It was a lot of fun and I especially loved the waterfall.

After the pool we took a drive to downtown Burlington for a visit at the Lake Champlain Chocolates factory and the boardwalk, near Waterfront Park where we viewed Lake Champlain and the New York Adirondacks in the distance.

Right next to the Essex Resort & Spa is an adventure park called Northern Lights Rock & Ice. They have all types of challenges for kids starting from age two and up. My fearless seven-year-old did a zipline (together with an instructor) and had a blast! (Be sure to mention you’re staying at the Essex to get a 10% discount).

After the zip lining we took a walk in a nearby hiking trail and then relaxed on the hammocks on the resort grounds:

After a quick rest we went to dinner at the Tavern, which was outstanding. Left to right: Winter Greens Salad, Mock Duck and Fajita Salad.

After dinner we had s’mores by the campfire (available every Saturday night) and enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. It was the perfect ending to a long, fun-filled day.
Stay tuned for my next post where I will discuss Camp Cook – the unique cooking camp made especially for kids, as well as my own experience with a cooking class for adults (we made delicious cuisine from New Orleans!) I will also be sharing recipes from both the adult and kids cooking classes.

Click here to learn more about the Essex Resort & Spa.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a two-night stay, some meals and a cooking class for review.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post The Essex Resort & Spa in Vermont: An Exquisite Gem in the Heart of a Culinary Mecca appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Think the Poconos is nothing but a cheesy honeymoon destination? Think again. Those days are long-gone; the Poconos region is now a thriving destination for families who want a little edge to their getaway, all at a quick 90-minute drive from NYC! This past weekend I went zip lining, had top-notch sushi, went to a water park and stayed at a hotel with stunning mountain views. My family and I had an unforgettable weekend at the Poconos and we can’t wait to go back!

Our weekend started at Camelbeach Mountan Waterpark, the largest waterpark in Pennsylvania. We stayed in a cabana near Pharoa’s Phortress, a water play structure that’s perfect for young kids. It has a zero depth lounge lagoon so even infants can enjoy it.

Staying at the cabana was a real treat. We had an attendant who came to check up on us every now and then, brought us a basket of fresh fruit in the morning, lunch and later a basket of cookies and brownies (the fruits and desserts are included in the price of a cabana). It was nice to have a shaded place to relax.

Camelbeach boasts no less than 37 rides, slides and water attractions and has received the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2013 and 2014. It’s really cool to be at a waterpark which is at the base of a mountain; everywhere you look you see trees and beautiful scenery.

In the wintertime, Camelbeach is closed and everyone goes skiing at Camelback Mountain Resort —  but for those who would like something a little warmer here’s some great news: an indoor waterpark is scheduled to open next May! The 8-story hotel will feature the largest indoor family entertainment center and indoor waterpark in the Northeast! An innovative Texlon transparent roof with natural daylight year-round is among many innovative features in this one-of-a-kind facility.

Click here to learn more. Here’s what the indoor waterpark is going to look like:

After a long day outdoors we were more than glad to get to our hotel – Chateau Resort – and once we got into our immaculate room and opened the blinds we saw the most breathtaking view of a lake with ducks and swans and Camelback Mountain in the back, where you can see patches of grass that become ski slopes in the wintertime. There’s nothing more relaxing than siting in your terrace and just looking at the magnificent panorama of lush, green vegetation. Peaceful doesn’t even begin to describe the atmosphere. Chateau Resort is a wonderful, affordable family-friendly hotel and what I liked about it best, other than the view, was the tranquility; I could just sit back and get some rest until dinnertime. The cleanliness of the facilities and the courteous staff were a big plus.

In the early evening hours we headed out to Deskai, a local family-owned and run hibachi restaurant that’s perfect for families with children of all ages. From the rickshaw at the front that takes kids on rides, to playstations inside and the attentive care of the staff, everything is done to keep kids happy. Award-winning chefs at the hibachi tables put on a show for the entire family and let me tell you, these guys are hysterical! We were all laughing for almost the entire time the chefs cooked our meal, which, by the way, was outstanding.

I started with sushi: eel with mango along with tuna, salmon and avocado, all of which was delicious. My family had the vegetable hibachi, while I tried the scallops, which were huge and done exactly as they should be. The portions are very generous and almost everyone at our table ended up taking leftovers. While the price is a little high, you do get great food at large quantities and entertainment as well. As you can see in the picture below, the chef “forgot” to put out the fire in his hat, much to the delight of my children.

We woke up the next morning excited to go on the mountain coaster and do zip lining at CBK Mountain Adventure but before, we stopped at the Mountainview restaurant at Chateau Resort for a hearty breakfast buffet. There was a large selection of popular breakfast items such as french toast, hash browns, eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt and granola and oatmeal. The view from our window at the restaurant was just what we needed to start off our morning right.

After breakfast we headed out to CBK Mountain Adventure for zip lining and the Mountain Coaster. Both my husband and I tried the zip lining. I enjoyed, more than anything, the mental challenge it took to go through something like this. It was really scary for me but I did get over my fears and I’m glad my kids got to see me muster my strength.

Later my husband and 7-year-old daughter went on the Mountain Coaster (the only one in Pennsylvania) and had a blast! It seats either one person alone or two people together – the adult in the back gets the speed controls. The Mountain Coaster went really fast, so it was great to be able to control the speed. My daughter ended up telling my husband to make it go faster as her confidence got stronger. There’s a lot of other activities at CBK, such as a 4,000 feet zip flyer (the longest twin zip flyer in North America), mountain segways, a Treetops Adventure course (with a modified course for kids ages 6 and up). You can spend an entire day here, challenging your physical and mental strength. We had a lovely weekend and look forward to coming back to this wonderful region. At less than two hours from NYC you can count on it.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary one-night stay, dinner, entrance to CamelBeach and activities at Camelback.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Family Summer Getaway: Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark in the Poconos appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

When the weather is cold in New York everybody escapes to the tropics. If you’re planning on a getaway to a warmer place make sure you add a comfy pair of sandals to your list -they’re light and don’t take up space in your luggage. Here are some fantastic shoes from Flojos with a tropical flair that are perfect for the poolside, a romantic stroll on the beach or a sight-seeing tour.

Fiesta

The Fiesta sandal comes in bright, cheerful colors such as red and fuschia (in picture). It’s the most popular sandal at Flojos and I bet it will be just as popular at the beach dance party.

Olivia

The Olivia wedge sandal is 2.5″ and comes in black or brown so it matches everything you wear. I received a pair for review and my feet felt so snug, it was hard to believe I gained 2.5″ with them. I could wear these all day, every day.

Rasta

Nothing says Caribbean more than the Rasta sandals. The multi-colored strap and the tatami style give this sandal a laid-back look that’s perfect for lazy days on the beach.

Blair

For the ultimate comfort check out the Blair sandal. It has a soft, egg-crate foam that works like a memory foam and can keep you at maximum comfort during sight-seeing tours or long walks on the beach.

Catalina

Don’t forget to treat your man to a comfortable pair (after all, he’ll be there right along with you!) The Catalina pair is made of rattan and comes with a black, charcoal or brown strap.

Buy Flojos on Amazon.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a sample.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been l been living in New York City for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 6, 4 and a baby) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Planning a Tropical Vacation? Find Your Perfect Pair of Flojos Sandals appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Long gone are the days when Atlantic City was reserved for young men celebrating bachelor parties, girls getting pampered at spas on an all-girls’ weekend getaway and old men with cigars puffing away at the roulette table. Atlantic City has now become a family-friendly destination with gorgeous beaches, a world-class boardwalk and a variety of nearby family-friendly attractions that will keep the kids happy and give mom and dad a little bit of that much longed-for “vacation” feeling. Atlantic City’s latest attraction is a spectacular high-tech light show called Duality which will debut on July 4^th at 10:15pm, after the fireworks which are scheduled for 9:30pm. (Read more after the jump)

The show was created by Moment Factory, a Montreal-based new media and entertainment studio that has produced multimedia elements for clients such as Cirque de Soleil and Disney, and many concert events such as Celine Dion and Madonna’s new MDNA world tour. This highly sophisticated 3D projection show will include surround sound, theatrical lighting and the latest architectural video mapping technologies to bring Boardwalk Hall’s historic façade to life.

The show is just under 10 minutes long and is free and open to the public. Best viewed from Kennedy Plaza on the boardwalk, it will play every night for a year, twice per hour, beginning at dark.

Here is a video from Moments Factory of Duality in the making – a simulation of what the show will look like.

Other family-friendly attractions in Atlantic City:

Steel Pier at the Boardwalk – an amusement park with two dozen rides, games and more.

Aquarium – kids under 3 get in for free.

Dolphin-watching and sightseeing cruises at Gardner’s Basin.

Absecon Lighthouse – the tallest lighthouse in NJ with stunning views. Kids under 4 are free.

Find more family-friendly activities here.

This post is brought to you with the support of the Atlantic City Alliance. Find them on Facebook  www.facebook.com/AtlanticCityNJ and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/visitAC]

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Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Healthy Bites and also writes for Savvy Sassy Moms. She has been living in New York City for eleven years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but writing about nutrition and helping families eat better is her true passion. She grew up in both California and Israel, which explains her love for California cuisine (fresh, local ingredients), as well as Mediterranean food (flavorful, heart-healthy ingredients). Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to two kids (ages 5 & 3) and works hard to ensure they eat healthy, unprocessed food, while trying to make it as delicious as possible. Married to a vegetarian and being a pescetarian herself, this can be quite a challenge. On an ordinary night at her dinner table, you can hear things like “More cauliflower, please!”, “How come I didn’t get a lot of tomato?” and “Fish oil! Yaaaay!”

The post From Boardwalk Empire to Stroller Empire: Atlantic City is the Hot New Place to Bring Your Kids! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

by Tamara Lowe

As a young girl, I remember watching daytime soaps with my mom and older sister, and always thinking how much my family adored the soap world and how much we enjoyed escaping into that same world everyday. When asked to cover this years “Behind the Drama: Soap Opera Weekend”, at Bally’s Atlantic City, there was no way I was going to say “no”. As I read the itinerary for the weekend, I noticed that guests were going to get the chance to meet some of the stars from The Young & Restless: Greg Rikaart (“Kevin Fisher”), Stephen Nichols, (“Tucker McCall”), Michelle Stafford “Phyllis Newman”) and Michael Muhney (“Adam Newman”), as well as see the General Hospital’s Port Chuck Band perform some cover songs, we have all come to love throughout the years.

Saturday’s first event was a 50 min Q&A session with each of the soap stars mentioned above. At this event, guests got the chance to get up close and personal with the stars and ask any question(s) they wanted, no holds barred. After these sessions, I got the chance to get a complimentary 50 min massage at Caesars Qua Bath and Spa. The massage was very therapeutic and just what I needed to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. I would definitely recommend this add on if you ever get the chance to stay at Caesars Atlantic City.

Next up was a meet and greet wine tasting, courtesy of Cupcake Wines. My particular favorite, was a sweet white wine called Moscato. During the wine tasting, guest got to take pictures with Y&R soap stars and continue asking the panel any question their heart desired.

I got the chance to get a photo with Stephen Nichols, and ask the soap stars this question, “if you weren’t a soap star what would you probably be doing?” The answers were very interesting to say the least. Greg Rikaart and Stephen Nichols stated that they would’ve been architects as Greg liked to design and Stephen liked to build things with his hands; Michelle Stafford,stated that she always wanted to be in the limelight, so she never imagined doing anything else; and Michael Muhney, stated that he would’ve been a lawyer. Each actor was very nice and would answer any question guest asked, as long as it didn’t involve their age! According to Michelle, actors don’t usually like to tell their age! (Editor’s note — neither do mom bloggers such as myself — NJH)

Port Chuck Band

I ended Saturday night with a performance by the Port Chuck Band, with General Hostpital cast members Steve Burton (“Jason Morgan”), Bradford Anderson (“Spinelli”), Brandon Barash (“Johnny Zacchara”) and Scott Reeves (“Dr. Steve Weber”). I didn’t know what to expect when they came on stage, but they were really good. Then again anyone that does a good rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”, will always be a fan to my heart. The ladies went crazy when the men came out and I can’t disagree on this, because the men were yummy to look at! During their performance the men showcased their talents besides their looks. All I can say for this entire band is job well done!

On Sunday, the Drama Brunch, was the final event of the weekend, where fans got a chance to sample foods the soap stars themselves like to eat during brunch, while sipping on Mimosa’s (Photo Attached). This was also the last chance fans got to ask last minute questions they had for the soap stars and take photos. The soaps stars really opened up themselves to fans and lived up to everyone’s expectations.

I have to admit my favorite was Michael Muhney. During the event, he mentioned that he had a journal for each of his children, where he would jot down memorable moments the children had each day. His wish is to present it to his children one day when they either graduate from college or on there wedding day. He was so real, down to earth, and nice. A complete opposite of the character he plays on the Young & Restless. As I left the concert Saturday night, he allowed me to stop him in the hallway and take a picture with him.

I truly enjoyed the weekend chatting with the soap stars and seeing how dedicated their fans truly are.

Special thanks to DKC for the invite to cover a fantastic weekend. While my room at Caesars, tickets for all events and a massage from Qua Bath and Spa were comped — all opinions are my own.

The post Behind the Drama: Soap Opera Weekend appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.