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Woodloch Pines Resort – Poconos Family Resorts

May 4, 2018 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Our family stayed at the Woodloch Pines Resort! Learn more about our family fun time at one of the best all-inclusive Poconos Family Resorts.

Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Woodloch Resort and the Poconos Tourism Board. 

We first got a taste of all-inclusive resorts when we took a Disney Cruise last year.  It was wonderful.  We didn’t have to worry about anything and that in and of itself was amazing. We personally believe it’s our preferred way of travel.  So when we were invited to check out the Poconos Resorts all-inclusive Woodloch Pines Resort, we couldn’t wait. We were so excited a great family-friendly resort was essentially right in our backyard.

We arrived at Woodloch Resort and immediately noticed how large it is. We learned that the entire property over 1,000 acres. We found the entrance to Woodloch Pines resort, the part that we would be staying at and checked in and got our room information.  They handed us a large paper with all the days activities and let us know a new sheet would be available every morning. There were endless activities to do, but first we wanted to check into our room.

Inside Our Room at Woodloch Pines Resort

We were graciously staying in a one-bedroom Edgewater Suites room in their Mount Laurel building. Each room has a kitchenette, a bathroom with double sinks, a living room with pullout sofa bed, and a bedroom with 2 queen beds.  Each suite also has a private balcony and washer and dryer in the unit.

The kitchen contained silverware and dishes, as well as a microwave, stove, pots and pans, a large refrigerator, dish washer, and coffeemaker. There is also a table and chairs, as well as bar stools.  This particular building also connects to the indoor pool area, so there’s no having to walk outdoors to get to the pool (which is awesome in winter).

Check out our Woodloch Pines Suite room tour video!

Food at Woodloch Resort

Okay, I’ll fully admit one of our favorite things about all inclusive resorts is the food.  You can (within limitations) get almost anything and the Woodloch resort did not disappoint.  The kids thought it was amazing they could get hot chocolate at every breakfast and the options for all three meals didn’t disappoint.

For lunch and dinner, a small menu was available on the tables that listen the options and then the sides were automatic. Everything was delicious. From fish to prime rib, nachos to a full buffet on Sunday lunch, there was something for everyone. They did have traditional options for kid’s like chicken tenders, but we opted to get them regular meals to split like we do at a normal restaurant. Dinners started with soup or salad and a bread plate also.

And we can’t forget dessert!  The girls loved ordering from about a dozen ice cream options every evening of our stay and Andrew and I enjoyed brownies, pies, and more.

As far as breakfast, there was a variety of options every morning. They started you off with an insanely delicious crumb cake (which you can order to take home!) and fresh fruit. Next, they have a special of the day – one day was scandinavian pancakes and yum! You also could order any variety of eggs and meats like bacon and sausage. They truly had something for everyone.

Family-friendly Activities at Woodloch Resort

If you’re coming to have a getaway, you can certainly do that at Woodloch, as they have a top notch spa; however, we were here as a family. Often, we are nervous about places that claim family friendly, because our youngest is in a stage where she’s too little for some things, but she’s realizing that her big sister is doing more and she wants involved too. Luckily, Woodloch Resort DID NOT disappoint. The shear amount of activities there are for families is bananas. There is something there for the smallest of small to well into teenage years and beyond. They really have taken the all-inclusive thing very seriously.

Some of our favorite things for our family were:

  • Indoor Pool and Slides
  • Indoor Playground
  • Snowtubing

  • Arts and Crafts Room
  • Nature Trail
  • Magician Show (there are a variety of nightly shows)

  • Go Carts
  • Petting Zoo
  • Character encounters (before every meal)
  • and so much more!

There are literally dozens of activities for everyone and there’s so many that we didn’t even get to do half of the things that we circled that we wanted to do while there.  That just means we have to come back! 

Woodloch Resort, and specifically Woodloch Pines Resort, friendlessness and welcoming atmosphere had completely in love at first visit.  There are a variety of rooms and meal plans available to fit into everyone’s budget and even homes to rent out if you want to bring the extended family for a reunion. We definitely thinks it’s a top notch all-inclusive resort that everyone would feel right at home when visiting!

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: kid friendly outings, pa travel, travel

Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland

January 12, 2018 by Larisha Campbell 2 Comments

We recently visited Cleveland, Ohio and these are our Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Destination Cleveland. Affiliate links contained in this post earn us a commission that helps to continue to run this site. 

must do activities with kids in cleveland ohio

My sister has lived in Cleveland for years now and since our parents are located at basically a mid-way point, we’ve always met there. We would plan for 2 times a year to get together, typically Easter and the summer. However, this year, I said I was going to drive the girls by myself to visit. Plane tickets out of Philadelphia have always been high (in my opinion) to get to Cleveland.  My sister and I used to joke that we’d meet in the Bahamas since it was so much cheaper for both of us to fly there than to see each other.

Part of me thought I was crazy.  I was going to drive with a 4.5 year old and a 2 year old alone more than 8 hours. Yup, I was definitely crazy.  Both girls typically get antsy when we make the 2.5 hour trip to Hersheypark, so this was wayyyyy out of anyone’s realm of ideas. Except mine. I wanted to get there and see my sister and my nieces.  My sister now has four little girls, so traveling for her is increasingly difficult.

Often, I’ve heard Cleveland doesn’t offer much.  It’s just a manufacturing city that’s cold and gloomy. My sister promised me that she would change my mind. And she did.  So much so, that we already have a list of things we want to do when we go back next.

city of cleveland skyline

7 Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland

We did an insane amount of things while we were in Cleveland and over time we will share those with you, but for today, we wanted to share with you our 7 Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland.

great lakes science center cleveland ohio

1- Great Lakes Science Center 

First off, the Great Lakes Science Center is HUGE! It has a ton of activities for toddlers through adulthood.  Everyone can literally walk away from the science center and say they learned something.  While there dozens of activities packed in, the space wasn’t so overwhelming that you thought you were standing on top of people.

They have a special section blocked off just for younger kids too which made it nice to be able to sit and take a break while the kids ran around and played. Depending on the weather, there’s also an outdoors space where kids can do water activities and more.  One really cool thing was that kids can make their own duck tape hats while they watch a scientist give a fun, educational demo.

fun for kids in cleveland

2- Find a Cleveland Sign

Cleveland has installed three of these huge Cleveland signs throughout the city. We looked up the locations and one morning before we did anything else, we went and found one.  The girls though it was so neat and I admittedly loved the fact that you could see the Cleveland skyline in the background. The sign in this post is at Edgewater Park, an amazing and very large park (with a beach in warmer weather).  Other signs are located at North Coast Harbor and Abby Road.

where to find the cleveland signs

3- Greater Cleveland Aquarium

We have an aquarium close to our home and we’ve been numerous times, so I was a little nervous that the girls would just be over it.  However, there’s some really cool features at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, like talking to a scuba diver and touching sting rays an tortoises.  Anytime that my girls are able to touch unique animals they are giddy.

cleveland aquarium

4 – Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 

Like the aquarium, I was nervous the girls would have been so often, it wouldn’t be anything special. However, we had so much fun.  Not only did we go at this amazing time where the leaves were changing so it provided an amazing backdrop but there were some awesome animals that we’d never seen, like elephants.

cleveland metroparks zoo

One of the biggest bonus points of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is that you are able to feed the giraffes.  How many people can say they’ve done that (I guess a lot if you live in Cleveland, but still)!? It was so much fun. The girls squealed with delight as they waited for the giraffe to take the tettuce out of their hand.  Plus, there’s a tiny baby giraffe that looked like a big toy!

where can you feed giraffes

There’s also this really amazing tree house at the back of the zoo. It’s huge, has a slide, and the girls just loved it.

fun family things to do in cleveland

5- Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Some people may not think the botanical gardens are a place for kid excitement, but our girls couldn’t contain their happiness. If you need to get some energy out of your littles, it’s a great place to let them run loose (but still supervised). There’s hidden treehouses, a children’s garden, and check times for the butterfly release daily in the afternoon at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

cleveland botanical gardens

One of my biggest goals, is to let my kids outside and to explore nature and the outdoors as much as possible.  They loved looked at all the flowers, see the water features, and the really tall trees.

kids play area cleveland botanical gardens

6 – Ohio City Neighborhood

Once day, I was waiting for my sister and happened upon Ohio City Neighborhood, specifically 25th street.  It’s an absolutely adorable area. We ate at a restaurant called Tabletop Cafe where you can play unlimited board games for a fee the entire day (Note: They charged me for my 2 year old to “play”) and then went across the street for ice cream at Mitchell’s. It’s an awesome ice cream shop where you can see how it’s made throughout certain times of the day. We definitely want to head back and explore more of this neighborhood.

mitchells ice cream cleveland ohio

Where’s your favorite Must-Do Activities with Kids in Cleveland?  Leave us a comment and let us know so that when we return we can visit! There’s so many things that were on our list that we weren’t able to squeeze in that we are excited to return and explore. We definitely think Cleveland is a hidden gem in the United States for families and a must do bucket list city for everyone!

These products may help you on your next road trip with kids:


Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: kid friendly outings, travel

I Keep It Moving For My Daughters

August 30, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dramamine(R). The opinions and text are all mine.

You ever feel left out?

Kind of like… maybe everyone forgot about you?… Or even like your holding everyone back? The feeling is a bit indescribable. I could only sum it up as a degree of loneliness. It’s crazy the things you will try to tell yourself too with the goal to make that emptiness go away. You think… “oh, that’s childish.” Then, you do this sigh mumble thing saying “you go head, I’m perfectly happy right here”. As you try to enhance your tone at the end of the sentence to sell the “happy”.

This was my childhood… in theme parks, boat rides, carnivals, you name it. As my older brother and father ran off to the next cool thing, I would hang with mom in the gift shop looking at key rings and overpriced tee shirts.

Motion sickness was not my friend.

I swear if I even stared at a ride too long nausea would come knocking on my esophagus. Looking back, I was the perfect mobile coat hanger, stroller pusher, map reading companion. Or at least that’s what I told myself to feel good about the fact that my parents spent money on me to come along.

Fast forward to now and this all changed.

So, I hear about Dramamine®! A motion sickness medicine! But hold the phone!!! I don’t do medication. I’M A CRUNCHY BABY! WAIT!!! WHAT DOES THAT SAY?????

Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals.

KEY WORD… NA-TUR-ALS!

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SOLD! I get me a box because Larisha is planning a family boat venture on the Jersey shore. And I am thinking… Maybe I don’t have to be cut out of this one. I don’t want to be cut out anymore. My own kids are involved now. Naturally, I want to experience those belly laughs and adventures right by their side.

I won’t lie… I was nervous. Last time I was on a boat…. I did not bring a food, but I still feed the fish….. If you know what I mean.

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A half hour before the trip, I took the Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals. Although it’s in a capsule, it taste just like ginger. Which I personally loved because that taste did not come off as a flavoring. It was as if I drank a soothing tea. I immediately started feeling very confident in the task I was about to approach.

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We also gave the girls some of the Dramamine® Kids line because the littles is already exhibiting lots of motion sickness signs and the big one got sick on a boat already. Nothing phases them though and my girls were continuously saying… “Daddy you coming, daddy you getting on the boat?”

Dramamine Keep Moving-9.jpg

And there I was not even 20 minutes later right by their side on the boat as waves pushed it right to back, forward to left. No matter how unpredictable the ocean was, no longer was I alone watching everyone enjoying themselves. I was right there with my girls kicking pirates’ butt and showing them how daddy discovers the open sea!

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It was a magical day and I now know, armed with Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals, that I can hang with the big girls and do amazing adventures right alongside them. I can’t wait to see where our next adventure takes us.

Here’s some other shots from our amazing day:

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Normally, I would feel so nauseous that I would beg to go home and lay down the rest of the day. But not this time. I felt so good afterwards that we headed over a few blocks to the shore and we played in the water and sand the rest of the day.

Dramamine Keep Moving-10.jpg

Are you ready to #KeepMoving? Grab Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals at your local store for a non-drowsy solution to motion sickness. One dose contains the full amount clinically-tested dosage of ginger needed to prevent and treat motion sickness. Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals is safe to use every day you travel by taking 30 minutes before starting an activity.

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: kid friendly outings, nj travel, travel

Hersheypark Just Got a Little Sweeter – Introducing BBLz ™

August 2, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Pepsi and Hersheypark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Sweet Memories

Growing up, I only got to go to Hersheypark once.  It was our 8th grade field trip.  Andrew says he only remembers going two, maybe three times. It was always weird to me that neither of us have been more often, because we both have such fond memories of our minimal experiences. Hersheypark is such a sweet place (pun intended), that I want to make sure that our girls experience it often. Last year, when we went, the baby was really too little to do anything, but Serenity had so much fun that she has brought it up dozens of times since last year, always wondering when we are going back again. It’s a much larger park than we were used too, so even with two days last year, we were all exhausted. We needed a re-do.

Planning the Sweetest Day Trip

Andrew’s work schedule has left minimal summer fun time available so far this year, but when we had a mid-week break, we went for it and drove to Hersheypark. We didn’t tell the kids until we were getting into the car and they were so excited. The baby still doesn’t really know what was going on, but her sister’s excitement got her really happy. I love seeing them enjoy thing together and I knew this year would be such a treat.

Tip: Before we headed out, I downloaded the Hersheypark app onto my phone.  It makes finding rides that the girls can do a breeze and I love seeing if there’s wait time before we head in any one direction.

The night before we left, we planned out our trip and decided on what we absolutely must have the girls do together.  We picked the perfect day.  It was literally gorgeous weather and we were so excited to do the water and dry rides together. Serenity grew a few inches over the past year, so she was able to ride the SooperDooperLooper ride, her first looped roller coaster, and her reaction didn’t disappoint.  We are so incredibly blessed to be able to make these memories together as a family.

Hersheypark Just Got a Little Sweeter – Introducing BBLz™ 

We always like to splurge a bit when we take trips like this. For example, the girls always get to pick some type of treat that they don’t regularly get to have at home- they usually pick cotton candy.  This year, before we even went, I knew what our special treat would be.  Pepsi, a proud sponsor of Hersheypark, introduced a new installment this year – BBLz™ (pronounced “bubbles”). You can easily find it directly across from Hersheypark’s newest ride – Hershey Triple Tower.

Bubble Makers (soft drink mixologists) create a unique one-of-a-kind beverage experience unlike anything you’ve tried before. Unique flavors and ingredients, including foam and candy, arend whimsically blended together for a fun treat! Each person in our family got their own BBLz™ creation.

We thought they were such a fun and unique way to combine the Pepsi brand with the sweetness of Hershey.  We definitely think everyone should have the unique experience of having their own BBLz™ too!

Even though BBLz™ are only in one part of the park, you can still enjoy delicious, refreshing Pepsi beverages throughout the park!  Try to check out the PepsiSpire digital beverage fountains where you can customize your own flavor creation with hundreds of different options! Of course, there’s Aquafina, too, which is especially refreshing on those extra hot days!

We can’t wait to hear what you do at your next Hersheypark vacation and what you think of the BBLz™ beverage experience.

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: amusement park, kid friendly outings, pa travel, travels

Poconos Are For Kids Too

July 17, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Poconos Tourism board.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Why did no one one tell me I was missing out on the Poconos as a family friendly destination? 

Watch our short recap video:

Truth moment. We’ve been to the Poconos only once and it was before we had kids. Andrew and I joined my dad and stepmom there one day they were there and went hiking at Bushkill Falls. It was so fun, but we’ve never been back. I’ve never really thought anything of it either. Recently, we decided to make the trek back.  Unfortunately, Andrew couldn’t get off work, so it was just going to be the girls and I. After telling my mom and sister we were going, I got a bit nervous.  Both of them immediately questioned why I would go there with the girls, wasn’t it a romantic getaway destination.

Truth. It’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, it absolutely has the ability to be a romantic getaway destination and full of serene moments that can take your breath away.  However, it’s always the most amazing time for a family, even one with smaller children.

The Poconos are for kids too! 

We started off our trip on Lake Wallenpaupack. We met up with Poconos Action Sports and took a boat ride out on the Lake and learned so much about the area. Poconos Action Sports also offers a host of other fun activities like jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, and more.`

Resort Fun.

After we had fun there, we headed to Silver Birches Resort. It’s a super quaint resort with a variety of rooms, including cottages.  It was recently remodeled after new owners took over.  It sits right on the lake and it’s stunning. Poconos Action Sports actually comes out and hosts sporting activities like canoeing and kayaking at Silver Birches so you don’t have to go anywhere. There’s a great restaurant just up the hill from the main office where you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  Tip: Get the breakfast burrito or the pizza!  Other fun things at Silver Birches is the champagne toast and fire pits overnight and they have a playground for the kids.

After our stay at Silver Birches, we headed down the road to check out Skytop Lodge. This historic resort features 5,500 acres so there is literally enough activities available to keep the entire family busy.  They have a full day of kid’s activities planned (like reptile and painting classes), there’s an arcade, indoor and outdoor pools, inflatable lake activities, and more. A full golf course, tons of hiking trails, and more round out this resort.

One of our favorite things was went exploring the land and came across waterfalls right down from our room on the property. There’s a small hiking trail, a bench, and plenty of ability to have fun right there.

Another favorite was taking part in one of the moderate hiking trails. There was so much amazing beauty to be found on a short one hour hike. The girls loved seeing salamanders and I loved the scenery and calmness while we were out.

We absolutely loved our experience in the Poconos. Our girls had an amazing time and I truly learned the the Poconos are for kids too! We’re already figuring out how to make our way back there sooner than later.

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: kid friendly outings, pa travel, travel

Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom

June 29, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

 Check out the awesomeness of Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom!

Growing up water parks were my jam (can I still say Jam?  Is that hip or nah?) Anywho…I loved them.  It was always a special treat to go to a water park when we were little. I waited what seemed like forever until I was tall enough that I could get on the water log rides. Imagine my excitement when I learned Serenity loved the water too. I knew she was going to be up for any water adventures in our future.  Luckily, she is and her sister has been too, though she’s still too little for most things.

SEE OUR SHORT VIDEO FROM WILDWATER KINGDOM HERE:

We were recently hosted and had the chance to check out Dorney Park Wildwater Kingdom and the girls had so much fun.  It was a bit chilly since it was early June, but after the girls warmed up to the fun a bit, they had a blast.  The great thing about Wildwater Kingdom at Dorney Park is that there are so many things for kids to do beyond just rides, especially for little ones, like our Storm. They have designated kid areas all over Wildwater Kingdom that have sprinklers, waterspouts, smaller slides, and even a submarine.

Of course, if you have older ones, there’s plenty for them to do as well, including almost a dozen rides for those over 48″.

The girls (and their friend) loved the water spouts and trying to hide them or sit on top of them.  Another fun spot was the wave pool.  It’s always funny to me to see how much my girls love the waves.  To me, it seems, at that age, it might be a bit scary but they love it.  Next up in the kiddie area, was this insanely fun submarine where kids can go down a host of different slides and actually walk around inside the submarine. 

Lastly, is this gated (which I love as a parent) area called Water Works.  The girls ran around dumping and pouring water, going down slides, and more.  At the end of the day, they loved relaxing in the sun (Serenity says “sunbathing”) until they dried off.

They were all sad to go home, but we promised that we would be back around soon!

As always, Dorney Park pleases the entire family. Head to DorneyPark.com for ticket purchases.

Want to know more about Dorney Park?  See our adventures of past trips here.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY CEDAR FAIR ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLOG MEETS BRAND, AND I HAVE BEEN COMPENSATED FOR MY PARTICIPATION. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: amusement park, dorney park, kid friendly outings, pa travel, travel

Dorney Park – Our First Park Friend Experience

June 14, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

Dorney Park holds a special place in our hearts. It was the first place that we went that had something for everyone and catered to our family’s needs. It’s our youngest child’s first amusement park trip and now, with this recent hosted trip, holds the place as the first place we took a friend with us.

See our fun trip in the video: 

I remember growing up that I always wanted to take a friend places with us.  I remember my sister being able to do it, but rarely remember being able to do it myself. There’s something so magically special about being able to experience fun with a friend. Andrew and I both knew that it was something that we wanted our girls to experience. Thankfully, we were able to sooner than later and it was everything I hoped for in a friend trip.

Side note: This trip to Dorney Park was also the baby’s first time riding a roller coaster! She’s hooked!

We allowed Serenity to take one of her best friends to the park and the joy of this first experience was magical. The joy on their faces throughout the day was something you hope stays everyday of their lives. They rode as many rides as they could across Planet Snoopy.  One reason that Dorney Park is a huge hit is that kids are able to ride everything in this one area.  It’s amazing as a parent because it reduces the heartache of having to tell them no to certain rides as we pass them by as we are walking.

Another reason we love Planet Snoopy is that the lines are short because it’s catered specifically to smaller kids, so there’s no reason for huge lines. Bigger kids are in other areas of the park riding bigger coasters and rides. There’s so many things packed into this area that you can quite easily spend the entire day just here. Between the rides and the shows, it’s endless entertainment.

****D E A L     A L E R T ****

June is the perfect month to head to Dorney Park. They’ve teamed up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to host Lemonade Days. Every online ticket purchase in June is kid’s pricing. That means you pay $39 per ticket – a $19 savings from buying tickets at the gate – PLUS $1 of every online sale goes to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Everyone wins!

Bonus Tip: Purchase the All Day Meal Plan online. It’s $31.99 per person and you can get a meal every 90 minutes. If you plan to eat inside the park, it’s really your best value. You can also save by grabbing the souvenir drinking cup! It’s just $10.99. Don’t forget, all tickets include access to Wildwater Kingdom! Rides + water = endless fun!

Head to DorneyPark.com to plan your trip today!

Upcoming trips for you to attend at Dorney Park:

  • Father’s Day Beef & Beer – June 18
  • Independence Day Fireworks – July 4
  • Christmas in July Breakfast with Santa – July 25
  • Food Truck Rally – August 26-27

What are you most looking forward too at Dorney Park? Leave a comment and tell us! Hope to see you there soon!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: amusement park, dorney park, kid friendly outings, pa travel, travel

7 Tips to Maximize Your Experience at Diggerland USA

May 5, 2017 by Larisha Campbell Leave a Comment

We received complimentary tickets in exchange for our thoughts in this post.  All thoughts and opinions are our own. 

Have you heard of Diggerland USA yet?  It’s such a unique place unlike anything you’ve been to before. This amusement park is guaranteed to be a unique experience for the young and old members of your family.  Since Diggerland is just down the street from us, we’ve been here a few times. First, when they opened and then a few times since. Now that our oldest is 4.5 years old, we finally feel like we found the perfect age to go. Don’t get me wrong, even the little had fun at almost 2 on our recent trip, however, for maximum experience, we think we’ve found the best time.

Today, I wanted to share with you how to make the most of your trip to Diggerland. After going a few times, we think we have the expertise to let everyone know how to get the most for your money at Diggerland USA. For us, cost versus benefit is a big factor in where we go as a family. We know it is for our readers as well.

Watch our trip:

How to Maximize Your Trip to Diggerland USA

  1. Save on Tickets

    • Buy tickets online. You automatically save $5 on most tickets just for purchasing online.
    • If you are planning to go more than 2 days during the year, or during your trip, look into buying a membership BEFORE the season opening – you can typically purchase for around $50.
    • Check for Discounts on-line – Military, First Responders, and AAA members get discounts off tickets. Students who bring a report card showing straight As also do.  Additionally, seasonal discounts are offered like Free Mom’s Admission on Mother’s Day.
  2.  Get there Early, During the Week

    • Pick a day that you can get there around 10am and plan to spend at least 4 hours there.
    • Ideally, if you want to do every ride, you can maximize the full day of 10-6.
    • Go during the week instead of the weekend.  Weekday waits for us have been about 1/3 of the weekend wait times, especially on the more popular waits.
  3. Pack a Lunch

    • You can’t bring food into the park, however, the park has picnic tables set up outside the gates. There is a concession style stand there, but the prices are typical amusement park prices.  Save money by packing a lunch.
    • If you do want to buy lunch, we recommend getting the whole pizza combo that comes with a 16″ pizza and (4) 21oz drinks for ~$30
    • There’s also numerous fast food and sit down restaurants within 5 miles of Diggerland. You are allowed to come and go during the day of your pass as long as you have your wristband on.
  4. Have an extra adult for smaller kids under 36″

    • There’s only one actual ride that a child under 36″ can get on currently.
    • Many of the rides for kids 36-48″ needs adult supervision.  Even if babywearing a smaller baby, they will not let you be the adult on the ride with a child if you have a young child under the height requirement with you.
    • Once your child hits 42″ they can pretty much do everything with an adult helping them, so we preferred this height to go if paying to maximize the experience.
  5. Take a break while they play at the park

    • The Kid Zone is a large park with steps, slides, and activities built in throughout the area. There’s also four “baby-style” swing with a canopy. Benches throughout the area allow parents to relax for a bit in between rides while kids an still play.
  6. Wear tennis shoes/closed toe shoes

    • I really can’t stress this one enough.  A lot of the rides have this as a requirement, so if you don’t have closed toe shoes on, then you won’t be able to get on the ride.
  7. Coming from out of town? Check out the hotel partners which gives you a packaged deal with tickets and your hotel stay.

    • You can find those partnerships listed on the Diggerland USA website here.

BONUS TIP! Check for special activities going on at Diggerland USA.  Recently, WHYY was there and brought Buddy from Dinosaur Train with them! It was a special surprise and our littles were so excited.ama

Filed Under: Home, Kid Friendly Outings, Travel Tagged With: amusement park, kid friendly outings, new jersey, new jersey trips


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