Stone Mountain Park Spring FUN Break! April 2-10, 2016

It is finally Spring Break in Atlanta! If you are like us, you look forward to this one more than the other "breaks" we have during the school year. Mostly because the weather is always nicer and the pollen storm is mostly behind us. Its the perfect opportunity to head out into Atlanta and check out some of the wonderful things in our city. On of our favorite spring break Atlanta passtimes is Stone Mountain Park.

This spring, Georgia’s most visited attraction Stone Mountain Park will open its annual kids festival Spring FUN Break filled with family-friendly shows and entertaining attractions to accommodate metro Atlanta school Spring Break calendars April 2 through April 10.

All new for Spring FUN Break, kids will be amazed by Magic Mark and Einstein the Rabbit. Einstein the Rabbit isn’t the average bunny, as he is a magical rabbit performing card tricks and reading minds. Also new: The Great American Duck Race, at which families select a mallard duck to compete for glory on a pond with built-in racing lanes. Duck interaction is also open throughout the day.

The April Fool's Indoor Laser Tag is another new activity giving guests the opportunity to play against each other in five minute sessions. Visitors may also say hello to Bernard the Bunny, Penelope the Parrot and Splash the Duck at the Character Meet and Greet in the park’s Character Circle.

Stone Mountain Park’s Adventure Pass guarantees a full day for families with access to all Spring Fun Break activities plus Stone Mountain Park’s many other attractions such as Yogi Bear 4-D Adventure, Geyser Towers®, SkyHike®, Summit Skyride, the Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf, The Great Barn, Scenic Railroad, Historic Square & Farmyard and Memorial Hall Museum. A special sneak peek of the Lasershow Spectacular™ in Mountainvision® can be seen April 2-9 during Spring Fun Break. 

Our family favorites are the Summit Skyride, The Great Barn, and of course Geyser Towers! I am really looking forward to the Lasershow though. 

(Photo credit: Stone Mountain Park)

When: 

April 2 through April 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where:

Pick up your passes at the Crossroads® at Stone Mountain Park. The park is located at 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Cost:

For the best deal, pick up your Adventure Pass online and you will receive a FREE meal and unlimited drink refills! (Online Only) Or you can grab your tickets at the Crossroads when you get there.

Adventure Passes are $31.95 (+tax) for adults, and $25.95 (+tax) for children ages 3-11. A $15 parking permit or $40 annual parking permit required for Park entry.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is Now Open!

Its no secret that Summer in Atlanta gets hot. Hot and sticky with very few breezes. Of course that means we are always looking for ways to cool off and relax. A way to make the Summer a little less brutal.

This year, one of Atlanta's favorite places to hang out and have some thrilling family fun is also the newest place to have some water fun! Six Flags Over Georgia opened its Hurricane Harbor attraction this Summer! With over 7 new acres dedicated to Hurricane Harbor it is sure to have something for everyone.

For starters, Calypso Bay is a 38,000 square, zero entry wave pool second to none. Stay at the entry and enjoy the waves gently lapping at your toes or brave the true surfside experience closer in. The boys had a blast splashing and jumping in the waves that were just their size around the middle of the pool. They even provide the life vests for the less aggressive swimmers and tubes for lazy floating.

Then there are the two new water slides for those that crave a little more of an adrenaline rush! Tsunami Surge is the worlds first zero gravity hybrid slide, which drop kicks you down five stories, swirls you around, and gives you that weightless feeling that is both terrifying and fun at the same time. Then there are the Bonzai Pipelines with 180 and 360 degrees turns which you can ride solo or with a friend.

For the smaller ones in your life, be sure to check out the Paradise Island attraction. With slides for everyone from the most adventerous tots to the slightly more cautious, this is a structure with a whole of opportunity. Rope ladders, spray guns, and huge water buckets dumping galore, my boys had a blast exploring all the different levels and slides.

My biggest tip for those going with kids would be to invest in some water shoes. The concrete gets hot between the attractions and running around on it all day can leave sore tootsies! I would also plan on renting a locker to store your dry clothes, cell phones, etc so you arent worrying about them while enjoying the fun. I was pleased to find they were generously sized!

If you are planning a trip to Six Flags over Georgia this year, definitely be sure to make time for some water adventure at Hurricane Harbor. It definitely adds to the experience and gives you the chance to cool off and relax between roller coasters!

*I was invited to the Grand Opening Celebration and given tickets to return another day for my review of Hurricane Harbor but all opinions are my own!

Medieval Times Atlanta Hosts Knight Training for Spring Break! (Enter to Win!)

Its almost here! Spring break is just around the corner and families all over Georgia are looking for fun things to do to keep the kids occupied. Medieval Times is one of our all time favorite places to visit in Atlanta and they have a super exciting event coming up! With all the amazing food, showmanship, and of course competition, what is not to love? I know at least two little boys that could not be more excited!

This Spring Break, bring your kids to train to become Knights of the Realm at Medieval Times. Children will enjoy watching an exclusive weapons demonstration by our Knights and the Weapons Master. They will learn about the grueling training it takes to become a Knight. Upon completion of their training, your children will be knighted by His Majesty King Carlos in a group knighting ceremony.

This special knight training class is only available for certain show times:
March 24th and 31st: Doors open at 4:15PM with training at 5:00PM
March 25th: Doors open at 5:30PM with training at 6:30PM
April 7th thru 10th: Doors open at 5:30PM with training at 6:30PM

Children must be between the ages of 5 and 12 to participate. Space is limited and training is available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 100 kids. Training is open to both boys and girls. Closed-toe shoes are required to participate. All Seats for these shows are just $29.95 with code SBGR. Book online at bit.ly/buymedieval or over the phone by calling 1-888-WE-JOUST.

Want to WIN 4 tickets to attend one of the shows from April 7th through the 10th? Check out the form below and enter to win!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Where to Eat in Knoxville, Tennessee: A Short Guide

So, I shared the places we toured with you already but now I need to share the places we filled our bellies with while we worked our way through the whirlwind our. Something that I enjoy most about traveling in general is having the chance

Inside the Oliver hotel was the golden speakeasy called the Peter Kern Library. With drinks named aptly after classical literary characters I had to go through the whole bar menu (cleverly hidden inside vintage encyclopedias) before I finally decided on a drink called the Artful Dodger. After I got my drink, it was a little too easy to relax in the slow, easy ambiance and get to know my fellow travel tourists and our hostesses.

As we were chatting, we were treated to lunch from the Tueplo Honey Cafe attached to the hotel. If you have ever been to Asheville, North Carolina, you undoubtedly know about Tupelo Honey Cafe. Known for their transformation of traditional Southern food, they serve the best shrimp and grits and biscuits you will ever come across. With everything farm fresh and made from scratch, you can't beat the creativity and taste that comes from the arts of Asheville. I, of course, has to try out the shrimp and grits and I was far from disappointed.

That afternoon, after our Knoxville Museum of Art tour, we hit the new to town Knox Mason located in the Historic district. Using hyper-local staples and local craft and micro brews, Knox mason keeps its seasonally focused menu fresh and down home Southern. With appetizers like pork rinds and pimento cheese, you can't help but get into the atmosphere. I had the braised beef as my meal and let me tell you, I have never had a cut of beef melt like that before. I'm talking no knife needed, eat with a fork tender. You would think that after having such a huge lunch I would not have been able to eat another bite but I couldn't stop.

The next morning, we were treated to a little hideaway called the Plaid Apron in the Sequoya Hills district. We had a family style meal of frittatas and pork belly with home made biscuits, gravy, and local jellies that make my mouth water just thinking about them. We had a beet salad that I would not have thought to enjoy for breakfast but made an excellent addition to a heavy meal.


Overall, there was a Southern fusion feel to all of the places we had the pleasure of dining with but they were all different enough that it didn't seem like we were being forced to chose between the same Southern staples each time. Knoxville is blooming into a culinary destination in its own right. It is rapidly growing and seeing a restaurant renascence in the downtown area with less chains and more resident owned restaurants. So, if you are a typical foodie (or just love to eat like me), Knoxville is a place to see and taste the movement towards something oh so tasty.

*For more information on any of the restaurants listed, just check the links in this post. If you are looking for more indepth information about the culinary experiences of Knoxville, you can find a comprehensive list of the best of the best on the Visit Knoxville website.

On The Road Again

Today, I am headed up to explore the City of Knoxville, Tennessee. With a population of  Knoxville is the third largest city in the state of Tennessee and a short 3 hour drive from Atlanta. Perfect for a weekend getaway or a more leisurely, Historic tour. Knoxville's culture and history can be explored and discovered in its 20 museums, numerous performing arts venues, and its historic neighborhoods.


For starters the iconic Tennessee Theater calls Knoxville its home and in 2005 opened its doors after a $23.5 million dollar renovation to restore the theater to its original grandeur. Of course with some modern improvements that is. Of course us here in Atlanta remember our fabulous Fox theater undergoing a similar renovation and updating in the late 80s to save it from Southern Bell's wrecking ball. So, of course, the Tennessee is something I am most looking forward to checking that out.


Of course then there is the infamous World's Fair Park Sunsphere. The 266' tower decked out with glass panels layered in 24-karat gold dust and cut to seven different shapes, was built for the 1987 World's Fair. Its become the most recognized feature of the Knoxville cityscape, it has remained vacant or nearly so for most of its life. Its observation desk was reopened to the public though in 2007 and in 2008, parts of the rest of the sphere were rented out to privately owned businesses.

My "day" tour will take me around these and several other places around Knoxville including the South's Finest Chocolate Factory, the Knoxville Museum of Art, and the Knoxville Zoo. I will also be seeing the Mary Poppins live performance and I am super excited about that. We all know how much I love live theater. Of course there will also be some supreme restivities at the Oliver Hotel as well. I am looking forward to touring and exploring Knoxville and being able to tell you more about my adventures when I return.

Have you ever been to Knoxville? What are your must see attractions and places?

A Little Aquarium Fun In Gatlinburg, TN

*We were provided the tickets for this visit Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN. If you are ever in the area, definitely check it out.

Georgia's Fall Season at Callaway Gardens

Its no secret that Fall in Georgia is always slow to arrive. It takes its time getting here and then disappears faster than we are ready for. Well, the milder Fall season has arrived. Its time to get outside and enjoy (mostly) cooler temperatures, cool breezes and the autumnal color of the leaves. One of the
most relaxing places we have in Georgia to enjoy the beauty of the Fall season is Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.

Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Callaway Gardens’ 6,500 acres of pristine natural surroundings offer many breathtaking views of this scenic beauty. In addition to the changing colors of the leaves, Fall is when Callaway Gardens is set ablaze with 10,000 brilliant chrysanthemums including garden mums, florist mums and cascading mums. Chrysanthemum Season is definitely something to experience whether traveling by with your family or a large group.

The John A. Sibley Horticultural Center is one of the focal points for mums in the Fall. A fun surprise in the Sibley Center is the Collegiate Football Topiary Display. Mascots from some well-known universities in the Southeast are featured in topiary-form among floral displays in their school colors. A little later in the Fall, be sure to visit and enjoy the fairly rare cascading mums, which spill over their containers creating a waterfall of color, accenting the Sibley Center’s exotic plants, flowers and trees. And, there is a Fall Plant Sale providing the opportunity to take home some new finds.

As harvest season approaches, visit Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden for AutumnFest and find seasonal, family-friendly activities fit for all ages. Each Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a different line-up of activities and demonstrations, such as:

* Scarecrow making, pumpkin painting (bring your own or pick and purchase one when you arrive) and leaf pounding crafts

* Scavenger hunts and hay bale mazes throughout Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden

* Demonstrations by potters, woodturners and the Georgia Gourd Society

* Nationally-acclaimed plein air "in open air" painters and dulcimers playing sweet sounds of simple stringed instruments of days bygone.

Be sure to stop by the 19th century-era Pioneer Log Cabin for a glimpse back to a time when life was, in many ways, much simpler – but also more difficult. There will be quilting demonstrations, corn dolls and other items on display reminiscent of the days when this two-bedroom log cabin was inhabited by families as large as 15.

After a morning or afternoon of outdoor fun, head to The Vineyard Green Restaurant & Spirits to enjoy Game Day specials on wings, drinks and appetizers, and catch the week's biggest college and professional football rivalries each Saturday and Sunday on an 80-inch projector screen – the biggest screen in town!

Callaway Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18/adult; $15/senior 65+; $9 per child 6-12; children 5 and younger are admitted for free. Annual passes are a great way to visit most every day of the year for free. Some events have special pricing and ticketing.

For more information or to make a reservation for this array of Fall activities at Callaway Gardens, please call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-2592) or visit www.callawaygardens.com

Mini Gamers

A Little Gamble

At the end of last week I took a little trip up to the casino in Cherokee, North Carolina. I was kind of reluctant about going because I am generally the unluckiest kind of person. I don't know if its a personality flaw or just plain inexperience though, so I agreed to the trip.

Plus there was a chance at spending some time in the Smokies while there and I'm not like to turn that down. Ever.

We got up early and drove through some of the most dense fog I've ever seen for what seemed like a ridiculously long time ,but was really only about 3 hours, before we got to the Indian Reservation that the casino calls home. I'll just say I wasn't really impressed by the outside of the casino. It was kind of run down looking compared to what I was expecting I guess.

The inside though was gorgeous! There was a huge water feature and cool lighting and an electronic poker room. It was a lot bigger on the inside than I expected too.

Of course they don't build pretty (inside) buildings by people coming there and winning either. All in all I think we walked out with a little less than we went in with but it was a lot of fun wasting what little we did. My highest win was a dollar and I got all excited about it until my friend sat down at a machine and won fifty bucks right off. My poor deflated ego. 

Summer Lovin'

It has been an awesome summer. The boys and I have gotten some good sun, some amazing food, and even more fun. We have ouspent more time outside this summer than we have been able to in the past and we are all both enamored and exhausted.

There have been the countless days spent in the water. We go to the "beach" at the lake and have spent the day swimming and cooking out and just generally relaxing and bonding and having great fun as a family. The boys have really enjoyed playing in the water way more than the sand, which was not something I expected. I really thought that Littles at least would enjoy building and crashing sand castles but they would much rather be floating around in the water.



We also spent some time checking out the local water parks. The county we used to live in opened a new aquatics center this spring and we have enjoyed going and splashing around. We checked out several of the local YMCA's pools and such too. Some better than others but definitely none as much fun as White Water.

This year was the first year that the boys have been able to go to White Water and they have absolutely fallen in love. The first time we went it was just D, a close friend, and me. D had so much fun riding all the rides and it wasn't busy so we rode most of them at least twice, spending about 5 hours. The second time we went, we took K. I have to say the littles completely had us stunned. He rode everything he was tall enough for and wanted to ride the ones he wasn't. I thought he would hate it but he had more fun than D!


Speaking of general kid fun, the boys also got to ride their first go karts this summer and they are hooked. Here again though, it was K that seemed to be more enthused about getting to do it. Baby loves him some speed.

All in all, its been an amazing kind of Summer break. Soon, D heads to Kindergarten though and everything is going to be a whole lot different. I'm sad that our Summer is coming to a close but I am also ready to move on into birthday season and all the fun that Fall has to offer.

Exhaustion Sets In

Its that time of year.  The beginning of the hottest weather and the point at which school has been out long enough that the kids are ready for a break from each other. Which is always a fun mixture, no? Of course that means we have been spending a lot of time either at the pool or one of the splash pads around the area which only compounds the exhaustion but in a good way. Meaning we are all sleeping like logs. My mother always said an exhausted kid is a happy kid.

In the mean time, the school year is sneaking up on us at an alarming rate. Which, for those keeping track, means that its almost time for D start Kindergarten. Ensue parental freak out. I am so not ready for my little man to start big kid school. It was just yesterday he learned how to walk, right?  I may be just a little bitter still that I won't be homeschooling him like I had planned to do since he was born, but at this point I can't do anything but put my trust in him and his future teachers and be his back up team if anyone crosses him. Don't poke the mama bear public schools! 

I know he is ready though. Maybe not ready for the total life change he is about to undergo with the new schedule and having to get up before dawn. I do know that he is ready for the learning and the friends and the adventure. He is ready to spread his little wings and take off into what is going to quickly turn into adulthood. Too quickly I'm afraid. 

Littles will be going to big kid pre-k this fall too and I am oh so nervous about that. He is oh so smart and intelligent but he is also a big time Mama's boy. I hate to see him have to develop a thicker skin but he will have to. Or so I'm afraid. There again, mama bear steps in. I have that overwhelming need to protect them from the world. It will all be ok. Right? Breathe. 

I can't even wrap my head around the fact that 2013 is halfway gone already. It seems to me like this year is going at an alarmingly fast rate. Its not even that it has been a bad year either. So far, its actually been the kind of year that the boys and I so desperately needed. Easy and relaxed with new friends to help us all along the way. Its just crazy that its already time to start thinking about their birthdays and what to do for a party. Especially with the craziness that school is going to bring. Might as well go ahead and get that part settled now so I am not freaking out last second. 

So, here's to summer. All of its craziness and hectic fun has to last a whole year this time. Might as well spend it the best way a kid knows how: Exhausted. 

Lets Go Down to the River

O brothers let's go down

Let's go down, come on down

Come on brothers, let's go down

Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol' way

And who shall wear the starry crown?

Good Lord show me the way

~ From "Down to the River to Pray" by Alison Krauss

We had an awesome weekend on the river with some amazing friends. It was nice to be unplugged for a bit and just spend some time doing nothing. No worries, no cares, no rush.

The boys had a blast and are crazy excited to head back some day. D was more excited about catching fish than I have seen him about anything in a very long time. Who knew trot-line fishing could be that exciting to a 5 year old? K on the other hand was more excited about playing with new made friends and riding in the boat. So much so that every time anyone got close to a dock he would come running and want a ride (which of course he didn't get. Poor bubs.).

I hope your holiday weekend was as relaxing and warm as ours! 

Gearing Up For Memorial Day

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. For me, its time to get a little relaxing in! Of course I have to work Saturday and Sunday but still, plenty of time to get some fun in the sun in. It is going to be a gorgeous weekend here in the ATL too.

We are planning on spending time visiting my father and cooking out and hanging out with some friends on Saturday. Spend a nice relaxing Sunday and Monday camping and then having yet another cookout on Monday with my mother. The perfect kick off to the Summer months, don't you think?

Of course Memorial Day is, by rights, a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. I have been lucky enough to not suffer the loss of any immediate family members that have served in the military but I do have countless friends and distant relatives that have. Its a loss that strikes to the core and something that is always difficult to bear.

Our U.S. military has the hardest job and it often results in paying the ultimate price. They deserve to be revered and memorialized more than just one weekend out of the year and I hope that all Americans carry gratitude in their hearts for the fallen, their loved ones, and their communities.

So, I urge you, between hamburgers or beers or smores this weekend, take a moment and say a prayer for all of our fallen Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guards that have lost their lives protecting your right to celebrate unhindered.

Day Out with Thomas is Back in Chattanooga!

Its that time of year again! Day Out with Thomas is back in Chattanooga and we are prepared for a "Go- Go" good time again this year! This year's Day Out With Thomas: The Go Go Thomas Tour 2013, is presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children’s entertainment. This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends series.

This year at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Authority he boys will take a ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities. The tour, now in its 18th year, will make stops in more than 45 US cities and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers in 2013.

Highlights of Day Out With Thomas:

• A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• Games and activities featuring a mystery element
• The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway
• A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets.
• Storytelling, video viewing and live music

Day Out with Thomas is a fun-filled and exciting way for children and adults to enter the world of Thomas & Friends.  Day Out With Thomas provides an opportunity for kids to take a ride with Thomas and have their pictures taken with Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of Thomas' railway. The tour provides a unique, interactive and memorable family experience at every station, offering a variety of entertaining activities that reflect the local flavor of each stop. Different forms of entertainment – from petting zoos, miniature golf, and bounce houses to face-painting and magic shows – make each Day Out With Thomas event special.  In addition, every location has a Thomas & Friends Imagination Station where you can Build with Mega Bloks® and participate in other Thomas-themed activities including stamps, temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, and a Thomas & Friends storytelling and video viewing area.  

Ready to get your tickets?? Check out TicketWeb to schedule your family visit with Thomas and let me know what your tot is most excited about on this year's tour!

Awesome Savings on Last Minute Ski Vacations!

Still looking for some spectacular last minute spring skiing?  Look no further with over 225” of snowfall this season and more on its way we can help you with lodging in the Colorado Rocky Mountains! Save 50%* on your Spring Break stay of 2 nights or more through April 30, 2013 when you  book with Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts with Breckenridge, Frisco, Copper Mountain, and Keystone vacation rentals !  

Got the spring taken care of and looking on into Summer? Colorado is the place to go with moderate temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and recreational activities for all! Receive 30%* off stays May 1st through November 14, 2013 with nightly prices Colorado Rocky Mountain Resorts now at 800-635-3434 today for more information and mention Promo Code DCO! (*excludes taxes)
starting as low as $76* per night and weekly as low as $535*. Call